So much snow!!

Well I got my wish for snow...!

We had a fantastic weekend sledging! There is a ton of snow here, all weekend plans got cancelled and we spent most of it on the hill at the end of the village, on the sledges having a whale of a time :-) We took over someone else’s run and perfected it into a great sliding spot, headfirst turned out to be the best method for me, although, oh my, can I feel it in my stomach muscles this morning!

The snow meant I got to see the Strictly final, but missed out on two dinners with friends and doing the Christmas food shopping. Oh well. But more is forecast for tonight...? It’s currently minus 11! Andy’s pipes have frozen and the toilet was even iced over this morning!

So little work has been done, and there is no sewing to report on whatso ever! The website will be open over the Christmas period, but I may be a bit slower in dispatching orders!

This will probably be my last blog before Christmas, so I wanted to wish you all a great time, have fun, stay warm and Merry Christmas!

A beautiful photo by my friend Ian Piper, yesterday.

Sally x x

Busy busy!

Just a quick one this week, as there is far too much to do! Christmas baking to get on with, a wreath to make for the door, presents to wrap oh , and I should probably do some work too!

So I will just say that there are a few things left in my Christmas Shop and the last day for placing your order is SUNDAY!

BUY NOW!

Have fun! Sally x

Exhibitions 2011

So it’s a very cold a foggy day today. The world outside the windows is all white and Narnia looking, only without the snow, or the characters, I should add. Even my fish is hiding behind his tank ornaments today. I have not been out anywhere, and don’t plan to!

I have just been sorting out my exhibition at Number 8 in Pershore for next summer, it will run from July 7th to August 17th, which seems a very long way off today! Exciting though, and great to think that I now have two exhibitions planned for next year. I must start sewing!

I am feeling far too Christmassy to think about next summer though. We did a bit of wrapping yesterday, and I put up a couple of decorations to get the festive mood going. Had to put the presents under the umbrella plant as we have no tree yet! Also watched Fred Claus on TV, and I absolutely LOVE Christmas films!

Keep warm!

Sally

Wyke Manor, where I work, in the fog on Friday.

One of my icey decorations.Only £1.49p! Buy here...

Wintery days

Snow snow snow!

Sadly not enough for sledging but very nice none the less :-) I am a snow fan, probably because I don’t have to go anywhere most of the time! Tis rather parky though, ice on the insides of the windows and I am sat here typing in fingerless gloves. Makes me excited to go skiing and I really hope I might get a snowy birthday again. It snowed on my 18th and 10 years on would be nice symmetry I think.

I have been working on a special commission for a friend in the village – some embroidered purses showing Wick Church, and I am very nearly finished with them. It’s been an enjoyable project and I now know what the church really looks like! Which sounds stupid, but it’s really covered up by trees, and you don’t really look properly until you have to, do you.

A view accross to the Malvern Hills on Sunday ~ Wick Church ~ My stand at the Farncombe Christmas Sale

I had a fairly successful show at Farncombe, and I discovered that there seems to be a market for talks and workshops, so I have to decide whether or not that’s the way to go. I am a bit unsure, as never having been to anything like that I am not sure how they work, and not really having any proper training makes me feel a bit of a fraud, but it’s an exciting possibility none the less.

My Christmas Shop is now open and there are quite a few bits and bobs left at bargainous prices! Gifts and decorations from just 99p! Click here

Happy shopping,
Sally x

This week in Sally World...

Hello!

My apologies for not writing last week, I had a rest day on Monday, and then just never quite seemed to get around to it. I had an exciting week learning about Google Adwords and Facebook (for which I am currently designing a new page for my other job at The Real Flower Petal Confetti Co.)
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=626940092&ref=profile&v=info#!/pages/The-Real-Flower-Petal-Confetti-Co/110300669037208
Its been lots of computer work and trying to understand technical jargon – not my idea of a good time! But my work room is starting to fill up with my sewn pictures, so I need to get selling! I have been writing to magazines, and trawling the webfor nice looking shops to approach to ask if they would like to stock my work. Tedious but hopefully it’ll start to pay off soon! Once again – if you know of anywhere/anyone who might like my embroidery...do let me know!

Otherwise it’s been nice couple of weeks. We saw some rather soggy fireworks last weekend, and warmed up with a nice curry afterwards. Last Sunday was eth last Moto GP of the season and we went around to our friend’s house to watch the races. Bradley Smith won his first 125cc race of the year! Way to end the season! I’m at a bit of a loss what to do on Sundays now! This Sunday we went to Bristol, to Snow and Rock and I got my ski boots fitted properly and had some custom insoles made – which was a strange experience! We did a bit of shopping in town too –only didn’t actually buy anything. Too much choice for us country bumpkins! And then we called in to see our friends on the way home and see their new house, which although largely a building site at the moment was really nice and should be fantastic when finished!

Now its very cold and foggy today and I have finances to do, then more Facebook updates. And Mum, and are off to see Granny this afternoon. It never stops I tell you!

Comedy picture! ~ Nice picture!

Here’s a picture form Saturday night before the Pershore Tennis Club Presentation Dinner (Andy plays not me) – I struggled a bit with the tripod and timer, as you can see, so the handheld shot is all we could muster! But yes, I have had my haircut!

Sally x

Adventure

So today I am having a rest day, I am pretty tired and haven’t been resting properly recently, mainly because it’s boring. But my left arm is feeling a bit weird all the time now, and so I have written today off, and have been watching Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman in Long Way Round all day. Very excited about getting my own motorbike now! But I wanted to check a few things online, and thought I ought to do my blog, else it’d probably get forgotten this week.

So hello! Time seems to have flown by this last week – I have been doing a lot of sewing, I went to Broadway to scout out shops and a craft fair, we went to see Gloucester beat Tigers at Kingsholm on Saturday and to a Halloween party afterwards which was great fun. (Sorry no photos!) We also went to the Ski and Board Show at the NEC yesterday, which has gotten me in the mood for skiing! And there was a GP yesterday, which we recorded and watched ast night. Whilst eating half a box of Matchmakers – very good fun! So very much in an adventure mood today, which is a bit strange perhaps, as I have been lying down all day. Want to get on a motorcycle and explore! I signed up for a free trial session on a bike, and I am quite excting about getting on two wheels for myself. I think my eyes are up to it, and I need to try and find out about getting my driving license back too. Then it’ll be Rossi watch out! Well, maybe not!

I apologise for the lack of photos of me in Halloween costume, forgot my camera! But here is the latest autumn scene – leaves are falling now!

Have a good week,

Sally

Sunshine and sausages!

We had a bbq on Sunday! It was lovely and warm in the sun, and we sat and ate sausages with our cider, outside The Shed. A very civilised way to spend an autumnal afternoon. We went sloe picking, and had a couple of lovely sunny walks too. I took some shots of the vine, outside Andy’s flat – one in the Saturday sun, and one from today’s frosty start.

I went climbing on Friday night, at the climbing wall in Evesham, and put my newly learnt knots into practice! I was quite tired and my left arm has been playing up recently, so we didn’t try very hard, but I did end on a yellow climb that I did properly and I enjoyed that very much! Then we went for curry. Yum!

Sadly this week I must concentrate on marketing and selling, which I do not enjoy, as I am sure you have picked up on by now! But I have done some new Seasonal pictures, you got that sneak peak last week...they should be online by the end of the week. My Mum liked them so much she wanted me to do one for her....take a look.

Cheers,
Sally x

Autumn leaves and Sunday roasts

Well, it looks like autumn is here to stay. No more dreams of an Indian summer. We had the first proper frost on Saturday night and we’ve had to shut all the windows in Andy’s flat. Heating is still not on though! The trees are turning, the vine is going red and, when the sun is shining, its all looking rather beautiful. It has inspired a few new embroideries...they’ll be for sale soon.

We had a pretty quite weekend at home, and I roasted my first chicken on Sunday – a bit of a shock really for a girl my age! I am a cook, although I don’t seem to do a lot of meat roasting. However it was a very good first try if I do say so myself, and we had a great big roast dinner after Andy’s tennis match. I also made a pear tart tatin, which was delicious! Yum!
There was the Australian GP on Sunday, won by Mr Interesting, Casey Stoner. I don’t think I will ever get over the disappointment of a man with the best name EVER, being quite so boring. But there was some decent racing for once. And Scott Redding came second in the Moto 2 race, which was fantastic!

So, its Monday and I’m back to sewing. I’m enjoying being back with my machine after a lot of cone making and stock taking for work last week. Speaking of which our brand new look website is now live – www.confettidirect.co.uk – check it out! :-)

Sally x

Sale now on!

Hello.

I had a very exciting day of Moto GP watching yesterday! Jorge is the new champion! And Rossi appears to be back :-)

But in other news, I have launched a huge SALE on www.sally-young.com

There is up to 50% off bags, purses, jewellery and pincushions!

Start shopping now.....

Also, I was featured in a blog this last Friday - http://thelimegarden.blogspot.com/ Exciting stuff!

Sal x

Hello!

I apologise for my extended absence from the blog. It’s largely been due to having better things to do!

I have been away on holiday to Italy and North Devon, and I have updated and redesigned the website, and of course, I have been beavering away at my sewing machine.

Here is a little photo montage of the last month or so...

Stella, Jim and Dad at Great Comberton Flower Show.

My Embroidered Pictures for sale in a gift shop in Pershore.

In September I had two fantastic weeks in Italy with Andy and our friends Cheryl and Warren.

We began in Cattolica (top left) and saw the Moto GP at Rimini. We saw Tomizawa, one of Andy's favourite riders, killed in a horrible crash, right in front of us. Tomizawa had been so good to watch this year. The photo is from the pit lane walk in Barcelona. We will never forget him, and I don't think i will ever see a race in quite the same way again.

We made our pilgrimage to Rossi's home town of Tavullia - check out the great t-shirt one of his fan club was wearing.

And we got a photo with Jerry Burgess too! The bus stop was right outside their hotel!

We then travelled down to the Amalfi Coast. It was beautiful - just like everyone says! But Amalfi was a bit of a dive, and Positano was a bit too posh. We stayed in a perfect little village between the two. Lucky! We did a lot of amazing walks, thank you Warren, and dodged the rain storms. We also visited Vesuvius which was under a cloud, and Pompeii.

This weekend we have been in Croyde, on our what will become, our second annual Sun Holiday. (We always go to Polperro in the spring.) It was great surfing weather!

I promise i'll keep up to date now!

Sally x

Hello!

This is really to reassure you all that I am still alive and sewing!

I have been mega busy this month and simply not quite found the time to get online properly – and this is just a quick note to apologise and say that I’ll be back in mid September (we’re off to Italy for our holidays next week).

- My friends will be running a stall for me at Wick Fete on September 4th from 1.30 pm.
- And a big SALE of bags and purses will be coming in September!

Sally x

Me and Polly on the Kayak in Salcombe last weekend

some home truths

Hello.

I am having a bit of a rant today, as I am fed up of the internet in general at the moment! I have spent the last two weeks trying to better understand the world of blogging, facebook, social networking in relation to craftmakers, forums, etc, and I have gained basically no insight at all. I have decided that I am not built for 21st century technology and it will all have to progress without me. There is a reason, I have discovered, that I don’t have or want and iPod, let alone an iPhone – it’s just not me. And watching The Gadget Show last night just confirmed all this for me. Give me a scratchy old LP and a piece of paper any day! Sorry world.

So I loved creating my website, and I even enjoy writing these blogs, but I remain clueless about how to promote them and exploit the internet to its full potential. All advice gratefully received. Seriously!

I have, form this blog forward, stopped worrying about being up to the minute, being on trend and in season. I am returning to the routes of my dream to sell my embroidery: I like making things and sharing beautiful items with people. I’ll sew what I sew and hope people appreciate it for its true and inherent value. So that’s my foray into new media over and done with!

So I have been sitting in the sunshine in the garden enjoying my sewing, still working on those bracelets. And I am focussing on my embroidery to build up a collection to take to shops – I may dread the thought of actually having to sell face to face, but I fear if the internet can’t help me it must be done!

Love from Sally x

Sponsor us!

Bracelets, bikes and glow worms

Hello everyone.

I’m sorry I’ve not been blogging much recently, but I have had a week of bracelet making and marketing. I am not what you would call a natural self promoter – in fact I’d be quite happy if I never had to sell anything, but life doesn’t really work like that, shame!




What do you think of the new bracelets? Or should I call them Cuffs? I have seen that term in magazines, but it sounds a little too crime and punishment to me. They’ll be on the website soon, priced at £19. Or you can order one now in the colour scheme of your choice – just email me.

So you could say the bracelet making is going better than the marketing. I’ve been in touch with shops and galleries, and my Facebook page is attracting a few fans, which is quite exciting, but I’ve not generated many sales yet. All advice gratefully received!

In other news I went to my first motorbike meet this week – in Twyning, where there were hundreds of bikes and some pretty funky ones too – a freaky Hayabusa and some great old classic 70s skinny tyres bikes being the highlight. Bloody expensive pint though! And I’ve been on our annual glow worm hunt! Tis the season for the little worms to shine out and attract some lovin’, and they were glowing beautifully on Bredon Hill on a soggy Wednesday night last week.



Have a great weekend!

Sally x

blue mood

Been quite bored this week – can’t settle to anything. Do you know what I mean, when you just aren’t in the mood for anything? Maybe its the weather – the grey skies are so disappointing, and then when the sun comes out I can’t get out there – need an extra long extension lead for my sewing machine!

Have been making textile bracelets today, in a similar vein to my pictures, but wearable, if you see what I mean. Blue has been the colour this morning...

Watching Gavin and Stacey on dvd – so funny!

Sally x

New embroideries for sale!

Congratulations Spain! They were my team in my little sweepstake with Andy, and now I get taken out for dinner! Lovely!

I have some exciting news to report – I have an exhibition of my embroidery at the Number 8 Arts Centre in Pershore! Not until next summer, but I am very excited nevertheless.

Today I will be putting online and up for sale some of my new embroideries, so take another look around my website.

Sally x

Me, in the Real Flower Petal Confetti Company confetti fields, over the weekend.

Barcelona

Hello!


I am back from our annual trip to the Circuit de Catalunya and the Moto GP in Barcelona.
Check out me and Bradley Smith! We did the pit lane walk on Friday and saw all the riders, bikes and garages. Very exciting! And here are the boys with our flag, which sadly didn’t get us on the telly.

Me and Bradley Smith - Tony, Todd, Kurt, Sid, Andy and Cole

The weather was lovely, the city beautiful and the tapas delicious – a good time was had by all. The racing wasn’t bad either, although the GP was disappointing after last year’s epic Rossi-Lorenzo battle.

Time to crack on with work now. I have a few website changes planned and lots of new pictures to add, so watch this space. I’ll be back with more when I’ve got it all sorted.


And do let me know what you think – there’s a guest book on the website.
Sally x

Life's good!

Hello!


Goodness me, how quick time has flown by! I am sorry for my absence recently, but I have mostly been watching the football and the tennis! Well, kinda.

We had a fab weekend at Silverstone with our friends Chez and Waz and saw some excellent motor biking action – great results for our British riders and a fantastic victory for Lorenzo in the first Silverstone GP for however many years. It was bloody freezing though! I know everyone else enjoyed a scorching weekend, but sat at the track we wore skiing gear, woolly hats and gloves and still felt cold!. Typical British MotoGP! Mind you in a couple of weeks I’ll be moaning about it being too hot in Barcelona! He he!

Check out my shots of the riders at the Saturday evening interviews...

Colin Edwards - Nicky Hayden - Jorge Lorenzo - Bradley Smith and Scott Redding

Otherwise its been business as usually, making cones whilst listening to the football, and sewing some new pictures.

This is what I produced from the green and pink fabrics – what d’ya think?

Off to Wimbledon tomorrow – hard life! :-)

Sally x

My last craft fair?

Happy Birthday to my auntie Fran! :-)

Busy day yesterday at the craft fair at The Mill Race, Walford – bit of a disappointing event, but Andy and I were kept on our toes trying to stop all my products blowing away in the wind. My friend Becky came to join us and it was lovely to see her. Might be my last craft fair for a while though, as they never quite seem worth the effort – I have sworn now to only attend shows that come with a personal recommendation – so if anyone has any suggestions please let me know! Here’s a couple of pics of the stand –

I learn a lot at these shows though, and we decided on some new areas to focus on – I have been thinking about streamlining for while, and this decided it for me. So watch this space – I may have a big sale very soon!

Catching up on admin today, and writing to suppliers and galleries – if you know any shops or galleries that might like to sell or show my work please get in touch.

Thanks!

Sally x

Green and pink...makes me think

Hello,

Been busy this week updating the website – can you spot my changes?! Hope you approve! Also been sorting my stock before the craft fair on Sunday - click here for more details. Looking forward to it!

I am in the process of designing new textile pictures – a neighbour gave me some fabric scraps and they are inspiring me – I’m feeling the green and pink combo.

Have a great weekend!
Love Sally

P.S – for those of you who have been wondering, my cyst operation went well and my eye has just about returned to normal size. I’ll spare you the photos!

Get well soon Vale!

Oh what a weekend! Far too much to fit into one blog entry – kayaking, gardening, murder mystery, bbq, curry, the Mugello Moto GP and oh my goodness Rossi has broken his leg!

I should introduce one of my greatest passions in life – following the Moto GP. I don’t ride a bike due to my vision problems and I would be far too scared anyway (!) but I love to sit on the back of Andy’s. I love the freedom and the exhilaration. And watching the bikes race is so much fun!
Three excellent races this weekend from Mugello, near Florence, Italy: We went there two years ago and it was mental! The Italian fans are just the best – so much noise! Anyway, the big news of the weekend is that Valentino Rossi, legend, had a big off and broke his leg. Possibly out for the rest of the season. We have three trips planned to watch the GPs so that’s a bugger! Hoping he might make it back for his home race in Misano in September – we’ll be there.

Loved the 125cc race on Sunday, and the new class, Moto 2, was fab too – such a lot of overtaking! Exhausting!! No success for the English boys but its Silverstone up next, so let’s hope for a podium from Bradley Smith at least. Check it all out at motogp.com.

As I say, a lovely weekend, except that I turned out to be the murderer at the Wick Club Murder Mystery evening! Ha ha ha!

This afternoon I am off to Cheltenham Hospital to have the cyst removed off my eyelid – VERY scared about this! Will let you know how it goes.

And on the work front I am busy prepping for my sale on Sunday 13th – at The Mill Race pub in Walford, Herefordshire, 12 – 5pm – a food and craft fair – sounds good to me! Come along and say ‘hi’ if you’re looking for a nice day out.

Love Sally

Here comes the sun

Such a gorgeous day!

I have been sat in the sunshine making my lovely confetti cones – coming to my online shop very soon – watch this space!

This is the view from my office window at work. It’s so pretty I thought I would share.



Hope you all have a great weekend,
Love Sally x

I've finally started blogging!

So I am fresh back from a fantastic holiday to New York and Boston and I decided to start my new blog today!

I would love to share my sewing, my life and my thoughts with you all out there so you can enjoy my website and my work all the more – by really getting to know me!

No photos today as I am not looking my best – bit jet lagged – and it’ll take a while to sort out the US snaps, but I plan to share my creations, myself and what I am up to. Just thought I’d start of by saying ‘Hi’ and encouraging you all to follow my posts.

Love from Sally x