New Additions To The Family!

Last night I bought two new little babies home.  With their tiny little ears and pink noses they are very, very cute.  My boys are besotted and could barely get to sleep last night from excitement.  You've probably guessed they're pets.  Two little mice to be exact.

I will admit to being apprehensive at first.  Will they smell, will they be too hard to clean up after and will they somehow get free and run around the house.  And will I "freak out" if that is the case? 

But then I clapped my eyes on them at the pet store and realised that I simply had to get them for the boys.  They adore pets and are very responsible.  And I couldn't walk away without two as they are so cute!   With their little noses twitching and watching them run around on the wheel, it was fun to watch.  Watching others snuggle up together and I was sold!

Pet stores are so interesting.  I love checking out all the animals, the toys and all the bits and pieces they sell.   Who knew animals could need so much to entertain them?   Pet shops and pet grooming is huge and actually inspired my petshop artwork.

The cute little girl in the pet store helped me select the right environment for them.  They even get their own little play centre with coloured tube walkways, slides and running wheel.  Like the indoor playground at the local McDonalds, these guys will have endless fun.  What is it about mice and those spinning wheels anyway?  They do seem to like them.

They were a bit apprehensive about the slides but once one took the plunge, the other followed suit.  This was much to the laughter and joy of my two who were giggling their heads off.

We've had all sorts of pets over the years.  The large stick insects were probably the weirdest.  In their large tank they would sit and not really do very much.  Not much action in stick insects.  But mice, they are fun. 

Some people I've told have scrunched their noses up at two mice.  But don't knock it until you try them.  It isn't like we're talking about big dirty rats in the house.  Others are curious and my sister is thinking about getting a couple for her children.  Not only are they fun, they are educational and also teach the children about responsibility (looking after a pet).

Anyway, after a long night trying to get my boys to finally go to sleep, they finally settled down.  They are tired today but love the little guys. 

I might have to create a new petshop artwork for boys.  Full of creepy crawlies, stick insects and small critters.  All the things that generally freak me out but I'm getting better!

Thinking outside the square - children's furniture

When it comes to children's furniture, there are designers who definitely think outside the square.  And why not? 

When it comes to children's bedrooms, many people go all out with the soft furnishings, artwork, decor and accessories but fail to realise that you can also have fun with the furniture as well.  The most fun I've seen in furniture to date is the beds shaped like racing cars and that trend passed its use-by-date a while back.  (Apologies to those who still have those!)

Here are some ideas.  Now not all of us have the money to buy these outright, but if you are handy, or know someone handy with wood then why not give it a go?   The following are from "Posh Tots" and remind me of cartoons or Dr Seuss.

The Melting Draws

Now the next two I love.  I have two boys and they can destroy the indestructible!   So now you can buy furniture that has already been given the "destroyed" look in the name of fashion and art.  Brilliant!  Then I can just tell people that the other "damage" in the room was done purposely to suit the theme!

Oh, and the last one is an exploding chest of draws, not one that a mum has taken to with a chainsaw when at her wits end!!  Though it would be a new form of therapy!    I could churn these out in hundreds due the antics of my two boys.  And then call it installation cupboard art.  Oh the inspiration never ceases.

Finds for today...

Say hello to the aptly named "Incredibeds".   They certainly are incredible.  They are not quite my taste but I'm sure there will be a market for them.  What do you think?

As long as your children don't have nightmares by the large open eyes!

There is always something for everyone in childrens home decor.

Back To Work...

Well Easter is over for another year and today was spent going over all the orders that came in over the Easter long weekend. I also spent some time taking down my Easter window display. Up went my new bunting which is very decorative and has been quite the hit. I've had customers buy it for parties and to decorate bedrooms.

The pirate bunting is huge with boys who have decided to turn their bedrooms into a pirates lair. (See my earlier blog posts for inspiration on that front). All the bunting is very colourful and is a great way to add whimsy to a bedroom. It is great for apartments too as you don't need to drill any holes.



It was quite busy on the road outside the store today and the weather seemed to be as depressing as everyones spirits. Who doesn't hate going back to work after a long weekend!
Though I have to say that I am glad I'm surrounded by colour everyday. Arriving at my store in the morning tends to lift the spirits. It is bright and happy and who wouldn't want to work surrounded by gorgeous colour all day.

Added to that is the excitement of customers who are expecting babies or planning parties. And the little ones who come in to select their artworks.

Sometimes I bring my boys into work with me during the holidays (if they behave). Being a working mother can be a challenge at times and often there is no option but to bring them with me. My youngest son can be quite the larrikin ("clown" to those overseas not familiar with the term), and once hid in a cupboard on the shop floor. This was unknown to me and the customer whom he scared the living daylights out of when he jumped out and yelled "tada!". Ah, the joy of explaining that one to the customer. Thankfully most are also parents and see the funny side. I just hope he doesn't do it to a pregnant woman and send her into labour.

And my apologies to the people driving past who have seen the two strangely realistic "child mannequins" in the front window making strange faces at traffic.

How I do love the first day of school after the holiday break. I am counting down....

Hello. My Very First Blog!

Hi there!

My name is Fiona and I'm the owner of Storybook Children's Art, a store in Crows Nest Sydney.

I thought I would start a blog due to requests from family and friends to keep them I'm to date with what I'm doing these days. And partly because I work so much that I don't always get to catch up with everyone.

I'm a wife and a mum of two gorgeous boys and live on Sydney's Northern Beaches. It is my favourite place in the whole world! I love art, fashion, travelling and interior design. However Art is my passion and I was lucky to be able to pursue it and end up the owner of my own business.

HOW IT ALL STARTED...

My idea for my business started the way most small businesses do, from being frustrated that you want something that you can not find. I was pregnant with my first son and was busying myself getting his nursery ready. I had painted the walls, I had bought all his clothes, the furniture was all in place and the only thing left was to decorate. Which is always the fun part. So I decided to go out and find some cute artworks for his walls. That is when my problems began.

I was dismayed at not being able to find anything I liked. I didn't like the art that was out there. It lacked the vibrancy and colour of what I wanted. I wanted art that you could stare at for hours, that had more detail and you could enjoy over and over again. And I wanted it to reflect what children loved today. Most of all, I wanted it to be totally different from what was out there.

When my artworks were ready, I started off selling them casually in shopping centres and the reception that I received from the public confirmed that I was on the right track. They loved them and I had customers ringing me to find out where I would be next. I then started an online store but my customers would ask where my store was. I then realised I needed to open a store. I opened my Crows Nest store and I guess as they say, the rest is history!

I couldn't have done it without the support of my family and friends. I may be run off my feet but when you do something you are passionate about it doesn't feel like work at all. To see a child come in and be so excited about art as if it were a toy is amazing. My art is now in homes all around the world and the feedback I've received makes me realise it was all worth it. If my art makes children and adults happy then so am I.

Fiona