Treats.....

I promise to keep this first paragraph short, but I just have to set the scene.... last week, as I briefly mentioned, I stupidly managed to pour boiling water down my leg, which meant I had massive blisters and have spent the last two weeks going to the hospital every other day to have the wound dressed... (yuk!) So, by yesterday, when my leg was feeling really sore, having to take antibiotics because one of the blisters is infected and my sewing machine decided to breakdown (for those of you in the know, this feels like you've lost your right arm....) I was feeling pretty worn down and in need of some TLC....

Before I tell you of the lovely treats that came my way to make me feel so much better, I'll show you what I managed to make before my sewing machine decided to give up....

Beach huts were the theme this week.....

Lovely big cushions....

... that button up down the back....

Small cushions will diddy beach huts.....

More buttons up the back....

... and beach hut bags.....

... with stripy lining and handles.....

... rows of jolly beach huts.....

and gingham pockets....

Bag two.... Slightly bigger

... with plain lining and stripy pocket...

These bags and cushions make me feel really summery and happy... I just love all the stripes and spots... gorgeous (even though I do say so myself!)

I'm thinking that I might make some beach hut badges... what do you think?

*****************************************************

So, back to my day or two of treats......

Firstly, I met a friend for a coffee at the cafe at Berry Pomeroy Castle... I will take my camera next time as it's a lovely little cafe... flowers in cups and saucers... dresser with lovely goodies on it, open fire... can you picture it?? ... where we had coffee and yummy cake (shhhhh, don't tell everyone!). On arriving back at China Blue to do some work (thought I ought to) my lovely mum suddenly appeared from nowhere... what a lovely surprise! I was then bought a delicious lunch ( shhhh.. don't tell anyone!) and had some 'mummy' time (doesn't matter how old you get, there are times when only a mummy will do)! We spent some time soaking up the sun and nattering before I really had to do some work... jewellery making this time as I'm waiting to take my sewing machine to the sewing machine mending man! As well as bringing her lovely self, my mum also brought me down her sewing machine for me to borrow till mine is mended.... this is perfect, as I have a wedding dress to make next week! GULP!

Once mum had left, I was presented with this lovely gift......

... from the staff at China Blue who came to the freebie jewellery making taster session last week as a thank you because they had had a fantastic time and really enjoyed themselves.... wasn't that kind of them? I was so bowled over... awwwww!

And that's not all folks...... remember this post.... and the ladies who were having a long weekend away... who bought the necklace from around my neck??? Well, they sought me out today and popped into China Blue, especially to see me... oh, and my work!!! Guess what....... yes, you've guessed it, they bought the necklace from around my neck... again, and then another and another... I began to wonder if I'd be left one to wear today! It was so lovely to see them all and I felt so privileged that they especially wanted to see me and my jewellery... thanks ladies... hope to see you next year, keep in touch xxxxx

And now, I'm off to a friends for supper (oh and some wine... shhhhh! Don't tell anyone!) As you can see, I've had a couple of days filled with many small treats that have gone towards making me feel so much better.

I hope your bank holiday weekend and half term are filled with many treats too.

Lots of love xxxxxxx

Puppy love and lollipops

This will come as quite a surprise to those of you who know me.... I have made two new gorgeous bags with dogs on!!!! I'm really sorry but I am not at all a 'doggy' person, however, I absolutely fell in love with this new print from Clarke and Clarke ......

Here is bag number one, made from a vintage blanket and this lovely print..... (note to self... must try to find more of this yummy fabric)!

Scottie applique made from some dyed vintage blanket... ahhhh!

Button detail....

Stripy pocket for your mobile or lippy etc......

Puppy love bag number two... Made using a dyed vintage blanket with ribbon and button detail...

I think this one is my favourite of the two... what do you think?

Button detail with puppy applique

Stripy, patchy pocket....

Ta Dah... just showing off now!

Remember the pink lollipop bag that I showed you here? Well, that bag has sold and so I have made another one but in purple now.... I simply adore this design!

Swirly, , buttony goodness....

Ok, not a lollipop or puppy bag, but still scrummy all the same.....

Button and ribbon detail....

Patchy pocket goodness....

The colours of this bag remind me of those gorgeous heathers that grow over Dartmoor all year round... beautiful...

Large lollipop bag..... Just right for shopping and everyday use...

Round and round we go.....

Spotty pocket.......

Just to let you know that if you would like one of these bags for your very own self, they will be available to buy on etsy very soon... or you can email me NOW and I will reserve it for you..... go on, don't leave it too late, they are flying out!

***************************************************

On another note.... I had a daunting task to do today.... remember the old rule... measure and check 101 times, cut once?? Well, I have measured and checked 1001 times and have now cut the very expensive fabric..... I hope my customer likes it....

More to come as the dress progresses.

*********************************************

On April 17th I am going to be running an all day jewellery making workshop. You will have the opportunity to make several pieces of jewellery, learn lots of new skills as well as having a homemade lunch, endless tea and coffee and scrumptious homemade biscuits to much on during the day.... what more could you ask?

Interested?? Email me for more information.. it would be lovely to see you and have some fun together!

The sun has just started peeking through here.... it's beautiful... I love to see Spring springing... yellow daffy-down-dillys nodding their heads, bright primroses and the promise of more to come as my tulips are at long last beginning to dare to peek through the soil.

Have a lovely evening

Lots of love xxxx

A First....

Great news.. oooo, sorry I forgot myself in my excitement... how are you? Have you been having a lovely week?

My week has been busy but also very exciting. There is a momentous event happening in this household over the weekend and so most of my attention for the week has been taken up with that....I will tell you more when it's all over... just incase a certain someone takes a peek before the BIG day!

The other really, really exciting news is that I had my FIRST sale in my Etsy shop this week... I was beginning to lose hope and give up with ever selling anything on line... I was so excited, I had to wrap and label the parcel immediately and then couldn't sit still for ages... too much excitement running through me... someone actually thought my products were good enough to buy! Yay, yippee... *hoppity skip* !!!!

Would you like to see what I sold?...... am I allowed to blow my own trumpet???... Just for one quick moment??? Please?? Ok, here goes.....

... a gorgeous bag made with some recycled, dyed blanket and this fantastic chicken print.. I love it!

Well it seems that I'm not the only one who loves it because the customer has been in touch today and ordered ANOTHER one for her friend who has also fallen in love with it... *hoppity, hoppity, hoppity skip*!!!!!

So, if you're thinking that you might like to snap up one of these too, here is a peek at the other items that I have listed this week .....

I'm calling this one 'Pink lollipop bag'

I really love the squirly applique design and am thinking that I might look into having some Moo cards printed with this design on... what do you think? Have you ever had any of these cards?

Spotty heart bag.....

Pink heart bag...

Pink sunflower cushion....

Ribbon flower detail

Spring flower cushion....

Applique flower detail

More cushion loveliness..... the beach hut cushion has also been sold this week and will be winging it's way to America soon.

Find out more about these products here

By the way, did you notice a certain someone trying to get into the pictures on this post... have a close look and I will show you more next time....

TTFN xx

LUSH!!!

I have such a feast for your eyes today... I suggest you make that cuppa that you've been promising yourself all day and be prepared to enter a world of colour, texture, creativity and talent......

Last Monday I set off early on a long journey to the foot of the beautiful Malvern Hills.....

...... to spend some time with the wonderful Julie of....

This has been a long time desire of mine... to have a go at lampwork bead making... I have been very nervous about booking up a course, but when I came across Julie's amazing work I knew that she was the one that I wanted to have lessons with... her beads are SO inspirational, the colours are zingy, fresh and exciting and I couldn't wait to get started.

Julie's 'studio' is fondly known as the 'Torch Porch'..... yes, that's right, it's in her porch and here it is......

It's actually the perfect space for bead making... very cosy and full of light!

Just look at these shelves full of pots of coloured glass... yummy! It makes my heart flutter just to see them all waiting to be melted into something beautiful....

I think they look like coloured knitting needles... what do you think?

Well, I really needn't have worried... Julie is a brilliant teacher... very patient, really clear and extremely encouraging. We began by talking about all the safety issues, information about the different kinds of glass that can be used and using the dual fuel torches. Then Julie demonstrated how to make a basic glass bead... next it was my turn.. eeek! I was shaking so much that I thought that I'd never get the hang of it. It's very much like learning to drive. When you begin you wonder how you will ever be able to check mirrors, indicate, pull away, steer etc... all at the same time but eventually it's all second nature! With bead making you have to turn a mandrel in your left hand whilst watching the glass melting in your right, at the same time as checking your flame and then trying to put the melted glass onto the mandrel in as neat a way as possible!!

Here is the expert at work.....

... applying dots..... mine weren't nearly as even as these....

.... melting the dots to the bead so that they lie flat....

A beautiful daisy made by Julie. I had a go at this and was fairly successful but definitely need more practice.

The first day just whizzed by.... I couldn't believe what we achieved and how the time just flew. It was such a brilliant day.. so good to have some input from such an inspirational person, and brilliant to be learning a new skill.... Hmmmmm.. now where could I set this up at home????

Here we are... Ta Dah.... these are the beads that I made during my two days with Julie... not bad for a first attempt? Can you tell how proud I am of them????

If you are now longing to have a go, you must go and visit Julie... you will not be disappointed, in fact, you will be so inspired and amazed at what you achieve.... go on, you know you want to....

.... and if that doesn't convince you, take a look at these.... they are sure to get your heart beat racing....

Sunbaked beads... just look at those colours... aren't they scrumptious?

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Sunspots beads

Heart trios

Stonebaked beads

Rolling stones

A stunning focal bead

Now... don't you want to have a go? If you don't fancy making the beads yourself, you can buy the beads directly from Julie, either on her website or her Etsy shop.

As a little Thank you to Julie I set to on my faithful sewing machine.....

.... Cutting out small pieces of fabric and appliquéing these to some of my dyed blanket fabric...

.... embellishing with seed beads....

... french knots and silver wire to make it look like some of the beads that we made....

Thank you so, so much Julie, I had an amazing couple of days and am truely inspired.