When it doesn't go your way, but it isn't bad.

So a number of things have happened today. This first thing I did was curse the fact that this is the first two days off in a run I've had in the past few weeks. We lost a member of staff and as a result I fell for the old 'Do you want to do some over time? It's paid'. Now generally I say no... however I do need to pay some bills so swings and roundabouts. My fault so I can't complain too much. Apart from the fact the alarm went off at 6am for the hubby to get up. He didn't move until I crawled out of bed to turn the alarm off. Not impressed. No lie in for me then.

Thought I would cheer myself up and went on the hour long bus journey to our nearest Hobbycraft. That was fun in all fairness. I ended up spending a small fortune. Got some funky beads I've been looking at for months which I've already started working with. Some more felt. Can never have enough felt. Magazines - just because they are a bus journey staple and done.

I then thought I would be sensible. I have managed to rip two pairs of jeans in the space of two weeks. Do you think I can find a standard pair of black, boot leg, long length, no frills jeans anywhere? Like hell I can. Disappointment there.

Cleaned out the kitchen cupboards when I got home only to be completely surprised at how much crap I had stashed in there that had gone off. Naughty me.

So I finally decided I needed a break from it all. The cleaning can wait until tomorrow and the blogging can be the stress release :)

Most of my makes recently have been small items - mainly supply and demand in all fairness. So whilst today I am indulging in something more extravagant I am yet to have the pictures to show for it. That comes tomorrow after I attempt to at least try and clean the house a bit. Not only that I need to get my butt into gear and get my pics uploaded for the CRAFTfest event.

Memo to self: maybe total self employment is not your calling. You at least need to be partially organised.

However here are a few of my newer items just so this isn't a picture-less post.

Just to end this post on a random note:

I am currently trying to gut the house of all the rubbish I don't need. Have you every noticed some weeks you never have a full bin and the weeks you really need more space the dustbin men are always a day late.

Not crafting, just moaning.

So once again I have been very slow on the blogging front. Not because I don't want to and not because I don't have time, but simply because my husband has a mistress in his life. It's the house hold computer. He's always been a gamer but recently he won't get off the bloomin thing.

So in order for me to get back to blogging I need some help. Where can I pick up a decent laptop for minimal cost and isn't second hand? I just can't find a usable comp for a reasonable price.

Plus I need a plan. A plan of evil. A plan that will get all geeks off their computers and back into the real world.

By the way, I promise that Wednesdays post will be craft related lol.

No time to waste!

I really don't seem to be able to find a balance at the moment. Every time I think I have a few spare minutes to blog I end to being caught up in some other mundane event. Either that or hubby won't leave the computer. I think it is time I think about getting a laptop. Even though I hate laptops. Those little mouse pad thingys and then the fact you can sit it on your lap. T.V. dinners revisited or something.

However, since I do have a spare five now I thought I would do something creative and post. Then catch up with other peoples posts and have a good read and a comment here or there. That's my morning set :)

So as you can tell from the mini rant things have been quite hectic over here. The reality of work has been pushing me to limits that shouldn't exist. Mainly because we are now short on staff and 6 day weeks are cripplers. Especially when you are trying to run a second business on the side. However, this is a means to an end and the extra cash means I can by more beads and materials.

I have been working hard on some plushie monster patterns and have spent a fair amount of my 'yet to go in the bank' wages on furry material. In the next day or some, and with a little luck I should get down to some sewing and cutting and get some plushies on the rise so to speak. Just undecided on if I should create my own eyes or spend out and go for some glass eyes. I guess I need to search for a cheap supplier here in the sunny UK.

I have had a good week in sales which is always a bonus. As word of mouth spreads about our online presence I have been getting more hits on the old Folksy store - just goes to show that patience does pay off.

I don't have much to show you in the way of new creations but here are a few photos anyway.

So not much to show for my time at the moment. But keep posted. So looking forward to getting these plushies done :)

Plus with a little luck, I might have something to show on Handmade Monday as I have missed out over the past couple of weeks. Only myself to blame...

Game Over

So recently I have really taken to a bit of cross stitching. I find it relaxing and love to be able to look at the finished piece knowing I've spent time on something. Ok, the down side is the thread sometimes wants to knot and that annoys the @*$# out of me, but hey. All is fair in love and war.

So in order to take some time out from painting (I seem to be getting a lot of requests for plaques and lettering at the moment even though it isn't my normal fair) I spent some time on this guy.

What do you think? I noticed on the photo the letter was uneven, yet when I examine the piece I can't see any major issues. I have been assured by the media buff of the house that cameras can do this from time to time. What would I know? I'm the arty farty one!

Other than that I've been pretty lazy again. However I am interested to see what you guy like to see in hoops. Not the normal flowers and lettering which I love to do just for the detailing. Other things, things you haven't seen before or have seen very little of. I want a new challenge now.

Working hard to get right

I have been neglecting my blog yet again this past couple of weeks. However, rather than laziness, this time I have had reason. I recently lost a dear member of my family - my cat Moomin. She passed away unexpectedly two weeks ago of a heart attack. As a result we needed to make a quick decision and opted to get a kitten to keep out 4 year of tom, Garfield company. So a lot of change all round. Excuse my indulgence - but this is Moomin and Garfield just chillin' (she's the black and white one btw lol).

And this is the little critter we got a week or so ago. The Tiny Terror known as Hera (yes she is a bitch like Zeus' wife too).

Whilst it has been as sad time I have kept myself busy with work and with crafting! Managed to start getting on top of my Folksy store and stock counting. Making up a few new plushie designs which I am looking forward to starting. So with change there comes determination! Oh and I got myself hooked on Twitter. So between Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest all I need is Google+ and YouTube and I'll have this busy covered on all social media forums :D

So here are a few of my recent make and creations (some of which are in my Folksy store LOL).

Swarovski crystals 

A glaring of Monsters

Don't forget it's Handmade Monday over at 1st Unique Gifts. If you haven't checked it out yet, you really need to!

Secret Easter Bunny Swap

I love a good swap, but don't often enter them as they can be time consuming. After all if you don't know the person you making for you don't want to offend them with something they are going to hate! However, over at the Craft Forum they held a lovely Secret Easter Bunny Swap. Of course I had to enter.

I am yet to find out what my swap feel about what I sent them, so I will not go into the gift I sent out. However I had to share with you the lovely handiwork of what I got to open this morning.

My S.E.B. (secret easter bunny) seems to be very talented with her wire work as I couldn't even begin to start on something like this and make it look good.

I love the detailing on the headband! Something I would love to be able to do.

So thank you Easter Bunny. You're gift totally ROCKS!!!

Naughty blogger

Yes I have been a Naughty Blogger...

...I have let faffing get in the way of posting. Bad me. Bad, bad me!

Which isn't to state that I haven't been busy. I have been sewing away on more mini monsters, getting creative with buckets and bunnies and trying to get my photos in order. Am I the only person who seems to end up with a thousand pics on the PC that you know you will never use... yet you never get round to deleting. Instead you just add more. Never good... but it's all I seem to do. Take the photo, and another and another... might use that one... can't be bothered to delete the rest.

Needless to state I was starting to delete photos when I got sidetracked by blogging :)

I also got started on some Limoncello... random but true! Wondering if it works with oranges too because that could mean summer drinks sorted :D

So here is a few piccys of the bits I've been working on. Nothing overly exciting I am afraid but fun nonetheless.

 These are my Bunnies in Buckets. Not great photos thanks the the cellophane! But you get the idea. It's a bunny in a bucket with mini Easter eggs, a phone charm and a random bit of jewellery - in this case a heart pendant. These are coming with me to the fair in a couple of weeks time. I'm doing Mini Monster Buckets too... though the name isn't as catchy. Great little add on sale kinda thing.

Another sweetie charm bracelet... just because I think they look fun! Super sweet for summer hehehe.

Keeping to the Easter theme with these Hot Cross Bun earrings...

Then a little away from Easter with the carrots. However the Easter Bunny may need carrots...

And as soon as I can get myself organised and start deleting photos I don't need, I can post more. However the kettle has just called... and I think I can hear the hoover too for that matter...