It's Days Like THIS That I Hate My Job

Rain, rain, go away and come back another day.

It's pelting down all the cats and dogs in the world outside and I've to go sell at an outdoor market in a couple of hours. To make matters worse I have to assemble my very shoddy gazebo in the rain. AND in the past year of non use of said gazebo we seem to have misplaced the water proof side panels.

Oh Joy this is going to be a wonerful day!!

More Things I Like

I'm gonna do another things I like Friday, since I enjoyed the last one so much. I may turn it into a regular thing I'm not sure, depends if I like that many things, ha! Kudos again to Magatha-May for the idea that I stole from her Things I like Thursday.

-Fresh sheets: It's such a little thing, but it's so nice. It's a mixture of the smell and the crispness, and I'm convinced it makes the bed a little bit warmer. It's just a shame I HATE changing the bed covers or I would have this joy more often.

-Reading. I've always been a bit reader, my mother joined us all up at the Library at the age of 4. I read a very strange mix of books. I read lots of fantasy like Robert Jordan, Tad Williams, Tolkien etc. But then I'm always drawn to the booker prize type of book. I like to break up the fantasy with something a little more weighty. I think it's because we decided not to get a tv when we moved into the new house that I've been reading so much recently. Here's a few good ones I read recently
A Spot of Bother-Mark Haddon
On Beauty- Zadie Smith
We Need to Talk About Kevin- Lionel Shriver
Cell-Stephen King

-Star Trek: At this stage I'm sure you know I'm a bit of a nerd. I own all of Star Trek Next Generation on Dvd! What this refers to is the new Star Trek Movie, which is fantastic! I saw it in the cinema, but the other day John came home and said 'close your eyes, and put out your hands'. Low and behold he had bought the new movie on dvd, yey!

-Chocolate: I've really tried to cut down the last two weeks, but I miss it to much. I think I'll wait till the rain passes and then take a stroll to the shop and get some. Mmmm some coffee too would be good.

Suggestions...and How Did You Find Me??

I was just thinking, I read lots of blogs and sometimes little things annoy me about the usability, colour, layout etc. I bet that the writers of these blogs don't even realize, but it's really rude to just tell someone. I know I've had the same layout for over a year now (with some extras added onto my sidebar), but I'd like to know if it works ok.

Is there anything, readers that you find annoying? Or even a small little thing that you would like changed? Suggestions please (don't worry you won't hurt my feelings, I grew a thick skin in all those art college crits!)

Actually here is another thought, I would love to know how you found my blog. As this is a business blog this is good, and free, market research.

Winterfest Market

I wanted to let ye all know that I'll be selling on Sat 21st Nov at the Limerick Winterfest Market at Pery One Hotel on Barrington St. Yep that's this Saturday so if you are about town and looking for some Christmas gifts I think it will be a really good market to go to, and there is free parking in the city all weekend to encourage people to abandon those evil shopping centres.

It's a mix of an indoor and outdoor market, and I'll be sharing a stall with my friend Orla at an outdoor stall. It's open between 12-5pm, and I'm sure it will be packed full of festive cheer. Here is a list of just some of the stalls that will be there:

Creative Wave Christmas Cards

Olio & Farina

Sequoia Lane

Instore

Contemporary Fine Art

Pandora Bell

The Wine Shop

etc

Check out their spiffing website for more details

I Have a Question

Ok so I know I'm gonna be offending some people with this post but I'm really baffled so I have to ask. Fake Tan....why? I think we are all agreed the the home job is universally awful, I've seen enough scabby looking knees and elbows to put me off the idea for life. But I see masses of women with well applied fake take, that was probably done in a salon but I think it looks dreadful. I can accept a light layer that gives a healthy glow in the Winter time but I really don't understand the ooompa loompa look. Obviously peole who are paying their hard earned money for it think it looks great. But I really don't get it. Earlier this year I was working for the Junior Cert results night in the restaurant, this involved serving gagles of 15 year old girls. I think with the exception of one table all the girls had neon orange skin, and nasty highlights. It just made me feel very sad for them that they felt they were not pretty enough just to be themselves and not try to warp themselves into some warped Jordan prototype. (Note I'm only confused by the attraction to fake tan, I'm not even going near the topic of sunbeds which at this stage should really be banned)

Somebody please explain as maybe I'm missing some vital point of this mad behaviour!

Christmas Decorations

Today I've been making more Christmas decorations in the run up to the hopeful Seasonal rush. They are the little hampers that I mentioned in a previous post. But I just realised I actually have some pics I can show you for once. These are Christmas Wedding favours that I made. They are the same as the decorations I'm making except these are all in purple and white, and what I'm working on are red, greem, yellow, and blue etc.

Thanks to the groom Richard for taking these pics.

Things I love Friday

I've decided to do a random things I like post inspired by Magatha-May's Things I love Thursday.

1. Twilight- yes of have joined the screaming hoards of teenagers and developed more than a little love for this teenage vampire story. I listened to the audiobooks this month, which of course led me to watch the film with the entertaining eye candy of Robert Pattison. I know it's a bit sad but it brings me back to my days as a teenage goth when I was obsessed with The Crow. As my friend called it today, 'cozy safe popcorn that makes you feel warm and fuzzy on the inside'.

2. Warmth- as much as I love are lovely white house with open plan living, it's bloody freezing this time of year. Lots of glass, high ceilings, and a budget on the amount we can afford on heating is leaving me walking around with lots of layers of jumpers and blue lips. A part of me is missing the coziness of our little flat. Only a small part though, as aesthetics always wins out with me.

3. Kris-kindle- this genius idea is saving me a fortune this year. Usually I buy presents for my 3 siblings, their spouses, their kids, my parents, John, his family, and about 8 other close friends. Which all adds up to about 25 people give or take a few. Which is pretty pricey! So this year all I have to get is one present for a family member, presents for the kids, John, one friend, and Johns family! Yey, it's so much easier, less stressful and I can spend time choosing presents that people really want rather than panic buying on x-mas eve.

4. My Filofax- anybody that knows me from college would laugh if they heard I owned one of these. In my head it seems like such a grown up thing, like a mortgage or having children. I'm trying to become a reformed scatter brain. I try very hard, but sometimes I fail miserably and things fall by the wayside. So after bitching and moaning to John about how I've loads to remember and sort out he went into town and bought me a beautiful red leather filofax. It's brilliant, I have all my deadlines, projects, addresses and phone numbers in the same place. Why didn't I get one years ago!!

Giveaway-Etsy Ireland Team

Treat of treats!!
The Etsy Ireland Team, of which I am a member, are having a super fantastic blog giveaway.
What do you have to do?
Not much! Just leave a comment on this blog post
What could you win?
Loads of really cool stuff, a huge mixed lot of yummy things from the team members.
So what are you gonna do now?
Go over to the blog and win things!

Yey...Go Team

Christmas Ball Rolling

Ok it's official I've been really crap at blogging lately, but life seems to be running at high speed at the moment, with one week rolling into the next. How is Christmas upon us yet, I think a part of me is still waiting for that non existant Irish Summer to happen. I think I caught a tiny bit of sunshine in Doolin one weekend and that's it it's time to whip up the Christmas tree again. I went into work yesterday( I do 2 days a week in a local restaurant-Luigi Malones if you are wondering) and they have all the Christmas decorations up. I know it's just me in a panic wondering how I'm gonna get all my stock sorted by Christmas, and also where the miracle will appear from to have money for presents. Whatever happened to the days that you would wake up with a bag of toys at the end of your bed and all you had to worry about was if you got everything on the list....ah well.

So far I've got a good bit done:

-About 15-20 mini hampers of handmade Christmas decorations. In them there is 3 felt baubles with lots of cute ribbon and buttons, in a pot wrapped in plastic, a premade gift. I figure they would be handy gifts for those people who have everything or when you get a co-worker as a kris-kindle and you have no idea what to get them. 15 euro

-25 sets of 10 hand printed lino cut Christmas cards. Yes you did the maths right thats 250 prints, and yes that did hurt my little arms. 12 euro

-500 new mirrors. Yey I'm so chuffed these arrived, I love the new designs with the 1950s pinups. I also got large buttons with the same designs. Mirrors 5 euro or buy 2 get one free

Very sadly I still have no camera (damned burglers!!), so I can't take any pictures to show all you nice folk. You are just going to have to take my word for it that they are lovely.HA!

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween!

I love halloween so much! This is the costume I'll be wearing tonight. I made it last year to go to a fancy dress wedding. But I figure since it took about a week to make I can totally get away with wearing it again. I have my fingers crossed for the costume competition, but the pub I'm going to takes their costume making VERY seriously, so I think I'll be one of many hopefuls.

Etsy Ireland Meeting, Dublin

I went to the Craft Ireland Etsy Team meeting today in Dublin. It was a bit of a long trip but I was able to fit in a visit with my parents and the meeting was great. I met up with Tanya, Alex, and Sarah. It was really good to find out more about the team, show some of my products and volunteer to help out with the teams blog. I don't think I'll be able to to to the monthly meeting, but every couple of months should be easy enough to manage.

Check out their great blog with there themed articles per day. I should have a few guest posts coming up before Christmas, don't worry I'll let you know before hand so you can check it out.

Here is there lineup:
Introducing Mondays( an intro to a newcomer to the team)

Tutorial Tuesday( a walkthrough tutorial)

I'll show you mine Wednesday( a tour of a crafty studio)

Trade Secrets Thurday( an article about good supplies shops)

Fab 5 Friday( 5 great picks from the team)

Etsy Wedding

At long last I have pictures to show you of those wedding invitations that I spent forever on. It's been difficult with the lack of camera but my good friend Richard who is the groom to be was very kind in taking some lovely pictures for me. I also struggled over what exactly to have in the listing desription in my etsy shop, as there is so much to explain but I think I covered everything.

Transiton Year

Today was the first day for my lovely volunteer transition year student to come and help out. She is a really nice girl, and a very grown up and confident 15 year old. I think I would have been a little terrified at that age to go help out a stranger in their studio....yes in fact when I was 16 and I started my first job I was petrified. She had a really productive day and made some cool 1950s style handmade cards, and also helped out with a bit of button packaging too.
In other news we were thinking of having an open night at the shop in Kilkenny. Where we would stay open late, have some wine and nibbles, do a bit of a meet and greet, and possibly offer a bit of an incentive discount. Has anyone had experience with these kinds of evenings as a customer or a seller. If so how did it go?

New Pocket Mirrors

I've been a busy little bee trying to get my new designs done for my pocket mirrors. It was this time last year that I put in my big order and they sold like hot cakes over the Christmas season, I suppose people thought they were good stocking fillers. I have decided to move away from the designs using models faces as they don't sell as well, so I've gone for the more pop/kitsch stuff, which is always lots of fun to design. I've kept about 10 of the old designs and added 35 new ones. I was a lot of work to get this all done, but a wide variety will mean they will sell faster. I ordered a total of 500, and 200 large badges with the same designs. I found when I was selling the mirrors some people were very disappointed that they weren't badges, so hopefully these will sell well too.

Also in this order we got a great present for Johns Dad (I don't think he is a blog reader so he will never see this). He runs a local football club and we got 100 badges with his logo on them, to give to the supporters and to have as memorabilia. For someone who is impossible to buy for I thought it was a cute Christmas present. I buy them all off a girl in America, kungfucowgirl, she is great to work with and I've found her service and prices fantastic. They would also be cool for wedding favours, hen night gifts etc.

Go Team

As some of you may already know I'm an out and proud geek. Yes I am the kind of girl who plays scrabble for fun, does crosswords, waches Star Trek, reads fantasy novels, watches horror movies, and loves to sit down to watch a good documentary. So it may be no surprise to you then to hear that I was very excited last night when we won a table quiz. My two loves rolled up together, smart things and pints...woohoo.

Just in case you were wondering we were called Team Discovery Channel.