Holiday bliss

Well Hello there!!

I do hope you're all well and that you've had a lovely Christmas? Ours was quiet but nice, I ate way to much but it was really nice just to kick back and relax. No day job and no deadlines!! Bliss!

Everyone needs a break now and then, right.

I bought a little note book just before Christmas and made a promise that over the holidays I would write in ideas and sketches for new projects and plan what I would like to do in 2014. There are lots of filled pages already. Where it will take me I don't know but I'm excited at the prospect of change.

I have a mountain of photos to edit of pre-Christmas makes which I will get round to this week and schedule in some posts, I don't want to overload you all with a barrage of photos ;)

Just about to go and pour myself a glass of wine and catch up on some blog reading.....now this is the life!

Christmas Market - the Riverbank - Sunday 8th Dec

Next Sunday I will be here at the Riverbank, selling at their Christmas Market, open from 11am-5pm. 

This will be your last chance to get your hands on some fab handmade Christmas gifts in person.

See you there :D

Love Patchwork and Quilting issue 2

In amongst all the crazy prep for Christmas I was asked by the very lovely editor of Love Patchwork and Quilting magazine Jen, to make and write a tutorial for my very popular fabric boxes. Even though I was super busy I said yes, I love to write tutes and relished the fact that it was a new challenge as I had to make part of the project patchwork.

As I'm no quilter or patchwork artist, I stuck to quite an easy format but I think they turned out rather well. I love the photos they staged and love how retro they look. The fabric I used is by Melody Miller and was supplied by the Eternal Maker.

I also had to provide a high res photo of myself *gulp*. As I don't have any 'recent' photos I asked Chris if he would take one of me especially. So after a little bit of make up application and a change of clothes we came up with this. This is me *waves* Helloooooooo

Christmas Market - Tom Browns Brasserie - Sat 7th Dec

Next Saturday I will be here at the Tom Browns Brasserie, selling at their Christmas Market, open from 10am-4pm. 

Why not pop down, I will be there will all my goodies and would love to say Hi :) Mulled wine, mince pies, a brass band and lots of lovely boutique style stalls what more could you ask for??

See you there :D

1st Christmas Market of 2013

This was me last weekend at the Farndon Boathouse Christmas Market. I thought that since I've been absent from my blog for a little while you would all understand if I showed what I'd been up to.....making all this lovely lot for my fairs.

It was a lovely day and the fair was quite busy, there was a brass band, mulled wine and mince pies, lots of fantastic stalls and Santa was there too :) I took a large selection of products, some new clutch bags, mini clutch bags and purses.

I also took along some of my new felt swirl brooches that I've been keeping under wraps, these proved to be popular and they come in these cute gift boxes.

I also made a selection of these felt rings, in large and small I was sporting one for most of the day but as it was a little chilly I did give in and put my gloves on a few times :)

I love the new animal print fabric I bought in just before Christmas, my favourite is the blue print at the top.

I also made a large selection of my fabric boxes but this time they come as a set of two, large and small.

My felt flower hair bands made an appearance don't they look cheery all stood in a line together.

I've missed doing craft fairs, I love being able to chat to other stall holders and getting to chat to customers. Although I always give the best customer service I can through my website and etsy store, I don't think you can be actual face to face interaction.

Make up bags were also popular, they make great Christmas gifts.

My little ginger soldiers were with me again, don't they look cute on this little stand (which was actually a mug tree).

And their smaller counter part, the mini gingerbread men brooches were also there, proudly displayed on their very own stand.

We're all packed and ready for this weekends fairs, Tom Browns Brasserie on Saturday 10-4pm and the Riverbank Sunday 11-5pm.

Aaaaannnnd STAMP!

Ta Dahhhhh!!! Here I am again....

Its Friday and I'm ready for the weekend. This week I've been motoring through my to do lists at a respectable rate for a change. I've managed to make 9 sets of fabric boxes, 4 large clutch bags, 5 mini clutches, 8 purses, a whole bunch of gingerbread men decorations and even found the time to have a bit play around with my new stamp from Serious_stamp to make these.....

I was so pleased with my new stamp I literally wanted to stamp EVERYTHING!!!!

I still have a lot to do before the Christmas Markets so I cant just sit around all day stamping things....best get back to that list!! ;) 

Just words....

This time I'm here with words no pictures, but I feel like I have to explain why no pictures. I decided quite sometime ago that my time was precious and with lots to get done everyday (including a full time job) my time needed to be managed more productively.

This meant concentrating more on quality rather than quantity, so in times past I used to be here often chatting away about this and that, this fell to the bottom of my list. Sadly I feel like I've lost touch in the blogging world. I'm still popping by and reading all the blogs I follow through Bloglovin and do sometimes comment. But I dont feel like I'm 'connecting' anymore.

I love to post photos of the things I make which I am still doing, but I think trying to keep my blog 'business' related only I have lost what I set out to acheive when I started this blog. I wanted to connect with like minded people and be part of a community, now although I still do connect with some of you out there and mainly through emails and facebook, I miss here. Does that make sense?

I used to come here to call on you all for advice and constructive critisim or mainly just to rant about daily goings on.

If you're still reading this post I thank you :)

I've decided I'm going back to what I do best.....waffling and faffing. So here goes, want to know what Emma has been up to?

Well I still dislike my day job, not hate any more as personal circumstances have made me appreciate it for what it is, I kinda class this as an epiphany as I was so angry at the fact I was doing a job I hated. It was quite honestly making me miserable. I got over that and boy has it made things easier!!

We moved house almost exactly a year ago, cant believe its been a year! The journey to buy this house has not been easy by any mean feat and were still not 100% there, cant say much about it all yet but I'm hoping there will be some resolve soon. Nell made a full recovery from having 11 teeth removed and is brighter and more active than ever. What felt like the worst thing to do at the time turned out to be the right thing to do.

Tomorrow will be 11years since C and I had our very first date and yes *blushes* our first kiss :D I have bought him the most adorable card (I'll share that with you later) and we are going to our favourite curry house "The Bridge and Bay leaf" for a meal. I dont know where I'd be without C he's been so supportive and encouraging with Bagladee. At times where I've felt overwhelmed by everything he's been there to say don't give up! He's even said he's looking forward to keeping me company at the Christmas Markets this year.

Best update you on Bagladee too ;) as you will have seen there has been and is a lot of making going on at the moment. Prep for the Christmas Markets and orders are certainly keeping me busy. And as usual the gingerbread men are flying out the door. I've even been able to squeeze in some new products, more about that coming soon.

Right well I think I've bored you all enough for now....hope you agree its good to have the old me back?

Ooooh and one more thing, painted my nails lime green today ;) more waffle.

xx