Hey Ho Lets Go

Ramones 

It was only a matter of time before someone asked me to make a 'Ramones' frock,  we're big fans in this household.  Just recently I have been on the look out for a few t.shirts which customers have requested and knew that 'Ramones' t.shirts while very popular right now are retailing for quite a lot.

So I was a little gobsmacked when out of the blue 'him in doors' suggested I use his.  After lots of  "are you sure"  and "I'm not going to sew it back together if you change your mind"  he assured me that it was fine and to go ahead.

The customer had asked for a plaid /tartan fabric and while I wanted to avoid the cliched red/black tartan so frequently associated with punk I did think that a plaid would look great mixed with a stretch denim. If you know anything about the 'Ramones' you'll know that their 'uniform' was a black leather jacket and blue jeans. The stretch denim style fabric with the plaid would set off the t.shirt wonderfully.

'Ramones'
size/age 7/8
SOLD

Coraline 

In complete contrast I've finished my second 'Coraline' frock which  I have created using a plain navy t.shirt, stretch blue fabric and a starry velour stretch fabric.

Inspired by the movie which my daughter adores and inspired by one of Coraline's outfits and hair it's a gorgeous combination of blues.

Coraline

'Coraline 2'
size/age 5
$40

A little obsession

In my last blog post I told you about my son's recent 'Star Wars' discovery well Ella has her own little obsession and it's Coraline.  Yes that Feisty little girl has made a huge impression on my soon to be 5 year old.

We had recently been on the look out for a coat for Ella and hubby, while let out on his own (always an ingredient for some disastrous purchases) found a yellow waterproof mac.  The mere mention of the phrase "oh it's like Coraline's" and Ella's little face lit up and she has hardly taken it off since!  And I'm not joking.

Ella and mini Coraline

Up to date

If you've explored this site you'll have noticed a few changes.  You'll now find the 'where to buy' page includes all shops where enoch & plonk can be found.  There's also a 'press' page listing all interviews and features (with links); and I've written a little blurb about myself on the 'artist' page.

If you missed the last newsletter or would like to sign up, you'll receive all the latest news, designs, sneak peeks and finds with a few special offers, discounts and competitions

Nicola x

© enoch & plonk

a life less ordinary

My son seems to have gone star wars crazy just recently, it's not helped by his dads desire for star wars Lego but I have to be honest it does fill me with pride that Finn is interested in Sci-Fi as much as he is.

He's been watching Doctor Who (the revamped version) since he was 4, much to his Dad's protests of "It's too scary" and  "if he has nightmares he's not watching it anymore" In fact the protests were purely because he would have to watch it too, he's not a fan.

The weeping angels
yes absolutely terrifying but in a good way

I'm a huge Doctor Who fan myself (nerd alert) and watched it from behind a strategically placed sofa cushion terrified when I was tiny....but watched it every week all the same.

lets be clear about this I don't love all things sci-fi, I never got into star trek and you wouldn't find me dressing up as a 'Klingon' on the weekends. But Doctor Who is in a league all of it's own. In a strange way it's half believable ??? I know.....mad bloody woman. But who doesn't think to themselves 'wouldn't it be wonderfully interesting to be able to see the future or travel back and experience the past first hand'.

Have you ever thought to yourself that you might have been born in the wrong time???

Jennifer Landa, crafter and Star Wars fanatic
 in her death star dress at comic con 2011
Picture from  Fashion and Action

Of course the problem with having a son and a partner who are both into Star Wars (and should seriously not be let out to go shopping on their own) is that we are now the proud owners of  a rather realistic light saber.

Yes I've had a go with it and all I can say is it's amazing!!.  It makes all the right noises and is a hefty piece of kit.  In fact while swinging it around the living room battling my arch enemy 'Finn the weed' I was asked to calm down !  "it's like table tennis all over again", a statement which  make me feel a little self conscious and embarrised.  The whole table tennis incident will be something that will follow me round for the rest of my life it would seem.  Not something I'll go into here, that gem can wait for another time.

In that few minutes I felt something I hadn't felt for a while, a real connection with my son.  A connection which comes about when there is a meeting of minds, a love of 'having things in common' a truly special moment of mother - son bonding.

Finn with his dad
seriously....would you let them out of your sight
with cash ?

However I think I may have been to good at wielding this latest acquisition being woken up at 6.30 this morning by a glowing light saber being swung around my head and an 8 year old asking if I'd like to fight is not my idea of a lie in.....

Doggy Vader Costume
by Rubie's Costume Co
Sold through Amazon 

  
I just had to include this picture..... it cracks me up !!!



Nicola x

© enoch & plonk

just a little flabbergasted

Steady now, two blog posts in one week ! I'll get a reputation.

A subject very close to my heart at the moment I was truly honoured and a little flabbergasted to have been asked to donate a frock to Team Ashley for their auction between 27-29 of February.  Ashley is the founder of Lil Blue Boo who has been battling Choriocarcinoma cancer as a result of a molar pregnancy and miscarriage.  You can read all about Ashley and the auction at Evy's Tree

Flower Power
size/age 1
RRP $35

So which piece do I donate, not an easy decision to make but in the end I decided that the frock that would appeal to a wider audience would be 'Flower Power'.  It's a beautiful combination of blues with lilac and purple recycled fabric detailing.  Hopefully it will encourage bidders to loosen their purse strings and give to a great cause.

Something new

I've been thinking of extending my range for a while now with tops for girls and boys.  I'd bought this t.shirt a while ago now, it was huge and grey, not very lively and funky, not very enoch & plonk.  While I loved the image I just felt it needed some pepping up.  The result is something vibrant and dramatic with the addiction of a recycled fabric fro the sleeves to soften slightly.

Big Ted
Age 7/8
or will fit 5/6 as a short frock/tunic
$40

While we're talking something new.  I've finally created my first big girl frock !!

pinball wizard
women's size 10
SOLD

home alone

Well Ella has nearly finished her second week at preschool.  Apart from feeling a little lost and a tiny bit jealous of the huge smiley face she gives me when I even say the word 'school' all is going very very well.

While she does have issues with toilet training (she's still in a nappy) and doesn't communicate well I think the school are quite stunned by how engaging she can be.  It has been a bit of a joke with her occupational therapist how she can be very passive aggressive when you try and play games with her.  Almost like she is thinking ' yes I can do that but hell I'm not doing it with you'.

So how am I entertaining myself now I have a whole two days to myself....well here I am writing my second blog post in a week, working on new ranges and loving my new found freedom with, it has to be said, a little heart ache and separation anxiety !

nicola x

© enoch & plonk

Planet enoch

Guest blogging

It's very strange but I never seem to have any problems writing guest posts for other blogs about myself or enoch & plonk but when it comes to writing my own posts it's like giving birth to a 20 pound baby. That being the case I was chuffed to bits last week to have been asked by Ali at Cheeky Pickle to write a guest post about 'branding' and what  it means to me.

Ali wrote a beautiful introduction and it was a huge honour to be included in a blog post with Little Lou Lou. whose creative style is so very different to mine.

Good blog, bad blog 

It got me thinking about my blog and what I do and don't write on it.  I constantly read contradictory advise, about good blogs and blog writing.  Do I write what I want or should I listen to that little voice in my head which shouts "no don't write that"  (I'm getting help for that little voice by the way).

So here I am wondering what to write, expose or not (metaphorically speaking of course). I'd love to hear your thoughts and suggestions of what you'd like to see on this blog and what you like about blogs in general. Do you prefer them to be all business or more personal ??

For now I'm going to do a mix of both so let me know what you think.....

First day nerves........ for mummy

Like a lot of mummy's I've just waved my youngest off to preschool.  Filled with dread and excitement.  Worried that she won't be able to drink when she needs to and wouldn't know what the hell was going on. I need not have worried.

When we arrived she remembered the place, having been there just once before, with all her developmental problems Ella has a great memory.  We opened the double gates and off she bombed like a heat seeking missile.  I couldn't have been more relieved and pleased.

She's attending just 2 days a week but after just 3 full days there I can already see an improvement in her development, tiny improvements but improvements all the same.

ella in her brand new frock (one of mine) with her daddy
and brother finn on her first day 

New frocks

misfits
SOLD

AC/DC
SOLD

Too cool for school

I've received a number of terrific photos of fans 'enoch and plonking' recently and thought it would be lovely to share them here, make it a regular thing.

Alex and Paige wearing enoch & plonk

Gracie rockin' Jagger style

Stay fabulous

Nicola x