New year, new house (ish)

"Excited" does not come close to how I'm feeling about the current events in our household. Building work started three days ago (*squeal*).

And, when it's finished in March (no really, I believe they will finish on time) I will have my very own workspace. And it will be better than this....

and a lot lot warmer....

And, so much more tidy and organised.

My workspace (I'm struggling to call it a "studio"!) is going to be in that corner, by the wheelbarrow....

  ...and I'm hoping that eventually the view from my new window will not have a portaloo and a skip

Exciting times....  2012 is going to be a good year.

Well hello there 2012!

Happy New Year! Is it just me or does it seem like Christmas was months ago. It's only just 12th night for goodness sake.

The kids started back at school yesterday, so I'm trying to get back into business mode. Get the shops open, and perhaps most importantly.... get making again.

I found this completely brilliant and inspiring clip on the Craftblog UK

Terence McKenna - Reclaim your mind from Olivier Ferland on Vimeo.

What do you think? This is exactly what I need to get me moving this January. Do you have any more inspirational clips or quotes to help us get 2012 off with a bang?  (I know you do creative lot, you! Come on, spill).

2012 is going to be the BEST YEAR EVER. I'm pretty sure of it.

Christmas Postage Dates

Well it's that time again. I've already started panicking about Christmas approaching way too quickly. Since having the kids, gone are the days when a last minute dash on Christmas Eve cuts it (or is even logistically possible). So I thought it was also about time I let you all know about postage dates.

Just think how good it'll be to get those Christmas gifts done and dusted? And how gorgeously smug you will feel.

If you're in the UK you need to get your order in by 19th December. If it's a custom order, such as fingerprint jewellery you will ideally need to get your order in by 28th November - eek that's next Monday!! Remember I post out first class recorded for most packages, and Special Delivery for custom goodies, or those costing above £30.

For my lovely customers in the US your order needs to be with me by 8th December. And if you're buying from right on the other side of the world in Australia, you'll need to order by 4th December.

After the chaos caused by the snow and certain customs centres (you know who you are NY!) to deliveries last year my advice is get it ordered early!!

Good luck - and happy shopping!

Wordless Wednesday - earth at night

Earth | Time Lapse View from Space, Fly Over | NASA, ISS from Michael König on Vimeo.

Bonfire Night 2011

One of the best bits about living in a little village is the way the community get together to celebrate events throughout the year. In our village we have a FANTASTIC summer party, but the other key event is always Bonfire night.

The pole goes up on the green at the end of September - and for the next 6 weeks hedge trimmings and branches are put out and collected by the bonfire boys and girls. Take a peek at the video below....



And then the big night arrives. A procession with torches around the village, with a band, and the Guy out front. The cold dark night filled with excitement, and smoke. My littlies weren't that keen on going down this year for the big event - it's after bedtime after all, and this year both were just a little nervous about the fire (Littlest was also a bit worried about Guy Fawkes! - he was a pretty scary one to be fair, and over 7 foot tall!)

So a snap decision was made after we watched the torchlight procession, that maybe we'd stay home. We had family over, so had lots of fun playing games until the firework display started... then we ran into the front garden, and wow what a display.

What a show, and what a view from our garden. Brilliant.


It seems really strange that bonfire night is just a British affair. I guess no-one else would be that interested in celebrating Guy Fawkes failure to blow up parliament, but I always assume that this sort of festival would happen everywhere at this time of year, just with a different name, to bring a little light in the darkness, and to get rid of all those hedge and tree cuttings!


Hope you all had a great weekend whatever you were up to!


Becky x

Featured Etsy Seller - Julie Marie Shop

Tell us a bit about yourself - (where do you live, what's your name etc..)

I am Julie Marie Burns and I currently live in Asheville, NC. I say currently because I am originally from Madison, WI. My husband, Dave and two kids Lily age 5 and Smith age 3 recently moved to Asheville. We aren’t quite sure if there is where we are going to stay, but for now it works ok. I also recently started my own online business Julie Marie Shop on etsy.

What do you make?

I make purses and bags, scarves, and pillows. I also make curtains, girls skirts and dresses, stuffed animals, and pretty much any crafty little thing. I love working with felt at christmas time to make stockings and ornaments. I am also into scrapbooking and papercrafts, but my real passion is sewing.

Why do you use that medium?

I love fabric. I love everything about it. The feel, how it drapes, and the lovely patterns. It truly is an obsession.

When/ how did you start crafting?

I have always been a crafty person. It all began with drawing and painting all through school, then once I graduated from college I started working at a fabric store and the passion began. I got my first sewing machine and the creativity started flowing. Then I had kids and I started sewing even more and got more heavily into papercrafts.

When did you start selling your stuff - where do you sell?

I started selling my stuff about three years ago at a local art gallery in Wausau, WI. I started selling baby shoes and bibs. Then once I moved to madison I started to learn about etsy, but I didn't actually start selling on etsy until August of this year (2011)

Do you also have a day job, or is this your main job?

My day job is a stay at home mom and selling on etsy. 

 

What do you love about your medium, what do you hate?

I love figuring out new layouts for my purses and experimenting with the drape and stretch of different fabrics, which is also one of the hardest parts of working with fabric. It is kind of a pain working with silky and stretchy material and also trying to get everything perfectly symetrical. I am a bit of a perfectionist so sometimes it can drive me mad when everything is not exactly straight.

Where do you get your inspiration from?

My biggest inspiration is other designers and crafters. Especially Amy Butler. She is a true inspiration and talent. But I also love all the crafters on etsy. They each inspire me in their own unique way.

What is your favourite music to craft to?

Jack Johnson, O.A.R, Death Cab for Cutie, and Feist

What is your favourite piece of your own?

The denim ruffle purse or asian inspired purse. Both allowed me to showcase the beauty of their fabrics. I hope others feel the same.

Where do you do your crafting?

My bedroom. I get a corner of the room for all my fabric, sewing machine, and cutting table/ironing board. This is not my ideal craft room, but I have to work with what I have. Luckily my husband is completely understanding and doesn’t mind the occassional mess.

You have a lovely store Julie - good luck with it all!

Halloween

I hope you all had a great halloween. We didn't go trick or treating this year, as it was the first day back at school and a certain 4 year old was exhausted. We did apple bobbing, and I got the face paints out. And the girls and R had a go at carving a pumpkin at the weekend ...I was quite impressed - better than last years anyway!

Impressed that is until I saw this beauty! Rex from Toy Story and some of the little aliens. Apparently there were 5 of the aliens in the morning, but the lady who made them reversed out of her drive, forgetting that they were there....oops.

 
I now have a severe case of pumpkin envy. I think next year maybe I should have a go. However, whilst the others were busy I did get some time to make some lovely silver lily earrings like these, for a custom order.