I feel like a complete dreamy idealist by saying this but I was taken back by yesterdays day trip adventure to Bulahdelah with my step dad - Leon. A small country town about an hour-ish drive from Newcastle, with picturesque green rolling hills, where everyone has a horse, works in a saw mill or dairy farm, home phones are still cool and house visits with tea/cake is compulsory. Or if you're Leon's long time friend, Spider then you're the only hippie/musician in town who dragged a caravan to a secluded spot in the forest out of town and solo built a semi self-sufficient cabin. Pretty cool huh.

For most of the day, Leon and I stopped in to visit his cousins and siblings. I even got a complete run-down of the two timber mills there. The last time I was around that way was when I was a little girl - I have some great memories playing around the family farm and creeks with my sister and brother in my rainbow rain boots. Even though it's been such a long time in between visits it was so lovely to be welcomed in with such warm arms.

To give you a bit of background info, my step dad, Leon, grew up in Bulahdelah. His great grandfather, Dan Dorney was one of the first settlers in the area and from what I learnt on our drive home, involving me curiously harassing him with question after question about life on the farm back then, like having to kill your own cows because of drought. For him growing up on a dairy farm in the early 50's with very little money was a  much harder life than most/I can imagine. There's a couple of sayings there "As country people, we shoot our own dogs" - harsh but it just means that we have to take responsibility for our animals and our actions.

I was really taken a back to learn what it was like back then and what has changed since for the town, with the only industries/businesses there in Bulahdelah (dairy/meat farms and logging) struggling big time because of overseas wood importing. Regardless what my own personal environmental and animal stance is, these businesses in Bulahdelah are the historic foundations of the town and sole life support and lively hood for the families that live there and generations presiding.

After my weekend I've decided to go on a road trip, travel, get the hell out of my home town and learn as much as I can from actually doing things and not just reading about it. And this means having a break from Emma Soup and closing my store. It seems crazy that I haven't gone away for more than a couple of nights in the last three and a half years since I opened the Emma Soup shop, let alone ever lived somewhere else. May seem sudden but sometimes you just know what you should do. Now, time to have a sale and down size!

We shot the Emma Soup bridal clip a couple of weeks back and woa I don't think I have met a gigglier bunch of girls! They definitely captured the girly-free-spirited vibes I was hoping for. Anyway that's what a wedding should be about in my opinion - fun.

Isn't it funny though. Before you finish the first project you're already totally obsessing with the next grand idea. I think that's the best part though - Planning for the next project.
While I love all things wholesome, I would really love to branch out a little from the 'lovely and sweet' category and shoot something a little more serious and minimal or 'arty' as you might like to put it. I would like to think that Emma Soup won't stay the same for ever. It would be ideal that the brand will grow along with me and my maturing tastes.

I've also been focusing some serious time on making a proper bridal and day wear range that's more focused with all natural fibres and really simple understated designs. Still making everything locally ofcourse - that will never change. From there I want to also sell online from my website. It's been in the pipe line for a while but I think the timing feels right to expand to a broader market. While Newcastle is a really exciting place to live and start creative endeavors, finding a large enough audience that isn't 'Westfield or die' or 'bridezilla bridal shop love' can be a bit of a bummer at times. I'll have my stir crazy moments "I need to get out of this insular town, it's never going to change" but I always come back to earth and realise how unique it actually is here and how exciting it is to be apart of something growing. Realistically I wouldn't have been able to start Emma Soup so young and have as many opportunities as I have had anywhere else. I also think I need to set a date and get out of the country to do some worldy traveling!

Anyhoo, I'm going to scoot off to Sydney this weekend to let my hair down and go see this band Beaches. They are this psychedelic jam rock girl band from Melbourne that will make you want to quit your job and drive into the sunset with your experimental grungy all girl band called 'Blossom'. I can't wait for that ha.

Dresses: Emma Soup

Photos: Justin Aaron

Make up: Rose Marsh

Flowers: Little Wren Flowers

Shoes: Lolliette

Models: Caitlin Nau, Lily Smithers, Rowan Moses, Caitlin Royce, Holly Royce

This morning I felt privileged to be asked to speak along side Andrew Rundle from Rundle Tailoring in a discussion on ABC radio about foreign manufacturing and the effects of online shopping. 

Andrews family business has been around in Newcastle for over 100 years! - manufacturing and designing suits. His brother is actually my accountant - small world. A really cool accountant at that, half the time is spent talking about Brian Jonestown Massacre and The Church. I love tax time :)

The discussion went well I think though. It's a topic I can get pretty into talking about. To summarise, I think there is a real revival to put the romance and 'art' back into craftsmanship - the old fashion way. To buy from small local shops/brands and ditch depressing shopping centers (maybe except for buying underwear ha). The benefits of making in-house or locally for everyone is huge - in my opinion. The ability to completely customise, make small quantities, quality control, form direct customer relationships, city culture/growth are just somethings that can't be replicated by mass production. A point that does however affect me and is a bit of a challenge at times is finding good local sewers. They are a dying bread - literally. 

And jeez, I feel like I should I mention the shocking news that just the other day 400 + people died in a manufacturing warehouse disaster in Bangladesh because of dodgie work conditions! 

Anyway, It's almost been a whole month since I opened the new Emma Soup shop...  

It's been a lot of fun! I'm in desperate need of some of that down time I mentioned earlier though. A road trip to the country with my sister Jess is scheduled in the calender and I will be taking my film camera for a full report on country living; hangin out with the cows and picking flowers - you know how it is. I also probably shouldn't say this but I am looking forward to leaving my dresses behind and packing nothing but my blundstones, jeans and a t-shirt, yee-ha. 

So here is a re-cap of shop life via an Instagram photo montage to keep the old blog up to speed with recent activities. You can find us on 'The Gram' by searching 'emma soup' or 'emmasoupysoupysoup' 

Stay tuned for the new Emma Soup bridal video too! I'm going for a Virgin Suicides vibe but without the suicide and more of a 'G' rated - optimistic kind of spin.

I'll be filming with Sydney photographer, Bella Towns - we recently hit it off at an engagement party after many drinks and a night of deep and meaningful conversation - it was that kind of night ha. 

We will be shooting in a weeks time. 

Stay classy Newcastle ;)

This is me working it for the camera ha

Delores the wedding dress

White magazine <3

Bridesmaid dress

Just your average day taking photos of pretty girls in Emma Soup dresses

Our lovely little vintage section being a boss at life really

Photo shoot with Newcastle museum! What a ball.

Jenny the pattern master 

Friday night was the opening of the new Emma Soup shop at 181 King Street Newcastle and it couldn't have been more amazing! 

A shop full of babes, gift bags, cakes by Hello Naomi (soon to be new neighbors), love from our friends at White magazine and a big mess to clean up the next day. 

I don't know what I would have done without a handful of family and friends helping me get everything ready. Sometimes it doesn't matter how organised you think you are, it's always a bit crazy in the last couple of hours. Thank gosh that it's all over with and Emma Soup is now open for business. Let the good times roll. But seriously, I'm really looking forward to some kind of normal work routine with a spot of living on the side. Something I have very much learnt from three years having a shop - 'you' time is so so important, especially when you're busy and don't want to spare the precious hours in the day. It might seem like opposite thing to do but some time to unwind and forget will make you feel like super woman when you come back to reality.

On a more present note, today was my second day working in the new shop and I can't explain how nice it was. For so long I have planned, visualised, wrote lists, researched and stressed over the next progression in the new space and concept of Emma Soup. But now that it's here and the shop is open I have a really nice feeling that I'm exactly where I should be. I couldn't ask for anything more. I could get all deep and talk more about fulfillment but that's okay, I'll save that one for, um, never. I don't want to bore you too much. 

I hope you have some quality 'you' time set aside this week and every week; reading a book, exercising or going to the beach while the sun is still shinning. 

Do stop by the new shop soon. We are open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am :)

Emma xx

Photos by Zen Harris

I was a wee-bit excited to pop down to my local newsagency this morning to pick up a copy of White magazine. I also snuck in a vanilla, chocolate and caramel ice cream (I couldn't decide so I went with all my favourites) and sat to read on a near by bench. My very first published article! 

Lately I have been collecting/hoarding bits and pieces for the new shop - mostly at The Centenary Antique Center . I like to go there and get lost in all the nostalgia when I'm in need for some inspiration. I generally get drawn to a really specific odd little trinket or object amongst the clutter and act like I have just found Aladdin's lamp or something. It's thrilling stuff and possibly the beginnings of a hoarder! Hopefully not. 

This time around I want the shop decor to be more simple and minimal, with the odd old world treasures mixed in of course. I have collected the most precious bits and pieces for the new premises, like this iron cast table bell with a sparrow as the handle to sit on the counter, old wedding photos for the bridal section and this beautiful glass/lace breakfast tray to name a couple. 

Work on a new logo, tags and business cards is almost ready to go although I think I'm going to reveal it all closer to opening. I'll see. It's too beautiful to it keep all to myself so I will just say that I'm getting everything letter pressed.

On to other things I have the time to do with my free-er time. I'm reeeaaally looking forward to Monday night - I'm going to see My Bloody Valentine in Sydney and then Melbourne in a couple of weeks to see the Rowland S Howard tribute show in Melbourne. It's going to be hard to sleep leading up.

Have a sensational weekend ;)

It's been a little while since my last entry because I have been having a really nice break getting all inspired again. It's a bit of a nice feeling. So just to catch up, hey 2013 and I hope Xmas was super! 

I don't really get in to all that New Years resolution stuff. I'm more of a regular planner than yearly. 

But some time off has given me a chance to really get back into and catch up on reading, film and music - my old friends. 

Lately I have been dreaming away to Roy Orbison's handsome love ballads and reading Lolita. And let me just say, wow.   

But working and sewing from home has been the best! I have new dresses of the bridal and boutique nature to show off, collaborations, photo shoots and hopefully a little look book video (fingers crossed) coming up on the calender. 

I get the keys for my humble new little shop next month and I'm keen to get started - again.

Here is a kiss from Roy for Valentines Day on Thursday

  

My friend Justin Aaron dropped by the shop today with his hot shot digital camera to take some more photos of the wedding dress I recently finished. Justin is one hell of a wedding photographer/patient guy - we had to get a head shot of yours truly for White magazine, and well I'm a bit of a camera shy wimp. 

There are also some really nice shots of the shop and I'm so glad because we are moving! And soon. 

The building changed hands recently and the new owner has other ideas for the shop. 

It's a little sad to loose the space and all that hard work but it's also a relief at the same time!

The last two years feel like four and my social life is down to a dull roar. When I think that two and something years ago when I opened the shop, I was 21, waitressing, playing guitar and sewing in my bedroom, I get a little dazed and confused - Fun? What was that again?... I need a break.

I did happen to find the most perfect little shop in a swell little spot here in Newcastle! 

It's next to Tower cinema in an upcoming part of town. I'll be looking to re-open about March/April 2013.

In the meantime my garage will be converted into the sewing studio and work will continue on my custom bridal orders and all new stock. I'm pretty excited.