I love productive days!

The picture to the left shows my recent charity shop finds, all in one shop in Hadleigh, Suffolk! A lovely blanket for £1 a piece of slightly hideous kind of lovely vintage fabric for 50p and a purple velvet bow tie for 50p! I don't need another blanket or any more fabric but that's not the point is it? You can see my dirty pumps on my thread covered carpet at the bottom of the picture.

In other news I have had a wonderfully busy couple of days. I've made two lots of polka dot bunting, two lots of union jack bunting and some new brooches. I've also drawn up loads of new designs for tote bags, the original large and the new mini tote bags for carrying your books or lunch! They are soooo cute!

I'll photograph some sketches for you to see soon, it would be nice if you felt you wanted to comment on ones you liked or weren't so keen on.

I have also signed up to have a stall at my first craft fair! It is being held at Ipswich Library on Saturday 25th and I am very very excited. I have been thinking about display ideas, flyers, products, little price signs and a stall sign. All the important things of course!

Chris and I had a debate about whether I needed bags to put things in once they are sold or not. I vote yes! And they should be cute paper ones too!

Tomorrow is our 3rd year anniversary of being together so we are off to Cambridge for a lovely day. It's meant to rain, but nevermind there's a Lush, a Paperchase and lots of beautiful architecture. Hope the weather is good wherever you are.

A Sunday spent....

Today has been a funny old day.

I woke up at 7 (actually 8 thanks to the clocks going forward) to the dog yapping as he wanted out. Then I tried in vain to sleep some more. No such luck. So I took the bright morning sun as an opportunity to take some photos of the latest set of brooches i've made. There they are attached to my knitting bag. I have plans for that bag! More of that later this week hopefully.

Then Chris and I went to the cinema to see The Damned United. Oh it was good! I do actually have an interest in football though it isn't really needed. It's more about Brian Clough than the football. Michael Sheen is awesome. What a great impersonator, we saw him in Frost/Nixon too and he was brilliant.

Then we walked into town taking a wee detour to look in the window of LoveOne where my bags, bunting and brooches (all the B's) are being sold. Nothing has gone :( Though some of my business cards have. I am finding all this lack of selling rather demoralising now. I love making things to sell but if no-one buys anything what's the point of it all?

I must be patient and stay positive. And remember the big plans Chris and I have! (very exciting if it happens) and I may have a group exhibition coming up so that's something to look forward to as well. Back to the sketchbook!!

Things are looking up!!

I have had a busy busy day. But before that I must tell you that Cavern 4 in Bury St Edmunds is currently stocking my brooches which I arranged at the weekend. All very exciting. Though at the time I was really rather anxious! Also they have just opened a new shopping centre called 'Arc' in BStE which has a lovely lovely Topshop and a Paperchase. I managed to only by some thank you cards for a friend and that was all. So restrained of me!

And now onto today. After speaking to the people at Cavern 4 i found the confidence to go down to a wonderful shop called LoveOne on St Peters St in Ipswich. I actually already know the owner so it wasn't that scary but I think when you start selling your work and putting yourself out there you are opening yourself up to criticism or praise but it can make you feel quite vulnerable!

On the way there I got a call from college offering me 32 hours instead of 10.5 starting after Easter.

AND I can happily announce my tote bags and brooches and soon some bunting are all being stocked by LoveOne! Now I am excited!

The picture on the left is a print I did a while ago. I've been taking photos to put on MOO cards and that's one of my faves.

As I said. Things are looking up!!

Goods and Wares

Yesterday I visited the Remnant Shop in Felixstowe, if you know Suffolk you will know how wonderful a place the Remnant Shop is. To the left is my haul. Not just for the sake of it like most visits to fabric shops! For example last week's trip to Quilter's Haven in Wickham Market where I bought a knitting pattern book, two metres of Amy Butler fabric which I have no plan for and some beads!

Anyway, back on track, I bought the fabrics to the left with the intention of making it into things to sell on Etsy. If I can ever sort that out, it should be easy, but I have a Maestro card and you can't use it with Etsy so now i'm trying to arrange another one to pay my earnings into!

I have, however, already been making some things that are ready to be listed as soon as I get my account up and running. So here's a few pics of my goods.

Brooches made of handmade felt, machine and hand embroidered.

My name is...

Oh lookie lookie what I got in the post yesterday. Very exciting!! My website, sewn onto tape, so i can sew them onto anything i make. Especially the brooches i'm doing right now! :D