2009 - 2010

With only a few hours until I set off to Andrea's house to see the New Year in I though it would be an apt time to re cap a little on the year.

There has been LOTS of fabric bought, new bags designed, swaps sent and received, gifts, lots of wip and new additions, a wedding dress, a missing/stolen clutch bag, the launch of my Mam's etsy shop, some knitting (started not yet finished!), a sale, some baking, give aways, custom orders galore, 1st blog birthday, a book was written, a magazine feature, hot summer (of all of a week), race for life, a trip to Paris, an injured Kitty, TLBG launched, website updates, redbull xfighters @ Battersea Power Station (Awesome!!), a trip to Edinburgh, craft fairs, bag parties and a completed Studio fresh for 2010.......

Phew!! I tell you I really dont know how I fit it all in!! The day job most definately takes its toll on me, but bagladee makes it all worth while, I've had a fantastic year.

Thank you to all who have read my blog, left comments, bought from my etsy/folksy/website, offered encouragement, given advice, inspired me (which you all do!) and for being such down right fab people to have met along the way.....my journey this year has been a most educational and enjoyable one. Here's to the next chapter of 2010!!

Updated eventually...

www.flickr.com

...its been a while but I spent an hour or so adding some photo's to my flickr account. There's all there photo's from the studio progress and many more. I'll be back tomorrow for a round up of the year :D

.........and then it was over

As the rain melts the rest of the remaining snow/ice I am sat in my PJ's still (yes I know its after 10:30) enjoying the time to rest and not do much.

We've had a lovely Christmas....Christmas Eve we went out for a meal, just me and Chris, which was so nice just to sit and chat and have a few drinks without being disturbed (by his work). The meal was gorgeous and the service friendly and relaxed. At home we drank coffee and ate after eights while we watched Christmas TV.

Christmas morning we were woken by our two furry friends who wanted their breakfast, so as I sorted those two out Chris made a cup of tea. We opened our presents and lounged around in our PJ's, at 3:00pm we drove to Chris's parents and had dinner. We had all the trimmings and we were all a tad bit full afterwards....so we leisurely opened more presents and were thoroughly spoilt with the gifts we received. After all the unwrapping was done and dusted. Chris asked his Dad to bring in the 'mystery gift' that I thought was a joint present for his Mam and Dad (this is what he had convinced me into thinking) so I was slightly puzzled when his Dad put the huge box on my knee!!!

I had no idea what was inside....and squealed when I saw what was in the box!! It was a Nintendo Wii with the Wii Fit+ I had wanted one but didn't know he knew! What a fab day....I'm so lucky.

We arrived back home just after 9pm and gave the kitties a feast of turkey, they were very happy.....and sleepy. Chris played Fifa while I snoozed on the sofa and that was Christmas day over.

Boxing Day we ventured out to Comet and Curry's to look for a TV and some Wii accessories. Which is what most people were out doing because I ended up buying some online. Chris was back to work last night so I went Wii mad :D and I have to say my arms are killing me today.....I think I've used muscles I never knew I had ;D

Hope you all had a wonderful day and overindulged as much as me :D xxx

Christmas Eve!!!!

I cant believe its Christmas Eve, this week has flown by so quick. There are still a few presents to wrap and under the tree is bursting with gifts.....Wham is on in the background and the cats are snoozing in the warmth of the heating (that is on full blast :o/). I still need to nip and get a few bits, some milk for tomorrow mornings cup of tea etc.

I thought since you've all been so patient I would show you some photos of me moving my stuff into the studio.....be warned these first few photos are not pretty....I was always one for making an almighty mess before I started organising (ask my Mama she will vouch for that).


The idea was to just get everything up there and see where it all fit best....but I just ended up with piles of stuff everywhere.

Poor Oliver even came to investigate what had happened to the beautifully tidy room? Emma got her hands on it that's what happened!! :D

After a few hours of organising and putting away (and a little bit of throwing away too, its amazing what you hold onto and then think, why have I kept that again?) it was looking like this...

Chris has fitted a rail under each side of the beams where I can hang my finished bags, they look lovely on display and it means that they are carefully hung now instead of being in a box.

There is still a long way to go, my sewing machine hasn't been introduced yet and I still think there will be things moving around for a while until I'm totally happy.

There sitting on top of the wicker baskets is Matilda, the monkey that Claire made me for the Monkey Swap. She's very happy and loves her new home.

This corner is still waiting for my leather rocker (which has gone on the back burner until we get the roof tiles on the extension) at the mo I have my tailors dummy and the little table that came from IKEA.

Which has been decorated with some lights......

And to make it all look a little bit festive so was the desk......

All that's left to say is have a wonderful Christmas, hope Santa brings everything you hoped for and that you get to spend lots of time with family and friends. I will be back in a couple of days.....

xxxxx

Yesterday I read....

...quite a few blogs that were 'pausing for advent', reflecting on the chance to soak in the Christmas spirit and spend time with loved ones. It wasn't until later on in the day that I started to think about what I had read and what advent meant to me.

I took the back roads to go to the shops, trying to avoid the manic traffic, driving past all the fields and farms covered with snow. It looked so picturesque, the sun was beaming and the roads were quiet. It was peaceful.

It made me feel that I wanted to drive around all day, life outside of advent is so crazy, stressful and time goes by too quick. Its the first time in a long time where I actually drank in the moment and enjoyed the time. Normally having to cram in everything physically possible, there was something serene in casually driving to the shops, getting bits and bobs, watching the people out shopping and then driving back the same route to a hot chocolate and a few choc biccies......

And the fact that I actually get to spend copious amounts of time with Chris over Christmas is a gift in itself. We don't get to enjoy each others company that much with us passing like ships in the night due to work patterns. Its like starting over. So this Christmas I will be enjoying the peace, love and good will. Spending time with family and friends.....and most likely eating way to much!! What about you?

***photos of my dining table dressed for Christmas, and the flowers are from my fab friend Andrea, who had them delivered yesterday. They are beautiful and such a thoughtful gift.....and the fact they match my tree and decorations is just genius.....did you know Andrea??? Thank you so much xx***

4 days to go.

And the wretched lap top (the one I do all my photo's etc on) has decided that its going to take a complete wobbler and now Coreldraw and any other useful program is not working.......FAB!! :(

I was planning on showing you all some photos of the studio pre and post mess but I cant do anything with the photos....and are way too large to upload. Oh how I boo you computer.....I was feeling all festivey and now you have spoilt it! Arrrggggghh!!!!

What I can show you (trying to get back into the festive mood and not moaning) are these little felt flowers that I have made for some children's hats and mittens that my Mama has been making for a friend of hers. I tell you they are adorable (the hats not the children, well I wouldn't know about the children as I haven't met them, but I'm sure they are.....anyway I'm digressing!!) so small and cute, these will be perfect for them.

Mama if you're reading don't forget to take photos.....everyone in blogland would love to see them!! Wouldn't you???

It has snowed today, quite a lot, which I'm loving because Mama has lots at home and I was starting to feel home sick a little, I always enjoyed playing in the snow there. I have since found out that Nell does NOT like the snow, not one bit.....she was like a proper little madam, one foot in the snow, she made a funny noise and ran back indoors!! Not like Oli who refuses to come in as he chases every snow flake that falls to the ground. He's soooo funny.

Well I'm off to eat my Sunday lunch/tea, I will be back tomorrow, hopefully I will have fixed the computer, either that or I will have smashed it with my trusty little hammer!! ;)

5 days to go.....Eeeek!!

As we are officially in the countdown to Christmas I'm starting to feel slightly excited about the whole affair. Yesterday we broke up for Christmas so we all went to the pub after work and had a 'pint' (well mine was a half) and after saying goodbyes I headed back home.

We tackled the food shopping last night, which wasn't as half painful as I thought it would be. I wrapped some presents and had a glass of wine (Woooooo!!! a half and a glass of wine in one day, my we are pushing the boat out). I sat and made a list of the last bits I need to get and made a list of house to do's which I will be doing this weekend.

I have a clutch bag to finish this morning which will be going by speedy delivery on Monday and I'm planning on a little bit of fun sewing but I'll tell you more about that later.

What are you all doing in the run up to the day?

7 days to go!

As promised here is a photo of the custom cushions I was making for a lovely lady called Sarah, I do hope she likes them :o/ They should have arrived today, so I'm like a cat on a hot tin roof waiting for that all important email.

Tomorrow is the day I break up from work for Christmas and I cant tell you how happy I am. Sad that I have lost a weeks wage from the company shutting down but soooooo pleased that I am getting a rest for just over 2 whole weeks!!! YEY!!!

I have one more bag to make tomorrow after work and then after the washing etc is out of the way I am going to play in my studio. Well not play as it is a mess, but I'm so looking forward to getting up there and getting everything tidy and organised. Needless to say when it was all decorated and the carpet was down EVERYTHING sewing related just got slung in there and now they all need a home. I even have some Christmas lights to put up :D

8 days to go......Yikes!!

Sorry I've been absent for a few days. There were lots on the bagladee's to do list and as I was increasingly stressing myself into a frenzy there were a few things that fell by the way side.....

I got all the decorations finished.

Some very twinkly lights inside and outside on our wreath and tree in the garden. Since I have deprived you all of updates and photo's I thought I would overload you with some taken at the bag party at the weekend.

Here's one of everything set up, my Mama has a lovely dining room and a large table.....good for displays ;)

The new bags were displayed in the centre of the table......

.....with the clutch bags........

purses and brooches at the side. And these genius bag hooks displayed some familiar designs below.

We also set up part of the table displaying my Mama's hats and mittens, I think they look fab!!

And these are so gorgeous, I love the pattern and colours, very warm and yummy looking. They are for sale if anyone is interested £14 for either hat with the mitts or you can purchase one of the hats for £9....email me for details.

Lots still to do...... on Monday I had a marathon sewing session after work which went on until 2:30am (yes I was shattered at work Tues) but the custom order I was making went off on its travels today so I will show you some more photo's (yes more!!) tomorrow.

Christmas cards are written, chores are almost done, presents are almost bought.....bagladee is in need of a big rest over Christmas. So I'm planning on putting the sewing on the back burner for a couple of weeks (yeerrrr right ;) I doubt it) and there is nothing planned in other than eating lots of turkey and chocolates (not together though). See you tomorrow.

12 days to go....

.....driving up North yesterday was like driving through pea soup. The fog was so thick in places that you could barely see the car in front. And its still foggy now.

I spent last night setting up a table for the bag party tonight and managed to do a little bit of Christmas shopping. Nothing major just a few bits. And my Mama has made me a lovely (but very huge) Christmas cake to take back with me :D yum!!

I also got round to buying some Christmas cards at last, I couldn't find any that I liked in the shops and they had to be charity cards. So I eventually bought some with Santa on the front (he looks like the Santa out of the Coca-cola advert) which raise money for Macmillan Cancer Fund. Better get them written out now and sent!!

Orders are still coming in thick and fast but I have to say that I am enjoying every minute of it. All this festive cheer is doing me the world of good.....Oh how I love Christmas.

15 days to go.....

.....and I'm totally unorganised (surprise, surprise). There are still gifts to buy, things to sort, decorations to dress.

One thing I have managed to get sorted is the Christmas tree, bought and dressed last night. And very festive it looks too :D Now its starting to feel Christmassy.

I have a trip up north planned for this weekend as my Mama is having a bagladee party. Then its time for a sewing break me thinks. And since its my 30th in January I'm planning on having the month off.

I have a few custom orders to fininsh this week and really need to start thinking about getting Christmas started.....and get some cards.

These are some photos of the stock I made for the Christmas Craft Fair I attended this weekend. I'm really loving felt at the mo.

Have you got your tree up???

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!!!!

After an almighty clean'a'thon in the house tonight, tomorrow were getting a tree!!!!! YEY!! I cant wait, we dug out the decorations now they're just waiting to be put out. And since its only 16 days away Santa will be here soon :D

I ache all over :(

Had you wondered where I'd disappeared to (as if you'd noticed!)? This weekend I set up a stall at the Rufford Country Park Christmas Gift Fair and boy was it cold.

The stalls were set outside and they didn't provide much protection from the cold and blustery wind. I have to admit I was a little unprepared for it all. In my mind I was thinking that they would be those wooden covered stalls, but they were more like the run of the mill market stalls.

I was up with the birds on Saturday morning to travel to the venue, Chris came with me to help set up. It was bitterly cold but when there were some lulls of no customers I got to know some of the other crafters they were all so lovely (with the exception of one that drove us all bonkers!!) I met a lovely lady called Joy and her husband who made some of the most loveliest things and some very friendly girls who were on the stand behind me their embroidery work was beautiful.

Towards the end of the day I got drenched as it poured down....luckily my stock was kept bone dry shame I couldn't say the same for myself. By the time I got everything packed up at the end of the first day I was was soaking, I looked like I had just stepped out of the shower. It was back home for a hot bath and some food.

After frantically sewing some more cosmetic pouches together (as I had totally sold out) it was off to bed for some well deserved rest. Up early again this morning to hear a torrential down pour.....thankfully by the time I arrived to set up the rain had stopped and by mid morning the sun was braking through the trees. At one point it did start to snow but that lasted all of 10 minutes. Today I was better prepared, Chris bought tarpaulin from B&Q last night to cover the back of my stall so that me and my stock were safe from the wind.

All in all it was a successful weekend, first day I made enough to cover the costs so today was a bonus. And bagladee did quite well. I didn't get to take a photo of my stall but I have taken some photo's of the new stuff I made for the fair which I plan showing you tomorrow. I will have to get some listing done as my website is looking pretty bare.

OK off for a hot bath and a cup of Ovaltine :D Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh just what I need after a long cold weekend of selling.

Photo's from Edinburgh

We have arrived!!!

Lovely German Christmas market......Mmmmmm 'Fire Punch' Yum!!

Out for a few on the Friday night.....no idea what I'm grinning at??

This Christmas tree was bigger than my house!!!!

Caught in the act practicing my funny faces again :o/

And you cant go to Scotland without hearing the bag pipes now, can you?

........there was even some time on the train to get some sewing in :D

Interflora Christmas Hampers....

http://emma-bagladee-reviews.blogspot.com/2009/11/interflora-hampers.html

Rush, rush, rush!!

Time is running out and fast. The craft fair is on Saturday and there is soooo much to do :(

on the list:

Aprons to sew
Brooches to finish
Purses to sew
Cosmetic pouches to make from scratch (me thinks this will not happen)

On top of that I have:

The final edit on my book to check over
Christmas shopping to do (I haven't even thought about it let alone start)
A bomb site of a house to clean and tidy so that we might be able to get a tree up
'Mount Everest' of a washing and ironing pile to get through

Oh yeah and go to work full time during the day......I'm sure there's a word for people like me, Oh yeah I know what it is.....CRAZY!

Even with all that going on I'm getting right into the Christmas spirit and feeling jolly already....orders have been coming in and I LOVE wrapping!! Edinburgh was great, we all had a fab time, went out for some lovely meals, drank plenty, walked miles, went to the Christmas German Market and drank 'Fire Punch', Yum! Did some shopping, and laughed lots. Although it was absolutely freezing, everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, especially the birthday girl. Thanks Kelly :D

Right must dash, have to get to work.....then home for lots of sewing. Anyone else feeling the strain of crafting before Christmas.....I feel for you!! Hugs

Mice and birthday celebrations...

Since I was such a ditz and forgot to take photo's of the swap items that I sent Denise she was ever so kind to allow me to use her photo's. And my what great photo's they are, she's such a talented photographer.

I bought some lovely Christmassy tissue and raffia for wrapping.....

Hello Mr. Mouse.....

A cosmetic pouch adorned with some lovelies.....

I 'LOVED' the fabrics that Denise chose, cotton, my favourite to work with. And I found some purply/lilac'y bits and bobs in my sewing stash to accompany the gorgeous cherry print.

Birthday Celebrations: I will be absent from blogland for this weekend as I am travelling up to Edinburgh in the morning to celebrate my good friend Kelly's 30th birthday. I cant wait, we've got Champagne, presents, a meal booked and lots of other friends too.

Hope you all have a good one. See you Sunday with some photos.

Paperbag Swap

Yesterday I received my parcel from Denise, "hellloooooo" :) my swap partner for Rachel's Paperbag swap. I was sooooo excited to see what she had made out of the fabric I had sent....

Inside the parcel there was this absolutely gorgeous box/tray that is covered with the fabric, which I totally love, cant wait to put it on my table in the studio (it matches the colours of my felt bucket and pencil pot!!!) also there was this fantastic bunting which says "follow your heart". When I opened the package it smelt lovely, when I unwrapped the gifts I found a very sweet pouch which was filled with lavender. A big thank you to Rachel for organising a fab swap and an even bigger thank you to Denise for being a fandabbydozy swap partner :D it really is so rewarding making something totally off the cuff for such a talanted fellow crafter, I was worried if Denise would like what I sent.

We decided to go along with the idea from Rachel to make one practical and one pretty item. So after a lot of pondering I decided to make a cosmetic pouch for the practical item and came up with the crazy idea of making a huge mouse pin cushion/door stop/ stuffed thingy. Which I have to admit was very surprised how it turned out. I also included some gingerbread decorations, a noel mini sign for the tree and some christmas chocolates!! I couldn't resist adding a bit of the 'c' word in there.

Me being the dozy idiot I am at the moment.....forgot to photograph. Hopefully Denise will be so kind to take photo's of them and post on her blog so that you can all see.

Thought I would just leave you with the view of the other side of the studio....the contraption you can just see with the metal arms is the sprung loaded ladders to my lovely, getting fuller, studio.

Drum roll please..........

Drrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Ta Da!! At long last here it is....my very own studio. Isn't she pretty?

I'm sorry I made you wait so long, I took these photo's yesterday and have been far too wrapped up in getting all my stuff in there. When I arrived home from work on Thursday I expected to see a newly fitted carpet. Well not only was there carpet but Chris had also put my shelves and my desk up and fitted the handles to the cupboard doors.

Well then what do you think to my wallpaper choice? I had 'ummed and arrhhhed for ages over many styles of paper but when I saw this I fell in love with it instantly, I adore the teal and turquoise lillies.

This is my lovely new sewing table, it has a nifty pull out bit on the left and as you can just see underneath there are no power sockets yet.....that is happening tomorrow.

Can you just see the bracket on the wall above the desk?....this is where my TV is going :D I spend a lot of hours sewing so I like to make sure I can at least listen to my fav shows whilst I'm cutting out or sewing. There is so much stuff up there now, the difficult bit is deciding where everything is going. And no doubt I will change my mind a million times before I'm happy with it. But I sure will have fun playing around with it all.

So all is left to say is, the house is soooooo tidy now its unreal (I feel like I have a new house!), lots more photo's to come once I have found homes for my things and lastly I am one happy bunny now!! Chris received a HUGE hug and kiss for all his hard work, I truly am very lucky to have a) him and b) my lovely, brand spanking new sewing room / studio. Ahhhhhhhh!! :D

Fit to burst....

....with excitement that is. Anyone been following my studio updates??? I know its been a while, things kinda got put on the back burner for a little while as work for both me and Chris was taking over our lives a little :(

Well I'm soooooo excited to say that TOMORROW the carpet is being fitted!!!! I know how exciting, that means that tomorrow night I will have photo's for you of the finished room as a shell. I'm then hoping to spend Friday putting the furniture in there! I just cant wait.....its like Christmas Eve. I'm finally going to have my very own room to make as much 'crafty mess' as I like without 'someone' moaning about all my supplies lying all over the house! Yipppeeeeeeee.

POP BACK TOMORROW FOR SOME PHOTOS.

Phew!!

What a weekend!!! Since I'm playing catch up, there is lots to cram in. I feel like time is rushing by so fast but then there are people saying....Oooh Christmas is ages away yet. I wish!! In the run up to Christmas I have:

Christmas Craft Fair at Rufford Country Park

(of which stock to prepare for)

*****

Bagladee Party

(of which stock to prepare for)

*****

3 custom orders

*****

And a few Christmas gifts to make

Tonight I managed to get these and a few other goodies packaged up for StuffedNonsense, hope you like them ladies?

And over the weekend I completed these 3 lovely new bags!! I'm really enjoying making these new designs....

I haven't managed to list them yet and with the time scale its looking unlikely.....but if you are interested in any of the new bags I've been making please leave me a comment and I'd be happy to reserve it for you.

Also tonight I finished my paperbag swap, once Denise has received my parcel I will post some photo's. Time for an early night I think so I can get some more sewing done tomorrow night after work.