Haggle, Haggle, Haggle

Since Christmas I have been umming and ahhing about buying myself some new glasses. Last week I was in town and noticed that a number of the opticians had got "buy one pair, get a second pair free" offers on. So today I decided to do the rounds and see if I could get me a nice new pair of specs (well, I had had my old pair for nearly 5 years and wear them every single day as I just can't get on with contact lenses). After trying on numerous pairs, the best looking (and and probably the most expensive pair I could find) were these

BUT, when the woman told me the total price (including the lenses) I nearly fell over !! Now, call me tight if you like, but there was NO WAY I was going to pay the price she quoted me, and I told her so too !! Suddenly, as if by magic, she started saying things like "well, let me see what I can do on the price for you". After a lot of haggling I managed to get a massive £75 off the price !! YES, £75 !!!!!!! So, it just goes to prove, you can haggle on the high street and get money off !! And don't they look lovely ???? (the glasses - not me !!)

(sorry about the blurred picture - that's what happens when you try to take a photo of yourself in the mirror !)

I spoke with the lovely Robert from Mr and Mrs House today and he was really pleased with the scarf sample I sent him ... as he has now seen the real thing, I should be ok to show you a couple of pics (the bird will be on one end and the flowers on the other end of the scarf)

I will probably be going into production on these when I get back from Cornwall. Honestly, I just can't get used to having to work 2 seasons ahead on retail stuff ! I'm also working on a load of felted Christmas decorations ... so I'll be really fed up with Christmas by the time it arrives !

My lovely new Japanese craft book arrived today and I've spotted a couple of little designs I shall be using to add to my current range of textile pictures



Now, TUGGLE. Remember me telling you about this wonderful new retail site specifically selling items produced by Work at Home Mums? Well, it has finally gone live. I've been busy adding some of my items to the site and have lots more lined up. Why not take a look and see if there's anything you fancy on there - there are lots of lovely ideas by lots of lovely Work at Home Mums just like myself.

See you soon !!

Byeeeeeeee xx

Nothing much to report

Hi there !

Well, from having a jam packed blog post last time, I am afraid to say that this post isn't very interesting. I've been having a bit of a rest, because the last couple of weeks have been pretty manic.

I've listed a few of my items on ebay as it was half price listing weekend (not that I'm a cheapskate or anything .... oh, ok, maybe I am !) I'm not really expecting to sell anything, but was hoping that it might be a bit of cheap advertising and drive people to both my website and my blog in the hope that they might think of me in the future when they need a few "different" gifts.

Yesterday I attended a craft fair at Cressing Temple Barns which is about 10 miles or so from where I live. It was a 2-day affair and I wanted to check it out because they are running another 2-dayer at the end of September which I was considering taking a stand at. However, after seeing how few stands there were (not to mention people), considering it is such a big venue, I was a bit disappointed and have decided not to bother. BUT, they also run a 2-dayer Christmas Food and Craft fair in November (I attended this event as a buyer last year and it was absolutely packed - over 2,500 people), so I'm thinking of enquiring about costs etc and hope to take a stand at that event. I reckon if I start making my christmas stuff now, I should have enough by then !!

I've added another little section to my blog - over there on the right - it's a section where I list some of the books that I either own (or wish I owned) and that give me lots of inspiration. Having said that, I've just bought this beautiful Japanese craft book from ebay and I can't wait for it to arrive - what's the betting it turns up when we're down in Cornwall ??!

Talking of Cornwall, I'm not sure if I mentioned it previously but I am hoping to do a mailshot to a number of upmarket gift shops and galleries down there in the hope that I can get a few appointments to see people and get them to stock some of my items. But, I'm having a bit of a nightmare getting the names of suitable shops etc, so this is a plea for help. If you can recommend any places you think might be worth contacting, do please let me know. I am ideally looking at St Ives, Padstow, Mevagissy, Falmouth, Mousehole areas, but am more than happy to consider others. You can email me at sarah@pictureitinstitches(dot)co(dot)uk. I do have a couple of other lovely bloggers who know the area, doing a bit of research for me and I truly thank them.

And now, in true Cornish fashion, I'm off to have a pasty !!

xx

Such Excitement !

Today I'm really excited because I had my first sale through notonthehighstreet.com . I was invited to become one of their selling partners a month or so ago and so have been listing with them for about 3 weeks. Today I had my first sale through them. I couldn't believe it when I checked my emails and saw an order there. I must admit I was starting to get a bit despondent as 3 weeks without an initial sale, I felt, was quite a long time. But it has finally come and I'm a happy bunny !!

I'm also really excited because the freebie that I won from paper-and-string arrived and it is fabulous. Thank you !!

I've been practising my needle felting over the last couple of evenings and managed to produce the following. The first photo shows lots of miniature pieces which I will turn into children's hair bobbles

The second photo shows 2 larger flowers that I have done - they measure about 2.5 inches across and will be turned into fridge magnets.

I am getting quicker with this needle felting business - it took me about an hour to do the 2 flower fridge magnets, which I thought was pretty good AND I didn't stab myself once ! As I'm on a bit of a roll I shall produce as many needle felted pieces as I can over the next week or so, in the hope that it will be enough for the first craft fair I'm attending at the end of May (see previous post for details).

The Japanese craft book that I ordered also arrived yesterday and has some beautiful projects in it - thank goodness it has diagrams, because I haven't got a clue what any of the text says !

Sorry about the flying visit today - it's a gorgeous day here in Essex so I'm off out with the children.

Have a good weekend if I don't see you before x

Twig Trees, Felt & Friday Freebies !!!

Hooray - it's Friday and yet another lovely day here in Essex !

I had to take Grace for her Measles jab this morning - didn't go down too well, but a chocolate button soon sorted the tears out ! Then I spent an hour fighting my way round Sainsburys. What is it with Friday mornings in that place??!!

As it was such a lovely afternoon we headed out to the local open/children's farm. Good job we took the wellies - the place was an absolute mud bath. Still, we got to see some lambs being born - the children were amazed (as was I) and then we were able to feed some of the other lambs that were born a couple of weeks ago and whose mothers had rejected them. That was so good - but you had to hang on to the bottle for dear life - they've got some suck on them those little lambs !!

But before we went to the farm, I managed to get a piccie of my twig tree - still in its original form (but minus the branch we lopped it from!). If I don't manage to get it set in the plaster of paris, I can always get Sam to come to the craft fairs with me and stand there all day holding it !

I have to admit to having a little spending spree today (and last night !) I bought a few bits and pieces to get started on my needle felting and then came across the most amazing book whilst reading another blog. Just look at these gorgeous items, all of which have patterns in this book. I scoured the web trying to find this book and finally found a copy at www.etsy.com. The only trouble is the book is in Japanese, so if anyone can translate for me I would be most grateful :-)

Lastly for today I must tell you about the most brilliant Friday Freebie that I won today from the Paper-and-String blog. This lovely lady does giveaways once a month (I believe) and all you need to do is comment on her post for that particular day, leave your email address and you'll automatically be entered into the freebie draw. How cool is that ?? Today, I was lucky enough to win one of her new range of "Make your Own Flower Brooch" kits, which I am so excited about because she is also supplying me with a number of these for my upcoming craft fairs and I can now see one "in the flesh" whereas I've only seen the pics up until now. If you want to buy one of these fabulous kits, you can do so through her ebay shop. Just click on the link above to her blog and then click on her "ebay shop" link.

I probably shouldn't be telling you about these freebies, because now you'll all be commenting on her posts and there's less chance of me winning something ! But, as her stuff is just so gorgeous, I had to let you into the secret !