I have 200 hearts

Remember back when I was so excited to have 100 hearts on Craftcult? Now I have 201, and I'm so grateful for each and every one of them. Craftcult is where I found out that I was in a gift guide, and back when I was featured in the Storque (Etsy's blog), too.

Hope you had a good weekend, I'm up to my eyes in wedding planning, MSc submissions and various other projects. Normal blogging service will resume, soon.

In the meantime, I've been reading a lot of Jo's blog about her forthcoming wedding, and I've been eyeing up the cards in RubyRecycled's shop. Wait until you see what they are made of...

What are you doing next weekend?

Another weekend is almost over... but fear not, another one just as good will be back in five short days!

I'm in a gift guide!

Etsy have included me in their discount weekends gift guide. To receive your 20% off anything in my shop (that isn't made of paper), just use the magic words 'weekend deals' in your notes to seller when you check out. Special offer runs to Monday morning, so don't delay!

Holiday plans

I can’t wait to check out all the crafty goings on I have planned for my hols this year. Since visiting the handmade community in Gatlinburg, TN, a couple of summers ago, crafting, thrifting and shopping have become a permanent feature on my road trip to-do lists.

This year I’m planning to stock up on buttons in Vancouver, to shop ‘til I drop at the famous Saturday Market in Portland, OR, and to find lots of new and unknown-to-me goodies in Seattle.

In light of this, I’m planning a big destashing in my shop over on Etsy. I have upcycled fabric bundles, new fabric packs, button packs and ribbons aplenty. Although I'm not entirely sure when I'll find some spare time to photograph and describe them. I'll just leave you with the thought that when they are done, they'll be perfect for making small embellished pouches, patchwork cushions, new and unusual plushies, or even just a bit of mixed media art.

Check back here probably at the start of October to find out when they'll be up on sale. I'd love to help you get a head start on all your holiday crafting (I know, I know but Winifred Robinson mentioned Christmas Shopping on Radio 4 on Wednesday lunchtime, you can't blame me!)

Something new

I love the nautical look that’s everywhere right now. Those of you who are in on my wedding preparations will know that it plays a big role in the décor on our special day.

You can take a little bit of seafaring chic everywhere with you all summer long with these new bracelets in my store. They look great on their own, or as a set of three.

I'm joining in on Etsy's accessories promotion all weekend, this weekend. Just mention 'weekend deals' when you check out to get a 20% refund on anything I sell that isn't made of paper!

Snap them up online right now, or pick them up in person at the Glasgow Craft Mafia handmade haven on Sunday 30th August, at our usual venue, Mono.

This week's recommended reading

I was having a terrible day yesterday, so I treated myself to a very rare treat indeed, the latest Rowan magazine (issue 46). I was waiting for my friend in the haberdashery department of John Lewis - bad place to loiter, I know - and flicking through when two things caught my eye.

This jumper (and scarf) are named after the city I grew up in:

And they've featured one of my favourite local places to visit:

The whole issue has an industrial theme, lots of lovely patterns, and some great historical articles. Of the three issues I've ever bought (these things are £11.50, you know) I actually only paid full price for this most recent one, eBay is a good place to seek them out.

Speaking of magazines, I've been lucky enough to be interviewed by Angelica at Handmade News - clicky here for reading!

Anyone want to be interviewed for my 'answers on a postcard' project? Leave a comment here, or email me to Katy [at] girlindustries dot com. Thanks, and happy weekend!

Help!

I need your help! I just bought this awesome skirt from Sohomode to take on my honeymoon and I have no idea what to wear with it on top. I would really like to have it as a standby for the evening part of my wedding, my dress is huge and I'll be running about all day, so I'd like to have something a little more relaxed once I get sick of 'the dress'.

I like to stay warm, and hide my arms. Something v-neck with long sleeves is probably what I would pick, and I like all that ruffly stuff that's around at the moment. But I don't want to look like Seinfeld in the puffy shirt. Even if it is international talk like a pirate day...

Please post a comment with a link to something handmade, before I get to the end of my tether and post this as an alchemy request! Yikes!

More holiday prep

It’s amazing what a well-carved stamp can do! Thanks to the lovely Corrabelle of the Mayberry Sparrow, I have a take-anywhere packing list, and a great place to jot down names and addresses of those must-visit hostelries and restaurants. How would you customise your Girl Industries keyring notepad?

Update on the festival experience

Last night was so much fun! We had a quick walk along the Royal Mile, which became annoying, fast. We hurried around to Teviot, which was such a strange experience. I don't think I'd ever been in there without having a drink first, I could just about remember where the middle bar was, I thought that every single part of the building seemed *way* smaller than I remembered, especially the staircase. I forgot where the toilets were. Obviously I would have known all this had I had four double vodkas before I went in, but I'm old now.

The show we were booked to see was great. I don't want to spoil it for anyone else who is going, but there was one bit where I tried to heckle, but was too quiet. Janeane Garafalo was doing a bit about how she looks at modern art and thinks to herself 'I could do that', and I said (not loud enough) 'but you didn't'. This is kind of a new mantra for me, I tend to only say it quietly but I do say it when people pick up things at craft fairs and say 'Oh, I'm just looking so I can work out how to do this when I get home', or 'these are so easy to make, aren't they' - basically variations on a theme of 'I could do that'. Which is annoying. So anyone else who is going to see Janeane Garafalo at the Edinburgh Festival, or to see her when she tours the US in the autumn, please sit down the front, or at the sides of a row, and put her straight.

Also, I tried to take a 'ten years later' photo in front of the same place as below, but I didn't quite get the right place and ten years haven't done me any favours, so I decided against posting it. Here's a shot of the castle and the Bank of Scotland HQ to make up for it!

The Edinburgh Festival

It’s always more fun when you don’t live there! I’m off to the city where I went to university (and where I work a couple of days a week) to catch some comedy today. I’m so excited because one of my all-time favourite actresses and comedians, Janeane Garafalo, is playing at my former student union – the first place I ever DJed live, by total coincidence. Ha ha, yes, I have been known to make new tunes out of old tunes.

In fact, that's just to the left of where I'm standing in this photo, on my graduation day. Ten years ago last month... Look at me, all young and interested in Derrida. And slightly obsessed with the opening scenes of Reality Bites, too.



And here’s a still from my favourite film. You know, the bit where they’re graduating. Oh dear. I would so totally wear that dress tonight if I still had it!

Things I like

A quick look at a few things I'm coveting at the moment:

New tshirts

A new craft area

Swishy dresses

Lovely!