About Time

About time I returned to this space, it really is, I am not good at keeping up with this blogging lark.

So much has been happening here at Rag Button. Since before Christmas it was all go for Top Drawer and now its planning time for BCTF in April.

Looking back at Top Drawer, it was a fabulous show and I was so grateful to have been given funding from Craft NI to go and even had some super people to go with as well, Jenna Kirkwood from The Paper Patterned Company, Aine Clarke from Hansel and Gretel Knits and Lisa Chan from Lisabella Jewellery. So thankful and Sharon Hay from Innocent Chaos was also there. The show was amazing, full of such lovely things and we had a huge red London Bus behind our stand. At least I was able to find my way back to the stand each time I wandered off.

We had to start setting our stand up at 8am, I am so not a lark. This was the mess before it all started to take shape.

After a few hours later and some teas/coffees.

After 3 days, we had a wonderful show and now I am busy working away on orders. Next stop, Valentines day and lots of new card designs to photograph tomorrow.

Online shop at Rag Button

So exciting and after weeks of working, typing and photographing, I have finally got an online shop on the website. I hope you all will love it and get some pressies in before Christmas.

There is now a special area for wholesale customers and I have emailed out a password, if you have missed out on that, drop me an email.

Lots of things will be happening over the next number of weeks in the run up to the first trade show of the New Year. As next year, I will be attending Top Drawer in London for the 1st time and I have so many new designs and other products to develop for this special event.

Designing

I got some new supplies to play with, washi masking tape from Japan, Orla Kiely car fabric and little black board pieces I painted up. After a week or so of sticking tape down, ripping it off again, black board paint (black speckles all over my work benches, must use a sponge) and cutting up fabric, I have made some new designs.

The new designs will be on the website soon and even better, they will be for sale on my website. I have also spent the last few weeks building a shop on the site. It will soon be split into a retail and wholesale site. Exciting stuff.

Here is a wee look at the developments.



Some things need finished off, but I am getting there.

Christmas Trees

Oh my goodness I have been making Christmas decorations. I can't believe its round to that time of year again. Sitting thinking of decorating a Christmas, it really can't be. Running round the house at 6 o'clock closing curtains really does make it seem like winter time. Its now all about keeping the cold out, lighting the fire again and buying some new thermal pj's.

Some photos of the Christmas decorations. They will have cinnamon in them too, making your tree smell all lovely.

Yellow wool brooches are back.

Finally after looking in every hole in the hedge fabric shop wise, my local fabric shop has a yellow/lime coloured wool coat fabric back in. Yeah!!!

Now I can get some of my lovely brooches made again.

Ideas

Some pictures of a sweet pin cushion I am have designed recently. There will also be a needle case in this design. I now need to shop for a darning foot, so I can do free machining on my sewing machine properly. Doing free machining without a darning foot is not a good idea.

Time

Where has the last couple of months gone. Time seems to be a blur to me these days. In my life at the moment there is no start time, finish time, lunch time, holiday time and rest time. Everything seems to be all the time or anytime. I long to have a routine, a start time, a lunch time which can vary I would allow that, finish time and a bed time.

Things have been very busy to the least round here and that's probably mostly my own fault. I have been on a mission to do as many jobs around the house to make things look pretty. Making cushions, painting, starting a quilt for my bed and having a clear out.

Also I been working so hard to build up stock and sort the studio out and I am pleased that I have managed to make great head way in this area yeah!!!

The above picture is from Craft Fest which I attended last weekend. It was the most amazing weekend weather wise.

Off to get a cuppa and some maltesers yum.