Up to my eyes in stuff...

Well, that's how it feels anyway. I am prepping away like nobody's business for Made in the Shade, with works of progress just about up to the rafters in my little one bedroom flat.

Hopefully it'll all come together as if by magic in just over ten days. I'm going to be away from my computer for 4 days at the weekend, holed up in a little cottage up in the snowy north of Scotland, with mulled wine, good company and plenty of wool. I'm looking forward to the perfect picture-taking light, too, as it's always dark by the time I get home from work these days. And mornings... well, I'm not really a morning person.

Hope everyone is avoiding the traditional lurgy that lurks at this time of year...

I feel like a princess

I can't wait to take and upload some pictures of me wearing this at a friend's wedding tomorrow, but in the meantime, here's a shot of the package I received this morning (in the nick of time!)

This wonderful, beautiful object came from the lovely Emily of whichgoose, on Etsy. I realise I am spending a lot more than I am making on Etsy at the moment, but when you see such well made and pretty little things like this, you can understand why. I feel like I just found the most amazing treasure and was a little reluctant to share my sources, but Emily scores high on price, packaging, customer service, and sheer likeability, how could I not spill the beans?

The cat factory

A little update on some works in progress - these little darlings have been stitched on trains, in cars and quite often, on my sofa.

And here's what they should look like when they're done...

You'd never guess they used to be blouses, would you?

A visit to London

Well, I was in London this weekend and had a just fantastic time. I deliberately didn't take my camera as I was travelling super-light, so no exciting photos to share. Well maybe one, but my hostess will need to email it to me first!

I've been busy since I got back working with a couple of Etsy sellers to spruce up their shops in terms of the Queens English and I'm having a really good time in the process. My day job involves translating complicated scientifc information into words and phrases most people are familiar with, and hopefully a good read! One of my colleagues doesn't speak English as her first language and one of my favourite challenges at work is to polish up her documents without getting rid of her personal style and warmth. So I'm thrilled to be helping Etsians with the same task, and if you think I might be able to help you, drop me a line to katy@girlindustries.com. I used to be a bit of a music journalist back in the day and have always loved writing, so this is right up my alley.

Craft-wise, I'm working on some lovely home-fulled coasters in shades of grey and pastels for the market I'm taking part in at the Lighthouse on 6 December. A full line up of sellers is due to be announced any second over at Made in the Shade. Looking forward to it!

All change!

Well, it seems like just yesterday I was blogging about my awesome Alchemy find. However, if I'd found my new stamps today, I'd be blogging about my cool-i-o Custom find. Because Etsy.com have changed the name of the darn thing. So if you're not an Etsy regular and head on over there and wonder what the heck this Alchemy talk is all about - it's now called Custom on your front page, but Alchemy when you find it.

Back to school

Well, my degree programme is back up and running for winter term and I'm in the process of finalising my dissertation outline. So I can forecast fewer updates on here if I'm to fully restock before I hit (drumroll please!) MADE IN THE SHADE on 6 December. My top tip - arrive early and browse before the crowds arrive. You'll nab a luxury goodie bag and pick up the best of all the treasures on display. I can personally vouch for the fantastic contents of these bags, and the fact that people were running up the stairs of the Lighthouse at 10.30am for the last Made in the Shade. Lunch at the Doocot is pretty unmissable too, although having eaten at Bar Soba recently, I'm torn between the two. Yum yum.

You never know, you might get to meet some of these lovely sellers, the full list of stalls will be posted on the MITS website in a few weeks.

I'm putting together a new range of products which you won't find in my etsy shop until after the fair so I can give any visitors and well-wishers a much-deserved exclusive. If you're out shopping in Glasgow 3 weeks before Christmas you deserve a medal, but exclusive products are the next best thing. Here's an extreme close up sneak preview!



What else is going on around here? Well, I'm off to *that London* on Saturday for some very special clothes shopping and to catch up with friends from my old stomping grounds of New York and the equally fun times of being 18 in Manchester. I think we have some arty thing lined up for Saturday night so that should be very exciting.

And in between, plenty of crafty activity. I even managed to cut and piece 40 fabric toy components on an inter-city train travelling from York to Edinburgh on Sunday afternoon. Luckily I had my own table...

Hurrah for Asspocket Productions

I got my super-special custom-made stamp. I love it! The wonderful Stacey even threw in a little extra stamp for me, which I'll be using on my thank you cards for buyers. I was in such a hurry to show it off, I stamped the nearest thing, which happened to be a lined cue card which I've had sitting in a drawer since revising vocab for a French exam. Nearly ten years ago. What can I say, I love stationery!