making amends

Thankyou for your comments, after reading them and re-reading my blog post, I apologise if I sounded way too grumpy. I have never been great with expressing my thoughts into words. That's one of the reasons why I studied photography. I had been talking to friends about the similarity of some products seen recently, by different people / companies. And wonder how the original creator feels about the mutation of their idea or design. Also, how people can simultaneously create something with no knowledge of the other. The internet is a great tool for sharing ideas, creating and seeking inspiration but unfortunately people do get ideas stolen.
At the moment I am finding the balance of running a shop in person, maintaining it on-line and being a Mum a little tricky. As you may know Arthur heads to school next year, so time with him is precious. I wish our shop could be open more than 3 days a week, and that sometimes Arthur wasn't around when the shop is supposed to be open. But for the time being it is how we're running things and after all it is called Arthur's Circus for a reason. So to Anthony, Lisa, Kate, Clare, Jessi and LotelIT shoot me an email at info@arthurscircus.com with your address and a little something will be coming your way. I really appreciate your feedback, though I still can't figure out of 14,000+ views of one item in our shop, why no one has bought it. ;-)

mama's makin' bunting

I've been making bunting from vintage children book pages for a while now and quietly selling them in our shop. I haven't seen the idea elsewhere but knowing what this online world is like, it's more than likely someone else makes something kinda the same too. And if not, here's my idea - and go forth and copy it, because that's what happens in this ole world. We share, we inspire and then we rip off. Yes I am feeling cynical today. : ) By "we" I mean people not specifially "us". BUT seeing as this is my 200th blog post, who would have thought I could manage that. So if you help me out with an answer to a question, then one or two of you will randomly receive a paper bunting and / or other Arthur's Circus treats. It appears we have a lot of viewers to our online shop. So here is my question what does or doesn't make you buy something from it or perhaps other online shops? Is it the price, is it the postage or is it something else? What are you looking for when you look online? You can email us if you don't want the world to see, although I moderate comments so no one has to know. Oh and you could also buy our bunting here.

adding a few new things

Plugging away on my computer getting distracted by other links, blogs and things when I should just upload some pics to the online shop. Anyways a few new items added so far. Trying to have a bit of an online dust, sweep and clean. Other news is that this Saturday we will be closing early at 3.30pm. Yes I found the lost tickets which means we can go. I did actually sit down after a good frantic 1 hour search and ask out aloud "where are the tickets St Anthony". Lay down on my bed quietly and bam the answer came to me, I kid you not. Found inside a handbag used over one month ago, which was in the laundry, inside a large backpack. Obvious place to leave tickets right?

a day in bed...

Some day I would like a day in bed, with nothing but books and magazines sprawled around me. It seems that day could be today but not quite as I imagined. My neck is out and I cannot move it....Lucky we use a laptop. However the many things I had planned to get done today are now not happening. My parenting skills are out the window, whilst Arthur is glued to ABC Kids television. With my regular yelling out, are you okay. He even got his breakfast this morning. Lucky the dishes were clean in the dishwasher is all I can say. Next noise of concern was dog food hitting the metal bowl. All good. Dog fed, child fed and I'm still in bed. Nick is working elsewhere. I wonder how much longer I have until I resume to 'mother' life. 10am I reckon, after Playschool finishes.

small shop update

a sneak peek of two things added to the online shop today. I am trying to add a few more but with Arthur lurking in and out of the shop, armed with our water sprayer and window squeegie (how do you spell that) I'm keeping my eyes on him. Anyone in need of some cheap-child-window-cleaning labour? Oh the very lovely tea towel is by Susan aka spin spin. She hand screenprints them here in Melbourne on 100% linen and I didn't iron it for the photo., does that make me a bad photographer/shopkeeper ?

thankyou St Anthony

I promise I won't call you Tony or Tone..... Yes my camera charger randomly turned up last night without me spending hours searching throughout our house and car. So now I can resume posting as I just can't have words on this here blog. So this week has seen me framing - first up a custom framing job for a customer who asked about us framing the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles that he had spied in the shop. It was a tricky and time consuming one but I think it turned out well. Also more screenprints in store from the UK. Now I can finally make a start on photographing and uploading some new stock to the neglected online shop. Oh we were also were reviewed in The Age newspaper at the weekend. 4 stars ( I hope that's out of 5 ) and next time I'll try to remember to unlock the front door before a customer attempts to get in.

we've been busy

I feel like I've been neglecting the online world of Arthur's Circus of recent. We have been rather busy with this wee project. Fingers crossed it will all be dandy asap. I haven't planned a fancy blog post, as it's been a week of Arthur having an ear infection and me feeling torn between being a mother and a shopkeeper and doing neither exceptionally well. I'm about ready for a new week to begin, finding my awol camera charger and awol tickets to Yo Gabba Gabba. Which Saint is it that I need to pray to for finding lost things?

stop me if you think you've heard this one before...

I think I may have mentioned that we have too much stuff. Home stuff, shop stuff, child stuff etc etc... so sometimes I need to think outside the square when it comes to finding a home for certain stuff. We seriously lack cupboards, shelving, storage etc so what does one do? Well with a partner who collects old toy service stations (many of which young Arthur is not allowed to play with) and no more shelves available I have found a new home in our ensuite. Perfect to house yet more bathroom type stuff.

it runs in the family....

Without going into too much detail, a little bribery was required a few weeks ago for a certain 4 year old, involving a toileting change in behaviour. Nothing too serious, so we asked if he would like to choose something for himself and if after 2 weeks of the new and improved behaviour he could have that chosen something. So he asked for our guide to vintage Fisher Price. Yes it's true. After much flipping of pages and ummming it was announced that he would like the huffy puffy train. Jeepers, lucky he didn't choose a 1930's original pull toy.... So a little internet searching I had found huffy puffy in the USA. It's a little tattered, but well loved and the postage cost way more than the train itself. But behaviour has changed for good.