Fingers Crossed and Forward Planning

Calico the Pig gets a winter makeover

I thought it was about time to do a post Christmas blog post. I've returned from spending time with my family to my humble little flat. Needless to say there was a momentary blip in the good mood on stepping back in the flat, but then I just have to remind myself that this is the last December in it. 

I have to be utterly honest I am  going to be awfully glad to see the back of 2012, sure there have been some great turning points but there was also a lot of rubbish too. So I want to sweep that all away and crack on with 2013. I am a firm believer that it's going to be a good year not just for me but for friends and family. I know some lovely folks that deserve a break and I think it will happen. 

Fingers crossed.

So now that I am back in the flat and surrounded by my materials, my lovely gifts I have received have been put away and the washing has made it to the basket (housework can wait one more day). I can start working out my plans for next year. I have some big things to sort out to do with making this a business and I also have in my mind designs. And for the next few days I can at least start working on the latter. The shop isn't opening back up till the 14th Jan, perhaps a little later, so I have the time to work on the designs and make samples. Also have some research to do for packaging. Next month I will also have in my mitts a handmade stamp for me to make my own fabric labels. 

Who else is going to be glad to see the back of 2012? What your plans for 2013, hopes and wishes? 

Yummy treats made for friends and family.

Finished Commission

Whilst I come too from a cold and wet day at the More London Christmas Market yesterday, I wanted to take a moment to drink a cuppa and show off one my latest commission pieces. You might remember my post the other day of the piece in progress, but I wanted to show you it complete. I am so utterly thrilled with the finish, that next year commissioned decorations will be offered. It is a little too late to be able to do more this year, but they will be back. Opportunity to order will be available over the year, because whilst this one is for Christmas it can easily be adapted for other occasions. 

Its been stitched in Trailing, which as you know is my favourite stitch and on the back it has been stitched in Back stitch (rather apt). Swarovski crystals were used to adorn it, and to embellish the 'i'. 

Very tactile and yummy.

Christmas fair's have come to an end for me this year, I am now starting to look to 2013, and where I go from here. New designs are a foot and actually approaching people to stock my work. Big step for me, but I am up for a challenge, think getting my foot on the property ladder has certainly spurred me on!

Change in Plans and Commissions

So another week comes to a conclusion and with it has brought more exciting things. Now originally I had thought that now till Christmas it was going to be a lot quieter for me, I could sit and work on the few commissions I had and start researching new ideas for 2013...And whilst I have been working on the commissions, such as this lovely personalised Christmas gift.

I do love a bit of trailing, actually I love it a lot which is why the whole thing ended up in the stitch. 

I've got myself involved with another fair, this is what happens when you go and see some dear friends. Have a chat and get roped in. So this Thursday and Friday you will get another opportunity to purchase my items before Christmas in person. Sure it's going to be a little bit on the chilly side but there is going to be mulled cider! What more can you want? Actually the Thursday I won't be there in person, my dear friend Anna  Stassen (http://sakurajewellery.com) will be holding the fort whilst I am at work. Then on Friday I will be coming up to man my stall. So come along and say hello!

I shall be taking majority of my clocks, collars and all my cute little pieces like my very last button needlecases, baubles and mirrors as well. Ideal stocking fillers! After this event my store will be going into hibernation mode for the winter, tucked up in a cozy bed, so that I can get myself ready for Christmas, and yes you guessed it working on the commissions. 

Nice and quiet....yeah.

Commission Time Makes for Dull Posting

There was me thinking that this month was going to be, following the craftshow, rather quiet. Ha, perhaps not. I have several commissions to work on and another agreed on today. All of which I am rather looking forward to working on, although technically I am working on one at the moment and I am loving it. I have a collar, various buttons to embroidered and monogram, decoration and a wedding gift to sort out. Just as well I have a long weekend coming up and I have eased back on the making stock.

I shall hopefully have some progress shots to show this weekend. Lord knows it would be good to show you lot what I am talking about, being a secret squirrel certainly can make for dull reading!

So following that I thought I would end on one of my recent faves on Etsy:

Red White Blue Airmail Stripes Gift Wrap Kit / Address Labels / Washi Tape / Eiffel Tower Postmark Kraft Round Stickers / Baker's Twine - Once Upon Supplies

I am a sucker for stationery...

Success & Exciting Times

Normal service is finally starting to resume. Yesterday I was showing my lovely stash at the We Make London Arts & Crafts fair at Battersea Arts Centre, and it went rather well! Whilst I didn't sell a huge amount, what I did sell I felt extremely pleased with as it included the new items the peter pan collars, one of which was the Buzzing Bee's design which means I can start to donate to the BBKA. The only thing I think I should have done was to leave the pattern at home and instead brought more of the clocks, especially the earlier pieces. But you live and you learn. 

After getting over the initial nerves of talking to people, I thoroughly enjoyed talking to other sellers and potential buyers and it was helped along with a bit of a giggle from my dear friend Angela who very kindly modelled one of my collar designs, which helped show them off to people who were looking at them on the table. 

I am however, glad to have a bit of a break from thinking about the fair, though it has sparked several billion ideas for 2013. Great things are coming. I have other things to think on, I am moving soon. Bit of a relief I can't tell you and this is a big step, on the property ladder which has seen me look like a startled rabbit these past few days, only because I didn't think that would ever happen let alone now. 

So I will  be moving at some point to a beautiful two bedroom flat, yes two bedrooms. 

You know what this means....

A STUDIO

Oh and somewhere friends can crash...but...

I WILL HAVE MY VERY OWN STUDIO!!

Yep, totally over the top excited about this. My own space to spread and have everything in one place. A place I can shut the door on. I already have a colour in mind for the room. I know jumping a head but its hard not to think about how you want to decorate, and this is the first time I have been able to do it properly. 

So there might be a bit of a disruption in the near future with blog, website and shop but I'll keep you lovely folks updated. In the meantime, my store is back up and running and there is a few new bits of stock just added.

For now I crash.