A quick note to say Hooray it's Friday

Hey folks....hope you're all well? Here's a sneaky peak of a bag for one of my customers. I've been busy, busy, busy with a number of trade orders but they're almost finished.....pheweeeee!!!! Once I've caught up with my sleep for a month or two I plan a return, I've missed my little blogging world it's a comfortable place!

Laters! Have a good weekend!

Trade Order- Applique Bird Bag

Trade Order- Applique Bird Bag, a photo by Once upon a time in the north on Flickr.

Trade orders nearly finished guys!

Textile Trade Order

Textile Trade Order, a photo by Once upon a time in the north on Flickr.

This is what I've been up to in my time away......quite a few more to make!

British Craft and Trade Fair- 2012

 

Before I get my head down to some much missed sewing I thought I would post a few pictures of me @ this years BCTF. Here I am- stand 312........crazy fact folks, so was my hotel room number! EEK!

 

 Having never attended before I didn't know what to expect, I had no idea on how much stock to bring along, how many business cards and price list to print off......I could go on! But then you have to start somewhere.

I used a lovely piece of furniture to display my products and I kept my display simple and straight to the point. I decided to take one of each of my designs, however next time I may take more and create more of an impact. My space was small but bigger than I imagined so I could have gone wild......that's for next year!

 I met some lovely people, designers and buyers and spent three days with some of the most truly wonderful, funny and creative people I have ever met. Everyone was kind and generous. I also caught up with many friends. Above all the talent at the show was outstanding and very overwhelming- it made me glad that I'm not a buyer and I think they were as exhausted as us designers.

 So now I have things to make and then follow up on all the shop owners and gallery owners who took my price list and admired my work!!!

 ME! Believe me when I tell you that, that white carpet amazingly didn't get too filthy over three days!!!! I'm not going to invest in one though!

I now have sewing withdrawal symptoms and I'm looking forward to making, what seems like, a fresh start.

Folksy Shop news!!!!

I've just re-opened my Folksy Shop. I did plan a grand re-opening with a huge one day sale but alas I am slowly running out of time before my big show dates. I still have a mountain of sewing to get through- projects to finish, projects to start...lists to tick!! Thankfully it is no longer a daunting sewing mountain and the heaps are going down.

My Folksy shop is presently stocked with buttons and ribbons, no handmade lovelies just yet!! It is not teaming with crafty bits, however I have listed some nice colourful supplies! Enjoy X

Product Pics and Editorials

 I did consider naming this blog post 'Too Much to do and NOT Enough Time'....blah, blah, blah....this would also be appropriate. I have in fact spent my morning taking, what seems like, a million photos. I am not a natural photographer but I do know how to use Photoshop- Yahoo! Is my answer to that. Out of my million photos I've produced one decent one and this is going to be featured in the next edition of Giftware Review along with my editorial. You lovely folks in the know may recall me announcing that this year I shall be attending The British Craft and Trade Fair during April and the Giftware Review Magazine is doing a lovely feature on this event.

Don't worry.....this picture is not a product picture I just want you to see my new bags that I will be showcasing at BCTF. I am kinda smug and very proud of these baggy creations. But I haven't just 'knocked' them out, oh no, I have consistently worked on this design and tweaked it and perfected it for over a year. Smug and satisfied!!

 So...now that I have your attention I would like to let you know that I have many new button collections in my supplies shop on Etsy. These Funky Flower Buttons are awesome and I love them, great for Springtime projects.

Because I have such an appetite for colour I couldn't help adding these Neon Bright Buttons to my shop. My supplies shop has been on my back burner for a while and I imagine it will remain that way while I am busy preparing for BCTF and the Great British Home Show at Glow, Bluewater. However, please keep popping round to have a nosey because I am constantly listing new goodies, I simply don't have the time to be advertising. 

I have a reason for my bloggy absence!

This morning I felt compelled to blog as I haven't been here for yonks and yonks. However, I have been very busy you know- I haven't been sat around idly doing nawt. Far from it!

This year I am attending two big events- I have decided to do The British Trade and Craft Fair this is huge personal challenge to me and I have decided against it for three years.......it's a confidence thing! Will my textile work be up to it? Or will I walk away with a 'must try harder' sticker never to return. I hope not!

I have also been asked to attend The Great British Home Show at Glow, Bluewater ........GULP! This is a five day event and I will leave that for another day because to be honest I am starting to wake up in a panic over it.

So now that my little chat is over here are a few pics of my crafty projects. Albeit unfinished!

 This collection of delicious fabrics will eventually be a lavender cushion, there are a few finishing touches to be added.

 More lovely fabric soon to be turned into a cushion.

Documenting my work like is fantastic for me. It isn't easy this self-employed thing! Who's around during the day to kick my arse and say 'NO! You have work to do... get off the Internet, put that phone down, stop dancing madly to that mental tune'? MMM! Nobody s'pose. Then it's hands down as soon as my family get in.

As I have sooooo, sew much to do and I should find a different work ethic, i.e, simply get on with it. I've decided to take regular pictures and document my progress. I think this is a good challenge and I really owe to myself and my family, because they are a great support of my crafty antics, to do the best I can!

See you same time next week with a whole new batch of textile goodness!