New Years Resolution List! (another list)

After reading plenty of blogs over the last few days, alot of you said that you made your NYR on your blog which made you more aware of what they were and a good tool to look back on at the end of the year! So here goes, bear in mind I might add to this over the next few days.

1. Loose weight - My sister is getting married in December so that should be an incentive.
2. Make more of an effort to cook - I am the take out queen.
3. Spend more time making things with my daughter.
4. Do some sort of exercise - the only exercise I get is for my eyes reading the blogs.
5. Not to spend so much time on my computer.
6. Start saving/stop spending
7. Iron on regular basis - Once a month does not constitute regular.
8. Spend more time developing the Just Original brand.
9. Do more sewing.
10. Eat more fruit - I am allergic to every thing other than oranges/bananas/grapes/melon.
11. Recycle more.
12. Go out with my hubbo more regularly.
13. Source cheaper haberdashery products for Just Original.

As you can tell this list is in no particular order!!

I hope you all have a great New Year.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to everyone!

I knew I would not be able to resist having a nosey to see what everyone has been up to. I have cooked dinner, cleaned up, help my mum look after my nan, I thought I deserved a treat so I have taken myself off into my Dad's office where it is peaceful and relaxed and just logged onto Ebay and the land of Blog.

I hope everyone has had lots of nice presents, I have not opened my yet! But my hubbo did give me my bird table last night whilst we were still at home, I was chuffed to bits as I cut down the only tree in the garden earlier this year, and what with my office/studio been built in the garden I have lost another bird feeding place.

See you all in the New Year

My luck had to run out some time!

It's just a quick post as I am childless for a few hours. I went to do the Victorian Fair today in Beckingham. I have to say it was rubbish the weather obviously did not help! I was told I would be inside as it turned out this meant a marquee with wet grass under foot! I had come all prepared to be inside (no thick socks/gloves/scarf).

I have to say though out of the 5 marquees only 2 were left standing by the end of it, mine been one of them, thank god! to be honest it felt like all the car boot people on there way home had popped in! (i am not saying the one with taste like yourselves!!).

The up side to it all was that I thought I would be at it until 3 0 clock but I left early and the hubby has taken the little darling out! I have just sat & eat a piece of carrot cake (nice cake stall next to mine) and watched Star Wars, life the dream!

Catch up!

I feel I have been away for ages, but not according to the date on the last blog! Well what have I been up to!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I did a Ladies night in Chesterfield on Thursday night, it went really well. It looks like a have got a wholesale order from it for a toy shop who wants to sell my Pinnies and ballet shoe bags. Watch this space for more information on this one!

I then went to Southwell on Saturday morning with a some what hung over helper (my sister) to attend a Pre-school Christmas Fair. It also went really well, a lot of my bigger items were purchased which made a nice change from the pinnie fest that has been going on in my life for the last few weeks. I also think I will get some website orders as well.

I have one last show to do on Sunday, I would tell you where it is but it is a Victorian Christmas Fair so I have to dress up!!! I look a right prat!! (I'm sure some one will take a photo) I am then going to put some of my stock on Ebay, in the hope of making a little bit of extra cash before Christmas.

Oh I forgot to tell you I'm going to Lanzarote next Thursday yeh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I need to get my head round all the packing and organising that I need to do before I then. Any way I must get back to my 14 pinnies that need pressing.

See you all soon!

Baking Day!

What do you do if you have some eggs to use? Chucky eggs in chucky cups, egg sandwiches, oh no the little darling wanted to bake, so I thought why not! The chocolate butterfly buns had to be done, as last time we never made it to making the wings as I had no icing sugar, and then we ate them all before I got the chance to go to the shops. Believe me they were very very nice, not that I have eaten them all up.

This is not a freak of nature, its me! I look a bit freaky don't I! (some would say I always look freaky) Whilst on the phone to Sara @ All about Eden, my eyes started to itch & itch, so I rubbed & rubbed them. I then I put eye drops in, took an anti-histamine(incorrect spelling I know) and this was how i looked 30 minutes later!

I then walked into my office, where I had been making up Lavender Pillows and they began to itch again. I had just bought some new Lavender off of Ebay and added it to my stash. I normally buy Norfolk Lavender, but for a change I bought French Lavender. I can not believe how perfumy it is compared to the Norfolk variety. I would sue for industrial injury only that I have not made enough money to make it worth while.

Any way must go to buy some fabric from ebay, and cut out more pinnies for the 2 shows I have this week.

I did Promise!

This was a picture of the stall at the Ladies evening in Chesterfield that I did on Thursday night, it was a fab night both monetary and as giggle, my good friend Eve came to spend the evening with me.

These were picture from the Rufford show that I did over the weekend. I have just recovered and warmed up. The weather on Saturday was bearable, it was just very window at times, but oh my god Sunday was freezing. One of the other stall holders told me I would get 'Car Boot Face' I did not know what she meant! I do now, my face was bright red and so warm, I felt like I was burning up.

Anyway to let you know how it went Sunday was just as good as Saturday monetary wise, but it was a much harder day, every one was spending £2 or £3 at a time. Overall over the weekend I did not sell a lot of my big stuff, but a huge amount of pinnies, lavender bags, button hearts (button snakes from previous posts). I don't think a lot of people were thinking about Christmas shopping and also the show was not well advertised so people did not come there to spend there cash. I had lots of fun though, me, my sister and her friend just laughed and entertained everyone.

I was also asked to attend another Christmas fair on Saturday the 24th November in Southwell near Newark, it's only for a couple of hours so hopefully it should be good one.

I have spent today, cleaning, washing, assessing my stock levels and sorting out my craft fair boxes.

I hope the photo's are of use to anyone out there who has a craft fair coming up, I can not believe how much stock you need to fill in a market stall.

So very tired!

Wow what a few days, I had a ladies night on Thursday night, that went really well for 2 1/2 hours work, I am now in the middle of a 2 day show at Rufford Country Park near Ollerton in Nottinghamshire. It is my 1st Christmas Fair and other stall holders have told me that Sunday's are normally better than Saturday's. Oh my god if that is the case I'll be sewing until the morning. I have just come back from my Mum's as we quickly had to make up some Pinnies as I have sold 12 over the last few days in Pink Spot, and given they are my best seller I don't want to let the side down. I am really pleased with how my stand looks, the Apple crates from my previous post look fab, and I then purchased a wire Christmas card holder from Cocoa Bean over the phone on Thursday which really set off the stall, we even added lights for the full affect.

Any way must go as I don't want to fall to sleep on the Laptop.

I will post some photo's on the next blog.

In amidst all the chaos!

These are my Christmas hearts, they obviously are not going to be displayed like this at the fairs!

I ordered 3 apple crates, I have wanted some for ages, and when I spotted these 3 for £40 from Crocus,I thought why not. I am going to use 1 for my fairs and the other 2 are going to be used as storage shelves in my Studio. (I will update you on the progress on the next blog)

Any way what I really want to tell you about was my day at Eden Hall Day Spa in Newark. Me, my sister, my mum and my sisters mother in law booked the day ages ago. Everyone except me had vouchers to spend. We arrived at 9.o clock and we thought we would stuggle to fill the day, but how I was wrong. I went in the pool for an hour, chatted for a further 1/2 an hour, went for lunch at 12, drank a rather big glass of wine, eat the most fabulous meal. We then went in the sauna, tropical mist shower, foot massager, herbal steam room. They were all great. Before you know it it was 2.o clock and I was booked in for my facial. I came out the room after 25 minutes, they then escorted me into a gorgeous 1st floor conservatory with big bean bags. Before you know it it was 4.0 clock, I had fallen off to sleep.

We then all hit the showers (not all together) and then went to the sun lounge for Champagne & Strawberries to round off a mega day. I was so lucky I did not even have to go trick a treating.

Any way back to reality I have fair 1 week today, so I am going to be sewing madly. Unfortunately my Mum's sewing skills are going to sadly missed as she is selling 2 houses next week, so she will be busy cleaning and taking meter readings and things!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The big push!

I would of liked to of added some photo's but the damn PC will not let me.

The list that I set out to do for last weekend seems to have ended up been a list for all of the week. Anyway down to the nitty gritty what have I done.

1. 14 items cut out
2. All of my Christmas hangers done, 48 in total.
3. All the button snakes complete, 27 in total, just remembered no ribbon on them yet.
4. Packaged up some items but not all that's still WIP.
5. Dispatched my wholesale order (thank god!)

An addition to this was my Accounts.

Me & my sister had a look through my stock list for the shows, she has decided that I have not got enough. I called her many things at that point under my breath, but she's probably right.

Any way I have been up since 5.30, I decided to do some cutting out! I can not believe that it does not get light until 7.30. Just shows what time I normally get up!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you!

I just wanted to say thank you to Ali @ domesticail for the fab Christmas organiser, it's all ready been put to good use over the weekend! I hope you like your parcel when it arrives.

England lost!

Oh well we can't win every thing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If only I could personally go and comfort Jonny Wilkinson! (no Babysitter, so best stay put).

Vanessa x

Small update!

Only 6 more button snakes to thread, then hubbo takes over to do his bit for the crafting world! I will finish these of whilst I watch Rugby. I am a really big fan, not one of these fly by night supporters!

I have cut out 4 laundry bags & 2 large aprons, only 4 more items to tick that one of the list.

No sewing done! Boo Hoo

See you tomorrow

Get it down on paper!

I'm back from the Lakes, it was really fab! Lots of walking and eating, but very little shopping. Me & my Mum went checking out the competition, OMG, How expensive? How badly made? I won't give out names though, as I may get sued!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We went to visit The World of Peter Rabbit, it was fab. I think I loved it more than darling, it was so exciting. I kept finding new things around every corner.

Any way the list I am going to write means I feel pressurised to actually achieve something this weekend. I will update you on Monday as to how I've got on.

1. Finish making up the button snakes (see previous post).

2. Make up all Christmas smellie hangers.

3. Package up all stock in preparation for shows.

4. Print out price list for show.

5. Get a wholesale order packaged.

6. Cut out at least 10 items.

I think the above list is realistic, as I have darling all day with me on Saturday & I want a lie in on Sunday.

I hope you all have a good weekend, see you on Monday.

My visit to Buxton!

Well after talking to Sara @ All about Eden/Kitty's Pretty things, we decided to meet up, after talking on the phone most days since June. We had a few false starts in the morning but I finally made it to cold Buxton(3 degrees colder than home).

We had a lovely lunch with cake (Courtesy of my Hubby xxxx) and looked though some of my sewing books, we only stopped talking to catch our breathe. We then went round to see the sites of Buxton, the sewing shop, charity shops and the Wishes shop, which I absolutely love.

We then exchanged 15 metres of fabric for 8 bags that Sara had made up for me for all my Christmas Fairs. That means I have 8 more stock items (pressure release).

I would have taken some photo's but I forgot in all the excitement of meeting up. By the way Sara thanks for all the buttons, they will be put to good use!!

Any way if any of you out there get the chance to meet a fellow blogger, do it, even if you have to cancel a couple of times along the way.

Vanessa x

Homes & Gardens

The fabric order arrived on Thursday, and guess what it is still on Sunday. I will get round to cutting off your stash Sara. I have been cutting out Pinnies for all the Christmas Fairs.

What do you think these button snakes will turn into!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My studio has an extra layre of bricks on since the last photo. The hubbo is working on it today so by this afternoon it should have one more layre.

Spotted this in B & Q yesterday, my darling loved it so in the run up to the Peter Rabbit visit, I thought why not! The birds do not know what to make of it though!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Whilst hubby and darling are out in the garden this afternoon, who knows I might get some sewing done!

Have a good day

Vanessa x

Take a deep breath!!!!!

I have been waking up in the middle of night having panic attacks about how much stock I will need for all the Christmas Fairs I am attending. All I seem to be doing is cutting out stuff and sewing up b****y lavender bags (another story). I also have my sister nagging me about how this is going to be your busiest time of the year so get your bum in gear.

Just a quick update on how the 'Daily Mail' thing went, in the 1st weekend I had 4 orders which were a mix of many items but mainly Lavender Bags (1 person ordered 20). I know the article was on Lavender bags but I do make other things other than them!! I also had 2 wholesale enquiries I was really excited and now I am thinking b****y h**l, I hope they do not come off! (once more my sister gives me another lecture).

I also ordered 78 metres of fabric yesterday, that needs paying for at the end of November so I really need to do well over the festive period, I think I will but if all goes horribly wrong I will be having a good January Sale.

I also booked a holiday in August for December to Lanzarote, this seemed like a really good idea at the time, but this is just adding to my dilemma as it falls just as I should be completing all the Christmas web orders. Oh well nothing I can do now. I have had to start Christmas shopping as well as I hate being disorganised, it's not in my nature.

I go away next weekend to Keswick in the Lake District I am really looking forward to it as I am looking forward to the more obvious seasonal change that happens up there! I have also promised to take my daughter to the Beatrix Potter World of Peter Rabbit, she is really looking forward to it, me too secretly.

I will hopefully load up some photos on my next visit.

Thanks for listening, sorry for the bad language, believe me in person it has been far worse!!!!!!!!!

Update!

Just received my 1st order off my website, How exciting!!!

Papers and Website!

If you have read my previous post you will know that my lavender bags were been featured in the Daily Mail! Well the feature came out yesterday in the Weekend supplement. I was next to an article on the Domestic Goddess (Nigella).

With the article pending I finally decided to bite the bullet and buy a shopping cart for my website and update it with new products. It was very last minute and still is not finished as I do not like some of the images and my sister has to update the stationary department as it has nothing on it!

I have been to look on the web stats this morning, my best day ever, but no orders! What should I have expected? Will people just take a look for the sake of being nosey, or will they look now, order later! WHO KNOWS!!!

Speak soon

Vanessa x

CELEBRATIONS!

The Cake
The view

The room

The happy couple

It was my mum & dad's 40th wedding anniversary yesterday. The arrangements were made back in April, my Dad(banker) was aware of the party, but not my mum. She only found out on Saturday, when my dad drove up to the hotel to stay the night before. She thought it was going to be a small intimate affair!!

The Hotel was the Cavendish in Baslow, on Chatsworth estate. The hotel was very posh and very expensive hence that's why the banker had to be told. The views were stunning, looking over the back of Chatsworth.

My mum & dad thoroughly enjoyed the day, there was all the family, and there close friends. There was my mum's bridesmaid there who she had not seen for 15 years, that bougth a few tears or two to her eyes.

We returned home 7.30, with all the presents, cake, balloons and the wedding photo album, as my mum & dad were flying out Spain on there jollies!

A woman's work is never done!

I have been busy working for the last few hours on some updates for my website, but I got slightly distracted by the new fatface catalogue. It arrived on Monday, I have only just opened it as I was trying to save my bank balance from receiving another battering.

I am trying to take some new photos for my website, but there just not right!

I am off now to collect my daughter from Pre-school, I don't want to forget her now, that would be terrible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's 10p listing day on ebay Yeh!

I am having a bit of a sort through as I am desperately lacking space!

This selection of Laundry bags and Peg bags were the 1 st thing to go. As it is 10p listing on ebay I have said bye bye to them (hopefully).

Any body that knows me out there which is Sara @ all about eden, will laugh at this one. It was my daughters 1st afternoon session at Pre-school today (normally she go's in the afternoon). I thought the session finished at 11.45am, but apparently not, as when I arrived she was the only one sitting there. 11.30 is the proper time, must make a mental note or write it down some where.

Pretty things!

I went to Hobbycraft just to look, and surprise surprise I spent some money! but only a mear £4.10, i was so impressed as the spotty ribbons were on sale for 49p for 4 metres.

I also visited International, which luckily for me had a summer sale plus a further 20% off as they were having a 'closing down sale due to refurbishment sale' LUCKY ME!!

I came out with 3 cupcake drawer handles, 1 cupcake coat hook and a cupcake biscuit tin, all for the bargain price of £3.98. What a fantastic trip to Meadowhall - Sheffield.

My little dear went back to Pre- school today, oh how wonderful!! 2 1/2 hours of bliss!!!!!!!!!!

Birthday Girl!

She had a fantastic day! The party started at 10 am and finished at 12.0 clock, she had her face painted, played musical statues and then played all afternoon with her toys. I enjoyed myself thoroughly as I had to do nothing apart from buy a cake!

Anyway not much sewing going on here as I am waiting for the little dear to start back at Pre-school.

thanks for popping by Vx

Exciting news, literally!!!!

I received a phone call from a lady from the Daily Mail back in June, she wanted some samples of my Lavender bags to put into a feature she was doing. I duly sent them down ASAP, I then spent the next few weeks buying the paper, only to be dissapointed every time, so in the end I did not bother (my Mum buys it most days, so I thought fate would take it course).

I then received a call this afternoon to say that the article would be in the Daily Mail on the 15th September. I don't know what to expect in terms of how it will look & also what will come from it, but as I always say " Suck it and see!".

Please go out and buy a copy, and let me know what you think, I will keep you updated on what happens at my end!

Have a good weekend!

UNDER CONSTRUCTION!!

This is my office/studio under construction, my hubbo decided after living here for 5 years, that it would be a good idea to start building my space. Unfortunately he started it 4 weeks ago and he has now been working none stop, even every weekend! He started his own business in April fixing people's faulty boilers, and my god there are alot of troublesome boilers out there!

The building outside was originally an outside toilet, and the previous owner added the attractive pillows & plastic roof. We have been using this as a coal store, garden furniture store and general dumping ground. With the building been out of action as a store, it now means the garden looks like we live in the middle of Baghdad!! I cannot even get to cut the grass, as the other garden shed has the cement mixer in it, blocking the door.

I will try and blog a little more, as my little dear starts Pre-school 5 days a week come Tuesdays, I can not wait. His a mention to Sara @ All about Eden, I told you I would update the Blog with a picture eventually. Next time who knows it might have all my favourite blogs on it.

It's my little's dears 3rd birthday on Saturday, so I might load up some more photos then.

Anyway on the work front, I am busy starting to load more items on ebay, and starting to think about my Christmas stock, as I have 3 big fairs including Chesterfield Christmas fair, which I am excited about. I am also adding a shopping basket to my website so hopefully this will increase the sales through the site, as at the moment the hits to the site no way reflect the amount of sales I have converted, so fingers crossed!! I hope it does not get to busy as my main machinist (my mum) is going on holiday a week on Monday, so I have her busy sewing each evening.

Any way a must go as Big Brother is on, I know of you will think I'm sad, but I have watched it up to now, so why turn off when there is only 2 days to go!

Ebay odsessed!!!!!!!!!!!!

I finally managed to get hold of a memory card for my supa dupa camera, I then had to figure out how it worked and how to download the photo's. I managed to take lots of photo's of all my stock on the only nice sunny day we have had for months. I then wrote up all my descriptions to put along side the photo's for Ebay.

I then spent hours of my precious time listing them. I then spent yet more precious hours checking my ebay to see if anything had sold, how many watchers there were only to be disapointed 7 days later, when only 2 out of 15 items sold for next to nothing!!! I did manage to sell 2 items over the phone to someone who enquired via ebay(naughty me).

Anyway I must go and cut out more stock as I have a show in 3 weeks. And I am trying out some new creations.

Happy Holiday's to all your Mum's with the kids off school!! (I hope they don't drive you to drink).

Vx

I felt I must blog! Well what has been happening, I have been away to Scotland staying in a castle. I managed to find a really nice shop that might be interested in taking some of my stock. The shop in Filey that have bought some of my stock from me have sold some, not a lot as the weather has been rather miserable around here lately. I have sent a pile of stuff down to House Of Bartlett in St Ives for them to hopefully sell! Fingers crossed as I had to complete a Business Plan/cashflow thingy this week and I need to make some serious sales. I have also decided to take the plunge and open a shop on Ebay. I will be listing this weekend!

I will try to make my blog more interesting next time with some photo's. I got a lovely digital camera for my birthday, but I did not get a lovely memory card to go with it!! Boo Hoo

Vx

Busy weekend a head

I have lots to do for this weekend, as it is my Mum's 60th Birthday. She told me and my brothers/sister we were not to spend money on her as none of us have any!! So me & my sister came up with the idea to organise a memory box for her, the idea being that we all put things in that remind us of certian things about my mum, or certain events. The problem been that I am sure it would of been easier to just go and buy her a present and pay for it on the plastic, as it is now taking up so much of our time. I have got to make her a tissue cover and organise all the deserts for a party we are having for on Sunday. My sister has just called so I have just organised my mum a big bouquet of flowers!!! I also must get on with cleaning the house as my husband has eventually mended my hoover after 1 month!! I know what your thinking 1 month with no hoovering! I have been borrowing my Mum's but's its not as good as the DYSON.

After cleaning I must get on with booking some more craft fairs for later on in the year so I can generate some more money.

Anyone interested in visiting my website www.justoriginal.co.uk, please leave me a message, tell me what you think about the site.

spk soon

vanessa

New Obsession

Well how do I start this off!

I was sent a link to a blog on Monday, it is now Thursday and I am still checking it out and following links onto links!

My Husband says I am spending to much time in front of the TV, What he does not know is that I am sat with my Laptop on my knee!!

Any way I am going to go now as I need to cut out some 'Ballet shoe bags' for a craft fair I am going to on Saturday.