Volume 2: Scented Cushions

Hello...feast your eyes on my lovely cushions I've made this year (this is a tiny selection). I haven't got much time to blog these days as I'm super busy with trade and gallery orders, however I'd still like to show you what I've been up to! Thank you....thank you.....thank you......

 

 

 

New Cushions- Dippers and Herons

I've been working on a new collection of products- for starters Dipper and Heron cushions. Scented of course.....some things don't change. Any whoo, I thought I'd show you a sneak preview.

Since deciding to stop making my lovely Russian Doll cushions I've opted for a bit of a change of direction. So its guns-a-blazing as I embrace my beautiful surroundings- I often see Herons as I'm driving to my unit, I regularly see Dippers.....Blackbirds, Robins, Crows, Swallows, even game birds.....oh how I could go on and on. I'm very lucky!

I'm taking my new cushions to the Borrowdale Shepherds' Meet this Sunday which is right in the rainy heart of the Lake District, hopefully I'll sell them all if not I shall list them in my Etsy shop. I was hoping to make a few Swallow brooches and country house key charms but I think they'll perhaps be ready for my next Craft Do!

You can see more pics on my FB page- http://www.facebook.com/pages/Once-Upon-a-Time-in-the-North/179020078849068

I was hoping to upload a few to Flickr but they've changed it and I don't know whats going on.........I do like change by the way!

S A L E! SHOP! STUFF! HI!

Hey folks....I've decided to return to blogger! Hi my lovely blog- how've you been? I've been spending a little time over at Facebook.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Once-Upon-a-Time-in-the-North/179020078849068?ref=tn_tnmn
I like using FB for my business, I like the immediacy of it, the quick interaction, the likes, the little chats. But I have missed using my blog. I like the add ons and the pretty pictures and the little notes I can put on the side bars- I'm happy when I decorate things/ tart things up!!!!! I've also spent a little time searching my soul and coming to terms with the terrible fair I encountered during the Jubilee week- http://missgmrsb.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/great-british-home-show.html

So I thought I would make a welcome return by mentioning that I'm having a  S A L E over in my Etsy Shop this seems like an appropriate way to make a come back. I've had a 'design epiphany' and I want to get rid of many items.

I've decided that I'm no longer going to make my Matryoshka scented cushions. As lovely as they are I feel that they no longer represent me or who I am as a designer of pretty housewares. I'm ready for a new direction and I have designs and ideas that are screaming out of me!!! It's an exciting way to feel! The Matryoshka cushions are reduced to £15 and my larger ones with the bird designs are £18- they're handmade and stuffed with delicious dried lavender and dried hops, so I consider that a very good price.

Just to confuse you the cushion above is not in my sale...... this is one of my lovely new designs and retails for £22.50. I thought it would be nice to show you what I have been up to while I've been away enjoying FB. I think my new work is more considered, there is far more attention to detail which makes me a better designer or maybe I'm just growing up!

Enjoy your weekend folks!

Another Busy Craft Fair

I think it's been over a month since my last blog post. No I'm not slacking off! I've been busy, busy! Sewing, printing, organising and all because of a mammoth three day craft fair event that has just taken place. Well it was in fact a Flower Show at Holker Hall heres a link to their home page http://www.holker.co.uk/metadot/index.pl?id=2171and very posh it was too!!

I'm posting some pics but my brain and its thinking power are still recovering so there will be very few words.



This is my stall, after three days it felt like home. It was hard work getting the fabric, bunting and prints up and organised but I was really pleased with the final result. It was bright and colourful, Lady Cavendish stopped and said it was cheery which is a lovely response.

Bags of bags, chillies and my daughter Astrid! (OH! I can also see a coffee and a Danish). Someone bought my favourite bird bag. Boo! Hoo! You can see it here under the large purple chilli print. I nearly never put it out because I wanted to keep it, at least its gone to a good home. I've decided to make more as it was a very popular point of discussion and a huge number of lovely people admired it.

It was an eventful weekend- I've been asked to do four more shows and approached by two shops. Thumbs up from me!! Oh and hopefully we'll get lots of orders for prints on canvas

I sat next to these cushions for most of the weekend. What you can't tell from the photo is that some of them are filled with lavender and the hotter the marquee got the more potent the smell became, of course the smell was beautiful but it sent me very woozy!

This is the lovely and very funny Caroline Nash. She is such a talented crafts person check her out on Folksy @ http://folksy.com/shops/carolinenashcrafts

This is Gwen Bainbridge also very lovely and funny- I'm convinced this is something to do with designers working in ceramics. She kept me going all weekend because these events do have their tedious moments. Check Gwen out here http://www.gwenbceramics.co.uk/

So now I have a massive list of things to

• Spend more time with my girls
• Get out more
• Tidy up my house and find out where the smell is coming from
• Tidy up my neglected and sorry looking Etsy shop (I've some new ideas for that)
• Blog more and give away some fancy prizes

EEK! Something went wrong!

Oh! Dear! I can't say that yesterday was a successful day at work. After a much needed, self indulgent, chocolaty Easter break, I thought my batteries would be fully charged, refreshed and revitalised. How wrong could I be! Instead of pressing the"Back to Work" button on my magic wand .........

I accidentally hit "SOLARIZE"! EEK!

Mrs Bellas will you ever forgive me?

You are such a beautiful lady but right now you look like The Wicked Witch from the West . What will your family think? How will you cope in public when people stop and stare? Lets face it no amount of the best cosmetics known to adorable women will fix that blemish! Most importantly- how will you be able to drink tea and eat cake with a bag on your head? I endeavor to take control of this desperate situation.

I'm afraid to say I've ruined our work. Our unit is now a home for lavender filled neon chicks, however I'm kinda loving those big groovy polka dots!

OK! Ground control to Major Tom, is this looking slightly better? We're finally out of the solarize mode. We might be able to get away with this (no-one will notice). I'd better wave my magic wand over the ever gorgeous Mrs. Bellas.......

TA! DAH!
EH? What do you mean? "You don't feel any better!" To be continued (I think)

Some things don't always go to plan......

....but they can actually turn out better than hoped.

I've just finished these cute lavender bird and heart pillows/bags and I'm chuffed to bits. They've ended up a little bigger than I originally planned therefore I think they should be called pillows and not bags, but I am so, so pleased with the outcome.

I am now inspired to make some more- mainly because the smell oozing out of them is beautiful and sweet. This time I will make small bags to hang up!