Happy CHristmas

Happy Christmas to blog land I hope you all have a fantastic holiday

First Sale

Well i have had my first sale from Folksy albeit a small one.  I have sold this hair slide.

So, i figured that i should make a little gift box for it following the marvellous tutorial from the one and only Lisa .  Obviously, after my lack of success with Etsy i didn’t expect to sell anything so soon, so had no card to make the box with.  Off i popped then with Martha in tow to our local craft shop where i was met with open arms as i haven’t been there for a while.  It would be nice to think they loved me because of me but most probably it is because of the amount of money i spend once i enter the doors.  Two pieces of card does not cost a lot, a bag full of beads, ribbons, new ring templates adds up to quite a bit.  Hoping to put a few rings in the shop when i have completed my bag orders.  If that ever happens, the beach bag is not going well although the internal zippered waterproof pocket using iron-on vinyl is a success.  Thanks to Julia for that tip. I have now run out of thread for the bag and invented new words this morning as i tried to complete it – failing miserably.  For the sake of my families sanity i have put it to one side for now, with the intention of completing it later. 

I also need to finish the bag for Martha and a bag for my sister-in-law which will be coming from my brother as a present.  So 3 sewing days left until Christmas – i can see a lot of caffeine being drunk over the next few days, especially as the children will be at home and Andrew will be at work. 

The thing is, when i have stuff that i SHOULD be doing, i end up having millions of creative ideas just popping into my head.  This happened when i was writing the book for Nanowrimo.  Halfway through the book, i had an amazing idea for a children’s book, which made me want to stop what i was doing and start that.  Luckily i didn’t.  But, i am trying my best to persevere with what i should be doing rather than what i want to do!  The children’s book though i intend to crack on with after Christmas.  I have big plans for it, especially since one of my old school friends is an illustrator.  Watch this space.  I am very excited.  Anyway to end, here are a few pictures of the box i made with the chocolates i have bought to send as little gifts with my purchases.  Obviously for health and safety i had to test them first………

I hope all your Christmas plans are going well.

Folksy fantastic

Hello, just to let you know i have opened a little shop in a new UK handmade market called Folksy.  Oh so similar to Etsy it is scary but this time the price is in sterling. Not much in it as yet as still trying to complete Christmas orders but my aim is to increase in the new year.
There is a link in the right hand side or you can just press here

I would hate you to think that i am addicted but…….

If you are wondering what i am talking about see previous post with links. The marvellous Marie made a good suggestion in her comment and i now have presents for Oliver’s teacher and assistants.  Although no zips left for my bag orders. Ho Hum

All boxed up

I was reading a fab new blog i found the other day called Miss Behave and not only is it the best looking site i have seen, it also has fantastic tutorial links.  Today she was linking to small zippered pouch tutorials.  I have been racking my very limited brain to try and figure out how to make a box-like zippered pouch, similar to my husbands wash bag.  On Miss Behave there was a link to an extremely simple tutorial doing just that.  This is the link.  Obviously it was one of those times when you go “oh, i could have thought of that if i wasnt such a thicky.” Generally though my mind goes into spasms when zips are mentioned.  But not today, and i managed this with two children at home (oliver with an inner and outer ear infection) a husband at home and whilst making lunch at the same time.  So yes it really is that simple.  So here are the pictures

I now just need to get my brain in action to see if i can make a larger one with an inner waterproof lining to work as a wash bag.  Maybe after Christmas

snow falling

Have you noticed the snow falling on my blog?  Your screen hasnt gone mad honestly.  Happy Christmas

Three complete

Woo hoo, i have completed three of my bag orders, which let me tell you is a minor miracle considering my daughter has decideed she no longer has naps during the day (nor sleeps at night apparently!) and Christmas is coming.  The first one was a faux suede basket bag of which you have seen many photos so i wont bore you with another basket bag photo.  Needless to say it was like the other ones, although each time i make them they get slightly better.  I think it is only me that can see the improvements, Andrew thinks they all look the same.  I am pleased with my new labels though, I got them off etsy from this lovely person.  There is a close up of one of them in the following photos.  the basket bags made out of the suede fabric seem to be a huge hit, they look classically stylish and i am already getting interest from people who have seen the one just made so fingers crossed.

I had plans to do lots of sewing today as Martha is due to go to nursery for the afternoon, but as she only slept for approx. 4 hours last night, i think 5 hours at nursery is out of the question.  Oliver is also off school with a bad throat, so i am completely shattered and a tad snappy.  We are supposed to be having out first night without children since oliver was born tonight, mum is having them to stay for the first time.  can you believe that one is ill and Martha is going to the doctors to make sure there is nothing lurking that is keeping her awake.  I am determined they are still going to sleep over though.  Anyway back to those bags, the next two orders were for the fold away grocery bag designed by Lisa.  these are a big hit amongst my friends and they are good fun to do in mad fabrics.  the only problem is, the cost.  Obviosuly there is a limit to how much you can sell a grocery bag for, yet the amount of work is probably more than for a basket, so I tend not to advertise them too much. The only instruction for fabric that i was given was green and funky, so off to Ikea i toddled, these are the results.

cool fabric isnt it?  It works really well and Catherine loves both of them (which is good obviously)

It is hard to see in this photo but the labels are actually pale blue and have a little red bird on a branch.  They do not fray

A little touch i have just added to my orders, is a favour bag with my moo cards and a sweetie in.  I thought it was a nice touch.

I now have to remember the pattern i drew up nearly 18 months ago but cant find for the beach bag and also work on a design for a little pink bag for my daughter – who it turns out since starting this post has an ear infection hence the sleepless night!  If her bag works out well, I may well make a few of them to put into my etsy shop which is looking sparce.

have a fab weekend everyone

Christmas has hit the house

A while ago i read one of Anna’s fantastic tutorials which can be found here and thought what a fabulous thing to do with the children.  As you can tell from the link it is for making Christmas baubles; i immediately set out and bought the polystyrene balls, wire and wallpaper paste, knowing that in my room full of stuff there was some free craft paper i had gotten a while ago as a freebie with a magazine.  As with all of these things i put it off and off and off, promising my eldest Oliver that yes we would do it next weekend and so it went on.  On Sunday with the Christmas tree up, i gave in and the whole family set to (including hubby in dressing gown) to make the baubles.  It transpired really quite quickly that wallpaper paste and children do not go, i figured though that plain water would work as long as we soaked the paper in it long enough, and i was right.  the children loved making these, I struggled to keep my inner perfectionist  at bay, telling myself these are made by children and do not need to look perfect.  Does anybody else have that problem when doing things with their little ones?

I varnished them whilst still slightly damp just in case the paper decided to peel away.  Anyway i have taken some photos of the process.

If you want to see the full instructions then pop over to this tutorial

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OK the finished product is not as brilliant as Anna’s but the children had such fun making them.  They are all varnished now and are hanging on the Christmas tree

Life took over

What can i say, i lost the urge to write my blog.  I havent been sewing and for my sins i signed up to take part in this, which i completed.  So yes i am the proud owner of a first draft of my first ever novel.  Which i am actually quite pleased with, the story does have the potential to be really good; obviously though the book needs to go through a second, third draft but i am moving away from it until after Christmas.  not least because i have loads of bag orders to fulfill.

So how has everyone been, we have all been really good actually.  I have been going to yoga, body pump and step and feeling really good, even though the scales have been staying the same.

So i am making two grocery bags this week, to be followed by a beach bag (yes i know it is snowing but some people are strange) and a basket bag.  I also have an order for one of these beauties that i made myself a few months ago

I am really pleased with it and use it all the time.  It gets a lot of comments.  I was especially pleased with the turn and lock fastener.  The handle and other accessories are from Lisa of course.

Anyway really nice to be back and blogging, I hope you havent all forgotten about me.  I have been reading your blogs if not commenting.