Thursday 25 July 2013

Nora Turns 4!!!


So my little baby is a baby no longer. She is now officially a little girl and has left babyhood behind her.

Right from the beginning when she started talking about her party she wanted a pink heart cake and everything had to be pink. She knew exactly who she wanted to invite, where the party was to be held and lots of other little details too.

You can read about the party planning here and all about the little dramas and brilliant service I received.

So the day started with opening presents.

Don't you just love those socks. They are thigh highs and from her Granny.


Then once she was dressed and ready for school a quick photo shoot in the garden with her new tent. 


Baby sister also got some funky leggings with an attached skirt from Granny.
I made Nora this beautiful skirt for her birthday last year. You can read about it here. The moment she got home from school she insisted on wearing it because it is her birthday skirt. 
Now on to The Pink Heart Party...
Pink heart cake and cupcakes that were pink inside too, handbag party packs with beautiful butterfly tattoos and as well as beads to make necklaces.
The girls then went on a treasure hunt and each found something fun in the garden.
Pretty girl tattoos.

Cake, candles, presents and birthday wishes.
And so ended a wonderful day that I will always remember.


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Monday 22 July 2013

Weekly Special - 22 July 2013



Weekly Special
for 22-28 July 2013


How to Order:
1. Copy, paste and complete the order information below into the order form.
2. Pay the invoice once it is emailed to you.
4. Eagerly await your {handmade, crocheted, gorgeous} Rosa-Leigh item.

Order Form
Name:
Contact Number:
Physical Address:
Style:
Size: (head circumference)
Age:
Colour:
Comments:

Friday 19 July 2013

Now that's what I call service {plus free giveaway!!}


I find great service to be a very rare thing in Namibia. One of my pet peeves is that people never, ever phone back! So it was wonderful to have not just one, but three, amazing experiences in just ten days!

MerryPak
Three months ago I ordered these adorable little handbag party packs for my eldest daughter's birthday party which was last week.
When they arrived, along with my gorgeous custom carrier bags, I didn't count them. A week before the big party I got them out to see how to put them together and discovered I had only been sent three and not six. I immediately phoned up Merrypak and apologised for taking three months to tell them that they short delivered. No questions were asked, they couriered me another three handbag boxes with an order for another of their clients and I picked them up on the morning of the party!! Big thank you to Elizabeth at Merrypak in Cape Town.

Ina Paarman's
Then another outstanding example of service was from Ina Paarman's. I bought a strawberry icing kit because it was pink. The party theme was pink hearts. I made up the icing early on the morning of the party and it curdled! Horrors! So I phoned up Ina Paarman's in Cape Town, told them what had happened and said, "Help!" I needed to rescue the situation. The Home Economist phoned me back (That is already a wow. No one phones back in Windhoek!) and told me how to fix it. 
Another lady from the company phoned and said they'd like to deliver a replacement kit. The local agent then phoned and asked for my address and asked how many I needed. I was talking about packets when I said, "One, please." She was talking about boxes!! Thirty minutes later I had a box of 12 packets!!

I immediately phoned Ina Paarman's back to say I thought there was a mistake and the sweet lady said I should keep 2 packets and they would collect the rest. Five minutes later Mrs Paarman's PA phoned with a message from Mrs Paarman to say I must please keep the box and give each mom who attends the party an icing kit!!!

*** GIVEAWAY****** GIVEAWAY****** GIVEAWAY****** GIVEAWAY****** GIVEAWAY***
I still have packets left over and am offering a packet each to 3 moms. 3 easy steps to enter:

1. Like my Facebook Page. Be sure to tell me you did in an email or comment below.
2. Sign up for updates from my blog. Be sure to tell me you did in an email or comment below.

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3. Tell me about a party catastrophe or funny story relating to a party you threw. Email me or leave a comment below. The three best will each get an icing kit.

Shade Centre - Windhoek
I recently bought a large vinyl backdrop for those very messy Cake Smash sessions. I can just mop it and not have a major cleanup of the floors, walls and skirting. When it arrived my husband and I just looked at each other because we had no idea how we were supposed to attach this large thing to the wall. Shade Centre to the rescue. Etienne Stipp came and sponsored me a pole and brackets with a little winding mechanism so I don't have to manually manhandle a 2.6m x 5m piece of canvas. He came at a time that suited me and was on time; both times! Thank you so much, Etienne and Shade Centre.



Friday 12 July 2013

3 Tips for Taking Better Photos of Your Children


1. DO NOT tell them to smile. 
    This is what you will get.
Rather chat to them and try to make them laugh naturally. Then you will get this:
2. Get in close
You do not need to have every shot from head to toe. Get in close and capture those big, sparkly eyes.
3. Let them be themselves
The photos that you will cherish the most are when you capture the moments when they look just like their cute, adorable selves. So don't over direct them. All I did in this image was asked my daughter to stand with her teddy on her hip and sing for me. She loves singing. And this is probably my all time favourite photo of her.

Monday 8 July 2013

Adorable Len ... Life size on canvas


A little while back I photographed adorable little Len and his very photogenic parents. Just last week all the products they ordered arrived back from the printers and framers. I wanted to share with you some ideas of what your photographs can be instead of just a disc lying in a drawer somewhere.

They ordered a trendy trio for Len's bedroom. It was so exciting to see them completed and actually hold them in my hands. Here is a mockup of what the prints look like.
The photograph on the left is a composite that I did especially for them so they didn't have to choose between the two beautiful photographs.

They also ordered a stunning block mounted canvas wall display. This display is so flexible. When a little sibling arrives they will include a large family portrait in the centre and another four block mounted canvases of the new baby. This will make a stunning, large, family portrait display.
And, of course, all Dad's just love having photos of their children on their desks and I have a classy product just for Dads; Daddy's Desk Pride. And of course there are so many beautiful frames to choose from if you want a Mommy's Desk Pride!

Friday 5 July 2013

Handmade Beanies Galore!


I love handmade things. Of course being a baby and family photographer I get to really enjoy handmade beanies and props. Every time I see something that grabs my interest all I can think about is how I can use it as a prop in a photo session.
As there are no local suppliers of handmade beanies I learnt to crochet them for myself. Now I am a crochet junkie. I just love it. I spend ages browsing through patterns to find ones I just have to make. I have gathered so much yarn that I'm not buying anymore until it is all finished!

So many of my clients have asked where I get my beanies and tell me that they cannot find anywhere local to buy them. So... I have partnered with a good friend of mine, Kay-leigh, and we have started a little business making and selling handmade crocheted items.
Introducing...
We have literally dozens of designs between the two of us and are furiously crocheting beanies, character beanies, head bands, ear warmers, flowers, jewellery and even giant doily rugs. Some of the patterns are designs by Alli Hyer, some are our own and some are patterns we have stumbled across.
This rug is 145cm in diametre and is made from 100% cotton. It is available for order! Custom sizes are also available and are made to order.
Here is our catalogue so far. Unfortunately we don't have photos of all the designs available as they were sold before we could photograph them! We'll post photos as soon as we can.
Not all beanies come standard with flowers. The flowers are on buttons and can be removed or changed if you like. You can purchase several flowers for one beanie. Please note the comments under each beanie as to whether the flower is included or not.

Pricing
A 1       N$   89  (flower included)
A 2       N$ 129 (flower included)
B 1       N$ 109 (no flower)
B 2       N$ 129 (flower NOT included)
B 3       N$ 149 (flower or spirals included)
B 4       N$ 169 (flower NOT included)
B 5       N$ 195
Flower - medium      N$ 20  (This is the size of the flower on the Sally)
Flower - large           N$ 30  (This is the size of the flower on the Gertrude)
Flower - out sized    N$ 35  (This is the size of the flower on the Edith Ear Warmer)

Ordering
Copy and paste the order form information into the contact form below and fill in the details of your order. We will send you an invoice, you deposit the money in our account, we make your item and give you a call when it is ready!
Journey Decor at the Vintage Coffee Shop also carries our stock. Mitzi's Pharmacy in Independence Avenue will soon have stock.
We ship throughout Namibia at present. Complete the order form and we will send you a postage/courier quote if you are not based in Windhoek.

Order Form Information
Name:
Contact Number:
Physical Address:
Style:
Size: (give us the circumference of the head at the widest point)
Age: (age of the person who will wear the beanie)
Colours: (indicate the colours you like and we'll do our best)
Flower style: (medium, large, out sized)
Flower colours:
Comments:


Tuesday 2 July 2013

I love Washi Tape


I recently bought some things from a supplier in South Africa and while I was ordering I saw they sold Washi Tape. I've always wanted to play with it so I bought some rolls in pinks and greens and had a ball one Saturday afternoon.
My first project was to cover the light switch covers in my daughters' bedrooms and my office. Here is how I did it.
Here is how to get a nice, neat corner.
And the finished product.

Jessica is over a year old now and up until recently she did not have a name on her bedroom door but rather a printed sign on some pretty paper that just said Baby. So I cut a piece of wood, painted it white and used some pretty letter stickers to spell out her name. I then sealed it with a crafters sealant. I went off to my favourite framing shop and got them to make me a simple wooden frame. Then I went to town on it with Washi Tape. Once I was done I sealed it as I did the light switch covers.






 
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