Summer Wrap Up and Shop Update

I never really did get the hang of Summer.  Some people are so organised and go into it with a handful of kids and plans for days out and holidays and trips to the beach and they do this with a clean house, a well stocked kitchen, a mountain of stuff in a rainy day box and with a camera in hand so they can show you how much fun their beautiful kids are having every day.  I fail on just about every level.  I end up running head long into it without so much as a notion scribbled on a napkin let alone a plan and my camera has been plugged in for use the last handful of times because I just don't seem to have gotten round to charging the batteries yet ...

Summers are disorganised chaos here, put it that way, but despite lots and lots and lots of rain we've still had plenty of fun.

I can't quite believe we're into the home stretch already.  Just two short weeks and Chloe will go back to school.  This week is the start of her crash course swimming lessons so even though it's tipping it down again ... oh aye it is .... I've actually got something planned, so there, neener neener and all that:)

She starts swimming classes in school this year and although she's pure water baby (it could have gone either way, I love the water, her dad ... not so much) and she's very comfortable in the water so should take to swimming, the last time we had regular access to a pool we didn't seem to get too far beyond this;

See, having far too much fun and none of us thought to maybe whip the armbands or rubber ring off her and see what happened.  With a bit of luck this week will give her a good start at least and then the school swimming lessons will take over and, save us all, I'll even dig the swimwear out and take her myself a few times.

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The shop has been quite tricky to manage this year too.  Way back at the start of Summer I was asked by Folksy if I'd like to be one of the beta testers for the new plus account.  Stupid question .... of course I would.  I figured it would be a great incentive to keep me on track and let me add lots of new stock ahead of Christmas.

Christmas is never a bundle of laughs for crafters, even if we're just making for friends and family as gifts we somehow manage to think we've planned a butt load of time to get everything done and still end up sitting hunched somewhere under the world's smallest table lamp, with the sewing machine on a towel so we don't wake the family at 2am.  I loved the idea of a head start!

 

And cue Summer when I typically get nothing done.

I have managed quite a bit though ... I've surprised myself, but then I've had a huge amount of help from my mum and dad this year as they've whisked Chloe away almost every weekend to let me get on with a few things.

I've really been enjoying making the Kindle cases over the summer, they're a great size so I can cut a few at night ready for sewing the next day, and they're easy to pack away if need be without anything getting so badly out of order that I can't find where I left off.  I'm looking forward to getting back to some larger projects once Chloe's back to school and I've more time and space to play with.

In the meantime I have been motivated by the plus account and have added lots of lovely new kindle cases.

Kindle Case in Coffee House Canvas

Kindle Case in Cherry Blossom

Kindle Case in Harlequin Kaito

Kindle Case in Honey Gold and Flambé Pink - New Season

Feel free to click over for a browse, these are only the very tip of an ever growing iceberg!

The Folksy One Day Sale

In case you've absolutely no idea what I'm talking about, the Folksy one day sale does exactly what it says on the tin.  Sellers reduce a single item, sometimes by as much as 50% for one day only. 

The items change every day, we have regular sellers taking part so you can always guarantee a good varied selection.  Today's thread includes bags, purses, accessories and jewellery and this gorgeous summery bracelet from Little Dotty Jewellery is only £3!

So if you're looking for a gift or you've had a crap week, got soaked on the way to work every single morning or you just think you've just done a particularly awesome job this week and deserve a little treat why not have a little nosy and see what takes your fancy.
You can find today's thread here and if you're too late for today's party pop along to the promotions forum, each day's thread is usually near the top.

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And new in today

Kindle Case in Harlequin Kaito

Blink and you'll miss it

And there goes yet another week. Poof, gone, ba bye now.

Time has been getting away from me so often lately. I sit down to do a handful of things at about 8pm or so and before I have a chance to blink, it's already past midnight.

On the home front, there is very little news. Though as they say, no news is good news.

Nobody is any sicker than usual, some sniffles and one notable headache on my part but that's about the height of it.

Chloe came home from school last Friday with the Star of the Week award, which she was very pleased with and which, of course, she took mean "I am awesome and I will get away with anything". Kids eh? She hasn't been too bad really, just pushing it a bit, trying to stay up far too late, pushing for more time in front of the tv. That kind of thing.

I've been busy with a small wholesale order for brooches this week as well, but I managed to complete it today and should therefore, in theory, have a little more time to myself.

I'm also plowing ahead with Chloe's birthday present, which will be a picnic basket filled with felt food. I've managed to squeeze in a burger, tomato, apple, orange, banana, two chicken drumsticks, two fried eggs (sunny side up) and a couple of rashers of bacon. Hopefully the sunshine we've been having the last couple of days will last until tomorrow and I can add a photo or two to this post, or an entirely new one.

Have I bitten off more than I can chew?

It all started after the "incident" in my dentist's office when he may or may not have caught me stuffing business cards inside the magazines in his waiting room.

Shameful I know. What kind of person would actually do that kind of thing? In a dentist's office of all places!

Well after the incident which may or may not have happened and which may or may not have involved me, the dentist said that I was free to leave a stack of business cards or leaflets in his waiting rooms (not just my little room mind you, but all of them).

Score!

Still, never one to be satisfied with what I'm offered and possibly due to the fact that I might have been hopped up on anaesthetic (which does funny things to me by the way) I heard a voice not unlike my own enquire "What about a magazine?"

"Sure" he said "as long as it doesn't look like you've got busy with the child's crayons you can leave a few copies of a magazine in the waiting rooms". And the Arts Centre, and the library and the coffee shops and tourist information shop said they would all like to have copies too.

But, and here's the snagging point, there isn't a magazine promoting Folksy. I don't have one. You don't have one. The girl down the street doesn't have one.

There isn't one.

Well, not just yet anyway.




But by hook or by crook there will be. In a couple of weeks the first edition of GO handmade will be available for download.

Can you just feel the excitement?

And it won't be just a catalogue either. It will be packed with features on crafters and makers currently being slaved over by some very wonderful and creative people on Folksy. You'll find out what they do and where they do it. What makes them tick and what inspires them. There'll be crafts for kids and tips and ideas on what to do outside this summer.

You'll just have to stay tuned to find out whether it all comes together in the end.

Can you wait?