April Marie Textiles

Crochet Classes and more!

2011-01-28T05:18:00.000-08:00

Well I did it! I managed to create a chunk of text that tells you about me! My website is now at a stage I am happy with, visitors can find out 'about me', view my 'gallery', see my 'stockist' (not that I have any at the moment!) and they can even download a booking form for my new set of 'crochet workshops'. I now have a fully operational website that looks pretty... I think!

Website top banner...

Purple and green are my favourite colours and together... ummm yum!

Workshops

After talking about it for aaaaages I have finally organised my first set of crochet classes and these will run during the lead up to Mother's Day on 3rd March. If you're a complete beginner or fancy a refresher class then there might be something here for you. To find out more visit the workshop section of my website.

Crochet Bookmark - 16th March (6.30-9.00pm)
Crochet Flower - 23rd March (6.30-9.00pm)
Crochet Purse - 30th March (6.30-9.00pm)

Gallery Images

As part of my website make-over I have re-organised the way you view my crochet and stationery products within my gallery. To make it even easier to find what you're after I have broken my gallery into subheadings, so if you're after toys for the kids or a gift for mum you'll know where to go straight away without getting lost in everything else. Of course if you're just browsing and love looking at all things handmade then you now have seven great sections to browse through.

Well, I'll leave you with those thoughts for now. I'm off to pack my bag ready for my Glamping trip in the morning. My fiance and I are off to Mollington for a weekend away, we'll be paying Warwick Castle a visit as well as doing lots of walking, eating, giggling and site seeing. Pictures to follow!

About me!

2011-01-14T12:41:00.000-08:00

I have recently started to update the appearance of my website and I feel it's really starting to take shape. However, why is it always so hard to write the 'About Me' section?! I have lived with 'Me' for 26 years now and know everything there is to know about 'Me' but somehow putting my thoughts, experiences and business 'About Me' down in words is so difficult.

I am one of those people that needs to be 100% focused, cut off from the world and immersed in the task of writing to be able to really create some text that is worth reading.... saying that I'm babbling on here now quite effortlessly. Wow! I'm actually surprised at myself, sharing my brain burps is reassuringly easy.... today! Tomorrow I shall awake and be focused and write some words 'About Me' that actually make you want to read more about me!!

...Well let’s see how that goes! You’ll have to let me know. Take a look at what I’ve achieved so far www.aprilmarietextiles.com

I'd forgotten how to 'look'

2011-01-10T12:08:00.000-08:00

Over the past week, I've spent loads of time browsing the internet for Weddingy things, saying hello to old friends, sharing time with family and I'm now settle back into my day job.... ummm enough said about that one!

It has been so refreshing to just wander, let my mind drift and see where it takes me. I left uni over 4 years ago and I've forgotten how to look! I had forgotten how addictive the internet was and how time flies when you're on it. It's so inspiring looking at things you like, reading blogs you enjoy and seeing what other creative people are up to. It actually motivates me and gives me a new direction., it's so easy to get stuck in a rut.

The big day is going to be here before we know it…

I've not done so well with the losing weight thing but that's going to take time. My exercise regime starts today and I've just been shopping and bought lots of yummy foods to kick start the healthy eating plan.

...watch this space for a progress report.

2011... You're finally here!

2011-01-05T12:17:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year, I hope you’ve all had a wonderful Christmas and magical New Year.

2011 for me is definitely going to be ‘My Year’ - I’ve been waiting for it for ages! I got engaged in 2008 and since that day (and even before) I have been planning my Big Day. Now that the New Year is finally here, let the count down begin! Only 192 days until I become a wife.

I’m not normally one for making New Year’s resolutions as I don’t normally stick to them but this year I’m determined to lose weight. Lose the few pounds that have sneakily crept up on me over the passed few years due to being in a comfortable, content, loving, settled relationship blar blar blar…. I used to be a lovely size 10 don't you know, not any more! I blame it on my fella, my job, my car, my…my…oooh ok, ME! I sit at a desk all day, love my food, my crochet and my settee! So if that’s the case I need to get up, get active and get trim ready for my big day and the imminent honeymoon! Bikini body here I come.

New Year, New Start...

I don’t think I’m going to stop there with the resolutions or more appropriately plans for 2011.

The past couple of months for me have really made me seriously consider what I want out of life and with the forthcoming wedding and exciting future with my partner Sean just around the corner I want to make 2011 the starting point for my new and improved life.

Back in November the bereavement of a dear family member really knocked our little family for six and put a lot of things into perspective. It’s only when things like this happen that you begin to realise what’s really important to you. Saying goodbye is always tough but let’s never forget. Tonight I have to say goodbye to my beautiful kitty cat Flora who tomorrow will be going on a journey to a special place to begin her next life in kitty heaven. Everyone has their time and from now on I’m going to live, laugh, learn and love whatever magical journey fate has in store for me.

Time for change!

Working full time in a job I think I’ve outgrown, running a house and constantly working towards great things with my little crochet business I have found that there’s little time for much else. So in 2011 I want to:

Set up my own crochet workshops and get into teaching somehow

Make things for myself and take time to create beautiful gifts for friends and family. It’s so easy to get into the routine of make, make, make, sell, sell, sell so I aim to put time aside to make for pleasure.

Make an effort to have regular contact with friends and family near and far. Saying hello is so easy, why don’t we say it more often?

Listen to more music

Read more books

...Oh and of course continue to plan for the big day.

I’m really looking forward to this year and I hope to continue to share my thoughts with you more frequently and you never know, my writing skills and creativity might just take on an adventure of their own. Here’s to a fun and action pack 2011

Granny Squares

2010-10-17T10:22:00.000-07:00

Who would have thought that granny squares could be cool! I have just started to create a range of granny square blankets and do have to say I am a bit addicted.

My first attempt at creating a granny square blanket was mediocre. I used what I thought was a selection of five different coloured double knitting yarns starting from the centre of the blanket and after every fifth row changed the colour. It wasn’t until I was on my second repeat of the colours that I noticed that the blanket was a little rippled. I had used a grey yarn that was a tiny bit finer than the rest of the colours which created a slight change in tension. I was frustrated to begin with then just absolutely fell in love with the process and actually enjoyed the slight imperfections in the construction… after all it is handmade!

One blanket was not enough, my next was a patchwork. This one was much more resolved… no ripples (well not obvious ones anyway!) I think I am going to play around with the patchwork effect in my next few blankets. Big squares, small squares, big squares and small squares together, I love the huge amount of possibilities. Taking an old, traditional construction, combining it with some fun modern colours and hey presto a range of blankets to suit all ages.

This style of crochet always reminds me of my granny but not in an old lady kind of way but in a warm, cosy, family kind of way. I know my mum has still got a granny square blanket which my granny made for her years and years ago, not in such bright colours I might add but this sense of lasting a lifetime is a major part of why I make things. Creating something that will be a part of the household and apart of the family. Safe and warm!

Now I have to go, this post has made me want to go get my Jim Jams on and snuggle up on the sofa with a hot cup of tea and my blanket. Everyday should be a snuggle day! xx

Derby Freshers Fair '10

2010-09-22T10:15:00.000-07:00

What a lovely day it was yesterday! So what did I do?
I attended 'This is Bazaar'at Derby Freshers Fair and this is how my day went…

I was picked up at 9.15am by my craft fair buddy Jo from Hello Sunshine and we headed off up the A52 to Derby. We arrived at our destination, Derby University to be greeted by two grumpy security guards who directed us (kind off!) to our parking area. With a push of a button and a bump up the kerb we were in!

Unloading the car was simple, for the very first time I had managed to pack all of my products, display baskets, bags, refreshments etc all into one rucksack and my big (carry sized) toy basket…. Amazing! I mean not having to return to the car to get the next load, it’s unheard of!

Located in the Atrium the fair was well lit, well positioned and the sun shone in all day from the huge glass roof above us...in more ways than one for me. The atmosphere was buzzing and the people were great. From fellow crafters, uni staff to of course the students (and some of their parents) the day was filled with interest, cheerful conversation and an abundance of sales. Just what I like!!

Toys! My toys, with their newly designed eyes were my most popular product, being bought for children and adults a like. I plan to add many more animal varieties to my collection… I think they’re amazing and so do you, it seems! I had previously used buttons to create the eyes of my animals but after feedback from customers and friends these are a no no if I want to sell to children (their parents!) So with a bit of experimentation and a couple of tries I have now come up with a cute crochet eye design instead and I have to say it adds so much personality to each toy. What do you think?

Thank you Derby University freshers you made my day – my most successful fair to date.

Remember to visit my website: www.aprilmarietextiles.com

DIY - Busy decorating

2010-09-16T08:39:00.000-07:00

I don't really think I've got the hang of this blogging malarkey just yet! I've only managed to write one post and that was my intro.... ages ago.

So, what have I been up to?

I have had a little bit of time off from making and focused my attention on my house. My fiancé Sean and I have re-decorated our spare room... my studio... the office.... the gym…. well yeah ONE splendid room with lots of uses and I do have to say it's one of, if not, my favourite room in the house. Not only because it's just been decorated but because it's so welcoming. I love working in there when the suns shining, it's just so warm and cosy, bright and fun. I love it! Apple green and blackcurrant, totally edible! I’m not the only one that loves this room, my kitty Flora spends almost all of her time in here. Watch out house guests you’ll be sharing your bed with her… after all it is hers!

Erm... what else is there? Oh yes we’ve also spent a bit of time in the garden. Back in June (I can’t believe it was that long ago – where does the time go?) we knocked down our old shed and bought ourselves a brand new Big Shed… Sean’s man shed! Not ones for going with the norm we painted it a beautiful cobalt blue colour and it looks perfect nestled at the bottom of the garden sitting on top of newly laid slabs, which of course we laid ourselves, we being Sean and my lovely dad with me making tea.

I can’t say I really enjoy doing DIY but I absolutely love the end result. Knowing you’ve spent time and energy on a project to make it just the way you want makes it all worth while in the end. However, things don’t always seem to go to plan for us. I hear it comes with practise…Great! I’m a perfectionist and like things to be just so, guess I’ll have to practise at getting things just so.

Next big DIY project… the bathroom.

I'm blogging!

2010-08-02T05:08:00.000-07:00

Blogging? Blogging seems so straight forward and something that anyone, with any interest can access and share with the world. Not me! I somehow have made this somewhat simple task into something complicated. Some of you may already know that I have previously blogged using the software provided by my website people. After posting about five separate blog posts (with complications/disasters each time) I have scrapped the lot and started again, this time using Blogger. Lots of people use Blogger and seem to manage alright so I thought I'd join the masses and have ago myself.

First of all I will tell you about my problems, hassles, disasters but most of all my frustrations with my previous blog.

Every time I wrote a new post, uploaded my images and spent ages formatting the page to how I wanted it to look I pressed the finish button and 'da dar' my blog should have looked perfect... but No! Instead of adding this newly created post to my existing posts, which all took ages to write and prettify, it deleted some of this information. So being the perfectionist I am and wanting my blog to flow correctly I manually re-entered my old posts. But as you can imagine next time I posted, the same thing happened. Arrrh! Not a happy bunny!

So here I am starting from scratch! My hope this time is to create a place where I can share my thoughts and ideas about my world. With regular project updates and notes about what I've been up to and places I've visited, I hope my blog (my words) can make you smile and bring you back time and time again. A place that feels like home! :)