Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas

& 

Happy New Year.

Been on a break, busy with a Christmas faIR, decorating and now stock taking, think I could be some time, lol.

Have sorted out a new project a dragon reading pillow for the NY and started on some more baby knitting.

I will be back in January with new makes and tales from the Hampshire Countryside.

Check out the other blogs at Sum of Their Stories

See you in January

Baby Knits and Handmade Monday

Another week and only 65 days until Christmas. This past month has flown by and the plan was to start sorting stock for the fair plus props in November, better get a wriggle on and stop making!

This week have been knitting, always love to knit in the winter something comforting about the sound of needles and the gentle crackle of a fire. Matinee jacket one of my own patterns and had to embellish with lace trim and butterflies.

Pixie Hat, have done a couple of these again with a faux silk ribbon, lace and velvet ribbon.

Two tone ribbed baby shoes, just realised that these are in Wimbledon colours, lol.

On a morning out with DH went to a local garden centre and Christmas has arrived. Going to another centre next week and know this one will be special. Love to see the decorations and could spend and arm and a leg. Think when I am older will have the house decked floor to ceiling every year, lol.

Check out the other blogs at Sum of Their Stories

Until next week, have fun x

Storm Callum and Santa mitts

I don't appear to have done much this week mainly because making Christmas gifts and cards cannot be shown until the NY, which is a long way off!!!!

We got the tail end of Storm Callum, not so much rain but the winds, our poor trees were suffering. We also planted out a lovely box hedge only for DH to find the squirrel was pulling out the plants to deposit his winter food storage in the holes. each day DH goes out and replants taking out the nuts. Who is going to win this battle? Must get some lights that may put him off, or make it worse!

Back to crafting, been busy knitting and have made some Santa Mitts for the fair. I have put a low price point on these as they are so quick to make. Can sit and watch tv whilst knitting them, only have to concentrate for the face detail and stitching up.

Check out the other blogs at Sum of Their Stories

Until next week, have fun!

October, Halloween, Autumn and tidying

Who celebrates Halloween? must admit something that has always past me by but hard with all my friends in the US getting into the spirit of the ghouls and ghosties. Did make some rosettes one year but no sales, so conclusion is not something we do in the UK.

My DH and I have been married 39 years last week on the 29th September. The house is testimony to the years we have spent together. In other words clutter. We were very good and cleared the large attic earlier on this year, nothing goes up there now and only use the small attic over the utility room. However, have said we will empty in the new year and double check what is up there as a new kettle and toaster may mean old boxes! The plan is to combine my workroom and sewing room in the main part of the house, which is warmer and not so lonely. To do that have got to downsize and declutter. The house is groaning at the seams and I spend so long looking for an item and as mentioned before get diverted as find something else. So bought a new book:

Have read good reviews of this method and thought got to give it a go. so far instead of slow and steady and doing peace meal the recommendation is do at once. Not sure with the amount of clutter I have that that will be possible, or that my body would cope!!! will keep you informed.

On the making front, been a bit slow to restart but made some more Face Scrubbies and some Flower Ballerina door pillows with matching cards. Will be selling as a set. Love the card I found online so pretty.

Check out the other blogs at Sum of Their Stories

See you next week

End of September

I cannot believe where this year has gone, only seems 5 minutes ago taking the decorations down. When do yours go up for Christmas? we always start on the 30th November finishing on the 1st Dec with a lovely lunch and a film. Has become a tradition and Lee and I love Christmas, couple of big kid's really.

Back to this past week, been mundanely normal apart from Tuesday back to the vet for a booster for his nibbs. Not sure what happened there but looks as if the annual booster suppliers stuffed up. Shiloh had his jab a few weeks back then got a phone call from the vet for a booster!

We had our flu jabs last week and my arm ached for a few days, not had that since the swine flu jab! So annual boosters done for the whole family now back to normal life.

Since the big tidy in my sewing room for the photo shoot have been working but trying to keep tidy at the same time. Even though had a couple of projects on the go at once. Got come more project boxes which keeps things tidier. My craft planner is filling up nicely and so far keeping up to date.

Makes for the week cards, cards and more cards. The everyday card box has gone home with my sister for a couple of weeks, in the hopes she can sell some for me. In the mean time been working on Christmas cards.

Just to get everyone in the Christmas spirit a collage I posted to my Christmas group on FB

Check out the other blogs at Sum of Their Stories

Until next week which I hope will be more productive than this! Could not tell you what I have done this week but know what I should have done, oops!

Party Girl, Scrubbies

Have just checked and only 93 days until Christmas, that means 54 days until the Christmas Fair. The plan is to stop making 1st November and concentrate sorting out product to take, along with any pricing labels. Stall props etc. Then if spare days will make if I feel the need.

I got through to the next stage of the Gorilla Glue Challenge, will let you know if I make the grade or not. The prize is guest blogger for a year plus supplies of glue. DH did say what am I going to do with all the glue if I win! typical man!

Makes this week:

Party Girl cards

Face Scrubbies

These are washable which means works out much cheaper than the bought ones, plus I think prettier backed with a double layer of muslin.

Had a photoshoot for Lloyds Bank this week. They contacted me back in late 2017 (which I promptly forgot about!) for a survey about technology I use for the business. Got a phone call for the 2nd interview a couple of weeks ago along with the photographer arriving yesterday. Hate having my photo taken at the best of times but the chap who did the photos was  a lovely chap and made me feel at ease. Have a high regard for pro-models now as not sure how they do it for hours. I was exhausted after 45 minutes! The images if used will go in their business marketing brochures for potential business clients.

Had a phone call from my sister and her sewing group want to see my cards. Got to get a move on with the Christmas ones now but will let her have the every day box first, then swap to Xmas when done.

All go at Ocala Towers.

Check out the other blogs at Sum of their Stories

Have a fun week

Handmade Monday

Welcome to another week, ever nearer Christmas. Think Autumn is almost upon us, the trees are changing colour quite quickly. I do love autumn though, walking on crisp dry mornings, the leaves crackling under your feet. Breath soft white clouds as you breath and back for hot chocolate and a sit by the fire, bliss. The heat we had in the summer a long distance memory.

Back to reality, atm anyway. Been reading 'In Her Studio' a new publication by Stampington. All about business women and their creative spaces. One comment made by Verena Fay hit home:

One day I focus on painting, one day it is all about Instagram, filming, or editing and one day is planning, organising or experimenting on something new.

This got me to thinking that I do not have a structure to my days. Okay not always a bad thing but found a box of makes that had not been photographed, added to my website nor blogged about. Found my creative planner under a load of rubbish and have now scheduled a day for social media, a day for photographing and website etc and minimum of 3 days to create a week. Will see how that goes.

Wednesday spent the morning photographing, adding to website and blogging (this one) about my new makes.

Dream Catcher collection

Wonderland cards

I like a lot of creative people hate doing the mundane jobs such as those listed above. This way making a set day I am hoping gives me focus and ensures that I do what I should!

Check out the other blogs at Sum of Their Stories

Until next week, happy creating.

Somethings work and others that do not

Think we have all been there, try something new only to find does not work out or in this case takes too long to justify the RRP. Dog and cat pencil cases. I love them but sadly this will be the only 3, 2 dogs and 1 cat.

The burp cloths were much better, although on saying that hated the dimple fleece for the backing. Whilst lovely and soft stretched and a real pain. Did get these 5 made though.

Now debating what to do next, will have to look at my list. Ordered some old fashion pegs to make into tree decorations and they have not turned up. Not sure what is happening there been in contact with the supplier.  Next project may make some more cards as that seems to keep me busy and quiet.

Check out the blogs at Handmade Monday

Until next week, have a creative time.

Gorilla Glue Challenge

Recently I was approached by Gorilla Glue to do a blogging challenge. Never one to turn this sort of thing away, love challenges as keep me on my toes. Decided to go for a memory frame with 3D handmade foamiron flowers and an embroidered quote.

Selected a large memory frame from Hobbycraft, stitched the quote onto Fairy Frost fabric on my embroidery machine. The mount board was easy as already in stock a pale blue pearlised colouring. Think it looks perfect in the white frame. Made a selection of flowers and leaves with foamiron, my first time. Coloured with some stamping inks to add dimension, adding crystals and beads for the centres.

Found the Gorilla glue perfect for adhering the mount to the design and the superglue with thin nozzle was perfect for the flowers, leaves and beads.

I love this quote and always seem to work in pastels.

Hope you enjoy

Craft Bucket List & Handmade Monday

Welcome to my latest blog post. This post comes from Julie and her punch needle post last week. I also have a punch needle set that I bought back in the 90's and never used. Got me thinking that maybe I should have a craft Bucket List.

So Far:

1. Tambour embroidery, have the needles just need to have a go
2. Punch Needle as above
3. Lace making, again bought a kit years ago just sitting in the cupboard
4. Crochet, this is a wip as started then got distracted but must give it another go.

I am also guilty of buying fabric, papers etc for specific projects put them in a drawer or cupboard for safe keeping. Promptly forgotten only to be found when trying to find something else. I have enough stock that if I sorted everything would probably find duplications of certain items in fact have enough to open my own small craft shop.

This also brings me onto organising myself. Found some Artbin boxes ideal for cards, they call them satchels but nothing like a satchel I remember.

Also some 8 X 8 boxes from the US, not arrived yet but due the end of the month

Have done some makes this week, some more gift cards

Craft Fair makes

Some A7 notebooks, sold in packs of 2, with a tag and wrapped with twine. These will be sold for £1.00 per pack and use up all those bits of paper, we all hold onto. Every other page is a design and a plain side to write on.

Check out the other blogs at Sum of Their Stories

Until next week, happy creating!

Getting organised or not!!!

Now I have a craft organiser, I write in what I have made and plan for ideas which sounds perfect. However, I get distracted by new ideas, a piece of fabric, length of lace or fancy buttons. Go off in a different direction than that planned. Only to find missing something that needs to be ordered or can I persuade DH that we need to go to so and so, right next to the shop I need! (So bad, lol).

Anyway makes this week:

Girl Stuff bags

Inspirational mug rugs

Okay project boxes found, now to decide what I am going to do for the next 2 creations and check I have everything I need.

Check out the other blogs at Sum of Their Stories for wonderful crafting blogs

Until next week, have fun x