Archive for the ‘General’ Category

Christmas Order Cut Off Dates…

For orders required prior to 25 December 2009, please have your order in by Friday 18th December 2009.

With the following exceptions:

International Orders (outside Australia):
Please have your order in by Monday 30 November

9ct Gold and Sterling Silver orders:
Please have your order in by Monday 7th December

Late orders…

Late orders may be accepted, and will be processed on a first come first served basis, subject to stock and time availability.  For orders received in the last week (19-23 Dec) before Christmas you will need to upgrade to Express Post if you require pre-Christmas Delivery.

Please keep in mind that if you reside in Tasmania, Western Australia, Northern Territory, or any other country area that is OUTSIDE of the the Australia Post next day delivery network for parcels dispatched from Sydney, you will need to allow extra time for your Express Post delivery.

Christmas and New Year Trading…

We will be processing orders right through until close of business on Wednesday 23rd December 2009. 

Then we will be taking a short break over the Christmas and New Year period from Thursday 24th December and will re-open on Monday 4th January 2010. 

Orders can still be placed during this time, and will be processed upon our return.

Here are a few tips that will assist you in choosing the right photo and shape to ensure you get the best result possible with your next photo engraved pendant…whether that be for a gift or yourself! 

1) Choose a photo that is clear and sharp and has minimal shadowing.

2) If you are scanning your image, please do so at a minimum of 300dpi.  You should be able to adjust this in the options/properties of your scanner controls.

3) Should you be sending 1 or more images that you would like merged together, try to choose pictures that are similar in shape or will fit well together.  This way, once they are merged we can try to make it look as natural as possible.  For example: If one photo shows head and torso, make sure the second/third photo/s show the same.  If the others were completely different such as one only showing a close up of the face, it gives no room to work with and there will be a strong line where one photo finishes, thus producing a cut and paste looking image.

4) Choose a pendant shape that suits your chosen photo and your chosen purpose for the pendant. eg. if your picture is a close up of a face in landscape orientation and you would like to use your pendant on a necklace, this will fit well on a square/circle/heart. However, it would not fit well on a rectangle (hanging in portrait) as the image would crop to a square thus leaving space at the top and bottom of the image on the pendant.  It would however suit a rectangle lying on it’s side if you were to use it as a keyring.

5) Please send the original image file without resizing or modification - as we will crop and adjust your photo to fit your chosen pendant.

Before your pendant is engraved we will adjust your photo to prepare it for engraving.  All backgrounds are removed (unless you specify otherwise) and the image will be cropped to suit the pendant shape chosen.  The lighting in the photo will also be modified where necessary small touch ups may be necessary (e.g. to remove spots/creases off old photo’s etc). 

If there is something in particular that you would like us to do with your photo, please specify at the time of order.  Please keep in mind that we can adjust and modify your picture somewhat, but the end result will be indicative of the quality of the original image.  A blurry image, although quite small on the pendant, will still produce a blurry engraving.

If you are unsure of your photo you are welcome to ask, or forward your photo prior to ordering for our opinion. 

In all cases of image merges, or where heavy modification occurs with your image, a proof will be emailed to you, prior to engraving, for your approval.

I was so over winter and the house still seemed a little musty.  So I was inspired when I stumbled across this post on Anne’s blog My Day Off.

Anne says…“I think that it is time to add some spring scents to your home to add that freshness to the air. Won’t it be good to feel the energy start to move inside you again?”.  I totally agree!

She offers some great essential oil “recipes” to do just this, my favourite is the Citrus Shot…I love the scent of lime oil and this combination is just magic! 

Michelle at Tonic Gifts asks…Do you Sudoku?  And my answer is most definitely “Yes, I do!”

I had watched friends and family intently doing these little puzzles for a long time with no intention or interest…simply thought “phuh, what a waste of time.” 

That was until I was sitting with nothing to do at the market one cold, wet and windy afternoon…with the exception of 2 little sudoku puzzles on the back of a newsletter.  

I looked over it a couple of times, wondering how it worked…then decided to read the instructions.  Well, I finished the first in just under an hour…which I thought wasn’t too bad for a first attempt!  But from then on I have been hooked, and have even picked up a cute little electronic sudoku puzzle that I throw into my handbag for times when I might be waiting around.

While browsing Diva Days blog recently… I found this great little game/quiz to find out “what type of chocolate are you?”

Now, being the chocolate lover I am, I couldn’t resist following the link to check it out myself.  Apparently I am….

You are Milk Chocolate

A total dreamer, you spend most of your time with your head in the clouds. You often think of the future, and you are always working toward your ideal life. Also nostalgic, you rarely forget a meaningful moment… even those from long ago.

What Kind of Chocolate Are You?

Anne from The Tall Poppy and Nicole over at The Modern Goddess have encouraged me to reveal some more about myself with this little game of online tag.

First of all I need to tell you the rule of this tag.

a)  Each player lists 8 facts/habits about themselves.

b) The rules of the game are posted at the beginning before those facts/habits are listed.

c) At the end of the post, the player then tags 8 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.

So… here are my 8 things:

1.  After school I intended on becoming a photographer.  After becoming disheartened, I did a 360 and studied Clerical and Desktop Publishing courses instead.  I did get back to photography, working as an assistant with a Wedding Photographer for about six months.

2.  To save some money, I was a chauffer with a local wedding hire car company (on weekends) for about a year.  I got to drive around in Jaguars…very nice!

3.  Similar to Nicole from The Modern Goddess, I too sang with my school choir in the Opera House when I was in the sixth grade….just in a different year.  Unfortunately, I didn’t keep up with singing, so the voice is long past rusty.  These days, my car is my opera house!

4.  When finishing high school, I ditched the traditional “schoolies week” and went to Adelaide by myself to catch up with some family.  I ended up spending several days with my cousin, his girlfriend and their friends (whom I had never met before) on a houseboat on the Murray River. 

5.  My husband and I met at the Karate club we both went to.  I had achieved blue belt, before I stopped going due to an issue with my back.

6.  While holidaying in Nambucca Heads one year my friend and I decided to paint a rock on a break wall near the lagoon…it is a tradition, there are hundreds of painted rocks there.  Unfortunately, the next day proved that the painted rock was not the only achievement of the day.  I had been sitting with my legs in a v shape to one side…the entire right side of each of my legs was badly sunburned.  I looked like I had candy stripe legs for the next 2 weeks!

7.  My favourite book is currently ”Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas” by James Patterson.   I am also a bit of a Harry Potter fan, and have yet to read the latest and final edition.

8.  I love to write.  Since my first son was born, I have periodically written down stories about things he has done or my journey through motherhood. 

 Now…I’m not sure I know 8 other people with blogs that haven’t already been tagged.  So, I tag anyone reading this to play this game.  Once you have, be sure to come back and let me know!

Danni from She-essence writes… “In these days of multi-tasking, high-demand, high-energy lifestyles, it’s all too easy to lose sight of or put second our own needs in response to the needs of others. Be they our partners, our children, our family, friends or colleagues, as women born in the mid-late stages of the 20th Century, we’ve been taught and conditioned to put others first, and ourselves last.”

Even large companies are appealing to women through their marketing campaigns….for example, Kelloggs with their recent “Remember You” slogan for Special K cereal.  Is it just clever marketing aimed at women or are they actually using a strategy of marketing to increase awareness of a growing issue?

Do we really think nothing of spending money on our friends and family but think twice about buying something for ourselves.  Do we really attend to the need of and make time for others, but then neglect to do the same for ourselves? 

What are we thinking?  I know I can be “guilty” of just this.  I feel bad taking time to work, even though that is not “me” time!  Are we nuts?  I think Danni has really hit the nail on the head…we need to identify our own needs and desires and take a moment to put some of these needs and desires into practice.

Take the time to meditate, listen to music, watch your favourite show, get a massage, buy that extra item (for you) that is in your shopping basket even though the price tag seems unjustified or take a moment for yourself to do whatever it takes to make you feel renewed and re-energised. YOU are worth it!

Read the complete article on She-essence.

Having spent several years dreaming to start my own business, some days I have to pinch myself to believe that I have done it.  Five years ago had some one asked me what sort of business I wanted to start or even if I seriously thought it was achievable, I would have laughed.

Thankfully, I was paying attention when life presented me an opportunity.  Quite easily, I could sit back now and say “I’ve done it”.  But with growth and achievement comes expanded goals.  I have achieved my goal of “starting” the business.  So now that my goal post has moved, to keep the business moving in an upward and onward motion there is no way I can sit still.

I believe life is a lesson.  Every day we experience challenges, are faced with obstacles, and we are taught something new.  Whether they be small or big influences on our life, it is what we do with each challenge/obstacle/lesson that determines our success or failure.

Those that achieve success are not without failure.  They have simply had the courage to pick themselves up after a fall, regain their composure, catch site of their goal and carry on regardless.

The ability to do this is not easy.  Take each experience and learn from it.  Expect success, you may not get it, but you are more likely to achieve your desired result by focusing on your goal.  You need to feed your mind with both knowledge and empowerment.

One of my favourite places to visit in search of empowerment is Nicole’s blog The Modern Goddess.  While reading today, I discovered Nicole had recently discussed Overcoming Obstacles and Achieving Dreams.  She has also quoted a beautiful poem by Valerie Murphy titled “A Women’s Lesson.”

Thanks to Kylie from All Things Scrapbooking I have been tagged.  So, here goes 20 things about me, enjoy…

1. Regular or diet soda. Definitely Regular…diet leaves a real paste’y taste in the mouth…blurgh!

2. Salt or Pepper. Not often, but if I have some it’s a small amount of each.

3. Dogs or cats.  Dogs….cute fluffy ones!  (Clayton’s Cat maybe?)

4. Hot or cold weather. Not too hot and not too cold for me, I’m not partial to extreme temperatures…I like the inbetween of Autumn and Spring!

5. Dieting or exercise. ah….pass?

6. Cooking or doing dishes.  Cooking.  Who really “wants” to do dishes?

7. Sleeping or shopping.  Shopping….ahhh! nothing like a little retail therapy!

8. Red Lobster or Outback Steakhouse. Not a big fan of Lobster, and rarely eat steak out, but if these are the choices then I’d say Outback Steakhouse. 

9. Classical or hip hop music.  I enjoy most styles of music, a little of each is ok.

10. Dancing or playing sports.  Ohh…definitely dancing, dancing really helps me to shake off a bad mood and feel re-energised.

11. Back rub or foot rub.  Can I have both?

12. Fruits or vegetables.  Veges for me thanks!  Unless there are strawberries on offer, then I could be persuaded!

13. Grey’s Anatomy or House. Grey’s Anatomy!

14. Coffee or tea.  Coffee Coffee Coffee.

15. Curling up with a book, or a night out on the town.  I’m a home girl, so definitely the book!

16. Straight or curly hair.  Unfortunately, my hair is an unruly curly wavy frizzy mop (without work), I would so love it to be straight!

17. Skirts or shorts.  Shorts….though definitely a knee or capri length.

18. Burgers/hotdogs or chinese food.  Chinese food.

19. Vacationing in Switzerland or Mexico. Switzerland…..mmmmm chocolate!

20. Sports car or SUV.  SUV….I feel to low to the ground in a sports car!

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