Absence

Oh dear I have been away for some time, really sorry....really really sorry. Sometimes life goes into freefall and that has been happening here. Most of the house has been a no go area during the day as building work continues, so no sewing, no photographs and no access to stock! Add to that another period of illness for my youngest, dramas from just about every member of my family and you can see why I have not been blogging, that is not really what you want to hear about, and so I am not going into detail.

I will return soon with photos of the new kitchen and hopefully some stock back in my shops. There is light at the end of the tunnel, I can see it.....just!

These little chaps sold traight away on Friday at the latest Bumps Babes and Beyond fair in Berkhamsted Town Hall. I made a long bolster cushion this time with this little parade of Ellies and was very lucky that the customer allowed me to keep it on my stall as I had more requests for others.

Thankyou to the lovely team at More than a Mama who did a fantastic job once again of organising the fair and it was lovely to meet so many friends old and new. Thanks too to those customers who came back especially to see me again, lots of returning customers is a huge compliment for me, thankyou!

I have also finally got around to forming a group for Thirtyfive Flowers on Facebook so you can now follow me here too!

Time out!

Just to let you know my shops are closing for a short while as I currently have no-where to work due to a house full of builders and plumbers. The short amount of time I do have left will be spent making a few extra pieces for the next Bumps Babes and Beyond fair in a couple of weeks time.

back soon!

Louise x

Play School book

I found this great BBC Play School book from the 60s in a charity sale a few weeks back and love flicking through the great illustrations. Lots of inspiration for new designs......
and yes Spring is here, though thankfully not so showery! I just love her two-tone hair!!

Busy, busy

Have been managing to fit in sewing to get ready for a fair I'm doing at the end of the month, so some more Miffy purses are done and some new childrens tote bags, ideal for easter egg hunts and then to use for school.
So pleased the sun is shining at last and Spring is on its way, our building work is progressing well and I'm so excited as my workroom will be bigger than expected....just cannot wait to have my own dedicated space to work, no more having to clear away for meal times!!

Heals fabric cushion

Just love the colours in this cushion made using some Peter Hall fabric called Verdure designed for Heals.

I'm busy, busy at the moment making stock for my shops and an up coming fair at the end of the month. All this being done with builders in my loft and a poorly child, it never rains but it pours!!

Indie Crafter v Paperchase

As a maker and designer I am always aware of the people who copy. It has happened to me numerous times and mainly I ignore it, sometimes a curt email does the job, but usually it is just someone trying to do what I do and not realising that they will get spotted. When I started selling on Etsy I had someone buy a doorstop from me on ebay and immediately copy the design and sell it on Etsy. I was alerted by other uk etsy sellers who kept me up to speed with her goings on and her reaction to my emails asking her to remove them. Her shop has since closed and she won't be missed by many, especially not me!

Sadly there is currently a situation with a UK etsy designer HidenSeek who has had her beautiful and unique illustrations taken and manipulated by Paperchase. Paperchases line is that they are not the same, as theirs has a different 'feel' My personal opinion is that their behaviour stinks, Twitter has apparently gone mad over this and a Google search reveals it as a seriously hot topic with the press becoming increasingly interested.

Please please spread the word and help protect the rights of indie makers.

Read more here here and here

Latest news is that Amazon who were stocking the Paperchase item in question has today removed it from their site!