Miss Goodie Two Shoes custom orders

A memo to my regular A Country Wife readers; I apologise for this shameless interlude in transmission. It seems that lately my life is no longer that of a country wife, but more of a miss goodie with two shoes. Well the creator of, and many. I have spent many months repeating the following words in my head, over and over, in a thousand different formats. Trying to grapple with my rapidly changing business and the long list of orders that never seem to shorten. I have been avoiding the document shortcut on my lovely big iMac screen, the one that says "custom orders 2011", for I know it is already 2012 and the list has barely halved. Alas, there is only so long you can think about how to tackle things, you need to just do it.

So here it is, all done.

To my dear, wonderful, patient and utterly amazing custom Miss Goodie Two Shoers;

2011 was an incredible year for Miss Goodie Two Shoes, but also an incredibly steep learning curve. I entered the business world with my heart on my sleeve, my head in the clouds and my arms open wide. My business plan was to create beautiful dolls and make our little ones grin with happiness. Unfortunately whimsical dreams rarely translate to reality on paper. There are never enough hours in a day, nor days in a week to create the handmade items needed to meet growing expectations. In my effort to fill each household with its own unique beauty and laughter, I opened a generous waiting list for custom Miss Goodies. Precious girls made from antique lace, felt shoes with ballerina ribbons and layers upon layers of ruffles. In my little wonderland I promised I’d complete them all in 9 months. Little did I know that a single custom Miss Goodie would take me two - four weeks to complete from planning stage to posting. In my ill-prepared plan on pretty pink paper I had circled 2 - 4 day turnarounds in glittery coloured pen. I figured if the dream was beautiful then reality would surely follow suit?

My disappointment is that a year on from opening my arms to over fifty lovely custom homes, I'm only half way through my custom list. There were months when I tried my darnedest to create as many Miss Goodies as was humanly possible so I could feel the load lighten on my weary shoulders. Those months only served to crush my creativity and tear me away from my family. Days became night and nights became day, I ate cereal at 2am and drank strong coffee at 6pm. I lived on barely 4 hours sleep a night and could only converse in a language of fabric, lace and thread. It wasn’t long before I realised that my hobby business had spiraled beyond my control and I needed to put away the glitter pens, file away the pretty pink paper and take my head out of the clouds.


2012 marks the birth of a more realistic, much better organised me. Still a little crazy in love with pink glitter and whimsical dreams, but without the Miss Goodie creations keeping me up until 3am sewing. I still want to fill your households with pretty girls, perfect for tea parties and sharing ice cream with sprinkles, but I can only conquer my dream one day at a time. I will be keeping my custom list published until each and every one of my gorgeous, patient and loyal custom homes have welcomed their precious Miss Goodie Two Shoes, but I am no longer able to guarantee a timeline for completion. If I were a famous artist I could quote something silly about never hurrying a masterpiece. Instead I’ll explain how much love and fulfillment I receive from making Miss Goodies for your little girls; how I like to spend 2 hours deliberating over that final accessory to ensure it’s in just the right place, or how I will sew the same skirt four different ways to ensure it fits like a glove. And how sometimes I just admire your Miss Goodie for a few days before I’m happy that her ballerina ribbons are sufficiently pressed and perfectly tied. I’m a perfectionist after all, and a little crazy obsessive about the pretty things in life.

So where does this leave us? For now, with a small but manageable custom list of lovingly created and impeccably dressed Miss Goodies. I aim to complete one - two customs a month, but as with anything in life even that isn't a given. You are welcome at any time to opt for VIP access to an upcoming market night if you need to ensure your Miss arrives in time for an important occasion. Miss Goodies do loathe being unfashionably late. VIP access enables you to choose exclusively from a Miss Goodie collection before they are released for sale. But as with my custom list, VIP passes are subject to a waiting period as only two passes will be awarded each market night.

At this point I should reiterate that I am not taking any new customs, and that any previous "expressions of interest" for a custom Miss Goodie have been sadly cancelled. 2012 is the year that I focus on market nights and celebration sales, so that I can create as my heart desires and have Miss Goodies available to each and every one of you. For it is with the warmest heart that I say thank you; thank you for your love, support and generosity, thank you for your patience, understanding and thank you for your all-round wonderfullness xx

Customs February - December 2012

Janelle Curry
Stacie Sinclair
Janet Lovett
Dafina Rexha
Lorissa Sharpe
Tina Murray
Jess O'Halloran
Deborah Tomalin
Tina Gibb
Tammy Hughes
Lynda McIntyre
Terri Foote
Rachael Rew
Simone Nuroo
Vicki Jackman 

VIP access to Miss Goodie market night 2012

Rachel Platt
April Ure
Sultan Seyis
Nicole Duvet
Crystal Bard
Bianca Webb
Katie Bashford
Samantha Tio
Amanda Warren
Jane Syme
Maddie Hinwood

Customs January - December 2013

Roz Borg
Cathy Atta
Joanne Powell
Kerrie Brooking
Monika Burnside
Emma Woods
Marlena Alesci-Favaloro
Jo Schofield
Monique Edginton
Jesamine Sargent
Kristy Mansfield
Jen Kennedy
Jade Kennett
Slavica Ciffolilli
Kylie Abu Jaffar

The full custom list can be found here under the notes section on my facebook page. You will note a few extra names on my custom list above as they are winners of custom Miss Goodies through charity auction in 2011.

Happy New Year!

Wow, where did 2011 disappear to? In a flurry of fabric, ribbon and paper we powered through christmas and into a new year, with barely the blink of an eye! It seems to be the pace of my life lately, full steam and lead foot with nothing inbetween. 2011 was a truly amazing year, and I still pinch myself with the realisation Miss Goodie Two Shoes is loved by so many. I have a journal full of exciting plans for my Miss Goodies in 2012 and can't wait to start creating and sharing again.

In the meantime, January is a month of quiet and relaxation with my poor neglected family! I miss the days spent playing with tractors in the dirt, games of tickle and giggle, cooking delicious cakes and healthy meals and laying on the couch reading books. I miss having a spotlessly clean house and drawers full of folded clothes. I miss all the 'normal' things in life, and for that I have resolved to manage Miss Goodie Two Shoes differently in 2012. 

There will still be plenty of gorgeous girls making their way into excited little arms, but my family, my home and my health will be taking much needed precedence. No more 2am sewing marathons or getting up at 4am because I'm too excited to sleep. I resolve to have sparkling floors and happy kids before I fire up the sewing machine. I will create beautiful girls when I can, not because I have to. I resolve to lead a much more organised life!

I really am looking forward to an amazing 2012, I hope you are too.

Mums United and a healthy heart challenge

Life, in the most part, has been overtaken lately with a flurry of fabric, needles and thread. Miss Goodie Two Shoes has been a life changing and exciting challenge, but as my business has evolved my healthy living has been the first to drop off the list. Gone are my early morning walks and weekly sessions at the gym, to be replaced with bleary eyes, a strong coffee and evenings spent sewing arms and legs. Healthy lunches for the family have been slowly replaced with muesli bars, peanut butter sandwiches and arrowroot biscuits... beans and spaghetti have featured on the dinner menu more often then I would like to admit. With the weather warming I have been promising myself a return to healthy eating and daily exercise, but where is the motivation and enthusiasm when bedtime is rarely before 1am?

Then came a very exciting offer from Soup Marketing to take part in an exciting new challenge hosted by the Heart Foundation. Mums United is encouraging Mums across Australia to unite in their quest to raise a healthy, active family. Through my project with Soup I have been asked to set some healthy living challenges and to report on my progress, the perfect opportunity to remain motivated! We got off on a good start today, replacing our usual sugar laden morning tea with some sliced fruit and these delicious raspberry muffins from the Heart Foundation website.

Raspberry Muffins

Ingredients

1 3/4 cups self-raising flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 cup caster sugar

1/2 cup blueberries

60g (1/4 cup) margarine spread, extra

1 cup (250mL) reduced fat milk

1 egg, lightly beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla essence 

Directions 

1. Preheat oven to 200°C. Line a 12-cup non-stick muffin tin with muffin cases.

2. Sift flour, baking powder and cinnamon into a bowl. Mix in sugar and blueberries. In another bowl, combine margarine, milk, egg and vanilla. Mix the wet mixture into the dry ingredients until just combined, using no more than 16 strokes. Spoon mixture into prepared tin. 

3. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out cleanly. 

I hope you too are having a healthy start to the week. Be sure to keep an eye on my blog for details of how you can join me in Mums United, and be in with a chance to win $350 in Myer giftcards thanks to Soup!

I heart the handmade community: episode II

When I created Miss Goodie Two Shoes, I anticipated I would meet some gorgeous and talented girls across Australia and develop a network of 'business' friends. I was so excited about becoming a part of the handmade community. What I didn't anticipate was developing some very close and valuable personal friendships. Friendships with girls who have enormous hearts, amazing talent and inspiring lives.

I have previously blogged about some of these beautiful girls and the delightful businesses they have created. It's high time I shared with you a handful more. 

In the first spot is a very special girl who takes the hard work out of shopping handmade. My gorgeous friend Kristi from LivvysLoves stocks a stunning range of handmade goodies, enabling you to shop till your hearts content all in the one place. At LivvysLoves you can buy beautiful handmade clothing, dolls and everything in between!

The second lovely lady I'd like to introduce you to is Monique from Willow Mae. She makes the most beautiful dresses, skirts, ruffles (just the mere mention of ruffles sets my heart aflutter!) and accessories. Monique and I are currently working on something very special for Miss Goodie Two Shoes fans, and I have to tell you I am very very excited to be creating with someone so talented!

A final mention for the week is my beautiful friend Kristie from BOO! Designs. She makes absolutely stunning, fantastically unique clothing for little girls. The attention to detail in Kristie's clothing is exceptional, and as a testament to her talent, her fan base is booming! You must take a peek at her recent collection of spooky outfits especially for Halloween.  

I have so many more businesses I'd like to mention, so I'll be back again next week with another sneak peek of some handmade beauties and the gorgeous girls I'm so lucky to now call my friends xxx

Celebrating 100!

Well look at that! A Country Wife has reached a very magical milestone - 100 gorgeous followers! Thank you so so much to everyone who joins me here each week to share in my life and love of the country. I can't believe how much my life has changed since joining the blogging world. Inspired by so many of you, my inner creativity has bloomed and I literally bounce out of bed each day (okay, well most days!). A Country Wife has been the start of so many special friendships and such an exciting future.

I thought as a little tribute to the number 100, I'd share some 'top 100' trivia with you.

1. The most beautiful woman of all time is Audrey Hepburn, followed by Liv Tyler and Cate Blanchett. Of course beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but you have no arguments from me.
2. According to IMBd, the most handsome man in Hollywood is Jonathan Rhys Meyers, followed by Brad Pitt and Jude Law. No surprises then that Jude Law is welcome to park his slippers under my bed any time he likes!
3. The number 1 box office film of all time is Avatar (2009), yet I won't mention that I'm actually still to see it *blush*! When adjusted for inflation, the top film of all time is Gone With the Wind (1939). Goes to show you can't beat the golden oldies.
4. According to Rotten Tomatoes, Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever (2002) is the number 1 worst movie of all time. I guess it's just as well I've never heard of it!
5. The most popular dog breed of all time is the Labrador Retriever. Oh absolutely, who can resist a cuddle with a big fluffy bear?
6. The most popular girls name of all time is Mary, whilst the most popular boys name is James. Now doesn't that give new meaning to 'biblical proportions'?
7. According to Forbes Magazine, the worlds richest person is Carlos Slim who boasts a mere $74 billion fortune. He trumps Mr Gates for the second year running, of whom has a lowly $56 billion to his name. So tell me, what on earth does one do with that sort of money?
8. Perhaps they buy a few of these. At a recommend retail price of $1 700 000, the Bugatti Veyron is the worlds most expensive car. 
9. If you're looking for a career change, now is the time to become a software architect. It is the top ranking job in the US according to level of pay, growth prospects, stress levels, security, flexibility, satisfaction and benefit to society. And here I thought being a mum would have trumped the list!
10. And finally, a top 100 list dedicated to... blogging of course! With an impressive daily traffic count of 820 000, or 24 million people a month, Digg is the most successful blog of all time. So what does it mean that I've never heard of it?  Political ticker CNN and the The Huffington Post follow behind with 303 000 and 283 000 viewers each day. Blogging really is a technical revolution!

So while I doubt my life will ever reach a top 100 list, I'm just super chuffed that I've reached 100. I can't wait to see what the next 100 followers will bring xxx

I heart the handmade community

So much blogging to catch up on! Soooo many things to say, I didn't realise just how much I'd missed my little blog until I'm now starting to write again. To make it easy, I thought I'd start with a tribute to some delightful handmade businesses and the beautiful girls behind them. Some I knew before the creation of Miss Goodie Two Shoes and have been blessed with getting to know them better, others have welcomed me to the handmade community with open arms and have been an amazing inspiration and given me endless support. Most of all, each and every one of these girls creates the most divine handmade goodies!

So without any further to do.......!

In the first spot is a gorgeous girl that I have previously blogged about, but who needs another mention simply because her artwork is the most gorgeous I have seen. Jess from Art Candy creates the most beautiful canvas boards and prints, I have a twelve strong collection of her artwork, and I'm still greedy for more!

The second lovely lady I'd like to introduce you to is Alana from Yumminess textiles. She creates the most beautiful ruffles and coordinating outfits, and never ceases to make me smile with her cheeky sense of humour. I was lucky enough to snap up four pairs of her divine ruffles during her last market night, and I'm counting down the days until I can buy more!

While on the subject of ruffles, I must pay mention to the divine Lisa Lou from Little Lou Lou - Handmade children's fashion & gifts. She recently opened an online store amid a frenzy of excited ruffle fanatics and is responsible for my ruffle obsession!

A final mention for the week is my beautiful friend Kate from MISS KIKI of Cherry Blossom Lane. She gives life to the cutest little cloth dolls who are just bursting with personality. My favourite little girls are from her recent 'English Cottage' collection, and I'm pleased as punched to say we now own a little Miss of our own.

I have so many more businesses I'd like to mention, so I'll be back again next week with another sneak peek of some handmade beauties and the gorgeous girls I'm so lucky to now call my friends xxx

A Country Wife returns... with her Miss Goodie Two Shoes

My poor neglected little blog. Ever since the creation of Miss Goodie Two Shoes I haven't had a chance to relax with a cuppa and visit my friends in blogland. Now when I jump on to the computer it's to update my business page, answer queries and a long list of emails, and catch up with the goings on of all my fellow businesses. I am loving every minute of my new life and feel so blessed that I am creating treasured friends for little girls and boys.

I do miss blogging though. After all it was the gorgeous girls amongst us who inspired me to channel my creative side. I made an early decision not to post about Miss Goodie Two Shoes as I wanted to stay true to the reasons for developing A Country Wife. But sadly that has meant a complete lull in blogging! I've done some reflecting and have decided my blog should embrace this new chapter of my life, and share the excitement with you all.

Here we have the latest of my precious girls

Looking forward to catching up with you all again! xxxx

The night owl

I'm yawning, I have bags under my eyes, I'm onto my second coffee and I should have been in bed hours ago. So why am I still awake? 

I'm a night owl.

Despite needing every ounce of sleep I can get at the moment, I just can't seem to get to bed earlier then 11pm. And that's an early night! Before babies, my late nights were simply about not being able to sleep. Now they're about savouring as much 'me' time as I can before a new day dawns. 

There is also something incredibly delicious about sitting alone in a house so quiet you can hear the crickets chirping, the fridge whirring and the ringing in your ears. I love being able to blog without interruption, shop for gorgeous new delights, and the past few nights I've been giddy with enjoyment as I sew together my little creations.

Sure I might be a darn sight more tired during the day, but I'm a lot happier. And for me, its the little things that make a whole lot of difference!

I hope you're enjoying some time alone tonight, and if you've already retired to your comfy pillow, sweet dreams xx

Isn't the little owl pic cute? I found it at We Heart It

I heart the blogging world

I'm quite new to the blogging world. I'd thought about writing a blog for over a year before I finally bit the bullet, and in mid December 'A Country Wife' was born. As a blogging novice, you can imagine my surprise when I opened one of my favourite blogs, Mamma Musing, to find I'd been nominated for the Stylish Blogger Award. Thank you Kate! Mamma Musing is a gorgeous blog about the juggle of life as a home improver and working mamma, and a very cheeky two year old called Amelie. It is my inspiration.

One could say Kate is a little biased about my blogging skills, being my beautiful sister and all, but it seems she's not alone. I was very chuffed to find another of my favourite blogs, Happiness Is.... had nominated me too! Thank you Tan! Happiness Is... follows the busy life of wife, mamma and two adorable little girls called Matilda and Willow. I find I have so much in common with Mrs Richo, it's a joy to know you're not alone in the world of kid wrangling!

So my requested tasks to receive this award are:


Thank and link back the person who gave me this award
Share 7 things about myself
Pay it forward to 15 recently discovered great bloggers
Contact these bloggers and tell them about my award.

7 things about myself

1. I am the youngest of three girls. My beautiful mum and two sisters are my best friends.

2. I spent most of my childhood and all of my teenage years on stage dancing, singing and acting. Noone was more surprised then me when I stepped off the stage at age 17 and never stepped back on again.

3. I have lots of freckles and always wanted a dalmatian so we could be spotty together. 

4. I grew up a city girl, but know in my heart I'll live the rest of my life in the country. There's something about all this open space that fills me with peace.

5. I'm a shopaholic and a chocoholic. Never stand between me and either of these two things!

6. It wasn't until my little man Oscar was born that I finally believed I could be a good mum. I spend every day amazed that these two incredible little people are my own.

I couldn't decide between my last two points, so I just decided to add them both!

7. I'm a perfectionist. I need order. Sadly this doesn't extend to my ability in keeping an immaculate house (as much as I wish I could).

8. I don't like crowds. I prefer to have a small number of very good friends and I would do anything in the world for them.

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These are some of my favourite recently discovered blogs. I urge you to pop on over and take a look yourself.

1. Mamma Musing - my beautiful sister and award nominator xx
2. Happiness Is... - my other lovely nominator 
3. Homely One
4. One Perfect Day
5. Life on Planet Baby
6. Gifts of Serendipity  
7. A Birds Eye View
8. Lifes Little Whispers
9. undomestic/mumma 
10. oesch and doots

 My four favourite craft/ handmade blogs.

1. plushka's craft
2. My Friend Matilda
3. Skinflint's Blog
4. Messy Freckle

I have discovered so many lovely blogs and made such lovely friends since joining the blogging world. If you can suggest some new blogs for me to discover, I'd love to hear from you.