We are moving!!

I cannot beleive that its almost been 2 years that I have embarked on this rollercoster journey of self-employment. But it has and that means I can finally take that enticing break on my suffocating 5 year lease on the unit. I feel there are greener pastures ahead when I move to my new home with Bead Pop (formerly bead crazy) on 19-21 St Andrew Street. Firstly its much better financially as I don't have profit crushing rent and rates to pay. Secondly its a street location with my own door and window with many a people tootling past by foot, car and bus. Well that's the theory anyway, I suppose I wont know until I am firmly in place.

Our current location was taken on with rose-tinted goggles I feel, I was so desperate to get into somewhere before christmas I rushed this transaction slightly and justified it to myself. I knew the footfall in the Galleria was pitiful but i goaded myself into thinking "oh passers-by wont paint plates on a whim" if I ramp up the external marketing people will come to me as its a "destination" but oh ho how wrong was I. I underestimated how much I needed people walking past just to see me and become curious. Even if they didn't paint that very day at least they would know my existence and that has been my major downfall.

But onwards and upwards and I am very excited about my new move so if i do become a hermit in the next month or so you shall know why!

Knitting Adventures

 People always ask me what's my favourite craft and for a couple of years now it appears that knitting continues to be an obsession. I do love toting my basket full of scrappy yarn aboot the toon so where has said basket been in recent days?? Well on one glorious sun shiny day me and basket parked up in Union Terrace Gardens and finished up some kitschy dinosaurs. Such bliss ...

a lovely rare day of sunshine in Aberdeen = outdoor knitting

I've also had an order and been manically knitting these mini-hearts for wedding favours - all 60 of them!! so glad to be done and now I can think about christmas knits!!

knitted mini-hearts in a cute mini basket was what inspired the wedding favours

60 ivory hearts for wedding favours

Candy Belle Pops up and goes away again

So things have been a tad quiet due to the crazy amount of events we had in august, we had the Aberdeen Art Fair firstly. Then last week I had my vintage hat on as alter ego Candy Belle Vintiques had her first Pop-up shop.  Things were hectic as usual and headless chicken doesn't even begin to describe me and my emotions. Screaming matches were a daily occurence with my long-suffering but cherished partner. I love you really!! despite wanting to gouge your eyes out when you didn't do as you were told.

For the month of august it was an endless parade of ironing, hand-washing delicate vintage dresses, cleaning tea-sets, and typing up labels. Not to mention all the crafty stuff I wanted to use as display, sewing vintage fabrics onto embroidery hoops, mustaches for the photo booth plus much much more I didn't get round to. Thank the lord my trusty friends were there for me. and thank god they put up with me and I am eternally grateful to everyone that put in their tuppence worth. Finally its done and dusted so I can relax again or so I believe but an entrepreneurs work is never done! I am on to the next Candy Belle Event which will be on the 3rd of November in the Caledonian Thistle Hotel on Union Terrace so save the date!!

Some photos of the pop-up shop including retro hedgehog and groovy living room, plus my embroidery hoop display with vintage fabrics.











Our vintage photobooth also made its debut on our launch night, they look pretty darn good if I don't say so myself!!

the lovely camilla who very generously helped make the mustaches amongst many other things!

the kind and thoughtful Laura who came to support on Friday and spent a small fortune!! (err no tony she only  bought a £5 scarf that's all)