New Products

Despite telling my kids and myself that I would put my paint brushes away for the Easter holidays I have managed to get a few bits made. We have had a busy 2 weeks and the weather has meant great times playing outside, picnicing, visiting friends, going to the park etc nearly every day but I have really missed making.

So with last Saturday and today being my day to work in the Emporium I took my paints and between customers managed to get these pieces finished, which has been great!

These knobs are new product for me, something I've been meaning to do since buying them from B&Q in January! I've loved doing them, so colourful, so cheerful and refreshing and a nice change from painting flat plaques. I love decoupaging and think combined with my signature polka dots it looks so shabby!

These kitchen plaques get a good reaction every time I put them in the shop so have done 2 more to add to my area, I may also put some on Folksy ? Anyone woman who is the only female in the household or any mum of teenagers always have a laugh at these and cant resist buying one.

Oooh Ahhh Fresh Flowers Part 2

As you may know I am on a quest to ensure my kitchen always has fresh flowers in it, by not breaking the bank. My newly revamped kitchen I feel deserves it so I pick up a cheap bunch of whatever at whatever supermarket I happen to be in and have decided to share it with you.

This week its Lilys from Aldi at £3.49, what a bargain, the smell from them cheers me up no end.

Also treated the kitchen wall to this beautiful willow twig heart that I picked up in a gift shop in the Mumbles over the Easter weekend. I tell my hubby I'm treating the kitchen and not me so his moaning about the amount of hearts I buy subsides a little!

Blog & Talent Spotting

With the exception of last night when we had friends over for a BBQ I have been so bored the last few evenings I have been having a mooch about on blogger and folksy. Been checking out blogs and Folksy shops and feeling so inspired by all the talent that's out there. I have found 6 great new blogs to follow and you really should check them out if you haven't already found them!

This felt heart brooch is one of my fav things, Hearts (check) Pink (check) and buttons (check) its by Little Gem's World. She has lovely things in her shop and her blog led me to Emporium Tea Rooms. This is such an inspiring place, a tea rooms , a craft shop and a venue for art and craft courses for all ages. What a great facility for the community. If that was on my door step I'd have my son on the toddler courses, my daughter on the sewing courses and I'd be dreaming of teaching there and spending my wages in the shop! Another teacher at the Emporium is Sandy from Three Potato Four her work with the kids on the craft courses is great and very inspiring.

This pretty cup cake card is by Button Patch really simple yet effective cards, loads more designs worth having a look at.

Moobaacluck produce a colourful range of wood craft and I am so tempted to get one of these for my niece who is cat mad!

Jim Jam Sandwich produce great textiles and these little brooches are a great price, so cute and dinky, I want one.

My 6th and final blog is winnibriggshouse , she a great talker and makes me smile, and if the picture on her header is her studio at the bottom of her garden I want to move in with her!

Hope you take a look at these 6 blogs, they have kept me going these last few days, great inspiration girls xxx

New Plaques and New Follower!

Been spending a bit of time getting a few new things together to add to my Folksy shop. I have decided on 3 plaques as I haven't done any plaques yet. There are so many of them out there but in saying that I've not seen any like these so I'll give it a go. I have decided to list things in 3's due to the layout of Folksy in organised rows of 3's. I think its the neatest way of doing things. (I am a bit of a straight and symmetry freak so bear with me). Too tired tonight to do the listings but they should be on by the end of the week. I am also in the process of putting a few bits on Wow Thankyou, has anyone tried this one ?

As well as introducing 3 new lines to you may I say thanks and welcome to Marie over at HeartFelt Handmade who has become my latest follower. Why not check her out, I love the fact that she sews the lot by hand and never use glue!

Easter Weekend Away!

I had a few days away with the hubby & kids this weekend in Cardiff Bay. What a fab place, it has it all going on great architecture, good food, craft markets, exhibitions plus all the normal waterfront things like boat trips, ice cream and an old faithful carousel. We had a great time wondering about taking it all in visiting "Techniquest", "The Welsh Parliament Building" and "The Visitors Centre". The whole place is really well done and really quite trendy & cosmopolitan, not a tacky shop or amusement arcade in sight! As its only an hour along the M4 to the Gower we also had a day on the beach, in the sunshine, which was a bonus. I'd recommend it to anyone.

As well as enjoying the sights we also had fun with our new compact camera (Sony DSC H55) the one they advertise on tele with the sweeping panoramic feature. Its fab, you just stand, point and sweep around 180 degrees and voila a wide angle panoramic shot. We got a few funny looks doing it but the results are great!

Happy Easter To You All

Happy Easter everyone, hope you have an enjoyable weekend and you get to see the Easter Bunny !

See you all next week x

Oooh Ahhh Fresh Flowers

We spent a lot of time, effort and money last year having our kitchen re plastered & re jigged into a new layout. With it looking so nice I have decided over the last few months it deserves to have fresh flowers in it at all times. We are not talking anything extravagant just a £3 ish supermarket bunch added to my weekly shop. Believe it or not it is having such a positve impact on us, (my husband has barely noticed or commented) but my 3 yr old son loves helping me choose and my 6 yr old daughter takes a mega interest in each and every bloom! Each morning she is guessing which bud will come out next and is gutted when they start to droop and turn brown. With it cheering me up on a daily basis I thought I'd share them with you each week.

So here's this weeks, 2 bunches of Co-op daffs @ £1.20 each.........Spring is well and truly in my kitchen !