No idea

I was asked today by someone when my Christmas cards will be finished as her sister in Australia wants some! That is of course great, but also makes me go eeek!

I have been really struggling with ideas for Christmas Cards this year. I am working on some felt tree's similar to the decoratutions I have made, I have a pile made up and they just need attaching to cards and deciding if they need some kind of back ground.

But I also like to make Christmas cards that are quicker to produce, as I think people don't tent to spend as much on Christmas cards as they do on normal cards, so I like to do some more costs effective options as my felt christmas tree's do take a while to make.

The last few years this has involved lino printed cards and printed cards based on some of my illustrations. I try and do something different each year, but this year I am struggling I am sure something will come to me and normally a little pressure helps.

Standard Lamp

For a while I have been looking for a traditional style wooden standard lamp. I live in a 1930's house and have a wood panelled hall way featuring some gorgeous flying ducks, so I thought it would look good.

I finally found one in a charity shop the other week and swiftly set about re-vamping the shade. I choose some gorgeous Anna Marie Horner fabric (Baby Bouquet Meadow) from her Little Folks Collections. Its a lovely soft fabric and think I will be getting some more as it feels so nice and is probably slightly wasted on a lampshade.

As the fabric is quite thin I decided to keep the fabric of the original white shade and cover over it. I created a template of one of the shade panels, then cut out the 8 fabric panels with a 1cm or so seam allowance and then sewed them all together.

I then got my trusty glue gun and glue the top and bottom of the cover to the shade. I then attached turquoise ribbon to the top, turquoise pom pom fringe to the bottom and added a flower.

I must say it was surprisingly easy and it all fitted together really well. I don't get chance to make things for myself very often, so its a nice feeling when I do,

Production Line

I can't believe its almost October already, its so scary as I am running out of weekends before Christmas fair season, so this weekend, I started a bit of a draught excluder can't believe its almost October already, its so scary as I am running out of weekends before Christmas fair season, so this weekend, I started a bit of a draught excluder production line. I wasn't sure if I should make any of these, as they don't really go with my new work, but they were my biggest seller last years and they are fun to make, so I thought why not. I now have this pile waiting to be stuffed and to have eyes added. I can't wait to see them all together.

From The Wilde

I have some very exciting news. I am now selling some of my work through From The Wilde. If you have not seen this site you should certainly check it out as its full of some wonderful things and I feel really proud to be part of something so lovely.

I only have a few items listed at the moment as I am still working on my photo's, but I hope this will be added to over the next week or so. Here is the link to my work.

My Dream Dress

I am a big fan of Orla Kiely, I love her prints and I am lucky enough to own a few of bits. I should really stop looking at her website as its too much temptation, but the other day I saw this dress and have fallen completely in love with it. Its absolutely gorgeous. I could never afford it, but if I win the lottery this weekend, I'm getting one!!

http://www.orlakiely.com/uk.cfm/Clothing/AW10%20Dresses/10AWFLV744/14609/Grey/14

Gotta speed it up and then slow it down

After a really productive few weeks, things have slowed up again. This is mostly due to life getting in the way and being busy with other things. But this week I am determined to get productive again and start getting some stock together ready for Christmas Fairs etc..

I have also signed up to sell with two online shops, but I will tell you more about this soon as nothing has been listed yet. First I need to take some better photographs of some of my work.

I know I have mentioned before that this is something I struggle with, but at the moment I have hit a bit of a brick wall and can't seem to get the type of shots I want. Part of this is whenever I seem to have some time available, its always too dark and the photo's are rubbish. Then its the setting. I ideally want some lifestyle type shots, so want to take photo's of my cushions in situation. I am finding this a bit tricky as all my chairs seem to be too light or dark or patterned, or not against a plain way and I can't seem to find the right place in my house. I am also struggling with making the cushion the main focus, but still having it in a setting. So I need to have yet another try, so I am hoping for early evening sunshine this week!

And on a rather exciting note, I have been featured on this lovely blog. http://charlottehupfieldceramics.blogspot.com

A collection

I have been working really hard over the past month or so to produce a range of items for my Pebble Range. I feel like I have finally got enough things together, although I think it will be added to over the next few weeks.

Its been an interesting experience, as I wanted to create pieces that I could re-produce and make several of. Up until now most of my work has been one off pieces, which although is good, does steer you down a certain route. It has meant I have had to look at material slightly differently, normally I just have a rummage through what I have and make something using the fabric or colours that take my eye. But its been a good!

Hand embroidery

I love hand embroidery, there is something really relaxing and satisfying about it. I love that you can curl up on the sofa and watch telly whilst doing it. So its great to have some hand sewing on the go, especially when most of my work at the moment is machine embroidery based, it nice to escape from that. Plus I am not very good a sitting sill unless I am doing something, so hand embroidery is perfect.

So in my bid to be more organised and to get ready for the Christmas Fairs I am doing, I have started making some felt Christmas tree decorations. I have really enjoyed making these as I get to choose lots of bright colours and add buttons and patterns. I am now starting to make cards in a similar style.

September

I can't believe its September already. Not sure where this year has gone. I had hoped that by September, I would have my work in more places, I would have more new work finished and would have a plan of what I need to make for the next few months. But sadly I am a little behind and I feel like September has well and truly crept up on me.

I do have several exciting things in the pipeline, which I hope to share soon, and I do have some Christmas fairs booked, so I suppose I haven't done too badly.

I think I need to write a big to do list and I perhaps need to set myself some goals. Although that never normally works as things always take much longer than you think. I also like going with my moods, rather than forcing myself to sew, when I want to make felt! But basically I think its time to get into production line mode!

Two colours

Its been a busy week this week, but sadly not very creative, work has been really busy, which is good as time goes quicker and would much rather be busy, but has meant I haven't had chance to do some of things I some times do at quiet moments.

Evenings have been taken up with stuff too, so haven't made anything this week.

Went to see the Low Anthem on Wednesday, they were great, I love going to gigs, but it been ages. Going to see Black Mountain in a couple of weeks as well. Very exciting.

But I have made some progress this, like stocking up on fabric, cushions pads, wadding and felting fibres and sketching out some new ideas for more cushions and hot water bottle covers. Although I am fairly pleased with the cushions I have made, I think some of them lack something. Maybe I am just not used to only using two colours, I often use as many as possible, but perhaps its a less is more thing. Maybe some of them look a bit flat. Not sure what it is, but its fine as I have loads of new ideas. I just need some time to make them, hopefully I will get more time next week.