Kids back at school! Hooray!

Now that the children are back at school I have been able to sort through my Christmas stock.  The 'sort out' has been playing on my mind and now that I have finally done it the black cloud seems to have cleared from above my head and I can breathe again.  I always feel more creative at this time of the year.  I think it's because I love anything with a theme ie Halloween and Christmas. 

Made a few of these Halloween trick or treat bags using the spider ribbon, this however is the last one. 

I have also managed to make some napkin rings which are on my folksy shop.

My main thought for this year is to make more fabric gift bags and hopefully people will start using and re-using them year after year.  What are your thoughts on fabric bags.  Here are a few of the bags I have made so far:

 

These are reversible gift/bottle bags.



I would love to hear your comments and thoughts on fabric gift bags.

Tomatoes

Well this afternoon I am going to plant my tumbling tom tomatoes in the planter outside of my kitchen window.  I have just put new screws in to secure the planter as it gets really heavy once the compost is in.  Last year we had absolutely loads of tomatoes, let's hope this year is the same!

This picture is similar to the plants we had last year, this is one plant, we had three of these in our planter.  Good job we like toms!

Apologies

Hello all, sincere apologies for not being around for a while, there just isn't enough time in the day for me at the mo.  Hooray!! I have managed to join in with Handmade Monday at 1st Unique gifts my handmade item is Harry and the hairwash helper, here he is -

My little boy hates having his hair wasshed so I have created Harry and now Tom puts harry over his eyes when I rinse the shampoo off and then plays with him while he gets washed!  It works a treat.  Hopefully I will have loads of sales on my folksy shop!

I am going to have a look at all of your blogs now to catch up!

Not been around much.

Sorry folks I've not been around much for a while I think.  Last week I was busy during half term and this week I have been busy sorting out my four year olds party, which is on Saturday.  All I have done today is this:

it's the Ambulance cake Tom wants for his party!

Last year he wanted a fire engine

I think he must be working his way through the emergency services!  I really enjoy doing the cakes.  I find it very theraputic!  Hopefully after the weekend I will be able to catch up with everyone elses blogs!

Missed Handmade monday again!

Damn and blast! I missed Handmade Monday  at www.1stuniquegifts.co.uk/blog/ again ! So sorry guys!  I have adapted my flower brooches this week and made some little dainty ones for hair clips. 

They were a bit fiddley, and after stabbing myself with the needle a couple of times I managed, I should really wear my thimble should I?



I had a sale on Folksy over the weekend but the buyer couldn't pay for the item because I hadn't Verified my paypal account.  I contact the buyer to explain - I haven't had a reply.  So now the paypal is sorted, I contacted them again to mention that if they were still interested they could go ahead with the purchase.  I extremely vexed with myself for not sorting the paypal out as I may have lost a sale because of it!  ARGH!

Stylish Blogger Award

Thank you to Silver Pebble for awarding me the Stylish Blogger Award!  I am just coming to grips with the blogging world and would therefore like to apologise if I don't get this right!

 

Thank you Stacey for adding me to your list!

 

Since joining the 'blogging' world I have struggled to find other blogs that I wanted to follow and read, but I am getting the hang of it, so I think the Stylish Blogger award is a great way of connecting with fellow crafty folk!

 

This is what happens next!

• Step 1 - Make a post linking back to the person who gave you the award!
• Step 2 - Share 7 random things about yourself
• Step 3 – Award 15 recently discovered bloggers with this award
• Step 4 – Contact these bloggers and tell them they’ve won the award

7 Random things about me

1. I love Cava
2. I lived in Saudi Arabia when I was younger as did Silver Pebble 
3. My nick-name is Tilly
4. I pick my fingers when I'm anxious/stressed or in my husband's words I'm a 'cannibal'.
5. I can't follow a pattern when making anything!
6. I think it's unlucky to cross on the stairs
7. I can use both hands when playing tennis but can't do backhand

My blogs for you to follow:

http://bebeandmeuk.blogspot.com/
http://shpangle.blogspot.com/
http://itsamistrydesignstudio.blogspot.com/
http://bodrighy.blogspot.com/
http://allthingsnice4life.blogspot.com/
http://swirlyarts.blogspot.com/
http://silverpawjewellery.blogspot.com/
http://raicreations.blogspot.com/
http://blog.curiouscatcreative.co.uk/
http://angels-and-diamonds.blogspot.com/
http://bedeckedbeadsuk.blogspot.com/
http://anitemeachdayoftheyear.blogspot.com/
http://caroleecrafts.blogspot.com/
http://handywoodcrafts.blogspot.com/
http://passionforsoap.blogspot.com/

I now need to tell everyone (but my hubby is waiting for his supper) might have to tell everyone tomorrow. 

Latest brooches

Have been creative today and made a couple of brooches.

This is as you can see a double flower version.  I took apart an apron I had made to get the fabric, the small design works quite well.  Putting fabrics together is always my problem.

Took Laura Ashley pillow case apart this morning, thought the fabric would be perfect for a brooch and I think I was right!  I have just found another pillow case that is crying out to be a brooch.  So that might happen after I've collected my children from school.  Watch this space!  Off to have a sit down, with a cup of tea, two or three or ten biscuits and watch May the Best house win until 2:50.  Toodle ooo

Managed to surface

Afternoon all!

Had a migraine for the past couple of days so I've been trying to rid myself of it!  Anyway today I feel human, which is good.  Lots of housework etc to catch-up on and zero crafting done.  I missed the Handmade Monday Makes this week on www.1stuniquegifts.co.uk/blog/ I will try and join in on Monday next week!  I also need to catch up on everyones blogs, lots of interesting stories to  read I hope.

I have a question for all of you wonderful, wise, experienced craft folk - how do you approach local shops/galleries etc to sell your craft.  What do you do? How do you prepare? Pricing? How does it work? etc etc

I await your guidance!

Middle of the week already!

Hardly any crafting done this week.  If only I had a designated space for all of my bits and bobs, alas at the moment it is all kept in a chest and I have to get it all out and put it all back when finished.  I would love to sit all day and sew but for some reason I feel guilty.  If I was making money because of the 'making' that would be different.  Does anyone else feel guilty taking a couple of hours out of the day to be creative?

Handmade Monday Makes

Morning all! Welcome to another week and the last day of January, wow that went quickly!

It's handmade Monday on http://www.1stuniquegifts.co.uk/blog/ why not pop over to have a look at what everyone is making and join in yourself. 

Here is my make for today, he's a bit lonely so I may have to make him a friend or two.

FRIDAY!

Well Friday has come around very quickly!  I don't know where the days go really. 

My aim in 2011 is to make a huge effort to spread the word about me and my creations.  I made absolutely zero effort last year, I think that after a few disastrous 'craft fairs'  my confidence levels dropped.  In the past I tended to make items for children ie pencil cases

but they didn't seem to be very popular.  I ended up giving them to friends children for birthday presents. I also made children's aprons again didn't sell well.  Anyway to cut a long story short I am going to try to avoid children's item for the moment.

I have heard that blogging is a good way to spread the word about yourself etc but how much of that is true I don't know.  Off to 'clean' the bowl after making some fairycakes!  Toodle oo!

First blog

Well I have finally decided to catch up with the rest of the world and this is my first blog.  I don't really know what to say so I'm off to have a look at some other peoples blogs.