this afternoon

I've been working on something special for a very lovely lady called Sarah. I love sitting with a bit of hand sewing and a cuppa perfect way to spend an afternoon.

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.....?

Into the New

Happy New Year everyone!!

 

I normally do a 'best bits' of the previous year round about this time, however I've decided not to this year. Most of my year was dominated by the house move as you all know, so I thought I would just post about what I'm looking forward to for 2013 and my 'promises' to myself.

 

I promise to:

 

Smile more, complain less, make more, plan better, dress up, exercise, do less overtime (that I don't get paid for), keep in touch with friends more, visit family more often, listen to my heart more (rather than my head) and relax more.

 

I thought my post needed some photos so here are some of the very popular hairbands that I made for the recent Christmas fairs I attended. Sold out in an hour........

 

Aren't they cute? I'm currently making a load to list on my website. I love the red, white and blue ones, very British.

 

I'm very much looking forward to what will be in 2013, the main one being settling in to our home properly, baking and cooking more and generally taking the time to enjoy life, time goes over too quick and it seems to be all about the preparing and not actually taking in the events. And of course making lots of new bags and other cute and fun bits and bobs.

 

What are you looking forward to in 2013 and have you made any promises to yourself?

Unexpected

Just thought I would sneak in and do a little post. Well I hope you all thoroughly enjoyed Christmas, ate too much, drank too much and laughed with friends and family. More importantly did you all get that 'me' time you all deservedly needed?

We had a quiet Christmas, it didn't plan out anything like I had envisaged as C's Granddad passed away two days before Christmas. A lovely man at the age of 96 will be sadly missed by everyone, especially C. It was only the weekend before I was helping him to tie his shoe laces and chatting away about the football and the weather. He wasn't ill....I think it was just his time.

So I've spent my Christmas making sure C and the in laws are OK, making dinners and lunches where required, helping out organising the necessary and listening to so many brilliant stories about Frank's life. So unfortunately we will all have to face the new year with a funeral. We're all getting together on New Years Eve to have a meal and a drink and light 3 Chinese lanterns in memory of Frank.

Its not all been sad though we have embraced the Christmas spirit (Frank would have been disappointed if we hadn't) C was spoiled by me with a PS3 and Fifa13 so you can guess where he has been spending his time? :D And today we ventured out to the shops and I made a start on updating my wardrobe (it seriously needed it). I'm a huge fan of Long Tall Sally but have never actually bought any jeans from there, surprisingly comfy and even though as per usual I'm in between sizes a size 12 was a nice fit, lovely and long at 34" and spotted a pair of raspberry coloured skinny jeans in the sale so bought those too. I also tried on a nice shirt but they didn't have my size (feeling an online order coming soon!). I then bought I gorgeous long jacket from John Lewis which is a Barbour and was half price in the sale.....BARGAIN! Its a start....a new year and a new me.

I'm also feeling ready to get back to work with a new attitude (and no more ridiculous overtime) and get my website filled with lots of new gorgeous bags. I'm determined to go into 2013 with a positive mental attitude!

Christmas at last.....

Yesterday was the last day at the day job until the New Year and boy was I glad to be driving out of the car park. To say that I need a rest is an understatement, there has been so much going on over the last 6 months (most of it exciting) I feel exhausted.

Now I can take my time to enjoy our new home, now festively decorated and look forward to spending time with family and having some 'me' time.

A very good friend reminded me the other day that writing on our blogs should be something for us, yes we love to know that there are you lovely people out there reading it, but we should never feel pressured to write something just because we haven't blogged in ages. Like most people we all have times where we're too busy or just don't have the blogging mojo to write something and I have to admit I am there right at the top for disappearing and then reappearing weeks later.

I have been busy with new makes, custom orders and supplying some of the very lovely shops that stock my items, then I had to squeeze in some handmade gifts, along side doing way too much overtime at the day job. So after feeling like I was missing the run up to Christmas excitement I am now on overload.

Almost all my gifts have been bought/made and wrapped and are sitting tucked underneath our Christmas tree, the decorations have been up for a week and we have a huge new conifer tree in the garden with gorgeous sweety coloured lights twinkling away. We had family down last weekend and again this weekend. Then that's it! It will be Christmas Eve and we are off out for a meal with C's family then back to his parents for Sherry and present swaps.

So this is me wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and all the best for the coming New Year. Thank you for reading my sporadic posts and leaving your thoughtful comments I really do appreciate it. I will see you on the other side of 2012.......I wonder what next year will bring?!?!

Hugs
Em xxx

Sewing journal...

 

Look what landed on my doormat this morning!

 

If you're an avid sewer/crafter and you love to write and sketch you're going to love this. This wire spiral bound journal is Rachel Goodchild's latest addition to her gorgeous online collection.

 

It has 70 pages (140 sides) of blank paper in a 100gsm weight, with an added lined separate sheet. and is 160mm x 220mm, so its a perfect size to just pop in your bag. The journal is printed on FSC recycled paper and comes wrapped in a cellophane bag.

 

And check this out!!! The page marker is a tape measure!!!!! *Squeals*

Now you cant tell me you don't just love, love, love it?

 

I love dressmaking and sewing and this journal is right up my street.

 

The drawings are so exquisite, from the pattern pieces to the needle and thread detailing.

 

I especially love the bobbin of thread on the back page.

 

At £8.00 this journal I think is a steal, and I cant wait to get my first list written down. If you would like to own one of these fab journals you can get your crafty mitts on one

 

here.

 

They'd make a fab stocking filler for Christmas too. I have a feeling I'll be adding a few more to my Christmas list.

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.