more split peas

split peas are truly marvellous.

it's hard to convey with a photo but they make Giant Happy Tree #2 so, well...weighty!

he is mostly stuffed with fluff, with 1kg of split peas in the bottom...I'm thinking, giant happy tree doorstops!!

recipes

take a few ingredients ::

1. contrasting fabrics

2. sewing machine

3. over locker

4 fluff and split peas

and what do you get?

an over-sized table top pincushion!

it's nice and heavy and stays just where I put it, no more tipping over pincushions for me!

making time

I'm trying to organise myself so I can spend one day a week sewing for me, rather than the shop, making bags, clothes ...anything that takes my fancy really!

This week I made myself another bag ::

Which should brighten the trip to the supermarket up a bit!

For the studio I found some bargain jars in Julian Graves, just perfect for the new button delivery ::

marvellous :-)

spots before my eyes!

I came home from work yesterday to find this parcel in the porch....a surprisingly small box when you know there's 10,000 buttons inside!

I decided to order huge quantities so I can try to always have them in stock, but I am still missing a few colours (and still trying to get them)

These little blighters are hard to get!

Dots are here, and ginghams are here.

Enjoy them while they last!

sharing my workshop space

with two new tortoise friends!

they feel very at-home on the colourful rug!

one is definately much cheekier than the other....

but both are definately very cute!

some crafting history

firstly let me tell you that I finished my order ::

Lots of flowers ::

and mini heart ornaments ::

all on their way to the US :-)

Yay!

Now to the title of this post :: Yesterday I needed some carbon paper and I rummaged around and found this packet that my Mum let me add to my off-to-college sewing box (over 10 years ago!)

and look what I found inside ::

a piece that my sister had used when she was still at school !!

A little teeny tiny piece of family crafting history that bought back lots of memories (who'd have thought carbon paper could do that!!)

(hi mum & dad & sisterini, love you xxx)

workshop fun

I moved things around !

I turned my Ikea Expedit unit onto it's side and it's now under the window :-)

Once all my fabric is in there it will look super tidy!

That manoeuvre means the sewing machine table has now turned around and looks like this ::

Oh! hold on...a new sewing machine cover* ????

yep! don't look too close because the squares don't line up, but I still love it !!

*inspired by this post

and what was that on the wall???

hehehe :-)

I LOVE MY WORKSHOP :-)

saturday's tray

half way through the first order from my BULK shop

24 flowers :: made

12 mini hearts :: nearly there!

making to order

I've had a few orders to make this week....I usually only sell items that I have pre-made but have recently given shoppers the option of ordering even if items have sold out. It certainly helps to relieve the pressure of keeping the shop tip-top stocked up!
I stayed late at the workshop tonight cutting out the next order (the first from my wholesale shop ... yippee!!) but it was too dark/late to take a photo of that, so I'll do that tomorrow.

colour inspiration

One of the things I like about being a shop keeper is the inspiration from customers. People choose felt colour combinations that wouldn't spring to my mind and being 'forced' to mix colours that are outside my comfort zone really stretches my creative side. I posted the order in the photo yesterday and I had to photograph it before I packed it! I love all the bright colours together and I like them even more on the bright green tissue paper...that bright pink, coral and leaf green are really making me smile :-)

craft x2

I've been asked to create some finger puppets for a customer ::

here we have pig, cow, rabbit, chicken & fox ::

They will be exclusive to her online shop...I'll be sure to let you know when they are listed over there!

I was a little behind reading my Bloglines list and I clicked onto the Craft blog and look ::

my little workshop has been given a minute of fame :-)

yay!!

keeping Betty busy

After years of being stuck between a wardrobe and a set of shelves Betty is loving the workshop!

She has been put to good use modelling some new brooches I have made.

and I think her chocolate brown-ness sets them off beautifully :-)

Sweet Tooth

I can't stop with the cupcakes!
Little mini ones this time, in bright cheerful colours.

*Yum*

workshop news

*Betty has moved in ::

(I bought Betty about 10 years ago for £10 from a charity shop...I love that she is covered in brown terry towelling!)
*John has put my rails on the wall ::

*The pinboard is up, and has now been photographed ::
(The fabric was designed to be cut up and edged to turn the squares into handkerchiefs, but for me, it's a daily wall planner!)

*I've tried to do a fancy panorama-thing with some photos so you can see everything as I do standing at the end of the table...it's almost worked ::
(I'll pop the picture on flickr too)

*A Workshop Page has been added to my website ... there are more photos, along with opening hours and contact details etc

summer slow down

Summer tends to be a quiet time in my shop (which is kinda worrying now I have rent to pay!) but looking on the bright side it does mean that I have lots of time to concentrate on stock and new designs...

...this time last year I went on a Christmas making/designing spree but I'm not feeling Christmassy right now (it's just too hot!) so I have been re-visiting some of my other designs.

Last night I finished some owl ornaments & owl embellishments and tonight I shall try and finish some mushroom brooches (which have been out of stock for ages now!)

I've also done some more re-arranging at the workshop, using something I bought AGES ago (and which didn't end up being made into what I intended!) but it's a grey day here so no photos of that today...hopefully tomorrow!!

winners announced

without further ado......
mr. magic number generator has spoken....
and the three winners are ::

comment number 11 ::
tovi said...
Oh wow! as usual your work is so much fun to look at!! good luck with your new workshop- it's fun to see it come to life!tovi

comment number 90 ::
Pomona said...
What a lovely kit! And I think your workshop is wonderful - how did you do it all so quickly?!Pomona x

comment number 145 ::
Sonya said...
WOW what a great giveaway this is. Im so in awe of everything you make.

Congratulations Tovi, Pomona and Sonya...I shall email you today and your cupcake kits will be posted soon.

Kits are available here and here :-)

freebie day :: July 2009

To celebrate moving into my first workshop I wanted to do something great for this months freebie.

I had quite a few ideas but kept coming back to an item that blog readers and customers have been asking for.

So I duly set to work, ordering bit and pieces, squinting at the computer and hey presto!

I am pleased to announce.....make-your-own :: cupcake kits!

Hurrah!

This is my biggest kit yet...each pack is stuffed with goodies, enough to make at least half a dozen cupcake mini softies.

How to enter::

As always all you need to do to enter the prize draw is leave a comment on this post.

You MUST be contactable via your comment.

I will use the magic number generator to pick 3 winners on Sunday.

I will post worldwide.

GOOD LUCK !

***THE FREEBIE IS NOW CLOSED & WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED SHORTLY***