Change is as good as a holiday, or so they say

Over the last few days I have debating with myself whether or not to write this blog. I decided that by reaching out to you, my customers, followers, friends and readers, that I just might be able to help someone.

At the end of 2010 I started to to suffer from chronic panic attacks and anxiety which spiraled into terrible depression. I haven't been able to work a proper "job" since.  When I first started Ruby Rebel Couture, it was for me to have a distraction from the thoughts going around in my head all day.

 I grew up with a mother who sewed, she has had a few very successful businesses throughout her life, however I had no interest in following in her footsteps. Then at the beginning of last year, something just clicked inside me and strangely I just knew how to sew. Very bizarre!

My wonderful Mother & I

Anyway, the success of Ruby Rebel was completely unexpected and  I started to get flooded with orders and interest from retailers to stock my handmade goods.  Throughout the year, unfortunately my mental illness started to take more of a hold of me. I have had changes in medications, ups and downs in my moods and unfortunately, a very unwelcome weight gain. All of a sudden it became extremely hard for me to catch up with my orders, which was bringing me down as well. The cycle would just continue day in, day out.

The first order I received when I started 

As I've mentioned in previous posts, the last few months have been very busy with moving house and the passing of my grandmother, among other things that have popped up over the way. Unfortunately, when you battle a mental illness, the smallest things that come up along the way can seem monumental. After hitting a huge wall a couple of weeks ago, which I would see as my breaking point, I made the decision that I need to change the direction of not only Ruby Rebel but also my life.

At this time I need to put more focus in getting myself better. I have made a conscience to surround myself with people and things that make me happy. I have recently been given the great advice that each day you should do something that gives you a sense of enjoyment and one that gives you a sense of achievement, so that's what I am doing.

Having these 2 in my life makes my days brighter

I will be slowing down on the pre-sale orders that I do and focusing my energies on doing market stalls and having things ready to sell.

So, the point of this blog is to reach out to you all. Perhaps there is one of you, if not a few that suffer from the horrible black dog. I just want you to know you aren't alone and to say - TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.

If you ever need to talk to someone, my email is info@rubyrebelcouture.com

Till next time, hopefully a happier time,
Lizey xx

Make Do & Mend

As you would know from my last post, my husband and I moved into our new home last month. A cute weatherboard bungalow with art deco accents throughout. We are settled into our new abode and have been slowly weeding the garden and doing all those things you does, that make a house a home.

Just before we moved I sadly lost my Grandmother to cancer. Although she had been sick for a while it was still a shock when it happened. I had to travel back to New South Wales for her funeral and to help my mother try and sort through 40 years of things she had collected. I was fortunate enough to inherit some lovely vintage and retro goodies, including costume jewellery from the 50s & 60s and a retro hairdryer and hot curler set. I also was given a couple of 1960s shift dresses, something no one else in my family had any interest in keeping.

Now, my Grandmother was somewhat of a hoarder. In all my mother was at her house for 5 weeks trying to sift through all of these treasures and there is even more to still go through. Everything thing had to be picked up, looked at and decide whether it would be kept, donated or thrown away. Often I would pick up a plastic bag thinking it was rubbish only to discover that it was filled with photos. During this archaeological dig through my family’s past I discovered pin up photos of my Grandmother that she has taken to send to my Grandfather during the Korean War in the early 1950s. I was blown away by her beauty; it was a side of her I had never seen before.

                                                 My Grandmother the Pin Up Girl circa 1952

As much as her passing has saddened me, it has also been a bit of an awakening. Seeing all these things that she had collected over the years and how well they have aged got me thinking about the legacy that I will be leaving behind for my Grandchildren. 

These days we are filled with a world of plastic, finance deals, upgrades and mass marketed STUFF. I have to confess that sometimes I often to drawn into the idea of getting something “new”. I get the overwhelming desire to go out and spend my hard earn cash on something that will temporarily satisfy me. I get my new gadget or life saving device and within a few weeks its sitting listlessly in the corner collecting dust, eventually meeting their demise to the weekly rubbish collection. It’s a scary thought how much STUFF has met a similar bitter end.

So when we moved into our new dream home I started looking around and seeing all the things that I have often thought about upgrading or trading in for new; our bedroom furniture, dining table set & even the desk that I use to write this very blog. After a bit of thinking I picked colours and set off for bunnings to buy the tools I needed to give these things a new lease on life. So far I have painted the dressing table (spoken about in my last blog), bed side tables, bed and next on the list is the dining set, which I am thinking will look fantastic in red!

Hot Pink Dressing Table!

                                                                 Hot Pink Chair

These projects have been taking up my weekends over the past month. I get such a great feeling of satisfaction when I look at the finish product and know that not only have saved hundreds of dollars on upcycling my existing furniture, but with a bit of luck and care, some of these things will follow us throughout our lives and may end up with our children or even grandchildren.

These Photos do no justice to these bed side tables and bed. The colour is what I would describe as Tiffany Blue. Slightly on the greener side.

Let’s face it, contentment is free. Money can’t buy it, nor can you finance interest free for 50 months! I look forward to more projects to make do and mend

.www.rubyrebelcouture.com