There just aren't enough hours in the day

I have been a little naughty and slacked off from my (kind of) regular Blogging.
Im finding it hard to find time to blog when i spend all day at the shop and when i get home im making more stock. But i am going to try my best to keep the blog updated with stuff i make.
The shop has been going well. I sold two lovely cushions to a lady yesterday and she was kind enough to send me a text message to tell me how happy she was with them! One of the cushions she bought was the button love heart cushion.
It's nice to know my creations go to a loving home.
Here is some photos of some new cushions i have made and are now for sale in the shop.

Button Heart Cushion SOLD

Organic Cotton Moustache Cushion £12.50

Natural Creme Wool Button Cushion £20.00

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all! x

The Corner Emporium

Well it seems i have been M.I.A recently. The reason for this is that i have been crazy busy setting up shop!

Middlesbrough Council have offered 6 months retail space to 10 local start up businesses and i was lucky enough to be chosen as one of the businesses.

The move began last Monday last week with assembling furniture, merchandising stock etc and we opened to the public on Thursday. Things have been going well, sales wise and comments from customers.
There is a real mix of sellers, some artists, crafters, baby clothing and even fudge & cupcakes.

The store is called The Corner Emporium and located in The Mall shopping centre, Middlesbrough next to HMV.

Some photos of my unit. It will continue to change as i get/make more stock and more furniture but this is what it looks like at the moment.

Owl Plushie

Heres a little machine embroidered owl plushie i have been working on. Also available in other colours. For sale soon!

A nice change from making cushions.

Designers Marketplace

Despite the snow I made it to Designers Marketplace. Heres a few photos of my stall

let it snow, let it snow, let it snow

Just snapped this from my bedroom window.

How cozy and Christmasy!

I love snow but now when i have to drive in it.

Driving to work tomorrow should be fun :\

Designers Marketplace

So it's almost here! And i think im almost ready!

Sunday 28th November Designers Marketplace at Middlesbrough Town Hall 11-4pm.

Why not get all your Christmas shopping done at once. Come down and have a peruse of all the fabulous artists and designers that will be showcasing.

Graduation

So yesterday i graduated from Teesside University. I am an officiall Bachelor of the Arts.

I was really nervous and kind of dreading the graduation but i had a really good time and glad i went. Kind of felt like i belonged at Hogwarts with my cap and gown on.

Pom Pom POW!

So i have been busy preparing for Designers Market place and another project.
Now i relise this is going to qualify me as a Granny but... I am addicted to making pom poms! I had seen pom poms featured on a blog a couple of weeks ago and thought i have to have a bash at making some. Here is your warning, pom pom making is highly addictive! I had fun making them but didn't leave the house for a few days and if i did it was just to get more wool.

Anyway one million pom poms down the line and i had to think of something to actually make them into. So i figured Christmas is coming up, how about a pom pom garland. Festive colours red, green and white, ideal for draping over a fire place or hung around the christmas tree.

I stamped up some with compliments slips to put with the pom pom garland and packaged them in brown paper lunch bags, cute?

preperation

Today's Activities

made with love

Just a little thank you present for someone

Well im back from America... unfortunately. Back to reality and not to mention the rubbish weather!

November is turning out to be a very busy month for me.

Once i arrrived back from America i got a surprise phone call and got some exciting news. I can't really say too much now but once all the plans are in place i shall let you know so sit tight!

I have my graduation on the 15th of November which i am really nervous about. Then i guess i can call myself a properly qualified designer.

For the past couple of months i have been preparing for Designers Marketplace which is Sunday 28th November. Held at Middlesbrough Town Hall, this time it is in the main hall rather than the crypt. Hope to see you there!

Happy Halloween

[source]

Clearwater Beach, FL

Think it's going to be especially hard to adjust back to everyday rainy, cold life when i get back to England.

off to Tampa

back in 2 days

making a mess, again

Today i bought some paper punches that i had been wanting for a long time but are pretty overpriced at home. Anyway because im such a kid i couldn't wait to test them out so as soon as i got in i had a play around and made a mess.

It's given me an idea of some stuff to make for my designers marketplace stall.

Honeydukes

Today we visited Universal Studios and made our way to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

I took some snaps of the inside of Honeyduke's sweet shop. Filled with sweets and pretty pastel colours.

Flo Rida

Back in November time i made cushions and flat samples for my Final Major Project at college.

One of the flat samples was Florida themed, the only reason it was a flat sample rather than a cushion was due to lack of time. After the project had been handed in my Mum asked if she could have the Florida sample for our home in Florida. Rather than just framing or hanging it i made it into a cushion.

Here it is in its new home.

Shake It Like a Polaroid Picture

I love polaroid pictures!
I have whipped up some magnetic polaroid frames, transform any photograph or image into a polaroid! On sale at Designers Marketplace, November 28th or send me an email if you are interested.

T Minus 7 Days

This time next week i will finally be at our home in Florida. It feels like i have been waiting FOREVER for this to come around, to say i am getting impatient is an understatement!
This holiday is much needed, i feel like i have become stuck in a bit of a rut.

The Sketchbook Project Update

I ashamed to say that i have neglected my sketchbook for The Sketchbook Project. Amongst making custom orders, wedding gifts and getting prepared for Designers Marketplace my poor little sketchbook has been left untouched.

After reading my usual daily blogroll i found a few posts which instantly inspired me and reminded me to pay a little more attention to my poor old sketchbook, which has to be sent back in January and it is looking pretty sorry for itself in it's current state. Im hoping to take it to Florida with me in a couple of weeks and i will (hopefully) fill it with lots of photographs, drawings and tonnes of crafty sketchbooking stuff which is abundant and dirt cheap over there.

I mean Walmart alone has about 3 aisles dedicated to crafting and scrapbooking, Target is also one of my favourite places in the world! .... This is sad i know, but you just don't get stuff like that on that kind of scale here (in England) unless you visit places like Hobby Craft which still isn't the same and i also HATE that place.

Anyway enough of my embarrassing craft related confessions and rantings....

My very first Etsy sale

I am happy to say that over the weekend i made my very first Etsy sale.
My lovely San Francisco cushion was snapped up by Harriet from London. Although it has been in my shop for a few months now im sad to see it go. But there are still two cushions left in my Etsy shop, why not pop over for a gander?

love me do

After making a little wedding present the other day it inspired me to make some more love heart fabric collages but on a slightly bigger scale. I think i may frame these and sell them at Designers Marketplace in November.