daffodils

Today's post is quite simply a dedication to the beautiful daffodil. In the midst of 'we-have-about-a-week-to-go-until-Country-Living' stress I took a few photographs of our second bunch of daffodils this year.

Bought with the buds still closed, they opened up today and are my favourite type - washed-out cream with a yellow centre. Subtle, pale and pretty!  

All Hands on Deck!

This week in the studio has been all about starting to get prepared for the Country Living Spring Fair. Not long to go and being a little under the weather last week has not helped my preparation schedule. Fortunately I have a couple of amazing assistants (for when times get particularly busy, like now!) who have had their hands on deck too, and we've started to get things together ready for the '3 week Spring fair marathon' - as I'm fondly beginning to think of it (see previous blog post for our Spring fair schedule). 

We also had a small 'Friday giveaway' at the end of this week over on our facebook page, with the opportunity to win a couple of pairs of tickets to the Country Living Spring Fair Gala Evening on the 21st March. In the next week or so we will also have tickets to the fair up for grabs, so stay tuned! (Complimentary tickets valid every day except Saturday).

Alternatively if you are getting organised, booking train tickets to London and would like to get your ticket to the fair organised now, you can use code EXHCMT to get £1 off your ticket price. We look forward to seeing you there!

Our Spring Fair Schedule

Whilst sewing lots of chickens, eggs and making our NEW wooden bunnies this week, we also have lots of exciting Spring fair announcements...

Spring at the Barn

Saturday 17th March, 10am - 5pm, free admission

Tithe Barn, Mells nr Frome, Somerset, BA11 3PN

Click here for more details and a list of lovely stallholders!

Country Living Spring Fair

21st - 25th March

Business Design Centre, London

If you would like to get an extra £1 off your ticket price, please use the code EXHCMT online or over the phone. http://www.countrylivingfair.com/spring/tickets

The Selvedge Spring Fair

Saturday 31st March, 10am - 5pm

St. Augustine's Church Hall, London, N6 5BB

Click here for more info!

We are so excited about all three of these fairs, so had better crack on with our bunny-making! Happy Sunday x

my protégé...

I spent the last couple of days taking a small break with my family up in Cheshire. Orders were piling in, but my sanity was waning, so I grabbed a 48 hour 'rest' to rejuvenate!

We had a wonderful time walking, eating and relaxing but the highlight of the trip for me was helping my 8 year old goddaughter get to grips with her mini pink sewing machine...

She made lavender pillows and a cute lavender heart, and I gave her a few tips on how to use the machine. The only help I really gave her was in cutting out the heart shapes for the lavender heart, the rest she was getting pretty nifty at... it looks like I have a little protégé in my midst!

bunnies and eggs...

Since Top Drawer in January I have made over 150 egg cosies. I knew there had been a constant stream of bunnies going from the sewing machine to being packaged up for their new homes, and lots of eggs, chickens and hearts being stitched, but I had no idea just how many... and quite frankly I am amazed!

So here are a couple of snaps I took whilst making lots more egg cosies this week... just in time for Valentine's Day and Easter! x

let it snow...

Snowy scenes are greeting people all over the UK today, for us here in Gloucestershire the snow fell all yesterday afternoon and well into the evening...

I would describe our snow as a 'persistent sprinkling', although it was fairly deep on the roads by the time we attempted to head out for dinner in the evening...

Unfortunately for us (and our sledges - eagerly anticipating a run or two today) the snow was pretty much all gone when we woke up this morning. So until next time snow, my sledge and I are awaiting your return... x

** giveaway **

  ** giveaway **

set of 4 spotty egg napkins

simply 'Like' our facebook page and the napkin 

giveaway photo and you have entered!

we will announce the winner on Wednesday...

Top Drawer S/S 2012

I arrived home from Top Drawer on Tuesday evening, exhausted but extremely happy. I don't set any targets order-wise, as you can never tell what a trade fair will bring, and especially having never done Top Drawer before, so I had absolutely no idea what to expect...

But I was far from disappointed... each day seemed to pick up pace, as stockists new (and old) came to chat to me and loved my work, and placed orders too, which was fantastic!

One of the highlights for me was meeting so many lovely people over the 3 days... twitter people you know who you are and it was fabulous to see you all again, or to meet you for the first time! Although I was ready to go home after 3 intense days (4 including setting up - a tough job when you are doing it on your own!), I was also a little bit sad, as it had been such a thoroughly enjoyable show!

Preparations...

As we busily prepare for Top Drawer, which starts this weekend (opening on Sunday to be precise), I have just realised how slack I have been with our lovely little blog of late, oops!!

What with recovering from the Christmas rush, being worn out from a succession of festive fairs, and then putting my 'designing' cap back on to decide on new lines for 2012, I'm not sure where the time has gone...

  

So until we get back from Top Drawer mid-next-week (we will be at  stand L100 if you are popping by!), here are a few sneak peeks of new items / card designs / ideas and a trial run set up snap to keep you busy til then... have a wonderful week x

 

A very French Christmas...

This year we enjoyed a very snowy and very French Christmas... with orders all posted and things in the studio just about under control, I decided that a few days either side of the big day itself might be one of the only chances I would get to take a break for a while, so I jumped at the opportunity!

Before starting CMT I spent a couple of winter seasons as a chalet girl, and I've kept in touch with a lot of the people I met during my time in France. So I asked on a whim about the availability over the festive period, and to my delight there was space for us! We packed our suitcases and jetted off to France for mulled wine, cheese... and even turkey on Christmas Day!  

Joyeux Noël xx