24 reasons to smile

I've always enjoyed making these fabric flowers

I love picking the fabrics and choosing the colours, and yesterday afternoon when I received an order for a pack of 24 of them I immediately stopped what I was doing and got to work! (I'm not really sure it can be called work when it is so much fun!!)

the shop is currently low on individual stock, but the mix packs are always up for grabs!

making rainbows...

...but I didn't find any pots of gold !!

it's all about boxes

boxes I've made for a special order ::

boxes of printed kit parts ::

it's normal to use the stairs as storage, right?

and ... boxes being turned into the finished kits ::

the return of the dots

they're back!

early birds get to sew!

I've spent most of today making up the embellishment packs for my kits (you can just see the cheap-o cups in the background, with half done packs in them) but I got off to a sewing start and by 9.30am I had these three boxes sewn and packed!

move over stuffing...it's time for the pom poms!

the stuffing station has been transformed into a

putting-buttons-ribbons-&-pom-poms-into-bags station

(I'm not sure than name will catch on!)

John had the genius idea of using cheap-o plastic cups as pots to sort into...what a clever fellow he is :-)

felty fun

a bit of colour therapy ... packing up more free craft kits

and some sewing action with 2 finished boxes.

how to set up a stuffing station

take one ginormous (and very heavy) bag of compressed stuffing...

place next to your fancy-schmancy new scales....

weigh lots of fluff and put it in piles, then stuff into bags....

store finished bags in a glamorous storage solution...

ta-dah! one stuffing station, ready for use!

further tips ::

use wheelie bin liners, they are much bigger than normal old bin bags!

remember to not wear black

do not turn the fan on. ever.

a busy weekend

wow!! it seems that it's not only me that likes teeny tiny polka dot buttons...they have to be my fastest ever selling items!! but if you've missed them do not worry, I ordered some more today and they will hopefully be here by the end of the week...I will keep you posted on that!
Yesterday I indulged in a morning episode of Columbo on TV and produced another box of stationery printed, folded & cut and ready to be used, then I went to the workshop and started the task of bagging up stuffing... but I'll tell you about that fluffy job tomorrow (because I forgot to take photos!)...

...later in the day I finished this little lot...It's been my evening job for the whole of last week and I was so pleased to get them finished in good time ... I still have 36 little cats to make for the same order but they should be done by the end of this week....

get ready to shop!

yay! a rainbow of teeny tiny polka dot buttons!

they are so teeny tiny I love them! ... they are in the shop here in individual colours and mixed bags...I haven't got many though so you'll have to be quick!!

I've also added a whole load of metre ribbon to the shop .... 26 new designs and some old favourites have returned too...they can be found spread out over 3 pages one, two & three
But the BEST thing has been a long time coming......

BULK spools of ribbon at bargain-ous prices! There are 82 different designs in grosgrain, satin, velvet and felt ric rac too! They are all on one page and are limited in number, so it really will be first come first served for these!

topping up

Today I received a box full of goodies to restock the shop
piles of 4" zips.....

....extra polka dot buttons, sewing threads, pretty ribbons & bulk buttons....

...with a new colour added to the selection :: blue & aqua mix
such a nice way to brighten up a dreary rainy day!

magazine request

The other day I received a request from NotOnThe HighStreet to send some samples to a magazine....

....they wanted Alphabet Boxes in yellow & orange to fit in with a citrus theme....

...and they chose the letters to spell S.T.A.R.

They've now been posted...and fingers crossed they choose to use them!

I've not sent samples via a NOTHS request before so I hope these are well received

running on empty

oh what a sorry sight my felt shelves were this morning!

I was down to the last few pieces of felt in most colours....

...but then the delivery man came and delivered me a rainbow!

move & cut

for such a teeny space my landing has been very important in the task of 'finding somewhere to put all this stuff'

I've moved this white cupboard there temporarily...because I needed the space in the small room it came from!

it's currently holding all the ribbon I have cut so far (with space for more!) the boxes in the top two sections are there to stop things falling out the back of the cupboard, over the banister and down the stairs!

I cut a lot of felt this weekend which meant I was able to re-arrange the small room...the big boxes on the right hand side are my newest delivery, containing the packaging for the kits

and the boxes on the left hold all the cut up felt! there is still a bit of felt to cut....but not much thank goodness!!

a break in routine

This week I have used every spare moment to cut felt for my kits....I'm on a mission to get it all done by the end of Sunday (a very impossible mission, but it is good to have a goal!)

So it was very nice to receive an order for some of my boxes....I had to stop felt cutting and sew... wonderful!

I've been busy on the computer too....there's more felt on the way (for the shop this time!) and a whole load of ribbon too (currently stuck at customs but should be here soon!)

time to go...the rotary cutter is calling.....

...and the winner is....

wowzers*! 318 comments!

* I couldn't remember who used to say that, so I googled and it was this cartoon dude! hands up who knew without looking at the link!!

Random Number Generator has been used and it picked ::

comment #34 which is::

Pottering Pixie : Lovely freebie. Thanks for taking the time for setting it up, due to your busy schedule.Fingers crossed, thank you for entering me.

Sue x

Look out for an email from me Sue requesting your mail address!

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the next freebie is the first Thursday of July

flower power

the freebie post can be found here

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In my sewing time I have been busy sewing a couple of cupcakey special orders (which I'll show you another day) but they are all finished so last night I was able to put the final stitches in these flowers...embellishments and drawing pins

pom pom pom

the freebie post can be found here

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what a boring looking box....until the lid is taken off!!!

then it is a box full of happiness!!

in total I've ordered 57,000 pom poms...this box holds around half of them!

deliveries galore

the freebie post can be found here

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my workshop is officially full up!

I've unpacked all the felt that arrived and had to keep loads on the landing because the stock room has no room left ::

I've left a little bit of floor space in there but not much!!

The top of the stairs and my doorway are full of boxes which are full of buttons ::

and my table is currently home to the remainder of the ribbon ::

all deliveries for the kit's 'ingredients' have now arrived...just the packaging and printing and bar codes to go!

Oh! and I also have received 5 humongous bales of stuffing ... but they won't fit up here so are currently in the garage at home!!!

freebie day :: june 2011

This is a mini freebie.

As usual it is very easy to enter....just leave a comment and you'll be in with a chance!

One lucky winner will win the following goodies :: a mini felt rainbow :: a pack of teeny tiny buttons

3 mini reels of deco tape :: mini heart ribbon :: mini pom pom ribbon :: mini satin ribbon :: mini dot ribbon

pack of 7 mini felt cupcakes...and some mini magnets too!

How To Enter

simply leave a comment on this post to enter

I will post worldwide so everyone is welcome to join in

Rules
strictly one entry per person

I must be able to contact you through your comment

Closing Date
Comments will be closed, and the winner announced, on Wednesday 8th June

Good Luck!

COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED AT COMMENT # 318