WARNING!!!

Photo overload :)

Since the talk of the day is the snow causing havoc right across the UK I thought it was only right to start this post with a photo of our front garden all pretty and clean with snow!! And if you look very very carefully you can just see our ginger cat Oli disappearing out of the gate. He loves the snow. On the otherhand Nell, hates it I showed her and she sped back in the house shaking her coat as she went. She was not impressed!! =^o^=

I'd been looking for some ideas/inspiration for my sewing room/studio when I had a great tip off from a fellow blogger that Jo Packham wrote some great books just for that exact subject. So off to Amazon I went and bought these 2 books, they are fantastic.

Where women create & Organising your craft space.

Here are some of my favourite pages out of the book, I love eclectic collections of items but I'm planning on taking a few bits and pieces from here and there and keeping it more simple which is more my style.

This is very me :)

This is gorgeous too I love the tailors maniquin/bust with the gold stars around it.

I plan on being orgnised like this ;)

And I was practically drooling when I saw this photo!! Look at all that fabulous fabric!!

And maybe something like this.......

And these jars are just yummy!!

......Photo overload :)

News.....

Another quick'ish post today. Arrived back from my parents late this afternoon unpacked and put the kettle on. We had a fab time last night, for those who know who Russell Brand is he was absolutely hilarious I laughed my socks off and it was definitely what the doctor ordered. We should all laugh more....life has gotten too serious these days.

Exciting news is that I met up with a friend today at home as I am designing her wedding dress for her wedding in Cyprus later this year. We got some more finer details sorted so its down to getting some final drawings together. Just in case you are interested, I have a HND in Fashion Design and a Degree in Fashion and Textiles. I love designing and have dreamt of having my own Bridal shop where I design all the gowns. Bit of a pipe dream but you have to have one don't you!?!

Once its all done I will post to show you. So spending this morning with my oldest friend talking about weddings and wedding dresses, invitations and caterers was very exciting and right up my street. Although when I get married I will be wearing flip flops on a beach somewhere! :)

Speaking of invitations I'm after some advice from any card crafters out there 'What type of glue would I use if I were to stick some lace braiding/edging to some card?' I have no experience in card crafting really and would love to pass the info onto my friend who's getting married.

Some books that I ordered last week came on Saturday morning (related to the conversion from loft to sewing room) so I will show you tomorrow (Haven't a chance to get the camera out yet).

Well that post turned out longer than I was expecting!! Off to bed now....back to work tomorrow again.

The eyebrow dance- CADBURY!!

I love this advert!!!!!

Swapsies, secrets and schedules.

I've just finished packaging up my swap items for 'I'm a ginger Monkey's fat quarter swap'. I cant show you what it is yet as it will spoil the surprise for Kitty.....but I can tell you that its all wrapped up in tissue and ribbon and ready to be posted on Monday.

I also have a great idea for my mug swap but you will have to wait to see that too......sorry ;) for the mug swap we only know who we are to send to not who will send to you, which I think makes it all the more exciting. In addition to the mug I will be including a new handmade item.

Saturday morning we are travelling up to my parents as we are going to see Russel Brand at the City Hall, Newcastle. The tickets were a gift for both mine and Chris's birthday, so we're really looking forward to it. Its also a nice excuse to see my family again (not that I need one).

Things are so busy at the moment with still finishing the extension, converting the loft space, work, crafting, housework (lots of ironing **groan**) that the weeks seem to be flying by. There are lots of new items on the horizon for bagladee....I'm just itching to get the loft finished so that I can get up there and really get sewing. Getting impatient doesn't even begin to describe my mood but I'm trying to space out the fun of buying for it, that should pacify me for a while :)

Back to the beginning....

Have you ever wondered how it all started?

As promised here are some photo's of my very first bag (no laughing mind!) :) this is the result of having just moved to a new city, being unemployed and not knowing many people!!

Out of sheer boredom I wandered into the nearest charity shop and bought a few things....one being a green padded, what I would call fishing jacket. After making a VERY BASIC pattern and lots of unpicking stitching, the jacket was transformed into this little bag. The main part of the bag is the outer layer of the jacket, the brown panels are ribbon (also found at the charity shop and the little piece of netted material was from the lining inside the jacket.

Inside...no lining and has Velcro fastening :) You can see how small it is by the size of my hand at the side (unless you thought I had gigantic hands :) ha ha)

I was very naughty today.....went and bought 2 books on crafting spaces/organising :o/ oh well they'll be put to very good use.

Be more Organised Part 1 1/2

With all the sorting I've been doing over the past couple of weeks, things are finally getting there.

The Ebay pile is growing fast as well as the rubbish bins over flowing. I've even started getting stuff together to go into the sewing room/studio. While I was filing some receipts and samples away I came across all the business, thank you and post cards that I've kept from fellow crafters that I've bought from. Before I put them into a pretty little keepsake box I thought I'd take a photo as I think they look quite nice all laid out together.

I'm really starting to enjoy all the organising and sorting, I'm not a fan of clutter and I like to see things shut away behind closed doors. And then there is the nostalgia part of having a clear out....coming across all those things that you've kept because they have meaning behind them.

Speaking of which I came across the first bag that I made before bagladee was born, it was made from a padded fishing jacket I bought from a Charity shop. I will try and take some photo's this week and show you.....you will laugh bless it :)

Ideas, odd jobs and anticipation!!

No photos of the loft as of yet I'm afraid, the weekend has been spent building the cupboards and various little jobs that needed sorting up there.....so not a lot to show.

I spent this morning catching up with a friend we went to Starbucks for a Machiatto and a blueberry muffin (yum, yum!!). And then whilst sorting some bits out to update my website and etsy shop I thought I'd catch up on some blog reading......I was so pleased when I stumbled across this post by Shabby Vintage Mom entitled "Craft room ideas and inspiration" oh what luck!! I've added that particular page to my favourites so I can go back later and have a good read. I've also been looking at the groups on Flickr for some ideas. I'm just itching to get up there!!

I'm praying for good weather so that we can get the skylight in and get cracking!!