Standing up for themselves

Displaying work is always a tricky topic and lately I've been making small labels or tags for my brooches so that they don't appear to be 'all card'. But the downside is that they must lie flat on a table or in a basket or something. 

Of course I have my lovely tree when I do craft fairs but not everything will fit on there, so I've been playing with cards and come up with these.

They can stand upright, or sideways.

 I've cut little tabs on the backs so they can even be bent into a curve for standing in galleries and then folded over front wards to make a sort of pouch for packaging.

And, there's room for my 'disclaimer' which I'm sorry to say was necessitated by one customers comments.(I didn't add 'don't stick the pin in your eye -its sharp,' but it was all I could do to restrain myself)

The other advantage is that the brooch seem to be enhanced on a plain background.
There is a drawback.
Its yet another time consuming, money consuming part of making and presenting my work. Also the card is too wide to use my hole puncher for the pin so I have to use a scalpel to make an 'X'
Ah well.
No one said it was easy. I suffer for my art!

I made a huge pile of frond brooches last week as readers know, and I've sold more than half of them.
Thats good isn't it? (Don't forget blog reader coupon code for 20% discount: 'squashes' , until the end of October or thereabouts.)

Now I'm just going to whisper this ....on Tuesday we are going to choose a puppy! It will be ready at the end of October.
I can't wait.

Three bits of sewing.

Thank you everyone who commented on my last post and said how pleased they were to see that someone else worked in a mess.
I have to inform you that I was sharing those pictures because for once my sewing room is tidy.
Thank you also to those of you who elevated it from 'spare room' to 'studio' with all the shiny polished surfaces that word implies.

With the aid of my new work tops I have been creating this week.
First, of course, and due to popular demand from here and there, more felt brooches.
Its a good job I love making them.
I have orders.



Then a small commission from my Mum, who wants to send a wedding card.

But my favourite project of the week was this bag for Helen. She sent me lots of actual size photocopies of her best loved bag and asked me to make one for her in my own style but to her pattern.

I used two gorgeous blue tweeds that I think go together really well, one herringbone and one small check.
The long pointy flap of the bag pulls through a loop rather like one of my cuffs so I concentrated the detail on here adding silk and velvet in co ordinating colours.

Because I liked it so much I even spared one my most precious straight-from-the-weaver labels, and I lined it with russet silk taffeta for a contrast surprise when its open.

It was fiddly fitting the flap and straps and lining and I did swear a bit, but I love it so much and I think she is quite pleased too.

I had a nice surprise yesterday when I was told one of my brooches made it onto the ETSY front page and was sold almost immediately.
There is a flickr set of everything thats been on the front page but this one hasn't been loaded yet so you will have to make do with my screen shot.

Its amazing what a difference it makes getting on the front page...600 views in about 2 hours.

Something to look forward to..I decided that since I am unable this year to go to the Knitting and Stitching show when it comes to Harrogate, I would look into going on the train to Alexandra Palace.
I have booked advanced tickets for Friday 9th October, do let me know if you are going to be there that day.
The train fare is so cheap when you book so far in advance, that my friend and I are coming home first class. Well, we'll be shattered won't we?
I've never travelled first class before..oohh excited!

I was tagged this week. But oh shame on me..I can't remember who it was. Thats a bit of a nuisance because I really fancied doing this 'meme' . It was about obsession.
I have almost stopped doing the ones where you just pass awards on to 6 or 7 or even 15, I hope you'll forgive me. I have so many contacts and people in google reader that I just get frustrated trying to remember the ones I want to pass them on to.
Each time I post I think I must remember to thank '?' for that lovely comment but again..my mind's a blank.
But be assured that at the time I read your comments I thoroughly enjoy them.
Thank you.
Oh, about the lamp..if I lived in USA I could have any one of a hundred similar but here in the uk no such luck.
Now..how does this facebook thing work....???

A Little Project and a Giveaway.

A little gentle easing back into sewing was this small project. A little card to welcome a new baby.
Because it was for a friend of a friend I have done my best airbrushing over the name which was pink, so they won't recognise it if they happen to see my blog. I'm sure they won't but you never know.



After my last post I was so touched by all the lovely comments and e-mails exhorting me to cheer up that I felt better immediately. Thank you everyone. As a little extra 'Thank you' and to belatedly celebrate my half century of blog posts I am giving away this Celtic Brooch.


I'll have a draw next weekend so if you are interested leave me a comment and I'll put your name in. (Even if you have been a lurker hitherto..come on!)

Meanwhile I am searching for a holiday.
Flights to The Greek Islands seem to have been booked up, unless we want to pay about £1000, or go to a very busy place.
We will have to wait till next year.
In the meantimewe are looking in the UK, possibly in Cornwall, but I'm not fussy, overlooking a nice little sandy cove, within reasonable reach of good restaurants, at a realistic price, after 4th and before 25th September.
Any ideas?

A year for every heinz.

Guess what yesterday was?

I was 57....(Hoo b***** ray!)
Oh well.
I had an absolutely lovely day. Lots of cards, flowers and gifts, and,as you can see, even a card from Porky and Blodwen. I wonder who lifted them up to the letter box?

I got a new chair for my sewing room from my husband, and this amazing book, which was a complete surprise. One of the advantages of leaving the 'Embroidery' magazine in the bathroom.
A big bag of goodies from my friend Denise and some lovely Kit Heath earrings from my friend Anne
I had a visit and another beautiful book from my favourite cousin.
My sons bought me this..and I'm sure one day they'll come and show me how to use it!
This was from my lovely Mum, who knows how much I like fine dining!
We had booked a meal at that particular restaurant for my Birthday treat by coincidence, so the vouchers came in handy. It was a shame my Mum couldn't come.

But the best bit of my Birthday was being with my nearest and dearest. I apologise for the atrocious photo, and for chopping my husband out altogether. I blame the wine and the lovely food. And I was overcome with emotion at the goings on at the next table ...a proposal with a ring in the dessert and everything.

The 'This is' game this week is 'what makes me happy'
Lots of things make me happy.
This fits the bill exactly.
Thank you friends and family for giving me a lovely, happy, birthday.