Happy New Year

2012 has arrived and the past few weeks seem just a blur. All that hard work shopping, wrapping and more for the big day then gone in a blink of an eye.  Hope you are not too hungover from the celebrations last night.

A New Year and whilst I am not big on resolutions only for them to be broken by the end of January, do think this time of year gives renewed hope and an excitement of what may lie ahead. Just think a whole year to plan, design and make with a hope that on the sales front things will be better this year than 2011. New journals to fill and in my case a new iMac and iPad just love them both, still love my old Mac but had seen better days and thought change now before it all goes up in smoke. DH has been given the old Mac as he is technologically challenged he is quite happy but I do allow him on here on occasion if he is good, lol.

Back to resolutions! one I am going to make and ensure that I do not drift away is to lose weight before the Doc lays into me, we are walking Shiloh 3 times a day now which equates to approx 2 - 3 miles a day so exercise is being ticked just the food issue now, I love my grub and love to cook. Lee is slim and does not have a weight issue and can eat for England which makes my job of dieting even harder and also not a great advocate of diets or dieters prefer healthy eating and change eating patterns. One thing I will not be is a dieting bore never having a treat when out, watching every morsel, you have got to enjoy life and to be a slave to the 'D' word is not my life.

I have looked at several shopping sites in the past to sell from such as Etsy etc but feel that a new one called 'Wow Thank You' looks brilliant, joined last year on a special offer but that was it so along with my own website this is work in progress for 2012. At this stage not doing any more craft fairs, really felt looking back at the analysis that I did them to line the pockets of the organisers whereas I attended at a loss. Also felt I had too many irons irons in the fire as often happens, opportunities come along and you think 'What if' so you grasp all and end up achieving very little and spread yourself so thin. So back to the beginning and 2012 will be like a new business with new ideas and designs more down the luxury route so exciting and this has given me my passion back as those of us that work for ourselves know that without passion for what we do we can fail.

Check out the other blogs at

1st Unique Gifts

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Make Mine Pink

Wishing you all a very Happy and prosperous New Year

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Still thinks he is Employee of the Year, debatable. 

Safe to share

Hope you all had a good Christmas, suitably stuffed and not too bored with the reruns on tv.

I made a silk boudoir cushion for a friend that I was not able to show but as this friend reads my blog had to hold off until after the big day. In ivory silk dupion machine stitched design of flowers and of course had to add her name to the centre.

Having worked with silk for these Christmas gifts has focused me as to what to use in the reinvention of my business. I think silk and velvet has a timeless elegance and opulence that most people recognise, can be a difficult fabric to work with but the colours are so vibrant think worth the effort. Whilst I still love my patchwork cottons dealing with prints can be a problem as not always repeatable and I wanted to have a line where I could carry minimal stock and make to order. Will not stop me making OOAK's though as sometimes a work of art just has to be created.

Great excitement now that Christmas is over, a holiday I love but I have been planning my relaunch for a few months now, will be having a big sale on my website of existing stock January through February with reductions from 10 to 50%, will publish the first wave on the 1st January then once or twice a week until the 28th February. My aim is to clear the decks and provide storage space for my new look, if you love Vintage you will want to see what is added on the 1st March.

The next blog will be into the new year, so wishing you all a very Happy and Prosperous New Year from Caroline and the helper! at Carolee Crafts.

Check out 1st Unique Gifts blog for more holiday tales and makes.

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This time next week.....

it will all be over, all the preparation, extra trips to the supermarket, battling the crowds, then gone in a blink of an eye. Does not mean I will not be enjoying the festive season though as I love the decorations, twinkling lights and general magical air all around. I may be 54 and do not have children but Christmas still holds wonderful memories and it is what you make of it. Lee (DH) and I love this time of year and whilst may hate the shopping part love everything else that is Christmas. 

Christmas day off to mass and light some candles for those gone but not forgotten, back home for a delicious feast, a good film or two, walk the dog, then late afternoon gift opening, just perfect.

I got a lovely surprise when the postie arrived on Saturday an envelope all the way from the US of A and what did I find nestled inside?

A beautiful Christmas card and 2 delightful ornaments a musical tree and mitten edged with white fur. Thank you so much Nancy I love them.

Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas to you and your families, have a wonderful time over the Holidays.

 

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Only 14/13 days until Christmas

Not sure where these last few months have gone but they have disappeared in a puff of smoke am sure the trainee wizards from Hogwarts have been experimenting with time disappearance spells. However in between my planning for next year and stocking up on Christmas goodies have been making gifts and cards. The cards are all in the post except 1, local deliveries done just down to the final few gifts to make. Can only show one of the makes as the other one may well be seen by the recipient and don't want to spoil the surprise. An embroidered cushion and eye mask, all done on my new machine which is just heaven, adding some special smellies. The fabric is silk and wanted to keep the colours muted to go with most decor's do hope she likes it.

 Embroidering on silk has always been a bit problematical before and whilst I did panic on the Friday night "what have I done? all that money on machines!" got over it now and and so glad I went ahead as the stitching was a dream. Just got to master the downloading of designs now. All this new technology sometimes wonder if I am getting too old but a lot of it could be I do not read instruction books but dive straight in, get in a pickle then have to read the machine book.

Perfectly Peacock Mood Board

Think the colours say it all I love them, this is my inspiration for my first project of 2012 and my new direction/reinvention of Carolee Crafts, more will be added but to the finished item. I love mood boards as they are the best place to gather items that may not be used but purely for a colour spectrum, I tend to lay them out photograph and file the photo in a journal for future reference. Peacocks are such beautiful birds and I remember when we lived in the Walled Garden in Loxwood they would come over from the Clock Tower next door, my Mother would entice them to open their tails which they tended to at her request, just beautiful the colours out of this world.

Pantone colours for 2012

Not too sure about the Tangerine Tango but does mean that DH can get his shorts out that he bought in Florida all those years ago and I must search for my sunglasses, lol. Do like the bottom 5 colours though and could see me adding a bit of the Cabaret & Bellflower.

Check out the other blogs at

Make Mine Pink

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1st Unique Gifts

Have a good week

Handmade Monday is here again.....

and only 20 days until Santa struggles to get his girth down the chimney.

Our tree is up mainly because DH and I are big kids and when it comes to the festive season we love all things Christmas and here is a picture of Shiloh at age 6 months, it will be his first Christmas and yes the tree is still standing and no flying baubles YET!!! 

No crafting from me as taking a break from making to recharge my batteries for my new direction in 2012 but that has not stopped me getting 2 new machines for my old one. Already have the new normal sewing machine and the embroidery one should turn up on Monday, now that is when the fun begins playing getting to know the machine and it's quirks and you never know may have made something by next week. 

 New Year, new me (hopefully a thinner one) and new ideas, my notebooks are getting filled and in the middle of making a mood board which may end up on Pinterest of my first project. Think colours of a Peacock in silks and organza, pearls and crystals with glitter and feathers. Have I whetted your appetite? that is all you are going to get may let you into the mood board when done but no finished design will be shown until 2012.

As the festive season fast approaches remember to stay true to a 'Handmade Christmas' if possible and love your family and friends, treasure each moment with them.

Check out the blogs on Wendy's blog 1st Unique Gifts

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of course the fantastic ladies at Make Mine Pink who make each day a pleasure with their friendship and help when needed.

This post today is in honour of a very good friend Kim who is going through a hard time atm sending you love and hugs Kim you are a true friend.xx