********Lavender scented heart GIVEAWAY********

To all the lovely people who read my blog. I don't want you to miss out. I'm doing a give away on my facebook.com/chez.beccy page, for a lavender scented heart (see folksy.com/shops/ChezBeccy). I'd like to get 100 likes and then I'll draw the winner out of a hat. 

The view from my studio!

I get so excited when it snows. It makes everything look so pretty and then if sunshines as well its so bright. I went for a walk on sunday through the fields near me and the sun almost shone while it was snowing! I love the hush that descends, the stillness. I like the fact it makes life slow down for a short while. I took a few snowy photos.

It's hard to believe that this was only last week. When will it stop raining!!!

Last weekend I designed a couple of cards for Chez Beccy.

I was hoping to have done more but I was completely distracted by tidying up a big pile of stuff that had been sitting in the corner of my studio for a very long time!!! I wish I was naturally tidy person or maybe its a lack of storage so I don't know where to put things. So I'm hoping I'll be able to carry on with my spring clean even if it is a bit early in the year. It does feel good. I can recommend it! 

Now I need to make this fabulous lavender linen spray I found on the designsponge.com blog to finish off my spring cleaning. It will compliment my lavender hearts nicely as well.

Getting very into my lavender hearts. I've made some smaller ones as well now. These are also made from organic cotton and are approx 9 cms x 9 cms.

I think these two look really good together.

I should get some more fabric in the next week or so of my Ditsy Floral design on Blue so I can make some more lavender hearts and napkins!

I've been reading a great book about starting your own crafting business called the Handmade Market Place by Kari Chapin. Its really helpful. Talk you through everything from creating, marketing, selling online and at fair, social networking. I keep dipping into it and thinking there is so much I want to do!!

I've started to experiment with how to lay out my table when I do craft fair. I need to find something to hang my hearts on. This mug tree isn't tall enough! I ned to find a good way of displaying my tea towels. Maybe I'll have some hanging and some in packaging. I'd also like to find some wooden shelves. I'm going to add in some little terracotta pots of herbs as I think it will freshen everything up and make my table more appealing. (I hope!) I've also been looking into craft fairs and I've found on in Chipping Norton which is quite near me. If anyone knows this craft fair it would be great to get some feedback on it!

 I'm all very new to this so any top tips would be greatly appreciated!

*** Happy New Year ***

I've decided 2013 is going to be the year of my first craft fair! Very exciting. I've had a few days to make some more things, which is a real treat. I've now got some of my Ditsy Floral design made into napkins. This design was inspired by all the lovely Forget-me-knots that grow in my garden. It takes me awhile to get from my initial idea to design, then to fabric and then final product but I get there! The cotton I've used is also Organic which also makes me happy.

So here are the designs I have made into napkins so far. I now want to order some of my Disty Floral on blue and the Daisy print on blue to complete the set. Oh and I nearly forgot my Polka Dots on blue...

I've also been making some lavender filled hearts. Over Christmas I kept seeing all these lovely hearts as decorations, so I thought I'd like to make some. Then it came to me that my Sister-in-law loves lavender and this might make a good present for her. She has a problem of moths eating her clothes, so as well as smelling nice they will keep her clothes hole free to!!!

They are also made form Organic Cotton Sateen, approx 12 cms high x 11 cms wide.

I just thought I'd like to share a little bit of my Christmas with you. I made this garland with holly, ivy, bay and rosemary to go up my banisters. I'm very pleased to say its still there!

Mum bought me some gorgeous tags, too lovely to send. They went perfectly with the blue and purple baubles I had to hang on my garland! We got them from the shop at the warners textile archive. 

See you again in 2013!! Happy New Year!!!

I went to visit the Warners Textile Archive last saturday. What a fascinating experience. We began with a talk given by Charlotte into the history of Warners and how the company evolved. Then we were given a small glimpse into the textile archive. Jan, a volunteer, talked about some of the amazing fabrics that were woven at Warners, velvets, damasks etc, some a hundred years old, some slightly newer ones and we were shown a few samples. There was one very opulent velvet with a silver background and a raised 3 dimensional design. The skill and time involved in creating these fabrics is phenomenal. The design archive is incredible. There are designs dating back hundreds of years, some designed by Warners own in-house designers, some are collaborations with well know designers and others that were acquired by Warners when they took over other companies, check out this link warnertextilearchive.co.uk/products/wallpaper to view a few examples.

Jan had actually worked at Warners and gave us an amazing insight into what it was like and how well thought of Warners was for its dedication to good quality designs and techniques. Fabric for Queen Elizabeth II coronation was woven here. My mum remembers going around Warners on a school trip to see the fabric being woven. Amazing.

To see the archive and have a talk you need to book onto a tour organised by Invitation to View, or you can visit the Archive's Gallery every Wednesday 10am - 4pm see their website for more information www.warnertextilearchive.co.uk/

Now as its coming up to the wonderful festive season I'll be taking a break from my blog. I may however have time to post a few pictures on facebook.com/chez.beccy if I do have time to create anything interesting!

Merry Christmas and a
Happy New Year.

This week I've found some nice card to print my herb labels on. So I'm pleased with that. I have now got some slightly larger jars which I think will be great for storing garlic, sea salt and peppercorns. So I've now designed these labels. 

I've also found some lovely glass bottles for oil and vinegar as well.

I think these would look great with some herbs and spices infused in them as well, such as Olive oil and Rosemary.  So I'll be selling the bottles and jars with labels but and then you can add your own oils and vinegars.

Now I want to designs some cards. I have loads of ideas, just need time to design them! Next weekend I'm going to Warners in Braintree to look at their textile archive. I can't wait, I think there are going to be some amazing fabrics there. I hope I can take pictures. I'll keep you posted!