box of bits

I've spent this afternoon cutting out lots of lovely things to make...the bits don't look exciting like this but they will soon!

twit twoo

These owls were finished yesterday and are already on their way to their new home.

I also tinkered with my website yesterday and I have updated my workshop page and added information about Christmas Posting Dates and added extra postage options for super-quick delivery.

the buttons are sorted!

hurrah! they are finally ready for me to share!

There are flower buttons :: 5 colours, 3 styles, 3 sizes

2 hole buttons in 3 sizes...

...and 10 colours...

...mixed bags or a single colour...it's up to you

There are also 4 hole buttons in the same 10 colours

and of course, the teeny tiny buttons are back!

they can all be found in my shop here, and I can be found in the pub,having the night off with a glass of wine or two!

a change from buttons

I'm still sorting through the buttons and will be back with them tomorrow...today I thought it was about time I photographed and listed some items that I have made over the past few weeks but not had time to list!

I had a little pile in the corner....

... but it didn't look like much until I started pulling everything out

there are lots of ornaments

some key rings I made in the summer and then promptly forgot to add to the website!

and a few boxes for good measure!

and now my website looks a bit fuller :-)

If you would like links to all the new items you can find them here

in colour

After dyeing I laid out all the buttons so they could dry...I think John got a bit tired of hearing me say 'mind my buttons!' every time he went within 1 foot of them!! (and seeing as though they are all over the living room floor he couldn't really get away from them!!)

I first dyed some buttons about a month or so ago, do you remember the post about teeny tiny buttons?

well, they came out so well (even if I do say so myself) that I did more research and have bought lots of different shapes (as well as more teeny-tinys)

I mixed all the shapes together to dye them and it's a weeny bit time consuming separating them, but when they are done I shall show you them in all their glory!

an afternoon of cooking...

...Buttons!

15,000 dyed (that's them before the colour!)...they are currently drying, then it will be time to sort them all out *gulp*

a sewing marathon

it started last night with a few hours of hand sewing

and this morning I was up bright and early and in the workshop at the sewing machine stitching away, listening to Chris Evans on Radio 2 (and Ken Bruce, Jeremy Vine and a bit of Steve Wright!)

and by mid-afternoon I had 18 boxes...all made for special orders

HURRAH!

another tick on the list

Ticking items off my to-do list is very satisfying...

wholesale order for embellishments :: TICK

wholesale order for Kits :: TICK

and now it's time to write a new list!

stars

I made some stars using Emma's tutorial...I took a fancy to pink & yellow and thought 'why not?'

I think pink & yellow work well...I added a jingle bell to the large one and it makes it SO christmassy!

what colour are you making??

worth the wait

as you can see my UPS delivery arrived! Inside there were hundreds of mini brads :: Black are back in stock AND I got 2 new colours especially for Christmas :: silver and gold!

I topped up on some more ribbon ::

AND I got some Christmassy Snowflakes ::

they are Printed Chipboard (really thick card) and I think they'd look great decorating Christmas Gift Wrap.

waiting for UPS

I'm waiting for the UPS man to come, so today is a backward day...starting with hand sewing on the sofa and blogging & finishing off with workshop work...all round the other way to normal!

Yesterday I finished & posted 2 orders...a set of Alphabet Boxes,

and 6 cute boxes, one with a custom ginger cat.

Emma's Christmas Tutorial

My Friend Emma (aka Bagladee) has shared a tutorial to make some sparkly star Christmas Decorations...

....if you click the link you'll see the pattern, instructions and Giveaway details too!

I've chosen my felt, buttons & ribbon and shall be making some this weekend...happy stitching!

extra flowers

a week or so ago I made a whole pile of felt flowers for a special order and this week I was asked to make some more...

(the cupcake is for a different order!)

prepping

I've been busy prepping orders today ... I have taken on a lot more made-to-order work now that I have more time on my hands and here's a little snap shot of what went on today::

the cutting table is so full there's only a teeny amount of table left to cut on...but for now all orders are cut so I'm ignoring it!!

items patiently waiting near the machine for me to sew them

hand sewing items ready to be cut...I bag up all the pieces and take all the hand sewing home to do on the sofa!

65th Birthday surprises

John's Dad is 65 today, so yesterday we chucked some clothes into a bag and headed onto the motorway...2.5 hours later we were in Suffolk and our arrival was a surprise, as was the meal we went to in the evening ... all of John's Dad's family were there as a surprise too!
We had a lovely meal and drank some wine and talked a lot! It was fantastic!
We got back to Worthing at 2.30pm and I managed to pack orders and make it to the Post Office before they shut!
Blogging with pictures will resume tomorrow!

a sticky tape parcel

On Friday I mentioned that Mr Parcelforce had visited and that's the box he left me...even though I knew what was in it I was still really excited!!

I have *new* Christmas design deco tapes (pretty sellotape)

and a whole box full of mini reels too

special snowmen

These Snowmen are for a special order for my Favourite Christmas Customer (you may remember the fabulous Christmas Tree post?)

It was especially nice to have to sit & design & cut & workout patterns at this busy time of year...

finished Friday!

hurrah! lots of finished projects ::

I'm working on a special Snowman Order tonight (hi Kelly *wave*) and Mr. Parcelforce came today with a parcel full of goodies, hopefully I can show you all that tomorrow!