This is what's been keeping me busy the last few days – making orders and packing them up to send to new stockists.
I actually remembered to snap a quick pic of these boxes on my iPhone before I finished the packaging, usually I think of taking a photo just after I've waved them off with the courier.
Right, I've got more to do so had better get back to it!
So, I did it, my first ever trade show – Top Drawer Spring 2012!
It was exhausting and exciting all at the same time. Here is how my stand looked:
I was really pleased with how it all came together, with only a few hiccups along the way. The plantable wildflower paper heart bunting contrasting against my blackboards worked so well, it really drew people into my stand and was a great talking point. And unsurprisingly was a big feature of the new orders I took! I am thrilled with how well my range was received, I gained new stockists (including my first Spanish one), gave out brochures to lots of interested people, and had some extraordinary conversations – if even just one of them comes to fruitition it could be amazing for the green gables! I also met some lovely folk including several twitter buddies and existing stockists, and learned loads about myself and the world of business I'm so happy to be in.
The experience was enhanced enormously by my fab stand neighbours, opposite me was the super lovely Charlotte of Charlotte Macey Textiles, diagonally opposite me was JoJo and Tanya from Betty & Betts and next to me was Michele from Bay Design.
They were great fun to be around, I learned heaps from them too as they're all trade show veterans, plus Charlotte and I kept each other in tea for three solid days!
Just a little way along the corridor from me was my super talented friend, Katie of What Katie Did Next. It's been lovely to have someone else to prepare and worry with for our first trade show and I'm really proud of how well Katie's work was received.
So all in all, I'm really pleased I did Top Drawer, it was so far out of my comfort zone I couldn't even see my comfort zone any more but that's what life's all about! Now, I'd better get on with those new stockist orders, they won't make and pack themselves… ;)
Now, you might recognise this stamp bunting adorned cake. Yep, that's because you saw it a little while ago on this post. Well, because I was so taken with this decorated treat, and because this is our 40th palette pingpong post (our Ruby PPP if you will) I decided to challenge Kirsty with the image. And, being the spirited gal that she is, she grabbed the cake and ran with it! Metaphorically of course.
To see the palette Kirsty has pulled come with me to her blog, ginger and george, and all will be revealed…
Happy 1st December, everyone!
I've been a bit slow about putting this post together but I've finally got on with it! I'm really pleased to have a couple of my products featured in two magazines that are new to me. First up is Prima Christmas Makes…
If you love your Christmas mags this is a feast for your eyes! And secondly is The Green Parent…
Now, I'm not a parent, green or otherwise, but I really enjoyed this mag, so much interesting info and several great articles that apply to life with or without children, so I'm really pleased to be included in it.
Given the chance I'd buy the December issues of all my favourite mags, and a few more, I just love poring over the festive shoots. Good thing I don't raid my local newsagent as I don't know where I'd get the time to read them!
And to help you with your Christmas lists, don't forget you can get £5 of when you spend £20 at the green gables with code NX5 until the end of November.
So, remember I said in this blog post I'd tell you when my new finishing touches products would be available on my website? Well they are! You can now find the marvellous twig colouring pencils, mini wooden pegs and colured twine at the green gables.
But that's not all! I am very excited to reveal a brand new product I have designed – decorative bunting sticky tape!
Available in red heart or blue star bunting designs this tape will perk up any present, package or envelope.
The tape is 25mm wide and comes in 30m rolls so you can glam up a lot of gifts. (And a lot of order packages if you're me!)
As well as the pretty tape I've also added a few more things to my web shop, including sets of doily-edged brown paper gift tags…
twig pencils (similar to the colouring pencils but a bit more grown-up)…
and sets of occasion postcards with envelopes…
So, I hope you like my new additions, I'd love to know what you think. And don't forget you can still get £5 off when you spend £20 at thegreengables.co.uk before the end of November with code NX5!
Why wait till December and have a mad rush to get all your Christmas present shopping done when you can take advantage of this special offer and be finished before the end of November?!
I'm giving you £5 off when you spend £20 or more at the green gables for the whole of November. Plus, as always, you don't have to pay for postage and packaging on orders over £30. Just use the code NX5 at the checkout before 30 November to receive your £5 off.
You're a lovely bunch and have been so supportive of my new business, especially since I made the giant leap to work full-time on the green gables, so I hope you can take advantage of this offer. And, if I can spread out the Christmas order rush a bit more evenly over November as well as December my life will be a smidgen less crazy stressful – this way we all win!
So, pootle on over to www.thegreengables.co.uk and have a wander around. And if you're still at the gift and wish list writing stage, this free printable might be useful…!
There's no denying it. It's on its way and it can't be stopped. Two months today is Christmas Day. Now, before you scream and run off, I've made you something to help you cope with the impending festivities – Christmas wish lists to download and print for free.
The two different blank lists are A5 size so both fit on one sheet of paper for ease of printing. One list is for you to fill in and leave in an obvious place as an unsubtle hint, the other can be used to jot down ideas for the gorgeous gifts you'll give to your loved ones, whether they be bought or made.
It doesn't matter how long your lists need to be, you can print out as many sheets as you like (on recycled paper if possible, and don't forget to recycle your lists post-Christmas excitement).
Download Christmas wish lists pdf
To download and print the lists simply click on the link above and away you go. You can print as many sheets as you like but as always with my free printables, if you want to tell other people about them please link to the post, not just the download, and all my free downloads are for personal, not commercial, use.
Happy list-writing!
Not that you'd want to (or be able to) but how fab is this cake decoration?! What is there not to love – it's cake, it's bunting, it's using colour co-ordinated postage stamps. Love it.
And while we're talking cakes, to celebrate National Baking Week I'm giving you 25% OFF ALL KITCHENWARE at the green gables! Just use code BAKE25 at the checkout before the end of Sunday 23 October to get your discount. Enjoy baking!
Another Thursday, another palette pingpong. Although this is the 37th time Kirsty and I have done this I realise it could be the first time you've come across a palette pingpong post. And so you might be wondering what I'm on about it! So, take a peek at our first PPP post here and all with be explained.
Now, onto this week. Kirsty challenged me with a bright 'n' perky pic, which you can see on her blog, ginger and george, and this is the palette I pulled from it:
Following on from the fabulous reaction I received last week to my tutorial on how to make an envelope, I decided to whip up a quick DIY to go with this palette. So, here's a super speedy way to make yourself a mini flag garland…
1. First of all, rummage through that pile of scrap paper or fabric (I know you have one) and pull out a bunch of scraps whose colours you like. I've used leftover scraps of paper fromy my recycled paper heart bunting that match this week's palette.
2. Chop your scraps into mini flags, they don't need to be perfectly measured, just pennant-shaped.
3. The super speedy way to string your mini flags together is to sew them! A sewing machine is fastest but you can thread them onto cotton by hand if you'd rather. If you're using a sewing machine sew across the top of one flag, let the needle continue to run for a little to create space between the flags, and then sew your next scrap of paper.
4. And that is it! Hang up your length of mini flags and enjoy!
