Welcome to the Secret Forest...

I get itchy fingers...
Once i have spent a few days making NeedleBooks, i get the urge to make PinPots. And then i am "oh, so Over PinPots" and i want to move on to a new project.... it all goes in cycles.

Then i had a new delivery of Yummy DEER fabric and it had to be made into bunting immediately or else i would burst. WORLD STOP: i must sew bunting! Cute x100!?
I made 2 different colourways. A sort of Baby coloured 'Secret Forest' line of bunting, followed by a bright / more 'foresty' colourway. I don't know which i like better?

And, as i am like a human Crafting Machine, i had to make a few more whilst i was in the mood.

This line of bright orange and red Cath Kidston (below) *was* made for the shop.... but as i passed through my kitchen (which is a huge detour from the Studio) i found myself hanging it in my own kitchen :)

Yippee, lush! I am calling it "Juicy Lucy"

The Bakery Bunting has been made since last Summer! and sat waiting to be photographed till now. I do usually save bunting till the Spring - but feeling the cold weather in the UK and the chill of Post-Christmas Blues, i needed a colour injection.

Lastly, a re-working of a design that sold well last year - "Cool Britannia" OR "London Baby!"

Like i have said before, there is nothing for sale in my shops that One really "needs...." it is more about colour, fun, frivolity... i make no apologies x

PinPot Progress...

PinPot progress has been somewhat interrupted due to the snow....
"What has SNOW got to do with PinPots?"... i might be missing a key photo here that could explain. I hang the pots along my washing line when they are getting painted and dried... so the line that was hung out have frozen.. and a few got cracked in teh freeze :(

I managed to make a few new beauties to put in the shops, before the snowfall. I get obsessed with making these as they just look so cute! And i always have scraps of fabric that i want to do something useful with.

There are a few new designs here to match some of the NeedleBooks.

I know i have said it a million times before, but..... i just LOVE making stuff.

Happy Snow Days - i am a bit bored of them now and want the roads cleared.... x be safe!

FuzzyFish - Felt Fantasia...

Shop talk...
There is an *all new* felt package available in the FuzzyFish store on etsy (and in PaperFish on Folksy) ... actually, there are 2 new pack sizes to play with.
The POND PACK: 33 sheets of felt in A4 size - plenty to play with and great for children and for craft groups ~ £12.00
The FISHFOOD PACK: 33 sheets in A6 size (6x4)- a cute set of felt that replaces the Swatch Book and a cheaper size, great as a scrap pack or for small projects ~ £3.50
That is exciting news.... BUT you should have seen the boxes that arrived....
The supplier *accidentally* sent me 10x the amount i ordered - TEN TIMES OVER! There was felt everywhere.... it was a mad mad moment of felti-ness... i had to get it all out to show you (my 5 year old taking the photos)

It looked so pretty :)

BUT then imagine... they also charged me TEN TIMES OVER the amount i ordered... one week before Christmas. If the penny hasn't dropped yet reader - i don't have that amount of money in my account! I was BROKE :( and too late before Christmas to do a thing about it.

Looking back at the whole thing now, it seems funny. I laugh at the KirstyFish i remember, sitting in the bath, crying, .... the 'bad men' took all my money.... phoning my dad in outrage to tell him what had happend, in true "professional business woman" type style....

But at the time, it was a horrible a headache.

The moral of the story: Kirsty must not try to cram many things in at once and should have waited till after Christmas so she didn't mess up the whole thing.

Still.... nice new felt packs are at least here.

What fun! x

2010

I wish you all: Health and Happiness, above all else, for the year 2010.

It is what i wish for my family and for myself and, i extend it to all those who pop by here.

Happy New Year x x x

Guess Where I've Been... tee,hee...

Hmmm, Twas the weekend before Christmas...

Where is that place that i'd most like to be?
Cupcakes, biscotti and vast pots of tea.... Where the ladies dress for dinner
and the food is divine...

Where the fairylights twinkle,

We toast our friendship with sparkly wine...

Yarn wreaths hanging on doors,

In bright Candy colours...

When it comes to Christmas details,

She outshines all others...

Popcorn on the tree,

Red and White decoration...

An Elven house, with chocolate for three!

Children's morning faces, shine with elation!

Shiny balls,

and hairy balls,

Stunning Photo opportunities for me...

I want to tell the world....

I've been with MrsB x

OK, so prose is not my strength... but the JOY - these photos... this house... this family.... this lady... i love her and she completely knows why.

And i present a few gorgeous details of my brief weekend at MrsB's - as a way of inviting all our creative friends and friendly blog family, to join in our Christmas party.

Grab a cupcake and pull over the teapot... Merry Christmas and "here's to friendship"

CHEERS! *and thankyou MrsB, mwah*

Into the Shops...

Ahh, the internet retail chaos of my life has finally slowed to a few buttons sales :) It's all been good and i thank all my customers so much for wanting to shop with me. It means alot xxx I won't shut the shops for Christmas although, i won't be posting anything from Dec 23rd - 29th. I wanted to get ahead of myself though and list the last few items that were sat in my studio. I have a feeling might have switched off come January!
So: 2 new Princess Brooches - very pretty and girly with polka dots and bows.

The Bakers Wife Needlebook - in pinks (The Bakers Daughter is in blue and yellow) She is such a sweetie and i love the pink cheeks.

A seasonal red and pearls Button Love Brooch - too late for Christmas but Wintery all the same and perfecr to cheer up bleak days and warm woolies.

Loving so oooo much these knitted Beau Brooches - a couple of them now up in the Folksy shop. They are very limited edition so get them whilst they're there.

Hey up, looks like it could be snowing out there.... gotta go, Snowpersons to build and all that wetness. x

A few fun decorative details...

A few details of my decorating fun...
This is my ego-tree. It sits in the kitchen window after coming round to all the Christmas Craft Fairs. It is a shiny mirrored tree and has earned it's rest after 'The season'. It is my ego-tree as i hang all my own felt decorations on it from past and present seasons.

Kirstie Allsop "Handmade Christmas" - now i love our dear Kirstie - but please lady, pop round to mine or my crafty friends and WE will show you handmade and thrifty! .... Cath Kidston Christmas bunting. Holly fabric salvaged from the chopping down of a tablecloth, tooooo whopping for my small culinary kitchen surface. Ah, the tree. OOooohhh the lights. *sigh* i am totally Ebenezer when it comes to sharing this task. Tree decoration is 'my way or the highway'.... no 5yr olds fingers on this prickly passion.

(and no tinsel either. I don't want to start a war about it but.... tinsel is just wrong....) Cute ribbons tied to the top??? My what a great idea Kirsty. "Why thankyou myself, i thought so too"...

Handmade = now this is what i am talking about. My mostest treasured Christmas Cross-stitch picture. It sits above this mantle all year. Stitched by my Nanna in 1998. Given to me for Christmas that year. A lady who is now too blind to even read her clock. Handmade heirlooms are priceless.

Awwww, all that colour and coziness :)

I adore these bags.... "Liberty" darling, if you please. Shoe sketch by Andy Wathol. I *think* they were a gift from MrsB??? can you remember dearest? Are they from you? i love them to pieces, so very treasured.

My gnome boys - Bill and George. It is their first Christmas at my house and i think they are happy here. Handmade, but not by me. NorthfieldPrimitives x

And a swag of silver glittered holly along the fire place beam, with a cluster of white balls and shimmery Reindeer.

I love it when it's all ready. Decorating done. Cards sent.

I save all my gift wrapping till i am alone in the house and 'baby' is in bed, the house is decorated and the wine is chilled....

Sssshhh, Merry Christmas decoratives to us all x