A packet of crisps

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As I’m sure know, food pictures are one of my absolute favourites to make, and I’m lucky enough to have been working on a flurry of food-based commissions this past few weeks. A packet of crisps has been on my to-make list for a while. In fact the only reason I haven’t already made any, is that I love them all and didn’t know which to choose first, so I was delighted to be asked to make some hula hoops! Personalised doesn’t always have to be about adding names to things, and I love the gorgeous story!that this thoughtful gift tells.
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Believe in yourself

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Believe in yourself … it’s simple really; you’re brilliant!

This was not the post I’d planned for this #threewordthursday phrase, but time has not been my friend this week. As I sat at my machine wondering how on earth I was going to get everything done, I realised that the scene that was facing straight back at me would do the job nicely. Believing in yourself sounds simple, but sometimes it’s really quite difficult; planning, positivity and persistence all help, but so does reflecting on all of the things you’ve already accomplished – which is why it’s so important to have a tin of brilliant in the cupboard (or in your wall ?)

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Just keep swimming

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Have you ever had to swim against the tide, or even worse, found yourself caught in a slip stream? There’s something quite terrifying – especially for a rubbish swimmer like me – about swimming as hard as you can and not getting anywhere (to be fair I can manage that with no tide at all!) I love the sentiment of the expression ‘just keep swimming’, but as you know I don’t like the word just (in hindsight, it was perhaps an odd #threewordthursday phrase to have picked for that very reason!!) ‘Just’ makes things sound easy and effortless. Sometimes to keep going, to keep swimming, is the hardest thing of all – especially when you are putting in a lot of hard work with seemingly not very much output.

Which is why, when I sat down to make this weeks picture, I decided that I wasn’t going to make a fish to ‘just’keep swimming (sorry Dory), or a duck or even a swan. My swimmer had to be a glorious synchronised swimmer, seemingly working effortlessly all the while doing so with huge strength, control and poise. Remember that next time you feel like you’re staying still, because I’ll bet you’re not xx

#ThreeWordThursday is a weekly hashtag challenge. Each week a different three word phrase can be presented or discussed in any way that inspires you. Be sure to use the hashtag so that I can find you and please feel free to share it with anyone who might like to join in! The prompt for next week is; create your future.
#justkeepswimming #youcandoit #keepongoing #calledtobecreative #designalifeyoulove #freehandmachineembroidery #freemotionembroidery #everystitchcounts #threewordthursday
#ihavethisthingwithsewing ##communityovercompetition… Read More

Just keep on going

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When Oscar was in preschool, he brought this picture of me home. Because he was only interested in playing with Lego, he didn’t ever do any drawings or paintings. Not so much as a cereal box sculpture came our way. So delighted was I to have finally been presented with a piece of artwork, I could almost entirely overlook the the fact that he had drawn me with a bottom that seemed to be its own state floating independent of my body ? I had to find a way of saving it forever… big bottom and all and so a product was born. I hadn’t been sewing for all that long when I made this – time hop reminded me this week that it was six years ago in fact – I didn’t plan to make it as a product to sell, it was just a way to catch a moment. A stitch in time.

I’ve had quite a few messages lately asking for business advice; how to get started, what I would recommend doing, how I did it. It feels quite strange to be presented with questions like this, as I don’t really I have any answers myself, let alone in a position to answer of their people’s question, or hand out advice. But six years after this big-bummed masterpiece made its way home to me, all I can tell you, is if you find something you love to do, find a way to keep on doing it. Just keep on going

#ThreeWordThursday is a weekly hashtag challenge. Each week a different three word phrase can be presented or discussed in any way that inspires you. Be sure to use the hashtag so that I can find you and please feel free to share it with anyone who might like to join in! The prompt for next week is; just keep swimming
#keepongoing
#throwbackthursday #tbt #childrensartwork #childrensdrawing #calledtobecreative #designalifeyoulove #freehandmachineembroidery #freemotionembroidery #everystitchcounts #threewordthursday
#ihavethisthingwithsewing #britishstitchers #communityovercompetition… Read More

Now or never

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It’s amazing how adept we are at delay tactics when it comes to putting off something that intimidates or overwhelms us. Even if it’s something we also really want. How often do you find yourself thinking “I’ll start tomorrow” ?
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In fact we can become so adept, that we might not even realise we’re doing it at all. But the result is getting nowhere fast. Focussing on tomorrow can mean you go around in circles. If you wait for the absolute perfect moment, then you may find that the moment never comes
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So forget tomorrow, the time to act is now. It’s now or never.
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#ThreeWordThursday is a weekly hashtag challenge. Each week a different three word phrase can be presented or discussed in any way that inspires you. Be sure to use the hashtag so that I can find you and please feel free to share it with anyone who might like to join in! The prompt for next week is; change is good
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#nowornever #dontwait #doitnow #do#lasvegassign #creativehappylife #creativitywithmeaning #calledtobecreative #designalifeyoulove #freehandmachineembroidery #freemotionembroidery #everystitchcounts
#ihavethisthingwithsewing #britishstitchers #communityovercompetition #threewordthursday #startabusinessmonth… Read More

5S

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5s is a Japanese system for organising and managing workspaces..a bit of a Marie Kondo for workplaces if you will – although dreamt up long before Marie got in on the action. .
Based on the principles of seiri (sort) seiton (set in order) seiso (shine) seiketsu (standardise) and shitsuke (sustain), it was created by Toyota to improve efficiency and eliminate waste in production. A random fact you may not know about me is that I am a lean six sigma Green belt. This isn’t anything to do with martial arts, but is a methodology for process improvement .. this is why I can’t quite bring myself to work in a mess! I like a tidy space. I spent years working in a clean desk, 5S environment, and also had to lock everything away at the end of each day due to the nature of the documents I was working on.
Are you a tidy worker, or do you enjoy a bit of creative mess? .
#marchmeetthrmaker is a photo challenge to showcase where why and how makers make. The prompt for today is workspace
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#workspace #calledtobecreative #seekinspirecreate #workspaceinspo… Read More

Cup of ambition

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I suspect that most of us are working much more than 9 to 5 at the moment, but a cup of ambitions is still just what you need on a Monday morning(and a new song stuck in your head – you’re welcome ??) .
#mondaymotivation #motivationalmonday #pourmyselfacupofambition #youvegotdreamstheyllnevertakeaway #stitchingsmiles #creativitywithmeaning #calledtobecreative #designalifeyoulove #textileart #freehandmachineembroidery #freemotionembroidery #embroideryart #stitchersofinstagram #everystitchcounts #threadart
#stitchersofinstagram #molliemakers #ihavethisthingwithsewing #britishstitchers… Read More

You are gold

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A massive thank you everyone for all of the support over this weekend. Also a quick reminder that there are just a few hours left to buy food pictures, or use the FRIYAY discount code for 20% off prints (link in bio)xx
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#gold #goldensyrup #foodart #blackfriday #supportthemakers #supportsmallbusiness #campaignshopindependent #AurifilArtisan #creativehappylife #creativitywithmeaning #calledtobecreative #designalifeyoulove #textileart #freehandmachineembroidery #freemotionembroidery #embroideryart #stitchersofinstagram #everystitchcounts
#stitchersofinstagram #molliemakers #ihavethisthingwithsewing #britishstitchers… Read More

Jam tomorrow

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Just a reminder that my the originals of some of my food pictures are currently available on my website – there were a few that were accidentally hidden away yesterday -including this Alice in wonderland jam- so so hop over and have a look if you like them (there’s a link in the bio), as the listings will be coming down again on Sunday
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Have a lovely weekend xx
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#foodart #supportthemakers #supportsmallbusiness #campaignshopindependent #AurifilArtisan #creativehappylife #creativitywithmeaning #calledtobecreative #designalifeyoulove #textileart #freehandmachineembroidery #freemotionembroidery #embroideryart #stitchersofinstagram #everystitchcounts
#stitchersofinstagram #molliemakers #ihavethisthingwithsewing #britishstitchers… Read More

Black Friday

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Whether you like or loathe the idea, Black Friday seems like it’s here to stay. It’s set up shop, and has not only very determinedly permeated itself into our consciousness, but has also quickly spilt itself out to be a week-long affair. After all, we all love a bargain.
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But lots of small businesses really feel the pinch and the pressure to compete. We put a lot of work in to maintaining competitive and realistic prices the whole year through. Whatever route they’ve decided to take today, you can bet they’ve put a lot of thought in to it.
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So now it’s time for me to tell you what I’ll be doing! Firstly, for this weekend, when you enter the code FRIYAY at checkout you can get 20% off all printed items ?
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And why all the food pictures today? Well I’m not discounting them I’m afraid. But actually, I’ve also never offered them for sale, so just for this weekend, each of the original artworks is available to buy. They’re all one offs (although as I’ve already had a lot of enquiries about some certain syrup tins, which ive allowed a limited number of back-orders, which can be delivered in time for Christmas… actually I hate to disappoint anyone, so if you miss something you’d really like, drop me a line) They are priced fairly to reflect the work that’s gone in to designing them – where I’ve tweaked them ? – and the skill that’s gone in to making them. They are on sale in as much as I don’t normally sell them! ( and actually I feel a bit like I’ve listed my children right now ??) you can find a link in my bio for the food pictures category I’ve added to my website. .
I hope you’ll be okay with my little Foodie Black Friday xx
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#foodiefriday #foodart #blackfriday #supportthemakers #supportsmallbusiness #campaignshopindependent #AurifilArtisan #creativehappylife #creativitywithmeaning #calledtobecreative #designalifeyoulove #textileart #freehandmachineembroidery #freemotionembroidery #embroideryart #stitchersofinstagram #everystitchcounts
#stitchersofinstagram #molliemakers #ihavethisthingwithsewing #britishstitchers… Read More

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