Pinterest Challenge

Since setting up my Pinterest account I've been trying to figure out a way to make my page interesting. I also needed a way to keep myself inspired and motivated so I decided to set myself the challenge of creating a new board of products for each letter of the alphabet. It could also help me when I come to coding my stock!

I started out by splitting the weeks of 2013 into fortnightly slots so that every two weeks I'll be working on a new project. I'm hoping this will keep things interesting for not only myself but also for my online followers. Originally I was going to start this challenge in January but with moving house and holidays next summer etc I thought it was a better plan to start now to give myself some flexibility.

To anyone out there who is sat thinking this doesn't sound like much of a challenge - choose a subject and write your own a-z. This alone took a fair bit of thought!

So far my alphabet looks like this:
A = amigurumi
B = bracelets
C = catnip
D = decopatch
E = earrings
F = fairies
G = gargoyles
H = halloween
I = infants
J = jewelry sets
K = key chains
L = lavender
M = mobiles
N = necklaces
O = owls
P = personalised
Q = quilling
R = rings
S = sock creatures
T = tattoo inspired designs
U = upcycling
V = valentines
W = watermelon
X = xmas
Y = yarn
Z = zodiac

Obviously some areas will have to fall at specific times of the year depending on the season so I won't be able to work on them in order. This won't really effect my Pinterest page but it puts my blog in a peculiar order - sorry guys!

If anyone has any better suggestions for the letters then please feel free to contact me - your input would be greatly appreciated! Jxx

It's been a while!

Paper pulp gargoyles.

Another post with an apology of silence - I'm so sorry! In my defence it's been a very emotional few weeks. We've decided to move house and put an offer on an amazing place but it fell through because someone topped our offer a week later. Lack of money has got me down too so I have been looking into a lot more upcycling projects. The main thing I've been working with is paper pulp. It's quite a slow process but I've been shredding all our old bills to pulp so not only is it therapeutic but it's also free material - wey hey! The first batch was used to make snowmen (Christmas tree decorations) and gargoyles (paperweights). I have a second batch currently soaking and three bin liners of shredded paper waiting to be soaked. Safe to say I won't run out any time soon! Unfortunately the snowmen went mouldy in the airing cupboard and had to be binned but I have a base coat of paint on the gargoyles. It's still debatable whether or not I can get them to sale quality but we'll see!

In other news I now have a Pinterest account to showcase my work, go check it out at www.pinterest.com/whitefairyshop :-)

Finally, I have two craft fairs booked! I keep switching from excited to absolutely bricking it though - why? Because not only have I never done my own stall for the general public but both fall on the same weekend! I spent last night planning how I'm going to build enough stock up which made me feel a little better but it's still a very scary thought! I've taken a photo to show all the great new projects I'll be bringing to you soon! (see timetable below)

Anyway, that's enough for one post! Hugs and kisses to you all! Jxx

Worlds Biggest Coffee Morning

All the cakes I'd made

A few weeks ago I saw and advert on TV for the Macmillan Cancer Support advertising their "Worlds biggest coffee morning" event that was taking place on September 28th. I didn't enter the "Race For Life" this year so I ordered an event pack to get more information on it. I know money is generally tight for everyone at the moment but I'm a firm believer in every little bit helping so thought even if I only made £10 that's £10 they didn't already have. I spent all day yesterday baking loads of cupcakes ready for the event but I went to a friends house to do this because I'm a great at putting things in the oven and forgetting about them. Becki is wanting to start her own cupcake business so knew she'd be able to help me out with any advice I needed. I'd spoken to my auntie about ideas to improve the event and she offered to come along early to help set up. I was really looking forward to it! 

White Fairy products

Setting up this morning went fairly smoothly but was quite rushed towards the end. We were just finishing up when the first person arrived. It was one of my Gran's friends so she was lovely about having to wait a few minutes. There was a big table full of cakes, a footstool full of raffle prizes that family members had donated and we'd set up a small table of White Fairy products to sell - I'd decided that half of any money made from these would go to the charity. 

The event didn't go too well in the end. Only a handful of people turned up and looking back I should have put a lot more planning and organisation into it but that's definitely a lesson learnt for next time! I managed to raise £43 though so it wasn't a massive flop! I had a great catch up with a few friends too which was nice. One of my friends, Smoggie, was quite poorly as a child with various forms of cancer and recently underwent some quite dangerous surgery to remove another lump.. He still managed to make it today to show his support which was fantastic! We joked at one point that he's the only person we know who would attend a cancer charity event with cigarettes in his pocket. Before he left he posed for a photo to remember this by - it just had to be done!

My best friend Smoggie. One of the reasons I held the event

I was fairly downhearted at the outcome so mum bought me the latest issue of Craftseller Magazine to lift my spirits. I'm shattered though so probably won't get a chance to read it tonight. 

Hope everyone is well! Jxx