plump pudding

New Stock

I did say that I have succumbed to the lure of the badge making machine and here is the evidence - well what is left after my customers at the Ladies Night bought badges.

I have put together single badges.  Each carded badge is £1.25 and if you would like a particular one, please mail me and I'll mark it as sold and send you out a Paypal invoice.  Postage is 50p per order regardless of how many badges you buy.

The badges are a mixture of vintage hand embroidered linen and illustrations from vintage children's books.

Here goes:
(please excuse the bad photos - I think my camera was having an off day)!

Badge 1: Skating Mouse

Badge 2 Bunny on Sledge: SOLD  Thanks!

Badge 3 Cowboy: SOLD Thanks!

Badge 4 Bathing Belle:

Badge 5:

Badge 6 Mr & Mrs Mouse: SOLD  Thanks!

Vintage Embroidered Linen  Badges:

I have photographed a few of these together to show you what they will look like as each one will be different, but they are still £1.25 per carded badge.

And just think if you indulge in some retail therapy/ Christmas shopping. you will be giving me the perfect excuse to make some more badges!

Don't forget the handmade Cornish Candles are selling out fast.  I now longer have any of the 85g candles left. 

I have four 185g candles priced at £6.50 per candle

and three remaining of a trio box set of 85g candles priced at £9.50 per box.

Postage is £2.50 per order.  So grab yourself a bargain before they sell out!

P.S. The candles come in a gift box tied with a ribbon - perfect for a gift.

Addicted to the badge machine

I have just come back from a Ladies Night at the village school, organised (for the first year) by a friend of mine.

As well as sales, it was a good opportunity for more villagers to see what I do and to tell the ones that missed my Christmas night what a fab night it was and to get them to remember it for next year.  In hindsight it would have been better for me to have put a photograph of me on the flyer with a big arrow pointing to it!  It was a  good night, which was just as well seeing as I missed Gordon Ramsey's kitchen nightmare - the only programme I actually sit and watch.

Before I packed for the evening, I finished off a badge order for Sarah to take to the school fair that she is doing this weekend.  A combination of boys and girls badges in paper and fabric.  Only a sneak peek - hope you're pleased Sarah.

Two market stall aprons which were commissioned by the ladies that were at my Christmas night.  After seeing me wear mine with such panache and style, they wanted one too.  No Pete Beale style aprons for me!  So if you are interested in having one made, please drop me a line. 

I also got a bit carried away with the badge machine (again) and ended making up more badges.  This time with vintage books.  I sold some tonight at the Ladies Night and have a few left.

I am thinking of putting a few up for sale tomorrow.  Would anyone be interested?

Post Mortem

I am relieved to say that my Christmas shopping night was a success - breathe out!  we had neighbours popping in, as well as friends and old customers. 

Nobody was rushed and either had a glass of mulled wine or a cup of tea - most opted for the mulled wine which meant the house smelt delicious!  But I forgot to take photos - sorry.

I am having a pre-Christmas sale and intend to start the new year with a clean slate. 

First off in my sale are Cornish Candles.

Not a great photo as it is pouring with rain and there is NO natural light whatsoever.

But the candles are gorgeous, they smell divine and burn for ages.  They are in glass jars and come in the presentation boxes pictured above. 

Here are the special prices:

85g           £4     were £7
195g         £8    were £12
Trio 85g    £10   were £17

Postage is £2 per order within the UK, regardless of whether you buy one candle or oodles of candles.  If you are outside the UK,  please mail me and I can calculate the postage.

The candles are on my website and I will be updating the prices later on today - but you can mail me for the candles you wish to purchase.  Stocks are limited, so send me an e-mail with your request.

Front of House

Tonight is the night of my Christmas Shopping Event.

The lounge is cleared out as is the dining room ready.  We are going to have two sellers per room.  I have placed the wooden table in the hall with business cards and a welcome sign on the door.

I think I am all ready.

The mulled wine and mince pies are waiting.  Just a quick hoover round and I am all set.

Don't forget if you are local, please pop in and say hello.  And if you don't want to come on your own, bring a friend.  The more the merrier!

Wish me luck!

Badges

After several months thinking, I took the plunge and my new toy arrived Friday.  And guess what I made with it?

Badges.  Each badge has been made using fabrics from my stash.

They are a combination of vintage fabrics and 1930s reproduction fabrics.

The badges are in a set of three and come mounted on a presentation card. 

Small enough to pop into a Christmas card and post.  Perfect for a stocking filler or even as a present to yourself.  Because you deserve it, don't you?

Best of all, they're here .

Tease

This is not a post about something that I have made today, but rather a post about something in the pipeline.  It's a project that I have been thinking of for the last few months and finally started it today.

It's something that doesn't involve these

And it doesn't involve this

But there is fabric involved: vintage and new fabrics

To find out what gets made, make sure you drop by the blog on Monday.  And if you like them, don't worry, they'll be up for sale.

Have a good weekend!

Steaming Ahead

After putting the parcel together for Chandlers at the Country Living Fair, I had the nexy day off.  Bliss.  I took some time out to tidy up the studio and sorted out the invites to my Christmas Night next Thursday (22 November).

I worked all day yesterday in Dinas Powys library and came home to an ansaphone message from Chandlers asking for more washing up liquid aprons as they were selling like the proverbial hotcakes!

So that's what I did last night and took them out the Post Office this morning.

I did have grand plans for today involving this fabric and making peg bags.  But it wasn't to be.  Instead I sent out a few more invites and photographed Christmas stock which was then mailed out to my stockists.  Plus trying to rustle up a few potential stockists.

And tonight I am off to a shopping evening at Roath Park School, Pen-y-wain Road.  So if anyone lives near there, please pop in and say hello!

A break in Proceedings

What a weekend.  As of two hours ago my parcel containing 48 tea cosies, 30 Cook's Aprons and 24 washing up liquid aprons went to the Post Office and will be arriving at the Country Living Fair tomorrow.  Guaranteed!  The parcel is for the lovely girls at Chandlers .

I dread to think what time I got to bed last night as I was determined not to look at the clock.  I have this cock eyed theory that if I don't know the time then I won't feel so tired.  And do you know what?  It works - for me at least!

So today I am having a day off from sewing and concentrating on making some flyers etc and posting the out.  Ready for my Christmas Night on 22 November.  Don't forget ladies - anyone who is near enough is more than welcome to drop in.

Friday evening was spent in Penarth.  I had a stall at a shopping evening for a local school.  (Excuse the photo - the light wasn't too good).  As well as my items I also took along Claire's cards, badges and fridge magnets.  Which always sell well.

One of the high points of the evening was having a stall opposite a lady that I recognised from September's issue of SHE magazine.  I recognised the company name and when I asked her whether she was the same lady- she was!

Don't worry, I did ask her whether I could put her photograph here.  She is called Jo and she has a company called Jo Bags making tote bags.

She is such a lovely lady and what a conicidence!

Pedal to the Metal

Thankfully (for me in terms of working) the boys went back to school yesterday and I could make a start on the huge pile of work waiting for me.  The one fly in the ointment was that somehow I had managed to mess up my overlocker and couldn't thread it back up again properly.

My saviour arrived in the form of the sewing machine repair man who lives pretty close.  He threaded i all back up again for me and gave me a few tips on how to use my industrial sewing machine. 

After everyone had been fed and watered and homework completed etc, it was back out to the studio to make a start.

My first task was to complete a wholesale order for a lady who makes and sells her own jewellery and also sells my items through house parties.  Apart from a break to come in and watch Coal House with the boys I spent all evening in the studio and completed the order.  It meant a late (for me) night, but I am so pleased to be able to cross that one of my list.

Next up is an order of 30 aprons for Chandlers to take to the Country Living Christmas Fair.  There are only two colourways: red polka dot and strawberry print. 

They are now all cut out: aprons and their pockets.  The pockets have been overlocked and next in line are the aprons.

I have a sneaking suspicion that tonight will be a late one as I am planning on posting them out tomorrow.  Wish me luck!

Enforced Absence

The internet has been playing up again and I have only just been able to get back on-line.

We have had an eventful week.  The Food and Drink Festival was a success.  I met up with some old customers and of course invited them to my Christmas Shopping Night (which is on the 22nd November) just in case you forget. 

I also met up with Jools and hubby.  So it was good to meet up with people and sell to real customers rather than shops. 

Stephen has been ill all week.  He has had a chest infection for the past 3-4 weeks that has not responded to antibiotics.  He spent Tuesday in hospital having tests and has to go back tomorrow for more tests and the results of the blood tests.

The boys are off school with half term and I have been trying to get some work done too.  And I know that halloween has been and gone, but I didn't get to post our pumpkin.

Ethan and I (mostly Ethan as it is his project) have been working on a model of a sperm cell.  A little giggling, on both parts, ensued after he opted for this model.  Apparently you get a higher grade if you do this one.

In between all the mayhem, I have managed to send out a second wholesale order to Robert at Mr and Mrs House . 

A lavender sachet off to it's new owner:

I have a shopping event at the end of thid week in Penarth and about 4 more wholesale orders to go out this week.  Thank goodness the boys are back in school tomorrow!