The Circle Interview

So today was the day that we were featured on The Circle.  It was so exciting watching the interview but what has been even better is the response we have had!  So many amazing people emailing us or commenting on Facebook about how they love our products, it certainly makes all of our hard work worth it!

If you want to watch the interview check it out here

Connect2Mums Giveaway

Update: Announcing the winner of the giveaway:

Drumroll please.........

Laila - a late entry but an important one!  We will contact you via email to organise delivery

Congratulations


Hi Guys and welcome to the Connect2Mums and Olives Tree Giveaway. We are giving you the chance to win an Olives Tree gift pack which includes:

• 1 x bassinet quilt of your choice
• 1 x dribble bib
• 1 x baby bib
• 1 x cushion

For you chance to win our amazing gift pack all you have to do is:

1. Head over to our website at http://www.olivestree.com.au/
2. Check out our quilt range
3. Come back here and leave a comment letting us know what your favourite design is (or which one you'd like to win!)
4. Like Connect2Mums Facebook page

After double the chance to win? Just Like us on Facebook and we will give you a second entry!

Good luck!
Sally

Waste not, want not

Ever wondered where old film sets go? I have and now I know!  Film Biz Recycling is a New York based business that takes old sets and auctions them off for charity!  Such an amazing idea.

Sally

Its Shopping night - Christmas Gifts

As promised here are some of my favourite products from the participants in tonights Connect2Mums Shopping Spectacular

Its Shopping Night

Last week I told you about our exclusive online shopping event with Connect 2 Mums. Well tonight is the night!  From 7.30pm tongiht join us online at Facebook to enjoy great special offers, discounts and prizes from an amazing group of companies.

How do you participate?

1. Head over to the Connect2Mums facebook page here
2. Like their page
3. Be online between 7.30pm (AEST) and 10.30pm tonight to find out what the offers are!

We have put together the best offer ever, I can't tell you about it yet but if you like our bibs and free stuff then you'll love it too!

Want to know who else is participating?  Here is the list.  I will share some of my favourite things from these guys throughout the day to get you excited.

http://www.olivestree.com.au/ - thats us!
http://www.gemcandles.com.au/
http://www.chillibeachdesigns.com/
http://www.storksak.com.au/
http://www.koolamandesigns.com.au/
http://www.thetoybug.com.au/
http://www.magneticmoves.com.au/
http://www.kidslearningisfun.com/
http://www.passitforwardgifts.com.au/
http://www.little-eco.com.au/
http://www.swishlily.com.au/

Sally

We've joined Facebook

After a long time of blogging and tweeting we have finally decided to expand our horizons to Facebook as well.  Head on over to our Facebook page for the latest news and to Like Us

The Circle

Yesterday I promised more exciting news and here it is......

We are going to be on The Circle! You know, the Channel 10 TV show, can you believe it? We can't!

    

How did we score the interview? Through Alli from Motivating Mum. She writes here about how she scored her interview on The Circle.  

We will be interviewed tomorrow for a series on Mumpreneurs, we have been selected for the 'working with family' segment. We are all very excited and I think we have all tried on our whole wardrobe one hundred times!

I will let you know how it goes and I'll be sure to take photos and share with you after the interview.

Wish us luck!

Sally

Connect2Mums Online Shopping Spectacular

I have great news to share (and more tomorrow).  Olives Tree has been selected to be a part of the Connect2Mums Shopping Spectacular.  Details below and more to come leading up to the big day including an amazing special offer AND a giveaway

Wordless Wednesday: Fun

Thats Pinterest-ing {Halloween}

This morning I discovered the 5 minutes just for me blog through Home Life Simplified. Every week these ladies have a link up on the great things they find on Pinterest.  Now I am addicted to this new site, more than I ever was with Facebook or Twitter so I thought I would join in the fun. 

This is week is Halloween.  In Australia we don't really do Halloween like the Americans do but every year I have a few groups of kids come past trick or treating and I always make sure I have some chocolates for their efforts.

I was more attaracted to natural, earthy halloween rather than orange and scary halloween this week.

 

Via Shelley Pinney from potterybarn.com

Via Melissa McConnell from Marthastewart.com 

 

These last two I added to Pinterest as I just love them (maybe thats cheating!)

They are from Potterybarn.com

Perfect is the cure for happiness

That's the adage and its a book.  Yesterday I did a leadership course through my corporate job and part of that was receiving 360 degree feedback.  Its always a learning experience having 8 other people answer over 200 questions about you and then comparing that to the responses you gave yourself!

I had one area that was exactly the same results from both sides - Perfectionism.  Its no surprise really I know I am a perfectionist and if you asked my friends, family and colleagues I don't think you'd find anyone who would disagree.  I strive to be the best I can be and believe that anyone who wants to be their best can be with hard work and determination.  That belief was a gift from my mother and grandmother.  Two strong women.

To be honest I've never had a problem with it and even when my coach pushed me yesterday to try and figure out the areas of my life that striving for perfection adds stress to I just couldn't pinpoint anything.  If anything I was trying to convince her it makes my life easier!  Am I just fooling myself? And why am I even questioning it?

Because I have just finished reading a series of posts entitled Perfectly Imperfect.  This was an initiative started by Kate from picklebums.  I have to give my respect to all the bloggers that posted, their honesty is what is now make me question my blase acceptance of my perfectionism.  Whilst I don't have kids yet and most of the posts are about mothers analysing their needs to be the perfect mother I think the message is still clear - maybe 80% is good enough, acceptable or even better than perfection.  Maybe it shows others that you are real, that you too fail and sometimes doubt what you are doing.

I am not perfect, I stuff up, I say things I shouldn't, I get angry too quick sometimes, I don't go to all the family events I'm invited to (you should see how many there are!) I never answer the phone and lately I have been lazy with the garden.  This is what happens when you neglect your garden!

But that is who I am, I also do good things.  I'll help you with whatever problem you have, I'll jump into new projects feet first and I've given a whole weekend away without even realising it, I'll be there for my family whenever they need me regardless of the past.

I don't have kids yet (hopefully soon) and I am going to take the opportunity to lessen my perfectionisic (is that a word??) tendencies before they come, I want to enjoy motherhood as much as I can, so I'm going to learn from all the amazing women who took the time to do a Perfectly Imperfect post.

Sally

Doing it by halves

I do enjoy a wee dessert from time to time but when I do make the effort to bake a pie half of it ends up being thrown away as a whole pie is too much for just the two of us.  So when I saw this pie tin I was in heaven.  Its supposed to be for people who can't decide which pie they want so they can bake two types, but for me it means I can bake half a pie and then not feel guilty about throwing away the other half!

Sally

Colour Challenge: Optimism

I have been starting to dread this colour challenge, I am feeling extremely under prepared for it and wondering whether I should just pull the pin.  Then I saw this

So I am reinvigorated.  I can do it. I will do it

Sally   

A timely reminder

I just discovered these amazing post it note watches through the Swiss Miss blog. They are so appropriate for a few people I know, write them a reminder and attach it to their wrist, therefore no excuses.  I really do marvel at the creative brains out there.

Sally

Colour Challenge: I need to set a budget

Its 6 sleeps to my colour challenge and that means shopping, lots of it and not much time. So I've been spending lots of time online shopping.  After visiting the US earlier this year opened my eyes to just how much extra we pay in Australia, its criminal really. Then shopping on the weekend just confirmed it - Australia is expensive! So to save some money I am going to give online shopping a good go.  I have already purchased a skirt but I need to get committed.

My first stop was Rachel Roy - I just LOVE her style! The dress I posted here which is my one color item is a Rachel Roy which I bought when I was in the US for $120!  I first came across Rachel Roy whilst watching Private Practice (yes I know sad).  The main Dr lady was wearing an amazing dress so I Googled and found a link to Rachel Roy - I have been in love ever since.

This was the first dress I fell in love with and found it in Australia for $700.  I bought it in the US for $80 on sale! (Not part of my color challenge obviously)

Right back to the point! I need to set a budget, and that means I need a wardrobe plan.  It would be really easy to buy a whole heap of colorful items and still not be able to put an outfit together because none of it matches!  I'm not looking forward to it but I'm going to try.  I'll be using Kendi Everyday's 30 for 30 as a base.

Sally

Color Challenge: I'm on my way

I went shopping on the weekend to get ready for my color challenge.  I got up early so I could avoid the crowds and hopefully arrive to shop assistants still getting ready for the day rather than wanting to serve me. I have to say it was a good plan, not many people around, tidy stores (which I love, as it makes it much easier to choose what I like) and the people who served me were great.  I forced myself to visit stores I normally wouldn't and I was pleasantly surprised.  Below are some pics of what I purchased - notice the colors! Ignore the one grey jacket I slipped in.

Color Challenge: Reality bites

Ok so I am committed to my color challenge - well most of it anyway!  I am committed to adding color to my wardrobe I've even told people at work about it so they can keep me honest.  There was a suggestion that one day I wear a big red flower in my hair, now thats a bit much to start with.

But can I do color every day from 1st November - well I'm not sure about that. Truth be told I have one outfit that fits into my color challenge and its already the 21st October!  That means I have 10 days to shop! (now I've just written that it does seem achievable)  So I'm going to try but I do have a back up (read: cop out) which is to say I will do it once a week.

I have taken the first step.  I have emailed my personal shopper to book in and get some help!  There is no way she cwill be available before November so I'm going to have to do some shopping on my own.  I started using a personal shopper because I hate shopping.  The endless wandering around looking at more of the same, the assistants either ignoring me or all over me, the different sizes in each store so I have no idea which one to pick off the shelf.  I hate shopping.

So today I dropped past Zara on the way home from work.  There was a heap of color items to choose from but the line was sooooo long to try anything on I didn't even bother picking anything off the racks, I just strolled around aimlessly.  Oh how I hate shopping.

Then on the train on the way home I was browsing around some online stores but nothing really took my fancy.  I am starting to understand why my wardrobe is so boring! And did I mention I hate shopping.

Maybe if I just buy a load of accessories in colors that can start me off.  I'm getting nervous - can you tell?

Pippa rocks red

Following on with my color theme (yes I am a little obsessed at the moment with my wardrobe) I've been doing some more browsing looking for inspiration.  I have come across alot of pictures of Pippa Middleton. I have to say I did LOVE her on the big wedding day and I think she does a good job of being stylish without too over the top.  Here are a few of my favourite pics of her giving red a go

Hmmm I think I need to book in my personal shopper!

A colour challenge and a purchase

Yesterday I told you how I needed some color!  Its spring and time to get out of the blacks, greys and navy's.  So I have set myself a challenge:

From the 1st November - every outfit, everyday has to have some color in it! 

Thats a massive step for me and it means shopping.  I can hear the cheers now - problem is I hate shopping.  Actually I loathe it, I am happy to shop for others but shopping for myself isn't one of my favourite past times.  I even have a personal shopper that I meet twice a year to force me to go shopping!  But thats got to change, if I've got any chance in the color challenge I am going to need to shop, quickly.

So today I started - online on the way to work I was determined to find a new 'colorful' summer skirt.  Now don't get me wrong I'm not going to go from blacks to multi color out there patterns overnight and my first purchase is rather safe but still its color.

Here it is my new ginger skirt that is on its way from ASOS to my front door as we speak

When it arrives I will share a picture of it with you, now I'm off to find accessories to match.......

Sally

I need some color

Ok its time for a change. We are currently house sitting which means I only have about a quarter of my wardrobe with me but when I opened it this morning I was depressed. Its full of black, grey, navy and more black!  I have one dress that is colorful, and even then I wear it with black! So its time to liven things up.

I began browsing around the web on the way to work for inspiration and through Oh the Lovely Things  I came across Atlantic-Pacific - now this girl does color!

This is my one color dress (thats a pic from the web, not me)

And now for what I am going to get to! This first one is still a bit safe (small steps)

Getting a little more out there - I couldn't do the lipstick but the rest is a nice summer outfit

And how is this for a great color combination!  This is my target, a complete outfit of color, not a black, grey or navy in sight!

Wish me luck

Theres no place like home

We are always so busy,  I have a corporate job, a small business to run and we are still finishing the renovation. The past few months feel like they have been work, work, work. So today I am hanging up my work boots and relaxing at home, I'm not painting, I'm not working.  I'm going to hang on the couch with a pot of tea and Marlo and just do nothing!

This is what inspired me

Image Source: Pinterest

Kid Style Hub - getting closer

Its the launch of Kids Style Hub this Friday night and as the night approaches I am getting more excitied.  One because it gave me an excuse to book in for a hair cut and color which is long overdue and also because its the first retail store we have stock in!

Saturday morning we packed up all our stock and headed over to meet the lovely Nicole.  She has a massive task on her hands, lots ofpainting and styling was still to be done but we have every confidence it will all be ok on the day!

Below is a pic of the temporary display - if you are in Melbourne in the Hawthorn area be sure to drop by.  She is located at 436 Burwood Road, Hawthorn.

Thanks Fran

I just arrived home from our weekend down at Mt Martha and started catching up on that work that I didn't get to yesterday.  I plonked myself down resigned to get through the boring stuff about running a website, update photos, update prices, take items off that have sold out etc etc.

But I was pleasantly suprised to be greetd by our first product review!  We recently moved to a new website platform that provides heaps of extra goodness and reviews is one of them.  Fran is a regular customer of ours and we have done some custom quilts in the Japanese Farm Girl for her.  Here is what she has to say:

1. Gorgeous quilts

   Posted by Fran on 30th Sep 2011
   I had 2 farm girl quilts made with slight differences to each. The stitching is of high standard and the quality of the fabric is equally of high standard. Having purchased many items from this site, I will continue to do so. If you are after quality, you are in for a treat. Try the bibs, they are great wash after wash and the colours are vibrant.

5 stars! We couldn't ask for more than that.  A happy customer makes a happy Olives Tree team. :)

If you would like to take a closer look at our Japanes Farm Girl Gift Pack click below:
http://olivestree.mybigcommerce.com/gift-box-cot-quilt-farm-girl/

Sally

Congrats to the Cats

This year for Grand Final Day we decided to head down the coast to Mt Martha and relax rather than join our friends at a pub or house party.  Mr B is a mad Geelong fan so I think he was secretly happy he could watch the game uninterrupted!

I decided to use the day to catch up on some work but instead my creative juices were flowing and I started a new project!  I'm not sure why I do it to myself when I'm already so busy but I am fairly sure I'm onto something!  I got so into it that it feels like I only started 5 minutes ago but I just looked up and Mr B was jumping up and down celebrating the Cats win!

So well done to the Geelong cats, a well deserved win, enjoy the win I know Mr B is!

Mathildas Market

It's on again, the Mathilda's Market Special Christmas Shopping market and we are so excitied to be there.  We have been going to Mathilda's since the early days of Olives Tree and we love getting back to see our regular customers as well as new mums who are getting ready for their little ones to join this world.

We would love to see you guys there as well, for more info click on the banner below to go to the Mathilda's website

Sally

Anzac Biscuits

Who can go past Anzac biscuits? Certainly not me so tonight I thought I would make some, no particular reason, just felt like it. Here is my recipe:

1 cup plain flour

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup rolled oats

1/2 cup coconut

2-3 tbsp golden syrup (depending how chewy you like them!)

1 tbsp water

1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 170C

2. Sift the flour and add the sugar, oats and coconut

3. Melt the butter in a saucepan and add the water and golden syrup

4. Stir in the bicarb and then add the liquid to the dry mix

5. Mix well

6. Line a baking tray with baking paper

7. Place biscuits on the baking tray - I use a dessert spoon to make them all evenly sized

8. Bake for 15 - 20 minutes

9. Remove from oven and allow to cool - this is when they will harden

10. Enjoy!

Once you have mixed the liquid into the dry mix it should be more on the dry side than gooey. As long as you can create a ball from the mixture without it falling apart the biscuits will stay together.

When watching the biscuits you will know they are ready by their color. The picture above was taken at 15 minutes so I gave them only 1 more minute. They don't actually harden in the oven so don't leave them in too long or they will burn!

Waiting for the Anzacs to cool is the hardest part!


Enjoy

Sally

Canberra here we come

As you all know Mathilda'sMarket is one of our favourites and we have been at all the Melbourne Markets over the past year or so and now we are adding Canberra to our list! We are so excited as this will be our first non Victorian market so we will get to meet a whole swag of new people!  To find out more information on Mathilda's Canberra click the banner below

Sally

More muslin

We love muslin wraps, mainly for the fact they help our little ones sleep longer and soundly!  We also know that you love them as every time we get new ones in stock they run out the door!  I have been searching around for some new muslin in the past week and have come across some gorgeous designs that I just had to share with you all.  I am not sure if we will stock them yet so I am interested in your thoughts.


This navy Nani Iro design is just devine, I'm not sure whether I like such a dark color on little girls though.....

I discovered this one through Flint Knits and whilst I love it, again I'm not sure its right for babies

Dots are always a winner, simple yet still special these may appear in our store soon!

I'm still searching for more boy prints, they are the hardest to find!

Don't forget we have the new Birch Collection launching in November and we are taking pre-orders online now.

Kid Style Hub

I have been itching to share some news with you all but have been busy with so many other things! Olives Tree has been accepted by Kid Style Hub to feature our products in their retail space. We have been thinking about finding some retailers for a month or so now and I'm just so excited that the first one has happened so quickly.

Kid Style Hub is such a great idea. Nicole has created a concept of bringing together designers to work and retail in the same space so they can feed ideas and learn from one another - it's such a great initiative. For more click the banner to go to the website.

We will share more information with you closer to the launch date of October 15! Not long to go now...

New Muslin collection

After the massive success of our last muslin wraps I am pleased to announce the new Olives Tree Birch Muslin Collection.  Muslin wraps are always a fantastic present for new mums because they are so versatile.  Available in 3 colors, silver grey, pink and blue the Birch collection suits all your needs.

Whilst we are still waiting for the fabric to arrive check out the pictures below of our sample fabric and place your pre-orders now.  If our last range is anything to go by they are sure to sell out quickly!

We are in the Herald Sun

Here it is, our first feature.  I am so excited to share with you our feature in The Herald Sun. 

To see the online version click here

Spring colors are on sale

Spring really has had a big effect on me this year, winter was just so dull and cold that a couple of warm days and the flowers budding really has lightened my mood!  So I thought I would celebrate by putting our bibs in spring colors on sale! To go to the sale click here

Check out the pictures of my niece Winter to get a taste of the designs on sale

Olives Tree Spring Sale - click here

Sally