HAPPY NEW YEAR !!

Happy New Year everyone ! I hope you've had a fantastic Christmas and great New Year spent with family and friends.

I feel like I've had a very well deserved rest over the holidays - I didn't look at my website for days and days so was amazed when I did finally log-on and found rather a lot of orders there ! What were you all finding to buy ?? I had virtually no felt goodies available for a loooooong time but I am very pleased to let you know that I have finally received a replacement order so the felt sheets, felt balls and wool roving that were out of stock are now back on the website and are waiting to be snapped up.

I have to say that after TNT lost my shipment I got really fed-up and disheartened with my whole little business. Even though there was absolutely nothing I could do about the situation I found myself in, I was fuming with the shipping company who had no idea how much trouble and upset they had caused me. I had even got to the point at one stage where I was within a day of shutting the company down entirely, but, after receiving so many lovely encouraging emails, phone calls and Christmas cards from lots of my customers, I decided there was no way I was going to let the horrible shipping company get the better of me. TNT had disappointed me, but there was no way I was going to disappoint my lovely customers, so, after a nice break over Christmas I'm now back and raring to go !

One of the things that kept me going was the fact that I had lots of lovely new products on order. Many of them have now arrived and are now loaded onto the website - click here to see them or you can go to the "Just Arrived" section on the website. More new products are on order and I'll let you know as soon as they get here.

Now, my SALE starts on Monday 4th January (that's TOMORROW !). Lots of end of line products up for grabs with up to 70% off some items. As always with SALES, there's very limited stock on some of the items .... so be quick

I'll look forward to seeing you on the website tomorrow .... if not before !

Sarah x

Let it snow

let it snow, let it snow ...... a LOT !!

Last Thursday evening we got 6 inches of snow. They'd been predicting it all week, but I have to say that I didn't really believe them. Although after the 8 inches of snow we got back in February I should have been a bit more trusting of the lovely weather people at the BBC.

Today is the first day that the temperature has risen above freezing since it snowed and it looks as though it's finally starting to thaw. Having said that, I've just looked out of the window and seen its snowing again, so maybe not !!

It's all very Christmassy though, looking out of the window whilst we put our Christmas decorations up on Saturday we could have almost been in an Alpine country !

So, the Blooming Felt website is now CLOSED for the holidays (although you will still be able to place orders - they just won't be despatched until 4th January). All of the last minute orders have been despatched (albeit a little late due to the snow hampering my efforts to get to the Post Office). The Christmas tree and decorations are all up and the Christmas presents are NOT wrapped (nowhere near it !).

Instead of wrapping presents (I'm hoping that Father Christmas might take pity on me and do it for me !!) I've been shopping on Etsy again. I just can't help myself with that website lately - everytime I go on there, I find something else that I just MUST have. And what I love most at this time of the year is that everyone seems to be offering free shipping, which is fantastic especially as all of the stuff I've been buying is coming from the USA. I've bought hair bobbles for Grace (not a Christmas present as it's far too late for that), a set of alphabet stamps for Sam and MORE clothes for me !! I know, I know, it's Christmas and I should wait and see what I get, but I'm pretty sure Father Christmas won't be bringing any of the things I bought, so I might as well buy them myself.

Lots of lovely new stock for the website is starting to arrive. I'll be putting a new section on the website over the holidays entitled "Just Arrived" and all of the new products will be popped in there so that you can easily see what lovely new goodies there are.

I will also be starting my "Sale" in the New Year as well - this section will contain all of the ready-made products that didn't sell before Christmas, as well as end of line products. I usually list all of my sale items at between 40% and 70% off their original price, so you really are getting some good bargains. But, as with all sales, stock is limited and once it's gone ... it's gone, so you'll need to be quick if there''s anything in particular that you've got your eye on !

Right, as it doesn't look as though Santa is going to send his elves to help with the wrapping, I suppose I'd better do it myself.

This will be my last post before Christmas, so I'd like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thank you if you've visited the Blooming Felt website this past year and if you haven't, well then I'll look forward to seeing you there next year !!

Have a lovely Christmas everyone !!

Sarah xx

Christmas is a coming

Oh yes it is !! Sorry - I didn't mean that to sound like Panto, but I guess it is the season :o)

We've had Grace's Nativity (she had the starring role of Mary !)

and Sam finished the school term with his carol concert at the local church - lovely !

My little man has now broken up from school and we have a very loooooooong school holiday ahead of us. So to start off the holidays we (we, being me and 2 of my very good school mum friends) took the children up to London on Friday to the Christmas Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park. I hadn't heard many reports about this particular event so wasn't too sure what to expect, but I have to say it was really good !

It was free to get in but you had to buy tokens to get on to all of the rides (no cash allowed). Each ride for the children worked out at £2 each, but it was well worth the money because they got a really long go on everything and there were lots of different rides for them all to go on. We didn't actually leave the children's part of the park (Santa Land) so missed out on the rest of the huge event - apparently it covers 32 acres !!

Fortunately for us, it wasn't very busy there at all so we didn't have to queue for a single ride and even got straight on to the great big ferris wheel - well, sort of ferris wheel - it was like a smaller version of the London Eye and the view was just as good, especially with all of the beautiful twinkly Christmas lights.

Of course, it was all very exciting for the children as they got to eat M&S sarnies on the train on the way up, have a good ride on the tube, have a wonderful time at the wonderland and then got a McDonalds for their tea !! And to finish it all off, we had to get the bus back to the Park & Ride carpark and we didn't get home until 8.30pm !

What a great day out !!

Sarah x

Positive / Negative

NEGATIVE

The field at the bottom of our garden going up for sale and the very real threat of travellers buying it and setting up camp there.

POSITIVE

We go to auction and manage to buy the field ourself with 2 of our neighbours. We are now the proud joint owners of a 5 acre field. I feel the need to buy some sheep and chickens to keep on our part of the field !

NEGATIVE

My little man has been told he is short sighted and needs to wear glasses

POSITIVE

He gets a really funky pair of glasses and looks very intelligent !!

NEGATIVE

Danyl has just been booted off the X-Factor

POSITIVE

Olly is through to the final - YAY !! Come on Essex !!!

NEGATIVE

TNT have managed to lose my entire shipment of restock felt items !!! The Blooming Felt website is now running at less than 50% stock levels on the felt side. The 4mm thick felt sheets, felt string, plain felt balls and wool roving that are all currently showing as out of stock are likely to remain out of stock until the New Year. I'm so sorry.

POSITIVE

The 2cm spotty and spiral felt balls are almost fully restocked, as are the 1.5mm thick felt sheets.

NEGATIVE

Sales on the website are way down due to TNT's total incompetence - thanks TNT !!!

POSITIVE

I've managed to write all of my Christmas Cards and get all of my Christmas Shopping done !

NEGATIVE

My little man breaks up for the school hols on Thursday - arghhh !

POSITIVE

The lie-ins start on Friday !!

There are a couple more positives that I want to mention just so that I can convince myself it's not all doom and gloom on the Blooming Felt front :

1. I've got lots of lovely new buttons and ribbons sitting in a box all waiting to be loaded onto the website.
   


2. I did an interview with Sew Hip magazine last week - how exciting is that ?!! It will be in the January issue which I believe will be in shops on the 31st December. What a great start to the New Year that will be (as long as I can get more felt stock of course !!)

And finally, I bought these 2 lovely items of clothing from etsy last night in an attempt to cheer myself up.

Can't wait 'til they arrive !!

Sarah xx

Special Offers & New Products

As I said in my last post, I've been very busy updating the special offers section of the website with lots of lovely goodies that are pretty much one-offs and are unlikely to be repeated.

So, you might want to grab a cuppa and a couple of choccy biccies before you sit down to check out these offers (and new products!)

First up are little bags of the hand-painted ceramic buttons. For the show recently I bought in a whole load of ceramic buttons to sell individually - whilst they did all sell very well, I am left with a number of designs that aren't standard stock items so thought I would bag up little bags containing a mix of 10 buttons and offer them for sale at a slightly cheaper price than they would be if purchased individually.

Next are some little felt flowers in beautiful autumnal colours, each with a teeny bead at their centre. Sold in bags of 25 - containing 5 of each colourway.


Next up - crocheted balls. These are all excess stock that I received and once again, these aren't my standard stock colours, so I'm offering mixed bags of 20 balls.

Also, fish-eye buttons - 25g bags

Funky retro button mixes

Lovely muted Autumnal button mixes

And finally, these teeny tiny little buttons (apologies for the grainy photos). I've had these sitting in the bottom of a box for a whole year now and it's about time they made their way onto the website. The first lot are called "Inheritance" and the second are called "Stocking Filler". Both come in round and square buttons. Once again, these won't be repeated so grab them while you can.

The gorgeous pink BIG ONE buttons are now on the website, ready for you to snap up and turn into funky button brooches.

I also have new colours of the 1cm spotty and gingham buttons on order so the "Polka Dot Party" and "Gingham Garden Party" button bags will very soon contain 100 buttons !! Now that's some party !!

Lots of lovely new felt accessories have also been loaded onto the website. A new range of felt bags, corsages, purses and rings are all now available in the "Felt Accessories" sub-category of the "Little Treats" section. Perfect for Christmas (sorry - that word again !!)

I today took delivery of more lovely crocheted flowers, so these are now fully stocked on the website (along with 2 new colours in the 1 inch size, which I forgot to take photos of, but will be on the site within the next couple of days)

I do apologise if your orders are taking a while to get to you. I was thinking of offering "Special Delivery" as a postage option whilst the strikes are on, but then found out that they're not guaranteeing delivery so that's a bit of a waste of time ... and money .. if you ask me. But fingers crossed it will all be resolved soon and everything will be back to normal.

Now, I've kept you here for far too long ... off you go and snap up some of those special offers and new products !!

See you soon xx

I'm Famous !!

Well ... sort of ! I popped into the newsagents the other day to get some sweeties (as you do) and

saw the new Sew Hip magazine sitting on the shelf. Hmmm, I thought to myself "I wonder if there's anything in there about the Knitting & Stitching Show at Ally Pally?" So I reached up to the top shelf (?!) and grabbed a copy and saw the words "Backstage at Ally Pally" on the front cover. As I flicked through the magazine it fell open at this page

OMG !!! It's ME !!! A lovely colour picture of my stand at Ally Pally, along with a mention of me by name on the following page!! I was SO excited I ran over to the lady serving at the counter and showed it to her "That's me!" I said. "Oh, lovely" she replied. She could have been a bit more enthusiastic, but never mind. I was ecstatic !!

Then, in the evening as I was leafing through the mag properly I saw this in the "Things We Love" section

Me AGAIN !! Oh WOW -It's my felt ball & button necklace kit. I am so happy (can you tell?) I'm hoping that my interview with the mag will appear in a future issue. That really would be the icing on the cake :o)

Sarah xx

PS. I'm STILL working on the Special Offers section of the website - it should be ready very soon, but I'm starting to struggle with picking & packing orders, updating the website & blog, attempting to make stuff for 2 Christmas fairs that I've got coming up, along with normal everyday life. Contrary to popular belief I am not Superwoman - sorry, but I am trying my hardest to juggle everything so keep an eye out for the Special Offers section being updated very soon x

Feeling my age

Regular readers of this little old blog will know that last week I went and saw Spandau Ballet at the O2 in London.

They were absolutely amazing and Amanda and I danced continually for the whole 2 hours that the guys were on stage.

I nearly cried when it finished - we had SUCH a good time and I wish I could go again - maybe next time ?!

The downside to being out late, dancing for 2 hours and drinking rather a lot of wine meant that I had a horrible hangover the next day. Not good when I had to get Sam to school (he left his schoolbag at home and we only realised this when we were over half way to school !). And I fear that my age had something to do with the fact that it took me almost a whole day to get over it and start feeling human again. I remember the days when I used to be out drinking and dancing until the early hours of the morning and then be up again 4 hours later and on a train going into my job in London, with very little sign of a headache or tiredness. Never mind - I'll just have to admit that I'm not as young as I used to be ... but still know how to have a good time !

I'm in the process of updating the "Special Offers" page on my website, so my next blog post will contain all the links and details of the products.

See you soon xx

Normal service has been resumed .....

for now !

I have finally managed to catch up with the backlog of orders that I had and am now panicking slightly that the postal strike will muck everything up !

Along with the orders from the show, everyone seems to be getting ready for the Christmas Craft Fairs, meaning the making season is well and truly upon us. Goodness knows when I'll have time to make my own stuff !

Every year I say that I'm going to make some felt ball garlands for our Christmas tree and every year I never get round to it. This year, I WILL make some. I'm also going to make some lovely decorations with the fantastic sculpted stars that I've got on the website. Once they're done I'll get some photos onto the blog.

Over the last couple of evenings I've been surfing the internet on the hunt for unique Christmas gifts (because I know I won't have time to make my own). As always, I get completely side-tracked and find all sorts of fantastic stuff that I just love, but that isn't really suitable as a Christmas gift (although I think some of them might find their way onto my own Christmas list !) I was amazed when I came across these

Finally, I have a use for all of those acorn cups that are laying in our garden ! I am definitely going to add these to my "making list" - I can just see them all piled up in a lovely bowl on the kitchen table. Will I get round to making them ? Who knows, but I'll definitely try.

Back to the website now and I forgot to say last time that the giant flad pad bookmarks are now back in stock, so if you were wanting some of these, you can order them now.

I've also got a new colourway in the BIG buttons - bright pink (they're lovely !) but are waiting for a brighter day to be photographed and added to the website - check back on these at these at the weekend if you're interested.

Now, if you came along to Ally Pally, you might have seen one of these hanging on the wall or around my friend Amanda's neck ?

It's my felt ball and button necklace kit. As a last minute thing I decided to make up some kits containing all of the components required to make up the necklace, in 4 different colourways. To my complete amazement I completely sold out of the kits !

As Sew Hip magazine did a bit of a photo shoot on these kits and the finished article, I thought I had better get a few more made up and onto the website (they'll be available for sale very soon). Hopefully they'll feature in next month's edition of the magazine and I might sell a few more !

In the kits you get an assortment of buttons, felt balls, maybe a couple of crocheted balls, or some pompoms, a sculpted heart, star or flower, some ribbon and some waxed cotton cord. All you need is a needle to thread them all together. I haven't included any instructions as I would like to think it's pretty self-explanatory, but if you do decide to purchase one or maybe a couple of these kits (perhaps as pressies), and need any help, just shout ! Fantastic value at £5.50 each and as before, in 4 different colourways - Cool (blues & purples), Autumn (browns/red/greens), Monochrome (back & white) and Citrus (lime green, purple, yellow).

I'm also working on a couple more kits which I'm hoping to add to the website in time for Christmas - so watch this space.

I'm also in the process of updating the Special Offers section of the website with a number of items that have been sitting around in boxes for far too long - they should be on at the weekend and then you'll be able to grab yourself a bargain with these special offer items as they won't be repeated !

And if that's not enough to keep me busy, I'm taking the afternoon and evening off tomorrow and am going to see SPANDAU BALLET !! I am SO excited, I can't tell you. Hopefully I'll be able to get some half decent pictures - we've got very good seats (which cost me an absolute bomb), but I don't care !! I've been listening to them in the car over the last couple of weeks and can't wait to see them live.

That's it for today - see you next time xx

Thank you !!!!

This is a very quick post as I'm absolutely snowed under (and completely exhausted) at the moment.

I just wanted to say a massive THANK YOU to everyone who stopped by my stand at the Knitting & Stitching Show at Alexandra Palace last week (was it that long ago !!)

I was completely stunned by the amount of visitors I had and the most fantastic comments I received from everyone who visited me. I was thrilled that my little stand was so popular and have to apologise if you were unable to get into the stand to check out my goodies or were unable to speak to me. I know a number of you did visit and it was typical that you chose the moment to visit when I was actually in the loo !! I'm sorry !!

On the Thursday I didn't even manage to get off the stand all day - I didn't have a drink or anything to eat and the first time I looked at my watch after the show opened was at 4.45pm !!! They say that time flies when you're having fun and I had an absolute ball !!

As well as thanking all of my customers. I also want to say a huge thank you to a few other people:

Firstly my Dad who managed to organise a van at the very last minute as we realised that all of my stuff wasn't actually going to fit into the 2 cars. Also, for helping me to set up my stand on the Wednesday and then to dismantle it on Sunday.

Next, my Mum who very bravely came to my rescue on the Friday after I realised that I wasn't going to cope on my own and then came to help us pack up on Sunday.

Also, my very good friend Amanda who gave up her whole weekend to help me out on the stand - thank you so much Amanda - I couldn't have done it without you !

Kim from Worn & Washed Fabrics who had the stand next to me, was absolutely lovely and and got me drinks on a regular basis.

Bev, Tom and Nanna on the Knitting4fun stand who were really kind by keeping an eye on me and inviting me to dinner on the Thursday night.

And lastly my fantastic hubby who took time off work (even though he had some important deadlines to meet), so that he could look after Sam & Grace. Thanks P xxxx

I'm currently trying to process all of the orders that have come in as a result of the show and I apologise for the delay in getting your goodies to you - but I can promise you they will be worth the wait !

Next year's stand is already booked - it's a bigger stand and will be on a corner, so that should ease the flow of people in and out of my little shop and hopefully enable people who were unable to get into the stand this time, get in next time !!

A quick couple of website updates - remnant silk sari ribbon is back, the GIANT red & white spotty buttons are back in stock and the small 1cm red & white spotty buttons are FINALLY here - thank goodness for that !!!

Thank you all once again - normal service will be resumed very soon

Sarah xx

My lovely customers

Last week, one of my customers emailed me some photos of pictures and cards that she needlefelts using the wool roving she buys from my little website. Her work is absolutely beautiful and I asked her whether she sold her work and I was amazed when she said that she just tends to give them away to friends !! So, after admiring one of her pieces in particular I told her that she really must think about charging for her work and not keep giving it away !

Yesterday morning, when I got home from the school run I found a box addressed to me sitting on my doorstep.

Hmmmm - what could it be ? I was pretty sure all of my stock had already arrived for next week's show

Ooooh - how exciting - a beautifully wrapped parcel

A wonderful hand written printed card - hang on, I recognise that seagull

Oh WOW - it's the washing line picture I'd admired !!!

THANK YOU MORVEN - I absolutely love it !! But you really MUST start charging for your wonderful work !!

I LOVE my customers. Thank you to all of you who send me photos of your work - I promise I will try and update the customer gallery page on my website once I'm back from the show and give you all credit for your wonderful work.

Talking of next week's show ... advance warning that all orders received between Monday 5th October and Monday 12th October inclusive will not be processed or dispatched until Tuesday 13th October. All orders will then be processed in turn and I do apologise if you have to wait a little while for your order to be dispatched. Your patience is, however, greatly appreciated.

And one last thing for today - it's my little man's 7th birthday today. 7 years old !! I can't believe it - where has the time gone.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SAM - LOVE YOU xxxx

Felt Frenzy

OK, so now I'm going felt crazy. FINALLY, my shipment of feltiness arrived after having been held in customs for over a week as they'd changed the import rules back in July and no-one told me !

The race is now on to get everything counted and bagged up in time for the show which is now just over a week away : eek

Unpacked yesterday :

• Wool Roving
• Felt Balls - beaded and plain - new colour now available - C2 which is turquoise
• Felt String
• Felt Sheets
• Felt Pebbles
• Felt Hearts

and, introducing (drum roll) ......................................................................................................................

FELT STARS !!!!

These are the new addition to my wet-felted range and match the pebbles and hearts. At the moment, I'm only putting a limited amount on the website because I need to take lots to the show with me, but I've had a number of customers request these particular stars and I have to say they are really lovely. Perfect to use as Christmas decorations either plain as they are, or embellished. These should be on the site within a couple of days.

Earlier this week I actually ran out of felt so was unable to finish the felt stacks. But with new supplies now here, I can finish these off. Sadly, sewing through each stack and finishing off with a button at either end was way too time consuming so after a quick family brain-storming session it was decided that I should use up the ribbon that had been languishing in a box upstairs for far too long and tie up each stack like a little parcel. Much quicker and, I think, quite pretty. Hopefully customers to my stand will think so too !

Child labour is alive and kicking in our house ... Sam & Grace have both been helping me with counting out and bagging up felt balls, stars, pebbles and hearts. They really love helping me with my little business and I have to say that yesterday I couldn't have done without Grace. Fortunately for her (and you !) she only needed to put one of each colour felt star into each bag and she did a brilliant job. We managed to get 80 sets of felt stars bagged up in no time at all !!

Today is Grace's 4th birthday. She's had a lovely day with lots and lots of pressies and a great party with all of her friends this afternoon.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRACIE - LOVE YOU !!! xxx

Seeing Spots !

Last week, one of my school mum friends came over to help me with getting organised for the Knitting & Stitching Show.

Her job was to count out and bag up buttons. And more buttons. And even more buttons ! If she wasn't seeing spots before, she certainly was by the time she had finished ! Thanks Alison - you did a fab job !!

My job was to stick little felt flowers onto the sample cards. I've decided to take a whole load of these with me to the show, just in case I run out of felt sheets and then people can see what they could have bought .... if they'd have been quicker !!

I've also spent my spare (!) time cutting out felt gift tags, which are now stored in colour order in my lovely baskets and will have the prices embroidered onto the corresponding shaped gift tag, which will hang from the handle of the basket. Hmmm - I think I might be getting a little carried away now ! But, sometimes it pays to give people ideas as to how they might actually use my goodies. Sadly, not everyone has the forsight to think how to use my goodies, so a gentle shove in the right direction usually does the job !

5000 leaflets have been printed (and re-folded by my parents and sister - thanks guys x - as the printers had folded them wrongly) and are sitting in boxes in the playroom (you see, it's starting to take over !) 2000 printed paper carrier bags are on their way to me. The chip & pin machine has been ordered. I'm still waiting for my huge felt delivery which should, fingers crossed, be here next week. Once that arrives I can start to bag up even more grab bags of felt balls, hearts, pebbles and the new addition to that range. Can't tell you what just yet - but watch out for my next blog post. More crochet flowers have been crocheted (thanks Carmen), price lists are done and are waiting to be printed, price tags are waiting to be typed up and printed, label tops are printed and have been cut out by my Father-in-Law whilst they were visiting this weekend - thanks Terry ! x. Felt stacks are cut and stacked and just need threading together with something and finishing off / securing with a button at either end ... you see, I am definitely getting carried away now and feel like I'm actually making more work for myself !!

Oooh, oooh. Another thing I just thought of .... check these out !!

Remember the little 15mm red spotty buttons that I sell (well, when I have them in stock that is. But sadly my supplier has been out of stock of the small red spotties for months ... literally). So how do these grab you instead?

GIANT red and white spotty buttons and GIANT navy and white spotty buttons - measuring a MASSIVE 55mm! £2.50 each - glue a brooch pin on the back - attach them to a lovely snuggly jumper or your winter coat and away you go ! Watch people's faces as they clock your funky new brooch !!

Also back in stock are the BIG ONE purple buttons, along with new BIG ONE lime green buttons and new BIG ONE blue buttons.

All of these buttons are now available on the website

Today was Sam's brithday party - we had all the boys from his class and his best friend Chloe to the party, and went here. It's a fab place and the kids (and their Dads !) all really enjoyed the zip wires, climbing walls and rope courses, followed by lunch in the secret nuclear bunker !!

One party down, one to go - Grace's party is next weekend so I'm off to put together party bags for her party next Saturday and then thread some of the felt stacks together! It's great being a working mum !!!

Sarah x