Anyone got matchsticks?

Happy Monday everyone - the start of a good week I hope.  However - has anyone got any matchsticks so I can keep my eyes open????  Busy busy all weekend and think I am running on empty now.

Took deliveries, bought more supplies, made stuff all weekend and then the dreaded school run today - James' first day in full time school.  I was absolutely fine and he just ran in without a backwards glance and came out so excited and asked if he can go again!!!  I must say I felt lost without him and was clock watching from lunchtime.  I had forgotten what a quiet house is as I didn't hear a peep out of William today.

Yes, I know you have seen these before.  BUT WAIT - who is that at the top right???  A new Santa decoration I have been working on.  Just this one has been made so far as I have been playing around with a design for about 2 weeks now trying to get it right and I actually really like him now so think I will be going with this.  Making a batch of these has now been added to that ever growing "to do list"!

The above is a bespoke card order I had just before the weekend.

These are some of the things I had delivered end of last week and the weekend.  Lots of wonderful things to keep me going.  I also got lots and lots of bias binding, 4 big bags of filling, other ribbon, more felt, and other bits and pieces.  Postman got fed up of knocking my door I think as he was also coming here with presents (ready for Christmas)!!

I have another two lots of bunting to finish and other orders for decorations, mini aprons, tote bag - here's a sample tote bag I have made: -

The last two pics are of a needle book I have made.  Sorry about the naff photos - the lighting was seriously bad when I took them.  Will post better pics another time.

That is it from me today.  Got lots planned so hope to be back next time with more pics xxx

Productive Weekend = Picture Heavy Post!

Well what a busy weekend it has been and so much so that it hasn't felt like there has been a bank holiday!  Few orders made and sent off including this lovely one off bespoke Hello Kitty bunting.  It's very cute.  It was lovely to sit for a considerable amount of time to sew this and I really enjoyed making this one.  

Lots of shopping has been done this weekend to get things ready for when James starts reception class next Monday and which will be the first time he gets to wear proper full school uniform.  He's going to look so grown up.  It has cost an absolute fortune though and we also ended up in the toy shop and came out armed with more purchases!  Oops!

Look at this mess I found myself in yesterday...

Lots of messy ribbons which I have been waiting to tidy for probably about a year now but I sat on the floor and managed to get it to this...

Still not brilliant but soooo much better, I can see what I got and what I now need to buy and at least most of it is back on their spools and I have pinned them this time to stop them unravelling.

Lots of people have been emailing, texting etc about my Christmas decorations and putting their name down for some after the launch of the website in November so I thought I had better start making some more in readiness as it sounds like they may go quick.

Tonight I started on some more robins which have now been placed on my WIP pile.  I dare say the pile will be much bigger tomorrow!

I was having a little play last night with my felt wondering what I could turn it into and since I have just bought my first ever pinking scissors which by the way is amazing I thought I would chop up a load of circles in different sizes and see what I got and this is the result.

They are brooches.  Two layers of same colour felt sewn together with contrasting cotton to make it a bit more sturdy topped with a further two layers of smaller circles of felt and embellished with a polka dot button.  I think they have turned out really well and am quite fancying one or two for my winter coat!

Once they were done I thought I couldn't just leave them as they were so decided to make some packaging for them this morning.  Nothing fancy, just plain white card with my details on the front, simple but nicer than the brooches on their own.  The hard task now of course is cutting up tons of these bits of card for all the other brooches and anything else I have made over the last couple of months - that's gonna take a LOT of time but at least it keeps me busy!

Few more decorations made.

I've got a busy day ahead of me tomorrow so I'm off for an earlier night than usual.  It's around 11.15pm which is a novelty for me as its usually between 1am and 3am for me as I am turning into a night owl crafting away like mad!

Fabric, Cake and Buttons :-)

As expected Wednesday was a super busy day.  I won't bore you with all the details but the exciting bits was my trip to Ikea and Hobbycraft.  I bought soooooo many goodies.  Card toppers, lots of ribbon, fabric, glass jars, and other bits and bobs.

I had these lovely glass jars.

And look what I am now using them for:

BUTTONS!!!!  Yay!  Looks like pick n mix!  Still got some larger jars to fill yet.

Then Thursday it was my little boys 4th birthday.  He had a lovely day spent with his cousins and we had the most amazing birthday cake - birthday cake is the best!

I then received this beautiful fabric which I am going to turn into some bunting for someone.  I will be sure to post a pic when it is done.

I'm off to pack up an order and think about what fabrics I can use to make some tote bags.

I've gone dotty!

Even though I said I may not be on here for a day or two I had to post tonight (this is addictive)!!

I love polka dots so I made this peg bag in readiness for the online shop (although I am very tempted to keep it for myself).  The hanger inside this one is a matching cute pink too :-)

And look how cute my matching dolly pegs are which I hand painted myself...

Is is possible to be in love with a set of dotty pegs???  Ok, so now I'm sounding strange!!

I have worked on another design this afternoon and am trying to create a little teddy bear hanging decoration. I'm still fiddling with bits of felt and ribbon but I will be sure to post a pic when done (if he turns out ok).

Finally - A BIG thank you goes to Pretty Petal Handmade who mentioned me on her blog today.  Please hop on over and have a look at her lovely blog.

Orders and plenty of Pics!

Yesterday afternoon I received two separate orders for greetings cards.  I love making cards.  This is what I made and they have already winged themselves off to my lovely customers.

Remember this:

This has now become this little fella:

I think he's quite cute even if he don't look perfect - bit lumpy - will have to correct that on the next one!

In the meantime - lovely fabric order delivered earlier in the week:

I cannot bring myself to chop it all up just yet so I have spent a few days admiring it and going ooh and aah.  Yes, I do think I am slightly mad at times!

Look at this pretty little keyring / bag charm - YAY - something I have made recently that is not Christmas related!!  I have made a whole selection of these in all different shapes (to include hearts and birds).  I love them as they include all of my favourite things - felt, buttons, ribbon and a splash of fabric (Cath Kidston on this one).  They are all double sided.

Not sure I will have much time to make anything tomorrow or indeed blog - we'll see.  My folks are collecting the children in the morning, I'm off to the capital to pay a visit to Ikea and Hobbycraft, pick up some M&S food for James' 4th birthday on Thursday, find some gifts for pass the parcel, collect the cake, wrap presents so will be a busy one.

That's it from me for now.  I am off to sort out the kiddies, admire the new fabric a little more and plan what I can do next.

Yay - the machine saw some daylight!

I have been having mega withdrawal symptoms from not using my sewing machine but an order came through yesterday to make a very cute washing up bottle apron.  What do you think?

I was ever so tempted to keep it for myself and make another one but I have already done that once before and already have my washing up bottle dressed!!

So today so far I have gift wrapped the mini apron, cleaned the house and started sorting out my mega messy craft table (not really a craft table, its actually the dining table which I have taken over).  Not bad considering it is not long after midday.

Plans for this afternoon is to hand deliver parcel, pick up my boy from my mother in law who has taken him shopping today to pick out his birthday present then home to make lots more decorations.  I really need to start making a dent in that list I made (which I haven't finished writing yet)!!

Launch Date Announcement!

Lots of people for some time have been asking for the all important launch date of Sweet Williams.

www.sweetwilliams.biz will be up and running on Friday 25th November 2011.

Yes, I know it is still a long way off but I have much to prepare for by then.  I have hundreds of sewing time to put in to finish making my products, photographs to be taken, website to be updated / finalised (which is a massive task on its own) and lots of other bits and bobs and boring paperwork to be done.

But, by taking the plunge to set a proper launch date then I have a goal and I can plan my time a bit better and I have told myself that if I haven't finished everything by then it will still have to go live.  Should give plenty of time to get in a few orders before Christmas.

AND EVEN MORE EXCITING - I shall be holding a freebie day on launch day to celebrate.  More details on this will come nearer the time.

Speaking of Christmas - look at this little chappy I made this morning...

I think he is a lonely little Santa so will be making him some friends this afternoon.

And who do you think this will be then?

 My next little work in progress.  Will post pics when he's finished.