OOAKLY...One Of A Kind Like You

technical difficulties . . .

2012-02-10T20:56:00.001+11:00

February badge of the month . . .

2012-02-03T08:25:00.001+11:00

each month OOAKLY will feature a special badge
which is available for purchase at
50% the regular price

this month’s badge is…
the super cute red spotted owl

yours for just $2.50 plus postage

‘red spotted owl badge’ is available at 50% off the regular price 01.02.2012 – 29.01.2012

this adorable OOAKLY owl badge would make an ideal gift for someone special in your life,
or why not just treat yourself?

to mail order send an e-mail to sales@ooakly.com with the following information:
name, address, postal address if different (eg. you may wish to send one to a friend as a surprise),
e-mail address, phone number and the note ‘February badge of the month’
postage is $2.50 Australia wide.

you will receive a confirmation e-mail / invoice containing bank details – payment is via direct deposit

or you might like to visit my Made It Store for other great little items

P.S. – did you know that just by being a member of the OOAKLY mailing list
you automatically go into the monthly draw to win the ‘badge of the month’?
to join simply e-mail jenny@ooakly.com and request to ‘join the mailing list’

OOAKLY birthday cards . . .

2012-01-11T18:31:00.001+11:00

Not just a cute card,
the OOAKLY birthday cards
also feature a removable badge…
so they are technically a little gift too!

There are plenty of great designs to choose from, and the badge can be personalised with any name so
they are fantastic for children
with unique names.

All cards are handmade so the
colours of the actual card may
vary from what you see
pictured here…
but don’t worry they
are guaranteed
to look cute.

the technical details . . .

OOAKLY birthday cards cost $10 each
The card measures 10.5cm x 14.8cm and is blank on the inside
The personalised badge is 4.5cm in diameter and has a quality metal backing
Postage is free for all regions of Australia - your order is safely delivered by Australia Post in a padded satchel
Orders are usually despatched within 48 hours of receipt of payment
Preferred payment method – Direct Deposit (online/phone banking)
If you need to purchase an OOAKLY birthday card using PayPal please contact me jenny@ooakly.com

how to order . . .

Send an e-mail to jenny@ooakly.com with the following information:

name
postal address
phone number
e-mail address
design description eg. 1 x OOAKLY birthday card for girl ‘Amelia’ with cupcake design

To view the full range of badge designs available click here

Once your order e-mail has been received you will receive a confirmation via e-mail with an invoice attached, bank details for Direct Deposit are included on the invoice. The quicker you make your payment the quicker I can make and post your OOAKLY birthday card so to avoid disappointment don’t delay!

a little giraffe just for Lilian . . .

2012-01-02T21:46:00.001+11:00

I was recently asked to create a very special
artwork for a baby girls first Christmas.

Little Lillian's room was already beautifully
styled with cream and coffee tones…
and just a touch of red.

I kept this colour palette in mind and created this
lovely little giraffe for Lilian.

The artwork is of course an original…
hand drawn, hand painted and hand stitched
onto fabric, and it also features something
new to my range… a mini bunting.

If you would like for someone special in your life to own their very own original OOAKLY artwork, just like Lilian… then please just send me an e-mail jenny@ooakly.com and we can work out the perfect little piece just for you!

OOAKLY… artwork that’s One Of A Kind Like You

let nothing hold you back . . .

2011-10-25T21:06:00.001+11:00

Flying Penguin

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The penguin - he is born with wings but cannot fly...
that's not about to stop this little fella from reaching the stars.

He sets about building himself a propeller belt because he knows
with a little determination…
dreams can come true!

This very special original OOAKLY Wall Art will not only look adorable
on your child's bedroom wall it will inspire them to
'let nothing hold them back' - for where there is a will there is a way!

Like all original OOAKLY Wall Art this piece is hand drawn,
hand painted and lovingly hand stitched making it a real
One Of A Kind Like You (OOAKLY)

new stockist in Melbourne . . .

2011-10-19T14:09:00.001+11:00

great news - OOAKLY arrives in Melbourne!

If you are in Melbourne you no longer have to wait for OOAKLY to come to a market near you...
just head down to Kids Style Hub in Hawthorn where you can see many of the
OOAKLY artworks you know and love - including some new designs
like this little spotted owl

Kids Style Hub - 436 Burwood Rd Hawthorn
Monday – Friday 9am – 5.30pm
Saturday – Sunday 9am – 4pm

November badge of the month . . .

2011-10-01T10:16:00.001+10:00

each month OOAKLY will feature a special badge
which is available for purchase at
50% the regular price

this month’s badge is…
the ‘don’t worry be happy’ robot

yours for just $2.50 plus postage

‘don’t worry be happy badge’ available at 50% off the regular price 01.11.2011 – 30.11.2011

the OOAKLY robot isn’t like other robots, he has feelings…
and right now he feels like everyone just needs to relax, stop worrying and enjoy life!

for details about how to order your very own ‘badge of the month’
click here – and just remember to write ‘badge of the month’ in the details section

sweet spotted owl . . .

2011-09-21T09:30:00.001+10:00

The latest OOAKLY design is this stunning spotted owl.

To enquire about purchasing your very own original OOAKLY artwork – e-mail sales@ooakly.com

hand drawn – hand painted – hand stitched
OOAKLY… artwork that’s One Of A Kind Like You

‘baby bump’ greeting cards . . .

2011-09-20T20:12:00.001+10:00

have a baby shower to attend?
not sure if bubs is a boy or a girl?

OOAKLY ‘baby bump’ cards
might be just what you’re looking for…
the beautiful gender neutral card design is perfect!
not only is it super cute it also features a
removable OOAKLY giraffe magnet which can be personalised with the unborn bubs surname.

Why a magnet? – well they are perfect for attaching
those precious 'newborn' photos
to the fridge when the baby arrives.

OOAKLY
‘baby bump’ card
$10
(includes postage to anywhere in Australia)

to order online e-mail sales@ooakly.com
with the following information:

name, address, phone number,
e-mail address and your order details
eg. 1 x baby bump card with the surname ‘Jones’

OOAKLY magnets . . .

2011-09-18T16:17:00.001+10:00

OOAKLY personalised magnets help make
your fridge a fun and interactive notice board…

kids can display their precious artwork and
the whole family can leave special notes
and reminders to each other.

each magnet is roughly 4.5cm across
and features a photo print of original
artwork by OOAKLY artist Jenny Ellmers

OOAKLY magnets are just $5 each
plus postage, just pick your favourite
OOAKLY design and send through
your details – it’s that simple!

Magnets – $5 each

Postage – $2.50 for up to 10 magnets posted anywhere in Australia
(for overseas postage please contact sales@ooakly.com for a quote)

here are all the OOAKLY designs you can choose from . . .

Ready to order?
send an e-mail to sales@ooakly.com with the following information . . .

name	your first and last name (the person placing the order)
address	your address, please include your postcode
postal address	list ‘same’ if you want your order posted to you, or an alternative address if it needs to go elsewhere. for example you may wish to order a magnet for a relative who lives interstate, and have it delivered directly to them as a little surprise in the mail. If so be sure to let us know the recipients full name so we address the parcel correctly.
contact phone number	in case we have any questions and can’t reach you by e-mail
e-mail address	this is very important – almost all communication is done via e-mail
order details	please list the details of your order clearly… eg. 1 x purple zebra magnet with the name ‘Zoe’ 1 x pink + brown giraffe magnet with the name ‘Mummy’ 1 x classic giraffe magnet with the name ‘Daddy’ note: if you hover your mouse over each design the correct name will appear

Once we receive your e-mail we will reply with a confirmation invoice, this will list the details of your order and also provide you with bank account details to make a Direct Deposit payment (online banking). As soon as your payment is received we post your order. Most people usually receive their OOAKLY magnets within one week of placing an order, depending on how quickly payment is processed.
Still not sure or need further information?
just e-mail sales@ooakly.com

You might also like . . .

OOAKLY badges OOAKLY birthday cards badge of the month

January badge of the month . . .

2011-09-18T14:33:00.001+10:00

each month OOAKLY will feature a special badge
which is available for purchase at
50% the regular price

this month’s badge is…
the super cute blue spotted owl

yours for just $2.50 plus postage

‘blue spotted owl badge’ is available at 50% off the regular price 01.01.2012 – 31.01.2012

this adorable OOAKLY owl badge would make an ideal gift for someone special your life,
or why not just treat yourself?

to mail order send an e-mail to sales@ooakly.com with the following information:
name, address, postal address if different (eg. you may wish to send one to a friend as a surprise),
e-mail address, phone number and ‘January badge of the month’
postage is $2.50 Australia wide.

you can order up to 10 badges – and postage is still just $2.50

you will receive a confirmation e-mail / invoice containing bank details – payment is via direct deposit

or you might like to visit my Made It Store for other great little items

OOAKLY badges . . .

2011-09-15T20:57:00.001+10:00

OOAKLY personalised badges make
an ideal gift for a little one in your life…

they can wear them proudly out and about
or pin them to their day care,
kinder or school bags

each badge is roughly 4.5cm across
and features a photo print of original
artwork by OOAKLY artist Jenny Ellmers

OOAKLY badges are just $5 each
plus postage, just pick your favourite
OOAKLY design and send through
your details – it’s that simple!

Badges – $5 each

Postage – $2.50 for up to 10 badges posted anywhere in Australia
(for overseas postage please contact sales@ooakly.com for a quote)

here are all the OOAKLY designs you can choose from . . .

Ready to order?
send an e-mail to sales@ooakly.com with the following information . . .

name	your first and last name (the person placing the order)
address	your address, please include your postcode
postal address	list ‘same’ if you want your order posted to you, or an alternative address if it needs to go elsewhere. for example you may wish to order a badge for a relative who lives interstate, and have it delivered directly to them as a little surprise in the mail. If so be sure to let us know the recipients full name so we address the parcel correctly.
contact phone number	in case we have any questions and can’t reach you by e-mail
e-mail address	this is very important – almost all communication is done via e-mail
order details	please list the details of your order clearly… eg. 1 x purple zebra badge with the name ‘Zahlia’ 1 x pink + brown giraffe badge with the name ‘Georgia’ 1 x blue + red robot badge with the name ‘Riley’ note: if you hover your mouse over each design the correct name will appear

Once we receive your e-mail we will reply with a confirmation invoice, this will list the details of your order and also provide you with bank account details to make a direct deposit payment. As soon as your payment is received we post your order. Most people usually receive their OOAKLY badges within one week of placing an order, depending on how quickly payment is processed.
Still not sure or need further information?
just e-mail sales@ooakly.com

You might also like . . .

badge of the month OOAKLY magnets Baby Bump cards

market day this Sunday . . .

2011-08-31T20:31:00.001+10:00

I simply love attending markets, it’s the perfect way to share my OOAKLY creations!

Luckily it’s market time again…

You will find me displaying and selling my wares at

The Sugar & Spice Children’s Market

Sunday 11th September 2011

St Ambrose Hall – Woodend Victoria

Corner of Anslow Street & Templeton Street

9.00am – 1.00pm

sweeter than your average giraffe . . .

2011-08-25T10:48:00.001+10:00

I know - I know! sigh! ANOTHER giraffe! I can't help myself... I just love them.

But there is something a little different with this one. I was inspired by the name of the paint I was using (it's called 'candy') and so I decided to make this giraffe a little sweeter than the rest!

Can you spot the difference?

here’s a hint . . .

The biggest OOAKLY artwork ever . . .

2011-08-21T09:20:00.001+10:00

This stunning original OOAKLY artwork features nine individually drawn giraffes,
each with their own little personalities.

The little brown one who refuses to face the same way as all the
others is of course the ‘cheeky’ one!

a quote to live by...

2011-03-30T14:51:00.000+11:00

It's no secret that quotations are one of my most favourite things...

so it's no surprise I guess that I want to incorporate this into my work.

I'm sure you'll agree the phrase 'my mother always said...'

often creeps up in our conversations. And more often than not there

is a fond memory that goes along with it.

Funnily enough when my sister and I were thinking about 'mum quotes'

from our childhood the only one that sprung to mind was her famous

answer to our very annoying question of 'what's for dinner?'

- to which she would often reply 'a smack in the ear with a wet fish'.

Not exactly endearing, but a precious funny memory nonetheless.

(sorry mum if you're reading this!)

Anyway... what I am getting at is that parents, aunts, uncles, grandparents

- they all have little words of wisdom that once we grow up

seem to mean so much more to us.

My new OOAKLY range 'a quote to live by' gives you the chance

to leave a lasting impression on someone little in your life.

It's your chance to pass on something truly meaningful.

They might not understand it now - but when they grow up and are

looking through their childhood keepsakes they will definitely

understand the message created especially for them

- and carry it with them always.

If there is one quote you simply love, that you would love your child to

grow up holding dear to their heart...

if there were one life lesson you would like to teach - what would it be?

OOAKLY - hand drawn - hand painted - hand stitched

All done by hand...

2011-01-28T10:24:00.001+11:00

Yesterday I received some lovely feedback about my work
from a customer who said “the detail is just beautiful”.

It really does make me happy to know that people notice
the effort that goes into each piece. OOAKLY artwork is
hard to capture in a photograph, it’s not until people
get a really close look that they realise
A) the artwork is created on fabric…
and B) it’s all hand drawn, hand painted and patiently hand stitched.

In this work alone there are over 100 stitches and it’s far from finished.

Thanks go out to Rhiannon Matthews Photography
for capturing the detail of my work in this stunning photo.

One of my favourites...

2011-01-21T09:49:00.002+11:00

By far the most popular of all my OOAKLY creations is the friendly giraffe…
but personally one of my absolute favourites is the OOAKLY camel.
He’s different that’s for sure, but there’s something about him that I just love.
He’s a handsome fella and just a little off beat. I’ll never forget the first time
my sister saw him… she laughed so hard and asked
“Who would buy a camel!?”

The look on her face made me laugh too, she really was confused at
how anyone could possibly want a camel but I defended his honour and insisted
the OOAKLY camel was cute…

That being said – I have only sold ONE camel to date.
Which begs the question…
surely there are more camel lovers out there…
right!?

OOAKLY camel badge - show your love of camels for just $4
visit the 'badges + magnets' page to order

just because...

2011-01-12T14:37:00.003+11:00

Doing something nice – ‘just because’ – is such a lovely heart warming thing to do…

At a recent market a customer asked if I had one
of my little customised OOAKLY badges with the name Jonah on it.
I did, but it had a picture of an OOAKLY spider - which she
thought might be a little too scary for her little Jonah.
The customer ordered a Jonah badge with a different
OOAKLY character, but revealed that she was
really hoping for a little whale instead!

I didn’t have a whale – this played on my mind as I made up
the custom Jonah badge and popped it in the post.
A whale would be pretty cute I thought to myself…

A week or so later I got to work and created the very first
(and only one at this stage) OOAKLY whale. I decided once it was finished
that I needed to share it with my customer – after all she had inspired
me to create it! Once it was done I used a printed image of
my original artwork and made a new ‘Jonah’ badge.
I secretly popped the Jonah Whale badge in the post and
smiled to myself as I imagined her
opening the surprise package.

just because!

OOAKLY elephant

2010-11-14T09:08:00.001+11:00

I'd like to share with you all a new design that I created recently.
It was for a very special little boy named Bodie
and the request was for an elephant.
I had never done an elephant before...
so it was a lot of fun trying something new!

Bodie's room is decorated in blues, purples and greens
so I tried a couple of elephants with that colour theme in mind...

In the end Bodie's Mum decided that the green and blue elephant
was her favourite so I personalised it with Bodie's name.

So what happens to the purple elephant?

Well I have a plan that will hopefully see him winning over hearts
and finding his way home with someone very soon... stay tuned!

Fairy Floss Market

2010-10-26T10:29:00.000+11:00

Sunday 24th October 2010 marked the very first Fairy Floss Market in Geelong – offering locals a unique handmade shopping haven especially for the little ones in their life. Kirsty and her team of well prepared helpers, all in matching super sweet aprons, did an amazing job setting up. The streets were lined with display sails and sandwich boards and the sun was shining ever so brightly… a perfect day!

All set up and ready for my first Fairy Floss Market

Usually I have the super strong Mr OOAKLY (my husband) to help me unload and set up, but on Sunday it was up to me and my brother Brenden ‘Uncle Bang’. It took us a little longer to get set up, and the back of the car definitely didn’t look like the neatly arranged ‘tetris’ screen that it usually does when Mr OOAKLY is in charge… but the end result was just as good.

Uncle Bang with his 'Pina-Tu' - created especially for OOAKLY

I have recently employed Uncle Bang to work for OOAKLY, using his undeniable talent to create some beautiful ‘one of a kind’ clothing for the OOAKLY range. This was his first ever market and he absolutely loved it. On the car ride home with a grin from ear to ear he said “I am really tired… but I just wish there was another market tomorrow so we could get up and do it all again”. It was great having him along and I hope he has time for more markets with me in the future.

Plenty of people stopped by the OOAKLY stall for a visit, including the inspiration behind OOAKLY herself - baby Claire. Some may not know this but it was the birth of little Claire (a friend's daughter) that prompted me to make the very first ever OOAKLY Wall Art so it was great having her visit to give the nod of approval to what has turned into a busy little business. There was plenty of interest in the OOAKLY giraffe – as always – but a pleasant surprise was the comments about the OOAKLY camel. Apparently people really love camels – it’s not just me!

The OOAKLY giraffe proved popular once again

I met some wonderful new market friends, including the team (Brad & Suzanne) at Maple Gallery who were the official photographers for the day… I cannot wait to see what beautiful images they captured on the day and will definitely share some photos with you if they pop up online!

Cupcakes of course were on the menu and The Cupcake Oven did not disappoint. Uncle Bang and I enjoyed a well earned ‘cookies & cream’ cupcake at the end of our long day and they were simply delicious… I hope that I will see them again at future markets, yum!

Uncle Bang chatting away to the customers

Being the first Geelong market there weren’t heavy crowds, just a nice steady flow of happy customers browsing at a nice relaxed pace. It was actually really refreshing to go a whole day without seeing any head on collisions, pram injured ankles or distressed fathers… there were lots of smiles and plenty of room for people to get around all of the beautiful stalls at a leisurely pace.

Speaking of beautiful stalls… I was lucky enough to have talented designer Luisa from Clucky as one of my neighbours. Her stunning range of baby blankets, crocheted toys and clothing are beautifully coordinated in natural ‘dusty’ colours, I love them! Luisa was telling me about an exciting new venture for Clucky called Clucky Cravings which sounds delish, be sure to check out her website for more details via the link below...

Clucky - handmade with love

Maple Gallery - lifestyle portraits

Fairy Floss Markets - handmade for babies & children

The colour olive...

2010-10-19T12:32:00.000+11:00

One of my favourite things is experimenting with colour...
I love trying something a little different,
like this olive, green and purple giraffe

Blast off! - new Ooakly Rocket Ship design

2010-10-13T13:54:00.000+11:00

Time to introduce you to one of our latest designs! A hand crafted mobile made especially for a little 'Jack'

A little different to your standard mobile, this personalised piece will look very sweet dangling from the ceiling of your child's room well beyond the basinet stage.

J-A-C-K on one side and fun colourful buttons and designs on the reverse.

Both the rocket ship and the star are drawn, painted and stitched by hand in true Ooakly style and the blue, green and red colour theme is a classic, designed to fit neatly into any little boys room.

Total length... approximately 1 metre

Look out for this brand new Ooakly piece making its debut at the upcoming Fairy Floss Market in Geelong.

A hunting we will go...

2010-09-29T13:16:00.000+10:00

I had so much fun recently working on a piece for a customer that I wanted to share it with you, in more detail than I normally would.

Sometimes it is hard for a client to decide exactly what it is they are after when choosing an Ooakly, and sometimes they just like to throw caution to the wind and hand over (almost) full artistic licence... "just do whatever you think will look good".

When I spoke with Kelly about the piece for her newborn nephew she had a few ideas about the colours she liked, and had also narrowed her choice down to the Ooakly dinosaur design.
But as soon as I heard the little boys name 'Keene Hunter Pilling' my mind started buzzing with ideas. I immediately envisioned a little 'hunter dinosaur' complete with safari hat and big net ready to catch anything that came his way.

Kelly had mentioned that little Keene would no doubt grow to be a boys boy, so when I pitched the idea to her about a 'hunter dinosaur' she thought it was perfect and would fit the family to a tee!

I started by roughly sketching the image I had in my mind down on paper. As you can see I struggled to master the shape and style of a jungle safari hat... to me it kept looking like a ladies lawn bowls hat... which although stylish in its own way was not the look I was going for. So I switched things up a little and went Croc Dundee style.

the initial sketch

Next was the important step to select colours. I wanted to try something a bit different and veer away from the traditional 'blue is for boys' theme. I kept a few of the original colours that Kelly had mentioned and also introduced some more earthy browns and greens to give it an Australian bush feel.

colour selection

The end result is a piece that is definitely 'one of a kind' and something that will take pride of place on the little boys wall... I dare say well beyond the basinet!

Ladybug for Claudia

2010-09-18T12:33:00.000+10:00

I recently created this piece for a customer wanting a special gift for her close friends little girl. I'm sure it will look very sweet in her room, and when she is old enough to begin learning to read and write she will definitely know that the letter 'C'... is for Claudia. This customer also chose to have an optional personalised ladybug gift card to match.

To discuss your own personalised custom made Ooakly artwork simply browse some of the possible designs in our 'photo gallery' and send an e-mail to jenny@ooakly.com

Remember, if you have something in mind but don't see a design you quite like, please let us know... Ooakly is all about creating a personalised and individual piece that is 'one of a kind... like you'

September Sugar & Spice Market

2010-09-13T18:01:00.004+10:00

They really are all things nice!

The frosty morning air couldn’t keep the crowds away last Sunday. A steady flow of people ensured the beautiful old St Ambrose Hall in Woodend remained at a nice temperature, and lucky for me, I was one of the very first stalls in view as people entered the market.

The view through the front doors of the market hall

This was my first market with Sugar & Spice and I think I will definitely be back for a second helping. The super organised Alison of Sugar & Spice Markets had everything running like clockwork and there were plenty of smiles on faces, especially those of the first 100 people through the doors, they all received a special Sugar & Spice goodie bag. Amongst the items in the goodie bags were some Ooakly postcards featuring the classic Ooakly giraffe. These were made especially for the Sugar & Spice Market and were handed out ready to post with a stamp already affixed… no excuse not to send a loved one a good old fashioned hello. How much nicer is mail in the mail box rather than the e-mail inbox? I’d love to know who received them and where they sent them off to, hopefully it creates a few smiles!

Ooakly stall... front and center!

Lots of new styles to choose from

plus plenty of gift tags, cards and keyrings

The wonderful Mr Ooakly (my handy husband) came along for the trip and helped set up my stall. He stayed long enough to buy some tea from the lovely Jodie and Vanessa at she-tea. He chose the ‘booze hound’ tea – a remedy for those who overindulge, and after a few beers with his 'mixed grill' lunch at the Holgate Brewhouse he was eager to try the tea first thing Monday morning. And yes… It worked! He felt great that morning and really enjoyed the tea. I also sampled one of the she-tea teas, the 'virigin', which I thought was quite apt considering this was my very first she-tea experience. I’m more of a coffee girl and am not a huge fan of green tea but feel compelled to drink it because everyone raves of its health benefits. I begrudgingly drink it down, praying for the mug to slip and spill so I won’t have to finish it… but with the she-tea ‘virgin’ I was savouring every last sip. The smell was divine… if the girls at she-tea could bottle it I would buy it to spray around my entire house! The mix of white tea, apple pieces, cinnamon and hibiscus is a delicious alternative to green tea, I am not sure if it is as good for you as green tea supposedly is, but it made my belly warm and put a smile on my face. Thanks she-tea, and thanks also to the chef at the Holgate. Mr Ooakly is what some would call a ‘fussy’ diner so to have him tell me how nice his steak was is a credit to your kitchen.

The lovely ladies from she-tea

she-tea even do a range of tea for children

Another of the many lovely stallholders at Sugar & Spice was my friendly neighbour and bootie maker extraordinaire Nicole from Funky Monsters. The Funky Monsters range rates very high on the ‘cute scale’… I’ve never heard so many people say awwwwwwwwww, they are SO CUTE! And rightly so, the uncluckiest of women would find it hard to resist these wee little shoes. A friend of mine had placed an order with Funky Monsters which I collected for her on the day so I got a really good look at them, and let me tell you the photos just can’t do justice to these beautiful booties. The stitching and fabric quality is impeccable, you can really see the time and care that Nicole has placed in each and every pair she makes.

Nicole from Funky Monsters
with a pair of her favourite booties!

So many beautiful pairs to choose from... so cute!

One more quick highlight I’d love to share with you was the food from Sheppards Gourmet Kitchen. I had my eye on the 'Cupcake Central' stall all day, but by the time the market came to a close and I could take a break to go get one they were all gone. I decided to get myself a delicious rice and vegetable filled pastie from the Sheppard’s Gourmet Kitchen instead for the car trip home and just as Mr Ooakly handed over the money to pay for it I spotted some gloriously dark chocolatey things being packed away in a box. “What are those?” I asked Jodie, to which she replied quite casually “chocolate brownies”. Little did I know it was a box of heaven which had fallen straight from the lap of the gods. It was fate, or divine intervention… either way I was thankful I spotted them. THE BEST CHOCOLATE BROWNIE I HAVE EVER EATEN! Mr Ooakly threatened to make me pull the car over and let him drive… I was having the most fantastic chocolate overdose, the kind where your eyes instinctively close because you're escaping to fantasy land. Thank-you Jodie for finishing off my Sugar & Spice experience with something so decadently sweet!

In summary, a lovely day and worth the trip into the Victorian countryside!

Jen x

P.S. Here are a few links you might like…

Geelong Spring Artists Market

2010-09-09T10:36:00.000+10:00

The sunshine pouring through the windows of my once dark and gloomy kitchen said it all this morning… IT IS SPRING! And to bring in the new season I can’t think of anything better to do than browse the eclectic mix of designer wares at Geelongs Spring Artist Market. Promising something for everyone this market brings together an array of paintings, prints and photography, jewellery and clothing, toys and vintage fabrics, what a joy! And to settle the famished tummy… gourmet sweet and savoury treats, wine and fabulous coffee. Throw in live music and a chance to win a beautiful hamper and I am there… front row center! Won’t you join me?

All Saints Hall - Geelong

Friday 10th September

12noon – 9.00pm

All Saints Hall

113 Noble Street Newtown (Geelong)

My favourite Blog at the moment...

2010-09-08T13:27:00.000+10:00

I don't even have words to sum up how delightful this blog is... please just go take a look for yourself, it's so sweet, even their logo is screaming 'hello spring'!

Custom orders

2010-09-02T15:16:00.000+10:00

Oh how I love custom orders! This is one of my recent pieces created for some gorgeous little twin girls in Melbourne to match their green and yellow bedroom. One of the things I find most rewarding about custom orders is that I know my work already has a loving home to go to as soon as it’s finished.

Custom order for twin girls

2 little dragonflies for 2 sweet little girls

I’ve been so busy working on stock for upcoming markets lately… my studio is looking like an Ooakly orphanage, so many little artworks looking for a place to call home! I wrap them and place them in boxes hoping that someone will love them enough to give them a place on their babies wall. It’s funny how attached I am to these little guys. Someone once said to me it’s cute how they all seem to have little personalities… she chose a blue giraffe out of three I had in stock because she thought he looked the cheekiest! And she is right, they do all have their own little quirks and personalities. I especially love it when someone picks up one that is a little different… like my camel, he’s very cute and I love him to bits, but he always seems to hide in the shadows of my ever popular giraffe, so it’s nice when someone shows him some love!

Preparing stock for my next market... hoping this little guy finds a home!

Ooakly confirmed for Geelong Market

2010-08-24T10:28:00.000+10:00

Very excited – just received confirmation that Ooakly will be a stallholder at the November Fairy Floss Market right here in Geelong! I know November is a little while away yet, and I still have the gorgeous Sugar & Spice Market to attend in Woodend September 12th… I just can’t help but be excited about this one! This is the first time Fairy Floss Markets will visit Geelong, AND the first time that Ooakly will be showcased at a ‘home town’ gig!

For more info visit the ‘off to market…’ page of this Ooakly site or visit Fairy Floss Markets and have fun poking about their beautiful blog.

handmade living

2010-08-07T15:12:00.009+10:00

It feels like a lifetime ago now... but way back in April I discovered a very exciting opportunity, a chance to be a part of something truly amazing! And now, I'm pleased to announce that the countdown is on!

handmade living. – a designer collective

December 2010 will see the launch of a unique and beautiful hardcover book showcasing the talents of handmade designers, artisans and craftspeople from all over Australia... and YES, you WILL find Ooakly among the pages of this wonderful collaborative feast for the eyes.

Coming soon!

Handmade Living - a designer collective

2010-08-03T10:47:00.000+10:00

Gosh! – So many amazing markets to choose from! I’m very busy getting my market schedule sorted for the rest of 2010, thanks for being patient with me, I promise to have details up soon. In the meantime you may like to have a look at http://www.marketangel.com.au/ – a website that features markets all across Australia designed to tempt you out and about on weekends to explore to joy of handmade shopping!

Love Ooakly x

www.marketangel.com.au

2010-07-20T21:46:00.000+10:00

I’m packing the winter woollies and heading West! This weekend it’s time to share Ooakly with the great people of Warrnambool. I’ve booked some very cosy looking accommodation where I plan to get a good nights rest before what will hopefully be a very busy Saturday. Ooakly is lucky enough to be a part of the inaugural Jellybean Childrens Market at the Warrnambool showgrounds – Saturday 24th July. Doors open at 9.00am and there will be 40 stalls stocked full of beautifully handmade childrens goodies, face painting, a jumping castle, sausage sizzle, and a raffle to support "PETERS PROJECT", a local charity raising funds for a fully equipped Cancer Care facility in Warrnambool. Rug up and come along to what is sure to be a great day!

Oh… and I can’t let you go without giving you a sneak peak at one of my new creations…

This and other gorgeous Ooakly Mobiles available at the Jellybean Market this weekend! x

Kid Style File - I made this!

2010-06-29T09:29:00.000+10:00

‘I Made This’ is Kidstylefile’s new fortnightly column supporting independent baby and kid’s designer-makers and bringing you a selection of the freshest new talent to discover.

2. “Ooakly aims to fill empty walls and bare bookshelves with clever, colourful and one of a kind designs sure to bring a smile to any face. Each piece is lovingly hand drawn, hand painted and hand stitched. Unique differences in each artwork ensure no two are ever exactly the same.” – Designer/Maker, Jenny Ellmers, Ooakly

To see more from the latest designers at Kid Style File... click here

Mathilda's Market - it's almost time!

2010-06-21T13:53:00.001+10:00

Well… it’s officially getting closer and closer! I can barely get to sleep at night, thinking about the wonderful time I am going to have at Mathilda’s Market in July. I am based in Victoria… so not only will the Adelaide market be an excellent opportunity to spread the ‘Ooakly Love’ across the border, it also means a lovely long weekend in a truly beautiful part of the country! Can’t wait! x

Handmade Living

2010-06-11T16:53:00.002+10:00

Something my lovely Ooakly followers might like to take a look at handmadelivingcanberra. Here you will find details of a book due for release in December 2010 that will be jam packed full of simply gorgeous handmade goodies from clever designers all around Australia.

Mathilda’s Market, July 2010

2010-06-09T21:53:00.004+10:00

Ooakly fans are encouraged to head along to Mathilda’s Market in July… not only will you see wonderful Ooakly Wall Art available for sale, you also get the chance to see and buy anything and everything adorable, gorgeous and too cute for words, made especially for the special little ones in your life!
Look forward to seeing you there! x

Claire @ 3 months [HQ]

2010-04-09T14:33:00.003+10:00

I have some VERY clever friends! Check out this adorable video created by my friend (and talented Ooakly Photographer) Rhiannon...

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=10150164234935402&ref=nf

The perfect gift

2010-04-08T21:37:00.006+10:00

I'm incredibly excited, today is a day to be marked in history! I received an e-mail requesting an Ooakly Wall Art. I was expecting that maybe something would eventuate from an expression of interest, but wasn't really sure! But, today it happened...could this really be my first sale?

Someone wants one of my pieces to give as a gift, to mark the birth of their nephew!

I'll be honest... it feels REALLY good! From little things, big things grow! x