Sailboats, apples, and Muffin Disaster...

A couple of new designs to show off! Finished these today... A sailboat, and an apple, bothe slightly stuffed plush pins for my Pippin Designs shop. I can't stop making them!

Unfortunately, I don't seem to be quite as prolific and brilliant (haha) at baking, however.

Last night, I had a muffin disaster. Normally they come out beautiful. But today, they look like this.
Ooooooops. They taste good though. Next time I make a pretty batch, I'll post them here to prove my worth, hehe.

Right,off to list the new goodies. Byeeee. xxx

British Craft and Mexican birds...

This weekend was the British Craft Trade fair, in my lovely hometown of Harrogate. Its basically a huge event for British and Irish crafters, which buyers from gift shops, galleries, interior designers, magazine journalists etc come to to source new artists and new products. All very exciting, especially for a craft magpie like me.

Lots of very lovely gorgeousness, as you can see. Its always very inspiring to see what everyone else is doing, and interesting to watch the habits of the buyers too, so its a good place to visit. As you can see from my winnings, in this photo. I must have a million business cards by now, but I'll never get enough. They're like little cardboard jewels.
In other news, I also listed a new mobile in my PippinDesigns shop, which I'm quite pleased with, its influenced by a childhood memory of a mexican mobile in a friends home somewhere, and I want to make another, perhaps bigger, with vintage floral fabrics, and bells. I'd love to make one as a door screen too. Prettyful and fun.

Here it is! Right, now I am off to enjoy a lovely omelette for my din-dins. Laters! xxx

UK Front page again!

Just a quick post to rejoice in the fact that my pink UK treasury was on the front page again over the weekend! Woop woop!

Here it is, with a big thankyou muchly to the fabulous lostintheforest for the screenshot

The treasury has expired now, but included fabulous pink things from... lupin, siansburys, kankalin hats, kezzaroo, beaky, clothcat, gracefell, karen hilton designs, moocow handknits, swank, memake and cherrypips. Congrats all!

More later... xxx

Pippin...

Guess what? I opened a new shop! I felt like it was getting a bit messy, so I'm going to seperate out the more novelty items from the luxury ones. And the result is Pippin Designs! Woop!

Pop over and have a look see if you haven't already.

There's lots of exciting things like these...

Its all very exciting, like a new slate, and I've had a sale already! Well, it was to my sister, but still... hehe.

Anyway, I liked the idea of creating a more affordable collection, something ideal for presents, plus, I just love working with felt. A lot of it is the fabulous stuff I bought from Lupin, which is so lovely to use, just amazingly soft blocks of colour. So yes, that's my news.

Enjoy! xx

Beaches, rabbits and fondant fancies...

I haven't blogged in days. My apologies. I must try harder. But I've been rather busy piffling my days away doing very little. And at the same time, doing quite a lot. Here is a brief synopsis (in pictures...)

The beach on monday... cold, but beautiful.

Trains...

... and having a bunny punched in my ticket by the clearly insane conductor, bless him.

... and today, the discovery of a very delicious confectionary delight, the Betty's fondant fancy. A gastronomic pleasure which I owe to a very intriguing man.

I would have taken a picture of the actual cake, but well, I ate it too fast. I think I need to go back and try the yellow one next week. Yes.

Good few days, actually. Here's to more... x

Billie...

Introducing the newest member of my bag family, Billie. She's the third of five bag shapes which will for the basis of my new collection, and she's soooo purdy.

Don't you think?

You can't really tell all that well from this picture, but she's all voluminous at the front, and she's generally spiffing. She joins 'Edith'...

and 'Kathryn'...

and this week will also gain her final two friends. Then, they're all off on a trip to be proffessionally photographed for my new brochure! It's ever so exciting.

In other news, I'm feeling much more cheerful than in my last blog, thankyou for everyone's kind words. It's amazing what a little attention and text messaging does for the soul...

Happy Easter! xxx

In the red...

Guess what? My treasury was on the front page again! Woop! So chuffed, especially because all the featured productss were from some of my favourite UK makers! I wanted to include loads more people, because there are some amazing makers here in UK etsy land!

Here's the treasury, with thanks to the lovely Kala for the screenshot!

It was on really early this morning, so I missed it, but I'm still excited. It featured these fab makers: Lupin, Abiban(saldesign!), Sea Urchin, LostInTheForest, Swank, Hippy Of Doom, Siansburys, LauraFallulah, Greygoat, Cute Designs, Illustrator Jen, and KMC designs. The alternates were from Urban Knit, Veronica's Buttons, Heidi Burton, and Gorjuss.

Thanks so much to everyone for their lovely comments, especially Cute, Cara and LauraFallulah for blogging it!

Woop! Happy Days!

xxx

A colour explosion..

Today I recieved a colour explosion in the post!

It was courtesy of the lovely Lupin, and took the shape of a fabulous sample pack of felt, in all the amazing colours of the rainbow! I can't wait to get started with it.

You can find her at http://www.lupin.etsy.com/, and her blog is in the list over there >>>

She makes fabulous things like this...

Felt fancy pincushions, by Lupin at http://www.lupin.etsy.com

In other exciting news, my treasury was on the front page of etsy last night! It's expired now, but I was so proud to see it there, especially as all the sellers on there were undiscovered before I put them in there, and now 7 of them have had sales! Hopefully the good karma will bring a sale my way next! Here's a screenshot...

Doesn't it look awesome?

Right, now I must get a bath and clean the house. The boy is coming to play this weekend, so I'm looking forward to a walk on the beach, lovely dinner and too much wine. Yay!

Have a good weekend all! xxx

Esme...

So I said I'd pop back later and show off my new items, and here I am. They've had a great response so far, and I think they look great! So here we are, the Esme Carousel Horse Bag, a matching pouch, and a set of corsages. Available now at http://www.curiositykilled.etsy.com/

A grey day and a nice cup of tea...

Yesterday, the weather was awful. Windy and wet, and miserable. It somehow affects your mood when it's like that, brings you right down. But today the sun is out, and I'm much more cheerful! I have a new bag and matching pouch to list on etsy, which I will no doubt blag about later, but in the meantime, I thought I'd show off my treasury and treasury west before they dissappear. So here they are...

A grey day (with a hint of pink...)

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=3840

... and a nice cup of tea...

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=32882

The first was inspired by the milk bottles, and how the tiny little pink highlight makes the image zing. I just love 2Reverts ring, Ninu's bag, and Shutterkate's scarf, which I also featured in a previous treasury.
The second treasury is lots of my favourite UK etsy folk, indulging in our favourite pastime- tea and cake and a great deal of chat! I especially love the Abi Bansal Design bag, Emma Litten's cupcake pots, and Lupin's fab teacup brooch. I just ordered a sample pack of her fabulous coloured felt, which I can't wait to recieve!!

Anyway, must bath and take photo's, but will blog the new bags later on. Ta-ta. x

Feeling blue...

Actually, I'm not. That's a lie. I'm feeling just about okay. But I have new bobby pins and I just love the colours so much that I wanted to show them off. I just love the way this turquoise blue zings against the chocolate brown. There's something modern about them, whilst still feeling quite retro, and basically, I think they're ace. Both of these goodies are available in my etsy shop, http://curiositykilled.etsy.com.
Enjoy! x

Scarlet fever...

Four posts in two days... I think I'm obsessed.

But I'm just here to show off the new treasury.

You can view it at...

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=32388

Enjoy!! xxx

Alas I cannot swim...

Today I'm having a musically inspired day. So I thought I'd share a bit of it with you. Here's a few gorgeous artists I'm in love with. All their websites are in my links over there>>>>>>>>> too. Enjoy.

Well...
1) Laura Marling...

I mentioned her before I knowwww. But she's my current favourite. Discovered as a result of seeing her band, Noah and the Whale. (who are also awesome, see 2) I've just fallen head over heels for her lyrics and her voice makes the hairs on my back stand on end. If you do one thing today, listen to her. Ghosts (the demo version if you can get it), Old Stone, and New Romantic are simply orgasmic. And she's like 18. Not that I'm jealous or anything.

2) Noah and The Whale...

The first time I saw this band, was possibly the best gig I've ever been to in my life. Granted, it was a very emotional time of my life, and I was with possibly my favourite person in the world, but the atmosphere was amazing- it was in a small eclectic pub in Leeds, which looks like a cross between an Elle Dec centre spread and your Nan's living room. Along with Jay Jay Pistolet and Laura Groves, this band rocked my world that night. And what could be better than acoustic folk accompanied by moustaches and violins really?

3) Foals...

This lot are generally described in the press with lots of big pretentious words that get right on my tits. But basically all you need to know is, they're awesome and their music makes me happy. Their gigs are usually frantic and full of energy, and their sound is unlike anything you're likely to have ever heard. They also do a chuffin' brilliant version of Gwen Stefani's giving it... 'This shit is bananas... B-A-N-A-N-A-S... hilarious genius. Give Balloons, Cassius or Two Steps, Twice a go. You'll be happy you did. (" We fly balloons on this fuel called love...")

4) Maccabees...

Literally the love of my life. This band will always hold amazing memories for me of giggles and being happy and late-night phonecalls. But besides all that, they are one of the freshest sounds to come out of the UK indie scene in a long time, and their songs are honest, and heartfelt and real. They're not afraid of just singing about emotions, feeling no need to pepper them with irony and just writing amazing love songs. First Love (especially the acoustic version) is so good it hurts.

5) Guillemots...

This band are just incredible. Every song is a belter, they make music by playing the backs of chairs, typewriters... anything and everything, and Fyfe Dangerfield is possibly the world's most amazing man ever. I love music that acheieves real emotion without being sappy, and the Guillemots manage it with bells on. Once you've listened to Made Up Lovesong, you'll be hooked.

More to come later...

It's a Russian Invasion...

... over at my etsy! I added 14 new items today, including these matryoshka pieces, so go take a look see over at http://www.curiositykilled.etsy.com/

Seven Facts For First Bloggage...

...because I'm a big old copycat!

Fact one:

I have about a month's worth of music on my computer. Ever so slightly music obsessed, I have a soundtrack to every part of my life. My current favourite album is this...

Laura Marling- Alas I Cannot Swim.

Just spine-tinglingly beautiful tracks... amazing.

http://www.myspace.com/lauramarling

Fact Two...
I'm also a cooking obsessive. I wholeheartedly believe that the way to anyone's heart is through their stomach. I've been told I'm especially good at Lasagne, Burgers, Hommity Pie, and Muffins. All diet food of course... Hmm...

Fact Three...
I have a secret yearning for living on a farm. Besides the fact I hate getting my hands dirty, and would always quite like to live in the city, this seems like a very good plan. I want chickens, and white picket fences, and maybe a pig. However, I fear that this plan probably revolves around an Alex James-based fantasy...

Fact Four...
Trainers and odd vintage handbags will be my downfall. I have so many they may well suffocate my in the night. My favourite handbag is made of dyed red eel-skin, and I have a particular passion for converse trainers, and would like to own a pair in every colour in the world before I die. Yes. What an ambition. Trainers are Art. Fact. Nateduval at etsy has proved it so... http://www.nateduval.etsy.com/

Fact Five...

I have a beautiful tattoo that I designed myself. It's on my left wrist, and its all stars and swirls and I love it. My grandmother noticed it for the first time last week (I've had it two years)... she didn't like it so much.

Fact Six...

I have a totally thing about walking on grass with bare feet. It's one of life's simplest, most satisfying pleasures. But for some reason, I have to have pink toenails to contrast with the grass. I love doing the same on the beach too, even if its freezing cold and raining. I think I might be a foot fetishist you know.... although men's feet freak me out.

Fact Seven...

I speak fluent Franglais. I just can't help it- French words just appear randomly in entiely english sentences. It's a mystery, but I blame my sister, Amelie, and Blackadder... Yes. Quelle horreur!