I'M Back

Oops!!! Its been a year since I last blogged and I hang my head in shame, I have been Slack. But in my defence a lot has changed for me over the last 12 months.

The first thing is that I went back to work after 10 years of bringing up my 2 beautiful and testing children. I took on a job at a company called http://www.wood-finishes-direct.com/ that was customer services based, something that I had done previous to having children. I have to say it was a shock to the system going back to work again especially with a 5 and 10 year old to run around after and all the usual MUM things that I still had to do. But it felt good to be earning a wage and getting some adult conversation that didn't involve Nappies, school runs and the latest toy that the kids wanted.

One of the first things I did was make a cushion for my office chair, to add a little bit of https://www.facebook.com/PoppykinsCraft to my new office job. I did a lot of training and the company has steadily grow over the last 10 months.

Triangles, love them or hate them.

My first love when it comes to sewing has and always will be making a Quilts, there is something quite satisfying about cutting up fabric into lots of different shapes and then piecing it together to make something new and beautiful.  Of coarse when I first started making quilts I was rubbish at it, I didn't plan, I didn't iron, I didn't take care with seams or measurement and so consiquently the final results were disappointing and somewhat frustrating.

 So here at Poppykins headquaters the tree is up the Shortbread is in the oven and the work space has been cleaned and tidied ready for the new year !

Its been a great year in the life of Poppykins, now 2 years on there is a Logo and new packaging design. I have been stocked in shops in Folkestone Hythe Ashford and Canterbury and have done some successful Craft Fairs and some not so successful. The blog has materialised, all be it needing a lot of work, and I have met and made friends with some great people and I even got to do a craft fair at the ITV studios on the Southbank for Text Santa.

All in all a busy and successful year for Poppykins, but unfortunately at the end of a fab year 2 of the main shops I supply to are closing and I need to get a part time job now that Poppy is at school, so what does this mean for Poppykins..............

 ..............well it means some time off to re assess and do some sewing just for my own pleasure, which started with these 2 crochet cushions that have been waiting to be finished for 6 months now. And at last they are looking gorgeous on my sofa.

 Poppykins isn't closing just having a break, ready made stock that I still have left from this years fairs will be on sale in my Folksy shop www.folksy.com/shops/Poppykins

 There are some new possible projects in the pipe line for 2014 but are very much in there early stages, but here at home I have a number of project that have been waiting to be done around the house. One of those is too re purpose my wedding dress, a future blog me thinks.

 And so with Christmas just 2 days away and new beginnings for all of us I would like to wish all customers, watchers, followers, critics and friends a very merry ( and by merry I mean boozy) Christmas and a Happy New Year see you all on the other side xxxxx

Craft Fair why do we do them....???

So the pre Christmas Craft Fairs have begin and I seem to remember saying last year ' I don't think I'll do any more Craft Fairs' my intention being to start moving into local shops and increasing sales on the internet. 

And that is what I have done, I have been lucky enough to sell Poppykins products in 3 local shops and well over 50% of my sales come from the lovely people of Facebook land. I have been so grateful for the local support and the support of the lovely customers many of whom come back again and again. However despite my mutterings about not making money, bad organisation and bad advertising I have continued to take part in events and craft fairs this year the question is why.....??

Well I guess the answer is, I enjoy meeting the people face to face, seeing the people who buy my makes and meeting other small business's and crafters that are struggling to make money like me. This weekend has been a prime example of why I enjoy taking part in these Fairs, https://www.facebook.com/pages/Emporia-Craft-Vintage-Market/515178591873685 this was a well organised and well advertised event, ( and its not often I say that)

Ticker Tape..........my new obsession.

 Hello all !!..........apologies and all for not blogging for a while, I could give you all the shpeel about busy life and computer problems etc as to why I haven't blogged for a while but you probably understand that whole mum, wife and business to run, means no time for important stuff like waffling to you guys.

 I have been super busy of course getting ready for that Big 'C ' word that is rapidly getting closer, which for most means shopping and planning family get togethers around a tree making a mess and then consuming alcohol while the kids break ( I mean play ) with their new toys.

 But before I do all that I usually do a few Craft fairs and Xmas events. This year I seem to have booked quite a few and so have been building up stock in anticipation of making lots of money ;-0

 My first real Xmas make of the year has been some Ticker Tape Stockings. I discovered Ticker Tape Quilts on a Blog that I read a couple of years ago, I wish I could tell you which Blog but my memory is crap sorry.......

 Anyway it was added to the list of thing I wanted to have a go at as I loved the effect and the idea of using up all my scraps. As with most things on the list it has taken a while to surface and I haven't actually started with a quilt but with Xmas stockings.

 And so my first 3 Ticker stocking emerged and I so enjoyed making them and knew that this was something I would be doing so much more!!!

 I seem to have a habit of developing little obsessions which sometimes last only a week or two and sometimes go on and on and on like my love of Owls, and I have a feeling I could be making Ticker tape quilts, cushions and more for a while to come.

 So I hope you like these Ticker Tape bits as much as I do, they will be available at the events I will be doing over the next three months :-)

 And so I will try not to leave it so long before my next Blog !!!

You win!!!

 Apologies for the lateness but I crashed out last night after a glass of wine and a long week. Anyway the names where quite literally put in a hat this morning all 5 of you and my son pulled out .......

Its official!!!!

A Thank you Give away!!!

What possible use is Beetroot??

Creepy Crawlies or Beautiful Butterflies

 Firstly an apology for not Blogging for a while but school holidays and allotment commitments blah blah blah ......

Of late I have begun to get interested in creepy crawlies of the beetle and bug kind, and when I say that I mean looking at pictures in books not the real things. The anatomy and colours, shapes etc in particular. I can't explain this new found interest because although I'm not a screamer when something crawls across my foot at the allotment, I am not altogether calm either.

We all love Butterflies though ( except the Cabbage White that destroys my cabbages) I have several tattooed about my person and I really enjoyed doing a bit of free machine stitching for this red Admiral ( in case you didn't recognise)

 But I think that I may be heading more towards the not so cute 6 and 8 legged things that make our skin crawl.

 I found this chap in the Garden yesterday, he was flipping huge almost 3cm long at a guess but he would not stay still to have his photo taken .............

 .............even when I stuck him in a glass.

 So my love of Vintage Fabric and new found interest in creepy crawlies could be an interesting combination.

The Kids and I have also decided to build a Insect hotel in the next few weeks, and have been collecting bits and bobs to make spider beds and bee holes, and a little area at the bottom for the frogs. So keep your eyes peeled for photos and blog on that.

I Love a Good Boot Fair!!

 Donkey Derby Day always means a massive Boot Fair on Saturday and Sunday and so I was up at 7 am to go and browse. Its the first time in ages I haven't had to take the kids and have that ' Can I have this Mum .....and I really want that Mum!!"  I wandered around browsing and rumaging through peoples stuff like a noisy elephant. The main aim today was to find Christmas Presents and cloths for a Pirate Scarecrow!

But my first find made me do a little squeal of joy, fortunately there weren't to many people around to notice, but I found this wonderful Purple M&S bedding in excellent condition and a pink pillow case too! And then to top that off some Fat Quaters for just a pound!

 A wee Ironing bored for my little Poppy and various other bits and bobs to put away for Chrimbo.

 You can't beat a bit of Brucie another present for a family member!!

 And finally I am off to a wedding this afternoon ( I am wearing a facemask as I type) and so I found this Bright Red Necklace to go with my White Dress with Black Polka dots.

I was smoking my Hookah and contemplating Life.

A Draw full of Surprises........

 I have been on a mission today to have a good tidy up and clear out in my home. Its not been done for a while and you know that feeling when you wake up and you have a real need to clean and tidy ( okay so that doesn't happen often, ) I think it has something to do with my parents new build house that they have recently moved into. With its perfect corners and smooth freshly painted walls, new lights and fitting, I always have a pang of jealousy after visiting.

 Anyway after hoovering and washing and putting away various objects and paperwork I decided to sit for a bit and have a cuppa. And whilst supping away I pulled open the Draw on my coffee table.  Hands up who has a coffee table with a draw........and when was the last time you clean it out? Well I can't remember so it is at least 5/6 years. And so in amongst the packets of Batteries, the takeaway menus and the hand creams I came across my Cross Stitch stuff. This is where I started almost 10 years ago when I was pregnant with Harry.

 This is an unfinished unicorn that was intended for a cushion........

The Latest Quilt on the table....

This is one of my favourite colour combinations when it comes to Fabric, a little predictable I know but who doesn't love Turquoise and Pink. This was started just over week ago.

The Obligatory Teachers gift at the end of the year!!

So here we are, my first Blog, please don't expect too much from me just yet as I am still finding my feet with this whole Blogging thing. I'm sure however once I get the hang of it I will be waffling your ears off.