#savetheteapot - a #FF perfect for #elevensestime

What the #*!#?
 ... is what you may be thinking!

But if you are a regular user of Twitter (or addict as we are sometimes known!) you may have some idea what I am talking about! I have been on Twitter as madebylolly for quite a while now and absolutely love it! I have met so many new friends through this social network and have also learnt a lot - as it is a super speedy way to share information!

Although each tweet is limited to 140 characters, you can use that space to post pictures or links to other more in depth stories. When people want to share a particular topic a 'hashtag' (the symbol # followed by a word) is used to 'tag' the tweet.

Hopefully this might be starting to explain the reason for the strange title to this week's Folksy Friday blog post...?! Well, either way, I shall explain!

#savetheteapot is a topic that has started trending on Twitter after a report was published that suggested most of us make our tea in mugs!

#FF or #FollowFriday is a way for tweeters to share a list of other people that they follow - a personal recommendation of people they think you might also like (it also has the same initials as Folksy Friday!)

#elevensestime is a way for people all over to share what they are doing at elevenses time!

So... today my Folksy Friday theme is Teapots - featuring some people I follow on Twitter and Folksy!

I hope you have time to enjoy this post while you sit down for your own cuppa at eleven - out of a teapot of course!

Teapot by Flossie Limejuice

Brown Betty Teapot Coaster by Kettle of Fish

Pottery Mouse Teapot by littlewrenpottery

Cheeky Blue Tits Tea Cosy by Dear Emma

 

Time for Tea Lino Print by Mangle Prints

Don't forget to take a peek at Twitter and follow some of these people!

Why not get involved with #savetheteapot

And if you want to follow me I can be found at @madebylolly

Happy #elevensestime!

Craft Room Makeover #2.... Nothing's ever perfect!

Getting a sense of de ja vue?

Remember me doing a craft room makeover not that long ago...

Craft Room Makeover June 2011

Well, you are absolutely right! Back in June 2011 I managed to persuade the OH to swap rooms with me and I had a grand old time setting up my new super-organised craft room 

(see here for the blog post!)

PERFECT!

Or so I thought...

But since then I have inherited hundreds of beads and had an extremely busy Christmas period which resulted in the ironing board being used as my packing table, and the entire house being used as my workroom! This led me to the conclusion that maybe my craft room was not so perfect after all! So after much soul searching, another visit to IKEA, and nearly a whole month, I have finally finished Craft Room Makeover #2!

So, as well as the hints and tips for a craft room makeover I posted last year in my
 Room Re-organisation blog post, here are some additional handy tips that may help with your own studio transformation!

I guess it all depends on what activities you undertake in your craftroom, but I would always suggest buying the biggest that will comfortably fit!

Also, try not to crowd the desk with too much storage - I find a clean, tidy, empty desk is a real invitation to get creative!

After much deliberation I paid in expendable legs for the desk so that it could be raised to waist height. This has got two benefits. Firstly, I can comfortably stand and work at the table... but secondly, thanks to some freak of providence, the old sideboard (minus the doors) fits snugly under the desk creating a fabulous storage solution for all my packing materials!

Craft Room Makeover Tip 2

Invest in storage!

But that doesn't mean you have to spend a fortune! There are lots of pretty and practical storage solutions that don't cost that much! In this picture you can see toiletry boxes that have been re-purposed as ribbon and button boxes!

Swapping all my buttons and haberdashery from the gorgeous glass jars into much more practical plastic containers means I can stack lots of things on top of one another, saving shelf space, but also means all my bits an pieces are more portable for when I need to take them to demonstrations and craft parties (email me at madebylolly@hotmail.com if you're interested!)...

...but never fear, the glass jars have now been put to use containing a fabulous selection of beads that I recently inherited!

I also managed to thrift a mini filing cabinet that once cleaned and tidied (and decorated!) was the perfect storage solution for all my sheets of felt

Craft Room Makeover Tip 3

Make space for personal belongings!

Having extra desk space and a home for everything means I also have more space for a few little personal touches...

And now it's all finished, I can't wait to get back into my room and start creating!
 I've had to put my new range 'Spring Dreams' on hold while I got this finished!

Right, I'm off  to test whether everything is as usefully organised as I think it is!
Please feel free to comment if you've come up with any more suggestions for a super-organised craft room as I have a feeling that once I get started on the new range I may need all the help I can get trying to keep my newly re-organised craft room tidy!

 

'Operation: Bright Eyed and Bushy Tailed' #2 - Shanks Pony

Anyone who read my previous post will know that both me and the OH have made a pact to embrace the positive things in life, and make an effort to be more active and enthusiastic about everything we do...

So... for the last two Saturdays, we have abandoned the car in favour of good ol' Shanks Pony and have walked to the supermarket to get our weekend treats! Last week was a gorgeous crisp winters morning, but today was... NOT!

However - it didn't rain, we got lots of exercise tramping through the mud, and we did manage to find a few tasty treats to make the trip worth while!

As for our other plans...

Well, OH has now bought his shorts AND decided which gym to join

 (but is still yet to book an induction!)

And I am valiantly getting on with my craft room clearout, and have got as far as opening a

destash shop on Folksy to help sell some of my excess so I can create some space to work!

And for now... that's it! But that's OK!

Have a great weekend, Laura x

'Operation: Bright Eyed and Bushy Tailed' #1

The New Year is traditionally the time for resolutions, fresh starts and positive intentions - and although I don't exactly hold with the idea of the New Years Resolution (go on, admit it, how many of you have already broken yours?)  - this January, both me and the OH have decided to instigate 

'Operation: Bright Eyed and Bushy Tailed'

'Running Fox' Image from Ping Prints on Folksy

Rather than any specific weight loss or fitness goals we have both decided we would like to generate more energy and enthusiasm for everything we do and stop putting off things we don't want to do

(and if we happen to lose weight, get fit, get organised, or get rich that'll just be an added bonus!) 

So, I hear you ask - what does 'Operation: Bright Eyed and Bushy Tailed' involve?

Well... I guess you could say we are taking the step-by-step approach, and not committing to anything too large, too soon! 

The OH has decided to join a gym and has gone as far as buying two new pairs of shorts...

We have reorganised the kitchen so that I don't have to chance a saucepan avalanche every time I open a cupboard...

I have sorted out my wardrobe and identified a bag full of items that I never wear, ready to Ebay...

I have changed the default printer to the one that is actually plugged in - rather than the one that was removed 3 months ago!

And...
I have finally cleared the kitchen table of the craft equipment that has been there since it started getting busy back in October last year - so that we can sit down and eat at the table again!

Each task was a tiny little thing - but each one has already gone some way to improving our quality of life. OK, so we have a long way to go - the OH has to actually book an induction at a gym, and I have to pluck up the courage to open the door to my craft room and once and for all get it organised, but we are moving in the right direction at least! So, to help keep us moving I have collected together some bright and cheerful, inspirational and motivational Folksy Friday Finds...

To remind us to send our thank-you notes...

Thank you card by Elli Moody

To remind us to eat our fruit and veg...

Veg Basket Cake Topper by DelightfullyDecorated

To remind us to book our holidays...

Holiday Cushion by Fabric Nation

To remind us to stay in touch with friends and family...

Family Tree Print by PhotoFairytales

To remind us to stand up for what we feel is important...

Laugh as much as you chose Hand drawn Poster by Chatty Nora

 And to remind us that even in suburbia you can relax...

Suburban Dream Handmade Lampshade by HouseofChintz

So, a long way still to go on 'Operation: Bright Eyed Bushy Tailed', but we're getting there!

But... how about you? How are your resolutions coming along?

What would be on your 'Operation: Bright Eyed Bushy Tailed' task list?

2011 - The New Years Honours

I'm not really one for looking back at what has gone before, but as it's New Years Day, if ever I was gonna do so, now would seem the appropriate time!

But rather than bore you with a massive essay on the ups and downs of life at

made by lolly x HQ in the last 12 months, I thought I'd share with you some of the people that have made this year so special!

My very own New Year Honours List!

For services to local craft, including support, friendship, guidance, and gossip I would like to introduce and thank:

Lisa and Sally from Our Little Craft Company

Caroline from Curious Cat Creative

Jo and Jan from Chic-yCow Designs

For friendship and support in cyberspace I would like to thank:

Olivia from Girly Bunches

Debbie from Angels and Butterflies Jewellery Designs

For supporting handmade and for supplying made by lolly x in her wonderful shop:

Kate from The Gift Gallery, York

For supplying my OH with fabulous handmade gifts to give to me on my birthday:

James Green Printworks , Craftie Nellie, Julia Smith, and Alison Moore Designs

For fabulous work that is truly inspirational and I one-day hope to own:

Amelie Gagne, Julia Crossland, and supercutetilly


And... my lovely OH, aka The Literary Critical Detective who never rarely moans when the entire house has been covered with craft materials!

And of course, not forgetting my wonderful family, friends, colleagues and customers for supporting, sharing and buying from made by lolly x this year.


Without getting to soppy about it, I really couldn't have done it without you!

Thank you.

It's all been a little hectic...

Well I guess there's no two ways about it - I have certainly been slack on the blogging front recently! I apologise if any of you have missed by regular ramblings, but things have been so hectic here at made by lolly x HQ that 16 hour sewing days haven't been unusual!
(And I've become addicted to Twitter!)

 

I've been busy with my Autumn/Winter ranges which started with the 'Poppy Fields' Collection and has now become the Christmas Collection. 

As you can see my new colour fascination is red!

Both ranges have been extremely popular and have been featured at The Gift Gallery on the Shambles in York and at the Wonderfully Made art and craft exhibition in Silkstone (as well as still being available in my Folksy shop!) I've also held my first ever gift party, taken my first ever workshop, attended five times more events than last year and had a massive bunch of custom orders!

So, I'll hope you'll forgive me for not being around as much!

But, it's all starting to quiet down - a least a little bit! My last fair of the season is this weekend, so I shall soon be able to start to wind down (unless all my online customers are leaving it all to the last minute!)

The fair is to be held at Elsecar Heritage Centre near Barnsley - and should be a fantastic event! Not only is it quite near where I live (so no super early get up!) but lots of my friends will be there too! A full line-up of the 68 different exhibitors can be found on the Script Events website here, but I would definitely check out Our Little Craft Company, Chic-yCow and Curious Cat Creative!

So, if you are looking to support handmade this Christmas, and you live local to Barnsley - get yourself down to Elsecar Heritage Centre on the 10th and 11th between 10am and 4pm!

Don't worry if you're not local - you can still shop handmade via my online shop 

www.madebylolly.folksy.com right up until the 19th December 

But... don't leave it too late -

I'm expecting some items to sell out at this weekend's fair!

Just like Christmas... A visit from the supplies fairy!

Oooh the anticipation!

By now you probably know that I like to be frugal and thrifty whenever I can, and will only buy from large retailers when I have to (which is still more often than I like!) But, just because I keep a tight hold of my purse strings doesn't mean I don't get excited when the supplies fairy leaves a parcel of goodies at my door!

Let me at it!

A short while ago I took advantage of a too-good-to-miss offer with Panduro who were very generously offering a whopping 40% of all goods from their very extensive craft catalogue! Although I have used them before and have really liked the quality of their products as well as the massive amount of choice, I don't order very often as some of the prices can be much higher than you can find elsewhere.

The excitement builds...

BUT... 40% discount was too-good-to-miss, and this is what I bought:

Et voilà!

1 large square scrapbooking frame, 13 blank A6 notebooks, 2 oval wooden boxes, 1 straw wreath, 1 wooden chicken, a packet of toadstools and 1m of fine black netting!

And this is what I made with some of the contents of my parcel:

As you can see I have a bit of a thing for red at the moment!

(and it's a good thing too - since Poppy season is upon us and all I've been doing for the last 2 weeks is making poppies!)