Accidental Vix

This week has definitely had it’s ups and downs, with plenty of hospital appointments along the way, luckily I’ve also had some creative times off set the trips to hospital. Most of my creativeness this week has been inspired by my mother-in-law’s fab cushions that are now featuring in my folksy and luula shops. So, you guessed it here are some of my latest cushions and it’s great to be creating ‘art’ with the sewing machine again. Watch this space for more making their way into my luulla and etsy shops soon.

Xx

As I’ve added some exciting new products to my shops including cot quilts and cushion covers by my mother-in-law my mind is over-flowing with ideas! This week’s Folksy new listing features this bright and cheery boat which will sail into any room to cheer it, and the owner up… if you haven’t guessed it yet this week’s theme is boats:

Buttons and stars – trio of driftwood boats (these are so cute, and remind me of days by the sea)

Kirsty Elson designs – boat collage greeting card (this is so clever)

The crafty little cottage – three little boats cushion (this is adorable, especially like the bunting too)

Gillian Bates – fishing boat post card (you know my love of textiles, and this completely captures the essence of the seaside, not to mention becoming one of my new fave shops!!)

Dark peak crafts – Mull fishing boats linocut print (the simplicity of this is lovely)

Off to finish sewing my latest cushion cover!

Xx

This is dedicated to my fabulous hubby today, but rather than go for the usual pink and red hearts I’ve chosen my fave apple items from my fave handmade shops luulla, folksy and etsy:

Ayarina – Green apple clay buttons (I have a growing collection of buttons and these would fit in nicely)

Woolly duck – Felt green apple (this looks good enough to eat)

Sketch Inc - Geometric brooch (love the combination of organically shaped apple with geometric pattern)

Off to spend time with my husband, the apple of my eye! Happy Valentine’s Day

Xx

As I’m in Florida at the moment, it involves lots of fresh fruit… yummy! I’m going to choose my favourite item from the 3 handmade sites I sell on throughout this week to keep you entertained whilst I’m away, and the first theme is fruit…

Soap much love – Strawberry spice soap (mmmmm… I can almost smell this through my screen!)

Henrietta and Morty – Pineapple cushion (This would brighten any home and leave your mouth watering)

Skull and cross buns – Apple stamp (this is one of my absolute fave shops, and I’d buy everything in it if I could)

Have a good weekend

Xx

No-one can deny that it is freezing in the UK at the moment, admittedly it’s not -40 but more than cold enough for me, especially as I’m not able to move round much, my bones don’t like the cold and my poor circulation with my diabetes doesn’t help. As I sit here on the sofa in my many layers, covered in blankets and snuggled up to the hot water bottle I am dreaming of this time next week when we will be preparing to head to Florida and the sunshine. So, what better to do than pick my fave sunny and bright Folksy finds:

Lilley’s – Yellow ninja keyring (this cheery ninja makes me smile despite the cold)

Hooperhart - Yellow rossette (This looks like a happy sunshine)

Jessie G – Tapestry cushion cover (Absolutely love these colours, and Jess gave us an amazing cushion with a similar pattern for our wedding which is brightens up our flat every day)

Laura Potter ceramics - Sunny yellow ceramic buttons (These would brighten up any outfit… I’m thinking one of my coats)

Lydia Crook - You are my sunshine card (love the simplicity of this cheery card)

The rainbow room - Hanging felt hearts (where there’s a rainbow there’s sunshine)

My own new makes this week have been quite sunny too, they’re currently in my etsy shop, but I’m working on new designs for my Folksy shop.

Have a fab weekend,

Xx

I’ve decided that my time might be more productive if I do tasks in bulk, so I spent a good day just cutting out patterns from my stack of fabric which was also more economical with the fabric as I could get as many patterns out as possible but also highlights which colours I’m running low on (yes with my fabric obsession it’s difficult to imagine me running out of any fabric!) Now time to start sewing, so if there are any colour requests before they start going into my shops then please let me know.

Xx

Well apart from it being Friday, it’s a special Folksy Friday today as I’m also using it to do my Folksy Finds Handmade Love. All of today’s picks are chosen with the theme ‘made for you’ as I love my husband to bits and in our first year of marriage I always try to make an effort and create him things that are personal to both of us, especially after his Folksy proposal! As it’s a leap year today’s picks are all wedding and engagement related as I wonder how many ladies will take this opportunity to propose:

Made with Love x – Personalised notebook (these notebooks have played such a big part in our life and engagement that it’s at the top of the list)

Old black hen vintage – Floral and lace wedding book (this could make a great guest book but in my opinion an even better wedding planning book, why not use it to think up some proposal ideas ladies?!)

The leaf press – Personalised wedding journal (every bride needs a wedding book, mine was actually the proposal and is bursting at the seams now)

Joy Nevada - Personalised salt and pepper shakers (I can just imagine the proposal – will you pass the salt please darling…)

xx Bags of love - Shabby chic personalised engagement picture (After my own engagement I would encourage anybody to use handmade items in their proposal, and you can keep it forever)

Ink and stylus - The dressing room (this is such a gorgeous and romantic style of illustration)

Zygotegifts – Valentines card (Although unfortunately some of our hearts were misplaced on the day we had some of the 30 newspaper hearts hanging from our pom poms, and BB even made it to our wedding to see them for herself)

Morning Mr Magpie - Cutout heart necklace (This is beautiful and similar to the necklace I commissioned Sal to make to match my bridal earrings)

Artisan silver – Valentines silver necklace (Traceyann made all of my bridesmaids necklaces and personalised them)

Dottie designs - Personalised guest book (If I hadn’t made a message tree canvas for our ‘guest book’ I would have def got a book from Dottie)

Quernus crafts - Love mouse couple (These are too cute for words, they look like a couple who are announcing their engagement!)

Beadazzle designs – Wedding kiss guest book (Love the fun nature of this, and the fact that no 2 are the same)

Imogen’s Imagination - Ivory small fascinator (Sophie made all mine and my bridesmaids’ hats and fascinators, and this one was worn at my hen do)

Atelier 22 - Wedding/engagement card (Love screen printing and the vibrancy of this is perfect for anybody)

Geneva silver – Eco Bridal Bouquet (I made felt flowers for our wedding but these paper ones are fab)

Wall envy art – Personalised wedding vintage book page (Beautiful personalised momento)

By Poppy with love – ‘I DO’print (Beautifully simple, and reminds me of my own ‘I do’ moment last year)

Artyadz - The best is yet to come print (This one’s for my fantastic husband, we’ve had such much bad luck in our first year of marriage but I truly believe the best is yet to come!)

I’m off to reminisce and look at our wedding photos now

Xx

I’m somehow managing to keep up with my blogboost challenge this month but thought it was time to feature Folksy as Luulla has been taking the spotlight so far! As I’m definitely feeling blue at the moment that has to be today’s theme for my first folksy Friday in a while:

Handmade by Anna Cole – Stripey blue heart (Love the fabric combination here, and it is nearly Valentines Day)

Purrfect Designs – Blue Cat (how can he not make you smile?)

Lou Tonkin Artist – Blue Tit (You will all know my love of textiles by now and this really is beautiful)

Gemma Austen Art – Blue characters (I get completely engrossed in this, and means I can ‘lose myself’ for a bit)

Elephant Blossom Glass – Blue tweets (these are so adorable)

Hannah Madden – Blue Swans (Block printing has to be one of my fave techniques and again this is gorgeous for Valentines Day)

Ok, no time to feel sorry for myself must get some fabric out – might be time for a blue hat!

Have a great weekend

Xx

Let’s start with Happy New Year! New year, new aspirations and new challenges lie ahead so here’s my first adventure (notice it’s not a ‘resolution’) to write the equivalent of one blog each day in January inspired by a tweet about #blogboost from Creativesque. Admittedly I’ve missed the first 2 days so will have to catch up, but it’s been a not-so-easy start to the year with getting ill on New Years Eve and then the long battle to get back to London from Yorkshire on crutches yesterday but now I’m back there’s no excuses.

I guess it’s customary to think at this time of year about new business adventures and what you want from the year ahead but one step at a time for me. The first thing on my January ‘to-do-list’ is to get more views and sales to my folksy, etsy and luulla shops (more about Luulla later this week.) In order to do that I need to start thinking about making enough stock for all 3 shops, and there are plenty of ideas spinning through my head, but the first is to think about adult slippers as an addition my baby booties. Here is my first festive adult pair of elf shoes for my sister-in-law this Christmas following on from a custom request for baby elf shoes, but don’t worry there will be some more mainstream designs on the way so watch this space!

Xx

Well, I’ve done it… Plucked up the courage to list my baby booties, and the stock that I currently have is now officially for sale on Folksy and a few on Etsy! I know it’s taken me a while but I was hoping for more of my feedback forms to have been sent back by now, but based on the feedback so far this is my new range in time for Christmas. Please feel free to contact me if there are any custom requests (already had a fab request for elf shoes.) I’m happy to make to specific size requirements or if you have seen a particular fabric in a different size please just message me.

As I can’t use the sewing machine until my hip is much better I’m off to do some sewing and planning the next sewn challenges. Have a great weekend, especially if you are at any Christmas markets/fairs.

Xx