And the winner is...

Congratulations to Jo Bennetts!

You have won a value pack of labels from my product review!

Thanks to Stuck on You, you have won the prize pack from their fantastic personalized range of labels and stickers! Hope your little girl enjoys having her own labels.

 x Gill

Space Ships, Spiders, Scary Pirates, & Soccer - A Stuck on You review & GIVEAWAY!

As well as being a ceramic artist, I'm also a busy Mama. I have 3 wonderful children so was thrilled to be picked to review the following amazing products from 

Stuck on You & Penny Scallan Design.

  My boys chose some Pirates, Space Ships, Soccer balls & other icons to decorate their  0-5 pack & 5+ Pack labels & stickers from Stuck on you & my daughter chose a beautiful tree design for her Red Artist Series lunchbox. In the labels packs we got Name labels, shoe labels, clothing labels, & a bag tag - all in fabulous bright colours, different sizes and shapes and fun personalized designs.

And You can WIN some of these great products so read on...

When my 6 year old saw his labels from his 0-5 pack he was more than chuffed! (Ever since we ordered them together he was chomping at the bit to get them in the mail - and I let him make ALL the choices!!) So when they arrived he wanted to stick them on everything. "Oh wow, awesome!" I think his response was. He picked his favourite blue colour and got sticking. We'll get to the rest of his designs later.

Even on his camping cup!

And it was quite fun choosing colours and icons with my 2 3/4 yr old for his 5+ pack (takes you from kindy/pre-school through to school) He had no problem picking the Soccer ball for his bag tag, with a firm yes or no when clicking through the appealing illustrations. 

Stuck on You make it very easy to order with a live preview of your child's name on the screen - Genuis I say! Kids also get a kick out seeing their name on screen as well.

I love that the shoe stickers have been designed for little people's feet with a much smaller sticker than the one for my 6yr old's pack. My 2 3/4 yr old adorned his boots with a green & red sticker. He chose to mix it up & we put the stickers closer to the top so they are easy to spot for him. (I know they probably work best at the bottom so well try this out)

They fit perfectly in his little shoes.

These boots are made for walking and that's just what they'll do... one of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you.

    

**Disclaimer... its a bit wobbly and it's my first ever movie ever made. Oh, and turn the sound on **

He also LOVES his Soccer ball bag tag and other labels. They have been perfect to use on his new pre school lunch box & drink bottle.

  

He also chose trains & stars for his labels for a bit of variety. He thinks his Choo choo stickers are pretty cool.

Little labels for little hands.

And what boy doesn't like Pirates?? 

Straight away he was drawn to the skull and cross bones and it matched his black bag perfectly!

Choosing the pirate tag in action online.

Shiny new shoes get shiny new stickers!

The iron on clothing labels are also fabulous! Great when labeling his PE uniform as its the same size as his sisters, and they definitely don't want them being mixed up! Easy to apply and they aren't budging after several washes.  

His up top :-) Big sisters below :-(

Gorgeous illustrations too. My creative daughter chose her design from The Artist Series lunch boxes - they have a different selection of equally beautiful designs than the first selection. Made from durable poly canvas with the name illustration printed ONTO the lunchbox.

This is still looking brand new after 2 weeks of use of being dragged about the playground at school and even on an easter holiday road trip.

The high quality lunch box also has 2 pockets! On the inside there is an elasticated mesh pocket, great for popping in raisin packets or cheese slices or teaspoons... or even a flat cooler block if you have one. And there is a pocket on the outside front with a magnetic enclosure which I have been popping in a paper towel for my daughter to use on yoghurt day or any other day! (even fits a banana) The lining is water repellant and super easy to wipe clean. Word on the playground is that it's pretty cool.

The 0-5 pack includes:

• 50 iron on clothing labels
• 25 small name labels
• 20 shoe labels (great thinking here as littles grow fast!)
• 1 personalized bag tag.

The 5+ pack includes:

• 50 iron on clothing labels
• 25 small name labels
• 50 mini labels
• 10 shoe dots
• 1 personalized bag tag.

What more can I say - these are great quality products made with kids in mind, no boring plain labels here and I'm impressed. The eye catching designs will ensure that you child spots his/her drink bottle in amongst the many at preschool etc and also provide the most important part... return of lost items to the rightful owner. No more messy half rubbed of vivid names, these Stuck on You labels are stuck on us!

And a big THANKS to Stuck on You & Penny Scallan Design for the products to review AND as promised one lucky reader also gets the chance to win a set of their very OWN personalized label Packs - Go take a look at all the designs on www.stuckonyou.co.nz and tell me which is your favourite icon.  Comment below and I'll pick a winner on Saturday 13th April. I'll need to be able to contact you via email address afterwards. 

You can find these awesome products on their Website & also  Facebook // Twitter // Pinterest // Instagram

Hey Hey - Congratulations!

Thanks to everyone who entered my Giveaway - there were 5 lovely pieces being offered and we have 5 lovely winners!

I hope you all enjoy the goodies I shall be sending your way. There were 62 entries in total. 

And the winners are...

Tatting Cloud  - Karen McNair

Thistle Cloud - Amanda Joblin

Lego Plane - Charlotte Dunning

Heart Brooch  - Alison Kroon

Mini Square Dish - Fiona Ranchod

xx Gill

Ready, steady, GO!

That's right, it's time to start entering this awesome Giveaway! 

5 lucky folk will win one of the following handmade ceramic pieces, made by me... Mudbird ( Gill )

So here is what's on offer.

Land of the long white cloud... Wall Art in Thistle pattern
(17.5cm x 8.5xm with wall hook on back)
Also available in my Felt shop HERE

Fluffy clouds not to be left out... Wall Art in Tatting Pattern
(15cm x 9cm with wall hook on back)
Also available in my Felt Shop HERE

Dusky Pink heart Brooch, impressed with a real leaf.

Little Boys Love Lego... and Planes, so I combined them both.
This little plane can hang on your wall - approx. 10cm

When you need a teeny tiny dish - this is for you!
Approx. 5cm

You can enter over on my Facebook page by clicking HERE... 

it's really easy and all the details are there too!

 Entries open to New Zealand and Australia only.

Closes 23/9/12 Drawn 24/9/12

So if you won... what would you choose?

x Gill

Wait for it.... Goodies to come!

That's right, if you know me, you'll know I LOVE giving things away. I love my business and it has blessed me so much. I get to do what I love, to create with clay and play with gorgeous glazes... the ideas are endless. 

Without all you lovely folk, my friends, supporters and customers I wouldn't be here today ( I know I've said that before but I truly mean it!)

So...I'm gearing up for a hugely busy season with stalls at big fetes like the Culverden Christmas Fete & the Geraldine Summer Fete (quietly panicking as they are a week apart!) and then Christmas markets in December and before it gets all mad around here I'd like to do something fun.

[All my markets are listed on my website HERE ] My next one is THIS friday  -  The Paparoa St School Hall Shop me Pretty.

 Entries will be open this Saturday for the giveaway and all the details will be up in a new post. I'll put the link up on my FB page Mudbird when we are all ready to go!

In the mean time... here is a taster with what's on OFFER :-)

xx Gill

And the winner is....

Lucky #72.... which is indeed....

PRUE  FOTHERGILL.

Prue has won her choice of some LoveBird Earrings or a Necklace, and she choose a pair of Blue Lovebird earrings and decided to give them to her Mum in Christchurch as a wee pick me up! How lovely is that. I love it when things like that happen, the prizes always seem to go to the best people. 

Thanks to all who entered and showed their support - we had 75 entries in total.

Till the next time.... Gill

LoveBird Giveaway!

** Giveaway has closed now **

 Thank you for entering. Winner will be announced 18th June, 7pm.

I love to make new designs, I have so many ideas in my sketch book begging to be rolled out, cut, stamped or pressed, fired and glazed. And usually when I am supossed to be adding to my current stock, the new designs are born. ( That's when most creativity happens doesn't it?)


Over the last few weeks I have made a new Robot necklace design in Turquoise & Green (Which was a big hit with my 5yr old son!), tinkled with my '2012 Christmas Dove' decoration, made some Twinkling star earrings, a cute 'wall art' Horse, and started on a new range called 'LoveBird'. I've made necklaces and earrings with a impressed design of a pair of sweet birds, perching on a branch, into a 3D raised heart necklace and simple circular earrings, glazed in Red, Royal Blue, Turquoise & Distressed Eggshell Blue.


I thought it was time for a Mudbird giveaway for all you amazing supporters here and on Facebook, so when the number of 'likes' hit 1100 on my Facebook page I though it was the perfect time!

So... would you like to win a pair of my Lovebird Earrings or a Lovebird Necklace?


Head over to my Facebook tab, click here for the GIVEAWAY tab, enter your details and be in the draw.
Entries are open WORLDWIDE, so there is no excuse not to enter.

Entries closed 17th June 2012

Good Luck 

x

 Gill

p.s Here is a photo of my cheeky boy (who is growing up far too fast for my liking) and his Robot necklace. He has been begging for me to make him something and I love it so much!

p.p.s Leave a comment here about your favourite colour in the LoveBirds range for an extra entry!

Hot off the Press!

Yikes, where did May go? Thought I'd better squeeze in a post this month before it ticks over to June 1st tomorow. I can't believe we are 1/2 way through the year, but I guess it has been kind of busy lately! I counted up that since February 22nd earthquake, I've had 12 markets... TWELVE! That's busy and wonderful all at the same time. Great for Christchurch that there has been such a creative scene. I've got 5 lined up for the rest of the year and there is another 5 or so to add to that! So if you are in Christchurch there are plenty more opportunities to get your handcrafted shopping fix!


In May the studio was humming as there were 3 markets that I attended, so I am taking a break from markets in June, to catch up on building up stock levels, an exciting commission { accounts / paper work - better put that in, incase my husband reads this } and working on wholesale orders - Yes, you read that right... I'm going to start wholesaling, just small to begin with. I've got a very long list of requests to supply to some wonderful stores, but I'm a one woman band, with 3 young kiddies and I do need to sleep ( contrary to popular belief that I don't need and sleep!).


So anyway - exciting news this week. Yesterday I was in the Christchurch Mail newspaper on page 4! The lovely Cate Broughton came over last week to interview me about my Emerge range, kind of like an update after my article in Zest Magazine ( 27 July 2011). It's been 10 months and I can't believe how much work I have packed into those months. Imagine what I could get done it this was Full time...!

I've also been contacted by TVNZ Breakfast show on TV1, and I'll be filmed next week (all going to plan) to be part of the reporters round up by Lacie Wilson. Pretty exciting to say the least.


I've also had fun making a new range of earrings and necklaces that I've called "Lovebirds" and to celebrate over 1100 likes on Facebook, I'm setting up a wee giveaway. Details will be posted in next few days.


Keep warm x Gill

St Patricks Day Treasure Hunt.

Have you ever found a 4 leaf clover before? Try your luck and search. I love giveaways, and especially love treasure hunts!

It starts at 8am on Saturday 17th March - which is of course St Patricks Day! I'll be hiding 4 images of a Four Leafed Clover throughout my store - once you find all FOUR of them, you just need click on the St Paddy’s day TAB on my website and you'll find all the details on how to enter. 

I'll be adding the FIRST clue on FACEBOOK at 8am, then you'll need to go to www.mudbird.co.nz to get the rest.

So get thinking and get clicking and find those clovers. There will also be a chance to get 2 extra entries - find the sneaky clover hidden somewhere on my website - If you find that you'll get an extra entry, and also if you SHARE the Treasure Hunt post from my Facebook page you'll get another extra entry.

And because it's the weekend, you've got until 8pm on Sunday 18th March to get your entries in! Good luck. Winner will be announced at 8.30pm Sunday 18th March.

Terms and conditions:

• The winner will win ONE of my new Green Leaf Dishes.
• The information collected from your entry will be used to contact you if you win. All entries will be put into a random draw and the winner will be drawn out of a hat ( green if I can find one).
• Entries open to all New Zealand and Australian addresses only.
• This is in no way associated with Facebook.

Your perfect workspace competition...

I am so excited that I'm finally painting the studio. The ideal situation was to paint and decorate before moving in last year... but that just didn't happen. With 3 young kiddies, time isn't that spare these days. So I moved in and now I've moved out to paint! Don't worry I'm still making, just back inside the house!

My studio.

So to celebrate that its all GO here, I want to giveaway a pair of my NEW French postmark earrings and a $20 voucher to spend in my online shops www.mudbird.co.nz or www.mudbird.felt.co.nz. Total value $55.00 The earrings are hung from stirling silver hooks.

All you need to do is go to my Facebook page and write down what your dream studio/craft/work space would look like. Get your thinking caps on... I want details, colours, styles, furniture... (oh and if you want to include what you'd create I'd love to know!)

Then get your friends to LIKE and VOTE for your idea. The idea with the most likes will win!

I'll start here:

I love all things vintage & French, I love wooden antique cabinets and shelving. I like light and airy spaces, so warm whites or pale creams would be my choice in colours in my work environment. (altho I'd love to use Aqua or Turquoise colours I think I'll have to leave that more my next studio space with more windows to let the light in) I want great storage and organization, that also looks fab! I want to display my treasures to inspire me, like my antique woodblocks, little italian handmade leather journals, vintage key collections, antique blue ball mason jars... vases and jars of my dried poppy heads and bunches of bunny tails... and

all the other treasures and antiques I've collected in my creative journeys... Oh and I'd have french doors opening out onto a veranda ( yay I've got that bit!!)

So click here and get typing, then email your name/ address to MUDBIRD  so I can contact you if you are the lucky winner! Please put French giveaway in the subject line.

x Gill

p.s forgot to mention when it will close!! Get all your ideas and likes in by this coming weekend (5th February 2012.)

We have a winner...

Thank you everyone, the Winner of the Giveaway has been drawn and details below in the comments of other blog post. You are all amazing and I'm amazed at how many hardworking, crafty people there are out there! Merry Christmas and I hope NEXT year is fantastic for all xx Gill

Thank you!

Well hello there... this is a long time coming.... trying to find the time to sit down and get this started. What better kick in the pants than a facebook fans & customer Thank you & Merry Christmas giveaway!

Here is a peak of what is on offer!

Adjustable green ring by http://www.Mudbird.co.nz/ on an antique bronze band & cute Cherry Brooch from Random little things

Hummingbird Coffee - I thought this was fantastic, made especially for the Re:START project in Cashel Mall, Christchurch. Money from each sale goes towards the new Court Theatre!

Also Mammalissa's Cocoa Butter... smells so good you'll be tempted to eat it! Cute wee labels from Mixing ink and the FANTASTIC Kiwi Diary from Kiwi diary

"The Kiwi Diary 2012 is a carefully curated 250 page window into Aotearoa's cultural soul. Containing all you need in a diary like a year planner and address book. Every page journeys through the collective New Zealand mind: with every page adorned with art, stories, environmental tips, recipes, music, quotes, jokes and mindfood, the inspiration cycle keeps flowing! The Kiwi Diary is Kiwi culture by the road-less travelled, and epitomises Aotearoa-style, plugging you into inspiration, entertainment and info on the good things in life, along with plenty of space for you to diarise the amazingness of 2012"

...and of course, my new Coral Leaf drop earrings available from http://www.mudbird.co.nz/ and http://www.mudbird.felt.co.nz/

I was the lucky recipient of some of these goodies from The Craft Collective raffle and so I want to pay it forward to someone at Christmas time and added a couple of my own designs. All these goodies total over $140!!! Sorry, this is only available for New Zealand addresses :-)

So why you ask... let me tell you...

It doesn’t seem that long ago when my baby boy turned 1, just a few months ago it seems, and I've just realised that Mudbird has officially turned 1. I remember making, making, making, as much as I could when I was heavily pregnant and wanting to be prepared to launch my Felt shop after he was born. Since then I've participated in about 10 markets, bought 2 kilns, endured over 14,000 aftershocks since the BIG Earthquake in September last year, lost lots of stock due to breakages and 3x caged trailer loads worth of personal belongings... all due to breakage and the dreaded silt which flooded into our storage garage & property and destroyed everything in its path twice, been interviewed in the Christchurch Press/Zest newspaper, launched a website & built a studio outside plus many other amazing things!

Funnily enough, my 1^st Felt sale was a donation I made to ‘Felt like Helping Out’, a Felt store set up to raise money for the Red Cross Earthquake Appeal - since then I have made 100 sales which isn’t bad considering the difficulties I have faced this year- and the fact I work at home with my 1yr old with my eldest son just had his first term at school with his big sister (7).

It was this time last year I was in the middle of prepping for my 2nd Christmas market withThe Craft Collective in the lovely Poplar Lane area in Christchurch CBD. I had my 1st 2 markets there, right next to Julia from Relique Jewellery, who has helped me heaps over the year and fun to have markets next to. Sadly a lot of that area was lost in the 22nd February earthquake - but I've still got all the memories.

Big changes, big challenges and it really has been quite amazing! Also together with all you wonderful folk, we have also raised substantial amounts for the 3 Charities I chose to support through the sales of my Emerge Range.

So I’ve been reflecting on and realising the success of my brand – feels like it fell into my lap and it’s very humbling indeed, but in reality I have worked so very hard to get here. I’m usually up past midnight most nights, with the occasional 2am finish. 18 hour days have been tough, especially since I’m a full time Mum as well. I follow in my mother’s footsteps who is such a hard worker & has achieved so much in her lifetime, still achieving at 70! Next year will be a bit different, bit better planned out, studio times ‘booked’ in and markets spaced out (I mean who books four in a row without looking at a calendar!!) ;-)

So to say a HUGE Thank you for all your support & custom through my Felt shop, my Facebook page and my website I want to have this wee ‘Giveway’. it truly has been an amazing year in all aspects and I would not be here with out you all.

To be in to WIN... Enter your details by submitting your name and email address below under "view comments". Or if you prefer, you can email me at MUDBIRD and/or sign up to my newsletter here and just leave a comment below.

Merry Christmas Everyone.

xx Gill