This week has not started too well. We have had a great holidays and I really switched off and enjoyed a much needed break. We caught up with some friends. We went on a great walk in the Yorkshire Dales (queue picture on my header). We ate alot. Drank alot. Chilled alot.

I knew I'd relaxed well because towards the end of last week my fingers were starting to twitch. I was beginning to sleep less well as I needed to get active with work again.

My studio had got into it's usual pre-xmas over-worked chaos that needed tackling head on. I had all these plans that required the children to be back at school. A trip to Ikea was in order so that I could sort the chaos. Oh and purchase some more fabric ;-)

Samuel was still off yesterday so that was already a staggered start to the week. Matthew was off too, so a trip to Ikea was order of the day. I'd been planning to get this set of drawers for a while - highly recommended by Madame TFD. Purchase made. Drawers built (by aforementioned off work hubby). Organisation started....

And that's where it's ended. The night's heavy snowfall has scuppered any further plans to regain order up in my studio. The children were off school today and with school closed again tomorrow, I'm not totally sure when I'll manage to venture up there again.

Still, there is something rather mesmerising about that colour coordinated site, don't you think? Or am I just a little more anal than normal?

::()::()::():()::()::()::()::()::()::()::()::()::()::()::()::()::()::()::

(P.S. Thank you for your lovely comments and good wishes about my grandparent's anniversary. We had a fab old time with grandad rather proudly declaring secrets of their courtship - stories we'd never heard before!)

All in the packaging?

Normally I package my Craft Kits like this...

That's where they got their name 'Take Away...' from. I couldn't, or wouldn't want to, call them that if I was packaging them a different way. However something always comes along to change how you view things.

My friend Jo (a separate post about her to come) and her family came to visit over half-term last week. As usual, bless her, the first thing she wanted to do was go shopping. By that I mean, take our coffees up to my studio and rummage through all my things! She is Blueberry Park's number one fan and always gives me a big boost of confidence by oohing excessively over everything. And the fact that she goes back home with a shed load of gifts confirms her feelings.

This time it was a Christmas shop she was doing. She wanted to order 3 Apron Kits for her 3 children. Jo being Jo - and only my bestest buddy can get away with this - she painstakingly worked her way through my fabric stash and selected the ones she wanted in the kit. Oh, and the ones she wanted the needle/pin sets made out of too! As I say, only Jo can get away with this...Just in case you were wondering...

The point of all this rambling is that these weren't quite ready for her to take back home with her and in an attempt tocut down the packaging through the mail, we decided that they would work all folded up in a cello and wrapped in tissue. Whilst I wouldn't recommend this design for my stockists, as I think the piles of the Take Away Boxes has an eye-catching appeal, I think this really works for a personal order. Particularly when there a few presented together.

What do you reckon?

For the ladies

A couple of my friends are having birthdays this week, so I've enjoyed a brief interlude from compiling kits and have rustled up a couple of purses.

I normally hate cutting into my stashes of favoured fabrics, but when it's for a gift I think it's worth it.

My little pieces of Of Paper & Thread designs , by the uber talented Danielle, are rapidly diminishing. But I love using them as they are so utterly divine that just a touch gives an item a huge lift (as you noticed in my sister's cushions).

The Kei dots are another fave - I know, you must be getting sick of them! Again, a little goes a long way.Another must have is Anna Maria Horner's Social Climber in Ice. At least I can get that easily from my lovely British supplier.

I've had fun making these purses. There has been little creativity going on around here of late, so it was great to have an excuse to play with my fabric. I just hope that the girls concerned will be pleased with their gifts.

Flickr Swap #1

I was invited to join Fat Quarters Fabric Swap with a Twist Flickr Group last month, my first Swap Group and it's been such fun. July's theme was entitled 'When Life Hands You Lemons', which as you can imagine was full of lemony themed items. For those of you that are novices to the whole Flickr Swap Group thing going on (I was until very recently) you receive a list of items that are in the swap and if you fancy signing up that month you reply to the discussion. A little later you receive your swap partner and send off your goodies. This was the list of our items this month...

Min. of 3 F/Q's of lemony colored fabrics

Lemony recipe

Small lemony colored gift (Not mandatory but a nice little handmade item is always fun)

Min. 1 sewing notion (ie. thread, trim, buttons, etc)

My swap partner is the lovely Cheryl all the way over in Missouri, USA and my gorgeous pile of goodies arrived this morning.

As I said, this is my first swap and the effort and the quality of items I received from Cheryl has filled me with enthusiasm to do more. She was so generous and thoughtful. Not only are the fabrics oh so scrummy, but the other items she included are just fab. I love my notebook cover and the apron is already a fave. I was thrilled to receive a fat quarter of Free Spirit Katie Jump Rope, as I had recently used up my little stash. And I'm in love with the pretty ditsy white floral 'Holly Hill' by Laurie Bird.

And how on earth did Cheryl know that I love chocolate - dark chocolate - more than any other confectionary in the world. And I simply can not wait to try out her Mom's Lemon bar Recipe.

So if all this has persuaded you that it's worth giving a swaps a try (did you notice the buttons? Did you? My goodies were never ending), go get 'em and enjoy! And if you do, cross your fingers that you get Cheryl as a partner, because she is such a thoughtful and incredibly generous swapper. (I just hope you aren't disappointed with the swap I sent you...I'll post that when I know Cheryl has received it)

An order in the making

You'll be pleased to know the notebook thing is working. This morning I opened up my little 'to do' book to see what treats were in store today.

After sorting out a few necessary domestic chores, I cracked on with an order for one of my lovely stockists, of a couple of Personalised Pictures.

I love doing these pictures. They come together quite effortlessly and enjoyably and before you know it, they are framed...

wrapped...
and ready to go.

Job done. Wonder what I can tick off tomorrow.

Ready for Christmas

This is what I have been working on for the Crafteroo Christmas Decoration Challenge. A Mini Stocking Advent Bunting. Mini felt stockings hooked onto a buttoned ribbon that are just big enough to hold a daily treat. Not so big that we are all going to be rolling our way to our Christmas Dinner.

It's such a great idea (the competition - not my entry!) and there are some fab interpretations? Everyone is getting all festive. We're probably going to be bored of Christmas before it even arrives :-)

Join in the fun and post an entry - there's a £20 Amazon Voucher up for grabs for the winner.