Mini-things...

 I spent ages doing up an old Dolls House once.

My dad gave me a tall work bench in his garage... actually that bench is now my studio cutting table.

But buying and making the miniature items to go in the Dolls House, was really the best bit.

 And i think that is the joy i find in making my NeedleBooks.

I like the technical solution to a problem: using the Eyelets and Bookring to secure the pages.

But really i like the mini-scene on the front of each design.

 I enjoy the colours and the trims and the spotty tags...

Putting the colours together and working out what looks pretty.

It's just aesthetics.

 Anyhow.

Sunday was quiet (SmallFish wasn't here)

so i sewed NeedleBooks. I walked the dog (several times. He has too much energy for One with such short legs) and i did some gardening - you can't even call it 'weeding' as these weeds pulled ME!

Hewwwge buggers.

I sold my car - and will soon have no transport.

I popped the new NeedleBooks into the http://www.paperfish.etsy.com/ shop

and they will be there until somebody who likes Mini-things, decides they'd like a NeedleBook like what i make.

That is that.

Quick Christmas / Party Garlands.... to make!

 One of the lovely things about this quick and easy garland is, you can make it as a family. Anything that gets cut up and can fit through a sewing machine, can be sewn into this garland.

Even fat handed burly men can join in this activity!

Just cut up any scraps you have around: Felt, fabrics, ribbons, lace.... i tied a few bells onto ribbons to add to the pile of scraps.

 I pre-iron my shop bought Bias Bind and then just keep adding random additions to the bind - with a small gap between each. The gap doesn't have to be uniform at all....nothing about this garland needs to be uniform or precise. It is probably best if you just allow your children to hand you whatever they feel should go on next as that childhood chaos is usually more creative than our own adult restrictiveness. 

 I measured this length to fit a particular space i had in mund for my home festivities but you can just make it any length and hang it where you feel it fits.

Also - you can colour theme it, if you are having a special 'colour theme' Xmas?

I made this garland with anything i had in my studio and i have since decided to save it for a Spring Party. And, now i know this garland works and looks ace, i am making red and white for my Christmas Dining Area.

 It is a poor photo - i was too eager to show you how it looked to wait for better light. But.... i love it!

You can buy awesome handmade Bias from here

I have used this for another project and i love it.

 I also plan to stock a little bit of Bias in BigFish - but not much and not as lovely as the above stuff.

 NeedleBooks are being replenished and i hope to have a big fat stack of new designs ready for January. Feel free to suggest any designs that you think would be popular. I tend to go all girly and Matroyshka-like... i need to break habits for 2011.

 And Fabric Yearning, mmmm....

Loving the Cath Kidston stash *strokes it* gorgeous plans for some huge floor cushions for my daughters bedroom... some bunting.... maybe some bags.....

I am full of ideas and inspiration for 2011.

I have loved the Christmas Retail rush (now it is over for me) sold out of most decorations and Christmas Bunting.  Just enough time to sew some awesome gifts for my family.

No rest for the (super) wicked xxx

make a garland.....!

NeedleBook Party...

In honour of getting a bit of a mention here:

http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2010/11/holiday_gift_guide_sewing.html

I thought i had better support the article and remind everyone of my awesome NeedleBooks!

EDIT - This NeedleBook SOLD already

 I haven't had a chance to make or list any *new* designs for so long, what with moving home, the new studio AND Christmas selling.... you know how it is ladies!?

 But i am super proud to list a lovely few different designs in the http://paperfish.etsy.com/ shop.

Folksy remains a little empty of my handmade lovelies - so sorry UK but you can always email me and shop from the Etsy shop in GBP. It is no hassle for me.

 Loving the above Book "DJ Stitch".. getting 'street' on ya and 'down wiv the kids' it just amuses me.

 And i will never apologise for loving the soft and cutesy designs. They make me happy! So these little Hedghogs get a worthy mention here.

Many designs made from selvedge so they are Unique and one-off designs, expecially for us crafters addicted to sewing.

I could go all commercial on you and say "oh yes, ideal Christmas Gifts" and all that...

But, do you know what? my busiest time for selling these NeedleBooks.... is in January. So we allllll know that these are pretties that we buy for ourselves, hahahaha - the best type of Christmas Shopping in my opinion.

EDIT TO ORIGINAL post....
This is a yummy new NeedleBook in the Etsy PaperFish shop

And this is *new* too - i love making new designs.... (must get on with the Christmas Stock now)

see at you a fair maybe??

NEWness in the shops...

Boiled Sweetie Buttons: All clear and multi-coloured. The odd different shape but mainly rounds in varying sizes... HERE Also available HERE but you can order in £££ if you prefer!... the GIANT red spotty button - expensive, i know, at £2.50 each but they are a huge 5cm / 2inch red spotty button!!

Hang on to Summer Needlebooks - pretty Matroyshka face and Flower Garden.

See the Folksy shop for £££ and the Etsy shop for $$$ (links down the >>>righthand side)

AND... cupcakes! Yum x

Something pretty for your sewing box / sewing room / sewing basket / sewing fingers....

A quick Crafty update....

Those Magnificent Men in their flying Machines... wheeeee, great new BOYS bunting in the Paperfish.etsy.com shop: And a cute *new* NeedleBook design in the PaperFish shop too

Pretty Poochina Brooch has been uploaded for sale in the UK Folksy store :)

Ooooh, another new NeedleBook - "Sewing Story" in the PaperFish shop, complete with a cup of tea on the front... I am in love with these new designs...

AND... Men at Work Bunting in PaperFish also! I made one of these my nephew's new bedroom (big boy now he's nearly 3!) and an extra line for the shop

CraftyFish, CraftyFish, too much hard work... go and relax!

Rocket Man ...WWwhoooossssh...

Shameless self-promotion of my newest NeedleBook!
The "Rocket Man" / Man Book / Space Travel / The whhooosh... Whatever you call it, it was designed with the MAN stitcher in mind (er YES, they do exist!)
4 pages of interesting space type objects to keep those pins and needles in sight and at hand.


Oooh , i am proud of him. He is my first prototype and a second or third design might vary... but for now, here it is!

P.S also saleable to nerdy science type ladies who also like space n' stuff x

In the etsy shop >>>>>>>>>>> BigFish >>>>>>>>>>>>

ScrapBook Inspirations Magazine

Yippee - Thankyou to Rosie at Scrapbook Inspirations for including me in their section this month "Handmade Heaven". It is a lovely ego massage to see my work in print. Especially lovely as i am a long time subscriber to the magazine and keen Scrapbooker myself. The item in print was, of course, a Darling Dachsund NeedleBook - photographed with the puppy Brooches below...

And Rosie gave my two supplies shop a little 'plug' - FuzzyFish and BigFish which I thank you for Rosie!! - That is my little 2 minutes of fame below...

So - i make a resolve! I WILL make a greater attempt to photograph and share some of the scrapbook pages i have worked on over the years. The pages below were pages i had been working on for my album "All About Me" but most of my albums are dedicated to the SmallFish who has merited much photography over her short 4.5 yrs so far!

Thankyou Scrapbook Inspirations, Thankyou Rosie, Thankyou Scrapbookers who have visited my shop and blog x x x

Back to work... and I've got piles x

HA! Like i ever really stopped working over the festive period! I slowed down somewhat but that was only because the Post Offices have been closed so often... But NeedleBook popularity continues and i glow with pride as i too love this product. Back in the studio - and i haven't even made a 2009 plan or a 'To Do List' as the jobs seem continual. There is always something to be done. The BEST thing i did in Dec 2008 was to clear the Art Room and tidy everything / organise / ruthlessly thow out old stuffs... and it was satisfying - liberating even! Y'all should try it to get you feeling creative again x

But mostly i have been making NeedleBooks as i had so many new fabrics to play with! Hence NEW Tortoise and Owl and different Dogs and a few new Matroyshka colourways on their way.

I have been playing with ideas on how to 'pimp' your NeedleBooks (must remind myself to take a photo of mine to show you...) I have all sorts of stuff hanging and added to mine and, like many crafters, I am a collector and a hoarder so you can go wild adding to these babies! Above is a Matroyshka cushion to add if you want a sort of 'Pin Cushion' to add on. It is a prototype as yet.

New colourways as i know people have different wants and tastes. Juicy Pup NeedleBook above is made in bright tropical colours for those of stuck in grey countries right now where the weather is a little on the frosty side.

More, more, more... matroyshka loving x

Works in progress.... Even as i sit uploading this at this actual work area pictured, I am adding eyelets to pages in order to get ahead of my stock (n.b. i never actually manage to 'get ahead!!)

Piles of pages... Piles of felt... Piles of Matroyshkas... I've got Piles x

Am i 'So Hip'?...

#1 apologies for hurried photo...
#2 Wow! Yippee for me x and Manda McGory, the very kind editor of this new magazine -
"SEW HIP" Manda featured one of my products (inner glee) in the launch edition!
I was just browsing at Borders Book shop when i suddenly remembered ... "Oooh is that new magazine out yet?" ......... I saw it ....... i reached for it ........ i stood thumbing it at the Paperchase counter ...... "LOOK, that's me!" i shouted and the girls that worked there made all the right appreciative noises to massage my craft soul.



I love this page! It looks yummy - i sort of feel not good enough to be there.... but there I am, in the bottom right corner .... my Matroyshka NeedleBook!


You know, like many, i too have that childhood story "no good at art" / "not allowed to take the subject" / "craft isn't a proper job" etc.... Look teachers, i made a 'proper job' of it.

And just to finish ... i was going to Blog my great new purchases - handmade lovliness... but that will have to wait to make way for the hasty magazine shots.
Instead i will end this post with my 4yr olds photo "Ode to Rat" - rather good i thought.

Thanks for sharing my enthusiasm friends x