Erin Bradley Design

I wanted to thank you all for your good luck wishes and words of encouragement via Twitter and Facebook for my new shop.   Lots of people have commented on my new logo for the shop but I cannot take the credit for such a fab design.  Erin of Erin Bradley Designs offers many designs in her Etsy shop giving you the graphics to launch your shop with style.  I discovered Erin via blogworld and knew when I decided to launch a new shop that her designs would be perfect.

So if you are thinking of opening a new shop or fancy a revamp then I am sure Erin Bradley Designs has a design just for you.

My New Etsy Shop

I opened my new Etsy shop yesterday. I have only listed a couple of things so far but will be adding to it everyday. I am really excited about this and am thrilled to be designing and making again. The only problem now is I wake up in the night thinking of new ideas, I'm sure I'm not the only one who does this!

I will be opening a Folksy shop aswell this week and am hoping to revamp this blog later this week too. Busy busy, but to be honest I wouldn't have it any other way! Then as a reward I am off to the Country Living Christmas Fair on Saturday. I have wanted to go to this for the past 3 or 4 years but never manage to get there, so I am very excited to be heading down to London for the day. The only problem is I know I will come back with a whole heap of new ideas.

{Zoe & Drew}

Time for a Change

After a chaotic few months and some difficult times personally I have had to make some decisions that haven't always been easy.  Whilst being poorly last week I realised it was possibly due to my workload and my insistence of trying to do everything.  Anyway I have spent some time soul searching and working out which of the projects I wanted to do. I have also started designing and making things again, something that has not been happening enough in recent months.

So here are my decisions -

I will be selling all the ribbon stock from the Buttons & Bows business, apart from a few yards for me of course!  All the ribbons in my Blogshop and Folksy shop will be available at very reduced prices -

9mm swiss dot satin £2 for 10 yards

9mm swiss dot grosgrain £2 for 10 yards

9mm hearts grosgrain £2.50 for 10 yards

15mm swiss dot satin £2 for 10 yards

15mm hearts or flower grosgrain £3 for 10 yards

I will be adjusting prices in the next 48 hours but please email me if you want to order now.

If you are interested in starting your own ribbon business and would like to purchase all ribbon stock from me, please get in touch and I can send you full details of stock.

email - buttonsandbows130{at}btinternet{dot}com

What about this blog I hear you cry! Don't panic I am giving this blog a new name and a revamp to tie in with a new venture.  I am launching a new Etsy and Folksy shop called 'Zoe & Drew' in the next few days, selling stylish accessories (gorgeous clutch bags, cocktail rings and of course some fabulous christmas stockings).  This blog will also be called Zoe & Drew but whilst the name is changing the content won't really change. I will still write Fabric Friday and share business tips and links but I will also share with you designs I am working on and products in my shops. I will also continue with the advertising giveaway each month and for December and after the makeover I will giveaway five advertising spots ready for the busy festive season.

I have also reduced the amount of guest writing and 'free' writing I am doing to relinquish some much needed time.  I love to write but found I was taking on more and more unpaid writing work when I need to be increasing my income.

I will also be continuing with Inspired Celebration and have an exciting giveaway planned with a group of Folksy people coming up very soon.


So there you go, it's time for a change. I hope you will join me on the journey!

Fabric Friday - Warbeck & Cox

I have not been well this week but still had to carry on regardless, the joys of being a work from home mum! However it is Friday and that means it's time to share another Fabric Friday with you all.  Today I am going to feature a fabric designer from the UK, Warbeck and Cox.

Caroline Cox is the designer behind Warbeck and Cox, creating fun and stylish designs to be used for a variety of homewares and soft furnishings.  From her barn cum studio in the English countryside Caroline creates interesting textile designs from her sketches.

Like so many of us Carolines interest in textiles was sparked by playing with her grandmothers button tin. I am lucky enough to now have my grandmothers button tin and my daughters love just playing with the buttons. Over the years Caroline learnt to knit, stitch and sew which all led to the ideas for Warbeck and Cox

Drawing inspiration from her idylic surroundings Caroline is keen for Warbeck & Cox to support local businesses, hence trying to keep production within the locality of her studio.  She also insists that every effort is made to ensure that Warbeck & Cox products are created using eco-friendly and sustainable supplies.

I love the simplicity of Carolines designs yet the details are in the drawings of the individual items, especially visable on the moths in the tea towel above. I also love the hint towards times gone by with vintage keys and moments in the past when people would stop and sketch beetles and moths, or even collect them and display them in fabulous glass cabinets.

 Warbeck and Cox quote William Morris on their website -“Have nothing in your home that you do not know to be useful or beautiful” and this is exactly what they want their products to acheive and they do.