Button *news* Part.2.....

 Such slow progress!!

I am regretting this stock of buttons....

The above shows all 16 colours of the buttons

they come in 4 different sizes and in spots / stripes

 I am sure it will all get easier and less complicated when i have organised the stock and colours.

I love having all these colours and choices as i know, when i really *want* something perfect for my projects, i hate having to spend such time tracking down the perfect item

 I am just about to list a few bags of these mini-stars too.

a bag of 60 teeny tiny stars, maybe for a Christmas idea you have?

 I am also still working on some new felt ideas...

There must be more hours in the day somewhere??

BUT i also bought a huge new stash of Christmassy fabrics and i have some new craft ideas that i am so desperate to try out / see if they work and look any good.

Obsessed...?

Probably.

Care...?

Definately not.

This Week, is allll shop News!!...

 EEeeep! I have been working so very hard of late.

Working on getting the stock made up for Christmas AND trying to get some of the new designs out of prototype stage and actually into 'production'.

I find this stage exhausting and really wearing - but then, suddenly, i see a stack of freshly sewn items on my table and i feeeel an achievement.

 These are Buttony hearts (also seen in a previous post)

i made some last year, for the Craft Stall and they were so popular that i got around to making more for 2011.

I have tried to colour theme them. My utter favourite is the Gingbread Heart (above) but only because i am obsessed with decorating Gingerbread Houses.

 So, there is a full set of Felt & Button decorations that *in theory* match 3 colourways:

Bold n Bright

GingerBread World

Red & White.

 But that is just like "Show and Tell" at school, because that is not my shop news.

I have a huge range of Buttons arriving, i *hope* this week.

It is good news especially IF you are a craft retailer yourself using any PaperFish Supplies for your Makes....

Watch the Blog if you are keen to know what supplies i can offer you in abundance to get all your projects ready for Christmas (come on it's never too early!!)

I shall be working on Product Information sheets for the Big Range of newbie Buttons.

I shall also try to put together a new Felt Swatch Info. Sheet as requested by a gazillion customers.

So much to do, as always, but i am wonderfully energetic and enthusiastic about this week.

I just love what i do :)

x x x

Colour Therapy....

 Time to share this weeks news in our weekly Colour Therapy session.

This is my regular group meeting to stop me going insane. There are a few other members who pop in and out, as and when they need to (you know who you are) but mainly, this is pure self indulgence.

In todays news: I waved a rather sad goodbye to my Caribou Collection. I made Santa's Reindeer last year - a set of 9 - in the secret knowledge nobody would be mad enough to buy them but i loved the project. Alas and huzzah! in simultaneous unison, they sold. Good Luck in your new home boys xxx

 New colour collections of mixed Felt Balls. The same colours as i sell but just re-mixed to inspire projects. It is an aim of mine with selling supplies - in my business manifesto "To inspire & provide"

So, the above is "Tomte Mix" (Scandinavian Elven folk colour mix)

 And these are what i call my "Gingerbread Mix" with browns, red, orange and pink - my favourite storytime colours for Christmas. I am making garlands from this mix with fabric scraps and pom-poms.

 Chaos as always.... the shop stock is mostly moved to the new Studio (which is now a heaving mess) so i have got all my own 'at home' supplies stashed messily in vintage suitcases and boxes. I cannot find a thing. I am looking forward to New Year as i LOVE tidiness and effeciency. The thought of tidying all my stash is fantastic and life can run better in this fashion.

 MiniBabushka's selling well in the online shop - again, these colours.... this riot of 'bright' is so uplifting on these colder, greyer, wetter days.

And - a pair of Lime & Blue handled scissors.

It is the small things in life (hey MrsB?) that make everything big seem posible and a little less daunting.

Whack a smile on your face people xxx



Egad! Kitchen Colour and Vintage Haul.....

 I am NOT safe to be let out alone.

Somebody wrap me up in bubble wrap and post me to Iceland.

Seal up my Piggy Bank and smack my hands.... i am a bad bad person

(tee hee hee)

SIX sandwich plates (or cake plates, ya know) SIX saucers but only FOUR tea cups.

I can live with the loss of 2 cups. Hauled / saved / salvaged from the local Recycling Centre for £2

 I have been badly in need of a ladel and there.... sat waiting for me in the Junk Box... a pretty green enamel ladel and it is a fair ole size!

 Oh Be still my beating heart.

This kitchen prettiness hurts my eyes.

This smaller Mason Bowl was saved from another Tip Shop on Monday. £1 and the perfect size for smaller baking activities or SmallFish hands.

The "Jacksons" Tea Tin was a Summer Car Boot find - gorgeous Blue.

I have WANTED one of these Steak Plates for an age. So much fun. They make me feel jolly just knowing they exist. There were 3 but i chose just one. This was in a SALE bin at the Local Antiques Cellar for £4 It just makes me chuckle. She is a Mad Cow!

And this Staffordshire Bon Bon plate was also in the SALE BIN!

What a love. She was £8 and i felt it worth the money.

Beautiful Lupin Blue colour and the pattern is perfect.

I think my MrsB was with me today as it all seemed to fall into place.

I got my friend a gift too (belated birthday-ness and maybe Christmas-ness)

But that is all for the future...

Cheers. Enjoy. Go salvage :)

Things making me happy on a Saturday Morning....

Things that are making me happy on a quiet Saturday morning....

*new* blue spotty pumps. They won't stay this clean for long. Thank the lord for a bit of Cath Kidston frivolity. The sun is shining, i might not need my Welly Boots today?

Fresh Bed Linen in random combinations. Pure cotton sheets and a salvaged over-sized Quilt.

I love to 'dress my bed' like some people might dress their living room.

A fun photo... who is that?....

it's me and my big brother at my Grandads wedding, or maybe my Aunt's?

(How many people can say they were at their Grandads wedding?)

Friendship.

Knowing that i am loved and that somebody somewhere has a thought for me and will sometimes think "i wonder how Kirsty is today" xxx

Tea. Of course. Always Tea.

A cuppa served in Car Booty 50p cup and saucer whilst sewing Christmas stock and looking forward to what might happen in my life today.

My Crafty Friend...

To call her 'Crafty' is maybe an injustice. I am a Crafter - she is a very creative person with a Degree in Textiles and a vast experience / knowledge in sewing stuffs. I believe there is a difference there!
Anyway, the SmallFish and I were round at her home for a 'Play Date' last week. I wish i had the nerve to photograph her whole house as it was really inspiring. But i managed to take a few photos whilst she popped out to see the EggMan...

This is a huge gorgeous buttony mirror - it must have taken an AGE to finish! and her small 2 yr old keeps trying to pick the buttons off, which must be very satisfying for him but terribly annoying for her....

I might well have a try at this myself. I am going to keep an eye open at the Local Tip and Car Boots for a good sized mirror. I like the choice of colours as i would have been inclined to make mine much brighter but i think i like the subtle colours here better.

A giant floor cushion in Laura Ashley fabrics and others. Huge semi-circle tabs hanging down the edge sem. I love these tabs and i am even more determined now to finish my Smallfish's quilt.

And this COOL light pull in the bathroom. Gorgeous enough to wear. These were my last Big Felt Balls that my Crafty Friend purchased and i am waiting excitiedly for the new shipment so i can have a play with bright balls and buttons.

Contrary to what some people might think - i don't live in my own 'self-obsessed bubble' where I AM the first and last word in Crafts. On the contrary. I see inspirational people and projects all around me. I feel envious and inspired and intrigued at other peoples talents and feel i am not alone in my obsession with all things crafty.
Dear chum: Thankyou for trusting me enough to lend me your Selvedge Magazines. You know i will treat them as carefully as my dog  xxx

Reels of Ribbon, Oh My!

I did warn you.... lots of yummy new things arriving.
I cannot help myself - i feel like i should be apologising? But i go through my little imagination and i wonder "if i didn't sell craft supplies, what is it i would like to be buying?"

Reels of Ribbon would certainly be on my list.

Each mini reel is just shy of 2metres per colour. Sold in a pack of 5... about 9 metres in total.

And *ugghhhh* i love the colours!

Grossgrain. 6mm wide. 6ft long. Non-washable. £7.00

5 reels of utter Spring cuteness - bring on the sunshine.... i am READY!

I Woz Ere...cold air and sunshine

Cold enough for a warm pink coat...
(charity shop £5.00) But not 'too cold' to sit outside and drink Pret Coffee, yum.

Warm enough to stroll past the freshly painted Sun Huts...

But too cold to sit outside with a beer

(just loved the cute little 'table and chairs on the side of a pub' idea here)

Warm enough to run around taking "me and my sisteeerrrr" style photos...

But too cold to linger long in any one place
(raaaa, cool shop!)

Definately warm enough to sit and look out at the sea whilst eating lunch...

But chilly enough to need to keep your gloves on and save the orange till you get home

(have you tried peeling an orange whilst wearing gloves?)

Still so cold you need several socks and stolen UGG boots...

(stolen from my sister of course)

Warm enough, cozy enough, relaxed enough, for an afternoon snooze on the sofa.

Fishes in Brighton for a wee holiday.

Cold air and glorious sunshine :)

Pom Pom Phenomenon....

Been busy... you know how it is. Christmas n'all that. I don't think that excuses the state of my work surface though? *shameful blush*
Nor does it excuse my lack of blogging... But guess what??? we had sunshine today - for a full 10 minutes!!! it was glorious and i became somewhat delirious - bathing in shafts of golden light, twas like a week on a beach i swear (note: delirium in bathroom mirror shot)

So i had a quick opportunity to photograph some stuffs i have been working on.

The PomPom phenomenon happens during each annual festive run-up. I love making PomPoms - who doesn't? so repetative and refreshingly mind-numbing.

I used to make them alot with my 'Kids' who needed a bit of "Time out"

Funny to watch hard-faced teenagers and 'Offenders' turn wool into fluffy balls....

But, more than that, i never fail to get adult attention when Pompom-ing in public: "wow" they exclaim, " i remember making PomPoms and now i've totally forgotten how"... Last year, if i had been selling them at Craft Fairs i think i would have made some real money. Everybody loved to watch the PomPom being born...

Mostly i make mine white and silver to hang like Snowballs. This year i have gone "all colour" and i've been making them to hang in groups of 3. Purple, Pink and Lime - with contrasting gingham ribbons.

What's not to love? They are adorable and i find, even the men like them. Something to do with hairy balls? maybe. But i rather like to think of them as nostalgic and a real moment placed back in One's childhood when we knew Christmas as a time a little simpler, with fewer pressures.

My advice? For what it's worth... don't sweat the big stuff. Bring Christmas back to it's basics: Food, friends, family and Pompoms. Have fun :)