T'was the night before Christmas...

Well it's finally upon us. The running around, stress, wrapping and shopping has been done. We've been to church, where my youngest dressed as an angel, turkey is cooked, the washing is done and all the scrumptious goodies are open and waiting to be eaten.

The four stockings are hung in anticipation and we've sat down as a family to watch The Snowman and the Snowdog. The children are in bed, I'm having a long bubbly soak and Christmas can begin.

I know I've been lax at keeping this updated but its been hectic. So I will post some pictures of my newly renovated fireplace and some bright and colourful Christmas makes I have worked on over the last week.

I wish you all a very happy Christmas. X

It's the day!

Today is the day that my makes have hit the high street! I was hoping that life would settle down a bit now, but it's been such a busy day (as was the weekend), that I haven't stopped.

However, I did manage to finish off a little rainbow hat I was working on last night. I love it and the fact it's so colourful means it'll be quite eye catching in the shop.

I delivered the first lot of goodies last night, and am plodding on to deliver more mid-week.

On top of that, I have an order to fulfil, decorations still to put up, a fireplace to paint and my boys birthday on Wednesday! I feel exhausted just thinking about it all!!

T'is the season to be manic...

What a week! Life hasn't stopped and I'm beginning to flag, I admit.

Last night I was a cab service for my eldest, who went to her best friend's birthday meal. For some reason I accidentally found myself in the garden centre (they were holding their Christmas open evening) where two balls of wool and some pretty decorations inadvertently found themselves in my basket!

I have knitted up a cowl with one and admit I absolutely love the colours! Another make is in progress ready to hit the high street in just 4 days time!!

Amongst all this madness, I have managed to put up some more decorations today, including my original retro one. :)

The production line....

Ok there's been no recent updates on here but that's simply because I haven't stopped crocheting for weeks!

Today I am bringing together what I have made so far and adding the finishing touches.

I've finished off three cowls, one hat and a head band. I'm having a temporary break for coffee before I resume the production line.

Only 11 days left before my goodies hit the high street and I'm very excited, not least because I will be able to concentrate on Christmas (with which I am worryingly behind!)

The work really begins...

Today I received all the new wool I had ordered and have already made a start on the first item for the shop. I hope it turns out ok as I have a vision in my mind as to what I want it to look like.

And as any crafter knows, whilst working on this, I have three more ideas to work on and my fingers can't finish this quickly enough to get started on the next project!

On top of all this whizzing of mind, it is also DD1's birthday today. 14 years old!! She is at the cinema watching a new Twighlight movie, hence why I am able to sit quietly and get some sneaky work done!

New beginnings and big changes....

OK, so I've been appalling at keeping this blog updated.  However, things have taken a huge turn for me and there have been lots of changes in my household.  I want to keep a blog to show how crafting and small businesses evolve which will hopefully inspire and help others just like me.

The first news is that I gave up work.

The second news is that my hobby is now my work!  I was approached by a business called Bramble & Bauble and asked to supply stock as they liked what I made.  They are specialising in vintage-inspired items.

The best news is that Bramble & Bauble are running the Pop Up Britain flagship store opposite Richmond Station in the run up to Christmas, so from 10th - 23rd December my crafts will be sold on the high street!  I am obviously dizzy with excitement about it all and at the same time, things are moving so fast I am frantically trying to keep up with demand.

Because so much is happening I wanted to document it and share it with you.  It may be massively successful or I may not sell a thing, but in the words of Derek Trotter... "he who dares, wins", so let's give it a go! 

I hope you will join me in this little adventure.  

I am currently awaiting an order for some really lush wool so in the meantime I will be updating this blog with pictures of all the makes I have done over the past year.  You can also visit my Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/FunkyPo

Meet a complete Chatelaine!

I decided to add whiskers and knit a cotton cardi.  I think she looks beautiful - my little crafting mascot.

I hope you like her as much as I do!

Sewing crazy...

I've been busy lately creating some lovelies.  They are all for me, which is quite unusual, because I normally only ever make for other people.

Having discovered the wonderful Mollie Makes magazine (see the blog here ), I've been busy.

The first thing I have made was the freebie on the latest edition:

A gorgeous little Matryoshka keyring.  She has pride of place on my back door key (that is permanently in the back door) so I can look at her every day.

I have also been toiling over this little lovely for the last day.  The pattern was simple but because she is so tiny, it was very fiddly.  I was determined to make myself one though, as they are just too cute:

Her name is Chatelaine and she will now be my little crafting mascot.  I made her from an old cot sheet and some left over felt.  No expense has been spared though, as her eyes and nose are semi-precious beads and this evening I intend to knit her a cardigan using pure cotton yarn.  After a bit of a sort out in my dining room, and having a designated crafting area (as my materials are now taking over the entire house!), she will have pride of place, watching over me whilst I work.  I adore her!

I also made these hearts the other night whilst watching the tv:

They will be used in my kitchen.  I will probably string them together before tying them to a cupboard handle. There is something simply stunning about white thread on red felt.