New Goodies

A big box of yummy goodies arrived this morning. New, gorgeous sellables from IanSnow.co.uk.
Like a big kid at Christmas, I couldn't wait to get in that box! Need to get them all photographed and onto eBay and the The Stroppy Cow but here's a sneak preview!

Lovely embroidered hand mirrors

Hand knitted ear flap hats ~ got my eye on that top one, it might not get as far as the shop!

Beaded rings

Hand made embroidered Mirror detail

Great selection of fleece lined hats

Woo hoo, can't waited to get them listed!

Meet Buttercup

Himself bought me a lovely print...said it reminded him of me! I love it, it's on the wall in the bedroom now. It's by Valerie Davide

I seem to be accumulating cows (not real ones thank goodness, at least not yet!!). I have soft toys and numerous cards in the office, I even have a singing cow card from Tilly (I'm in the mood for dancing~ Nolans!) in pride of place where I can open it for a short burst of instant nostalgia.

Badge Stories

Had a lovely bulk order from the National Register of Reflexology (Ireland) last week...here's the story of those badges!

Printing and punching out the logo

Badge Blanks and cut-outs

Into the machine (Love my badge machine!)

First batch ready

All done, ready for dispatch.

That's just short of 3 hours work (not including tea breaks)...wouldn't believe it would you? Phew!

My right bicep is becoming very quite well developed!

Talk Like a Pirate Day

September 19th is International Talk Like a Pirate Day click here for details.

Don't forget your badges mateys, Arr....

Buy here

Beaded Charm Bracelet Tutorial

I've just made a gorgeous charm bracelet, not my usual style, but one I think is worth is worth sharing 'cos it looks fabulously expensive!

So, welcome to my first tutorial!

This beaded charm bracelet is very easy to make, it takes a couple of hours depending on your skill with the pliers and how fat your fingers feel!!

You will need:
Tools
Pair of short nosed pliers
Pair of cutter pliers

Findings etc

• Enough jewellery elastic to go round your wrist twice (or play it safe like I did and use 90cm)


• Approx 60cm of large link chain (I used 1cm) Tip: avoid chain with links that aren’t closed as it tends to come off the bracelet when the elastic is stretched…oops!)


• 8 x 14mm round or oval beads plus 1 focus bead (I used a silver coloured bead)





• 3 x smaller complimentary beads (I used 1 x 10mm and 2 x 6mm)
  
• Approx 11 charms and/or buttons



• 14 x 9mm jump rings
  
• 4 x calottes (Necklace Ends, also known as calottes or clamshells, are used to attach the necklace or bracelet thread~ we're going to use them to attach our ball chain to a jump ring. Calottes and bead tips are metal findings that cover the knot at the end of a string of beads. Calottes (also called clam shells) clamp sideways over the knot. Adding a drop of glue or clear nail polish secures the knot/chain. Close the bead tip with pliers.
  
• 4 x headpins (Headpins look like small thin nails. Put a bead on a head pin, bend a loop in the top, and you have a dangle! )
• approx 13mm of ball chain




Calottes, headpins, jumprings and ball chain


• optional (but VERY handy) florist wire or beading needle

Ok, lets get started.

Step 1

Thread the jewellery elastic through the chain, this is where a bent bit of florist's wire or a beading needle really helps.

Step 2

Your chain should now be 'scrunched' up along your threading material.

Now add your large beads.

Step 3

Open your jump rings by twisting them front to back, do not pull them apart as this pulls them out of shape, and pop them onto your charms and/or buttons

Step 4

You will need to thread the smaller remaining beads onto the head pins to make some dangle charms.

Step 5

Tie the loose ends of your threading material, adjusting for fit before cutting off the excess. Tip: try adding a drop of clear glue to the knot for extra security.

Step 6

Cut your ball chain into 3 different lengths.

Step 7

Attach a calotte to each piece of chain securing with a small blob of clear glue if preferred.

Step 8

You are now ready to attach the charms/buttons, beads and chain to your bracelet, pausing to admire your handiwork at regular intervals!

Step 9

Ta da.... finished!

How smug do you feel now?

Christmas Shopping!

Don't you just hate it when the supermarkets are full of Christmas stuff and you've only just packed away your sarong? I suppose they need to clear space so they can get the Easter Eggs in on Boxing Day!

When I had my own (small) High Street empire I understood the marketing strategies, didn't like it, but I understood.

I'm just as bad now. Business was good last Christmas (thank you each and every one of you) but I didn't start marketing until the end of November and knew it could've been better. I've already bought stock and have designed badges specially for the season. Even my Halloween badges are on eBay now!

I'm not one of those people that do their Christmas shopping in January (anyway, I'd forget where I put it if I did). I love the sentimental idea of leaving all thoughts of Christmas 'til Christmas Eve...you know, picking the tree as the snow fall gently down around after a lovely, very productive, bimble around the town exchanging Season's Greetings with friends and neighbours. Are your surprised that one of my favourite films is 'A Wonderful Life'?

I try not to get caught up the the panic; to savour the anticipation, to enjoy selecting the perfect gift. Instead it seems to be one great big headache and I end up spending a fortune on stuff because I just want to get back home. Hardly the Christmas spirit!

Anyway, the point is, finally (Himself says I'm like Ronnie Corbett with his arm-chair monologues, taking several minutes, branching off at tangents seemingly losing my train of thought before coming to the point~personally I think its a skill, allowing me to impart copious amounts of useless information to my audience in a single sentence. Maybe it's 'cos I'm short petite and tend to get overlooked. Himself says it's amusing, if a little annoying. I prefer to think its endearing...)

Anyway, the point is that this year I'm buying Handmade where I can & I'm starting NOW. My money is going to small businesses and charity shops and by starting now I can find the perfect present and no panic buying.

Remember: buy handmade and seek out items as unique and special as you, your family and friends are.

Handmade items are the result of an individual's passion, time, energy and focus. There is an intimacy in buying these items that you don't get when you buy cookie cutter items from big box stores.

Don't feel guilty (easier said than done)

Had a good day creating. Made and sold a couple of new bracelets.

Its really difficult when the weather's nice...I want to be outside yet I need to be inside 'working'.
Saw a great place near Bristol over the weekend; made me dead jealous. Would love to have a little workshop somewhere like this:
Clevedon Craft Centre, it would make my work life so much easier.



If you are easily distracted, like me, staying focused on your business can be harder than doing the actual work of your business! It is very easy to procrastinate, especially when you are a WAHM (Work At Home Mum). There are always so many other things to do. I feel guilty about the pots not being done, or the washing waiting to go in the machine. It doesn't matter that if I was out at work they'd be there til I came home anyway!

I usually get up at 5.30am with Himself and we have a cuppa together before he tootles off to 'real work'! So, my goal ( I have been told that this is what I need to stay motivated!) is to do the house work in the hour and a half before I need to get Tillymint up for college! Sod the neighbours, those bottles and tins WILL be put out for recycling -they don't care about making a noise at 11 or 12 pm so why should I care about disturbing them at 6am- and I will not boot up the pc until 8.30!

Oh God, I can feel myself wavering already. I love having a peak in that 10 minutes before Himself comes downstairs, just to see what's been sold over night.
MUST BE STRONG.

Anyway,apparently 'When you accomplish your goals, give yourself a little treat to remind yourself that you worked hard and achieved success!' and 'I should get out of the house at least once a day to avoid becoming isolated'. So, no more procrastinating (hang on a minute, I think the washing's finished...), I will make that necklace, but I need to just answer this MSN message first then,while I'm upstairs in the office I could make up the bed in the spare room....maybe I'll just treat myself now and save some time!!