Party Time!

Right..... I am going to get more organised with my blog! from now on I am going to aim to write at least once a week!

I have just been so busy recently..... which is all good obviously but it does mean that some things get neglected.....my blog is always out of date, my recycling is in a jumble, my pile of items to sell on ebay is stacking up and my children are probably behind on their dinner money...... but hey, I'm still enjoying it all!!

I have had a couple of parties this week where I was able to show lots of items I have been busy making.

The cushions are flying out and so are the chldren's aprons.

I have also been very busy with bunting..... especially personalised bunting .... for boys as well as girls. It's good to know we are not forgetting our little men!


And also some Christmas bunting!

I have also been mentioned on a blog!! My first time! So thank you so much to Unique Beaded Gems. And...as a result, I sold a lovely snowflake mouse Christmas card.

I have decided that I have been neglecting my Folksy shop so another note to self there! I'm also going to aim to start Folksy Friday.

So, the day has started.... the snow is on the ground..... husband up a mountain....the heating is on and it's a making day! Don't forget to catch up with me on Facebook
Have a great week x

Tuesday ramblings

Went into work today! real work... supply teaching in my old school....... Love the place but it reminded me of why I decided to open www.lockstockboutique.com!
Got myself up and dressed in reasonable time..... children all dressed (albeit in crazy clothes for Be Bright Day!)...dropped the eldest off at morning Netball, realised I needed diesel..... purse not in handbag....raced home...remembered purse was in bodywarmer.....couldn't find bodywarmer..... set off again munching on toast in the car.... Managed to get diesel on a random bank card I found in a pocket of my handbag.....8.45am husband phones to ask where middle child's coat is!!??  All before 9am.
Since opening Lock Stock Boutique my stressful days have taken on a different form...... can I manage to get all my orders done within my personal deadlines, have I ordered enough fabric? etc... all in the comfort of my own home..... no diesel required, no racing around to get to work on time, no trying to remember whether to pick the children up from after school clubs or a friend's house!  I LOVE being my own boss and I love the fact I can do it all in the comfort of my own home with a lovely cup of tea and the company of Phil and Holly!

If you're considering making a change...... go for it!!

Whoo hoo!! I'm back!!

So sorry! I have been incredibly busy.... It turns out that you have to make a business work by making lots of lovely stuff so that's exactly what I've been doing!
Where do I start????  My FB page is now a really good marketing tool... please make sure you take a look and sign up for updates!http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/Lock-Stock-Boutique-fan-page/139110189438565

I've also just been featured in the fantastic Families Cambridgeshire magazine http://www.familiesonline.co.uk/Locations/Cambridgeshire/Local-magazine
Page 8 of the Nov / Dec issue. Thanks to the fabulous editor Sam Carr who happened to buy some items from me recently through Folksy.
New website is about to be launched.... watch this space!!

12 days and counting

Only 12 days left til my first big event in Ironbridge. 4000 people expected...... not quite sure how it is going to go. ..... Not even started thinking about my stand yet and how to decorate it.







Been busy busy busy making cards over the weekend, still need to finish embellishing and then packaging. My mum (aka Helper Number 1) went on holiday today so I may be calling on a few good friends over the next few days!






Today was an apron day. Lots of lovely reversible children's aprons being made. A few more of the fab Little Tiddler apron.

Little Tiddler apron

This time backed with a lovely Boden gingham fabric.









I especially love this Peter Pan fabric which I found on a recent internet trawl.

Peter Pan close up

I'm also REALLY pleased with my fabulous cotton tape labels from the lovely Fiona at craftedhome.
 
Pay her a visit at
www.crafted.folksy.com

Bunting on it's way!

Been really busy today.... my first official day of not being a teacher and being self employed!!! Clearly had to have a coffee break when my lovely sister in law came to visit but other than that I have worked flat out today. Hopefully will post some new pics of some lovely bunting tomorrow. Also, managed to find some fabulous business cards and labels etc for Lock Stock Boutique. AND found a lovely lady on Folksy who has made me some gorgeous new labels for my handmade textiles....... FAB FAB FAB!!!

Busy busy busy!

Hi, been away for a while as I have been busy networking on the computer finding lovely outlets for Lock Stock products.
I have been busy making some new cards and have have added some new photos on my facebook Lock Stock Boutique Fan Page. Take a look!!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lock-Stock-Boutique-fan-page/139110189438565?ref=sgm

I especially love this owl card

And this new home card

Have also been busy making some vintage / retro bunting

Whilst looking for stockists I stumbled upon a lovely website : Pants and Paper. I know I'll be buying a lot of my Christmas presents from there this year! Take a look http://www.folksy.com/shops/pantsandpaper

I especially love these little purses

Russian doll tote bag

Holiday well and truly over, house still needs sorting out from a month away but Lock Stock Boutique is calling! Desperately need to start building up stock ready for my official opening on 10th September!

So tonight I have been working on this tote bag.

 It's a lovely lime green 100% cotton tote bag and I have lined it with some lovely vintage material I found on a recent trawl.

I then used the lovely Russian doll material from the fabulous Kokka team.

I'm going to give this one to a good friend of mine who suggested I made these. She is going to use it and abuse it to let me know how it stands up to everyday wear and wash. Once I'm satisfied that it is a tough cookie I will make them in shocking pink, lime green, turquoise and natural unbleached cotton.

Also, I'm trying to source some nice cotton woven tags to put inside my bags, on my bunting etc. Has anyone got any good links to contemporary designs. Have tried all the big companies and not too impressed.

I'm back!

Have had a fabulous time on holiday. Got a ferry from Dover to Calais then headed towards France's eastern side down to Champagne and camped for 4 days. Then off to Gex, little town near Geneva to friends of ours. Next stop, Swiss Alps.... 1600m up in the mountains..... fabulous..... children played all day in the woods, making dams, dens etc.

Had a day trip to Italy for a panini and  a glass of red! A lovely 26 degrees in Italy but snowing on the mountain pass!! Girls had a snow ball fight!

Then to the Auvergne via the Ardeche. finally up to the Loire..... canoed single handed under the beautiful arches of the chateau Chenonceaux!

Absolutely fab time! Now the hard work begins!!

Got my first major event at the end of September, please leave a comment as to what you think I should be making for it!!

Giveaway extended!

Hi, I have decided to extend the giveaway to allow more people the chance to comment!! Off on my hols now to France. Will update you on my exploits when I get back!! Got to be up in 3 hours...... best get to bed!!

Boys will be boys

I am the mother to two daughters and more recently a son. After 10 years of dolls, Littlest Pet Shops, Angelina Ballerina and the like I have now started scouring rummage sales for cars! Noah is acquiring quite a selection. Much to my husband's delight I discovered that a recent find was an old Starsky and Hutch car! ??
Well tonight I decided that after a busy day of making bespoke bunting I fancied playing about! Came up with this sweet little drawstring bag made from 100% cotton by Clarkeson and Clarkeson.

 Finished it up with a hand drawn car design onto red polka dot 100% cotton material and added some wheels and windows. I'm going to add some red buttons to the wheels but can't be bothered to hand sew at this time of night :S
Can see a market for these......soldiers, lego, marbles etc.
Watch out Folksy!!

Bunting giveaway!!

Ok, so this is how it goes!! I need to have at least 20 comments by different followers by the weekend before I go away!! If I get to the magic number, one follower will be picked at random and they will receive some lovely handmade bunting. To be in with a chance please just leave a comment on here by 9pm on Saturday  24th July. Good luck to you all x PS. Bunting may not be the one listed here!!

Seven miles down the Severn!

My husband took Phoebe (our middle one!) out on the river at the weekend. They loved it. Thought I would share some photos with you all. Please note that some of them are from Phoebe's viewpoint!!

Lovely fabric update!

Been buying fabric online today. Lots of japanese style imports coutesy of www.fabricworm.co.uk
Can't wait for mine to arrive now, Planning on lots of little coin purses.
Off to France on Monday for a month! Don't quite know where we are going yet but heading south east with our tent and aiming for the Ardeche with our new inflatable canoe!
Have a hard week left at work this week. My last week of officially being a teacher before i reform my life to be a textile / craft artist!
HELLPPPPP!!!

Yay! Folksy shop restocked!

Well I have finally got round to restocking my Folksy shop after having sold my only item last week!!! That left my shop empty! No cards as yet in my shop as finding it hard to photograph them. Will have to scan them instead.
So tonight, I have listed a fabulous child's apron and some bunting and hanging hearts etc.

Fingers crossed now then!
 By the way, keep trying to link directly to my Folksy shop but only lets me link to the Folksy Homepage so then you need to search for Lockstock.
Thanks. Let me know your thoughts x

What am I doing wrong????!

Help!! What am I doing wrong?? Why can't I seem to get my facebook details or my folksy details on my blog?? Everyone else seems to have them at the side of their blog. I have tried to add the on my dashboard but to no avail. Any help much appreciated!!

Hearts and bunting

Had a busy busy weekend. Had a fundraising event on Saturday morning.... a good excuse to get making. With the help of my lovely mother-in-law I managed to create a bundle of these gorgeous little hanging hearts. Each one is stuffed with a thin wadding and embellished with a button. I think they look fab..... even though I say so myself! Every house needs one!! Am aiming to restock my folksy shop this week so they will be on sale there very soon.

Also made some lovely jubilee style bunting for a friend of Chris's. He wants it to hang on his caravan in a few weeks time. I'll ask him to post a photo of it in action on here!

Just seen a lovely website called Dots and Spots. Take a look. They've got some lovely stuff!

http://www.dotsandspots.co.uk/

Have a great week!

Cushion making!

Well, Bath was lovely. Weather was hot too which is always handy. Dipped into the Cath Kidston shop and had a look at the sale things but only invested in a vintage style pin tin! Next to Paperchase to buy a 'contacts / ideas' book. Any excuse... but it is lovely and matches the owl on my blog.

Sold a bit of bunting this week and also had a few commissions as well. Word is beginning to get around!
I'm doing a stall on Saturday in aid of Marie Curie. Haven't got a huge amount of stock to take but it is more of a networking morning. I've made a bit of bunting, have got my cards obviously but then decided, as I always do, I launched myself into a new idea!

I've been wanting to make some Union Jack style cushions for ages. Slight problem, I have never made a cushion in my life! I had no pattern but got cutting! I used the Heather Bailey Nicey Jane material that I bought last week and used some materials from my stash together with some of my bunting tape. Made a simple envelope cushion. Very pleased with the result. Will put them on my stall on Saturday. Have a good weekend!

Folksy sale!

Hooray!! Just sold my first ever item on Folksy! Had only listed one thing as a little experiment so now my shop is empty!! Must restock this week. Feel really excited that this could actually work! Also had a lovely message from an old school friend today saying that she would give me a plug in her magazine when I get my own website up and running. Oh..... and I joined a gym.....albeit only for a fortnight!.....and went for a jacuzzi, steam and sauna on my return from a fabulous girly weekend in Bath. So, all in all a fabulous weekend!  Off to bed now.......Real work in the morning! x

Off to Bath!

The weekend is here and I'm pleased to report that I am off for a girlie trip to Bath with a good friend of mine. Stopping in a lovely hotel in the centre so lots of chance to go to all the gorgeous boutiques.

 Lovely hotel we are stopping at!

Look forward to going to source lots of lovely fabrics and I'm also after a book to put all my contacts and ideas into.......clearly it has to be very pretty and I'm sure it can only come from Paperchase so that will be at least an hour well spent!!

Hoping to go to the Thermae Spa on Sunday morning. Us girlies need our pampering and how better to do it than in style? Will update here after my weekend. So that's it...... sewing machine has been packed up for the weekend, Lockyboy is home alone with three children and I am off, off, OFF!!!

Oh, before I go, visited a new little shop in my home town of Shrewsbury. Didn't even know it existed! Great little unit in a handy area which means not having to get into the town centre. Not got huge amounts of stock at the moment but some lovely Heather Bailey fabrics and East of India ribbons. Take a look at her website Anca Shrewsbury

I couldn't resist some beautiful Heather Bailey and some of the lovely Red Heart ribbon. I hear bunting calling!! Have a great weekend x

Bags and bags of buttons

Well, I have just found a fab website. Started having a look around at some crafty sites and found this lovely one at http://www.itsthecatswhiskers.com/


Bought bags and bags of lovely heart buttons which I'm hoping to put onto my cards and bunting. Will post the photos on as soon as they arrive. Great little website, no minimum order and reasonable postage. Was also extra happy to discover that they werre based in the lovely town of Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire where my lovely sister lives with her family. Hebden Bridge has had some bad press recently which is unfortunate for such an individual town with such an eclectic mix of independent businesses. I wish you well 'It's the cat's whiskers'. Can't wait for my parcel!!

Dress to impress

Ok, so my husband is telling me I need to upload loads of photos on here of recent things I have made. I am going to do my best to find all the photos of things I have made but not sure how easy it will be. Bear with me!
I am really new to all this blogging malarky. I was trying to explain it to Olivia this morning. She lay in bed next to me (she is my daughter!) and listened intently to my trying to explain what a blog was. After a short pause she said, "So it's basically like a big rumour!?". How true is that?? Out of the mouths of babes.
Anyway, I'll try to show you some creations!
This is Phoebe modelling the pop over sundress from Sew Hip magazine. The material was actually from a charity shop and was a duvet cover in a previous life!

Help!! I'm out of my depth already!

Hi and welcome to my first ever blog posting! Seeing as you've taken the trouble to get this far, it is only fair that I tell you a bit about myself on a more personal level.
I have just turned 37 years old and I am the mother of three fab children. Olivia is 10, Phoebe is 6 and Noah is 18 months.
I trained as a teacher in 1995 and have been teaching since then. Since becoming a mum I have only been working a couple of days a week and I have LOVED being at home.
Last summer I enrolled myself on a Dressmaking and Textiles course at my local FE college. I hadn't sewn anything since secondary school but 12 months on I am completely addicted to fabric and all things handmade!
As a result I have decided to take a career break whilst my children are still young enough to appreciate having me around. I have decided to run a massive risk and attempt to run my own online business specialising in contemporary handmade cards and home textiles; bunting, door stops, hanging hearts etc.
Beginning to get nervous now. Only 25 days til the end of school term and that means only 2 more pay days. The mortgage still needs to be paid and we definitely need to eat so I thought I'd make a start and get a blog going.
PLEASE follow me on here and pass the link onto your friends. My DH is getting twitchy!