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Crafty days make for much happier ways!

Hello! I document here news, events and makes. For the love of all things handmade especially; crochet, hand embroidery, sewing, patchwork and dressmaking.

Sunday 2 December 2012

At last Christmas window display finished!!

At last the very first window display at Miss Millicent is complete!! It has taken me a while as I just wanted everything right, and I have made a lot myself such as; the flying angels, embroidered "Happy Christmas" heart, all the Tilda dolls, "Be Merry & Make" Bunting, decoupage  mini sewing boxes for the angels, mini knitting needles and knitting, mini balls of wool and the angel door is courtesy of my husband!! A christmassy scene with busy angels knitting, sewing and generally looking very pretty.     Hope that you like?





So this Christmas all you crafty people make sure that you be merry and make lots of crafty things :) xx

Friday 9 November 2012

Who's that angel??



I have had busy fingers today sewing away in the back of Miss Millicent, making Tilda Angels.   My idea of a perfect day :)  They are so lovely to make and I must admit that they are quite addictive.   I  admire how the patterns are put together and the accessories that are included, they are beautiful.   I am sure that you will agree they are perfect angels!!

Fruitgarden Angel
Flowergarden Angel

Tuesday 6 November 2012

A busy day but lovely day at Miss Millicent

I have had rather a busy day today a morning of nattering and knitting ooops sorry knitting and nattering!!  I love my knit and natter groups, everyone talking and doing what they love to do knitting and crocheting, what a lovely way to spend the morning. This afternoon I received my Christmas stock which I shall enjoy arranging  and displaying in the next couple of weeks.   I have decided that I will put my Christmas stock out next week.   Really looking forward to that!!  What a perfect day!! Do you agree?  

Saturday 3 November 2012

Happy two weeks Anniversary!!

I can't believe that it is our two week anniversary!  I have had a busy day and I could not wish for a better day as most of my sales have been my handmade items!!  I feel really pleased that people have bought my makes :)  I did sneak a celebratery cup of tea or two!!

I have also been busy making Tilda Angel dolls which I feel are an absolute joy to make, and love the way they are made up and it makes it even better working with such pretty fabrics.  I am sure that you will agree that they are pretty little things 


Flowergarden Angel

Fabulous flip flops xx

This is the Flower Garden Angel love the shoes!!   I am selling the kits in Miss Millicent and these should be in next week.  Hope you like?





Monday 29 October 2012

A sneaky peep inside Miss Millicent .....

Thought you would like to have sneaky peep inside Miss Millicent

Wool, wool glorious wool nothing quite like it ........
Gifts and haberdashery

Hope you like xx

Sunday 28 October 2012

The start of something beautiful

I hope it is (please be aware this will be a long post so I would suggest you have a nice cup of tea to hand) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Well, I have finally taken the plunge and opened my own shop.   This is something that I have always wanted to do, but have never had the opportunity to do it.   I was made redundant from my full-time job in March, and thought that the time was right.   I was given the opportunity and have grabbed it with both hands,as I have said previously said I am running as fast as my little legs will carry me.  

I have always kept a diary and a book which I write dow ideas and doodle in it.   It has always been a dream of mine to own a little shop selling pretty things.   I have doodled ideas in my journal and now the ideas are coming to life!!   I walked passed my shop back in August 2012, and could not believe it, I had walked passed it a thousand times and never really noticed it.   Then one day I walked passed and had a peep through the window, I could not believe my eyes it was the same as I had dreamt up in my book!!  The exact layout and size.   I quickly pestered my husband for us to view it and that was it. Well it wasn't really as I tooed and frooed, ummmed and erred, looked into the legal side, the financial side, the positioning of my shop, the research, oh! and worried and worried and worried.    I did my sums to ensure affordability and then the planning began.  I just cannot believe it,  well since my last post things have progressed .......


The keys are collected and the fitting begins ..................
This was at the beginning of October 2012, and this is the end of October 2012 .........


I have to thank my family without them namely my lovely husband, nieces, mum, dad, dad-in-law, sister-in-law and oh of course my little Millicent Mavis, who were all absolutely amazing and helped fit the shop, knocking down old fixtures, painting, fitting of flooring, cleaning, delivering leaflets, making things for my display, tea making and much, much more they truly helped to burden the load.  

Miss Millicent commenced trading on the 20th October 2012.   My open day was a success, I had lots of family and friends and made some new friends too.   I hosted a vintage tea party with some beautiful cakes made by a lovely lady called Debbie from Hearts & Flowers Cafe which is located in Stafford Crematorium.  I had some lovely cards and flowers and just want to thank all the support and kind wishes that I have received.


 All my ideas for a gift shop and haberdashery have come together, I had always dreamt of my first window display and cannot believe how things have come together and look just as I wanted.  Well here is my first window display, which I am very proud and it is exactly as I had planned.  I hope that you like it too? 

Miss Millicent's First Window Display !!!! OMG

Miss Millicent houses everything pretty, pretty gift ware and haberdashery in a lovely atmosphere. I love old things to and so not wanting to be too vintage, I have decided that my shop will have a vintage feel, display wise, with modern and unusual gift ware,and haberdashery.  Stocking Wendy wools especially double knit in a variety of colours they are just crying out to be made into cosy Grannie squares!  I am stocking Twilleys pure wool and chunky wool and also some unusual scarf wool.    Haberdashery wise I am stocking a variety of  satin and patterned grosgrain ribbons, ric rac, patterned bias binding, frilly gingham trim, threads, bobble trim, buttons galore, crochet hooks, circular needles, cable needles, darning needles .... oh and my beautiful, gorgeous, quirky spotty knitting needles, they are so irresistible when I look at them you just want to knit!!! I am also planning  to sell a variety of locally handmade items too!!

I am starting my Knit and Natter group on Tuesday, I hope that there is lots of nattering, laughing, with a cup of tea, a biscuit and a bit of knitting.

In the New Year I am planning to commence crafty workshops, for example crocheting, paper cutting, knitting, sewing etc,.

Well that is my news, for me I don't think it could get any bigger, but lets hope that IT is the start of something beautiful. . . . . . . . .

Thursday 11 October 2012

A little neglected!

I have neglected my blog of lately, something that I do regret as I am a new blogger and it was my intention to write a new post once a week.   However, I am sure when you know the reason why you will understand.      

I have been very, very, very busy with a huge project, it is something that I have been wanting to do for absolutely ages, (well all my life), as far as I can remember!! So I have finally taken the plunge, following so much consideration and constant thinking for months and months with a little dithering around thrown in for good measure.   I am grabbing the opportunity with both hands, jumping feet first, running as fast as my legs will carry me and hopefully not looking back........................ phew!  

All will be revealed in due course, all I can say is it is exciting and massive, well for me it is!!!

Sunday 8 July 2012

Sunnyish Sunday!!

I have had a lovely afternoon, sitting in the garden with my Mum knitting.  There was a little window of sunshine here and we well and truly took advantage of it.  We are currently knitting little dolls for charity.  The pieces are really small and are knit using a 3mm pin.   I am not a knitter, but as with any craft am happy to give it a try.   As you know, I am normally a crocheter.  Now if the pattern was a crochet one, then my fingers are twitching with excitement.      There is nothing more satisfying than opening your pattern for a new make and having all your new wool waiting there to be turned into a wonderful creation..........  Anyway, I am getting far too excited and carried away about the thought of a new project.  Back to my little doll, I have knit her head, body and one arm.  I have to do another arm, two legs and then dress her oh and her hair.  Sure that she will be well worth it in the end so I shall knit on ..... and on ........

I am not a quick knitter, so feel that my little doll will be an ongoing project.   I can't knit and knatter at the same time, though I can crochet and chatter!!  As you can imagine as I can't knit and knatter, there was more knattering than knitting this afternoon.   Oh and a few cups of tea thrown in for good measure.   I am sure that you will agree that there is nothing quite like being in the sunny outdoors, with a little bit of crafting  to set the working week ahead up ......... it must be good for the soul? 

Thursday 5 July 2012

Miss Millicent Makes

Just a short showie offie post for today, as you can see I have been busy, busy, busy!  Here are a couple of my new makes.   Firstly, is my lovely little crochet owl,  this is my own pattern.  Within his wings I have sewn some material to compliment his colouring.  What a cute little fella.

Little boy blue xx
My second is a crochet Jubilee cushion which I made for my friend.   Hope that you like?............

God save our gracious Queen ............

Sunday 1 July 2012

Bedtime reading??

I don't really have much time for reading novels anymore, my life has been consumed by thinking, reading and actually doing lots of craft!!! Certainly my idea of heaven.   Thought I would share with you some of my bedtime reading at the moment.   There is nothing that makes me more happier after a long days work, than taking a nice cup of tea to bed and having a read of some craft materials.  

A little light bedtime reading .........
At the mo I am loving Mollie Makes, this to me is the perfect magazine, it provides; lots and lots of craft ideas and projects,  articles upon various crafts, lots and lots of vintage,  it also has sneaky peeps into other crafters homes, crochet, hand embroidery, then when you think that you have read the magazine then you have a sneek at another crafters studio.   Ahhhh just perfect.   And if that is not enough you also get a free gift/craft project for you to attempt at home!!! I can honestly say, that this is one of the only magazines that I actually read cover to cover and could read again. 
My perfect read  xxx
I hope that you agree?

Monday 25 June 2012

My new make!

I would like to introduce you to my new make, Florence the Octopussy.  She is a pretty young Octopussy who is a lovely rich purple.  She has beautiful big eyes,  with flowing tentacles and a cute bow.   She loves to sit, looking pretty on my bathroom cabinet, watching the world go by without a care in the world.

Florence the Octopussy
Pretty in pink xx
I hope you like her? 

Saturday 23 June 2012

Where have all the Butterflies gone???

I was thinking today (which can be very dangerous)........................ where have all the butterflies gone?  I absolutely adore butterflys, but have hardly seen any this year.   I suppose it has something to do with the type of weather that we are having, in not so sunny England!  Anyway, it is not summer without butterflys.  A summer without any butterflys makes me feel depressed.  Therefore,  this afternoon I went around my house with Millicent Mavis in tow in search of butterflies.  If anyone feels the same as I do, then here are some pictures of butterflies around my home to hopefully cheer us up!!  There is a crafty link to this, as some of which you will see are some of my makes.

Hand Embroidered and Applique xx

Hand made Applique and Patchwork xx

Beautiful Peacock xx
Amethyst
Lots of Flutterbys .......
Tortoishell

Large White
Touch of cross-stitch xx

The Beautiful Gatekeeper
Hand Embroidered wall hanging made by me xx
Miss Millicent Mavis on the sniff for flutterbys sniff snifff xxx
 
An African Giant

Orange tip
Handmade heart xx
Collection of my butterfly brooches xx


A few more ........................
My trusty and well used needle case !!!
Hope this has cheered you up, it certainly did me and Millicent Mavis :) However it has made me think I need more butterfly items in my home!! What do you think?