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!

Christmas Detail...

 This time last year, i had only just turned my life upside down and moved into a new home.

Everything seemed like "just keeping up" then. Life is equally as hectic now but i definately feel more settled so the house had a decent decorative make-over this weekend...

 Having friends round for Tea / Coffee and Christmas Biscuits today, was a great excuse to tidy up! and get the Christmas Details photographed. I just had so much fun tinkering, playing, hanging, making...

 Every year my daughter gets so excited that the Christmas China is out.

Somehow it makes every mundane activity seem a bit more magical.

 I never make Gingerbread mid year - but December aches for a sweetly coated cinnamon and ginger treat.

You cannot beat a bit of food sparkle. Seriously, every meal should have fairy glitter on top.

 I found this Blue Scottie fabric i had stashed away in the cupboard so i ran up some crazy bunting with hege bells on and i am so happy with it. I have gone quite Aqua, Red and White this year, despite my intention to stay like a Nordic Gnome. I am no believer in a Christmas Colour Theme but somehow, a theme tends to emerge on it's own.

 I love getting the tree out. All these LEDs help to fend off any Winter Blues.

And all those toys help to hide the weighted base on the tree.

 Bells.

BellS.

BELLS.

Utter Joy.

 And a Robin Mug filled with Candy Canes that are making my teeth fall out just looking at them.

At the end of school i shall hand them out to some little local friends : )

 A beautiful Robin to remind me of my Nanna.

Thank you dear friend - it was so very thoughtful!

Collecting the Christmas China is an ongoing joy.

And just when i think i own 'enough' then i will be 80yrs old and ready to palm my old fashioned hoarding onto unsuspecting recipients.

aaahhh, i am feeling so very Christmassy now.

x x x 

Win the *new* Pip Lincolne Book!!...

 Do you know Pip Lincolne? - "Meet Me at Mikes"? Australian Crafty Babe? you must do....

She is awesome.

And i was sent this Book to Review by Hardie Grant AND a copy to giveaway!!!

"Make Hey - while the sun shines"

I know!

 for FREE, to a Blog Reader.

So i nervously opened the book thinking *i hope i bloody like it or i won't want to give a copy to someone*

 Oh, my friends...

This book is pure JOY

I kid you not, it has every element i adore in my crafty books, and every element in beautiful abundance.

I want my Craft Books to be 2 things:

1. Inspirational with beautiful photography

2. Feel and Look so good, i want to keep picking it up.

funnily enough, the projects inside are of lesser importance to me.

 To start with, it wins prizes for having a Spiral Bind - seriously, more books should do this. The page stays open!! and is really pleasing to use because of that.

And the paper is like matt recycled style paper, so you want to stroke and feel the pages.

These things may seem minor, but how many of you also judge practical books by their actual 'practicality'

(it matters!)

 The projects are cute and varied with sewing and crochet and knitting and EVERYTHING :)

It gives you lots of basic tips and steps and it is written with charm and comedy, as if Pip is sat with you or you are part of secret craft club. Again, more books should do this.

 The photography.... well.

I want, want

 to be that lady below, in yellow shoes and floral dress, toting some sewing in a mad vintage case.

This book is own-able for it's awesome vintage photography and style shots alone. Let alone all the cool stuff you can make which is mostly vintage-ish but with a modern edge.

J'Adore x totally.

 When i opened it, i ignored the inside cover envelope and began with the pages themselves...

but when i came to close the book i took a quick peek at the inside pocket at the last.

I AM GLAD I DID !!

I shall not even tell you what is in there.

It is a surprise for you!

but...

 More books should do this.... seriously.

It is a charming and inspirational surprise and it makes me want to produce a whole book in this way alone.

You like my blog maybe? You probably like stuff i like then.

You'll definately love this book then.

And that is that.

 Lucky me has a copy.

But i have a second copy to give away to one happy reader!

It is such a special prize, all Christmassy and Lovely, worth nearly £20.00 RRP my chums,

please tell your friends or link it on your blog / tweet it, whatever!

i'd appreciate it...

And once you have passed this link on to a friend / tweeted / blogged whatever,

pop your name in my comments and why not tell me why you want it (or something like that)?

Love to you all,

Happy Christmas preparations my Lovlies

x x x

Trim Trim Trimmings! *new-ness*

 I missed Yesterdays Monday Shop Pimp Post as it was still the School Holidays and it was Hallowe'en AND we had spoooooky stuff to do!!

So, Tuesday shop pimp:

Gorgeous "Home Sweet Home" fabric trim with a cross-stitch style print.

Being sold with a complimentary Aqua grossgrain and red polka dot ribbon.

 Then, vintage style Union Jack Trims which is so very on trend and grrreat for any Olympia 2012 projects.

In this awesome green and silver and the traditional colours.

I am liking very muchly :)

 A a double Tartan treat too.

I bought these for making some Scottie Dog collars and my own Christmas wrapping.

There is so much you can do with pretty ribbons. They make me happy!

I love adding them to my patchwork cushions and lavender hearts.

You can use them for cupcake Toppers or cake decorating or on Taggie blankets or as hanging threads on decorations... oh it goes on and on and on and on....

Wool Felt Swatch... and Professional Craft Chat...

 I have cobbled together these books of Wool Felt Swatches...

I wanted customers to have a wad they could handle rather than Ickle Tiny sqaures that can be frustrating to view and impossible to 'feel'

 I have no idea how attatch the colour name to each 3x3 sqaure so i have STUCK (as best i could, with my top most sticky down pushing force) the name of each colour on the felt. Not the best soultion, but the best i can come up with, without stapling each piece.

I am already dreaming of all the new colours i want to add. And i have been having a little play with some pieces and it is oddly addictive... all that softness, mmmmm....

 I am busy People - super busy and i'd like to try and write a Blog Post soon about how hard we professional crafters work. I was thinking about it so much today. I am guilty of coming across a bit "ooh, it's so easy all this Button Lark..." but it isn't easy. There are so many tricky elements to the entire BEAST that is: online selling... original Designing & Making

 That is me :)  (looking wasted with a glass of Vino) in Craftseller Magazine - "Thankyou Alice!" i appreciate you!

and the big vain monster in my Ego says "i like seeing me in a magazine" but there is often so much more work that goes in than what you see in the pulp.

I could go on and on about the commissions i have taken for books and magazines that took my time and effort that were later CUT at the last editorial moment. Or the times i quoted a price for my work and was never paid.. and so on... it has happend to many of my professional peers too.

I wonder why i keep on taking extra work?? it can't be just my ego, can it?

No, of course not, it is LOVE of the job - like any other profession.

In my last job i did sooo many extra unpaid hours. Is that what they call a Vocation? a Calling?

Well... i am exhausted. Yet there is so much more to talk about.

I have a possible impending lawsuit... other people ripping off my designs and selling them as their own. Since when was that okay? Thank goodness for Copyright Laws that state quite clearly

"Thou shalt not copy an identical design from another professional and begin manufacturing it and selling it as your own"

LISTEN UP people: don't look at my little shops and assume i won't follow you round with a big stick!

I have got big loud friends and even bigger louder Lawyers.

Tcha!

Off to have a few more glasses of the Goodly Vino.

Wool Felt by the Yardage... yippeee!

 Wool Felt on the Bolt - this feels soooo good.

Seventeen Colours to start with and i have tried to choose natural shades that are very different from the Acrylic Felt colours. These are softer more natural with flecks in. So soft and very different from the Acrylic Felt i have been using and selling for years.

 Naturally i am happy just to own and stroke these big blocks of colour and never sell it.

It is so satusfying. I don't see why i can't just replace the internal walls of my home with it?

 Soft and thick like blankets wrapped round a piece of card, ripe and ready for chopping up and sewing cushions / toys / purses... I haven't even begun to play through all my own ides yet!

 So,,,, i am stocking 17 colours to begin with but might add to the range...

Each colour has a % of wool and a % of rayon. Not 100% wool as that would cost a bit of mint to buy.

It is very wide at 90cm / 35inch on the bolt and can be purchased in half metre cuts upwards. You get lots of felt for your hard earned monies.

Currently in FuzzyFish on etsy but i'll have it in LovePaperFish as soon as i can.

Don't ask me for swatch sheets yet... i haven't got around to samples and swatch colours.

Give me time!

Fun :)

After School Tea Party...

 Last Week's Post School TEA PARTY

no need for an excuse - it's a 'just because' party

and we invited Grandma and Grandad too....

 I don't reeecccaaallll inviting the dog.

But he seems to have found himself a comfortable seat at the table.

 mmmm, tea and cake.

Sweeties and pretty china.

Fresh tealeaves and candles for fun

 And a *new* Sweetie Wreath in the GingerBread World Christams Collection.

 And i sold some more GIANT Lime Wreaths!

Sooo cool.

I have just made a new version of this Cath Kidston Christmas Butnting with Fresh Aqua Stripes to replace the traditional green spot.

Peoples: the sun is apparantly gonna shine this week...

Go Make Hay!!!! xxx

Festival of Quilts 2011... Part.one. The Quilts!

 Bigging it up Quilt styleee = me with my Craft Homies

My Good Self - Lu Summers -  Lupin

Birmingham NEC Festival of Quilts 2011

What a great day out!

 My head, heart and throat were swollen from talking and thinking and seeing...

Above is Lu Summers fantastic bright quilt.

There were so many styles and disciplines and ideas. I took but a few photos to share.

 Dynamic blocks of colour and gold with tiny tiny complicated quilting.

 Always beautiful, the nostalgic quilts... the above was full of detailed embroidery.

 A superb knitted quilt that was cleverly constructed so as not to lose it's shape or hang oddly (due to how heavy wool can get) This had lots of attention.

 Emphemera and notions. Nostalgia and haberdashery.

 Blocks and strips of shades and tones. Mixed hand quilting and machine quilting.

 Tiny weeny complicated quilted Art.

Rabbit... Hazel....Watership Down??? 

Me singing "Bright Eyes..... burning like Fire......"

and Lupin and my chum Alison not knowing what on earth i was going on about!

Such Fun!

Thankyou my sweet Alison for a great day out.

Awesome fun to meet with Lu and Lupin

Part.one. was the quilts...

Part.two. will be the people and the shopping...