I *heart* Sheffield

This week didn’t start out too great with the bad news that Museums Sheffield was unsuccessful in its funding application to the Arts Council England. Museums Sheffield has amazing venues, places that I am both proud and privileged to visit regularly. We can all do our bit to help Museums Sheffield – I already have, will you?

I was also sad to read that the independent Sheffield-based online marketplace Frooly has ceased trading after what sounds to have been both difficulties with funding coupled with the challenging economic times. Sad times and I wish the Frooly team all the very best.

And, as they say that things come in three’s, I was saddened to hear that Picnik, the brilliant photo editing site, is closing at the end of April.

Onto happier climbs…I had a great time last weekend at Bradfield Farmers Market, a place to indulge in all things food and drink related with great stalls selling their wares. I can’t lie – the selection of tea from Tea Box Online was simply amazing! See you all down there for the next one.

Once the weekend was over I got back down to craft business. I’ve had orders this week to make another Dinosaur applique top as shown for the first time in my previous blog, along with some lovely initialled tops and babygrows. These will be delivered over the weekend – hope they owners are as happy as I am with them :o)


I’ve also worked on a couple of new-for-Maple-Designs ideas over the past couple of days. First up was a hand made card which is one of many I have lined up. I also made the first item in a little range I’m pulling together for Valentine’s Day – I think you might like this one ...


I have been working on updating my blog this week as I want to include some information on me and Maple Designs, along with details on how you can order any items which I are featured. I hope this will be ready to share with you next week...so be sure to check back and let me know your thoughts.

Oh and for the first time in my life, I won something!! It was great to hear that I was PJ Taste’s 1,000th follower on Twitter – my prize was an amazing jar of Sheffield Honey...result!!


Happy crafting x

Order(s), order(s)

In my blog last week I mentioned that I was attending a crochet class. Well I did, I saw....but I haven't quite conquered it yet - there's certainly an art to this craft! I am sure with plenty more practice (and more patience if I'm being perfectly honest) there will be more to show in the future. At the minute all I could share would be something possibly resembling a coaster....but you have to squint!


In the land of orders, it has been another amazing week and I am so happy with how things are going. The picture on the right is my first order which I mentioned in a previous blog post. I absolutely love this fabric and hope you agree that the matching bib and bodysuit are just so cute and gorgeous! I am obviously a little biased here, but I think they make great presents for newborns - something a little different than what you get in the shops...which is what Maple Designs is all about. All my bibs, bodysuits and tops can be made using a range of fabrics and below is a selection of the girly fabrics that I have to hand at the minute. I'll be adding more to fabric pile in coming weeks, so will make sure they are added to future blogs (so keep checking back...).


I've also had time to carry on with my knitting and this week have made the first knitted jam jar cover which is now taking pride of place in the spare room. It's an idea that I've seen in a few places and is a nice, simple way to add (and reuse) something to a room. Who'd have thought empty jam jars could have so many uses?!

On Wednesday morning I made another couple of orders. First up was a beautiful applique dinosaur fabric for a longsleeved t-shirt (thanks to Angela for that order....and the subequent ones!).

I also hand-crafted a matching whale fabric bib and babysuit combo (thanks to Lou for that order).




In the afternoon I attended the first in a set of three workshops run by SENTA (Sheffield Enterprise Network Agency) aimed at helping new businesses, which was excellent. Great to chat to likeminded individuals and lots of things to think about and follow up on before the next workshop in February.

I have also spent a lot (A LOT!) of time reading the amazing Sheffield food related tweets and blogs from Missie Cindz (aka Cindy Cheung) - go check her out!

Whilst catching up with a friend over coffee today I happened to get another couple of orders - this time lettering/initials/applique....all to be revealed (ok, show off) in future blogs.

Happy crafting x

What a lovely week

It's been a lovely, but busy (in a nice way) week - thoroughly loving how the start of the Maple Designs adventure is turning out.

I am so, so pleased that I've received some more orders this week - the amazingness of people saying nice things and passing information on Maple Designs over Twitter...just brilliant (thank you!).

Also great to get feedback from my some of my first orders - thank you Greg.

I've packed and posted another bib this week and I've had another order last night for a bib and babygrow combo, along with some bunting. I'm also starting to looking at what lovely wedding favours I can make for a couple getting married in the summer.

It's also been nice to spend some time relaxing and catching up with friends. I can heartily recommend Thelma's Cafe & Deli on Sharrowvale Road where I caught up with my lovely friend Anna and heard all about the exciting wedding cakes she's making at Hunkydory Cakes.

I also managed a coffee and relax in the wonderfully-relaxed-and-close-to-home Buttercup Cafe and got a little giddy over the new Dottie Angel Yarn book, which I just happened to tweet about!

I took this photo in the studio....I love it so wanted to share it.



This weekend is already taken up tidying up the studio, placing some more fabric orders, posting another order and also looking at what craft fairs are coming up in the surrounding area over the next few months. Oh, I'm also attending a crochet class too...how exciting.

Happy crafting,

x

Crafty New Year

2012 is going to be the year of change. I've given up my 'office' job and giving Maple Designs my full attention - exciting and busy times ahead and it's so nice to be able to spend time getting inspiration and spending time crafting.

My first offical order landed last week - a lovely baby bib in animal print fabric, with a matching babygrow vest.

I've also just got my second order finished today - another bib in owl print fabric, and that will be out of the door first thing in the morning.

I've attached a picture showing the fabrics I've got in stock at the minute - these can be used for bibs, babygrows, bunting, dribble bibs....all so cute!!

This weekend was great too as I completed my first knitted mug warmer. I've wanted to do one for some time now but never had the time to do so. I'm really please with the outcome - let me know your thoughts.

I'm taking orders now for all the baby related products I'm making - all hand made with love in Sheffield.

More posts to follow soon!

x


Knitted mug cosy (range of colours available)


A selection of the fabric I have in stock