Makeover...

Last Summer I decided that I wanted to paint my studio, so I put together this little collection of images that inspired me. 

I love this colour, as I picked it from a Dulux chart it does not have a name just a number. So for argument sake I will say it's mint green. I find it very relaxing and is a great colour to match with. 

I've already been and bought the fabric boxes that fit into my IKEA shelving unit and have my eye on a new chair for my sewing desk but that will have to wait until I have some spare pennies. I've had a huge clear out and re-organised all of my sewing stash ready for my studio makeover. 

I picked these up at B&Q a couple of weeks ago in their sale. A teal coloured throw and two cushions. I don't really have a colour scheme but I figure that grey, teal and orange look really nice together with the mint green. I also have some prints to go up on the wall once it's all decorated. Just need to get this banister finished and then I can get started.

organising

Now that I'm finally getting myself organised I thought you might like to see my very neat (that wont last long!) storage room. Its petite and cosy and needed some serious tidying. At one point you could barely get the door open and you certainly couldn't stand in the room.

Now everything has been sorted, all my fabrics are now neatly folded (again will last all of 5 minutes when I start rummaging for something) in these really great plastic storage units that I bought from Homebase. The other plastic storage boxes are from Ikea.

Now there is room to swing a cat (not that I would, I love my kitties) I wonder how long this organised neatness will last.....?

November...so far

 

Saw me finish a very special order...I love these little fella's especially these 50!

 

I also became the proud owner of a Kenwood Mixer, I've wanted one since I was a little girl, now I have one the same as my Mam :) cupcakes!!!!!!

 

I had a manic 2 days cutting out lots of new items, most will be for the Christmas fairs I will be doing in December.

 

Which then made my shiny new studio look like this :( now it looks like my space lol

 

And I had a little fun with some felt in a patriotic theme.

bye bye

One of the saddest parts about moving was saying goodbye to my studio....here it is just after C finished converting our loft.

I have lots of fond memories of some exciting projects I undertook there.

Everything had its one place and it really was my little 'haven'.

Sadly this was the scene the day before we moved.....couldn't believe I was leaving that gorgeous wallpaper.

After moving day, a few days, a few trips to IKEA and a little bit of effort my new studio is starting to look like 'my space'. It just needs that little something......not quite sure what that is just yet but I'm sure I'll figure it out.

Welcome to my 'secret' world

Some of you have been here before when I showed the 'ta da' photos, right back in the beginning when C created the most wonderful workspace all just for me! For those of you who have are probably thinking 'shame on you' for letting it get so messy and for those of you who haven't then you're in for a right treat.

(No one actually comes up here other than me, C has tried to but gets shooed away, this is our secret OK)

Because of the crazy hecticness (if that's a word) of the last couple of months my beautiful workspace wasn't so beautiful anymore. When ever I went to get something out that I needed, I had to pull about five other things out just to get to it and just never put it back :( So last week I decided 'no more' I had to have a re-organise, I had to get things into order to make my work hours more productive.

So here are the pictures, before and after:

 Before: this was my fabric stash corner, not very organised at all and as you can see from the other photos most of the fabric is all over the floor (fabric sin!!!).

After : fabric moved and boxes re-organised with the least used 'stuff'. I may be 31 but I still love my stuffed teds :D

Before: I am not proud I let it get this bad ;) I'm surprised I could find anything in this mess!?!?!

After: a new home for all my fabric and felt and look no fabric on the floor.....Wooooo!!

OK, so I didn't have to organise it into colours, but it just looked so much prettier when I did.

Before: anything and everything stuffed under the desk, including my lovely felt which looks better in its new home where I can appreciate its vibrant colours.

After: all my ribbons, leather samples, cottons, scraps and tool boxes neatly stored away. Box sorted with the very few items of stock that I actually do have (good thing as means all others are sold).

Before: this is my 'relaxing area' although in that mess there definitely wasn't any relaxing going on here. Just moving mess from corner to corner.

After: now doesn't that look better? A place to sit and read or hand sew and a place to put my cup of tea :)

Now its all organised and I have a tidy workspace, its work, work, work. Or as I should say craft, craft, craft it never feels like work when I'm here doing what I love. 

Houston we have a problem - UPDATE

Well the tile came off and......yes C's Dad was right, he had drilled through the cable. But not once, Oh no, TWICE!! Both times hitting the neutral wire!!! I cant tell you how lucky he was!!! After one call to Spain (don't ask), one call to the 'Valve Shop' (C's Dad's friend) they both decided it was going to have to be a new cable laid.

So for now I have to cope with the extension lead until they can get it sorted. I don't mind not having electricity or the fact that the cables got to be replaced. I'm just so pleased that he was lucky twice not to drill through the live wire. With his heart condition I dread to think what might have happened.

Don't worry I have stressed that he is to use the cable tester that he does own, but did not use, or better still leave it for his Dad to sort. He is so more experienced than C is.

In between all of this happening I did get some sewing done, DIY was done for the day. Time for a glass of wine!

Houston we have a problem

No power to my studio :( It was working fine on Saturday when I was up there tidying but Sunday morning when I went up to sew nothing.....nada, not a sausage! Oh no!!!

Thankfully I could go back to what I was doing before all the electrics were sorted and used the extra, extra long extension cable to power my sewing machine. C had being doing some work on the shower room down stairs on the Sunday morning but we just couldn't figure out what had happened.

Sunday tea time we checked with a 'plug checky thing' (no technical terms here as I have no idea what its called) to see if there was any current.......there was but only 50volts. How strange!!! C's Dad came over at lunch time today to see if he could figure out what was wrong. After they changed the breaker/fuse to see if it was faulty it was still the same :( then after his Dad had a look in the extension to see if it could have been anything in there that had done it he pointed out to C that where he had screwed the toilet roll holder was suspiciously close to where the cables were placed prior to tiling!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So at this very second they are both in there chiseling off the tile where they think the wire has been drilled through......OMG if C did I'm very surprised he wasn't hurled across the other side of the room with awful consequences. I shudder to think.

I'll be back later to update.

Creative work space

Thank you for your lovely comments on my last post. I'm still reeling from it all and find moments in the day where I stop and think to myself....due to my little business I can now work part time. I'm soooooo excited about it all.

I thought you might like to see my studio....and because I'm such an honest Geordie lass I have decided to show you before and after. The before was just after I finished my last order. This is the norm for me. Get creative, make a mess, complete, tidy up!! And so it goes in a cycle. I've never been one for being a 'neat and tidy' crafter, just ask my Mam. She will tell you just how messy I am. But I always love a good tidy up at the end.

And now were back to a tidy studio, this weekend will see the start of a new order and some new bags (very excited). And on Saturday I off for a lovely shopping day with a friend. Must pick up a few things for my holiday next week.

Space (not the intergalactic kind)

Lately things have been getting a little bit messy in my studio. Its all creative messiness though...well that's my excuse. I always struggle to be productive in a messy environment even though its me that makes the mess. So at the end of every project or order I finish I have a ruddy good tidy up. To make room in some of my cupboards I tried to maximise the space in my boxes.

I started off with my very "free and flowing" ribbon box and some scraps of cardboard.

And with a few spare pins ended up with this lovely organised box of ribbon! The only thing now is that I look like I hardly have any ribbon supplies at all :( but then that does mean I can make ANOTHER visit to here to replenish my stocks :D Yey!!!

P.S. If you were wondering how the soup turned out, it was delicious and I've posted the recipe here enjoy!

Because this happens...

following on from my post yesterday (see below) this is what I get "up to" in there. Chris is always calling up "what are you doing" and this week its been cutting felt and fabric flowers ready for something sparkly :D I just cant hide the fact that I LOVE bright, bold fabrics....I know they're not everyones cup of tea (and for that I do apologise) but if its not bright and bold its not me!!

Simples!

Another one bites the dust....

...one more bag sample finished. And I have to say its times like this that I realise how much (I'm obsessed) I love fabric. This fabric only arrived last week but I loved it soooo much I just had to see it as a bag!!!

I am almost finished the samples for the large bags, I will then be tackling my other bits and bobs. I have made a pledge to myself, that as soon as the prep is out of the way for the trade fair "I am going to sit down and make a bag just for me" :D I know, crazy, I have made many bags....just not one for little ol'me.

These little sparkly gems are going to be 'a little something extra' that is going to be added to the bags....a project in themselves but I just cant resist that little bit of bling :D

And since I don't think I ever got round to showing you may sewing chair, here it is!!! I have cropped out as much of the mess as I could....as I said to a friend earlier today fabric is EVERYWHERE! Its extremely comfortable and perfect for sitting in and hand sewing with the TV on (normally 'A place in the sun', football or catching up on the soaps). Hope you all had a fab weekend.

Homely

I'm really starting to feel right at home in my studio, its such a lovely space to work in. Not that I am complaining about having to use the spare bedroom up until now....but what a difference it makes when you are sat in your very own space with all your lovely things surrounding you :D

5 new pouches you can see to the right and the start of a "new" bag on the left!! So exciting......

I LOVE TO SEW!!!

P.S. Dont forget to check out my sale

An unexpected day off...

The roads were atrocious this morning and the road where I drive up to the main road from the house was like an ice skating rink. There were cars and vans stuck, wheel spinning unable to get up the hill, cars sliding down and at least 3 accidents....reports from where I work were not good either, at one point they were stopping people driving down the hill into the business park because the road was so icy.

And since booking a days holiday is cheaper than repairing/replacing a bashed car I decided not to try and make it in so here I am.

Here are some new photos of the studio, looking a lot more homely than before. I wanted to have the lovely gifts that fellow blogger have made me out on display as I always feel inspired by other creative fellows. Plus they all make me smile :D

Lots of fashion and craft books, a lovely chest filled with buttons, rhinestones and sequins....a real treasure chest ;) my Speak and Spell (fav childhood toy still in perfect working condition) and a player for my ipod.

Still awaiting my sewing chair :( it is ordered and being delivered from the warehouse so shouldn't be too long before I can pick it up from the store.

My felt stash, which has been replenished since I took this photo so now its full to the brim. Top shelf: my tins of coloured zips and the gap if for my scraps of felt box which was downstairs at the time.

Oooooh still 2 empty boxes must fill them with other supplies.....still some boxes to sort out.

All my patterns, packaging, note cards, post cards, daylight lamp and other bits and bobs. My TV is also on the wall now, but still no power to the sockets, I cant believe how difficult it has been trying to get an electrician to come round to sort it.

Only 2 more days of my 20's left as its my 30th on Friday, and although I have spent quite a few weeks thinking and reminiscing of the years that have led me to this birthday I am strangely excited about it. Not just the day itself but the anticipation on what the next 30 years will bring. Some of the years have been tough, some that I'd rather erase from my memory....but then I think these experiences are what has made me the person I am.....and also the fact that there have been some pretty amazing things that have happened too. I am excited that this will be the next stage of my life which will lead onto more amazing times, but do wonder where has the time gone. The last 7 years of living down in Nottingham have whizzed by and would never have guessed when I left County Durham that I would be here doing what I am.

So this is me embracing turning 30th on Friday :D YEY!!!!

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

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.