Saturday 24 December 2011

It's Christmas!


A very merry Christmas to all friends and customers of Whimsy Dell!

Saturday 10 December 2011

Open For Business!


What a busy day!  After a big poke from a friend of mine, I have finally opened my very own Etsy shop!  It's all a bit scary and actually quite strange seeing my things right there on the Internet.  Strange but very, very exciting.

I found the site extremely easy to use and I do regret not having started my shop up a little earlier, but hey ho, I did say in 2010 that my plan for this year was to open my own shop on Etsy.  Despite cutting it a little fine, it's all there and ready to add to in the next months.

You can view my Etsy shop by clicking on this link or on the Etsy gadget in the right hand column of this website. It will open up in a new window.  Hurrah for Etsy shops!

Tuesday 29 November 2011

Bags Galore!

Thomas' Bag Small

Orders are coming in steadily for personalised book bags so if you would like to give one to someone special this Christmas please place your order nice and early!  Don't forget to give me as much information about colour preferences and themes as you can so that I can tailor your bag to your preferences.

Whilst my book bags are perfect for children and the young at heart, you may wish for something a little more grown up in your stocking this year.  For beautiful handcrafted items I can thoroughly recommend a visit to the Hags & Bats website where you will find a wide array of bags, from elegant evening to casual everyday to handy reversible shopper bags (of which I have many!)  You can find many affordable items which make perfect Christmas gifts and since all bags are made from recycled and remnant fabrics you can be sure to save a few pounds _and_ the planet this festive season!

Sophie's Bag Small

Thursday 24 November 2011

Book Bags

Erin's Bag Small

I received a custom order recently for something a little bit different.  Personalised book bags!  This specific one has been given to a little girl to take to nursery school.  It measures approximately 30cm x 40cm without the handles and is fully lined.  The design was inspired by a rough sketch that the customer sent to my mobile phone with some basic ideas on colour.

If you'd like to order a custom bag or toy for someone special then email me using the link over on the left side of this page.  It's best to contact me a few weeks before you need your item and please feel free to suggest colours, themes or even your own doodles and sketches.  Everything helps to make your item extra special.

Please note that I will not take any orders for custom items after 9th December 2011 to allow myself time to make Christmas presents for my own family members.  Whoosh, how did it get to that time so quickly?!

Friday 14 October 2011

Custom Orders Available

Custom Bunny

Here's an example of a custom made order that was posted this morning and will soon be in the arms of a little girl who adores rabbits and pink!  This bunny is made out of cotton fabrics and I was lucky to have a beautiful rabbit print in stock - perfect for this order.

I still have a few custom order slots available for this month, so if you would like something extra-special making then please send an email using the link over on the left.  All I need is some sort of idea of what you would like and I'll be in touch quickly with some design ideas for you to choose from and a price list.

I'm happy to incorporate names and dates or anything else that would help you personalise your item too!

Tuesday 11 October 2011

Monster Wants Hugs!

Huge Hugmonster


It may have been a little quiet on the Whimsy Dell blog recently, but it hasn't been quiet here in the craft room at all.  I have been frantically preparing for weekends at Afonwen Craft & Antique Centre and Rhuddlan Artisan's Fair.  Both were a resounding success and not only did I sell my toys to new customers but I also received some custom orders which I'm busy working my way through.

It has been difficult to photograph my new toys lately as the gallery that I use to take pictures in has been unavailable for quite some time due to an art exhibition.  That ended on Sunday, though, and I'm pleased to be able to show you this very happy Hugmonster!  Made from a bright and cheerful cherry fabric, this Hugmonster stands at 14" and is wonderfully plump, perfect for squishy monsterhugs!  As with all of my toys, you can create your very own Hugmonster in a fabric to suit you, just email me at whimsydell@gmail.com with your colour preferences.

Sunday 18 September 2011

A Big Success!

Stall

I would like to thank everybody who visited me on my stall in Holywell yesterday.  I had a very successful day and thoroughly enjoyed meeting so many people, including many new customers.  If you have arrived here by following the address on my little business cards then I extend a very warm welcome to you.  Thank you for stopping by!

I received a great many smiles and compliments during the course of the day and the biggest hit of the fayre were my Itty Bitty Kitties.  They were bought by young and old alike and I daresay I shall be making some more in the future!

My plan now is to start working on an Etsy shop and sell things through them.  I've been planning it for a long time but I think the time has come to put my plans into action.  Watch this space!

Thursday 15 September 2011

Wonky Bears

Wonky Bears

Wonky ears, wonky arms, wonky smile.  Could you love a Wonky Bear?  I know I do!

These bears are made from cotton print fabric and don't have any safety eyes or buttons.  They'll be available on my stall at the Craft Fayre in Holywell this Saturday.  Two more sleeps!

Tonight will be spent making a couple of my bestselling dinosaurs and if there's still time after that I hope to print out some signs for my stall.

Wednesday 14 September 2011

Fearsome Monsters

Monsters

I made five monsters out of lovely cotton print fabrics and they will be available to buy at the craft fayre in Holywell on Saturday.  Things are slowly starting to come together now and my stock is increasing by the day.  I did have a slight panic about a lack of table to display my things on but a friend came to the rescue and it looks like everything will go smoothly...fingers crossed.  It doesn't even matter if it rains as I shall be all cosied up in the marquee with my flask of tea.  Lovely!

You may wonder why only four monsters are pictured here.  Well, I fell in love with the fifth one and decided to keep it for myself.  It has since been adopted by my nearly six month old Grandson who loves it to bits!

Monday 12 September 2011

Ribbit!

Fleecy Frog Light

The latest toy to come from my sewing table is a soft and cuddly frog.  I decided not to use any safety eyes or buttons so they are extra-safe for children.  I have made four of them ready for this weekend and the tummy patches come in a variety of colours which means they are excellent gifts for both boys and girls.  My son has his eye on this particular one and I have a feeling it won't make it as far as the craft and produce fayre in Holywell on Saturday!

I've had a request to make some monsters and that's what I plan to do this afternoon.  It's so windy out there at the moment; I'm very glad to be cosied up indoors with a good cup of tea and some music for company.  Not to mention all of the wonderful fabric that I keep collecting!

Sunday 11 September 2011

Itty Bitty Kitties. Miaow!

Itty Bitty Kitties 1000

My new Itty Bitty Kitties are proving very popular with both children and adults alike.  I initially decided to sell them as pocket money toys for children but have so far sold two as pincushions!  If you would like an Itty Bitty Kitty in a particular colour then please contact me at whimsydell@gmail.com and I shall be happy to make a custom one just for you.

Wednesday 7 September 2011

Welsh Oggies

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I am very pleased to introduce Oggie, the Welsh Dragon.  He is a Limited Edition toy and can be found exclusively at The Mill on the Hill Tea Rooms in Holywell.  You can find out more about the warm and friendly tea rooms at www.themillonthehill.co.uk and if you decide to pay a visit then I can heartily recommend the homemade Welsh Oggies and Welsh Rarebit.  Thoroughly tried and tested by yours truly - they've got the YUM Factor!

I've had a wonderful time making Oggie and I'm excited to see where my itchy stitchin' fingers take me next.  Watch this space and don't forget that I am more than happy to take custom orders and requests.  Just contact me at whimsydell@gmail.com and I shall reply as soon as possible.

Monday 5 September 2011

Sugar Rush

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I adore buttons but, alas, there is no more room in my button jar.  I could either stop buying buttons or start button jar number two.  Hmmm....

*eats jam with a spoon*

Thursday 25 August 2011

Coming Soon - Welsh Dragons!

Dragon Material

I cycled to the local fabric shop a few days ago and found this exciting material.  As soon as I saw it, which didn't take very long considering the bold colour, I thought wow...would that not make the cutest Welsh dragons?!  So I whipped it up, bought a metre of it, popped it into my fancypants bicycle panniers and cycled home with a cat-who-got-the-cream smile on my face.  I also managed to hold up a large lorry along the way - but that's another story.

So yes, Welsh dragons will be  _winging_ their way onto the Whimsy Dell shelves in the near future.  Teehee!  *gives up her pun-making day job and sticks with the sewing!*

Wednesday 17 August 2011

Local Craft and Produce Fayre

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I'm looking forward to attending the Transition Holywell & District Local Craft & Produce Fayre on 17th December.  I hope to have a table in the marquee, well out of the way of any adverse autumnal weather.  I do so hope to catch a glimpse of Clerical Error, though.  They look fab!

Tuesday 5 July 2011

A Big Thank You

Stuffed Chicken

Whimsy Dell was back at Afonwen for another very successful weekend.  This time I took my sewing machine and gave a demonstration on making sweet little birds to hang around the home.  I'm pleased to say that many of my items were sold, which means that I shall have to get back to the worktable and create some new ones.  Yippee, my favourite part!

If you have any ideas or suggestions on what you would like to see, you can email me by clicking the link in the column to the left.  Your opinions and ideas are very valuable!  You can also using the email link to contact me regarding custom-made items based on your own designs.

Tuesday 28 June 2011

Missing in Action

Little B cropped

I have some exciting (if late) news to announce.  My first Grandson was born in March!  Yes friends, I am a 'Nainy' and despite being a little worried about grandparenting I must say that I have taken to it like a duck to water.  Since those first months rush by so very quickly, I decided to take a little break from Whimsy Dell crafting in order to concentrate on getting the knitting needles out and clicketty-clacking away for 'Little B's' wardrobe and toy collection.  Many thanks to those who have passed on their congratulations, they made me smile from ear to ear.

It's great to be back!

Monday 7 March 2011

A Weekend at Afonwen!

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It was an early start on the morning of the 5th March; my very first weekend at Afonwen Craft and Antique Centre.  It took a lot of preparation to get to that point and I have to say, I was more than a little excited that the day had finally arrived.

I shared the demonstrations room with a very good friend who has her own craft business called Hags and Bats.  We travelled to Afonwen together and took great delight in arranging our wares on the beautiful items of furniture.  Once finished, we stood back for a moment to enjoy the view of our crafts in position before settling down to a thoroughly enjoyable weekend.

Selling my crafts is, of course, a very pleasurable experience...but I have to say that my fondest memory of the past weekend would be meeting the customers of Afonwen and receiving plenty of feedback, ideas and praise!  All in all a very successful time was had and I look forward to our next weekend there.  Watch this space!

Tuesday 1 March 2011

Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus / Happy St David's Day

Cymru Dragon

Although I designed and stitched this cross stitch dragon a good few years ago, I thought it was a very apt time to blog about it.  It has graced my kitchen windowsill for, ooooh, about eleven years now!  Sometimes it gets obscured by a plant pot or the washing up detergent.  Sometimes a spider decides it would make a nice house.  Sometimes I just forget to look at it.  But when I do...when I really look at it, my heart melts.  How lucky I am to live in Wales!

In the future, I plan to scan the cross stitch pattern and make it available to buy through my up and coming shop.  Not only that but there are two others in the set.  Watch this space and have a wonderful St David's Day wherever you are!

Sunday 27 February 2011

Springtime Hearts Cushion

Springtime Hearts Cushion

'Springtime Hearts' is my latest cushion design and has proved very popular with friends and family.  The inspiration came from my love of Spring, a time when dashes of colour return to the earth in the form of Springtime flowers.  Amongst them are some of my favourites; delicate crocuses, scented hyacinths and muscari...beautiful!  They shall soon be joined by new buds and leaves on the trees and hopefully some milder weather!

'Springtime Hearts' cushions will be available to buy on 5th and 6th March at Afonwen Craft Centre here in North Wales.  For directions, please visit their website.

Monday 21 February 2011

The 'Jane Austen' Cushion

Jane Austen Cushion

Finally we had a little brightness here in North Wales!  It was just enough to take some snaps of my latests designs which I'll be uploading over the next few days.  First up is the 'Jane Austen' cushion.  I've made four of these beauties and because of the intricate hand embroidery plus lots of fiddly beads and sequins I've managed to make only four cushions in one week.  Oh but they were so worth it.  I enjoyed every minute!

The cushions will be available to buy at Afonwen Craft Centre on March 5th-6th.  I also have plans to open an online shop once the craft weekend is over.  Exciting times!

Monday 14 February 2011

Oh, and...

Heart 1

Happy Valentine's Day!

The Storm Before The Calm

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I may have been a little quiet of late, but I can assure you that it's not down to inactivity.  As I've mentioned, I'll be at Afonwen Craft Centre on the weekend of March 5th - 6th.  But what I haven't mentioned is that on March 16th I'm expecting my first grandchild!  Yes, I'm going to be a Nainy and I am so very excited.

When I'm not sewing sequins onto felt butterflies, I'm helping to prepare the nursery, and it's all very busy and bordering on organised chaos!  I have made a lovely set of dinosaurs and four beaaauuutiful 'Jane Austen' cushions since I last posted here but sadly the weather has been dreadful!  So gloomy, so dim and rubbish for taking photographs.  I'm hoping and praying that soon the spring sunshine will appear and keep me company as I work at my desk, but until then I shall leave you with a sneaky peek at what's in store.  I hope the sun is shining for you, wherever you are!

Thursday 3 February 2011

Jane Austen Has Entered The Building

Investment

I've just bought the most beautiful array of stash goodies from Abakhan.  I cannot wait to get started with them but I'm going to have to put them aside for a while and complete some custom orders that I've received.  But oh, I can't wait to play about and see what happens.  I have this urge to sew on tiny beads and sequins!  Oh well, it's dinosaur time first!  All 12 of them!!!

Wednesday 2 February 2011

Us Unltd

You can soon find a selection of Whimsy Dell products at Us Unltd on the high street in Flint, North Wales.  Us Unltd is a funded project which will enable local young people who have experienced homelessness to raise money via a crafts and gift shop.  Profits from the shop wll be used to set up and run a drop-in centre for homeless people.  A worthy cause indeed, I wish Us Unltd much success when their new shop opens on 14th February.  Good luck!

Thursday 27 January 2011

Patchwork Sampler

Sampler Cushion

I've been wondering whether to have a go at cushions recently, and this is what I ended up making.  My intention was to try a little bit of everything to see what I enjoy, what my limitation are, whether I can remember how to do blanket stitch...that kind of thing.  I spent a fair bit of time selecting the fabric because I wanted it to go together nicely.  I had my first ever go at patchwork and loved it!  And then I let my mind and hands relax a little, and just floated along doing whatever came to mind, square by square.  It isn't finished yet but I do think it's rather charming.  A bit like a sampler on a cushion.  My Mum thought it was a wonderful idea and so I have decided to buy some natural fabrics, lace, beads and sequins from Abakhan in the near future and make cushions to sell at Afonwen.

Thursday 13 January 2011

Owl Invasion

Owls For Sale

The owls are finished and are now invading my desk.  They've completely taken over!  I'm sure they will look great on the Welsh dresser at Afonwen Craft Centre.  I can't believe how little time there is left until March 5th; I really must get a move on.  I do have an idea of what I would like to do next, but it's not a toy!  After stuffing those owls I'm ready for something a little bit different.  It might take a while to come into fruition but I'll post a progress picture when I have something worthy of showing.

For now though...want a cuddle?

Tuesday 11 January 2011

Heeheehee

Photo

There are ten owl faces on my desk.  I like to do things all in one go, like all of the beaks, then all of the cheeks.  I was getting on with things this afternoon when suddenly I looked down and giggled.  I don't really know why, I just thought that having ten owl faces on my desk was a little bizarre!

Monday 10 January 2011

Ta-wit Ta-woo!

Owl Prototype

Heehee, I love my latest design, a beady-eyed, curious but very cuddly and friendly owl.  Ta-wit ta-woo!  I have been looking around on Etsy and the internet in general and noticed that owls seem to be very, very popular!  I do like owls but I have no idea why!  So I'd love to know.  If you are an owl fan, please email me or comment below and let me know why you think these creatures are the best.

No doubt there will be a lot more owls sitting on my desk within the next few days so watch this space!

Saturday 1 January 2011

New Year's Resolutions

Stuff

I only made one, and that's to start using all of the lovely, smelly, foamy toiletries that I always get for Christmas.  I tend to like them so much that I don't want to use them but no, not this year.  I can always buy more if I run out but since I've been hording toiletries for many Christmases, I think I won't run out for another few years yet!

Anyway, there was a poitnt to this.  Ah yes, today I did something that should probably have been a New Year's resolution but wasn't.  I organised my stash!  Just a little bit.  I'm a fairly cluttery kind of person and I love books and fabrics and buttons and ribbons and felts and threads and things.  Normally this would be piled at the back of my desk within easy reach.  But since the sunshine will soon start to appear and will shine through my window for most of the day, I thought I ought to find a little cubby hole for everything, rather than have it fade.  Tadaa!