I've also decided to hand in my blog notice, truth be told I've turned into a very slack blogger and I've decided to let it go for 2016. I began blogging way back in June 2008, preparing for Stitches and Craft Shows in Brisbane and Sydney..... so many moons ago.
Now I tend to hang out on Instagram the most, it's my fave. So come on over and hang with me there, I'd love you too.
My insta is - cocos_closet
So, see you on the flipside..... 2016, we are going to have some serious fun
We got a fancy new sign. It hangs in my window. It came just in time for my #happyplace to turn 6, yep 6! Holy Moly 6.....
So we had a party....
and my #happyplace was filled with lovely, lovely friends and family. I am eternally grateful for their love and support.
and in other exciting news.....
I'm really proud to be a part of Etsy's #makeforgood campaign....
These products are part of the #makeforgood collection, a project powered by Australian Etsy sellers and in support of Plan International’s Because I Am A Girl campaign. 50% of the sale price of this product will be donated to Plan’s Because I Am A Girl Campaign. All funds raised will go towards supporting projects that help promote the equal rights of all children, helping lift girls around the world - and their entire communities - out of poverty. To learn more about this project go to etsy.me/makeforgood.
To support this absolutely awesome campaign go here to see my products it is such a great cause to support.
Around this time six years ago Coco's Closet popped up in the tiny little store just off the zebra crossing in Wharf Street Forster. What was going to be a Spring fling in 2009 has evolved to be my #happyplace. Home to inspiring art and eclectic gifts I am blessed to come to work and color and create. I am grateful that I have lovely visitors to my store who are simply ACE!
To celebrate this momentous occasion we are having a little #happyplace party. Yay! Friday September 25, from 4-7pm pop in for a sweet treat and a glass of bubbly.....
We'd love you to join us.
So much for trying to blog more regularly.... I am here now however.
I have been painting and painting. It makes me smile everyday. Everyday.
I am currently working on lots of OOAK (one of a kind) journals. They are all different and say words that resonate with me. Little mantras that inspire me.
Some of them will make it into my Etsy Store this week
We celebrate the (not so small) smalls birthdays over Winter and last weekend Miss Muffet had a fab time in the backyard with our cinema under the stars set up.... Pinterest is the ultimate inspo zone to find awesome ideas and DIY. This is what ours looked like.
Beanbags and blankets, popcorn, marshmallows, fairy lights and Cinderella on the big screen (which was a white sheet stuck to the wall of our house) It was awesome, the movie is beautiful, really beautiful. Watching it outside in the backyard, snuggled in with friends, blankets and a fire was definitely a hit. We had a blast. I adored the movie, a timeless classic that is so much more than a Princess fairytale.
Have courage and be kind.
Have courage and be kind.
Have courage and be kind.
Wise words woven into the whole movie. If you haven't seen it you totally should.
In an effort to increase my online presence and because I did not want to watch the footy on TV I managed to build myself a website. Yay me!! You can check it out here
We spend lots of time on weekends hanging at the beach even in Winter. I do not swim in Winter, the smalls do. I do not. I do however always have a sharpie with me and have been drawing on rocks at the beach and leaving them behind for people to stumble upon. Little art rocks with lovely words.....
It makes me smile to think some lovely person might just find one of these little art rocks.
I am so happy to be sharing this post with you. If you follow Coco's on Facebook or Instagram you will have seen my little sneak peaks over the past week of what I have been secretly preparing to share with you lovely people. It is a box of awesome. It is a box of inspiration. It is a box of encouragement. It is a box of joy. It's a box of good things just for you.
Coco's Box
A collection of good things
What does a Coco's Box look like?
Here is a look inside Coco's Box #1
Inside every lovely box you will find
- a super fun creative craft to complete. It comes with all the materials and easy to follow instructions.
- a deliciously yummy recipe card to bake and enjoy.
- an inspiring mini art poster of one of my artworks produced exclusively for Coco's Boxes
- 3 heartfelt happy A5 colouring in pages exclusively designed by me for Coco's Boxes
- 6 Coco's Kindness Cards in a drawstring calico bag, 6x6cm printed art squares to give or keep. They will make your heart smile and your soul dance
-2 Pay it Forward cards for random acts of kindness. Leave a card behind to inspire someone else to keep the ripple going
- and every month a delightful little surprise gift just for you
All of this is specially gathered to encourage and inspire you to be creative and dream big.
Here is a look at what's in Coco's Box #2
Coco's Boxes contain $45 worth of beautiful goodies
Sign up now for our special introductory 3 month offer of$38.25 per month (includes flat rate shipping $8.25 per month within Australia)
Email me now to secure your spectacular Coco's Box Subscription [email protected]
subscriptions can be paid via direct deposit, credit card or paypal or alternatively if you are local Coco's Boxes can be collected in store each month (no postage charge applies) once your subscription has been paid.
Coco's Box #1 will ship the first week of July 2015, and boxes #2 and #3 with ship within the first week of subsequent months August and September 2015. International subscriptions are available email me for a postage quote to your country.
Such truth behind the words and campaign. Artist Sarah Hamilton began this campaign to encourage everyone and anyone that steps into an independent retailer, gallery or business buy a card. Every single purchase no matter how small helps small business to stay in business.
This is straight from Sarah's Just a Card website.....
“If everyone who’d complimented our beautiful gallery had bought just a card we’d still be open.”
When I read this quote by shop keepers who’d recently closed their gallery I thought - enough is enough - we need to fight back! As an artist and designer, who also makes cards, I know just how valuable each and every sale is, not only to independent shops and galleries which make our High Streets unique, but to their artists and designer suppliers. Regrettably it’s too late for that gallery, but others need our valuable support, and this is why we started our campaign JUST A CARD - to encourage people to appreciate just how invaluable every single purchase is.
And it rings true for every small business I know, so I'm jumping on Sarah's bandwagon; she is located in Dulwich, England. I'm located in Forster, Australia. Lets do this, lets support any small businesses, artists, galleries and designers, craftspeople. Even if it is just the purchase of 1 card, just 1. Every single purchase helps us stay open. Yep, I'm throwing my happy place in their too, I have approximately 96 cards to choose from, I really do!
If you are a small business, designer, artists or crafter join the campaign, jump on the wagon, spread the word. Shout it out. Put the poster in your store or at your market or on your blog.
If you are a shopper or customer jump on the wagon too, shout out your fave shops, share them here. Post it on Facebook, share a photo on Instagram, tweet about your purchases. It all helps, it really does. I know and we will love you for it and we so appreciate your support. So, so, so appreciate it.
So, I had that cup of tea and here I am back again and I am blessed.
Blessed that I can share this space with you. Blessed to live in a beautiful part of the world. Blessed to go to work and colour in. Blessed to paint in my (revamped) studio (otherwise known as my garage). Blessed to have my happy place. Blessed to have beautiful family and friends support me. And so very blessed to have you guys along for the ride.
Just over 12 months ago I participated in Forster's very first PechaKucha night. Last week I attended Series 4 in Forster. It's a really intimate affair, with around 130 people who come together to watch, listen and ultimately be inspired by artists in our local area. It's a night about creating a 'real' social network and I came away in awe of the artists that shared their journeys and their stories. Their presentations will go live on the PK site so keep checking and you can have a look and listen. It is such a huge deal to stand in front of strangers and friends and share your story, your journey, your art, your world. I have the utmost admiration for these people, these artists; I think ultimately because I stood where they did and it was so, so out of my comfort zone. My heart goes out to anyone who takes that challenge up.
I've been reflecting on my presentation this week. It's over here if you want to take a peek. It's me, in a nutshell. I wrote what I wanted to say from my heart and this is how it went......
Thank you for having me.
My name is Kristie Banham. I live here in Forster,
with my husband Aidan and our two children, our son Rourke and our daughter Mackenzie. I've pretty much lived here my whole life and I feel extremely grateful and blessed to live in such a beautiful place.
This is my story...
Once upon a time there lived a rather tall little girl.
she had teeth to grow into and hair that needed taming.
she loved to draw and draw
and paint and colour. she liked reading too
but drawing, that was her most fun thing to do.
Years past and she grew into her teeth
and found rockin' product for that unruly hair but
best, best of all she got to draw and paint and colour everyday.
she filled sketch pads and books and journals.
she drew on walls (in her own house of course) and painted.
life was a rainbow of colour painted by
Her.
she laughed out loud.
Her life was good and fun.
I own and operate Coco's Closet, it's just across the road. I affectionately refer to it as my happy place. It is a funky little bricks and mortar retail store that houses my creations, mixed media art and lots of inspirational gifts.
I have made and created art and crafty things for as long as I can remember. It's my thing.
I opened Coco's as a pop up store in September 2009 and I have been popped up ever since.
I draw, I paint, I sew, I glue, I make, I take pictures, I blog.
I am an indie artist. Lots of people ask me what does indie mean? For me it's a movement made up of independent designers, artists and craftspeople who design and make a wide array of products without being a part of large industrialized business. It's homegrown. It's who I am.
In the last 2 years I have discovered mixed media and I am totally, totally smitten. I adore combining papers, ripping and tearing bits and pieces and mixing ink and paint and mess, I do mess really, really well, we are great friends mess and I.
and then by adding glue and stamps and words, my mess transforms into art that I love. I so love adding words, phrases or quotes to the girls and paintings I create. It makes me smile everyday.
My art is predominantly aimed at women. Young girls to grown up women my art almost always carries words of empowerment, inspiration or encouragement on it. Mostly though, it's like I'm talking to myself, reminding myself, convincing myself.
I often think we women are our own worst critics, we tend to be harsh with ourselves and it has taken me a really long time to be comfortable enough to say this is me, this is what I do, this is who I am.
I want to make art with purpose. Art that inspires. Art that moves you and makes you smile. Art that encourages you to be the best you can be. Art that inspires hope. Art that helps you be brave. Art that uplifts you, so you never give up.
Art that speaks to you and reminds you of moments gone by of people and places that fade in and out of our lives. Art that leaves an impression on your heart. Art that makes your soul want to dance. Art that makes you want to do better, to be better.
I want to live inspired and I want my children to grow up living inspired.
I want them to know that what they do, who they are and the way they carry themselves shapes our world. It shapes their world.
I want them to dream big dreams. I want them to know that possibilities are endless.
I want them to see the beauty that surrounds them and know it is theirs to be appreciated.
I want them to be courageous and in their pursuits and my hope is that I lead by example.
I believe our messy, colourful, extraordinary lives matter. Every single one of us. I believe that simple kindness makes a difference and I try to teach my kids that. I want my art to reflect that.
I believe in smiles and happiness when everything seems like it's falling apart you should most definitely colour in, and I do! I do it lots.
I believe little things make a big difference, my Mum and Dad are right when they tell me that.
I believe that there is always, always something to be grateful for everyday and time spent doing something that you love with the people that you love is so very precious and we should hold onto that.
I give you my art, my words, my musings, here all laid out. My hope is that they make you smile, they encourage you, they dare you to dream those far out dreams, to have a go, to embrace the wonderfulness that you are.
The extraordinary, amazing, beautiful people you are. That you shine bright for all the world to see, and you live the life you imagine. I hope my art inspires you to take a chance, to risk, to believe, to find your brave wings and fly
It has been extremely out of my comfort zone to stand before you this evening and speak about myself and what I do but I had decided to try challenge myself this year to step outside the box in which I am accustomed and put myself and my art out there, mind you when I asked my son if I should do this tonight he said, "well, not if you think you're going to bugger it up!" My hope is that I haven't and you have enjoyed my chit chat
Thank you
Blessed, totally, completely blessed and always, always grateful.
In the last few years I have tended to shy away from sharing my personal self in my blog, even though what I do is very personal. Initially my blog was to document my journey into the Stitches and Craft Shows in Brisbane and Sydney in 2009, my preparations for the Incubator section of Indie crafters. This I did, happily sharing my progress about my products, my lead up to exhibiting. I remember trying to figure out what a blog even was..... But blog I did and it was fun. I sought out other bloggers who were preparing to exhibit at the S&C show too. I read their progress and where they were up too, I checked out what they did, not really ever feeling confident enough to leave a comment but checked back from time to time before the shows to see how they were progressing. I did end up leaving a few comments and I even met lots of them at the shows. All star struck I managed to blurt out......"I read your blog" I found lots of like minded crafters, amazing people and super funny and lovely blogs. Lots I still frequent and they make me smile. Beautiful humans that open their lives to share with the world. I remember reading Pips blog and vaguely her birthday wishes for her son, a little tribute. I remember thinking "wow, how cool, when he gets big enough he will be able to read that and see that, that's really, really cool." She inspired me to do similar for my two juniors Mr.Magoo and Miss Muffet. I played along in some blogging circles sharing "my creative space" and "my grateful" both places filled me with inspiration and admiration and a gratefulness I hope I can continually impart on my children and the people I connect with. I blogged about my kids and sometimes the Mr., thinking one day when they are grown up what a cool way for them to be able to know who they were and a lovely way to record events in their lives that we shared. My blogosphere was just lovely, a lovely place to hang, pop by and swing past reading, being inspired and immersing myself in indie goodness. Bliss and Blessed. Stuff happens. Nothing bad has happened but my perspective on what I would share altered with the explosion of social media. I became educated to cyber safety. All of a sudden, although it's been progressive over the last few years, everything is shareable, knowable, find-outable. Good, bad, ugly, lovely, real, unreal the whole lot and for me personally I have lots of social media yet I wanted to pare back, like a hermit crab backing into my shell. It's not I didn't want to share the same things I had previously shared but they almost became sacred to me and mine. I didn't want to over share. I share all of my happy place, my work, my art and sometimes that as an artist is massive, it's taken me a hugely long time to be able to say this is me,this is what I do, this is who am. I respect so many artists and humans that share their journeys on their blogs. It's big to put yourself out there. So currently I am a little too-nig and fro-ing, sometimes seriously chatting in myself in my head, and if you know me, you know that's very common, quite normal really. Share, not share, put myself out there more than I do, I don't know. Keep blogging, stop blogging and let's face it my blog is a little under loved currently...... this will actually be the most I've written in awhile. I am feeling the urge to share more of why I do what I do, not just what I do ......but in the mean time the voices in my head are currently telling me to get a cup of tea ..... I'll try to be back soon.
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