celebrate with 20% off

I have been busy lately building up stock and attending local craft markets with my hand printed fabric and small items made with the fabric. 

This has been great fun, I have had a wonderful response and met lots of lovely new people. When you work from home it's very nice to actually get 'out there' and meet real people!

I have gradually been adding some of the stock to my Etsy shop, there are some new designs and colours and I'm pleased to say I have sourced a beautiful new natural coloured linen to add to my basecloth range, things are looking good!

To celebrate finally getting to this stage I'm offering 20% off in my Etsy shop until Sunday, just enter the code Make20 at the checkout.

 A little peak my set up, can't wait to do it again soon!

Black Friday

Hello, this is just a quicky to let you know there is 20% off in both of my Etsy shops for Black Fiday, running until the end of Monday. Use the code Black20 at the checkout.

buy hand screen printed fabric here

scrarves, handbags, party wear and brooches here

Happy shopping folks, and please spread the word!

handmade happiness

A couple of weekends ago Missy Big and I had a girls day out, just the two of us. We went to Spitalfields, had a wander around the market and after a fancy burger popped to the Renegade Craft Fair. What a treat! 

We picked up lots of handmade goodies, some for us and a bunch of Christmas presents too, which will have to remain a secret. 

But the best bit for Missy Big was that she got to meet Jane Bull and take part in a workshop with her. If you craft with your children you've probably used a Jane Bull book, we have several and regularly borrow them from the library. She has a new book out - Crafty Creatures, from which we each made a sweet bird.

Aren't they lovely! We will be making plenty more new friends from this book I'm sure.

The only trouble with Christmas shopping is that I see so many things I want for me! I'm very fond of a brooch, and there were many to choose from. I did very well and just came home with one for me.

Mine is by Louise Dawson

and brooches for the girls, from Lady Snail

coasters from Ketchup on Everything

There were so many talented makers and gorgeous products. I came away completely inspired and plan to make this Christmas as handmade as possible, either by making for people or buying handmade. 

I think I'd better get a move on! 

stocking fillers

You probably already know it's Black Friday / Cyber Monday this weekend. There are stacks of great offers all over Etsy.

I have some offers on too, in my Womenswear shop there is 25% off everything, even the items already on sale. 

In my home shop there is free postage on all UK orders (if you're overseas contact me and I'll reduce the shipping)

If you love handmade be sure to pop over to your favourite sellers to see if they have offers on too. 

Now I need to take my own advice. I've only bought one Christmas present so far, soooo much to get still! x

my creative space

Sometimes I find my head full of projects, ideas and plans with deadlines creeping up, but these last couple of weeks have seen me finish projects, and turn a corner on others.  

I've finished and posted my brooch for the swap, with a few extras, but I'll keep them a surprise for my partner for now. It took me a while to work out exactly what I was going to do, but I'm pleased with the results. I couldn't manage to represent the colours of the flowers that inspired me in just one brooch, so there are 3 to tell the story.

 

I've finished the wedding dress (enormous sigh of relief). 

I've done the patterns and I'm now sewing up the bridesmaid dresses (another big sigh).

Of course there are many projects queued up in my head, but they'll have to wait.

And on Monday my moustache egg cosy made it to the front page of Etsy, oh my I was excited!! You can see it in the flesh here, or see my dodgy photo below (if you are technicalish and know how to add the treasuries onto a blog properly - please tell me, it's baffled me for ages!)

Pop over here for more creative spaces.

What are you working on right now? 

what do boys want???

Teenage boys, not easy to buy for, even more tricky to stitch a handmade present for, that has to be light to post to New Zealand, hhmmm... I do like a challenge.

Then I got thinking, they love Top Gear (snore) and I know they eat.... 

TAH DAH!!

I hope this makes them smile at breakfast...

it made me giddy with excitement - I hate it when I have an idea just before bed, keeps me awake with all the other possibilities, which led to this...

  

...and then these.... 

 

 

someone stop me! They are heading to my sadly neglected little shop, I have such great plans... 

Life sometimes gets in the way (happily) x

inspired by the birds

Over the last few weeks we've watched the birds busily gathering twigs and grass to build their nests. We have bluetits and 2 blackbird families nesting in our garden and they are a joy to watch as they hop about looking for food.

They have been on my mind I realised, as I was looking at bird related things on etsy - so I thought I'd show you some of my favourites.


I do love bird cages and this silhouette is full of elegance and grace.

by awedore on etsy


These little birds are adorable, the reuse of old papers gives them such charm.
sweet birds by Cotton Bird Designs


I have a gorgeous painting by Cat Seyler Smith and I get so many lovely comments on it. It makes me smile every day, the colours are so warm.

by artist Cat Seyler Smith


I will keep you posted when the little chicks hatch and fill our garden with new life.

happy bird watching x

dreaming of a tidy home

I'm trying to have a clear out and make our home a little less chaotic, so I headed to etsy to find some inspiring storage solutions, I wasn't disappointed...

from sewingmomma on etsy

from thevintagemercantile on etsy

from Debeauxsouvenirs on etsy

from greenduckweed
this one has sold but take a look at the etsy shop for other lovely items


I don't think you can beat handmade or vintage finds as a way of adding instant charm to your home. Of course now all I need to do is actually sort out and tidy up!

happy tidying x