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 

Sew, sew excited! (yes I know am recycling my titles ;-)

Ooh had my first two sales yesterday and am now a very happy bunny as I thought that day was never going to come!  Talk about timing I was having a bit of an icky day as I was still a little down about the events of the weekend and having to go to the hospital for my appointment.  Anyhoo it was nice to come home and find that one of my bags had sold so I tootled off to the post office and promptly posted it off.  Now I have the thought about whether it will get there in one piece, having waited so long for a sale my worst nightmare is that it arrives a shredded mess!  So I am on my way now and very glad...   These are the ones I have sold, will have to get creating again now, once I have got my head around banners and tables in html!.................

Remember, remember the 5th November!

After last weeks excitement of Halloween this week we have bonfire night a night in which we remember the chap who tried to blow up the houses of parliament! I guess that even in those days there was discontent with the expenses, however, attempting to blow it up was a tad extreme..... Anyhoo we shall be having fireworks, hotdogs and trying to dodge the rain as part of our annual bonfire night activities.

On a business note had a very exciting package delivered the other day my paper bags in readiness for my first craft fair, very exciting, yes I have acknowledged that I need to get out more! I have adapted my carriers as I have insufficient funds to have proper ones printed, lets actually sell a handbag first! Also, whilst I should have been doing website design course homework I decided that I would make an apron instead! As you do. So, this morning has been spent ironing, checking bags, stuffing and packing away in readiness for my first fair. Starting to get very nervous now as I have spent so long (well a couple of months!) building up to this moment, wish me luck! Ooh also, would love to know what you think of apron, not bad considering I just plucked out a lot of bits of fabric and didn't use a pattern! By the way homework still hasn't been done, need to find a cure for procrastination......

So close now I can smell it!

I have been working hard this week on my website and am quite proud of myself even if I do say it myself! Admittedly there has been lots of swearing and cursing, which is why I do it when the kids are at school, so only the house bunny and the budgie to scare. I have created it using a combination of my own html programming, yes I know it was a shock to me too that I could do it. I have discovered that, and am finally admitting, I am a closet geek much to my hubby's amusement as he has been an out and proud geek all his life. It has come so easily that I am starting to wonder if I am the re-incarnated Ada Lovelace! Anyhoo these are the first drafts let me know what you think ......

ooh by the way the image is a detail from one of my bags.

Back to School!

Well I completed my first session of my web designing class and must admit it was nothing like I imagined. We began some initial easy basic programming and it was not as hard as I had imagined and quite enjoyable, bring it on I say! However, the night did not start so swimmingly as I left a little too late, got completely lost in Crewe which meant that I was doing a handbrake park on the car park and then couldn't get into the classroom. You all know the type who arrive late and then cannot figure out how to get into the classroom as the door seems to be locked, the ones you sit there smugly grinning at thinking thank god that isn't me! Anyone reading this will not be surprised by this and is probably thinking that my arrival was quite tame compared to some of the embarrassing incidents I have had.... mmmmh I will leave it there for now. So embarrassment aside I really enjoyed the night and am looking forward to becoming a programming nerd!

In preparation for my nightschool class I decided to make some new school bags. This blue one on the left has satin ribbon detail which contrasts nicely with the shabby corduroy material.

However, in the end I ended up going with this nice pinstripe one, which I jazzed up with a flower corsage, Carrie eat your heart out.....