Friday, 18 May 2007

busy busy busy

Gosh this has been a busy week!!


More people have signed up to www.ivycottagecrafts.com which is great. We now have a variety of items for sale from some very talented people:





clocks
candles










textiles wreaths






soaps patterns





This is just a small selection so please do stop by and have a look and help to support handmade crafts. Everything on the site is handmade by the individual crafter and all orders can be placed directly with them through a secure online shopping cart or by a printable order form.







As promised I aim to feature a different crafter each week so please check back tomorrow for our 1st featured crafter.

Till tomorrow


Sacha

x

Tuesday, 8 May 2007

All is good...

Well nearly! Lauren my eldest was 14 yesterday. I could hardly believe it - gosh it makes you feel old! Her and a friend went sking for the afternoon (dry slope) and her middle sister went putting, while I took the youngest to pick a birthday card.

This turned into such a serious affair. Holly is 8 but she's the one who keeps us all right. Card after card was picked up and then discarded. Too girly, too pink, too serious were the comments, until we finally found the one, and it was PERFECT. The thing is she was right, she usually is, it was perfect. The three girls get on pretty well together and are always making up little comedy sketches and putting on silly voices etc. and the card was just about that. I was really touched that such care and thought had gone into the choosing of this card and Lauren laughed her socks off at it.

Good news about ivycottagecrafts.com - two more people have signed up and their webshops should be online soon. There has been a lot of interest in this but everyone seems to be waiting to see who elses joins. It's a bit catch 22 really!! Any ideas on ways around this would be appreciated. We put on a special offer to join now but people still seem to be waiting.



Just had another wholesale order today, it's for my bayleaf ornaments so I'll have to get making - I'm pretty low in stock for these at the minute.
I love making these as the whole house is filled with the scent of cinnamon. It's got to be my favourite, even in summer. I've got loads of new ideas for Christmas but as the summer has only just arrived Christmas seems so far away. I know this isn't true because last year I was run off my feet and vowed to get ready earlier this year, but I feel all summery and want to be making pretty summery things from my antique french linens and vintage quilts. I made the bunting above from some old quilts and I just love it!! It's really pretty in the garden. I must make some more. We are converting an old barn in France and we've got a lot of work ahead of us!! The setting is really magical though, it's in a little hamlet of 5 houses and we are just at the end of the little lane, surrounded by hazelnut trees, an orchard, a little wood, elderflower etc. When we go in the summer we just camp in the garden and put up our gazebo etc. for the girls to play under. This needs brightened up so I thought of trimming it with the bunting - it looks lovely blowing in the breeze. Oh how I long to be there, it's my little piece of heaven.
Anyway, enough daydreaming for one day. If I don't go and do some work there will be no money to fix up my little treasure.
Take care and remember, you're only young once so grab life with both hands and make the most of it.
Sacha
xx


Thursday, 3 May 2007

What a beautiful day!!


The sun is shining, the birds are singing in the trees and you've guessed it - I'm stuck inside!.

There is just so much to do just now. As well as starting this new web business I also have my own business making cushions and accessories from vintage eiderdowns and antique French linens. As well as that I have a wholesale business where I make cards and plaques and sell them to shops. I just did a trade show in Aviemore last week and so now I'm trying to send out invoices and get the orders made.

ivycottagecrafts.com is taking up a lot of time just now as well. We have contacted various magazines with press releases. They all think the site is a great idea but want to see more people on there before any of them mention it in their magazines.

I've decided to feature a crafter and their lovely items each week so be sure to check back.

Remember I'd love to hear from you so get in touch.

Happy crafting
Sacha

Wednesday, 2 May 2007

My first blog.

Well this is it - my first post, so I'll keep it short. I'm new to this world of blogging so I hope you will all bare with me while I find toes!!

Me and my husband have just started a new business where we hope to promote all you crafters out there. You can have a look at www.ivycottagecrafts.com


I plan to use this blog to keep you all informed of what we are up to and to let you know about all the wonderful local crafters that we have in this country and further afield. Don't forget to let me know what crafts you make.

I hope to be in touch with wonderful people throughout the world and make many new friends.

I hope you will check back soon and see what I've been up to. I'd love to hear from you so please feel free to get in touch and say 'hi'.

I will try and post daily and add photos of others crafts when I can.

Love to all
Sacha