Pretty Shop Items...

 Stocking the http://paperfish.etsy.com/ shop ready for the upcoming SALE DAY!!

I know i have been making PinPots and NeedleBooks for an age now,

but i really love these designs. They are good designs and so pretty

(in my humble opinion)

 I had a very calm and relaxing sewing weekend and it felt so good to make things

'just because i like them'

and not because they are ordered.

 It is so satifying to trawl through my own stash and ribbons and trims,

rather than selling stash.

And it is SO satisfying when people love these items and i know they will sit in someone elses sewing box or on their table and inspire their pure joy of creating.

 I think this PinPot in Spring Yellows and Pinks is my current Favourite.

The tags at the top of this post are so quick and easy to make.

I am selling a few packs, but really, they are not rocket science and the idea is just to inspire and encourage peeps who love crafting. Whilst the weather is a bit drizzly, it is nice to stay in indoors with a bit of cosy sewing or crochet or knitting or gluing or....

Happy 2012!

Keep an eye on the blog for Full Details of my amazing ETSY SALE DAY!

*NEW* Cath Kidston Fabric Pack

 So.... for the Fans of Cath Kidston and her amazing fabrics:

A pack of 5 large sheets Double Weave Cotton.

1 Cherry, 1 White Bird, 2 Florals and a Stone spot - all of these are my Favourites. Lord knows why i am selling them on!

 only available in the FABRICS section at:

http://www.lovepaperfish.com/

my lovely store for buttons & bits that seems to be an endless list of updating and tweaking.

 In my http://paperfish.etsy.com/ store i have been listing these very cute

Button Tag Packs!

 Weeny Button Tags in packs of 5 that make awesome little gift tags for childrens gifts or to stick on a bottle of wine for a host gift. Also great to pop in party bags as favours for the more grown-up party bags.

 I have been making lots of Greetings Cards which has been great as i never get a chance to work with paper and fabric. I love how every card can be different and it doesn't matter. The freedom to make what i want, instead of stuff in 'batches'

 I love imagining 'who' will receive the cards and whether or not they like them.

It makes me feel proud. And it's always nice to receive a card from a friend.

 Tags lying all over, drying out...

They look so funny, like they are breeding at an alarming rate!

I have been doing very little of late, except go Running, Weight Training and Crafting.

Although i did go and see HANNA at the cinema the other day.

have you seen it advertised?

Good for those of us who are interested in Children and the innocence of children and childhood - that great painful chasm between the innocence and adolesence.

Good film but a 12A??? it was a bit Gory....

Maybe i'm a wimp? (But oooohh, Eric Banna...)

x

Cath Kidston Fabric Pack...

 Hello Colour / Cath / Sewing / Fabric faaaannnnnssss.

 This mixed pack of 5 fabrics are available to buy in the LovePaperFish shop.

I thought i had too much fabric and too little time so i have made these packs up.

I am saving some pieces however, as i have 'Grand Plans' to make myself a big big quilt (yes i know i already have many quilts)

 Each sheet is a heart size approx. 21" by 14" which is ermmm maybe 53cm x 35cm?

 This pack is ideal for making smaller homeware pieces as it is the thicker double weave cotton duck fabric. You could make bunting, patchwork, purses, cushion covers, covered notebooks, placemats.... and yummy stuff like that.

 There are 4 florals and then this yummy minty green spot which i just adore and goes with all the florals really nicely. But that is one of the reasons i love CathK designs, i think they all look gorgeous mixed up together.

p.s 2 packs of 10 2cm yummy, pearly, blush pink buttons will go into BigFish.

I fished these out whilst going through the Blush Pink jar and *loved* them so.

More new buttons and fabrics will follow shortly....

Craft Exhibition - Boddington, South Northants

As promised, i took a few photos of my display at the Art & Craft exhibition over the weekend.

It was a really long weekend - 10am till 4pm on both days, which is exhausting but it means i can put up a really nice display... which i enjoy!

The above 2 are quilts that i have made recently. The floral extravaganza is made from 14 different Cath Kidston fabrics. It is available in PaperFish.etsy.com and will be in my *new* shop http://www.lovepaperfish.com/

The animal baby boy Cot Quilt was a real success.

On the wall at the back here - i displayed the quilt i am currently making for my daughter. I had alot of nice comments and chats with craft and fabric fans - about colour choices and getting projects 'finished'!

I used lots of my vintage homewares and a pot of yellow Gerberas to help make my display stand ZING!

These are also new... The above are 12 scallop pennants i call "Artisan Bunting" with each scallop a different mix of linens with hand embroidered and machine stitched embellishments. These were really popular and i have plans to make many more. They are designed for the grown-up bunting and craft lover, to hang on shelves or on a mantlepiece. I am so proud of these and can't wait to develop this idea.

I hung mixed bunting all across the ehibition room too. It was a real 'country fair' english shabby feel and the reactions from the public was so much fun. Sometimes when i sit and 'make' in isolation i worry that people won't enjoy the same things that i do. It is a great feeling to get positive reactions and sales. Also to chat with people who always supply me with new ideas (Thanks Juliet for the Pockets Thing!) 

Vintage suitcases to add height and interest and because i love them and because i can carry my products easily in suitcases. I sold many lavender cushions which was such a compliment.

I also put out books and magazines and freebies on the stall to help engage people in conversation aswell as set 'the scene'..... i even sold some Christmas Decorations this weekend! i apologised for my prematurity but customers were easy to forgive me and liked to see what new Christmas 2010 stock is on it's way.....

Mini Lavender and Clove cushions with off-cuts of Cath Kidston fabrics... the smell!

And i had a small area to sell some supplies were i put a portfolio of me and my work and also displayed my sketch book and all the craft artciles i have written.
All in all it was fun. I took some money and people loved their 'finds'. I chatted much about sewing and crafts and patchwork and .... ahhh, so much other stuff.
Thanks for looking - hope it inspires you a bit xxx

Playing with Christmas Presents...

Child says: "I'm bored Mamma"
Mother replies: "Don't be so silly. Go and play with all those new toys you were given for Christmas"
*child skips off to play*... Mother looks down at her hands and thinks *i'm bored*...

So i decided to play with some of my Christmas Gifts: I haven't 'packed' the Cath Kidston sewing basket yet. I am going to fill it with my travel sewing kit. I spend alot of time between my Parents home, my home, and various child related activities. This basket will have all the items i need so i can pick it up and *know* i will have pieces and essentials to work with on 'the move'.

Cath Kidston's craft books have come under some 'fire' from the dedicated UK Designer / Maker devotees and i can understand why. Her items are far from 'handmade' themselves and she is perhaps riding on the back of a growing current trend. I don't mind though. Her books are colourful and fun and i ask little else of my Craft Books.

The "DK Sewing Book" is something i need. I have never had any training in sewing and i get frustrated at my lack of knowledge. I am not a patient person and i want to be 'GOOD' at something immediately... at least i have this book now that might encourage me to, patiently, try some new things.

**Note to Self** take some time off in March and DO things for MYSELF :)

(feel a bit perkier today. A good camera and craft sessions can do that)

I am going away for a few days...

...and as if by MAGIC, the craft gods smiled on me and just LOOK what the postman passed me this morning... three yummy crafty and inspiring publicatoins. I only took them from their cellophane to photograph for you - they have gone straight into my overnight suitcase all readyfor my trip... And as a sort of 'p.s' i meant to tell you - i was given the Cath Kidston MAKE! book for my birthday the other week.
Like many designer / makers / crafters i was ready to 'hate it'... but i don't! It is fun and inspiring and cute and full of easy little projects. I like it!

It is just like most of my other craft books... i have no plans to make anything specific from them, but i like the ideas and the photography and the whole concept. A bit of crafty eye-candy never hurt anyone x

A glimpse into Cath's latest catalogue... i will be swooning over this with my Mum and my Sister on our mini-weekday break...

So, .... where am i going? ummmm - don't go hating on me just because I am having a break and i so very much deserve it...

Don't go hating on me because all i will need to take is clean pants, a few good reads and the items below:

I am going to 'Champneys' darling x if you please - HERE to be precise.

What was long ago termed a 'spa' and is now a 'health farm' or 'relaxation break'...

hooray for me, my sis and my mum - we do try to go away every year at least for one night but this year we have managed 2 nights.

It might sound like a boast but it really isn't x promise! We haven't hadn't a proper holiday in years and this was a birthday treat for each of us who have a birthday within 3 weeks of each other. It is our Mummy and Daughter love-in time and i hope one day i will do such things with my girl? But, for now, she can have 'Daddy Time' as THIS is grown-up ladies only! x x x

We have started the crockery craze....

Some more bits that were lying around in the dusty debris of dis-organised photo files.... I
I wanted, no! *had* to include this Cath Kidston mug .... mmmmmmm x x x a gift from my 'special' MrsB and yes, it holds a Hewge amount of tea and i do use in the mornings when i begin at 5.30am x x thankyou! A gorgeous large lot of pretty tea-party accessories. Some were kept for tea.... others were made into willing scented candles (like this)

THIS, i had to include - the 'prop Mug'! I use it in soooo many shots for little supplies as it is GIANT.

I use it to put chocolates in on my craft stall sometimes, so my customers have a little treat...

AAAhhhh Spode - i do love the colour red and polka dots. I could fill a weeks worth of blogging with my red polka-dot love.

My much adored ENTIRE owl Coffee set. It is honestly stunning - and..... yes my thrifty friends, it was found in a charity shop, complete and un-used for £15.00 x i would have paid so much more! I usually serve Mulled Wine in these at Christmas - the cups being obscenely small for tea consumption.

That BLASTED Apple tea pot.... SO pretty and colourful and so BROKE the first time i put hot water in it. I was obviously chuffed with its lovliness but annoyed by its inadequacy x

Blog them pots and mugs!!! x

Colourful Crockery...

A quick post on Colourful, playful, beautiful crockery.... I have much of it - and tis one of my most favourite things in my everyday life, to collect and use this gorgeous spotty, dotty, collection of crockery, tea-party-ness....

(this is only the tip of a large ice-berg!)

My most hateful thing in the house? That MAN with the 'endearingly termed' BUTTER FINGERS..... 'whoops'!

KIRSTYFISH: "have you seen my birdie mug - you know, the little one i like my afternoon tea in?"

MANFISH: "Oh i smashed that ages ago - so what, you've got loads"...

'So What'? ... i love them, that's what.

I love them all.

Share your crockery on your blog - and let me know when you do, i'd love to see them x x x

(P.S - i do now photograph every new piece that enters my home - just incase that is the last time i see it.)