New beginnings

Well, I meant to post the entire Christmas holidays.... But time ran away. So a quick one to wish you all a Happy New Year.... I will be back in 2011 with a holiday round-up!

Xx


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Snow Days, JYC and time to chill

Morning all

Well we are currently on an unprecedented Snow Day #3 up here... there are no planes, no trains, no buses... no post, no milk in the shops.....! I have also had to cancel all my classes this week as no-one could get into town. But all in all it is amazing and we are having so much fun! Luckily I have done all my Christmas shopping {apart from getting my tree :-( } so I can sit back and enjoy the snow .....

There is however the small matter of food! I always have a fully stocked larder and freezer and could probably live off the contents for about 6 months (and it looks like we might have too, lol) but when it comes to milk, bread and fruit etc .. this is where problems arise. Supermarket deliveries have been cancelled as the vans can't get out and it is impossible to drive, hard to walk on food and all my wee local shops are running, or completely run out ....

But hey hoo, it all adds to the excitement!

And with that, it brings us to 1st December .... it is really here! Most importantly it means the start of Journal Your Christmas ... v exciting!

I had better go, as I need to hunt down some milk and be back by 10.45 to watch It's a Wonderful Life on Sky Christmas Movies .... could life get any better?!

Em xx

it's begining to feel a lot like

... Christmas!

Yes, we have snow!!! I got such a surprise last night when I looked out of the window to see all the snow... so exciting, where has this year gone ...? December has just crept up on us, but I love it. I am all set; Christmas shopping is all done, baking and store cupboard goodies under way, Christmas Eve panto tickets bought, tree coming tomorrow (love my bro!) and I can't wait!

Between now and then though I have 4 craft fairs and and lots of orders to get through ... but come 21st December, I will be off 2 weeks and boy will I need it! The craft fair went really well last week, it was lovely to meet all my new 'colleagues' as well as getting lots of advice on running a craft business.

I had a chilled start to the week, as I have been so busy I needed to listen to my body and just have a few days to recharge and rest. Ethan and I did some baking, had dinner out and I also found some time to do some for shopping. Found some more lovely vintage fabric, some I am keeping for me and some I am going to use in future projects for the shop!
I also got some really good news this week, it just keeps coming and coming, from a friend who is a TV producer. They are developing a new property make-over show and asked me to do some design work/consultancy... so fingers crossed, we will see where this road leads me! Here are a few of the projects I have been working on this week!


On non Christmas/crafting related news we have found THE villa in Orlando, it is AMAZING... I have never been to the US before, (been to the Dominican and Grenada a few times), so I am mega excited... also V excited to go back to Disney, the real one (been to Paris before) and also can't wait to go to Harry Potter world!!! We are going in May next year, it will be me and E, my bro, Deb, Joshua, my SIL's parents and some friends, so 10 adults and 3 kids in one huge villa, think I will need an extra suitcase for all the shopping I am going to do!!

Right, I have been working hard all day, so I am now going to have some supper and chill with a glass of wine and watch some cheese on TV!

Have a great evening
em x

all packed up and ready to go!

well I have been at it crafting, creating and sewing my little *heart* out all week. Today I started at 10am and kept at it until 8pm, I didn't even make it out of my PJ's! I didn't get as much done as I would of liked ... but then I am unrealistic about what I can actually achieve in 24hours, lol ....

But I have a good selection, so we will see. I will take lots of photos as I really need to get the website up and going ... depending on the signal at the venue I may even try a little craft fair blogging! So wish me luck for tomorrow ... I am looking forward to meeting the rest of the members of the craft guild and to see all their work.

Then next week it is back to making up all my orders, some studying and then making LOTS more stock for the 3 day craft fair in 3 weeks! I got my results back today from my first assignment and I am really pleased and got some great positive feedback from my tutor. On a downside Lotta, the kitten has an upset tum, YUK!

With that little bit of exciting news I will leave you ....
Night peeps
xx

My own little Santa's workshop!

Well I am truly in production mode right now.... Have glorious fabric coming out of my ears.


Thank goodness I recently upgraded my expedit storage unit....
I have recently had additional orders for a quilt, 3 Santa sacks and a stocking as well as a lot more personalised stars, that is as well as making all the stock for the craft fair next week!






I predict very little sleep next week....





Right... Why am I still sitting here... Have sewing to do!

Xx

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tiredness ...zzzz

Tonight I reached new levels of tiredness. After waking a few times in the night (think the noisy wind was waking him up!), Joshua was awake at 5am this morning, I managed to get both the boys back to sleep in my bed (an arm around each of them) until 7am .. but that 5am wake up had taken it's toll. By the time 7pm rolled around I was a crumpled mess .... but both boys were fed, watered, bathed and happy in their pjs, and giving me a lovely cuddles when Debbie got back from the airport...

I have been really busy today, and managed to get quite a bit of work done around J's nap time, I have been making felt Christmas decorations, and while I was putting him down for his nap I got a great idea for a penguin one, so when he was asleep I quickly knocked up a sample.

Things have been going really well, I have loads of orders already, all through facebook and good word of mouth. Since Friday I have had orders for 15 personalised stars, 2 personalised Santa sacks, some Christmas bunting, 2 cushions and a canvas ... yikes, and that is without the shop being up yet!

I submitted my first assignment last week, so fingers crossed for the results. I have another tutorial on Saturday, so hopefully find out then.

Right, Spooks is on soon .. so as long as I can keep my eyes open!

Night night
em xx

It's all go!!

Morning,

Well, despite the fact that I could of had a lie-in this morning, my stupid body-clock woke me at 8am!! Ethan is off with Daddy, exploring Scotland in a camper van, until Sunday. I am V jealous.. I love camping, I love road-trips, I love Scotland ... especially Mull.. We went there when E was 10 weeks old. Beautiful place!

Anyway .. i have a few days peace to get some work done... like studying, I really should be studying... I have Joshua tomorrow, so will try and get as much done today as I can.

I also got some good news yesterday, so I blogged before about how I have been asked to join the local craft guild and do some craft fairs ... which is great. But yesterday the woman emailed me as asked if I would like to take part in a WEEK LONG Christmas Craft Fair in December. She said they really loved my work, it was beautiful and of such a good quality (I had to send over samples/portfolio type of thing, as they have a sort of 'kite mark', and they need to make sure whoever becomes a member adheres to the standard etc!) ... I felt to proud/shocked when she said that. I mean, I like my stuff, but you never know what other people think!!

Since this 'arm' of the business, really seems to be taking off I decided to make it more official. I have set up a new website/folksy shop/Facebook group and also spent a few hours yesterday working on new marketing materials with the printer I use for my Classes... so I now have 2 different sets of business cards etc ... could get confusing, lol!

I have been really busy sourcing stock, getting ideas, making samples. It is a really exciting time... to think that this literally came out of nowhere is what makes it more exciting. I am so blessed to have these opportunities, to be able to 'work' the way I do, at my own time, doing something I love and being there for my family. I am very lucky!

I have also done a lot of 'thrifting' recently ... I have a passion for vintage tea sets, dishes, glasses etc and can't resist an old bit of china. I got a lot when I was up visiting Nanny and am pleased to say have even managed to use a few bits since we have been back. I don't know what it is, I just love miss-matched, chintzy, vintage pieces.. my idea of hell is a square/modern/ikea plate ... (shudder!!) ...

We also put up our Halloween decorations yesterday, they grow every year, with a few additions... I especially love decorating my front door. I have a funky wooden Witch that hangs on the front and I cover it with spiders webs and tiny spiders ... spooky! We have quite a hoard of pumpkins, one of which Ethan got very attached to, carrying it around and names it Zombie John .. so sweet!

Anyway, I need to get moving. I still have to finish my first assignment, which is due next Friday.

Enjoy this lovely Thursday
em x