Christmas Cheer...

 These little 'Santa Men' have caused a bit of a stir! I have had some fantastic reaction from friends, family, customers, blogland-ers. What a huge compliment and thankyou.

But... it feels a little fraudulant...

 These Santa Men arrive on a yard of fabric all pre-printed in their gorgeousness.

I know, it is what you do with the fabric that creates the charm and interest of anything handmade. But i feel a little 'lesser' because i didn't design him. And when you live and work in a world, such as ETSY - i am surrounded by profound talents. It is very humbling.

 Yes, they have been 'Fished', in that i have quilted them, interfaced, stuffed, buttoned and bell'ed the chunky little Christmas Dudes (they are weighted too with a secret method, to keep him stood upright)

But i am someone who takes immense pride in my own original designs, and that is why these feel 'lesser'

The same can be said for these darling Babushka decorations.

I adore these and everyone in my family is getting one! But the true hard work isn't mine. They are fiddly little ladies to cut, stuff, sew etc... but the charm is really in the beautiful fabric.

 I am not asking for forgiveness from the Craft Gods or anything - it is just a sense of Pride i think i am talking about. These decorations are great fun to make and i love the end product but they are nowhere as satisfying as designing something from scratch.

 2010 seemed to be full of genuine stories where Artists and Designers were being ripped off - their work stolen and replicated all over, from small internet traders to large corporate giants. And i can understand that some people would say this is flattering but it must also feel very frustrating.

 And so i have concluded that my word for 2010 is INTEGRITY.

Can you look at your life, your work, your actions and intentions and warmly know that you are acting with integrity?

When i feel like stopping this handmade madness... when i see the Mass produced items people are buying for Christmas.... when i feel slightly 'lesser' for using a pre-printed fabric.... i just ask myself the question:

"Are you acting with integrity? Are you honest and true?"

 Yes, I feel I have integrity.

I love being part of the handmade movement.

I love doing what i do and staying true to my own ideas and ideals.

I am not giving out a lesson here.

Far be it from me to judge anyone other than myself.

But blogging is great place for me to sort through things in my head that have been confusing me of late.

Tuesday is MEGA craft day!

Drained!
Forgive me Claire-Louise for getting your invoice wrong?! I am shattered (cue blk & white selfie shot to highlight my exhaustion)
Wearing mini-denim dress to escape the over-boiling heat here in Middle England! I am in the process of transferring aallllll the PinPots and Aaallll NeedleBooks from BigFish to PaperFish on etsy.
This is no easy task my friends and utterly, computer sittingly boring.

I did a bit of crafting every half hour or so, to release me from the boredom of bum-ache that IS sitting at the PC. I am so pleased with these 2 PinPots. Bright, Summery Sorbet colours x

And my fresh and salty new 'Seaside NeedleBook' - i can't keep all products for myself BUT i did make one of these for myself as i love beachy / seaside things. They make me feel sad that i miss the coastline but 'hopeful' as i know there's plenty of it to visit!

And, what i call, the Matroyshka Mothership!!! a prototype, One-of-its-kind NeedleBook.

I had just been playing with a new idea...

SOooooo a very boring day in many respects but it was very craft indulgent and necessary.

I love my crafty life x

scrap bags....

Post and run... I'm incognito (you've not seen me, right?)
P.s. *NEW* Lulu Guinness sunnies x Just wanted to say there are 4 Scrap bags of MINI felt in the Folksy shop....

And 4 new Scrap bags of light cotton square scraps in the Folksy shop too.

They are all pretty much identical, mostly Japanese quilting fabrics BUT with a FAT Q of my yummy Toadstools and Apples fabric too....

It's good to share 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