GIVEAWAY!!!!!!! CUTE APRON

One of my first one off vintage style aprons I made, I am going to do a giveaway on 1st July (in 2 days!!). Just post a reply to this post saying anything and all those names on the list will be put into a hat and first one picked gets the apron.

Although you cannot see clearly in the photo the top and all around the edge the apron is trimmed in a pale pink bias binding with designer butterfly linen fabric pocket, and in a grassy green heavy cotton fabric, finished with extra extra long pink ribbon ties.

SUMMERTIME IS HERE!!!!

SILKY PRUDANCE http://www.folksy.com/items/43569-Beaded-Jug-Cover-Chilli-Pepper?shop=yes

STITCH SCRIBLER

http://www.folksy.com/items/43091-Two-Jolly-Lolly-Pins-Red-Lolly-Yellow-Lolly-?shop=yes

TAMSYN G

http://www.folksy.com/items/44193

MIX UP DOLLY

http://www.folksy.com/items/24149

In celebration of the wonderful weather we are having, I found these jug covers from silky Prudence first in Misi, but she is also selling them in folksy, they make me want to go and change the whole colour scheme of my house!

Couldn't be without a couple of ice lollies! Zingy doughnuts (doesn't everybody think of food!)

And what a wonderful statement piece of jewellery, from Tamsyn G worn with a white kaftan or strapless white beach dress, flip flops and pimms on ice.............. palm trees swaying in the wind and white sand in your toes.

I'VE BEEN NAUGHTY

Just when I think I am starting to get money in, I then cannot resist the urge to spent it!

I bid on this lovely little woven basket on the made4aid (link on the left) and won. http://made-4-aid.blogspot.com/2009/06/box-woven-recycled-basket.html

It turned up this morning and it is so cute, I have placed it in the hallway and am contemplating what to use it for, the sunglasses that just get dumped anywhere, or lavender or 3 tall tee light holders so the bag glows from within at night (this ides is my favorite).

I am sending of Olive the Owl coffee cosy to be auctioned on made4aid, so I look forward to seeing if she gets in any bids!

I am now off to the beach with my factor 30 and I am jumping in the sea! (OK stepping getting to old to go jumping).

Kx

PERSONALISED APPLIQUE NAME PILLOW

http://www.folksy.com/shops/BABYBLONDEDESIGN

This time in blue to make the boys wink! 10" customed cushion, I will also get around to making these in 16"! I have used Laura Ashley ginham on the back, but will have selection for people to choose from.

PERSONALISED APPLIQUE NAME PILLOW

I have made these pillows so they can be customised by the client. This pillow measures 10x10. I can do 6 letters comfortably - this one have 5 but the M takes up huge amount of space. I can add more, they will just be smaller in size. Less letters will be larger in size. I have used a white cotton calico for the front and a nice assortment of designer fabrics for the applique letters and for the back of the pillow Laura Ashley pink spot. The back of the pillow opens so that you can remove the pillow insert to wash.
I will have other colors available Laura Ashley Green spot and Laura Ashley baby blue spot - just need to get making to give people an idea.

SOCK CREATURES MAKE ME SMILE

HOTDOG AND ME

WIDGET AND FRIENDS

ODDSOX

If only I could give a home to every sock I find in folksy! but then again that could be a challenge.......any if anybody asks what do you collect, homless sock bunnies, monkeys and dogs!

LARGE SKULL N CROSSBONES CUSHION VERSION 2!

ROUND TWO

Just finished a custom order for the second time, as I produced it the first time around in white instead of chocolate brown. I'm quite liking it, sad to see it go as it is being packed off to America.

Kx

IS THE DEATH OF BRITISH CRAFT MARKETS?

I am wondering if anybody makes money at craft fairs and if they do, where in the country they live and the type of prices they pay for a stall.
I just attempted what I thought would be a great family day out, which it was, at Herstmonceux Castle in East Sussex where there was a Antique, craft fair plus boot sale along with kids rides and live bands etc.
The Stall cost £40.00 and I made £28.00! With a loss of £12.00 before coffee and fuel. Three weeks ago I did a smaller craft fair for £20.00 where only 6 customers walked through the door, needless to say nobody made any money. And previous to that a very very large £150 two day stall in Brentwood Essex I made £25.00, with the loss of £150.00 plus fuel.
Talking to everybody else trying out all the different craft fairs or summer events, even food fairs are saying the same, nobody is covering their costs with the odd exception of the jewellery stalls just covering their money. Most people seem to have tried 3 -4 fairs at the most, because I am guessing, the crafter's cannot afford to keep on paying the money out with no return
I price my items cheaper at the fairs in the hope of bagging a sale on something like a cushion, and today as of all the markets I have done, the children want and love the skull n cross bone cushions but the parents say at £10.00 they at too expensive. I would love for them to try and buy the infill, fabrics and have change of £10.00 before they have attempted to sew it together.
Maybe I have just hit a low point and have lost all faith in British people buying British, especially as they seem to be banging on about it on the TV! People would rather go to Tesco buy their Matching aprons for under £5, made in India, (Baring in mind I put my half aprons down to £5). and then pop to Next for a £12.00 run of the mill cushion, made in China.
If British people don't support those crafter's out there, then there will be no crafter's, no craft markets, Christmas markets, no 'buying British' because people will just give up.
Moan over!!
Kx

CUSTOM LISTING LARGE SKULL N CROSSBONES CUSHION

Just finished a custom order being packed off to America, to match a little boys room which has blue bedding and orange and lime skull's, so it was a nice challenge to find some fabric in oranges and limes with a hint of blue and brown but that was not girlie!
I would love more custom orders like this...
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=26700407

DOES ANYBODY ELSE HAVE THESE PROBLEMS?! AFTER SEVERAL EMAILS AND SENDING PICS OF WHAT THE CUSHION WILL LOOK LIKE AND SAYING IT WILL BE LIKE MY OTHERS (NOTE ALL ARE IN WHITE), THAT SHE NOW WANTS IT IN CHOCOLATE BROWN, AND I DID ASK IF SHE HAD ANY PREFRENCES THAT I HAD NOT MENTIONED OR SHOWN........

KEEP THEM COMING

ETSY Custom orders seem to be the order of the day, and all of a sudden I feel like that just maybe I can make a small living out of my love for sewing.


I have a giant Pirate personalized cushion to make to send to America in oranges and limes.

A great customer in the UK asked for this retro Ollie to be made like one I sold on Etsy, and after bidding on eBay fabrics she likes wants another flower power retro one!

A customer from Germany after purchasing my red driftwood heart asked for a blue one and then a lavender baby to match.










She has now asked for as many driftwood hearts I can make! So last night Hubby and I beach combed and found only 3 pieces of wood worth using, but its a start, just need to go and fetch some more Laura Ashley fabric and get making..................

BIRD BAGS

I have had a couple of marathon sewing days and the first project was these three simple tote bags and applique birds!
My real aim for the tote bags is to sell cheap at the craft fairs and markets so I may make a profit and hopefully fingers crossed most people find the totes handy for the handbag.





Now I have done trees toes and bird bags (sorry my hubby things I have finally lost the plot!) I'll have to come up with another one to ryme with carrier, and all I can think of a cat, and I am not so sure, so if anybody else has a corny one, I am all ears!!






http://www.folksy.com/shops/blondedesign

IF I WERE A CAT..............

www. TheGlamorousCat.etsy.com

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=7264322

I normally try to be a loyal to folksy as much as possible but found this Etsy seller from East Sussex selling Glam Cat Collars, now I don't have a cat but if I did it would have to be a girl and would have to wear one of these, although I could see hubby telling me .......


a) There is no way we are getting a cat


b) A dog comes first


c) What is that around its neck


d) Are you trying to hang it


e) I wouldn't be seen dead cuddling a cat with that on


f) As before I wouldn't cuddle a cat.


So if a cute little kitten came to live with us, I know that the answers to e & f would be incorrect, so maybe just maybe answers a, b could be wrong, OK I may have to convince him on answers c & d

Kx

HENERIETTA THE HEN DOORSTOP

Meet Henerietta, from blonde's back yard!

Heneritta is a doorstop by nature, but given the chance will happily cluck away where ever you put her to roost.

I am thinking of making a few more hens to add to the coup, let me know what you think.

BIRD TWEETS

As I am making some 'bird bags' I thought I would rummage through Folksy to see what other goodies people have used birds as thier inspration.
First shop is Prince Design UK, I love the bird bowls

http://www.folksy.com/items/33198-Pair-of-lovebird-bowls?shop=yes

Then Pipin Designs wonderful bright mobile.

http://www.folksy.com/items/18428

From Cute Designs this extra cute chick, makes me smile!

http://www.folksy.com/items/14292

And this little bird would love great sat on the edge of the fire place

http://www.folksy.com/items/40223

MY MILK TOOF

A wonderfully funny blog to follow!

http://mymilktoof.blogspot.com/

UCKFIELD ARTS, CRAFTS & GIFT MARKET 6TH JUNE

Just a note if anybody is in the area, Uckfield Civic Centre has a monthly Arts, Crafts & Gift market the first Saturday of each Month. From 10am to 2pm, next market this Saturday 6th June.



Uckfield Civic Centre
Uckfield
East Sussex
TN22 1AE

DRIFTWOOD HEART

For a while I have been meaning to become a beach scavenger, but now the weather is good, it gives me a great excuse to get looking for driftwood and stones with holes.

I collected a few bits from the beach at the weekend, although I am still finding it hard to get driftwood, it just does not wash up on the beach here in Eastbourne.

This is my first driftwood, stone and Laura Ashley gingham check heart, hope you like it!

GROWING MY OWN

Daisy & Poppy

My back yard is at the most 12ft x 12ft and I dream if having a smallholding selling chilli's and all thing's garlic and chili!
Chili

This year I have been fortunate enough to spend time using every square inch to grow my flowers and veg from seed.

During the cold months the dining room became the greenhouse, and was hoping all the seeds survived so I could also sell the unwanted plants down at the boot fair, but as it was my first real year at trying I only had a few spare plants to giveaway.

English Lavender

The two easiest plants I found to take cutting from were the fuchsia and the English Lavender, so from one of each plants I grew 10 of each, gave away half and still have plenty in my back yard! So at the end of this year will take cuttings again and this time tons more so I can sell the baby plants next spring. I am also going to attempt to make lavender bath bombs for Christmas prezzies, I got the idea from a book I got for my Birthday last week 'Grow your own Drugs' by James Wong, which contains all good stuff like chili heat rub for cold feet.

Egg Plant

One plant I enjoy growing from seed is the chili plant and have around 10 dotted around and will be attempting sweet chili sauce soon, I will try out a couple of recipes and then pass it on.

I have over 20 tomato plants yielding 3 types of tomato, a baby yellow Tom, baby sweet million and a large red which I can't remember the name of, but give it another month and I will not be buying tomato's for the rest of the year! I have a feeling I will be giving them away.

Tomoto Plants

From my one Sunflower last year I took the seeds and planted and managed to grow around 15, 5 the slugs got first! I have keep 3 and the others gave to my niece, nephew and friends children.

This year I will put some in recipes and then replant more for next year to sell.

Pea & Beans

As the space is small I have only one cucumber plant and one Egg Plant, again the cucumber should keep 2 of us going through the summer months. I know you must think there cant be any more space left but up on fence I am growing peas and french beans, and I am so pleased the peas are already showing and the other half (although shy of cooking normally) wants to make a pea salad with the first yield ?! So if anybody can come up with a bacon and pea salad let me know!

I also brought a mini portable greenhouse thingy and now sits against the wall with three shelves, one holding some of the tomato and chili plants another beetroot in their own pots, which I will pickle the excess and three type of lettuce/watercress, which I am hoping can last most of the summer although I still have tons of seed and another empty shelf so will plant a few more in a couple of weeks.

BEETROOT

Almost forgot although not pretty to look at in a pot I am growing sweetcorn so hope to pick in time for the last of BBQ weather.