A catch up...

  Hello, 

Well Ive been missing from blogland a little while now....3 years to be exact....I suppose I should catch you up on a few things!

I turned my back on crafting for a little while...I just lost the heart for it....simple as that really....It became a struggle and I decided to have a little break from it which actually turned out to be longer than expected!!

I became a respite carer for my friends little boy whom Ive known from birth...he has Williams syndrome hes nearly 9 yrs old and caring for him makes me a better person....then into my life...along came another little boy on the school run in his buggy with his mummy...much younger but with the same beautiful elfin features and big broad smile Id seen before....before you know it I'm caring for 2 little boys with Williams!! Ive been caring for them nearly 2 years now and they light up my life I love them like they're my own...They were sent to me to make me smile x

My own Little man Aidy is nearly 9 now! still gorgeous and still drives me nuts but wouldn't swap him for the world!! ha ha

this is him on the right with Justin the Eldest boy I care for.

Then there's me....I went through a bit of a transformation due to health reasons...(I have the Diabetes gene chasing me) I lost 4.5 stones with Paul Mckennas book I can make you thin....going from a size 24-26 to a size 18....I'll never be a skinny Minnie...but I'm happy 

I also celebrated 10 years of marriage September 2012......

...and celebrate 20 years of  being a couple this November x 

My Childhood sweetheart xx

So that's a few updates....now onto the business,.....Why did I decide to come back to crafting?

Well I was starting to miss it..but thought I could live without it.....but then little things kept happening.. Little signs...making a present for a friends baby shower and my friend being so touched with what I made for her princess it made me really emotional...and the new friends I had made since not even knowing I could craft full stop was eye opening, that used to be one of the first thing they associated with 'Annie'!!

Then one day me and Aidy were talking about a subject they were discussing at school...( what gifts has God given us) he turned around to me and asked me outright....Mum why don't you craft anymore? I tried to fob him off in all honesty...because I just couldn't answer the question......then the smarty pants came up with well your gift is that you make everything nice.....that's when it spiralled!!

I had left my Fb business page open and abandoned to be honest and decided one evening in January to post a test message to see if anyone was still there?......The response I got was astounding...so many encouraging comments asking if I'm coming back to crafting etc.......then a good talking to from my nearest and dearest friends encouraging me not to waste my skills was the final straw!!!!! I had no more reasons not to!!

I relaunched in January with just over 400 likers and now a short while later i have over 700 likers and had an AMAZING response!!! 

Unfortunately my old hard drive with all my old designs such as the 4 seasons blocks  has been corrupted so I took it as an opportunity to start from scratch! New logo new designs new beginnings!!!

Back soon

Annie x

Wishing you all....

...A very Happy Easter...or if you are non religous..happy chocolate munching long weekend to you.

Leaving you with a picture of my Newly Designed 4 Seasons blocks.....

With hope that we might actually see Springtime weather here in England sometime soon!!!

Hope to be back soon...getting back into this blogging lark... ;-)

Annie 

x

Calling all crafters......keeping it in the handmade community

Hello!!!
Just a quick post to let you know that we are after handmade sleeves, gloves, scarves, hats, legwarmers or even brooches that we can use on our Autumn winter Vintage,Thrifted & Refashioned photoshoot in the next couple of weeks.We will post a direct link to your shop website fanpage so that anyone visiting who would like to buy one of your items can do so! Hey its all FREE advertising!!! haha!!
We will only need to borrow them for a week or so till all clothing is shot and then send them back safely to you. If you are interested then please send a link or email to me and I can give you more details about colour etc x Would like to keep it handmade in our crafting family we have created x x
Please feel free to pass it on to someone you think may be interested!!
Thanks in advance x
Annie xx

Vintage, Thrifted & Refashioned...Launched Today!!!

Hello!
So Finally you get to see what we have been working on!
Here's a sneak peek at some of the pics....Click HERE for the Collection and all info or click on the blog shop logo to your right on the sidebar!

 Nana and I have picked some of the faves from our collection to sell online and the rest of our stock will be sold from our showroom locally.
We have online sizes catering from S-XL and as the title suggests all are pre-loved and have been given a new lease of life!

We have kept our prices reasonable and affordable we feel, you can get a whole outfit for under £20!!
I'll be launching a range of jewellery (refashioned and new) soon however if you see any in the pictures you would like to buy then drop me an email!

The stock we are selling are one offs so If you want it, buy it QUICK!! If you would like ANY more details or pics about it we will happily send you any extra pics or info before you commit to buy it.

I have to give a plug to Picnik for the photo editing software that allowed me to give the pics I took that vintage feel....if you don't know about it already then I would suggest you visit...ITS FREE AND its connected to Google so you can upload straight from your Picasa web albums and publish straight to your blog too!!
Here's a little Before and After Makeover for you!!!

Next week I'll be adding Vintage prints to the collection......these will be available on a wide variety of tops, on simple white vests or t-shirts of your choice or as an iron on transfer to add to your own clothing....AS a celebration of reaching 200 followers I thought it appropriate to have a giveaway and this will be going to one lucky recipient!!! I will post more details next week!!!
In the meantime feel free to post constructive comments or feedback about the new products as its a new venture it would be nice to be in the know!!

Have a great weekend peeps and thanks for reading and for all your lovely comments, I'm in desperate need of a catch up on all of your lovely blogs...I need more hours in the day!!!
Annie x

The kindness of friends

Hello!
Had a rough time of it lately but the kindness of my friends have put a smile back on my face and has made me realise How Blessed I am.

I made these for my friend Nadine who has recently got married....

 She looked amazing in a vintage dress so these clips made from Vintage brooches and glass pearls from an old vintage necklace seemed appropriate!
So in the post this morning I was delighted to discover a box on my doorstep with some Beautifully wrapped packages in it!

It was a shame to open them but of course... I did!!!!

 GORGEOUSNESS!!!!!

Some yummy Cherry Green & Black's ( I'll have you know!)  chocolate bar, a pack of floral napkins that I actually stopped myself from buying the other day!, a cute cherry ring binder and a pretty teacup candle from her wedding that Nadine had made herself!! 

Did you notice these pretties?

Nadine made these herself they smell all lavendery ( yes its a word!) and are in all my fave colours!

Keep a look out soon for her blog and website launching soon with her all of her sewing pretties! 

Thanks so much for the present hunny, it put a big smile on my face this week xxx

Friends are the family you choose x

Until next time

Annie x

Coming soon...

Hello!
Hope you have all been well! Thanks you for all the lovely comments on my last post and sorry if I didn't get round to replying to all personally...I've hardly been on the puta, been checking my emails by Phone and typing on such tiny keys is just not easy!! I'll suppose I'll get used to it!!!

So Followers of my Blog shop may see that I have not added any new stock lately....WELL There is a reason for that....There will be 'new' Products appearing soon ( New as in Re purposed new lease of life of course!!!) I have invited a designer Nana Maja (pronounced Na-na-Mya) to join me in a new venture we are undertaking. Of course there will still be Birdcages & Butterflies usual Vintage style items such as the home ware, Stationary line, wedding accessories etc but also a new line of Jewellery and MUCH MORE!!!!
Yes I'm being a Tad Cryptic but as we are still in Embryo stages I don't really want to reveal too much yet!!

Nana Maja has great style which I love and we share a common interest of Love for Vintage and an eye for 'seeing the potential' which is a gift that us creatives seem to share!!!!! I know that our different tastes  along with the Danish and British influences will compliment each other and fuse into something that will cater for all!!!!

SO at this moment in time I am clearing my craft room and making space as Nana is with the space that she has and we will be 'hopefully' kicking off by the 1st weekend in July.We will more than likely be celebrating with a Giveaway with a gift from our new range.

I will be keeping you updated with our progress of course so you can come along on our little journey!!

Right off to try to find homes for the millions of buttons, trims and bits and bobs I have here in the craft space!!!! Enjoy your weekend!
Annie xxx

Free Gift offer for Blogshop orders!

 Hello!! Well haven't been gone that long but its the time of year to be swamped with endless jobs, cleaning, volunteering, orders, designs ...blah blah blah!!!

So I've still got lots to add to the blogshop ( the photo editing is really killing me!!)  but thought I would give you a heads up that I am hoping to have all of the stock added by the Weekend and to celebrate my opening I thought I would have a little offer too!!

I still have Vintage Lace to add and also mini digital art designs in charm and Keyring form ( great little stocking filler or teachers gift!!) I also have some very reasonable charm style pendants teamed with Swarovski Crystals Starting from as Little as £8.00!!!!!

So if you spend more than £5 I will be adding one of these little decoupaged Pretties too!

 

 They hang on Clear elastic and have a lovely weight to them also!

You are welcome to visit the blog shop now but keep your eyes peeled for more stock to be added towards the end of the week!

Thanks for reading guys! and BIG LOVE TO ALL!!

Annie x

Watermill Antiques- LOTS of pretties

Hello Again!

LOTS of pics in this post! This is Watermill Antiques, Set in Barton Le Clay in Bedfordshire with a surrounding Duck pond and shopping village with fab restaraunt..its a lovely place to visit!
Something keeps drawing me back to this place as I have been connected to it in some form or other.

  I used to love to visit and the first place I ever rented to sell my Handmade gifts were in the gallery just by the top hand right window at the top front of the mill....I then worked in the Fantasy Crafts who were at the time in there...then they moved just down the road and Watermill Antiques moved in and I now stock some of my products in there! I was once told by a very spiritual person that it would feature in my future and that it has!!

So heres some pics of the lovely treasures in there....( some you may recognise!!!!)

Pretty sparklies!!

 hmmm seen those before...can't think where???!!!

 

Fine looking Top hat...

 A trunk full of vintage eiderdowns and Quilts...

  Stacks of suitcases...

 

Birdcage and Chairs...

Blocks Against a Gorgeous Chandelier that...

 

...Looks Amazing when Lit!!.

A Beautiful painted glass screen..swoon...

My little decoupaged box holding some pearly treasures...

And My FAVE, the french enamel Chandelier...SO PRETTY!!!

And thats just downstairs...Upstairs hold Emmas sparkly Vintage and retro Boutique, the most glittery and spangly collection with some amazing  Vintage hats and Accessories too!

LOVE LOV E LOVE these Sparkly shoes

( did I ever mention that I had pale pink glittered 7 inch platforms under my Wedding dress??) 

And then theres also Dawn with Vintage Delightz

 

some fab lil numbers and Accessories

How much would you love to rummage through that Rail?? 

So lots of yumminess under one roof...If you ever in the area please pop in for a visit and tell them Annie sent ya! Heres the link to the Olde Watermill Shopping Village and when you've finished then pop into Fantasy Crafts to have a play and a cuppa while you are in the area!!

Back to work on my  blog shop now!! Back with more details!!

Annie x

Festive lights & Fellow Crafters

Hello!
Well thought I would post some pics of the switching of the lights in our Town..nothing spectacular but Aidy and his friend loved sitting on their daddies shoulders and Screaming for their superstar...the Honey monster!! needless to say I was nowhere to be seen when he was about ( see here for explanation) Stavros Flatley from Britains got talent fame were also there..although all we could see of them looking up to the Town hall window were their Bare bellies!! Tee hee!!

 

There was also a little craft fair there which was ..erm interesting to say the least ( lots of cheap cards, wood turning products and Tombolas)..there was one GREAT stall however which compensated completely!

Naomi had a lovely stall and a business with the BEST name!!

How cool is that!!

She had made some Fab Button Earrings  which were displayed so Cutely...Is that a word?

and some GORGEOUS handmade Bunnies in the cutest fabrics!

And how reasonable are her prices too? I had to of course bag me a bargain in the form of...

She has a great website and I wanted to to support a fellow local Bedfordshire Crafter!

Will be back soon with a LOT of pictures from the Watermill Antiques where some of my stock is sold

I have also decided to open a blogshop until I get my website sorted next year...Thanks to all for your orders and all of your helpful advice and best wishes..MUCHLY appreciated!!

WATCH THIS SPACE!!!

Until next time x

Annie x

Vintage Blocks- Christmas edition

Hello!!
Been another busy week catching up with outstanding orders and making stock for shops etc! Finally sending out the prizewinners gifts too!!
This week I have also designed a Christmas themed version of the Vintage blocks to count down the days in December!
These are made to order and are £9.99 the same price as the other style..

Here's some pics!!

I was thinking about opening a temporary blog shop to make it easier to sell goods from until my Website is ready...what d'ya think? I would appreciate any advice that experienced blog sellers can give me...please feel Free to comment or E-mail me peeps x

Oh and can I also apologise for my lack of commenting on all your lovely blogs..I do get to have a quick scan but I really need to sit down and have a Proper Catch up so I can give my full attention to them x ( I haven't even opened my subscribed copy of country living yet!!) Will def put some time aside with a cuppa to catch up next week...ITS A DATE!!

Thanks for all your lovely comments and will be back soon xx

Annie x