Merry Christmas

Just a quick note to wish everyone Happy Holidays.

Lilies and Daisies is officially closed now for christmas and the new year.  I know it is a bit early but wanted to get myself and kids sorted and not have to worry about the stress of posting in the snow!! (photo is from last year - not that bad here yet!)

I will be back in the new year with new and exciting things.
Take Care
Anna
x

Blog Giveaway Winner

I am so behind with everything.  Christmas is definetly coming and just last night, myself and my niece Anastasia were busy making and packing.  30 orders have gone into the post this morning.  It is brilliant, but sometimes wish I had a bit more time to create some new things.  I am sure I will have a January lull to do that!

So the blog giveaway winner is late to be announced.  I was so glad to see that some of my regular readers have returned!!

The winner (chosen by randomnumbers.org) is: Emma.

Emma said...

Ooooooooh please count me in, the Christmas magnets are lovely! Emma :)

Please email me your address and your magnets and mirror will be in the post asap.

I will be closing all my shops for a christmas break, the week before christmas, so remember to get those orders done for stocking fillers.

 

Fine and Dandy Shop Focus

Just thought I would share one of the stockists of Lilies and Daisies.

This is 'Fine and Dandy' in Marazion, Cornwall.  It is run by the lovely Shevie.  I just wish I lived closer, but definitely plan a visit there in the future.

It is a priviledge to think that such a gorgeous shop wants to stock my items!!

Check her out here: 

• Flickr
• Facebook (including photos of my earrings insitu!)
• Blog

I'm back, with a blog giveaway too!!!!

Hi everyone.

Well my time off didn't quite go as planned.  Actually I have been as busy as usual.  I haven't designed anything new, and there won't be anytime to get any christmas makes made.  The orders for magnets, badges and mirrors has been amazing.  I have also been having a few wholesale orders which keeps me very busy.  I will be informing you of these as soon as I get more photos.  I also plan to help my mum with a new venture in the new year.  Fingers crossed it works for her.

To mark my return, I am going to have a giveaway for 4 Cath Kidston Design Christmas magnets 

and a provence rose in pink compact mirror (ideal for a stocking filler)

As usual, it is very simple to enter.  Either:

• join as a follower to my blog and leave a comment
• if already a follower, leave a comment
• repost this giveaway on either your blog, facebook, or twitter and leave me a link to find it.

The giveaway will run for 2 weeks.

So pleased to be back...missed my blog...sometimes it is like therapy!!! :)

Having a break

Hi everyone.

I have thought long and hard about this post, but I have dcided it is the right decision.  Lilies and Daisies is taking a short break from normal service, for probably around a month.  I will still be supplying my regular wholesale customers and my shops will still be open selling my already listed things, and I will also be making custom orders for anyone who contacts me.  What it does mean is that I won't be making any new products or adding any new items to my shops.  I think it will also mean that I will be blogging less over the next few weeks.

The main reason for all this is time.  I have a full time job as a nurse, two beautiful but demanding children, a loving partner, a cat and an old house, and all this requires attending at the moment.  Something had to give.  I have been so surprised how well Lilies and Daisies has grown and I am sure I will return with a new lease of life after this short holiday.  I plan to get my house redecorated - well at least give some rooms a lick of paint and to enjoy a few nights in front of the tv.

See you all soon,
Anna
x

Twitter

New twitter account set up, especially for Lilies and Daisies.

Back from Holiday

Sorry no post in such a long time...we have been away and it has taken me a while to catch up...actually I am still catching up!

We went to the Isle of Wight.  It is such a beautiful place.  Never far from the see and loads to keep the children happy.

Also wanted to share that some of the Cath Kidston paper christmas magnets/badges have finally been made up to photograph.  They also come in loads of other designs including pink christmas trees, crackers, festive houses, bells, fireplaces and flowers. They can be purchased from my eBay or direct from me by emailing me,

Christmas

Now is the time of year we need to consider something which we would rather leave, especially for crafty people and businesses.  It may seem early to be talking about Christmas, but when you think about it, there are not many weeks to get everything purchased and made...and more importantly, not many pay days left!!

I talked weeks ago about starting to consider creating some christmas cards, decorations and gifts, but as usual, it is all just talk and ideas at the moment.

The only thing I have actually done, is get some Cath Kidston christmas paper to make some magnets and badges.  These would be great for decorations, or perhaps to use as table name decorations - just ask if you would like names added.  I am thinking that i might even make a few for myself to use in christmas crackers.  I was inspired last year by the crackers featured on 'Homemade Christmas' and would love to give them a go.  Any advice gratefully received :)

P.S. I just love the new stat feature on Blogger.  I can now see that I am getting loads of views per day.  Thanks for the views, and don't be shy...join as a follower so you don't miss those important giveaways!

New Facebook Group

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lilies-and-Daisies/152619448091506?v=wall#!/pages/Lilies-and-Daisies/152619448091506

September Blog Giveaway winner

Hi everyone.

This week has been even more busy than usual.  Working one extra day from now on will definitely test my organisational skills, especially in the run up to Christmas!!

The random number generator has chosen number 1, which is Jacey!!  Well done!!  She chose the red beaded with yellow lotus flower bracelet as her favourite.  Just email me your details and I will pop it in the post.

The new jewellery is being well received.  I have now listed some more of the earrings on Folksy.

September Blog Giveaway

To celebrate the new jewellery collection, the September giveaway will be a bracelet I have designed and made over the weekend.

 The winner can either choose a black beaded bracelet with a pink rose or.....

 ....a red beaded one with a yellow lotus flower.

As usual, it is very simple to enter.  Either:

1. If you are a follower, leave a comment stating which one you would choose if you won, or....
2. Join as a follower and leave a comment also choosing the one you would prefer if you won..
3. and for an extra chance, blog about this giveaway and leave the link to show me.

The giveaway will run for a week.  Good Luck!

More Earrings

Here are some more earrings.  Sorry about the photo quality but I still can't get used to new camera and the lighting was rubbish in my house today.  These are not listed in my shops yet, but hopefully they will be  tomorrow.

This week I go back to work full time, so not happy today :(

New Camera....and new items!!!

Finally got my camera.  Here are some new photos of the necklaces and earrings I have made so far.  There are more in the process of being made (including the September Blog Giveaway prize!!).

More photos can be found on my Flickr account and items are now listed on Folksy.

Hope they were worth the wait!!

Sneak Peak

Still no camera but I have managed to take a blurry shot of the earrings I made last night on my phone.  It doesn't capture the details as they have pearls with gorgeous bead caps, and beautiful hearts at the top.
Next was going to be my necklaces, but the battery has gone!

New Earrings and Necklaces

Last night I made a start on making my new jewellery range.  It was much more complex then anything I have done before, involving jump rings, eye pins, head pins etc.

I loved it.  So far I have made 2 necklaces and the most gorgeous pair of earrings.  I am desperate to show you all but still no camera, but it has definitely motivated me to actually look for one now.  Jamie is the type of shopper that likes to compare every price and specification, and it drives me mad!  I am going to try and borrow a camera for later.  I think the next few weeks will just involve me showing you new jewellery, but at least I have a brilliant selection for the giveaway coming soon!!

No camera

Sorry everyone for not posting for a whole week,  I do have a few excuses tho!!

Firstly, I still haven't fixed my camera or got around to buying a new one.  Posts are not the same without a photo, and the photos often inspire me.

Secondly, I am hoping to have a new range of jewellery soon.  I have been looking for materials to start making dangly earrings, necklaces and braclets.  It is just like when I first started, which means that I have had to spend a lot of time, money and effort researching the best quality and priced materials and tools.  Lots of the materials have now arrived, but just waiting for a few key components.  I have also sourced some original vintage beads and cabochons, which I am really excited about using.  Can't wait to begin and I hope they will be a favourite for everyone ready for Christmas.

And lastly, I have been reading.  I am terrible once I start as find it hard to put books down.  My Lilies and Daisies stuff has stopped me for months, but now I have read 3 books in two weeks, and sadly this means I haven't done much else, but the necessary completion of orders.  My current book is Memoirs of a Geisha which I have found fasinating.  I have only got about 10 pages left, and then I must not pick up another book for a while!!

Last of the Summer Sun/Cloud

Today we went to the beach.
Liliana has been waiting all summer hols, and we decided to risk it today.  The whole of August has been mostly rain!!  We had a good day.

Just had to show you my wind breaker.  I got it from eBay last year, and it is made using vintage fabric.  It was most definitely the best one on the beach and I even had someone tell me they had wind breaker envy (that sounds a bit odd!).  I just love the bargains you can find on eBay sometimes.

Bad news is that I sat on my camera and broke it, so not sure how I will manage till I get a new one.

Earrings

I sold most of my flower earrings last week, so I made a new batch.  These have been sitting on my table waiting to be put on to the cards since then, but today I finally got round to it.

Mini Daisy

Extra Large Daisy

 ...and I tried out a cute dog badge!

Especially for Heart Handmade

Claire over at Heart Handmade has been doing a series of posts regarding how to crochet.  I promised I would show her photos of a crochet blanket I made last year, and then decided that it would be lovely to show you all.

This was made for my living room and matches the colour scheme.  It is not actually entirely finished, as my intention was always to have a border.  Don't think I will ever get around to it tho, as it sits proudly on my sofa.  It is really heavy and perfect when feeling sleepy watching a film.

I love to crochet, and was shown how by my mum when I was only very little.  I believe that you are either a crochet or knitting fan.  You might be able to do both, but there is always a favourite, which is especially true in my family.

I have also made crochet hair slides in the past to sell.

My bookcase has various crochet manuals.  I have tried loads of times to make crochet heart bunting, but I am never happy with the sizes, and I always end up unravelling them.  I have also got a very large collection of vintage crochet cotton and patterns.  The crochet cotton is very difficult to work with as the stitches are so tiny, and it is not so forgiving if you get a stitch wrong or if the tension is not even.  However, that is the beauty of crochet - nothing gets wasted as the wool or cotton can always be re-used.

Travel

Sometimes I just wish I could escape.  Have no worries and just travel, take the children where ever they want and see all the magical sights of the world.  It would have to be a time travel holiday.  Back to a time of brief encounters on a moonlit train station, smartly dressed dinner dates and stylish luggage.  Inspired by this, I have found a few of my favourite travel inspired items on Folksy.

1. Photo Booth Beauties Vintage Travel Train Vanity Case by Yasmin Bouchi
2. 6 x Vintage Stamped French Script Tags-Travel by Craftypagan Designs 
3. Steampunk Time Travellers Device - Pendant by London Fogg 
4. Lola Expandable Tote - Vintage Floral Taupe by Loulabelle 
5. Vintage Feel Jewellery Wrap by Sew Heather
6. I Heart London Oyster Card Sleeve Gold/ Bronze Dee Hewitt 

Lazy Blogger

I haven't blogged much over the last few weeks.  It is difficult trying to fit it in, but I know I need to make more of an effort.  There are so many inspiring blogs out there.

I went back to work yesterday and it was nice to get back to normal instead of being ill.  Today is a day off so just catching up on some orders to post.  I am also starting to think of Christmas.  I know it is only August, but that is not much time to make everything I will need.

Nothing more interesting to tell you.  Remember 20% shop sale is still on.

Much Better

Thanks for everyone's get well wishes, today I am much better, although I have now passed it on to Jamie.  Fingers crossed the children don't get it.

I have been featured in a Folksy Friday on a Blog called 'Tales from Mount Pleasant', with my polka dot cufflinks - check it out.

From my sick bed.....again! - (& Blog Giveaway Winner)

I am ill again.  What is wrong with me???  Spent all of the last night vomitting, and I have a being sick phobia so wasn't good at all.  I now have a massive headache from not being able to sleep at all and a stiff neck (i am not a hypercondriac, I promise, although Jamie might argue different!).  I think it is not untill I stop and chill, that sometimes things get on top of me.  This usually happens when I am off work.  I have had a very busy 10 months since Daisy was born and Lilies and Daisies was born in December too.

So usually I would still be in bed (going straight back there after this post), but I had to share the winner of the August blog giveaway...drumroll....the random number generator has chosen number 7....who is Jessica.  Email me your details and I will get the magnets straight to you.

And as promised, there is a now a 20% discount in my Etsy and Folksy shops on everything (except postage charge), for 1 week.
Only 2 small rules:

• You must be a follower of this blog (not too late to join)
• and you must send me a message via the shop stating that you are a follower and leave your follower name.  I will then refund you back the 20% discount.

Due to me being bed bound today, things may take a little longer to be posted than normal, but hopefully I will be back to fighting fit tomorrow.

Blog Giveaway Reminder

Just a quick note to remind everyone that the August Blog Giveaway ends tomorrow, when one person will win 4 Russian Doll magnets, and the Lilies and Daisies Folksy and Etsy shops will be having an exclusive sale for followers only.  Details tomorrow.

Oh, and I am feeling much better.  I can actually enjoy the last few days I have off now. :)

Local Crafters

For August Blog Giveaway, click here!

I am ill.  I have been ill all week and it is only getting worse, so this weekend will be spent mostly lying in bed doing nothing.  Being a nurse, I am a terrible patient.

I prepared this post at the begining of the week.  On Sunday, we visited the National Eisteddfod of Wales and I discovered more crafty people and shops from Wales, which I have decided to share with you.

Tinkers Infinity

 www.tinkersinfinity.com

Calcon

 www.caloncompany.co.uk

Adra

 www.adrahome.com

Siop Ria

 www.siopria.co.uk