48 hour Sale!

I'm having a flash 48hour sale in my BigCartel Shop. Use the discount code FLASH48 at checkout and get 20% off your entire order.  Only available for in stock items. It's mainly lampshades and in limited supply so if you see one your want it's a good time to buy now!

Easter is coming and I'm going to be away from work for a while and shutting up shop, so if you have been tempted in the past - now's the time to take the plunge!

So this little poppet will cost you just under £55 instead of the usual price of £69 and there are just two left!
Sale ends at 10am this Friday 22nd March. Happy shopping!

Anyone looking for a personalised lampshade for their little one, please read on.....

Should I really try and do these commercially???

I made this shade for my little niece Imogen - as ordered by her mum my SIL (she knows what she wants!) It's a bit of an extension from the personalised cushions which had me going a bit nuts before Christmas. It was made rather hastily (but with much love!) and it's on fabric rather than paper so the edges had to all be hand rolled etc. I need to try a few more out before I'm ready to set sail with them but not sure who to make the samples for - any volunteers - do you think I should run a competition..the lucky winner etc?
Any suggestions or comments gratefully received! (the base isn't ideal by the way - but my wooden ones made it look a bit tall and I wanted something more sturdy for a child's room - so I'll have to work on that one)

Meanwhile this little lad is growing up fast:

 

A fun project we tried with the Woodcraft Folk - inspired by the wonderful photos of Jan Von Holleben

By the way, Stanley already has three lampshades in his room and I can't possibly force another one on him!

Oh yes Valentine's  - one of these might come in handy!

Available here

Just a little add on.....

So that was January! I never much like January and this year was no exception if a little worse. I had a bit of a health scare back in December which is now being dealt with and I'm almost ready to bounce back. I closed all my shops just before Christmas and had a really lovely break with the family etc. Thankfully when I reopened them a couple of weeks ago, all these magical customers appeared and have been wonderful at waiting for their packages to arrive - so thank you most sincerely to the Not On The High Street shoppers especially, who have been in full swing, then to the finders and seekers of my Big Cartel Shop which now has more than just lighting to tempt you in and finally the Etsy and Folksy crew for those special custom orders from far and wide.
I've not quite written my list of things to do, but plans are hatching, so apologies for the late start!

Phew!

 

 

Sunday morning people pottering

Time to go home

There were lots of people here, honestly!

My weekend was swallowed up with the great machine that is The Chocolate Factory Open Studios. I'm glad it's all over but it was great fun and went amazingly well. I sold something of everything - bags, lampshades, cushions, tea towels, books, mugs all went off to happy homes. Kids came and doodled, mince pies got munched and so many nice things were said. I'd got my studio into such a state the week before that I didn't think I'd get it all done in time on top of Christmas orders, so apologies for a few belated ones that went out today! It's not easy working on your own sometimes, making decisions and wondering if you're going in the right direction, so it was just nice to see friends and family as well as new faces and get some support and positivity from everyone.  The Chocolate Factory is certainly an ever changing band of individuals which has its ups and downs but, having been here for almost 20 years, it's hard to imagine being anywhere else. Thanks to all who came along and I say this every time with little effect, I WILL try to be a bit more organised next time....

Thank you honeypie!

Open Studios at The Chocolate Factory N16

Thought I better start shouting about this!

Private View is Friday 30th November 6.30-9.30pm - so if you are a secret local reader of my blog...please come and say hi and have a mince pie on me!

Christmas Stuff

Getting in the mood (not really, I'm a bit snowed under at the moment!) and thought I'd pop these on Etsy and NOTHS just to test the water! Plus I thought I better give a quick update on what's been happening recently.....

These all started out as little paper cuts for my Make Lounge Demos - I always try and do something different each time I start a class and they ofter lead on to a new idea, somewhere down the line. So the little Santa bag I did last year has finally morphed into a Christmas stocking, so too has the reindeer. 'With Love' has had a few tweeks and is all set for Valentines, with a pop at Christmas in between!

Open Studios is just around the corner - 1st and 2nd December at The Chocolate Factory - You can keep track of us all on our Facebook Page

Tidy up time. 'You're so messy mummy!' my little boy told me after school as I tempted him in with a packet of Quavers and time on the laptop whilst I finished packing and sending today. Oh dear.

I've finally just ordered my copy of 'Illuminate' by Hannah Nunn and am very excited to get my hands on it. Thank you Hannah for including me, it's so nice to be in a book that's just about modern gorgeous lighting!

I'm also thrilled to be in a cute little book by the We Make London team, titled Inspired:London
You can find all about it here. Thanks to Author Mary McDermott for all the hard work and great photos by Abi Bansal
I'm slightly shy of the big photo of yours truly - but love all the rest - it's a great read, with some brilliant people in it.

And last but not least - I've got a selection of my work in a new exhibition at The Park Gallery up in Falkirk - Winter Warmth From the 17th November - 26th January with light being the main theme of the show, so there'll be a small selection of my lamps and more, hopefully feeling quite at home with all the other lovely things for sale (Hannah Nunn included - we get around!)

Oh and if that's not enough - thanks to Katherine O'Connell for her beautifully handmade 2013 diaries using my printed tea towels. You can buy them here together with lots of other lovely handmade books from her Etsy shop.

New Born Gift

A few more of my recent makes to welcome the little ones!

 The linen bear is by Namolio

A little bit of Parade on the back of this one.

Catching Up

I took a load of photos of my lampshades a while ago and at the time I didn't have everything in stock.
On Friday I finally got round to shooting a few more.  It was a very dull day so the contrast between the light and the background is quite strong, so I think I'll be doing a few more next week - but it's a start!

Patchwork Petal in Cream on Wide Drum

Ripple with Props

Rock in White on Wide Drum

 

Moroccan Tile on a No. 7 Drum a smaller version to the No. 7 Long Drum and looks great on the tall base

All soon to be listed in my shop.

Little Boy Loves...

I needed cheering up today - this did the trick, thanks Stanely x

Kids Stuff

I've been making lots of things for the little ones recently.....

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday to my gorgeous boy, also the luckiest boy to have an Aunty Jacquie who makes the most wonderful cupcakes in the land!