Blog Award

Well, well she's back! Yes I know its been nearly another month since I've been on here, I am becoming such a bad blogger. But I'm back with some lovely news.....I've been awarded The Liebster Blog Award!!!! What a lovely gesture from Angie at Artwork By Angie who has passed it on to me. Angie is fairly new to blogging but is doing a far better job than me and well deserves the award! She says my blog is " is a joyful place to be, guaranteed to make you smile! " well thats lovely just a shame I rarley blog to put those smiles on your face, sorry guys. I wont make the excuses this time because you've heard them all before but if I was to say life, tax return, orders, Fb, tweeting, kids..... you'll know where I'm coming from!

Thanks Angie x

So onto the good bit, who to pass it onto? I need to choose 4 that fit the criteria.......

it is given to crafty blogs which have less than 300 readers, to encourage more people to visit you and see your designs & makes, then you pass the award on to some more crafty blogs.

The Ramblings of an Everyday Mummy Becki only just qualifys as she has 296 followers but I love her blog as it does exactly what it says on the tin. She rambles on about day to day happenings, her kids, her crafts, her writing and her often crazy life!

Me And Ma by Maria is a great read, its an even mix of her cratfs of which there are loads, the growing up of her 4 children and the news from the latest blog club she has joined. She also set up Crafty Sunday which I took part in.

The Patchwork Heart now Heather keeps me on my toes when it comes to blogging. She is a regular blogger bombarding us with her makes, her life as a teacher, her crafty hints & tips and she is always willing to share & give advice.

Sew Justine Sew does just that, in fact she never stops sewing! I love her for admitting she's a fabricaholic and for sharing her photos of her ever growing fabric stash. She enters every blog comp going I love it when she reveals the contents of the never ending parcels that come through her door!

So there you have it 4 blogs all worthy of a read & given the thumbs up from me xxx

The 27 days of January

There's nothing I like more than a finding a bargain in the sales! I'm never one to queue at the Next sale at 5 am but I always have a mooch around whats left in January. Have done rather well so far this year with some gorgeous reductions on the Cath Kidston website.

So if I buy in the sales guess its only right that I sell in the sales........ and thats where 'The 27 Days of January' comes in!

Every day from today until the end of the month I will be putting a bargain up for grabs on my facebook page. Most will have at least 25% off the price so be sure to keep an eye out. Todays item has already sold but there are 26 more to come including the 13 in the photo!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Muddy-Puddle-Crafts/115187628517227?v=wall

Done & Dusted :(

For the first time in years I am wishing we could have another week of Christmas. I've been feeling a little sad today as the decorations have come down one by one. They are all packed safely away now so I guess that brings the festive period to an end.

Looking back its been a good final month of the year and a very busy one........

........a magical Christingle, a singing 6 yr old angel, a cute 4 yr old snowflake, stunning frosts, nativity & carol service, decorating the house, the yummy turkey, great presents, loads of snow, record orders, seeing family & friends, a few good partys, happy kids, days out, sale shopping.......I could go on......even the fact that 2 of us had flu and a head full of snot for 2 weeks even seems trivial when I remember the highs.

So until next year ...........xxx

Sewers Watch Out, Lol x

Happy New Year guys!!!

Sorry I've not been on here much lately but I'm back and starting the year as I mean to go on with regular posts.......

As a teenager I tried my hand at sewing with my dear Nan and although I had a great interest in the finished article by my patience levels to reach the end result was never quite enough. I did what you call potter with sewing and even had a machine for my 18th birthday, but nothing really changed regarding my skills.....straight lines, flat seams, even stitching & consistent tension just wasn't me. I still have my old machine and it has travelled around with me from house to house often going straight from removal van into garage!

Well that was 2o years ago before I watched the episode of Kirsty's Homemade Home with 'free style machine embroidery'. I was amassed by it, scribbling on fabric, doodling with thread, make it up as you go along, messy means effective......this was right up my street!!!! So I began dropping hints to hubby about having one for Christmas.

Well lucky me he took the hint & bought me a rather nice & expensive Husqvarna one! It still makes me chuckle that he settled on this brand as they also make chainsaws so he figured they had good motors!! lol.

Anyway today armed with my Poppy Treffry book I had a play. In typical Jo style I flicked through the instructions, had a very quick practice, didn't really understand the tension bit but just went for it. To be more daring I took the foot off, dropped the feed dogs & doodled away.

Having mastered a heart shape I got on with a flower then AAAAHHHHHH a loud noise, a juddering and a massive jam of thread. The front looked kind of ok but this was the result on the reverse, oh dear.

But I dont give up.......2 broken needles later and needing to unscrew the plate to cut out an even larger jam of thread I produced this little house. Its only a start, its not finished & its far from perfect but I've had great fun!!!!

Think painting will remain my forte but you never know..... practice makes perfect! xxx

How Do You Display Yours ?

I have been playing around a bit lately with new ways of displaying my stock. Its funny what you see on your travels or find laying around that makes you go oohh, that would do for that ? I have quite a large display in the shop I run, it is made up of an old table, fruit crates, a plank of wood, an old cutlery tray and an array of baskets. My cutlery tray is great, I have recently moved some pegs into it that were in basket & they are now flying out!

I am also discovering that certain things look great visually yet they mean the customer darn't touch the item. Some customers like to have a rummage, some like to see a price label so they dont need to turn the product over & some like to be served. I am now adding more & more little brown luggage labels with prices so they can see whats what without the need to ask.

I went on the move twice this last week & had great fun creating washing lines on my stalls !!!

This weeks find in my garage was an old baguette board. I've had it years & I used it about twice when we first got married & had friends round for bbq's ! It was perfect for displaying soaps on today, I think after this weeks fayre I may add it to my display at the shop for my mini plaques or trinket boxes ?

Its all a learning curve but I love it, the challenge of how to get the most out of a product is just great, I remember as a kid wanting to be a window dresser.....guess my dream is being lived except its with bits of random dotty wood !

Christmas !

It occurred to me today whilst painting all things red & white that I haven't even found the time to share my Christmas creations with you. I am so busy concentrating on processing orders & prepping things for 3 Christmas fairs I dont know what day it is !

All I keep hearing & reading is how many days are NOT left til the big day....yikes its creeping up on us fast ! Personally we dont get festive at home until quite late in the day. Our family deadline to have the house all dec'ed up is my husbands birthday (16th). I did have a laugh this week when my hubby passed a house on his way home from work with Christmas lights in the window !!

I've kept things simple this year just sticking to red & white & mainly hearts. I ummed and ahhed over trees, stars. stockings, angels & just couldn't decide, so stuck to this. However I am already thinking next year where I may go bright & funky & a bit different !

All my creations are available to buy direct from me or by visiting From The Wildes Christmas shop, where loads more Christmas creations can be found !

Win £500 of handmade Goodies !!!!

As you may know I sell some of my products on the fab website that is From the Wilde. In Ellie Wilde's own words the site is "an eclectic collection of some of Britain’s most exciting and contemporary designer makers, artists and illustrators" !! There are currently loads of great products on there and it really is worth while having a browse for your Christmas shopping.

Sounds good ? want to get some of it for free ? then keep reading !!!!!

This month From The Wilde have got together with the great on line magazine From Britain With Love , this site celebrates all things British and handmade. Each month they run a competition and for the whole of November some From the Wilde makers (including me) have donated prizes !! There are £500 worth of handmade lovelies up for grabs so get entering, good luck xxx