The sun shone today...I have proof...

Quite frankly it's been downright miserable here in the UK over Christmas and into the New Year, so to see a bit of sunshine while sewing today was more than welcome.

I think i paused for about 5 days after the Christmas craziness before being full throttle getting ready for Top Drawer. I actually only decided a few weeks ago to do Top Drawer and that was a mad moment of "help! It may be crazy now, but what am I going to do when the craziness goes away?"...make life more crazy obviously.

Most people plan doing a trade show for months, which is probably why they are downright more successful at it than I am.

Here I am cobbling together new designs in an attempt to look half-way professional and at least have a few things that look pretty, even if noone actually wants to buy them.

So I have a mad week ahead getting everything made, a stand sorted and get my butt down to London for a few days. I actually can't wait...and hopefully the sun will shine in more ways than one.

We are very lucky to have The Bowery in Leeds. The Bowery is that great combination of gallery, workshop, gifts and cafe.

It's a great place to meet friends for a coffee and it's always nice to have beautiful contemporary Artists' work on display to have a little peruse at after.

I have bought quite a few cards and gifts from here and currently have my eye on a lampshade that I keep seeing. One day soon I think I'll not be able to resist any longer...

As well as being lucky enough to live close by to The Bowery, I am also lucky enough to call them a Stockist. They came to see me at BCTF last month and it seems that other people must be as fond of the place as I am as things are selling really well and today I delivered my second box of goodies.

I haven't been in since delivering the first pieces and so hadn't seen the display. I have to say I was chuffed to bits to see all my things looking so bright and eye-catching. I am so pleased my things are doing so well here.

The only thing that isn't going too well, however, is my camera...the lead to my Mac is playing up and so am having to take photos on my iphone and as you can tell, it isn't quite cutting it. It was a pretty grey day too which didn't help much.

If you live near to The Bowery (it's in Headingley, Leeds) and haven't yet managed a trip, you won't be disappointed. And bear in mind it looks more tempting than it does in my dreary photos...

Tomorrow sees the finishing touches being completed for BCTF.

Or should I put it this way - tomorrow MUST see the finishing touches completed, as Saturday I head over to Harrogate to set up my stand.

I probably won't be around again until after it's over, so I just wanted to say thank you for all your lovely comments of support. I really do appreciate your support and encouragement and I hope I can report back that you were right and it all went well.

I am a tad nervous...

Lucky lucky me

A while ago I commented on one of my cyberspace friend's blog about how much I loved a shirt she had designed. (I would show you her original design, but I can't find the blog post!) Almost by return, the lovely Kylie emailed me thanking me for the comments and what were my measurements so she could make me one.

I was flabbergasted by her kindness. She didn't want payment, she was just touched by my comments and would be honoured to make something for someone who genuinely appreciated her work.

I accepted her kindness (well who wouldn't?) but only on the proviso I could make something for her. Kylie chose a pin cushion and needle set, which seemed insubstantial to be honest.

Today it arrived and I am blown away by how gorgeous it is, how beautifully it is made and by the fact that it is mine! Not only will I enjoy wearing this ALOT, but every time I do it will remind me of that lovely lady on the other side of the world, who I have 'met' and become friends with through this wonderful world of blogging.

Thank you so much, Kylie xx

(Now all of you, if you haven't come across 3 sheets before, go check out Kylie's wonderful blog and shop)

Lucky Number...

Yes, Aimee, of Live, Lush, Laugh, it's YOU!!

Just email me your postal address and one of my sets of Pincushion and Needlecases will be on it's way down under to you! I little something from Leeds, just for you!

Thank you all so much for entering and for your lovely comments. Hope I'll have some more things to inspire you very soon. xx

100 Followers Giveaway

Today I woke up to find that 100 of you lovely people out there publicly follow my blog. The fact that you like what I do enough to even bother to click that little button so you can keep track of me, means the world to me.

A blog is a funny thing. I like to look back at my own blog and see what we've been up to. I like to see how my creative journey has been changing and developing.

And I love reading all your blogs. They are an inspiration. They are interesting and funny. They allow me to 'meet' like-minded lovely people all over the world.

So to celebrate receiving my 100th follower and to thank you for being such loyal readers, I am having a giveaway. The winner will receive a Pincushion and Needlecase Set, along with a matching keyring (just let me know the initial you want). All you need to do is leave a comment as to why you follow my blog. If you don't yet follow, please feel free to now do so and then you can enter!

I'll announce the winner on Sunday 18 October, which gives you 5 days to think of something lovely to say! Good luck!

Favourite Sew Far

Not even I could have anticipated that I'd be back so quickly! But I just had to share with you the latest colour combo for the pincushions and needlecases. Definitely my favourite so far. Let's hope my stockists agree because a fair few of these will be included in the orders!

Brief Absence

Apologies for my absence all week. The Home & Gift Fair went really really well. I've got some lovely new stockists that I'm very pleased to be supplying. And there are some very interesting leads that I'm going to be following up in the coming weeks and hopefully have lots of exciting news to share with you.

The Fair was great on so many levels. As a working Mum who is constantly juggling with life, work and the universe (I know you all know what I mean) doing a Fair enables you to devote time guiltlessly on your career. It's fantastic and oh so rare to be able to throw yourself into that and not feel bad.

Also it is wonderful to be around so many talented people, chatting creative chats and meeting like-minded others, who also understand only too well the juggling and challenges that is involved. I met some fab people and had the pleasure of being in their company this week.

After all your words of encouragement about my pincushions and needle cases, I decided to offer them for sale. And hey, guess what? I sold some! Quite a few actually. So I'm already in the production line of them.

School officially breaks up for my younger 2 today and I always approach the summer holidays with a mixture of pleasure and trepidation. Obviously work can't close for 6 weeks so it's a constant juggling act. So if you don't hear from me very often it will be because the blog will no doubt take a very low position in order of priorities. It will kill me to abandon it somewhat, but all being well I'll be back in full force, renewed and invigorated, in September.

As if I have the time

Honestly. Will someone just shoot me now? I have so much to do for Saturday, but I just can't help myself can I? My 'to do' list is ever expanding, yet, somehow, it's beyond me quite how, I get busy making things. Not things that are for sale you realise. Oh no, that would be far too straight forward. Nope, things to make my stand look pretty. Things that are distracting me from what I really should be doing.

You know I'm a little obsessed with pin cushions at the mo? It seems this has now transferred to needlecases too. I know I know. I did tell someone to shoot me now!

It's irrelevent that I'm pleased with the outcome. It's irrelevent that they are quite pretty. It's irrelevent that I had lots of fun making them.

The point is that I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THIS!

(Off now, sewing machine, fabric and any other distracting items put on a top shelf out of reach so I can try and get on with exactly what must be done...)