Too much to do...

... I don't know whether I am coming or going this week.

It has been super duper manic.

I starting chopping some of this

Into squares in readiness for my needle books.

To make the pages lovely and thick I am sewing two sheets of felt together for each page which means it is time consuming.  All the white ones have been done, just the coloured ones now and I also need to cut out some purple coloured ones.

I have cut out lots of felt and made embellishments ready for sewing onto notebooks (but I haven't taken pictures of those).

Today I bought 4 storage boxes (to add to god knows how many I already have).

My decorations are now neat and tidy and won't get squashed.

I tidied and done a stock take of Christmas decorations.

Still lots more to make.

I have made so many embellishments.  Haven't taken a pic of them all but what do you think of these little sheep?

I think he's quite sweet.  They will be for sale in the online shop and can be used for card making, scrap booking, sewing onto your own projects or anything else that takes your fancy.

I have ordered lots and lots of spools of ribbon in readiness to sell.  They are beautiful.

I have also ordered around 3,000 buttons to sell.

I can't wait to receive them so I can show you.

The remainder of my packaging has been ordered.  Only thing left now is bubble wrap!

I am now having a panic because:-

1.  Launch is on 25th November (5 weeks Fri) Yikes!

2.  Something very exciting may well be happening a few days later.  I cannot reveal what it is yet in case it doesn't go ahead but I am jumping up and down about it with a big grin!

3.  I have a craft fair on 8th December.

4.  I also have a craft fair on 10th December.

I have sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much to prepare I have got to the stage where I am now sitting looking at all I have to do rather than just getting on with it cos I am in panic mode.

To top it all off I also have a 4 yr old home from school this afternoon demanding everything under the sun so I have been playing servant and a grumpy 6 month old who I think is teething!!

And breathe....

Printing, Chopping and Embellishments :-)

Today I printed and chopped lots of thank you cards and stickers

Then I made lots of embellishments

Funky Flowers

Lots of trees.  Here's a few...

Lots of boots
Here's a sample

Then I had to make packaging for it all!
Here's a sample...

I just need to add my contact details to the headers now then they are done.

I'm off to chop lots of teddy bear shapes out of felt now :-)

Ooooh its been a long day!

It's almost 10pm and I feel like I will be needing to reach for the matchsticks shortly.  It feels like it has been a veeeeeeeeery long and busy day but yet still so much to achieve before bedtime!  There really is not enough hours in the day.  The last few days I have been having late breakfasts (whilst standing), forgetting about lunch (too busy playing with the baby and sewing like mad) and having dinner way past 9pm!!  If anyone has any spare hours please please send them my way!!

How on earth I am going to do what I am doing now and cram in my day job when I start back in January I have no idea.  I'm trying not to think about that too much!

Remember these?

My customers have received their packages so I can reveal what greeting cards they were.......

..........

I have finished a batch of medium and large sized heart decorations which I have made from Laura Ashley fabric.

And look at these wonderful deliveries I have had (some today and some yesterday).

Gorgeous rolls of felt.
I also got a few sheets in some other colours.

Lovely wooden heart shaped buttons so I could finish off the heart decorations (plus a load left over for new projects).

I am actually thinking of stocking these heart buttons together with some flower shaped ones in my online shop when its up and running.  Not sure how many people would be interested though so something to think about.

Colourful flower shaped buttons.  I absolutely love these and have something in mind to use them on.  Watch this space.

I love polka dots with a passion and when its polka dot buttons even more so.

Turquoise
Lilac and
Pale Mint

Finally, some new additions to my fabric stash

I am completely in love with all of these fabrics and I sat looking at them for a while this morning in a trance thinking what lovely things I can turn them into.

Even though its been a long day today the week seems to have passed by ever so quickly as it only seems like yesterday I was saying "Yay its Friday tomorrow" in last Thursdays post!

And tomorrow it shall be 6 weeks till launch date.  I'm starting to feel a little freaked out now in case I haven't got everything ready!!  In the last couple of weeks countdown I shall have permanent matchsticks attached to my eyes, having coffee straight from the jar and giving orders to anyone who dares pass my front door!!  If anyone wants to pop in and help..........

A Busy Day!

Here is a preview of my new heart decorations which will be available to purchase from the website (when up and running).  These are the medium sized ones (approx 14cm long) and there are large ones too.  These have been made from Laura Ashley red and white gingham with a red grosgrain hanger and bow.  Finished with a cute wooden heart shaped button.  They are generously stuffed with plenty of fluff!!

I have tidied up one of my many gem boxes.  I have checked what is there and re-ordered stock to top it up.

I have made some lovely orders and packaged them complete with little token chocolate inside :-)

I cannot show you the orders though as the customers have not seen them yet but they are greeting cards.

I bought some fab papers which I think I will use for my packaging.  They are quite funky.

I also bought these gorgeous handmade papers - there are 35 A4 sheets in total.  Thinking of using some of this for packaging too as some of it is really thick.

My hubby, forever thoughtful thought he would buy me this book, thinking it is very apt for my business venture.  There are also sewing projects at the back which I haven't had a look at yet.  Very much looking forward to reading.

I have been wandering around my local Wyvale going "ooh" and "aah" as they have all their Christmas decorations out.  It's looking very festive and the chocolate and biscuit selection is to die for.  I shall be making another trip soon to stock up on treats :-)

Been a busy day today!

Until next time...

Not A Lot to Show...

But...

that doesn't mean I haven't been busy.  Honest!!

I have finished the reindeer.

Here is a sneak peek...

I have chopped lots of this beautiful Laura Ashley gingham fabric

into large hearts for sewing together, stuffing with fluff and embellishing.  I will make sure I show pics when they are done.

I took some time out today when James was at school and William asleep to sit watching the rain fall with some lit candles.

It was lovely and really did feel like winter.  Think I better start looking for my hat, scarf and gloves as it was feeling quite bitter out there today!

A shout out today goes to

My Fabric House Website

I absolutely love the fabrics and have quite a few from there.

If you are on Facebook they also have a page

My Fabric House FB Page - go like them cos they update it a lot with lots of fab goodies.

They have been very kind and added a couple of my pics to one of their albums.

I have continued to make things ready for the launch freebie.  I have totalled it up and comes to an amazing £60 worth of goodies to be won!  Make sure you stay in touch to be in with a chance of winning.

I have a properly updated Facebook Page at long last!!  I had been using a Sweet Williams personal profile for some time and I didn't think it was very professional so in time it will be deleted.  For the time being I will keep the two running until the page becomes properly established.  I don't know why I didn't just stick to a page in the first place.  Makes much more sense!

If you are interested and you want to "Like" Sweet Williams then you can do so here:


Sweet Williams Facebook Page

Hey Little Birdie..

 Tweet tweet tweet...

These will be featured when the website is up and running

7 weeks tomorrow till launch day folks

Very excited and very nervous at the same time!

 Key rings / bag charms

Decorations


On mentioning the launch I have just drawn up a list of things to make for the launch freebie competition and its going to be VERY exciting.  It's a long list (around 20 items) of fabulous handmade goodies to either keep all to yourself or give some to friends and family as treats.  More details to come soon.

Make sure you tell all your friends / blog friends to take a peep to be in with a chance of winning.

By the way - Sweet Williams is on Facebook

Add as a friend here: -

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002686027507

You will be able to enter the launch competition either via the blog or Facebook!

I am going to do some more sewing of my reindeer Christmas decorations this evening - they seem to be taking forever because I am picking them up to do for only 10 mins at a time in between other jobs!

On the bunting front, the flags have all been tidied, turned the right way round so all that is left to do is the bias binding - I'm getting there slowly!  I will have a bunting tutorial coming up soon (probably won't be until towards the end of the month though).  I shall keep you posted!


Ps.  It's Friday tomorrow - YAY :-)

Back on Form!

After Friday's post I sat and I wrote lists and more lists and you guessed it - more lists but you know what - it made me feel so much better to have a thorough note of ALL the things that need to be done to get this business properly up and running and ok, the tasks total around 100 "to do's" but I have been spending all my free time working through the list.

I have cut out lots more bits of felt and ribbon for making Christmas decorations (but I haven't taken a photo of those yet).

Some of this fabric:

has now been chopped up into 150 triangles

My hands were rather sore after marking out 150 templates and then cutting them all out, even though I enjoyed it.

And then of course was the job of sewing them all up:

I am over half way so I am pleased with my progress.  Tomorrow's job is to finish sewing up the rest, then turn them the right way, tidy them up ready for the bias binding.

Perhaps I should do a bunting tutorial.  Hmmmm something to think about maybe.