Another 'Plush You' sneaky peek,

From this...

to this.

I have a whole heap of new softie patterns coming, watch this space...!

The return of the owl,

It has been quite a while since I did anything owlish, and this is why,

...the mini owl has arrived.  The Anchor kit is now available here, and contains all the instructions, templates and materials required to make one owl.

There is still time to join in the giveaway, just leave a comment on this post!

Right, back to work on some new patterns, my softie portfolio is beginning to look a little depleted, new designs are on their way!

Bridge over troubled water...,

Thank you for all the well wishes for my squashed fingers, apart from one lumpy bruise they are all now recovered.  Today is a work day for me, and it has begun tinged with a little sadness. Over christmas, I spent some time reading up on what is going on regarding new guidelines coming into play in February covering the sale and manufacture of toys to, from and within the USA.  In a nutshell, this means that anyone who makes a toy or any other item deemed suitable for a child which they are planning on selling, will have to submit that item for expensive, rigorous product testing.  The problem is, this new act makes no differentiation between products which are mass produced by a large company, and products which are handmade by a sole trader.  

It also covers, as do current UK safety standards, that it is not enough to label an item as 'not a toy'.  If it looks like a toy, feels like a toy, could be played with as a toy, then it is a toy.

The question now is, should we, and how do we try and save handmade?

I have two points of view on this, the parent in me feels, that there indeed need to be some safety guidelines in place for any product aimed at children, but the designer in me feels that these guidelines need to bear in mind the distinct nature of handmade.

  

Here in the UK, there have been similar guidelines in place for some time.  To manufacture and sell a toy, the item technically needs to have a CE mark on it which requires product testing similar to those the CPSIA want to bring in across the pond.  The difference here seems to be that this testing is a fair bit cheaper in the UK.  But on the flip side, UK products are also required to conform with the British Toy Safety Standard (BS EN 71), online information on this standard is limited, a hard copy may need to be purchased (although, you may be lucky and find one in your local library), however, there are a number of different areas making up this standard (flammability, chemical compounds, small parts, durability), and before you know it, you can have spent up to £1,000 just getting hold of all the relevant information.  The most immediate source here is your local Trading Standards office.  

So, as of February 10th, what will the impact be?  Etsy have joined the debate as it will affect a large percentage of sellers making anything from knitted baby hats & mittens, to wooden building blocks.  Naturally, I am most concerned for the future softies, I'm sad that, many talented, inspiring crafters and designers may be backed into a corner.  The cost of product testing makes it not viable for items made and sold in small quantities, and what happens with in cases where every item made is an individual one off piece?  We can all, in theory anyway, still continue to create as normal, but sell?, probably not. 

One thing all this has done for me is to clear up what was a huge grey area regarding UK toy safety standards, the information I have read scratches the itch I knew was there, but have been, to a certain extent, avoiding.  Maybe the answer lies in finding a bridge over these troubled waters?.  I listened to this podcast yesterday and it brought the word 'diversify' very much into the forefront of my mind.  I'd be very interested in your views and current experiences on this subject as I suspect, given the size of the crafty blogospere, the effects will become global. 

****************************

Update - Etsy have just posted some information to say that the voices of crafts people are being heard, and possible exemptions are now being discussed for handmade goods, a little light at the end of the tunnel!

Bit early for snow...!

Thank you for all the wonderful comments on my previous post, I love what French Knots said about 'head spaghetti',  yes, that is so what it has been like, unravelling spaghetti!  The whole exercise has been somewhat cathartic too, and I do feel all the better for having gone through the process, and all for such a very good cause.  I can't say too much at present, but it is all to do with a magazine article I've written, something I'm very excited about and will explain more later in the year.

In amongst all the wordiness that has been going on, a little bit of sewing has managed to sneak through, one snowy owl...

which will be in the post to my giveaway winner as soon as I email her for an address!

He didn't turn out as snowy as I'd have liked, he kind of took on his own direction during creation, which was quite refreshing seeing him evolve that way.  He's larger than my other owls, and also has some fly stitch added to his tummy, another feature that I found seemed to be calling out to be included.

Next on the 'to do' list is another project for issue 2 of Sew Hip magazine, don't forget, issue 1 is due to hit the shops very shortly, you can sign up for a subscription here so you don't miss either of the Lucykate Crafts... patterns.  Now, I just need to decided, do I go and watch the 'Sex & the City' re-run later, or do I make one of these?  I really need to make a girly version for Lucy to use for the tooth fairy, she has wobblers, 4 of them, finally!  Bless her, she's nearly 7 and still not lost any teeth!

You may be forgiven for thinking...

...that this is one of my usual owls,

and at first glance, I suppose it is.  But look closer,

here's a clue, there it is in front of one of my usual owls.  It's half size, teeny tiny!.  I really like working small, and wondered if it was possible to do baby owls, so gave it a go!.  

I am in the middle of a (late) spring clean, so am making the most of there being no children in the house so I can go through the toys and cull all the broken things without causing too much upset, wish me luck!

Owls...

I will shortly be doing a little housekeeping in my Etsy shop, some things will be coming out, and going off to the 'Softies for Mirabel' charity auction, to make way for these...

With the school summer holidays approaching, I will aim to drip feed Etsy with some small items which I will announce here beforehand.

Thank you for all the lovely owl egg cosy comments, you are all so sweet!.  I need to set some time aside to go visiting everyones blogs.  I'd also love to see any egg cosies that have been made, check these out, here (scroll down) and here, I may have to start another Flickr group!.  And a big thank you to Craftzine and Whip Up who both featured the tutorial.

Well, Friday 13th June has passed, unlucky for some, but it should have been a lucky day for all (66!) toadstool swappers.  Please do let me know if there are any problems, however small.

You can check out all the toadstools made so far in the Flickr group pool.  Right, I'm off to do some 'Etsying'!

Safety first...

After last week being a bit hit & miss, I decided it would be safer to enter this week by setting a few ground rules to life, and a check list...

1.  hair to remain attached to head  ✓

2.  tooth to be mended  ✓

3.  no more teeth to be broken (fingers crossed, but avoid chewy sweets as a precaution)

4.  avoid the headbutting of sewing machine (so far, so good!)

Next, a check list for crafting...

1.  finish the two commissioned applique cushion covers  ✓

2.  more pink owls for Etsy  ✓

3.  more items in general, in pink, for Etsy (well, they are still wip's, but well on the way)

4.  email all the Toadstool Swappers with their partners details  ✓

(however, if you have yet to receive these details, please let me know)

I also had the first issue from my new subscription to Selvedge magazine arrive, turned to page 15, and a couple of minutes later, had purchased this little tiny 'tweeter', so cute!

Good news always comes after bad...

There are some things that have been happening here that I have yet to share...

(more owls for next Etsy update)

Since having the bout of tonsillitis, I had started to feel like I was hitting a bad patch. My son drove a battery powered car across the top of my head, which got tangled up and pulled a large handful of hair out (yes, ouch!!), I pinched a sweet from my daughter and then thought, 'this feels harder than it should be!', to find a rather large chunk of both tooth and filling had come out (dentist for me on Wednesday!). This next one is more my own fault, but while burning the midnight oil a bit too much this week, I started to nod off and headbutted my sewing machine!

But, then the natural law of the universe steps in, and brings good things to even it all out, firstly for me, there has been world domination by way of toadstools!!, and secondly, for my husband...

Some of you who have been reading my blog for a while will know what he does, he is a portrait painter, and after being a member of the Royal Society of Portrait Painters for around 5 years has just been chosen to be the new President!

You may now call me Mrs President!

ps, all those signed up for the swap, you should have received an email from me yesterday, please let me know if you haven't or if there are any problems.  I will be drawing swap partners later today.

Best laid plans,

Barn Owl no.1

...the first of many as I love that farm fabric so much (and there's a fair bit left yet to use!)

I'm not totally happy with this first one, but it's all part of the design process and I am working towards getting some items together to put in my first Etsy shop update.


And, talking of the design process, it doesn't always go to plan, does it? Here are two discarded elephants that weren't quite right, but I can't bring myself to take them apart just yet, maybe when I next run out of stuffing!

We're getting there...!

Another owl and cushion made, ready for christmas...

...another owl still waiting (patiently!) for her cushion...

...but look, some 'Moo' cards have arrived, and is that a 'Lucykate Crafts' label there on the side of that cushion?. I think someone may be making preparations for opening an Etsy shop in the new year!

For now though, we are getting there. Car play mat is finished, along with some other gifts which will have to remain secret until after christmas. The 'to do' list is still quite long of jobs that need doing round the house, not only do we have christmas eve tomorrow but it is also Mr Lucykate Crafts birthday. Lets hope this year, he can remember how old he is and not have to ring his mum to double check!

Pre christmas postman brought me some little parcels, I won my first giveaway, look at this little selection of goodies from Paper & String!


I just want to thank you all who visit and leave comments. I have had a really enjoyable first year of blogging, made some lovely friends, seen the most wonderful, inspiring work, and read lots that has made me both laugh and cry!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

And the winners are...

(image is a page from my sketch book)

Corry from Dutch Blue, Suzie Sews and Melly & Rosie, a huge thank you to everyone who commented, I now have lots of new and very interesting blogs to read. All is not lost if you didn't win, it will be my blogs first birthday in March next year, and there will be another giveaway then, plus...

PAY IT FORWARD

I have signed up to 'PIF' through I'm a Ginger Monkey.
The first three people to leave a comment on this post requesting to join, will receive a handmade gift, from me, at some point over the next 365 days, all I ask in return is that you make the same promise on your own blog.

Hope you've all had a good weekend...normal crafty service will be resuming next week!

Overwhelmed...!

What's that little owl...?, you're so stunned by how popular the giveaway has been, that you went to bed last night feeling all overcome with tummy ache, and woke up this morning sat next to an egg!. But the tummy ache still hadn't gone, until another egg popped out!

Two eggs!!!

I hope you are going to clean up all that mess now that they've all hatched...

So..., then there were three!, keep going..., everyone who comments on either of the giveaway posts will be included in the draw, remember you have until midnight (gmt) on Friday to win one of the three wise owls!.

An owl is not just for christmas...

...he's for life!, and this little guy could be YOURS!. He doesn't have a name yet, he (or she, as some bloggers have pointed out!), needs a new owner to choose one for him. You have until midnight (gmt) on Friday 23rd November to leave a comment and then I will get one of my little helpers to draw a name out of a hat. So, ready, steady, ...go!

Agnes the Owl

This little one is to go with a yet to be completed cushion for another one of my nieces for christmas. I wasn't sure if these fabrics were going to work but am pleasantly pleased with the end result.

I have been nominated for a 'Smile Award' by Incy Wincy (thank you!), so I now have to pass this honor on. After a root around to see who hasn't already been nominated, my list is,

Dottie Angel
Janet Clare
Monkee Maker
Flossie Teacakes
and Prairie Mouse

The list could easily go on and on and on ..., but I'll leave it in the hands of the above to chose others to pass the mantel on to next!.

For Phoebe...

It's finished, the first of many. I am making all of my nieces one of these, a little cushion with a pocket and a mini owl softie. The fleece fabric is so warm and snuggly for little ones.


We are off to the Lake District tomorrow to visit my husbands family for the weekend, but also because on Thursday, it will be our 10th wedding anniversary, and we were lucky enough to get married in the church in the centre of Bowness-on-Windermere.


Then, next week is the start of the 2 week half term holiday. I have promised Lucy that while Luke is at nursery on Wednesday, we will have a girls dressing up day. She wants to wear her princess dress and she's asked me to wear.....my 'marrying' dress as she calls it, I'm going to feel like a right banana if anyone comes to the door!!

Interesting fact no. 4, owls, owls and more owls!

I love Owls. They seem to follow me, they are something that keep cropping up over and over again. My most successful cross stitch kit design for Coats Crafts was of an owl. I have a small collection of owl ornaments which live on top of the grandfather clock given to me by my mum, grandma, husbands grandma and my mother in law. I also love making owl softies, I think it's the big eyes that do it!.

This week, Hooty came to visit. He flew out of my fabric stash basket, flapped around the sewing machine and then landed on my desk.



Hooty looked lonely, so I made him some (girl!) friends.



Caught the owl bug, kept going and before you know it, Hooty had a gang.



When I design for Coats, I usually have to use easily sourced fabric or Rowan as they are part of the Coats group. It was nice to finally use some of the fabric I've been finding myself. This little lot came from Kitty Craft.