Practising Simplicity: giveaway

Monday, September 10, 2012

spring : a giveaway to celebrate the season

Oh spring; the season that inspires with its warmth and light. It most definitely deserves a celebration so I have gathered a collection of beautiful products to give away.

Some of my favourite brands have generously donated a range of gorgeous bits and pieces to make your home a lovely one. Valued at over $600AUD this is oh so wonderful (and I wish I could keep it all for myself).

The winner will receive the following:

1.16 piece Garland dinner set by Royal Doulton (set comprises: 4 x dinner plates, 4 x dessert plates, 4 x cereal bowls and 4 x mugs). Made from porcelain this delightful set is valued at $249.

2. Everyone wants fresh, new linen for spring and these two pillow slips by Oh Mabel are absolutely perfect. Made from 100% GOTS certified organic cotton, 300 thread count cotton sateen, they feature the 'eloise' design in blush - rings of rosies and posies to imbue your bed with a little whimsy - valued at $70

3. So many of you wanted to know more about Murchison-Hume after I mentioned them last week. Well, the winner will receive a "Classic Six" boxed set in the 'fig' scent - everything you need to keep your home naturally clean and fresh, the six bottles come packaged in a bamboo caddy - valued at $73

4. A home isn't complete without beeswax candles...Queen B are giving away a set of their Bee Lights and Tea Lights...I consider them absolute necessities - they purify the air, emit a warm glow and leave a fresh, honey scent - valued at $50.

5. Of course, spring cleaning isn't quite the same unless you have a relaxing cup of tea to look forward to. Clipper Teas have just released a new range of infusions - six fresh, uplifting teas that feature the most stunning packaging - valued at $25

6. Fancy some pretty pictures for your walls? LittleGreenShed is giving away "Treefall" A4 print and "Spring Flowers" A3 print - both prints of original pen and ink drawing, printed on archival Premier Fine Art Paper using archival inks. Artist Lou Archell has signed and dated each one and they are all ready for framing - valued at $55

7. Playfield - design for modern parents and style lovers, were inspired by Pantone's colour of the year and their favourite children's book - the result is this unique design. "hello baby !" is a 50x70cm high quality print on beautiful satin stock ready to frame - valued at $50

8. Linen, muted tones and playful prints - no wonder Maze & Vale is one of my very favourite brands. These two oversize (50x70cm) limited edition tea towels are worthy of a place on the wall (I don't think I would ever use them for the dishes). Screen printed by hand in limited editions of 4 to 6, creator Leslie Keating loves to experiment with colour and overprinting design - valued at $44

You can enter this giveaway a maximum of three times:

first entry - following Che & Fidel (over there on the right)
second entry - popping over to Che & Fidel on facebook and hitting 'like'
third entry - sharing this giveaway on facebook/instagram/your blog

Please leave a separate comment for each entry. The winner will be chosen by the random number generator and published in this post on Monday 17th September at around 9pm EST. Winner will be contacted by email.

Very best of spring-time luck....

Update: comments closed. The random number generator chose #73 Mother Down Under - congratulations lovely one! x

graphic designed by the wonderful Lena of Playfield

646 COMMENTS

Labels: giveaway , spring - a seasonal series

Monday, March 26, 2012

miss haidee - a handmade giveaway

I'll be visiting the very talented Miss Haidee in her studio when I'm in Tasmania. She lives in a place called Peppermint Bay (of course she does!) and there she crafts signature dresses, tunics and bloomers from the most decadent vintage linens. Each garment is entirely unique and utterly whimsical, there's a little love in every stitch.

Haidee sent me this delightful tunic to gift one of my readers (it will fit a size 2 as a dress but it's designed to fit till about age 5 - it just gets a little shorter, obviously). She is also offering you a 30% discount in her online store with the code: poet.

To enter this giveaway all you need to do is become a follower of Che & Fidel and leave your name and email address - international entries welcome. Comments close March 31st. The random number generator will choose a winner and I'll add the details to this post.

But before you go, a few words from the creator herself:

"There is so much mass production and poor quality in the clothing business...I believe it's really refreshing to own an Australian one-off designer piece. Handmade is a labour of love which makes it so enjoyable to wear! I work from a studio nestled by the bay, an Aladdin cave of sorts, a treasure trove of fabrics and embellishments. It's not very organised at the moment but I know where everything is." - Haidee.

Update: Comments Closed. The Random Number Generator chose #2 the jade leaf. Congratulations lovely - Ruby will look gorgeous in her new dress x

44 COMMENTS

Labels: giveaway

Friday, March 23, 2012

the divided heart - a giveaway

I clearly remember the days that I spent reading The Divided Heart for the first time. Che had a serious fever so I lay with him in bed, breastfeeding on demand, flicking through the pages of Rachel Power's book when I wasn't comforting him. It was a fair few years ago now but the message imbued within its pages still resonates with me.

"The divided heart; a split self; the sense that to succeed at one is to fail at the other."

Motherhood for me has been a series of successes and failures. Indeed, you can't have one without the other. I'll admit that it took a good while after birth for me to find my 'voice' again - to write creatively and passionately. Before then, the sentences just didn't come together. I don't feel like I sacrificed my artistic self for motherhood - it just took a back seat while I navigated those first few years. It took a while for me to recognise my new self and artistically I was silent. During that time there were many days where I flicked open my now dog-eared copy of The Divided Heart to seek some reassurance and inspiration.

In a series of deeply honest interviews, famous Australian women (and some not so famous) discuss the challenge of being a mother and an artist. The Divided Heart is a beautiful blend of intellect and conversation - raw, moving and personal. It explores the pain and the joy of being a mother and an artist and, at its very core, it offers a comforting reassurance: it is possible to do both, it just takes time.

I have one copy of The Divided Heart to give away. All you need to do is become a follower of Che & Fidel and leave a comment with your name and email address. This giveaway is open to international readers and will close March 28th. A winner will be chosen using the random number generator and I'll update this post with the winner's name.

Comments Closed. The Random Number Generator chose #22 - Tara Lucia Zaicz - congratulations lovely one!

I had the pleasure of interviewing the very eloquent Rachel Power about her experience writing the book and the affects it had on her professionally and personally.....

56 COMMENTS

Labels: babymoon , giveaway

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

dragonfly toys + giveaway

When I started blogging, back when Che was a little bubba, I loved visiting The Story Hour - the blog of a Newcastle mum with three boys. It was one of those blogs that was beautiful for its simplicity and honesty - a peek into the world of gumboots, bugs and school paintings. A few recipes here and there and glimpses of a much-loved family home. I was a little sad when its creator, Tracie, decided to stop blogging. The Story Hour may have been small but it was definitely memorable.

Tracie emailed me last week with news that she has recently, with her friend Linda, become the proud owner of online store Dragonfly Toys. Dragonfly offers a plethora of magical children's and baby products - sourced from ethical companies across Australia and over the oceans. Inspired by a handmade, mama-made, Steiner philosophy, it offers parents a beautiful alternative to the plastic mayhem so readily available in department stores.

Tracie and Linda were keen to promote Dragonfly Toys here, in this space, and as thanks are offering one of my readers a Baby Patchwork Quilt and a pair of the cutest little Tibetan koko booties, both from Kokonor, a brand the women created. All the products in the range are handmade by Tibetan refugees living in the Indian Himalaya.

For your chance to win simple leave a comment on this post. For two entries, you can become a new follower or blog about the giveaway in your blog space. Plus, if you 'like' Dragonfly Toys on facebook and mention you came from Che & Fidel, you will also go in the running to win a Story CD.

I'll close the comments next Wednesday the 6th July.

Tracie and Linda kindly agreed to be interviewed for this post, a glimpse into the lives of two inspiring creatives. Read on to learn a little more about their families and Dragonfly Toys.

Jodi: You are both mothers. How many children do you have?

L: I have 3 children - Nyima and Yeshi (11 and 7) are my gorgeous big boys, and then we have Pema, our lovely little girl who will soon be 3.

T: I also have three children- all boys, Arki (8), Jude (6) and the youngest is Ezra (3). It’s nice that we have children of similar ages; we understand each other’s commitments and our need to have balance between work and home life.

Jodi: Your children are educated at Steiner schools. What do you love about the Steiner way of life?

L: I love so many aspects of my children's school it is hard to list them all.... you really have to spend time there to understand it - but some of the standouts for me are - the incredible passion that every teacher has for their role as teacher and the genuine love they have for their students.... I love that my children get to be with their primary teacher for a full seven years.... I love the strong community there - that every year the entire school from Kindergarten to year 10 all go on one huge big winter camp together for one night and the big year ten children are there alongside the tiny kindy's helping carry bags, set up tents etc...

T: I love it all..I’m so happy dropping them off there in the morning. The school is aesthetically beautiful but it’s not just that...there is a spirit about the place. The school is a beautiful community and I am so confident that their days will be filled with joy. I teach at the school casually and seeing how the days flow and watching the children be completely engaged in whatever activity they are doing makes me completely confident in our decision to send them there. I love how innocent the children are; how full of song. I love that I often have to tell my 8 year old at bedtime “Ok Arki...you can finish knitting that row then lights out”.

Jodi: What inspired you to purchase Dragonfly Toys?

L: Dragonfly Toys began for me around 4 years ago when I purchased a tiny little business from a friend... Caitlin was selling a small selection of Steiner art and craft materials through an organic shop in our local area. I had been collecting ideas for a business like this for years - so when Caitlin said she was planning on closing down and having another baby, I offered to buy Dragonfly from her.

My original inspiration came from finding that there were so few places in Australia that you could find all these beautiful toys - so starting something online seemed an obvious solution.

T: I have only recently joined Linda with Dragonfly. I have been friend with Linda for a few years, having met her at the school’s market. It was an important meeting for me..it was Linda who inspired me to look into Steiner education, she was so confident and down to earth about it all. I was thrilled when she asked me to join her as a partner as I have always loved what she did and enjoyed working for her. It seemed like a great way for Dragonfly to build...having the energy and enthusiasm of the two of us. After teaching in public high schools for the past ten years going to our office for the day is such a blessing.

Jodi: What is your criteria when selecting products for the website?

L: They need to be unique - I never want to sell anything that you can find in your average local chain of toy shops.

They must be made under fair work conditions - this certainly stops us from stocking a lot of things that we know people would like to buy, but we want our customers to know that they can trust our choices and that we are always putting ethics above sales.

They need to be beautiful or wonderful in some way... things that we truly love ourselves.

Jodi: What do you love about owning an online store?

L: The fact that it fits in with family life.... I have never had to miss a single school picnic or performance.. things take care of themselves even when you are off hanging washing on the line, cooking dinner or reading a bedtime story. When Pema was a baby I used to love that even though it was 10am and I was lying in the bath with her for half an hour, the shop was open and customers were still shopping..

T: I love the flexibility of it all as well...I’m still home most of the week with Ezra and if I get called into work at the school I can go. Linda and I can swap days when we need to, leave early, do work from home at night; it’s perfect.

Jodi: What are your dreams for Dragonfly Toys?

At the moment we are planning to put a lot of energy into Kokonor, our little tailoring workshop in India. We employ 7 women there full-time, all of whom are Tibetan refugees living in exile in the northern mountains of India. We would love create the majority of what we sell ourselves, and the idea of being able to bring all of our ideas to life, while providing ethical jobs for women is such perfect combination. So I would love to see that part of Dragonfly continue to grow - eventually allowing us to travel to India with our families each year and creating employment for more women in India and eventually in Tibet...

Comments now closed. Random Number Generator picked #17 - Madeline. Congratulations! xxx

52 COMMENTS

Labels: giveaway , handmade , inspiring creatives

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

baobag + a giveaway

"As you journey to take your place among the lineage of women as mother, we encourage you to 'mother' yourself.

As you do so we join with you in celebration of the healing power of nature both within and all around you."

I've discussed here so many times before my desire to use natural and organic products in my home and for my family. When Sonia Walker, co-founder of Baobag contacted me about her business, I was thrilled to be given the opportunity to share it with you.

In Australia, when a woman births in a hospital or birth centre, she is usually given a 'bounty bag' - a collection of pamphlets and samples of products to take home. I received one with Che and can't recall using any of the products supplied - they all contained far too may chemicals for my liking.

But the Baobag is different. A beautifully designed calico bag that can be used to carry nappies, a change of clothes, toiletries etc, it is brimming with products from some of Australia's leading natural and organic companies including Jurlique, WotNot, Blackmores, Eco Store, Madame Flavour and Cushie Tushies. Over 70,000 new mums in Australia will be given a Baobag by their obstetrician, birth centre or yoga studio each year; an introduction to the world of organic and natural products for baby and the home.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Sonia, a passionate and considerate woman (and mother) about the Baobag and her desire to see Australian families embrace a more natural way of living. She has also given me a Baobag to give away to one of you. Simply leave a comment on this post and I will draw a winner on Friday afternoon. Read on for an inspiring look into the life of Sonia Walker and Baobag.

Jodi: What inspired you to create the Baobag?

Sonia: I grew up in outback Australia, and although I ended up in the corporate world and living in the big smoke, I have always been inspired by and drawn energy from nature.

After the birth of my kids in my early 30s, I started a bit of a personal investigation into ways for us to live a more natural and less toxic life. I was shocked when I discovered that the average woman applies 126 different chemicals to her face, body and hair via 12 different products before leaving the house each morning!

The more I learned, the more I decided to start going through our home to see how we could make changes to minimise our exposure to these potentially harmful chemicals. When chatting to my girlfriends, I realised I wasn’t alone in my concerns and started thinking about ways to help women make the shift to a more natural way of being and living, while still enjoying the things they love in everyday life. I know that during pregnancy, so many women start giving some serious thought to what they’re putting onto and into their bodies – so I wanted to find a way to help them through this process.

A glass of wine and a brainstorming session with a girlfriend lead to the idea of the BaoBag – and 18 months later, we now reach over 70,000 new Mums per annum nationwide!

Jodi: Where does the name come from?

Sonia: It's inspired by the mighty baobab trees that are indigenous to northern Australia and Africa (also known as the 'Boab' in Australia). They are renowned for their generous, abundant, and healing properties, providing life-giving shelter, water, food and medicine in the harshest of environments. Traditional Aboriginal women also bury their newborn child's placenta in the bowels of the tree to symbolise the child growing mighty and strong. They're the most amazing trees!

Jodi: How does your lifestyle and your ideals affect the way you run your company?

Sonia: They are one and the same. The company was inspired by the lifestyle and ideals we were pursuing in our own lives. Obviously I am no Robinson Crusoe in wanting to provide a healthy lifestyle for my family that minimises exposure to potentially harmful chemicals, and as I researched the options for us to adopt in our own lives I realised that there was a real gap here.

There are plenty of beautiful natural and organic products and services out there, but it can be hard to identify them amongst all the other products on the shelf. A new Mum is particularly receptive to reassessing her choice of product, but she is also particularly time poor and simply doesn't have time to go to 3 different shops and try out 3 different brands! There needed to be a vehicle that made it easy for busy Mums to find these alternatives, and research and try them out for themselves in the comfort of their own home.

Jodi: How important are organic skin products for mum & bub?

Sonia: There are two really good reasons to go organic.

The first is the imperative to minimise exposure to potentially harmful chemicals. There is enough evidence out there now to be really concerned about the prolonged use of many commonly used synthetic chemicals and ingredients, with consequences ranging from skin irritations, to respiratory ailments, to disrupted hormonal development and even to cancer. Why risk it when there are wonderful natural alternatives available, based on ingredients used throughout the history of mankind, and that are proven to be effective and safe?

The second reason is less scary and far more enjoyable. It is simply that organic = best quality ingredients. If you've ever slept on organic cotton sheets followed by non-organic you'll understand the difference. The same with taking a bite out of an organic apple versus non organic. The quality of the product is so superior. It is exactly the same with skincare ingredients - you're getting the highest quality ingredients at their freshest and most powerful. Once you've converted you don't go back.

Jodi: What's in the bag?

Sonia: The BaoBag is designed to be presented as a gift for Mum’s enjoyment, with useful items contained within, (as opposed to just another bag full of advertising and reading material).

The products represented are usually within the following categories:

Natural & organic skincare and consumable items for Mums and Bubs. In this category the aim is to avoid known or contentious ‘nasties’ such as Sulfates, PEGs, Parabens and Mineral Oils, where there are safer alternatives available. We use Bill Statham’s “The Chemical Maze” as a reference point to identify these ingredients. We hope to eventually include products for Dad in this category as well; it is just a matter of finding some good products that are effective and a provider who is willing to invest in this category.

This is very much a category of pampering and may also include items such as a tea or chocolate that is sourced ethically and contains no artificial ingredients.

Health Foods / Supplements - This category would include pregnancy specific supplements from a respected provider. From time to time we would also include an organic baby food range so that Mums can be aware that there are some wonderful alternatives to commercial baby food available for when their little one is ready to go on to solids.

Non toxic products & services for the home - This area is of particular concern considering the many harmful chemicals in most household cleaning products and the fact that babies spend so much time on the floor and putting things in their mouths. There are many plant based alternatives out there that are effective, much less irritating on sensitive skin, and far less toxic.

Nursery items - In this category we promote items such as ethically produced designer modern cloth nappies which offer a far more environmentally sound alternative to the disposables that are piling up in landfills across the planet. We also include eco friendly disposable nappies and all natural wipes. Other great items include sleeping bags and clothing items made out of natural fibres such as bamboo and merino wool. These fibres are known for their superior breathe-ability properties (in comparison to their synthetic counterparts), and as such for their effectiveness in helping to regulate body temperature.

Jodi: What is your criteria when selecting brands for the Baobag?

Sonia: Everything in the bag has to be something of value. They are not always pregnancy related - we remember Mum is still her own person and requires nourishment of her own body and spirits as well. The manufacturers and service providers we partner with all share a commitment towards using as natural and organic ingredients as possible and utilising sustainable and eco-friendly manufacturing processes. In addition they earn their place in the BaoBag because they are relevant, beautiful and useful.

Jodi: How does it make you feel, knowing that you are giving a new mum, one that you have never met, such a beautiful and nourishing product?

Sonia: Becoming a new Mum is such a life-changing stage, and I feel humbled and privileged to be able to contribute in some small way to such a powerful time of life for so many Mums around Australia. I remember my own journey of trying to find the best natural products for myself and my family and it was very time consuming! I’m thrilled to be able to make this process a bit easier for Mums-to-Be through the BaoBag.

At the end of the day though, it's really not about me. It's the wonderful product partners we work with who have generously provided quality samples at their own expense, so that we are able to provide a true free gift with no strings attached. BaoBag acts as a connection between these fantastic natural products and Aussie Mums looking to make a positive impact on the health of themselves, their baby and the planet. Everybody wins!

Jodi: No doubt Baobag will grow...but what are your greatest dreams for it?

Sonia: My dream is to inspire households around the whole of Australia to detoxify their lives one step at a time. I believe this is entirely achievable if we make it easy and enjoyable for them to do so. If we can pull that off, then we could collectively raise a whole generation of toxic free kids and leave them with a healthier planet while we're at it. Now we're talking about making a real difference!

UPDATE: Comments now closed. Winner of the baobag is cityhippyfarmgirl.

40 COMMENTS

Labels: giveaway , growing a baby , inspiring creatives

Tuesday, June 07, 2011

if you're a winner...

You can do a little dance. The nine winners of the eco nino giveaway are:

Rachel from Tea with Lucy

Leanne from Homemade Rainbows

Joanne from Three and a View

Sarah from Ramblings

Emily from The Beetle Shack

Jessica from Poppy and Ted

Sarah from Simple Sunshine

Matt & Ella from Live, Love, Leach

Claire from One Claire Day

Congratulations lovely ones. Please email your details to jodiclairewilson @ yahoo (dot) com (dot) au

And special thanks once again to Kylie, clever creator of eco nino change mat covers x

8 COMMENTS

Labels: giveaway

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

eco nino + a giveaway

In preparation for baby's arrival I've been searching out organic, mama-made and ethically produced products. Indeed, the baby world is swamped with the opposite - polyester, candy pink and badly drawn teddy bears. I've only bought necessary items so far, including a new change mat to fit on the top of a chest of drawers. But finding a change mat cover that fit my above criteria was proving to be a challenge. So, as I do quite regularly these days, I gave up on bricks-and-mortar shops and ventured onto the net where I happily stumbled across eco nino. The company was created by mum-of-two-boys Kylie and she continues to grow her business - in fabulous leaps and bounds.

She has been incredibly generous and has offered me 9, yes, 9 eco nino change mat covers to give away. The beauty of the product also lies in its practicality - it fits any change mat because it is designed like a fitted sheet. If you would like to go in the drawer to win one (and if you don't have a baby, I promise you, it will make a fabulous gift) just leave a comment below and I'll drawer the winner next Tuesday 7th June.

For more about eco nino, read on for an interview with Kylie.

Edit: For those of you who inquired about stockists - visit the eco nino facebook page

Jodi: What inspired you to start Eco Nino?

Kylie: The label really grew from a personal need, as I was not in favour of covering my change mat in terry toweling nappies or any of the covers that were available at that time. I started to make my own change mat covers, which were very rough as I cannot sew to save myself, and people started asking for them. It just grew from there.

Jodi: Have you done anything like this before?

Kylie: I am always creating something and have quite a love of textiles in particular. Previously I was a teacher and never thought I would be starting my own business, but chose to join the number of Mums that want to successfully run a business from home. I love the fact that I can (with a lot of help from Grandparents I might add) work my hours around the boys. I have the best of both worlds.

Jodi: Why organic?

Kylie: Really the choice was made for me as my two boys suffer from eczema and I always attempt to choose low allergenic or organic materials for them as they react to everything! As a family we really try to make decisions around the home that are positive for the environment and after researching the processes of organic cotton farming versus traditional cotton farming, it reinforced my choice. I love that the fabric is made specifically for the eco nino label.

Jodi: Can you please explain the design and creation process?

Kylie: The covers are designed by myself and manufactured overseas under strict certification. As I mentioned before, the fabric is specially designed and spun for the label, which gives it some individuality. The process from beginning to end has been quite a steep learning curve, as I have never had to oversee or manage production like this before. I would really love to have the covers manufactured here in Australia and am hoping to achieve this in the near future.

Jodi: What do your customers love about Eco Nino change mat covers?

Kylie: I think my customers enjoy the simplicity of the design, having an affordable option that becomes a part of the nursery design and is functional at the same time. The colour range really will suit any nursery décor and the design is pretty timeless. Apparently, they also launder well and dry quickly (funny what becomes important when you are a Mum).

Jodi: Your plans for the future of the business?

Kylie: Every week, I am asked what else will I be adding to the line. I am quite overwhelmed with the support I have received from customers and the eagerness to see what is coming next – it is just great. The label is still so new and my time has been devoted to making sure the covers are high quality and distributed well (the age old adage of doing one thing and doing it well).

76 COMMENTS

Labels: creating and making , giveaway

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Watercolours - book launch and giveaway

I first met Adrienne about 7 years ago when she was 36weeks pregnant with her twin boys. She came into the bookstore I was working in, looking for a novel that required little concentration. We started chatting and over the next few years, caught up quite regularly. We're both writers and it was a pleasure to meet someone with the same love of words. She told me, way back when her twins were still in the belly, that she was working on a novel. Fast-forward to Sunday just gone and in that same bookstore where we met, she launched Watercolours - her novel that she so often refers to as her "10 year baby."

The narrative is superb, the characters so well-developed, and her descriptions of a small Australian town are absolutely wonderful. I'm so inspired by her talent and ultimately her desperate need to finish the story of the boy she dreamed up so long ago. Her husband, actor Rob Carlton (who recently played Kerry Packer in the ABC mini-series Paper Giants), introduced Adrienne on Sunday, and spoke of her passion for the written word and her unwavering dedication to the project. Lack of time, motherhood and editorial criticism didn't stop her mid-sentence. She just kept going till the tale was told, with many a late night spent tapping away. And now, lucky for us, we can delve into the story of artist-genius Novi and the small town of Morus where he spends his childhood.

The lovely people at Harpercollins 4th Estate have given me two copies to give away and Adrienne has promised that she'll sign them before I send them to the winners. Please leave a comment below and I'll draw a winner next Tuesday 24th May. Read on for a fascinating interview with the writer herself.

Jodi: Do you remember where you were when Watercolours first came to mind?

Adrienne: On the Island of Lipari, in Sicily! I was on a backpacking holiday after uni and having the most wonderfully luscious time, climbing volcanoes and eating bags of fresh figs. The character of Novi came to me first, a boy with a gift for art and an obsession with drawing the people around him. I thought it would be interesting to see what would happen if a particularly sensitive and observant child drew pictures of his community and its history, how the results might come across as spooky or even threatening to the adults around him with something to hide.

Jodi: You refer to it as your "10 year baby." What kept you motivated in that decade?

Adrienne: Friends and family were very supportive, and I’m very grateful for their encouragement. Ultimately though, I loved the story - especially the Australian silk-growing history I uncovered during my research and I just had an unwavering urge to share it! I became quite fond of the characters, too; I liked hanging out in the town I created, so this kept enticing me back to my desk.

Jodi: You admit that writing can be a lonely business but you managed to create characters with so much depth. Did they ever feel completely real to you?

Adrienne: On some level they took on a life of their own, and inhabiting them gave some unexpected depth to my life during the period I was writing the book. For example, sometimes I’d be reading the paper and come across an article that would normally be of no interest to me, but I knew it would have an impact on one of my characters and so it made me sit up and take notice. The Business Section took on a whole new level of significance, as did the local rag! But the character of Novi, the story’s eleven-year-old protagonist, was the character I related to most deeply because his story is of one of becoming an artist. When I started writing the novel I had no idea what I was doing, but writing - like art and music and all creative processes - are really quite similar, involving struggles with inspiration and self-doubt, self-discipline, loneliness and exhilaration. It’s quite a rollercoaster! Novi’s journey felt similar to my own and this gives an authentic emotional anchor to the book.

Jodi: How did the map of Morus help you in the writing process?

Adrienne: My wonderful artist friend, Rachel Couper, sketched a big map of my fictional town on butcher’s paper, with the river and the sea, the highway and streets and all the character’s houses set in place. This allowed me to keep the physical landscape in my head, to picture my characters in action, moving around town and the different routes they took. She also helped me draw a storyline map, a visual representation that captured all the strands and elements, how they intersected and where the climaxes were – this was incredibly helpful because I felt at times that I was drowning in text, in piles and piles of pages. Having something visual up on the wall allowed me to quickly navigate where I was up to in the story and to fix the setting in my mind.

Jodi: What was the most enjoyable part of the writing journey for you?

Adrienne: With each draft, the feeling that the manuscript was getting better. Editing notes can be confronting, but once you get over the demoralizing fact that more work needs to be done and start incorporating the suggestions that feel right, very quickly you see how much your manuscript is improving, and that is so exciting - it gives you a whole new burst of energy.

Jodi: What was the most challenging?

Adrienne: Juggling motherhood with writing. The two can seem at odds with each other and I often felt wrenched in two directions. My husband’s career had taken off and he was busy and away from home a lot - it felt like there was no time or energy for my own creative work. It’s not an easy phase of life, but parenthood does make you efficient with your time and it forces you to sort out the things that are most important. I had to carve out time for writing, and when I did I was much more content. When the twins started school I suddenly found balance again and I couldn’t believe how much progress I could make in a week.

Jodi: In one sentence, describe what Watercolours is about.

Adrienne: A small town mystery steeped in a vivid Australian landscape, where love and good intentions triumph.

Jodi: Any plans for another novel?

Adrienne: My next novel is set in Avoca Beach, about a lonely young mother who becomes obsessed with a sailor watching her from a coal bulker moored just outside her cliff-top house. It’s a story of youth, aging and the discomfort of transition.

Jodi: For all those writers who dream of completing a novel - what is your advice?

Adrienne: Start now, because it will take you longer than you think. And don’t worry about getting it out perfectly in the beginning, there’s plenty of time for editing, and some of the best stuff comes out in raw form. Just harness your energy to your ideas and let them fly!

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Labels: friends , giveaway , writing

Thursday, April 28, 2011

keepsakes: a giveaway

Occasionally a book is released that I just have to have! 'Keepsakes' by Frances Hansen is one of them. Part cook book, part art book and very much a personal scrapbook, it is a joy to devour. Between the recipes are sketches, stickers and miscellany that combine to represent a collection of memories - it is a celebration of DIY, home making and family life. The beauty of 'Keepsakes' is held in its history; Frances has collated a bunch of handwritten, old recipes and preserved them forever - what was once ephemera is now bound in a book with deckled edges.

I had the pleasure of asking Frances a few questions about her book. Enjoy the interview below.

The lovely people at Hardie Grant publishers are also offering one of my readers a copy of 'Keepsakes'. To make this fun, please leave a comment with the name of your favourite family recipe - I'm so interested to know what food has remained a favourite for generations in your family life. This giveaway is open to Australian and New Zealand residents only. I'll announce a winner next Thursday 5th May.

Jodi: Keepsakes began as a present for a loved one. When did it become a book?

Frances: I made the book over three months; Sept, Oct & Nov of last year. The original version was made three years ago, as a wedding gift for my youngest sister, Fleur Wood who is a fashion designer based in Sydney, I really wanted to give her something special and meaningful as a gift. She loves to cook and my sisters and I are often asking each if we remember a particular family recipe, I also thought it would be a great opportunity to compile all our family favourites, some of my own mostly vegetarian inventions as well as family photos, images of my artwork and other quirky images and inspiration for her.

Jodi: How do you think cooking and art are similar?

Frances: Good Question!

They are surprising similar.... my version of a good cook is someone who can create something out of nothing, substitute ingredients if they don't have something in their pantry or a cook who is inventive and creative when it comes to planning a meal.

My art making process is very similar, I recently had an exhibition at Sydneys' First Draft Gallery, the title of the show was Nothing but Something, the accompanying essay was a discussion around the idea of Gleaning, which is traditionally a food / left over crop gathering activity. Currently I am making large paintings of puddings, this is a direct response to publishing a book about food, I am having heaps of fun painting images of large milky puddings such as Blancmange and Junket, I am just planning a painting based on a 1950's dessert called Raspberry fool.

I don't normally make images of food! Although often my work is concerned with the domestic, my most recent exhibition at Snowwhite, a gallery here in Auckland , was entitled Home & Contents. The work included paintings, embroidery on face cloths, found headboards and a grid of stretched nets and aprons, probably a little difficult to visualise, but the work was a celebration of the DIY mentality, something Kiwis excell at.

Jodi: As a mum of two children, how important is cooking in your home?

Frances: Well, I cook dinner most nights!

I have a very productive vegetable garden so that is the challenge for me, whatever is happening in the garden determines what is on the table. We have a new crop of rhubarb, so I'm cooking with that right now, stewed with homemade muesli. Having younger children has been limiting in terms of cooking, not when it comes to creating birthday cakes, but more the typical dinner, as I work full time, I get lazy and make kid food, although I enjoy the challenge of ramping this up into more exciting adult type food with the addition of a few ingredients, secret herbs and spices....

Jodi: Keepsakes has pride of place on my kitchen table at the moment and it seems to easily attract the eyes of neighbours and visitors. How does it feel to have such a personal scrapbook of history and creativity on the kitchen tables of strangers?

Frances: The original version was way more scrappy, rough and personal, particularly with family photographs, so a certain amount of editing went on when I made the new version. Having said that my publisher made the decision to not edit the pages at all so the book has all these spelling mistakes and other grammatical errors, which would be present in the average persons scrapbook of recipes, (at least I like to think this is the case). My favourite mistake is where have written Golden Sydney instead of Golden Syrup, I think I was about 17 when I wrote that one out and had just moved there.

Overall I feel really happy with Keepsakes, my family and friends who contributed are all delighted to be part of it, it was a pleasure to make, one of those moments where everything works out effortlessly. I actually felt sad when I realised I had completed the last page. It is a little strange to see your personal keepsakes published, but I do think many people have similar family keepsakes of their own and can relate to the material easily.

Jodi: What are your hopes for Keepsakes?

That it inspires others to make their own. I inhertited my godmother's recipe book and it is much more than just a recipe book to me, it speaks so strongly of her personality, and brings back fond memories of her. It was so special to make pages centred around her and her recipes.

Jodi: Any plans for another book?

Frances: Absolutely

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Labels: cooking , corners of my home , giveaway