Read, Relax & Learn! What Are You Reading Today?

I love reading different things from Biography's, Fiction, Blogs, Magazines. Not only do they help me relax but they also help the creative juices flow. I always end up having a sketch pad and pencil next to me while I am reading a good book as different designs just pop into my head.


Yesterday I was sat on WHSMITH floor next to the the magazines waiting for my daughter to get over her tantrum that I would not buy her two new comics, only one! (She is so negligent) Any way while sitting there I started to brows the magazines and this new magazine shone out from all the others. 

Molly Makes - Is a great magazine, with interesting interviews with mixed textile designers, friendly chatter and interesting tutorials. I is like reading a blog but in paper form. I so recommend you go and get your self a copy. But be warned once you buy one you will be hooked.  

They also have a great blog page with even more exciting news and talents, which is also well worth a look here

Olympics Have Come To Town

I have the pleasure of living in the delightful county of Cornwall. Not a huge amount goes on in Cornwall for us to spread all over the national newspapers and on the national news. But this year the Olympics were coming to town. On the 19th of May 2012 the Olympic Torch landed in Lands end to travel by foot all the way to London in time for the Olympic games. 


My family are lucky to live about 15 minutes from one of the towns the Olympic Torch was going to pass through. So at 2.45 I shut up my pop up shop early and headed down to the main street of St.Austell to meet up with my family to welcome the torch to town.


The atmosphere was great, the who community came out to welcome the torch as well as the sunshine. The town center was full of traditional market stalls and fun activities for the children to take part in. Through out the parks around the town their was sport days type activities and BBQ's.

My youngest daughter waiting                                                                 My son taking everything in

My dad and son taking photos 

My husband and middle daughter waiting for the torch                                        My son's friend 

The Olympic Torch bike riders car 

The Coca Cola bus. They were giving out limited edition coke bottles but unfortunately we did not get one.  

 The Samsung Bus

The Lloyds TSB Stunt Bike Riders

The Lloyds TSB bus

The Olympic Torch 

Is was a great afternoon, so exciting to part of welcoming the Olympic torch to the UK Olympic games and another story to tell the grandchildren. (In many years I hope)

Herbs In A Tea Cup Anyone?

As you know I love my vintage tea cups and I also love gardening. So you can imagine my delight when I came across a great blog called The Bower Bird Stories - Tea Any one?


I just need to work out how to put a small hole in the tea cup with out breaking it, then get hubby to put up a shelf next to my kitchen window and my new herb kitchen will start to come to life.


Watch this space to how I get on.

Recycled Fabric & Handmade Felt Have Collided

I love the madness to the run up off a pop up shop, creating new designs, worrying if I have enough stock and how the display I have in my head will come together. Of course it all ways works out fine, I get to meet some great characters and have loads of fun.


So this time I thought I would add a bit of extra spice to my pop up shop by asking  Lou Tonkin who is a local textile artist in Cornwall.  To join forces with me for my next pop up shop. I was so excited when Lou agreed to come on board even with the short notice as I only got around to asking her two days before the pop up shop opened its doors. (Note to self I must get more organised!)


Lou creates beautiful pieces of art work and gifts, by hand felting farmers local wool in Cornwall. Not only does she create hand felted items she also has another arrow in her bow and creates stunning prints on fabric that are either framed or used in one of her hand felt creations. 

Lou Tonkin -  www.loutonkin.co.uk

So two day before we open Lou says YES and I jump up and down but we both have busy diary's and young families so can not actually be in the shop at the same time to set up ready for today. Resulting in me going in yesterday morning and setting up Emu's goodies and Lou  setting up in the afternoon. We have a real miss match of collections but when they are put together the result is great. 

Emu's Upcycled Gifts - www.emusupcledgifts.com

Opening the door this morning I was so excited I suppose is the best word to explain how I felt and my breath was taken away by the way both our work has come together.


We are holding the pop up shop in St.Austell Market House from Saturday 19th till Saturday 26th with felting workshops on the Tuesday 15th with Lou and make your own journal workshops with my self Emu on Saturday 26th. 


Any way enough of me chatting away here our some pics of our great handmade goodies and how the  pop up shop has come together.

If you are passing St.Austell Market House during the week please pop in and say hello.

Thank You for popping by

xxx