Wow what a Year!

Well it is hurtling towards the end of 2009 now and time for some reflection.  This year has been a mixed bag both professionally and health wise.  At the beginning of the year I had everything planned out and the plan was to finish my 2 year art and design course and then progress onto a graphics course.  This was to ensure that I had some sort of 'trade' to fall back on should the crafting/creating side not work out.  However, the powers that be had other ideas and I was prevented from even applying at one college for the graphics course,  apparently they didn't want old farts!  In truth I overheard a conversation between tutors and the reason was that they received no funding for mature students, therefore, didn't want them to apply!  Yes, I was a little slack jawed as well.  Anyhoo, my interview at another college was I thought a done deal, however, they too had the same policy so now I was out on my ear with no course and no plans!!

After consuming a lot of sugary treats and a few glasses of wine I regrouped and considered my options, these were:
1. To return to my desk job be bored out of my brains and run the risk of running amok in the office armed with a stapler!
2. To stay at home, hide under the duvet and eat jaffa cakes all day.
3. To dust myself off look to my strengths and what I enjoy doing and somehow create a business from it.

Having weighed up the options I decided to plump for number 3.  To achieve this goal I enrolled on a web design course in order to build my own website.  This resulted in me discovering that I am in fact a closet tech geek, who knew??  I really enjoyed building my own site from scratch.  However, it is like looking back at your first crafting attempt, although you were really proud of it at the time now it looks a little bit sad.  I am currently building a sparkly new version that will go live towards the end of January with a new line of stock, vv exciting.

So here I am at the end of the year a long way from where I began and I can honestly say that the ride so far has been fantastic!  I began absolutely petrified with absolutely no confidence in my ability at all and with absolutely no business experience either. I have met a wonderful range of people through this experience and want to thank you all for your support so far and for allowing me to pick your brains when needed. 

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful successful New Year! Elissa x 

Christmas Cushions

Thought I would share with you the Christmas cushions I made from some scraps of material found in the charity shop.  I am quite pleased with them as they are my first attempt at cushions & patchwork let me know what you think!

Also, still time to join in the December Giveaway leave your comment below that post for your chance to win one of my handmade fabric brooches (UK only I am afraid, sorry!  For a double chance of winning join my facebook group Not Just Handbags, good luck!

December Giveaway!

I have just been doing some stock taking and realised that I have far too many fabric brooches!  (Between you and me I think I may have a bit of a problem!)  Therefore, I think the time has come to do my first blog giveaway.  On Monday 4th December I will put all my blog followers (who leave a comment below) names into a hat and draw one out at random and that person will be able to choose (from a vast selection, lol!) a fabric brooch, it will then wing its way off to you.   To have a look at the full range see either Not Just Handbags or my Facebook Group page Not Just Handbags and to give yourself double chance add yourself as a member on their as well!  Good luck!

Sew sew close!

The fair is getting closer and my to do list is getting longer! I am so, so tired now and will be a little relieved when it is over as I can then get my beloved sewing machine back out instead of sitting for hours on this darned computer!!! (phew and breath lol) Anyhoo like I said preparations are underway, leaflets are being printed, business cards are not because my printer has decided that it is doing far too much work and business cards are just too much. I have just had a practice set up working on the dimensions given to me by the nice people organising the fair and have realised that I have got lots of stuff, bearing in mind I am doing it with my partner in crime who also has lots of stuff to sell. These on the right are what I spend my nights doing in front of the tv they are fabric brooches which I attach to handbags, I have so many now I think I may have a bit of a problem....

I have also been doing a lot of social networking via forums and facebook and am pleased to see a few of you here! It is so much more fun blogging when you don't feel as though you are talking to yourself! lol. One thing that I have found annoying and if I have done this to anyone reading please feel free to shout at me (but not loudly because I am a bit delicate at the moment!) is when you take the time to comment on somone's blog and they don't even acknowledge it, ooh. I know that some may be in the fortunate position of having lots of followers and well I don't, I like to think quality over quantity ;-) but if you don't have the time to acknowledge then don't blog! ok rant over, wish me luck. Ooh for those that asked by the way fair is at Mid Cheshire College in Hartford, Cheshire and is in aid of charity ASAP (African school that the college sponsors). Toodles x

Those handbags are not going to sell themselves!

This week has been hectic! Getting the kids back to school after the long holidays is always an effort with new uniforms, shoes and books they always look really neat and tidy well for one day at least! I don't really feel as though I have accomplished much this week just little bits of things. I am still trying to get my head around this blog and still cannot understand why despite my best efforts I still cannot find any sort of link on Google Blog Search!! I figure if I cannot find it how is anyone else supposed to, ho hum! Also, I have made some labels to go in my handbags and quite chuffed with them even if I do say so myself.

Why buy them when you can print them yourself using transfer sheets, an iron and some material. For anyone that is interested,

1) you insert a table into word and decide on your wording. When printing make sure you tick the mirror option, when you print on the transfer sheet it will reverse the wording.

2) Now for the tricky bit, make sure your iron is really hot and place sheet facing down. You need to iron for at least 4-5 minutes any less and when you pull off the sheet bits will be missing.

3) Once cooled cut out your labels and sew!

Simples!


Today I have been creating brooches to go on my bags there is bits of felt and beads everywhere! However, I really like the effect and feel that they finish the bags off nice also, they can be removed and added to something else. Have a look and tell me what you think...






I think I am going to have to stop sewing long enough to get my site up and running. I am gathering quite a collection now and need to start selling some.