Sexy Screen Stars and Sewing Machines

Did anyone hear the Radio 1 interview with Robert Downey Jnr. a couple of weeks ago? The man has a voice like melted chocolate... although I did feel sorry for poor Scott Mills when he swore on air. Not like me to get all silly over celebrities on the radio.. but  I definitely wouldn't mind getting Mr Downey Jnr to record a CD of bedtime stories for me or something like that... maybe if I offered to swap a moustached Battenburg or a giant ice cream cone with him, he would acquiesce...

Anyway it led to me having Iron Man on the dvd player whilst sewing this week. I've been making loads of stock for the upcoming craft fairs, hope it all pays off. I've also discovered the absolute joy of swapping with other folksy sellers. I swapped a strawberry for a bracelet with Aniccajewellery, and  an aforementioned battenburg cake with chulscharms for two necklaces- look forward to getting them, that's at least 2 christmas presents sorted (if I'm not wicked and greedy and end up keeping them for myself).

I've also bought a moustache necklace from Stars and Scars- (that one is most definitely for me so don't even think about it friends and neighbours), and a present for Mother which I can't blog about yet because she might read this (Love you, Mother!) and some gorgeous christmas melts from Pauline, thank you for a swift delivery, do check out her lovely shop with beautifully packaged candles.

Lastly- I woke up to find I've sold another card to someone in the states! This is lovely- I've had my handmade goods on etsy for months with no joy. It's huge and I struggle to find the time to promote on there, so no real surprise I had no sales. But my cards seem to be doing well across the pond- very encouraging, and perhaps I ought to take the hint and set up a greetings card shop there instead...  we'll see...

Also, pop over to facebook to enter my competition, in celebration of passing the 100 'likes' mark.. :)

Bought some things... Listed some things...

I got myself a bath bomb with a little message inside for Mother for her birthday- she'll get a kick out of that! Can't wait to receive! I've also bought myself a hat I've been drooling over for a while from Wooly Ideals... check it out... can't wait to wear it into work!

And I listed this. My first cushion! It's an envelope case- I don't get on well with zips you see. Only thing is I want to keep this for moiself... oh dear...

I wish this were a longer, wittier post but I must sleep you see, owing to staying up drinking mulled wine with The Mother after fireworks, discussing menfolk and their features and foibles. All good fun. And now for fun in bed (which sounds rude but isn't, I only mean fun in that I will fall asleep... You know what, just shut up Hannah, there's a good girl, go to bed...)

Ghost Goose up and running! Competition winner! New listing!

Whew, finally a moment to blog. Lots to chat about today! I'm sitting in the middle of a chaotic mess, a mixture of laundry, stuff-to-unpack and materials. Just popped open a bottle of wine, bad Suzy I know, but it's been a long one. But now I'm here I can announce that the winner of the card giveaway was... MonkeyLouLou, aka LouLou'sLuxuries! She chose as her prize the 'Pamper Time' card which is winging her way through the post to her right now. Thank you all who commented, it was very helpful, the cards are now available to buy online here! This is my new shop for greetings cards, as I felt they would look better in their own shop, they are fairly removed from the handmade stuff I do. The shop will soon have it's own banner and trimmings, in the meantime please excuse the basic appearance!

Got back on Wednesday from seeing The Boyfriend in Greece, so wonderful. Beautiful country! Olive trees and orange trees grow in the streets, and the olives just drop off onto the pavement. Mother's eyes went wide when I told her that, she is partial to an olive or five...

Soon I'll be doing my first interview on here, very exciting, so watch this space!

Lastly, I have 2 craft fairs this month, both in schools. I'm very excited because I love the opportunity to sell to teens. In preparation I have designed and produced these stickers, what fun! Find 'em on folksy

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An eventful night, in which our heroine makes a non-folksy sale, eats some pasta and does some ironing...

I sold 7 pairs of earrings tonight, a non-folksy sale, face to face. My friend's mum had seen my facebook page and got in touch with me to say she wanted to buy but she didn't like to buy online. So, that was great! It also busted something interesting a girl on etsy said.
Someone (can't remember who it was) wrote a long piece on Etsy that I read bleary-eyed this morning over my first cuppa. This girl had sold CLOSE TO 1000 ITEMS on Etsy. Wow. I was bowled over. She had plenty of tips for maximising sales on etsy, and one of them was: Don't waste your time twittering or facebooking about your shop. Devote all your time instead to listing and more listing. I can see what she's saying but I can't say it applies to me. (By the way, I have sold exactly ZERO items on etsy, haha!)
Folksy on the other hand.... So many of my purchases have been via facebook. And many of my sales, like tonights, won't show up on my shop figures, but I know they happened, so I'm happy. I'm sure lots of you feel the same.

On a completely different topic, it's two days until I get on the plane to see my wonderful boyfriend, so excited... God bless him, I do miss him, I think it may be very hard to come home when the visit is over...
Although, if I can get a crochet hook past the scanners I'll be happy on the flight! Amigurumi is coming along nicely, a few stumbles here and there but all in all I like what I've made. Pictures will be posted soon. Think I've found a new love in crochet!

The Parents got in touch from Himalayas. Trek is over and they are safe and well. Warm fuzzy feeling...

New Earrings...

Mmm... chocolate. Thought I would show these quickly before bed, I'll list them on folksy and etsy tomorrow. So tired. Why do I do this to myself?
Anyway now is as good a time as any other to rave about my purchase from Oddsox. I bought the cutest cuddly bunny from their shop, which I believe has been delisted as I bought the only one.  Anyway, it came beautifully wrapped in lemon tissue paper and ribbon, with a cute badge! I love it so much. I need to work on presentation, because people like Oddsox put me to shame, I promise to readers to improve on that!

Last night I bought a metre of purple ribbon with my shop address printed on it from PrintedOnRibbon. Really looking forward to receiving that. And sold a lavender pillow to MissBohemia, thank you!

Anyway, the chocolate cake earring should be listed tomorrow, at the same price as my cake and ice cream ones. Oh, and lastly, If you haven't done so already, check out the post below and comment on my greetings cards to be in with a chance of winning one!

Finally designed and on the way to the printers!

Hurrah, I am one step closer to opening up my online greetings card shop! Here are some of the designs, I would LOVE some feedback on them please, as I have never tried designing greetings cards before and I'd like to know if they are good, or if I am plain bonkers for spending all this time on them! There are 4 photograph cards and 2 of my original illustrations. Please leave feedback, it can be constructive criticism or whatever! And you will be entered into a draw to receive one of your choice through the post for free! Competition closes on Tuesday 2nd Nov. Cheers! My greetings card folksy shop (destined to be called Ghost Goose) will not be ready to go live until after this date.

Lavender pillows now listed...

Well, here they are, now that morning has dawned and I have hauled myself up to photograph them... Am very pleased with them and hope they do well at the fair in December. It's been so nice to make something so simply, and yet pretty and useful. I've had one under my pillow for the past two nights now, wonderful! A fabulous fragrant frill for the filly or the fella!

Poems are fun! And other musings

Just written a little poem as a competition entry, such fun! I used to write poetry as a kid, and Mother has kept some (cringe), well, even if I don't win, it was fun and hopefully it will raise a smile!

On to other things I did as a kid...

One of the first things I can remember doing as a craft was making lavender bags with Grandmother. Recently I found that I had loads and loads of scrap fabric, with no real clue what to do with it- then I decided to make lavender pillows with it. The result is a hotch-potch selection of different sized mini-sachets, all colours and patterns,  that I'm really pleased with. Does anyone else have a story of their first craft? A relative/teacher that brought out your creative side? Grandmother is also responsible for me knowing how to knit and Grandfather bought me my trusty sewing machine. Let's hear your anecdotes!

Will photograph the sachets tomorrow in daylight and post them in the shop and on here. :)

Another weekend...

And boy, I'm glad it's here. A whole week housesitting for The Parents whilst they are off trekking in the Himalayas, and The Brother and I have managed not to blow the house up. I've been slowly but surely moving all my crafty bits over here, until the dining room table is swamped with fabric, fimo and foghorns. (That last one was a lie, but I can't resist alliteration.) I work full time and whilst I enjoy my work for a major UK charity, in my heart I have fidgeting for an opportunity to get making again.
It's been a good week for folksy shop sales, with 5 items sold to a non seller (My boss, which goes to show it's not what you know, etc...) I also participated in the fabulous craft carousel whereby you buy an item featured and it's replaced with something from your own shop, what an ace idea. I bought the cutest dotty bunny from Oddsox, and in turn, the lovely paintedghost bought some of my sweetie jar earrings, and a pleasure doing business it was with both of them!
Off to the post office now to post my various items and buy more milk (The only milk left is Mother's soya, bleurgh).

Wooooo!

Hello! Welcome to my brand new blog where I will blather on about crafts, pictures, what I've been up to and what other great people in the creative world have been doing! Please follow me for good times, competitions and updates!