Happy New Year!

I just wanted to wish you all a very Happy New Year!


Looking forward to 2010!

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See you soon, Sara x
www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Merry Go Around: These are a few of my favorite things!

We were asked to blog about some of our favourite things from this year. So thinking cap on I tried to think about all of the new things I tried and what I felt was successful about this year. I also decided to take it a stage further, not wanting it to be just about what I did this year and show a bit of thanks for the people and things that have really made this year wonderful.

Carding - I've really enjoyed learning to perfect my carding... I still think of it as a work in progress, but the joy of creating colour palettes of wool for my customers has given me a whole new look at being a fibre supplier... I've been bringing back the handmade you could say!

Spinning - I tried a new craft this year, which has really helped me to understand fibres in a whole new light and appreciate all of those georgeous hand spun yarns... I don't know if I will ever get to the stage where I will be stocking yarns in the store, but I certainly will be spinning just for me. I'd love to take it to a new level of creativity next year and learn to ply with fabrics, threads and all kinds of bonkers stuff... make art yarn pieces??

Meeting People - This year was the first year where I just did the shows that brought in customers and fellow sellers who wanted to celebrate wool and fibre... I loved it! Everyone was so inspiring and friendly... I can't understand why I haven't been doing this for years!!

There are also the blog readers who drop by everyso often to say 'Hi'... it's always nice to know that typing away, on my own in my Pyjamas (Well not all the time!) is reaching out to people... I can never feel lonely that way... and I hope you stop by again this year too!

Customers -  I couldn't leave out the amazing customers I've had this year, I've learnt so much from them and always enjoy hearing about what they are up too and what they have created using the fibres I supplied. Thank you for being so supportive!

Learning Centres - I feel this is the year where my learning centre really got started (check out http://sarastexturecrafts.com/) and I'm really enoying it. I've had lots of people join the social networks too and really get involved... it's been wonderful to be be a part of and watch them all take it to that next level... Thank you too!

Devon -  I was always worried about moving back to an area I didn't enjoy living in all those years ago (long story and a long time ago)... but I did need green and this is where family is, so we took the plunge... afterall that was about people not places. It's December and we've been back since May and I couldn't be happier. I'm so thankful for that and to D for helping to make everything possible.

Gardening - I got my first Garden this year... was so impressed at how much I managed to grow, with a little help from family and of course the local horses! I've already got my seeds ready for this coming year and plan to try some of my favourites.

Darrin (or D as he's known here) - Thank you D... you've lugged boxes and driven all over the country for me, you've helped sell at shows and wiped the tears... all unpaid. You've got excited about my work and inspired about the future, supporting me throughout... you are my partner in every sense and without you I would be lost. Sxx

Family (and of course my Mum) - What can I say... they dutifully turn up at shows to 'ohhh' and 'ahhh', they help move us to Devon (thanks to Dad for the back breaking work)! They have witnessed low moments and helped pull me up again and they teach me so much without need of anything in return. Mum as always you have been my rock this year... thank you... I'm so glad I'm close by now. Sxx

Friends - even when you're not close by you always keep an eye out for me and for that I am truely thankful. Sxx

I also wanted to take this opportunity to thank my Merry Go Around Blog Friends; they have been so inspirational to me this year and our networking blog topics have really raised some questions and helped me make decisions about my business. They will always be some very important people to me...

Wrendren creates such unique bag ideas, like this coffee bag.

Ruth's pieces are so human, that you feel like you are right there alongside her when she's working enjoying the same book, or music that inspires her.

Mariana's journey of learning this year has really struck a chord with me, as it's something very close to my heart... so seeing her work grow has been wonderful to watch.

Lily inspires the 'would be' painter inside me... although I doubt I would ever be as good!

Jenny's accessories are just so spot on... delicate and wearable!

Fabienne creates jewellery for the princess inside me... I wear my pendant all the time!

Charlotte's work is exactly the kind of work that inspired the Fashion Designer in me, so eclectic and delicately beautiful.

Agathe has taught me to try new things this year... I love to watch her work grow as she turns her hands to new techniques and incorporates them seamlessly.

Thank you Ladies... I can't wait to see what we get up to this coming year!

So here's to my favourite things... and to the people who make me what I am!
Sx

----------------
This post was part of a blog Merry go Around, where I have got together with some friends to talk about a similar subject on the same day... a nice way to meet people!

Jenny at Jenny Karlsson design http://designjennykarlsson.blogspot.com/
Wendren at Wren http://thewrendesign.com/
Sara at Sara's Texture Crafts http://sarastexturecrafts.blogspot.com/
Charlotte at Fancy Picnic http://fancypicnic.blogspot.com/
Lily at Lily Pang Art http://lilypangart.blogspot.com/
Marianna at Florcita http://florcitasart.blogspot.com/
Agathe at Le Bar du Vent http://lebarduvent.blogspot.com/
Fabienne at Easterya http://easterya.blogspot.com/
Ruth at Birdland Creations http://insidetheartisan.blogspot.com/

I'm back...

Did you have a nice Christmas?

Sara x
http://www.sarastexturecrafts.com/

Closed For Christmas - MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

I am off-line from the 21st to the 28th to spend Christmas with D and our families. I was originally going to close on the 23rd, but it's been sucha busy weekend I wanted to make sure I would get everything done.

I would like to thank everyone who has bought from me, chatted to me and read this blog this year... without you my world would have been a very boring shade of grey this year!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

See you soon!
Sara x
http://www.sarastexturecrafts.com/

If I'm away from my desk when you phone

This will be why!


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See you soon, Sara x
www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Hop on a stone my friend...

Last night my little friend finally had something to sit on...


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone.
See you soon, Sara x
www.sarastexturecrafts.com

A Series of Recent Thank Yous... #3

Finally, meeting Merry of http://www.playmerrily.co.uk/ has been a fun and invaluable experience. We spent some time chatting and then she offered me some brilliant advice, which will help me tackle my post options for the new year. As soon as January comes I have some work to do to get it up and running, but I'm hoping to gain a little more much needed time for growing Sara's Texture Crafts and hopefully get shipping moving daily (5 times a week) instead of just 3 times a week. Thank you Merry!

Do drop by her shop, as she sells the most wonderful Children's toys!

Sara x
http://www.sarastexturecrafts.com/

'Tis finished!

Just waiting for a tree to put it on!


Then I can take a picture for http://workingwithfelt.ning.com and get that posted in our Christmas challenge!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone.
See you soon, Sara x
www.sarastexturecrafts.com

A Series of Recent Thank Yous... #2

I also need to give a shout out to Beth of http://www.etsy.com/shop/WhorlingTides who rather wonderfully gave me a mention in her Ravelry group. A few hours after posting I had an order over on http://sarastexturecrafts.etsy.com/ from one of her members! How fab is that... advertising you just can't pay for!! Thank you Beth, I really do appreciate it.

Do check out Beth's shop, she's a fibre artist like me who makes the most wonderful handspun yarns!

Sara x
http://www.sarastexturecrafts.com/

A Series of Recent Thank Yous... #1

I just wanted to give a quick shout out to Annabella of http://www.folksy.com/shops/Annabelladesigns, who has really given me some wonderful advice and definately some food for thought in the New Year... a new project in fact. So Thank You Annabella!

Please do drop by her shop, she makes the most wonderful bridalwear and accessories, as well as vintage look clothing accessories... beautiful work!

Sara x
http://www.sarastexturecrafts.com/

Christmas Closing Dates...

I will be closing the shops from the 23rd to the 28th of December.
Sara x
http://www.sarastexturecrafts.com/

I was in the DaWanda Newsletter this month!

I completely missed it, but fortunately Ruth from http://insidetheartisan.blogspot.com/, who is Birdland Creations (item featured next to mine) blogged about it. Thanks Ruth!

Sara x

Addicted to Fibre, Feltmaking and Spinning? Or want to learn more? Visit my www.sarastexturecrafts.com for everything your addiction needs!

Stocking is coming on...

I've just finished my base colour layer...


Along with some holly.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone.
See you soon, Sara x
www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Features tonight!

Starting to sculpt my little friend's features tonight.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone.
See you soon, Sara x
www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Not long to go now, so...

I'm going to try and do as many extra post runs as possible this week...


So if you need anything do let me know. Deliveries are down to a minimum, so I can try to accomodated your needs as best I can.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone.
See you soon, Sara x
www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Xmas shopping in Exeter

Lots on tinsel, almost every colour under the rainbow out today!


The loneliest toys too!


But the angriest robins!!


Almost evil I'd say!

Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone.
See you soon, Sara x
www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Customer Photos: Merry also had fun...

IMG_3857
Originally uploaded by Merrily Me

Merry (mum of very talented entries from Maddy, Josie, Amelie and Fran today) also had fun making her 3D tree from scraps of Merino... I see a new addiction coming on Merry!

Merry runs a bead company on-line at http://www.beadmerrily.co.uk/, where you can also stock up on Fimo products too. Do pop over and take a look... lots of gift ideas for Christmas and beyond!

Customer Photos: Fran's Teddy Bear

IMG_3860
Originally uploaded by Merrily Me

Fran worked hard on a cuddly teddy bear... he looks like he is very soft and fluffy Fran!

Customer Photos: Amelie's Angel!

IMG_3861
Originally uploaded by Merrily Me

Isn't she wonderful! Well done Amelie!

Customer Photos: Josie's Christmas Tree

IMG_3864
Originally uploaded by Merrily Me

Josie also made a tree... how fab! I love the way you curled the tinsle around the tree Josie!

Customer Photos: Maddy's Christmas Tree

IMG_3862
Originally uploaded by Merrily Me

This is a wonderfully bright and fun Christmas tree, eh? One of my customer's children, Maddy has needle felted several colours of Merino as tinsel and baubles onto a dark green Merino base.

Mentioned on a customer's blog...

What a lovely mention... http://www.patchofpuddles.co.uk/archives/2962/christmas-activities-1-2/comment-page-1#comment-269136

Thank you!
Sara x
http://www.sarastexturecrafts.com/

Working with felt challenge Christmas Stockings

I'm hosting this month's challenge on working with felt at http://workingwithfelt.ning.com/



So I'm starting my very own stocking entry.

I'm using Norwegian batt from my Etsy shop at http://sarastexturecrafts.etsy.com/ to create my needle felt base.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone.
See you soon, Sara x
http://www.sarastexturecrafts.com/

A moment to play...

I think I was feeling a bit fraustrated at not being able to spin on Monday, so even though it's 8 o'clock... Out came the wheel.


And I actually think I'm improving. I had a lot less problem with my joins and wasted much less fibre to recard... Yay! Now that's a great craft night!!

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See you soon, Sara x
www.sarastexturecrafts.com

I'm all put away!

My wonderful spinning wheel hasn't seen the light recently...



So I'm no further with spinning myself some hand painted Shetland yarn... roving sold at http://sarastexturecrafts.etsy.com/ ... :(

Maybe I'll get a bit of time over Christmas... Let's face it there will be plenty if cold weather to wear it in afterwards!!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone.
See you soon, Sara x
http://www.sarastexturecrafts.com/

My little friend is chilling out!

Just watching the tv with me.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone.
See you soon, Sara x
www.sarastexturecrafts.com

A Few More Limited Editions...

It's been a busy week, but managed to fit in some Limited Editions around my custom carding orders. Here are a few from my Etsy shop;

Enjoy!
Sara x
http://www.sarastexturecrafts.com/

At last some light!

So I'm off to take some pictures of stock for the shops, including some new limited editions...


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone.
See you soon, Sara x
www.sarastexturecrafts.com

Are you 'Tumblr'ing yet?

I just wanted to tell you about a new site I found that might help us to get ourselves out there a bit... forgive me if you have heard of it and are up and running already, but I just found it and thought I must tell you.

Have you seen tumblr yet?

I've just signed up and am listed at http://sarastexturecrafts.tumblr.com/... if you want to join I think there is a button on the top right hand side of my page... I still haven't quite found my way around as I haven't had time, but I think it might be worth looking into.

There seems to be a bit of a buzz about this new site and while I don't have time to update yet another site I advertise on, tumblr seems to have lots of little widgets that help you to reuse what you already publish on the internet. So far I have;

Streaming updates from my; Facebook, Twitter, Blog (blogger and wordpress), eshops (eBay and Etsy RSS feeds) and you tube videos... straight onto my Tumblr page. So the beauty is that I don't even need to log in... all of these feeds update once a day for me!

It then takes this information and streams updates out to my Facebook and Twitter page, so I don't need to update either of those anymore... well, other than chatting with friends!

Very exciting... more advertising for less work!! There is bound to be some glitch somewhere, of this I am sure, but for now I think it could work for each of us...

Sara x
http://www.sarastexturecrafts.com/

Last Post before Christmas

Last shipping dates for pre-Christmas orders;

4th December - South and Central America, Carribean, Africa, Middle East, Far East, Asia, New Zealand and Australia.

10th December - Japan, USA, Canada and Eastern Europe

11th December - Western Europe

15th December - Mainland UK standard parcels

18th December - Mainland UK 2nd Class

21st December - Mainland UK 1st Class and Recorded

23rd December - Mainland UK Special Delivery

Please note that these are guidelines only and naturally delays will occur to post at this time of year. I will be doing my best to post as regularly as normal and will do everything I can to get items to you. If in any doubt about ordering please do ask me and I will help you with the information I have.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Sara x
http://www.sarastexturecrafts.com/

Carding customs and limited editions

I've been back on the carder...


After I finished my custom batt orders, I set to work on some new limited editions. I just need a bright morning to photograph them!

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See you soon, Sara x
www.sarastexturecrafts.com