A place for everything and everything in it's place

I'm not sure what's happened to me, I have always thought of myself as a bit of a messy person but I am becoming increasingly aware that I must have changed. Since setting up as a freelance designer seven years ago I have noticed that I am far neater and like things to be tidied away and I even like things to be clean! A far cry from my student digs where I didn't hoover for one whole year!!

I am a bit worried that I might be turning into a neat freak. I have recently moved into my new studio which is palatial in comparison to my old box room, but it has somehow turned me into the world's tidiest person. I have bought some new storage to help me keep things nice and neat. The first piece is an old printer tray that I bought for my coloured threads, initially I had just put the spools into the gaps any old how, but looking at them every day was driving me nuts so I have now rearranged them by colour and I feel so much better about them (am I nuts).

As I have a large range of products in my shop, many of which are screen printed, I needed somewhere to keep half finished products (things that have been printed or stitched but not yet assembled). I found this set of drawers last week in IKEA - yes I braved IKEA during half term and discovered the wonder that is Småll land, I left Eva happily playing for 50 minutes so I could go on the serious business of storage hunting.

I found these beauties:

They are perfect for my needs, lots of shallow drawers and space on top for my printer, they were very heavy though so I had to ask for help in getting them to the car. The only small problem I had was that my husband (a furniture designer) hates them, but I think he is warming to the idea slightly now as I have somewhere to keep half finished projects and orders.

I love them, I don't even have every drawer full at the moment which is great, as I can grow into them!

A great place to store finished....

and half finished products...

The white liners of the drawers are also a good place to photograph small items.

I am just getting all my makes ready for a Craft and Vintage Fair at Wicksteed park taking place this weekend, Saturday and Sunday 11-5 if you are in the area pop by and say Hi, my lovely friend Kelly has said she will come along to help me out (not sure that she knows what she is letting herself in for)!!

evajeanie's photostream

I just thought I would share with you a really lovely comment that I have just received through Flickr about my photographs:

Nipuntantia14 said:
Fantastic Click.......your pictures feel like a window to whole new another world to me........you have a great photostream......such INSPIRING work.....
Have a nice day... (-;
Please do have a look at my gallery on my page on facebook Say Cheese Photographer

Isn't that just awesome? I have never had feedback through Flickr and this has really made my weekend!

evajeanie's photostream on Flickr.

Handmade, upcycled and crafted lovely things to make you smile :)

Day 29: Homemade Daily Challenge

On Day 10 of this challenge I blogged about 'How to make a flower corsage' using Suffolk puffs or yo yo's as some people call them.

This flower corsage is a bit more fiddly but gives a slightly different result. It is more suited for using up your scraps as you need long thin pieces of fabric rather than circles so is more frugal.

The thinner your width of fabric, the longer it will need to be for this. For the one above I have also  doubled over to create a neat edge, although you don't need to and frayed egdes can be very pretty. All you need to do is start at one end and on the top edge do two small stitches to secure the thread and do a long running stitch all along the top edge, pulling a little to gather the fabric as you go. Then you join up the 2 ends once all thread is pulled through and nicely gathered, attach a button or bead to the front and a brooch pin or safety pin to the back and there you go, job's a good 'un! I have made loads of these, the possibilities are endless:

You can add several layers, use a mix of yo-yos' and ruffles, play around with the buttons, they are quick and easy to make and also make lovely gifts. Happy sewing :)