I'm just about there...

I'm just about done on all my makings for Top Drawer...

All that is left now is the huge task of building my stand and seeing if what I have planned actually works...fingers crossed I won't have to rethink the whole thing.

Also left to do is write up and print out all my bumph...you know, all the stuff that tells you all about me and what I do, oh and the all important list of prices.

I actually dislike this bit the most. Don't ask me why, I have no idea.

Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I'd rather be playing with pretty fabrics than be writing about them.

Either way it's 3 days to Departure and Setting Up Day and quite frankly I'll be mightily relieved to pull up outside Earls' Court, unload and get started.

I'm getting a little bit excited now and really looking forward to seeing a bunch of folk that are going to be there, some who I already know, some who I only know through the likes of Twitter and these pages.

And hopefully with all these lovely people I am going to meet, quite few will want to order my things for their shops...fingers crossed for that too.

Meet Amelie.

She's French, don't you know.

Amelie comes from Paris.

She wears the best in haute couture...

...and can be seen carrying only the most chicest of accessories...

Amelie may be French, but she was designed by the talented Erika of Mikodesign from Holland and you can make your very own Amelie with one of the fantastic new kits we are stocking at Blueberry Park.

Oh and Amelie has a friend, Fleur...you can make her too.

Ribbon Circus

I've been over to Hebden Bridge to do a photoshoot for a new venture that is due to start in a few weeks. It's being launched in conjunction with one of my lovely stockists, Ribbon Circus. I haven't seen Amy's delightful shop for a while, so you can imagine my delight when I rocked up today and was faced with this...

Isn't it amazing? No wonder the kits are selling so well there! They are dressed to kill with all those stunning ribbons.

I love the way she has hung some samples from the plant and how genius is it to use that cake stand to display the kits?

Oh how I wish I had my own bricks and mortar shop to do such a display...

It started with this...

One of the big projects that I've been working on is finally coming to completion. My Fairy Godmother, Fiona, who I have been working with since May (more about her another time), has got us involved in an amazing project.

Fiona has lots of contacts in the business and one such contact needed someone to be involved in making masks for a children's float at The Notting Hill Carnival. I've been thinking, eating, dreaming masks ever since and finally this week they are just about done.

It's been an amazing project to be working on and have teamed up with one of my lovely stockists, Amy, from Ribbon Circus, who has generously provided all the embellishments for the masks.

I designed mask kits that the children will collect next week and make their own mask to wear at the Carnival. I'm so excited to be involved in this project and if you go along to the Carnival and see the Bigga Fish Float you may just catch our banner on the side of it. (If you do, please take a piccie - I'm unfortunately on holiday and will miss the whole thing :-( ) There's also going to be a surprise Celebrity, that I've designed a mask for, leading the proccession. All good exciting stuff.

On Sunday we had a mad, mask cutting, kit building extravanganza around my kitchen table, aided by Fiona and her beautiful assistant, Chandni, along with my own fair 3 willing assistants and today Chandni and I got the finishing touches done.


There's lots going on at the moment and no sooner is this completed than we are onto the next. But I can't tell you about that just now...

Lucky Number...

6!!

Kirsty from Me, Plus Molly is the lucky winner of my Taster Kit Giveaway. I know you couldn't decide whether Needle Felting or Crochet was what you were after, so drop me a line and I'll get your chosen kit to you as soon as poss...

Thanks for entering all of you. Keep reading as there'll be more soon :-)

Introducing...Tasty Kits...Giveaway

A while ago I discovered the talented Rachel Henderson and her cute Taster Kits. And in true Blueberry Park style, I had to have them and so they are now in the shop :-)

These kits really are fab for doing exactly what they say on the label - providing a little taster of a craft you may not have tried before. Rachel has packaged everything that you need, along with instructions and project ideas and presented them in a really irresistible way. As it says on the label...'Yummy'!

Try out a little taster of Embroidery, Crochet or Needle Felting. The wool Rachel includes is just delectable. So vivid. I'm sure you'll have lots of fun with them. And they make a perfect little gift too at under a fiver. I think they'll be fine for older kids, say over 8, but I'm not sure they are a good idea to give to little ones, with sharp needles 'n' all.

Go take a look at them. They are such fun! And to make it more so I am giving away one of the kits to one of you. All you you have to do is comment which is your favourite kit before Sunday night 7 June. I'll randomly choose a winner and let you know on Monday.

Cushion Developments

It's been half-term this week, which is always a juggling act between doing work thet must be done, work that I'd like to get done and looking after and being with the children. Basically, nothing really gets done on any of the scores and if we get through the week all still friends then it's been a successful one.

Today was penned in to be a definite work day. Matthew has taken the day off and taken the children to Newby Hall, which is one of their favourite places. If only I'd clicked on the website today to check directions, openning times, anything, I would have seen they were having a Craft & Food Fair today. How could I miss that??

So, I'm back home and they are off in the sunshine. The least I can do is make sure it is a productive one.
I haven't done much work this week, but what I have done is finish the 3 boys' cushions. What do you think? They are going to be for sale as is, but also be available in a kit form for you to have a go yourself. All contents (except pad) and instructions to make exactly what you see. What d'ya reckon? Fancy having a go?

I can't decide which is my favourite. I'm quite partial to the Giraffe. He's rather cute.

I really must tackle my To Do list now, but next week I'll be cracking on with making the girls' versions. They are all ready in my head, just have to have the time to get them done.

Etsy Treasury

A big thank you to Toofabulous for including my Flower Brooch Kits in her jewel of an Etsy Treasury
And if I knew how to copy the whole page I would add it here too! But you'll have to click on the link to see the lovely selection. (If anyone can help me with this, please let me know)

Amendment... Here's the treasury... Thanks Tara x

A star is born

I don't seem to have alot of time at the moment for playing in my studio creating new things. I've been full on compiling lots of kits to send to my lovely new stockists. At times it doesn't bother me when I don't have creative time. I'm just too busy to notice. My head is too full of everything that needs doing for it to even register. The regular orders for my pictures and cards give me some creative and playing time.

And then something external drives me to make up a new kit or produce a new item. This happened this week. Someone mentioned Father's Day and did I have any kits their child could make a present for daddy with. They felt the hearts were a bit more girlie and perhaps the daddy in question wasn't likely to dangle a heart from anywhere.

Hence the new Star kits are born. I'm really pleased with them and think they will bridge that gap for something for the boys. I find it difficult to find kits suitable for the boys to do, as well as presents to give to boys - such awkward buggers! The Mum in question has already bought a couple, so I guess I've delivered on what the customer brief was. And, of course, they are available here now :-)

BCTF Prep

There are less than 3 weeks to go (I'm saying that very quietly, because it's too scary) before BCTF, I'm slowly getting everything together. It is fair to say it is taking over my life at the moment. I'm either thinking about it, doing something for it or tearing my hair out as a result.


I am very excited about taking my kits out in the big wide world of trade fairs, but unbelievably nervous as well (that was a polite way of putting it). It could be a very costly mistake. But you don't know unless you try.

If you live in the vacinity, or are planning to make a specific trip up to Harrogate to come, please let me know and I can send you an invitation.


(And I've learnt the art of mosaics - albeit it's a bit on the small side. So I need to look into lesson 2 on that - unless anyone has any tips?)

A mere glimpse

My talented friend, Roz, has been helping me out with some new labelling for my Take Away Craft Kits. The final look is a million miles away from my original brief. But because Roz is so talented, she has taken on board everything I have said I wanted and come up with something I am so head over heels in love with that I can't wait to get it all finished, printed and posted on the boxes.

Fun at the Fair

I've been invited to take part in an Arts and Crafts Fair in Leeds on Sunday. I'm a little bit nervous because it's a regular event all full of talented craftspeople. I always feel a bit of a fraud in these surroundings, because everything I do is from a love of crafts rather than any artistic training.

Also, whenever I normally do fairs, it's as Blueberry Park i.e showcasing all my fantastic wares from the talented people that I represent. My own stuff is by the by. Trouble is this fair is to promote Leeds and Yorkshire based artisans. I have a few of those, but in order to make my stall look fuller, I'm having to fill it with my own items. That in itself is fine, but I don't normally hold a lot of stock of my own things, simply make to order.

So I am franticly in production mode this week in order to have enough stock to show. Today was Take-Away-Craft-Kits. I gave myself a target of 24 - 6 of each of 4 designs. And I managed it...

...almost. I ran out of ribbon for the last boxes. So now I need to fit in a trip to the suppliers.

Tomorrow on the agenda is cards...