The book launch was so fun! Thanks for New Edition for hosting such a great party. Thanks to everyone who came and shared the party. There were about fifty people there. It was just the perfect number for the night. And thanks for your support. For me, it was a real landmark event in my life. Really it was the first party to celebrate nearly four years of work on the site and two on the book. It was time for me to get over the fear of sharing my book with the world and just enjoy it! And I did. I hope everyone had a good time.

Thanks to Emma for giving a speech and for all the help getting ready. Thanks to dad for the photos.

Here are photos of the event. There are lots and lots….

The display table, so much fun making all this.

;”>The book display table with the gorgeous embroidery made by Sarah, my sister

Me and my girl.

Emma and me

My favourite flowers – thanks Em

Glenys and Linda

Dilip

Andrew and Jason

Emma introducing me

Emma’s speech

Lisa, Linda and Anna

My speech

Emma, Carla and Clare

A goodnight kiss for Kate

Thanks again everyone for a great night. I appreciate it!

There are more photos on flickr here!

Mia

xxx

Was thinking this morning….

When life gives you lemons(and not if, it’s a certainty there will be lemons) make lemonade, or candied lemons or lemon butter or pickled lemons, lemon syrup, lemon gelato or dried lemons, lemon meringue pie, lemon facial scrub, roast lemons???

What I am trying to say is that when life throws **** your way you always have the option of sitting down in that **** or thinking creatively and using your creativity to create many options for happiness. I believe there is a way to make every situation better.  Sometimes we just lose our way of finding these solutions.

My friend Kate teaches me this a lot.  She is the only person I know who could make having a lumbar puncture seem more like a trip to a great cafe for a catchup than the horrible procedure it is.  She always says, ‘just be fabulous’ and she always manages it.  She can make a gourmet meal in the middle of the Australian outback with only potatoes, sausages, a saucepan and a knife.  She makes a boring afternoon into a fun-filled day full of silk screened tshirts, mosaic mirrors, organic herbs and vegies. 

When really big lemons are thrown at us, there is always a way to make lemonade . I started making jewellery and silversmithing during a really hard time in my life. I sat at home each evening and made things. I found that gradually just using my hands and being creative gave me happiness and it also gave me options. Out of my sadness, came some really cool silver rings, and many, many necklaces. Somehow pouring myself, bit by bit, into the act of creating something gave me hope that life would be ok again — and it was.  Of.  Course. 

I just thought I would share this little story with you because I know many people who are going through hard times right now. When a mate asks me, ‘what should I do?’ I want to say, ‘think of a hundred different solutions, think creatively and make them happen but also, use your hands to make something, even something little. It will help you turn your lemons into lemonade…

Today a mate of mine, wrote a song out of one of my lemons.  I was so touched by that……..

Happy day,
Mia
xx
PS. The book launch was unreal. Photos coming very soon. Thanks for coming and supporting me. I am so appreciative.

Finally, it’s organised….

You are invited to One Hour Craft Book Launch

Date:  Friday 23 October 2009

Place:  New Edition Bookstore, 82 High Street Fremantle, Western Australia

Time: 6.30pm

Please send me an email at mariabinns@hotmail.com to RSVP just to make sure we have enough beer and wine for everyone!

And send these details to anyone you know who you think may be interested in coming!

Hope to see you there!

Mia xxx