And the WINNER is...

Ummm, so.... this is what happend...
the sun came out a few days ago and, like many people in the UK, i went into a kind of 'dreamy reverie' which involved sun dresses and home-made lemonade. And... there i was playing Super Slide Water Shoots in the garden and i started thinking, this is a wicked suntan i'm getting.... and then i started wondering "who won that Giveaway i was running on the blog..." (deathly silence - tumbleweed rolls - the penny drops) OH. It's MY blog.... I'm supposed to be putting them all in a hat and drawing a WINNER!!

SO.... begging forgiveness, and a few hours (make that a day) later than planned.... we have a WINNER!!! whoop-de-doooo.

I wrote down all the entries on tiny tiny tiny strips of paper and my sister pulled one out the jar.....

And the name is VICTORIA ANN. I am pleased to tell you it was Victoria as she revealed what a rotten day she had just had when she entered the giveaway.

Thankyou thankyou thankyou thankyou one and all - i really did enjoy that little game-show style week!

But i feel a bit sad too as i thought "it'd be so nice to send everybody a little something" but that would be mad mad behaviour. x x x i send you all huggles instead x

Well Done Victoria!

Inside Out Days...

If you are a UK blog reader - you will KNOW how I'm feeling...
Sunshine!?*!
There are 2 major lovely things that can happen during our rare days of sunshine...
#1 My house goes Inside Out:

#2 White dresses are suddenly appropriate, where as when it's raining....

they look ridiculous ...why is that?? Happy Sunshine my darling friends x x x

Oooh Vintage Polka Dress

GOT to love - ViNtAgE! It arrived in the post this morning - barely paid a penny for it - on the bay of E...

Why do i love vintage?

The unexpected. The unusual. The Perfect fit (i must have a vintage figure!?) Recycling and not adding to the ever-growing pile of landfill. Dream clothes that i might have dressed my Sindy Dolls in once upon a time... Personality! Clothes with something cheeky to say x

I belted it - it is slightly on the bigger side of 'fit' - i went all over the house trying to get photos to show it off to it's best...

How can you not love a red dress with white pocket details and polka dots? A pair of Summer wedge shoes... Tis Vintage Love!

I didn't mean to repeat this photo x but you get the idea right?

psst - Giveaway draw to be announced in about 24 hours.

Gimme Gimme Gimme - GIVE AWAY!

It's high time i had a GIVE AWAY on my blog - don't you think?!
I have been meaning to do one for a long time so apologies it hasn't arrived sooner.
And just LOOK at the lovely pile of Woodland Whimsy... A Woodland PinPot!
Charming little fella that can sit on your sewing table and hold your pins neatly in place. I use mine all the time and love it to bits.

There is also a pile of Woodland Butons for you to use: Reds, browns, greens and the odd dotty surprise PLUS a giant button...

And a little mini pile of woodland-esque felt to use for something fun?

... and last, but by no means least, these 2 super cute wooden pegs. One has a tree design on top and the other and toadstool house (very kawaii or decole)

I am possibly too kind, i know :) but generosity is in my nature.

So, to ENTER: simply leave me a comment (a pleasant one please) and even tell me what you think my blog should have more of / less of to help me improve it. Also... leave your EMAIL ADDRESS or how will i know how to contact you if you win? No catch - entries from worldwide happily accepted.

A genuine draw will take place - (i'm real honest) - and i will let you all know after midnight UK time on Saturday 30th May.

Thanks for joining in the fun x

craft for your Life??

Sometimes i get tired of 'internet selling' but NOT of my customers or my products... it is the constant sense that i am 'playing with the big kids'?
I get exhausted by the retail conveyor belt and the 'promotion' and the time it takes to find Ones customer and show what is on offer... The Craft stall isn't like that at all. It feels completely different.
Sometimes it hurts to the core when a customer openly declares to your FACE! that they don't like the crafts of your labour!! But i am ever thankful there are only ever the odd mad person who is so tactless!
(Photo p.s. that awesome teacup is from my dear LUPIN and worn proudly by me)

Having the "PaperFish Craft Stall" means i can make one-off pieces that don't fit any of my internet shops. I can make cards, for example, which is what i started out making (back in the day...) but i wouldn't dream of marketing them online because it takes masses of energy and time to market well... and that can remove some of the fun and satisfaction from the crafting itself!

And when I am tired of commercial crafting - i still want to 'make stuff' but having a craft stall means i can make things for my friends and family (and self) but make a few extra items too, to show to Mr and Mrs Joe Public.

When my Crafting Career is a little exhausting and i feel a bit like a craft machine - then i PLAY with my paper and pens and paint and felt and fabric and i see what happens when i take away all the rules and deadlines and commercialism.

I live to craft

but i don't craft for my life, if you know what i mean? 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

Cafe Sunday...

aaahh - a rare treat!
Sunday Coffee out with my Sister. Lucky us, to get an hour or two to sit and chat and Sunday browse... We went to Olney ***waves at Olney readers*** ("Local Craft Matters" is out now guys, go grab your free copy!)

That is my Little Sister, totally dreaming and worrying about what to do with her life.

And below, why tis me! Oh, I am wearing that Beret again... it isn't cosmetically sealed to my head, promise! It was raining and i need a haircut... why do i have an odd gurning grin on my face???

Olney, Rose Courtyard - it has a great little Craft and Art gallery and also a brilliant Craft / Paper / Stamping shop L.B.Crafts... it was raining when we sat in but the sky did brighten for a while on Sunday...

I managed to grab the Fruit and Veg Men in the Market Place just as they were packing up for the day. I filled a big bag with oranges / lemons/ limes and grapefruits for about £3 and then went home to 'Juice' them, mmmmm x

And my Sis holding up theeee cutset little Spring Cotton Skirt that i bagged in the Charity Shop for £2.50. What a find!? it is so sweet.

Cafe Sundays my friends... it's what the rest of the week was made for! x