What's ahead for koolaman designs 2013

The team at the koolaman designs hub thought it fitting to provide you with an overview of what lay ahead in 2013 and also a snapshot of the summer 2012/13.   Hopefully you enjoyed the festive season and summer break as much as we did.

As usual, we overindulged through the festive season, but surely we are not the lone rangers. Having Christmas and our Mum's 60th birthday all in the one week meant a license to eat, celebrate and socialise to a maximum.

Gus, Lisa and Bella having a ball at Mamma's 60th

Spending quality time with the children was also on the agenda. Road trips, catching up with cousins, camping, fishing and skiing on the beautiful Murray River, with a shopping/sightseeing trip to Melbourne, and spending time at Koolaman Station provided much needed bonding time.  Needless to say though, bonding time can take its toll and it's lovely to be back at the studio and into routine of school, pre-school and after school activities.

Eliza and Gus loving their time at the Aqua Coaster

Lenny, Chloe and Teddy master the art of bubble making

 

Rock climbing was a big hit with Gus and Eliza

This year is already off to a quick start and as the end of February looms, we thought it was timely to give you a koolaman designs update before it is too late. 

So what will 2013 bring for koolaman designs and all our loyal and new customers?  Some New Year resolutions were made, but only time will tell if we follow them through.  New resolutions for koolaman designs sometimes get lost in the mix of children, being a wife and having a social life.

We will be out and about as much as possible throughout Australia showing off our hand-stamped jewellery collections.  This will provide opportunities for people to experience koolaman designs in real life.   

We're returning to New Zealand for the third time to the Culverden ChristmasCountry Fete.  Our national koolaman designs pop up shop tour kicks off in March.  Click the find us link for details.

Culverden Christmas Fete 2012 - such a lovely setting

On the jewellery front, exciting times lie ahead.  We will be introducing some new pieces to our silver, gold and hide collections. Be sure to keep an eye on our online store and Facebook for the launch of new products.  Perhaps you could even be one of the first customers to own some of our new pieces.

The hide collection exploded onto the market last year and we suspect these funky pieces will be popular this year.  We are continually working on new ideas and variations to the hide collection, so don't be surprised when new pieces hit our online store this year.

Funky and popular Sydney Cuff from the hide collection

Don't forget to sign up to our Facebook, Twitter,  Pinterest, our enewsletter and Blog.  Look out for new giveaways and competitions to get your mind ticking. The prizes of silver, gold and leather will be bigger than before.  We want to see you dripping in koolaman designs jewellery.  So get active and you could be rewarded for your efforts!

Well, enough of the overview, time to hop off the computer and put words into action.  Enjoy 2013 and don't forget for all things koolaman designs remember to visit Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, our Blog and online store.

Cheerio

Lisa & Stacey 
   



 

Valentine's Day Competition - Unromantic Gifts and Dates

Our apologies for not posting sooner but congratulations go to Janine Cugura! You are now the proud owner of a beautiful new pair of TESS EARRINGS and an EMMA PENDANT.  The team at the koolaman designs hub has chosen your entry as the most entertaining and humorous and as a result you are the winner of our first competition for 2013.

Congratulations Janine this beautiful Emma Pendant is yours

 

 

 

For her winning entry Janine is also takes home the popular Tess Earrings

The team agreed the portable battery charger for your car did not ooze one bit of romance.  What really clinched it for us though was the fact you were clever and witty enough to provide a little payback. We love a lady who thinks outside the square.  Guessing revenge was sweet that day?  

For those of you who did not see Janine's entry, here it is;
The most unromantic valentines gift from my husband was 2 years ago when he so proudly bought me a portable battery charger/starter for my car!!! Needless to say i was not impressed and so for his birthday 9 days later i bought him a beauty voucher for a manicure/pedicure and waxing!!

Thank you to all those who participated in the competition, there were a number of great entries and as always it was difficult to choose a winner.  But don't despair, in 2013 koolaman designs will be running more competitions and giveaways than before.   There is plenty more silver, gold and leather to be won.

So, to keep on top of all things koolaman designs, please stay tuned to Facebook, Twitter, our Website, Blog and Pinterest.  We would hate for you to miss out on an opportunity to win a giveaway or to not be among the first to hear about our new products and special deals.  So get busy and interact with us, we love all the chit chat, comments and pictures we see.

Enjoy the weekend

Cheerio

Lisa and Stacey   

Valentine's Day with koolaman designs

I’m of the opinion you either love or hate Valentine’s Day and I think I’m the latter.  I'm certainly a fan of romance and nice gestures, but really I don’t know about all  of the commercial and gimmicky heart shaped bits and pieces.  I like the sound of Saint Valentine, he seemed like a very likable genuine character, according to Wikipedia anyway.  If you can trust Wikipedia it explains that “The most popular martyrology associated with Saint Valentine was that he was imprisoned for performing weddings for soldiers who were forbidden to marry and for ministering to Christians, who were persecuted under the Roman Empire; during his imprisonment, he is said to have healed the daughter of his jailer Asterius. Legend states that before his execution he wrote "from your Valentine" as a farewell to her”.  Sounds to me like a very kind hearted bloke and I can appreciate the need to celebrate his efforts.  But when you look at what it has transpired into today, I’m just not convinced.

Emma koolaman designs sterling silver hand stamped pendant and large ball chain

Maybe I’m just a bit jaded because I have never really been spoilt and romantically doted on by my Valentine, on February 14^th , any year.  One year I hit the jackpot with a fishing rod which was very practical, I admit,  but not convinced it counts as romantic though.  Anyway, I have to acknowledge, he’d be dammed if he did and dammed if he didn’t.  If I received some sort of frilly lacy red love heart matching set of lingerie, I think I’d cringe.  I would probably be more red with embarrassment, than my new ensemble itself, at thought of him going to a shop and asking for assistance to buy me this type of gift.  I can picture an over enthusiastic shop assistant trying really hard to paint a picture of me, in order to choose the right outfit, by bombarding him with questions about my favourite colour, style, padding, lace, skimpiness etc etc.  My Valentine would be stumbling his way through and eventually come up with an answer about me which I would not even know.  I can only imagine too, just how hideously itchy some of those lacy pieces must be anyway, hence my distinct lack of colour and briefness in my boring black and white underwear selection.  

Millie Sterling Silver hand stamped pendant and chain

If he doesn’t get me a gift, I’d probably casually mention in a conversation that one of my friends had received a Valentine’s Day gift.  I’d then wait for the reply, which is true to an extent and a thought echoed by me in the first place “but you told me you don’t believe in these type of things anyway”.  It's complicated isn't it!.  But nice words and to be appreciated is all I need.  

But it leads me to thinking, surely I’m not the only one who could be so complicated,  am I?  There must be hundreds of you out there who have been excited about a pending romantic Valentine’s Day only to stumble at the final hurdle.  I’m not suggesting for a minute that any of us are ungrateful and it is the thought that counts, but everybody must have a romantic experience that is tinged with such badness it is actually hilarious.  Think of romantic experiences that you can look back on now, which still gives you a shiver, but you are thankful it did go bad and you didn’t end up dating that person again.  Perhaps you realised at that moment if this is the worst it can be, it can only get better from here­­­­­ so you persevered and ending up marrying that person.  


Whatever the scenario, whether it be a romantic date or better still related to an outing on Valentine’s Day, we want to hear your stories on the Most Unromantic Dates or Gifts you have ever Received.  You can be rewarded for your efforts with a set of Sterling Silver personalised TESS EARRINGS (valued at $59) and in true Valentine Spirit, a heart shaped sterling silver personalised EMMA PENDANT  and large ball 45cm chain (valued at $155).  You need to be quick though, this competition is short and sweet, with Valentine’s Day nearing you will need to get active with your responses and head to our Facebook Page to share your story.  The most romantic panel of Judges from the koolaman designs team will be keen to read all your entries and the most hideous hilarious entry will take home the reward.

Until then, happy Valentine’s Day and don’t forget for all things koolaman designs keep in touch via our Website, Facebook, Blog, Twitter and Pintrest Pages.  We’d hate for you to miss out on our latest news.

Terms and Conditions for the koolaman designs Valentine's Day Competition Giveaway:

1. Instructions on how to enter and prizes form part of these Conditions of Entry. Participation in this promotion will be deemed acceptance of these terms and conditions of entry.
2. One entry per person per weekly competition.
3. To enter, simply head to our FACEBOOK PAGE, like us and leave a post telling us your story on the Most Unromantic Date or Gift you have ever Received. 
4. Include your email address or a link to your website/blog where we can comment or find your email address.
5. This competition is open to entrants in NZ and AUS.
6. This competition is hosted by koolaman designs via our online blog http://koolamandesigns.blogspot.com.au
7. The prize consists of a Sterling Silver TESS EARRINGS & EMMA PENDANT with 45cm LARGE BALL CHAIN & Postage ($229). Prize is valued in Australian dollars
8. Prize is not redeemable for cash nor transferable.
9. Competition opens 11am Thursday 14 February 2013 and closes midnight Tuesday February 19 2013 AEST.
10. This competition is a game of skill and the winner will be based on the most interesting comment as judged by the koolaman designs team, chance plays no part in determining the winners. The winner will notified by email and via a post on koolaman designs blog on Thursday February 21 2013.
11. Winners in this competition agree that their identity may be disclosed in winner announcements and promotional material.All entries become the property of the koolaman designs.
12. Entries not completed in accordance with the rules and conditions or received after the closing date will not be considered. Illegible or incomplete entries will be deemed invalid. The judge’s decision in relation to all aspects of this competition is final and binding on every person who enters. No correspondence will be entered into.