A LITTLE BIRTHDAY GIFT TO MYSELF

Today I am extra lucky as it’s my birthday. Now it’s not a major milestone, but one’s not too far away (thanks for the reminder Mum!), and a few different things have been happening lately that have made me think about what’s important to me and where do I want to be when I do turn the big four oh.

I’m really excited about the future and all the amazing opportunities that are out there. I have a great family, a little gift from God, fabulous friends and I’m lucky enough to call Canberra and Townsville home.

Each day I find new and wonderful things that I want to do, see and make. I’m lucky enough to be able to share that passion with people locally and virtually, and I really cherish that.

I’ve had my blog now for 11 years and it’s brought so much good into my life that I just don’t know where I would be today if it wasn’t for this space I call my own.

Back in 2009 I was lucky enough to engage with Gareth Hardy of Down With Design who put a face to my blog.  The GnomeAngel that he created for me is much loved and has become part of my identity, both online and off.

I love my gnome and I am so very thankful to Gareth for his amazing work. (And I do still hold that one day I will get Gareth‘s gnomeangel as a tattoo!)

In January I decided to change a few things in my life and one of the big (but really not so big in the scheme of life in general) decisions I made was to cut all my hair off. I’d been dreaming of hair like a Kardashian and it was time to accept the fact, that while my hair might be thick and curly when long, it’s a bugger of an upkeep and all I ever did was wear it tied back.

Having the new “do” made such a difference to my outlook and gave me a bit of a kick up the pants mentally. It spurred on a couple of other things that I had been thinking about and it made me long for a fresh new look for the my little gnome.

I strongly believe that Canberra is a hot bed of awesomely talented people and I was really fortunate to be introduced to the wonderful Wita from Wita Puspita Design. (You may know Wita via her uber fabulous design blog: Design is Yay. Or as the creator of my all time favourite Canberra print.)

Wita and I got to talking and she agreed to help give my branding a bit of a makeover. I’m so excited at what she was able to do with something that is so very dear to me. (I didn’t make it easy for her as I’m rather attached and protective of my gnome!)

Wita was able to give me the update I wanted while still holding on to the gnome that I love and it’s made today a little bit more special.

(To those that think my original gnome is now up for grabs – don’t go getting any ideas; she’s still mine and I hold the papers to prove it!)