2013 - how did it go then ?

i usually do a monthly round up but as we're about to move into 2014 i thought it would be good to look back on the past year. it really has been amazing and so much has happened, i can't begin to thank you all enough for your support - you're all AMAZING!! i learnt so much this year and the business has grown...still a long way to go but every little step is a step closer to getting to do this full time...oh, the dream!

so here are my highlights of the year...

JANUARY

...i visited Top Drawer and although i was sure i would now apply to the show i decided to postpone from my original plan of September 2013 to January 2014. there was A LOT of research going on for printers and manufacturers of my products - starting with cushions...

FEBRUARY

...a wee family trip to Edinburgh (for my mum's 50th) and my first wedding invite project was completed with the invites being sent out. i finalised my cushion designs...

MARCH

...another wee trip to Edinburgh (this time for a hen do), and then i finalised my lampshade designs...

APRIL

...i took a little trip to Amsterdam to see the tulips. there were no tulips. oh well, great city anyways! my fabric samples came back from the printers final order was placed for my cushions and lampshades, and it was my best friends wedding...

MAY

...my fabric was printed and sent to my chosen manufacturers, and so work started on my notebook collection...

JUNE 

...my new logo came into play, simple but effective. i completed the Ultimate Guide To Repeats e-course by Michelle Fifis. my designs were released as iPad and Kindle cases with Keka, and i finalised my notebook designs...

JULY

...the month it was confirmed that i would indeed be taking part in Top Drawer January 2014! it was a month of finalising designs for my tea towel collection - the last time i actually designed this year - after this it's all marketing and promo work!...
















AUGUST

...photoshoot time!  i reached 200 likes on facebook, and my kickstarter notebook project was successfully funded. i finalised my tea towels designs and sent them off for printing just before setting off on my travels to vietnam and laos for 3 weeks...

SEPTEMBER

...i returned from my fantastic holiday to find my finished tea towels waiting for me - how nice! - and once again i was very happy with the quality from my printers again.  i had a very exciting meeting which has led to a fantastic project - still secret for the time being but watch this space!...

OCTOBER

...i set up my products in the Carnaby Streets Things British store and was also invited to sell on brand new online store Le Crib, meanwhile i was still very busy working on my marketing for Top Drawer...



NOVEMBER

...i completed Monica Lee's e-course Smart Creative Women...


DECEMBER

...my new website was launched which i am very pleased with - the shop will soon be opened! i sent out invites to the show and i reached 600 followers on twitter. i planned my Top Drawer stand with Liz from Elle Jane Designs so we are all ready to go for the real thing, and i was featured in the Moyo Christmas Gift Guide...

and then i had a wonderful relaxing holiday at home with my feet up for a little festive break :) it wasn't all feet up up though - i had to complete my press packs for the show and get my business cards sorted and printing for printing before it's too late...never a dull moment!

i'd like to thank everyone for their support this year - friends & family for listening to me constantly talking about 'the big plan', and for everyone who has followed, and liked and retweeted...you're all awesome and i couldn't do it without you...i hope you'll all still be with me next year to see 'the big plan' through and share all my new projects with...here's to an even more successful 2014!!

christmas delights

i was very lucky this christmas and was spoilt by my friends and family. i got lots of lovely things - some crafty items, some designer maker goodies and i even found some vintage treats for myself. i thoughts i'd share some with you...

...a couple of days before christmas i discovered a vintage shop and OMGoodness what a lot of finds! some fabric, a nice new blankie, belts, and a special war time edition of monopoly complete with cardboard counters and wooden pieces...awesome!...

...a lovely Charley Harper calendar to see me through 2014...

...my new Orla Kiely folder, my new Ellen Giggenbach cushion, and my secret santa gift - a bird whistle in a house to hold my keys which also doubles as a whistle!...

...but i think my favourite present must be my two Holly Sharpe prints...just need to get some lovely frames to put them in now...

...i also got the Orla Kiely 'Home' book, a tribal print scarf, and some flowery PJs from Thailand...love it all, so lucky - thank you everyone!!

...oh and pre-xmas i sent off lots of lovely cards from a selection of designers - Elle Jane Designs, Jessica Hogarth, Jo Clarke, and Hello Paper Moon...

i hope you all had a WONDERFUL christmas whatever you may have done and now looking forward to celebrating everything good from 2013 and are ready to welcome lots of exciting new things in 2014...see you there!

the ultimate planning weekend . . .

last weekend was The Ultimate Planning Weekend. sounds hard core. lots to be done. and lots was indeed done. the ever so wonderful Liz of Elle Jane Designs spent some time with me, and between all the giggling we did actually achieve something!

more than something actually. we mocked up the whole Top Drawer stand in my living room, and (much to my relief) everything looked exactly as i'd hoped. phew. 

a quick-ish trip to town and good old Wilkinsons to buy some hooks, wire, sticky stuff, paint, nails and all important hair dye and we were back in full swing. Well kind of...the internet went down but we had vital research to do. Only one thing for it...off to Starbucks for a hazelnut hot chocolate and free wifi. 

we'd decided one crucial part to the stands display was a table. but it had to be quite fall, long and narrow. it seems no one caters for these requirements. but that's fine. i kept some bed slats from my old bed for this exact reason...we shall make our own. we're girls, we can do this.

cue friends with DIY tips and saws to borrow, a dad with a drill and some paints...sorted! et voila...we have one perfect table that meets my exact needs!!

now to tidy up and let my flat mates back into the lounge...

so all in all I would say it was a very successful Ultimate Planning Weekend. 

november - round up

only 23 days until christmas! i said i wouldn't get excited this year because of all the work i have to do - no time for christmas! -but turns out my such a big kid i just can't not get excited about it! i went to John Lewis this weekend and they totally won me over...more on that in another post...

so what happened in november then...

* i guess the biggest thing was the building of the new website. i was expecting it to take me absolutely ages, but my decision to go with wordpress as a new platform was a fantastic decision. it's so easy to use...the hardest thing was picking a theme from the hundreds available - rather overwhelming! i'll be ready to go live by the end of this week...keep your eyes peeled! for now i'll tease you with the menu bar. ha! ;)

* this past weekend saw me design my invites for that all important Top Drawer show. again i completely surprisingly quickly...i know i work better under pressure but i think with the show being oh-so-very close i'm stepping up another gear...only 43 days. eek. so these have been sent off to the printers and should be back next week for me to post out...best get my address list together!

* i set up my Things British shop at the end of last month and have seen sales coming through on my weekly report which is very promising. interest through my etsy shop has also increased dramatically and it's great to know my products are going to a new home, and possibly being sent as christmas gifts this season :)


* the first deadline for my top secret 'exciting news part 2' (that i still can't reveal - sorry!) has been met, now onto the next stages...can't wait to be able to share it with you all and see it all come together...watch this space!





 * i set up a 'christmas gift list' on pinterest to showcase all the lovely things i have been discovering on Etsy. you can vie wit here and perhaps get some inspiration for some christmas gifts yourself!





right, now it's off to december...month of the portfolio!