whilst on sabbatical

Well for those who are not Sparky followers on the  FaceBook, and for peeps i haven't told yet.....I decided that i just really needed some time out from the Sparks, a sabbatical some might say!.  I mean you can love love love what you do +  want to do it 24/7, but there comes a time when you may have an unhealthy imbalance within yourself + your lifestyle choices....and thats when you need to take a step back, to re-evaluate pretty much everything !!

Its kind of an exciting process, bit scarey + really really hard.  To actually be honest with yourself what sort of lifestyle you want to have, whats most important and where you can see yourself going - well for moi, that seems to change on a daily basis at the moment.....and thats why i figure i might take as much time as i need (i've given myself a week to do this task before:: i didn't really get very far - giggle!!)

So what have I done so far :

1) well i have packed up + moved outta the Sparky HQ's (very sad times, but had to be done so i would really have to stop sewing, creating + buying vintage goodies)

2) Cut down on my internet use big time...which means i have way more time for reality

3) Gone back to work full time :: which means hello steady income + goodbye stress

4) taking baby steps towards this chilling out business, and not feeling like i have to cram pack every hour of everyday with something

5) trying to re-teach myself how to cook + enjoy it again...seriously i have become a very lazy mealtime person

And funny enough i have come across a few snippets from other people lives....that have made me feel completely + utterly normal, everyone seems to be on overload these days - my we are such funny creatures !!!

So check out ::

Brooke + Mish's blog (and  their most beautiful photos)

Tara's post

Things i'm afraid to tell you over at Creature Comforts (kinda long but a fantastic read!)

So thats about what i've been up too.  I was thinking i might post a few things here + there, coz even if i'm taking a break - cool things + fantabulous peeps seem to enter my world, and well thats worth a writing about!!
Anyways hope you are all good + happy

bye bye for now
lil jj

weather

sorry guys...a touch under the weather at the momento....so i'm hoping to get lots of R + R today...so i'll be full of beans tomorrow for posting lots of goodies in the Sparky BigCartel shoppe!!

bye bye for now :: lil jj

guilty

Okay so i have been posting Sparky goodies everyday in the Sparky BigCartel shop...of which there is only.....6 days left!! Yikes!

anyways, i've been totally obsessed with watching 'Dexter' right now...like i just keep going..oh just one more episode, one more episode, just one more....and then lil jj is too sleepy to write a coherant blogpost: giggle!! Its weird coz the show kinda irritates me - like seriously its about a serial killer that knocks off the bad guys and gets away with it, and its graphic blood and guts and everything i can't stand.....and thats why i keep having to watch it!!! ahhhhhhhh

So have a look to the righthand side of this page, where is says....Sparky Jones @ BigCartel, click on that link...and then TA DA you can see all the new delicious characters i have added!!

Yes thats called cheating...but i call it inventive!!!
goodnight ya'll...just have to watch one more episode before bed.....
You guys like that with any shows??

What could it be??

DAY 19 uses these........

Interested ??....look here::

bye bye for now :: lil jj
ps....me + my new cameruka love taking snaps of close ups..can you tell??
(oh one last thing...the Sparky 'PoP Up' shop is only open for 10 more days!!!)

Gettin' a lil Busy

Sorry peeps - i managed to have a snooze on the couch before i could post DAY 18!! Opps...anyways, 'Levi + Coal' is a randomly retro and absolutely gorgeous!! This lil number is in shades of coal and apricot...with a brown polkadot appliqued cross, handstitching and a snippet of the label that once belonged to Levi's jeans(his long legs really helped in making the strap + body of this Busy!)

what i love about making Busy Jones ...is putting in welt pocket on the strap. I love love love making it a complete feature...a splash of random colour...the totally unexpected pocket!!! This pocket is lined in a kitschy koo koo giggling cabbages upcycled cotton
Appliqued or handstitched X's are definitely the Sparky signature(Ya'll don't be fooled by immitations!!)...they kinda remind me of a handmade stitch + OXO's...so ultimately you know that this lil character has been handmade + with a lotta love!!!
And i had to share a morsel of the coolest apricot curtain i have ever laid my hands on!!!...

Righto hope you all had a fantabulous weekend, mine was filled with lots of napping, so i would have more than enough energy for the next few weeks...its gonna be BUSY!!
So don't forget....the Sparky etsy store will be shut for a month..but the 'pop up' Sparky BigCartel shop is still open...until the 29th feb!!!
bye bye for now :: lil jj

Sparky goodness

All in the name::
So Sparky Jones is like my sparky alter ego (which i'm pretty sure lies within most of us, especially the creative peeps!) So when i get fired up about something...watch out - i turn into this little firecracker, i gear it up to mission mode + i don't stop 'Sparkying' until i'm done......and in the end getting into this sparky-crazed zone/coma...usually helps me to achieve much goodness!!!!
So what got me all fired up this time??
Well i went to post a package of 3 earrings (currently available here) and with the cost of the shipping....well i'd be making a $2 profit...which infact wouldn't even able me to put that money back into making some more earrings. So what was my response??? 'You've got to be kidding!'....so i snatched my package up and started busying on making a bomb proof box of perfect dimensions ! So when i was finished, i marched back down to the P.O and when i got to the counter.....'all i want to know..is this going to fit through the magic slot'(the magic slot are these dimensions that are the bain of most online sellers exsistance!) She slid it through no problems....and i think we both cheered and i walked out as one happy camper - maybe even skipping!!

But the funny thing was...to make this most perfect box..i actually pulled out my Art school supplies and had a blast. So i think this perfect package of goodies will be going into my new Spring Collection!! But i think i might post some here as a special treat for DAY 16 +DAY 17.....yeppers they might be a few extra bucks than the other ones....but you get a classy lil handmade by moi box....and free shipping. This package would be the perfect lil gift or back-up pressie for the friend/sista that has everything!!

bye bye for now ::lil jj

Banshee Thursday

So what is 'Banshee Thursday'?? well that would be me today !!!
Yeppers right about now- i'm exhausted!!! and why...coz i feel like i have been yelling + screaming all day at ONE WHITE fuzzy mutt, actually today i thought...well i bet i know what its like to have naughty little triplet boys...'no don't do that, stop pulling at me, get that outta your mouth,put that down, stop attacking that dog, NO NO NO....WHY ISN'T ANYONE F&%# ing LISTENING TO ME!!!!
Infact this is the precise meaning of the word ::
ban·shee =
(in Irish folklore) a spirit in the form of a wailing woman who appears to or is heard by members of a family as a sign that one of them is about to die.
Which actually made me giggle A LOT!!! So when my beau called, i was frazzled to say the least....until he told me to look in secret spot coz Indie (fuzzy satan) had written me a card to say he was sorry + he really did love me!!!
And speaking of cute...here's a sneaky look at DAY 15:: You know what, i've got to say, she is oddly gorgeous...peeps in the real that have seen her...are like ' Oh thats not the hat for me!' until they try her on....'oh well actually i look pretty good in this hat' a little gem in disguise!!!anyways i'm thinking its going to be a good day tomorrow...so happy blissful friday everybodies!!! bye bye for now :: lil jj