Threading rose petals

 Handmade Happiness yesterday from outside and inside.

Yesterday I saw bags of fresh rose petals for sale at a supermarket on the way in to work. So I spent the first couple of hours in the shop threading rose petals to hang in the window. It was lovely to handle real petals when the temperature was freezing or below. I felt oddly like I was in a fairy tale. Which was it when hay was spun into gold all night long?

I am shocked to see today that Whitney Houston has died at the young age of 48. Tragic and sad. Like Amy Winehouse, her wonderful voice lives on. 

Miniature bunting

Looking at bunting is very cheering. It's a celebration of life!

That's why I'm thinking wouldn't it be great to have miniature bunting you could pin up on a noticeboard; stick on the top of a letter to a friend; sellotape to shelf edges etc. And cut small like that bunting could be made of anything - painted papers/ gift wrap/ cellophane sweet wrappers.

A while ago I posted a picture of Jane's shed where she had made bunting from the covers of Country Living magazines. It looked great!

Miniature bunting - yes, an ideal way to use those scraps of fabric too pretty to throw away. If you see me on the sewing machine in the shop on Monday that's what I'll be making!
By the way, after this Monday the shop will not be open on Mondays until warmer weather comes.

Very special ribbon

I can't remember whether my mother or my grandmother gave me this ribbon. I have two bundles of it in different colourways. I know it is very old because my grandmother had it in her sewing box ever since my mother can remember. It is very beautiful, shot with gold, and I can't imagine ribbons being woven with this level of complexity any more.

My grandmother was a tailoress. She also had that rare skill of being able to look at a photograph in Vogue, then cut a pattern and create an outfit for my mother looking very like it. I wish I had known her better.

For years I have thought this ribbon too good to use but for this Valentine's Day I have used small pieces in the boxes and cards.

Do you store things up feeling you will use them someday but you don't know when?

Spread the love!

Valentine's cards £2.50; painted and collaged heart boxes £3.50 by Jenny Stacy at Handmade Happiness.

Yesterday was the coldest day wasn't it? I can't ever remember feeling quite that cold before. At lunchtime I  bought a take out hot chocolate from Costa which was wonderfully warming. Funny how you appreciate things more when you are cold. Not so funny how the brain slows up and you find you can't get things done.

I just knitted yesterday. Today I want to be more business like!

Last night we had a great sing at choir. We're doing Eva Cassidy/Sting's number 'Fields of Gold' which is beautiful; 'Hallelujah' by Leonard Cohen and 'Joyful joyful' from Sister Act 2. After next week which is half term we start on three new songs. Can't wait! 

Knitting for newborns

These tiny clothes (there are poppers under the tiny mother of pearl buttons on the cardigan) will go into the window of Handmade Happiness today. I've enjoyed knitting them but it will be nice to do a bit of felt making now.
I also need to make some more dolls but I am having difficulty finding the right
cotton or calico for them. Calicos all seem to have tiny black spots in them which would not be suitable.  

Yesterday I was pleased to welcome Angie who owns Tricot Designs in Arundel and who used to co-own Tricot Too, where I worked, in Petersfield. As I said to her it was a bit like waiting for the Ofsted inspector. I value her opinion.

New cushions

Three cushions made by Pam Dew using Kaffe Fassett fabrics.

I love this top cushion. I used to think yellow and orange were impossible to wear and difficult colours to have in the home.I didn't tolerate them in the garden either. But I'm beginning to change my mind. Yellow and orange look great as lemons and oranges in a fruit bowl. And this top cushion could make you change your whole room scheme. The cushion at the bottom of the picture is square and matches the round cushion above it. The yarn is spun and dyed by Michelle Green.

Well yesterday in the shop I made some Valentine's cards. Half way through the morning a man came in...and asked me why the computer shop next door was closed. Then towards lunchtime a customer bought a mug. I went home as planned but returned after an hour and a half in time for a mother who bought £1.50 worth of buttons for her two little girls.

Therefore after next Monday when I have a friend visiting from Kent who wants to make stuff with me in the shop, I will be closed on Mondays until the weather gets better!

To be (there) or not to be there

It's Monday and I'm wondering about shop opening times. Up until now I've been happy to open six days a week with Sunday as the day off. But to be honest Mondays can be very quiet, and my neighbouring shop, Tara Wake Interiors doesn't open on Mondays. So today I will be open as usual until lunchtime then I'll leave a note on the door so anyone passing can ring me if they want to look around.
I guess that now I've said that I might just get the busiest Monday ever!!

Only in England....

 Once again snow is the major news story this morning with the possibility of flights being cancelled and motorists being stuck on motorways. Er, excuse me for saying but isn't snow just a regular part of winter ie. an annual event?

I think it's time we got used to snow and put in measures to deal with it so that every time the white stuff came it didn't send the country into a panic. We can learn how countries with much deeper snow than ours every year cope with it. Fitting snow chains on car tyres for example? Owning a pair of snow boots for slippery pavements?
By the way, the picture above was taken just over a year ago. With only a light dusting of snow here today it wouldn't make for an interesting enough photo.

Yesterday a very cold American came into the shop. She had just spent three hours standing on a stone floor in her village church 'guarding the bells'.  Apparently there is a rotor of bell guardians because other churches have had bells stolen for scrap metal. Only in England...but you've got to love it! 

Wonderful washi!

This week I received a much anticipated parcel of Japanese 'washi' tapes in the post from America. I ordered them from etsy a while ago. Aren't they pretty?

I bought a couple from John Lewis two  years ago but I don't think they've had them in since. Does anyone know of a good stockist in this country?
I would love to sell them in the shop but these particular ones would be too expensive to sell on. They'll be used (in small doses) in collage and to seal tissue paper on purchases in the shop. 

Knitted cupcakes and ribbons

Cupcakes knitted by Rebecca Snelling.

Recent additions to the shop include these fun cup cake pin cushions and reels of ribbon.

Cupcakes are £12.50 each. Ribbons, left to right are celery silk 60p a yd; thin red double sided satin 30p a yard and twisted ombre £1-00 a yard.

It's after 7am and it's still dark outside. Even in this bitter cold I like to have the bedroom window open at night but in these weather conditions it feels like 'The Ice Hotel' in Norway. A friend has stayed in this wonderful place.

Every year the hotel is re-built - everything, furniture, chandeliers is carved from ice. Reindeer skins are on the 'beds'. At nighttime apparently the staff zip you up into a specially warm sleeping bag with only your face showing. She says she slept really well.

Maybe that's the answer then. Sleeping bags under the duvet.

What do you think? Share your experiences/ tips on coping with extreme cold by clicking on the comments below.

Frosty mornings

Are you managing to keep warm? It seems too cold to snow right now. From the perspective of the desk in Handmade Happiness where I spent the day making Valentine's heart boxes yesterday, the world has gone into hibernation. No-one comes into the shop. If they venture out at all they do what shopping they have to do and then hurry for home. I would do the same if I were them. It's too darn cold to focus on much else other than keeping warm.

This morning I have put all my Liberty fabrics into the washing machine. I have collected these precious scraps for years now and there's no point them sitting in bags any longer. They'll either be sold or be used to make things for sale.
They won't be used in bunting. Too special for that. But with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in June yards of bunting will be needed. And Handmade Happiness will be the place to buy it!!

New in - Becky Snelling's 'softies'

When the Handmade Happiness shop was still a daydream Becky and I used to sometimes sell our work at the same places. I once bought one of the 'bunnies' above as I found it totally irresistible.  Come and visit them in the shop. They are priced at £29 each.

Like it - who made it?

I am breaking one of my own rules this morning by posting a picture without attributing it.
 I hate to see pictures in magazines or on blogs of something handmade where the person who made it is not mentioned. However I've looked through pinterest where I must have found this originally and no joy. If you know you made this felted wool bag let me know and I'll put their name by it.

I like the soft colours. It looks well made and is a good size. The construction is simple and the interest is from the great batch of knitwear and boiled wool the maker has found. In short I'd like to have some of these in the shop!

Now back to the tax page. Why do I make such heavy weather of it??!

All change for Spring

Kate Hackett's work is now against green instead of cream.

Typical of our changeable British weather that as soon as I finish changing the look of the shop for Spring the coldest winter weather of the year arrives and apparently is going to be with us for four weeks!

Longer post tomorrow. Afraid I overslept today and in 5 minutes I still have to go power walking!!

Notice board

This is the first thing you see when you step inside Handmade Happiness. I had planned to have a community noticeboard advertising local art and craft events but it's become more of a Things I Like board. I've just realised I could also pin on scraps of ribbon, fabric and lace that I want to display.
I must take photos of some lovely new work brought in yesterday to show you plus photos of the new ribbons I've just put out on sale.

Buttons and rug

My buttons on the table above Glen Wellstead's rug.

This is the quiet time in the shop at the moment. I was warned that January, February and even March tend to be the slowest months of the year business wise.  

Now is the time to write that book, make the merchandise and improve displays.

Yesterday I had a ribbon and DIY metal button delivery and it will be good to see the reaction to those things. And one of the shop visitors showed me the most exquisitely made dressed mouse. I'm hoping she'll make more for the shop as her work is special!

 Today Becky is coming in with her fab makes and hopefully my son and one of the daughters will drop in. Meantime if you notice me frowning at a load of papers on the desk you'll know that I still haven't finished the dreaded tax return!!

New! Cushions and Jewellery boards

Cushions by Penny Baker; jewellery boards by Linda Chivers; collage by me.

I changed around everything in the shop yesterday. More pictures tomorrow.

To Move or Improve?

Blankets by Avoca. Photo taken at the shop Gorgeous in Chichester.

Now I'm working next door to an interior designer I am constantly being reminded of how beautiful a home can be! Tara has the most lush embroidered silks, soft velvets, wool throws and textured silk wallpapers. All of which send my imagination spinning into overdrive.

My home feels and looks rough around the edges. It needs time spending on it. Time to focus on making it better. Re-arranging the furniture, organising the storage areas, painting the inside of cupboards and puting up hooks and picture hooks. Generally using what I've got to best effect.

When I first moved in an estate agent knocked at my door. He'd just sold the house attached to mine. We talked about what sold houses - a subject that always interests me. His advice was to keep it simple. He said don't spend money on a new kitchen or a new bathroom chances are the next people won't like it and will rip it out anyway.

So maybe I've taken his advice a bit too literally.Six and a half years down the line I'm still living with the blue worktops in the kitchen which I dislike and the front door that I vowed to change immediately. I have ripped out the horrid pink carpets which makes the house look much better but there's still work to be done.

No I'm afraid I'm still a few years away from silk wallpaper...! My home needs time and energy - and that has to come from me.

What are your thoughts on 'To Move or Improve'? I'd love to hear about your experiences. Please try the comment thing. Some blogs get hundreds of comments. This one doesn't and that's ok. I can't comment on a friend's blog - the process is impossible for me to understand - if that's the case with this blog let me know and I'll change the settings.

Doing the sums

At this time of year I am forced to focus on income in and income out to do the tax return. One of my most unfavourite tasks!

 In checking through old notebooks I am reminded that life is about so much more than making money. More fun and more important (as long as you have enough coming in to pay the bills and buy food) -are ideas and plans and conversations and education.

Now I have the shop I want it to be profitable (otherwise it will have to close); but more important to me right now is that everyone walking in to the shop enjoys the experience and wants to come back - whether they choose to spend any money in the shop or not.

This is what I bought

These are my treasures from Midhurst monthly market on Saturday. It was worth an early start - do you agree? - and I'll try to be there every month from now on.

The only trouble with starting the day really early is that by the time proper work starts you feel you've put in half a day's work already which, of course, you have.

The one that got away was a battered up shopping basket for £5. As I stretched for it so did someone else, faster. At that time in the morning there were some very smartly dressed ladies, who I'm guessing were buying for shops in London and they are quick off the mark. So next time I must stop dithering and grab!

Rag rug colour

Rug made by Glen Wellstead for Handmade Happiness.

New for Handmade Happiness!

Kate Hackett's new collection of mugs, plates and jugs.

I am delighted to have Kate's new pieces for sale in the shop. Grouped together it all looks so fresh and spring-like.

Long time friend Kate is not only a potter who makes each piece from scratch, she is also an artist who hand paints each piece before puting it in the kiln again.

Yesterday Kate brought in these pieces plus an assortment of 'kitchen fairies' and decorated hearts. I am especially grateful to her as Kate is very busy right now making stock for her stand at the Country Living magazine spring fair in March.

Scents of Spring

I love the strong perfume of hyacinths. These are an unusual colour and I remember being given them at this time of year and how lovely it was to smell them in the hall going out and coming in.

I looked at the hyacinths in Marks and Spencer - half price - do they ever sell any at full price I wonder? -  but they're either blue or pink. I like white ones, or pale lilac or dark lilac like these. I want some in the shop.

People really appreciate a nice smell. Most of the time our sense of smell doesn't bother us. Supermarkets don't smell of anything except when you approach the bread area. In a clean town like Petersfield I think you could go the whole day without consciously smelling anything at all.

 I've been  burning an Avoca roses candle in the shop that I got for Christmas. People comment on the nice smell and now it's used up I'll get some white hyacinths to provide that nice, relaxing smell.

Now I'm off to Midhurst - yes, I know it's only 6.30am but apparently you have to be there early to get the best stuff at the monthly market. A friend who has a stall there says the dealers arrive at 6.30 ish so if I'm there at about 7.30am I'll avoid the scrum and hopefully still pick up some pretty 'vintage' fabrics. I'll let you know what I buy...  

Cats

 While in a 'What shall I make next' mood I came across this photo of cats from January two years ago.  The wool they are holding is the wool I knitted or crocheted their cardigans from. Cats in Cardigans sold well at the Country Living magazine shows.

Now I do more with felt and lately I am also thinking about re-visiting large bead necklaces and even large bead earrings. But with Valentine's Day on the horizon my time is best spent making Valentine's cards right now. And there's also that pesky tax return to sort out before the end of the month... 

Changing shop displays

Yesterday I freshened up the shop ready for spring. Armed with the new issue of Vogue I banished winter's rich reds and replaced them with soft, pretty colours. The temperature went up a few notches too.

In the pictures are Michelle Green's handspun, hand dyed wools and my jewellery.

Most popular blog post ever!

Lauren Vidal clothes in the window of Tricot Too March 22th  2011. Lamp shade by Deryn Relph.

Titled 'Lauren Vidal loveliness' this is the blog post that is way the most popular on this blog.

The clothes are so unusual aren't they? I remember the way the full skirt of the dress on the left could be pulled round to the front or back and tied in place. Tricot Too in Petersfield closed down last August but the clothes it stocked still inspire people like me. 

Collage cards

Yesterday while it was quiet (and cold) in the shop I made half a dozen new collage cards.The top card centres on a Rodarte dress with my painted papers around it. I make the envelopes and include a large sticker to close the envelope with.

The first thing I did yesterday was to buy a heater. The temperature in the shop has been bearable up until now! As I had someone coming to learn to knit yesterday the shop needed to be warmer. And the new oil filled radiator takes the chill off allowing me to make things without my hands getting too cold!

I hope you are keeping warm. I wonder if it will snow? 

Needlefelted by Michelle

Dog by Michelle Green in Follit's window, Petworth, Sussex.

Poodles are not my favourite dogs I have to admit. But I think this one is very cleverly created.

Michelle spins and dyes yarn and makes the sheep and reindeer sold by Handmade Happiness. She also needlefelts robins which sold very quickly in the run up to Christmas.

Since most people who pass the shop in Petersfield have a dog with them I would love to have some of Michelle's dogs in the window. But not necessarily poodles. I think Petersfield suits labradors, jack russels, and maybe a golden retriever? 

Climbing the hill

Michelle Green's sheep with cummerbunds by me climbing the hill.

Life can seem a bit hilly sometimes can't it? But the challenges all teach us something.

I've been thinking about moving recently and the grass can seem greener elsewhere. But actually when you really think about making changes - big ones and little ones - you can end up feeling grateful for what you've got and determined to make the best of that, not to go seeking another batch of challenges elsewhere.

Despite the extreme cold the atmosphere in Handmade Happiness is warm and friendly. Come on in!

I heart wood!

Chopping boards, bread boards, serving boards. All handmade by Christine Burgess. www.christineburgess.co.uk

New boards were delivered to the shop yesterday afternoon. Christine works with local wood from Hampshire and West Sussex to make boards of all shapes and sizes. Those pictured above are available in the shop now priced from £8 to £35.