We need you!

We need help!
If you or someone you know might be interested in a cool bit of experience, please send them this way.

Custom Plushies make it to the big screen!

I'm bouncing with excitement this morning. And it's not just because I ate half a bag of Percy Pigs for breakfast.  

Earlier this month I spent quite a stressful few days creating a custom illustration, having a rush print job sent from the USA in order to get a special custom plushie sample courier'd to London for a television advert shoot.  The three samples I sewed made it just in the nick of time to the production company and hey, look, it turned out pretty darn cool!

So, keep an eye out for the advert on TV.
It goes on air today, and I've been told there will be a showing during the finals of Britain's Got Talent.
Oh and if you want to get your orders in first, just click over to my Not on the High Street shop!

People make etsy

Last week I was lucky enough to be chosen to take part in Etsy's first UK TV advert.  It was a pretty cool day, most of which I have to keep hush hush until it makes its debut on screen but here's a shot of all the etsy sellers who travelled to London to be a part of the advert.  Unfortunately as a tall person I always have to stand at the back of photos so you can only just see my eyes, right behind the person wearing red sleeves.  Brilliant.

Anyways, as it's the weekend I thought I'd offer free postage on all UK orders. Just use the code THANKSALOT.  Thanks a lot!

Dope Dad

It's almost Dad's day. June 15 don't forget to get something in the mail soon!

Here are some ideas in case you've overdone it on socks.

1. A postcard that doubles up as frame-able artwork. For sure!!

2.  You can totally buy cheese on Amazon.  And meat.  And beer. Can't go wrong really?

3.  Grab something handmade and beautiful from etsy.  I've even got £5 of credit for you to spend towards any purchase!  Go ahead and spend it!

Papa's got a brand new bag ▲ Lovely slate coloured plates ▲ Suede shoes for living life 

▲ Say hi everyday with this lovely print ▲

4.  Don't forget a card!

5.  And if all else fails...

Because I'm partial to a stripey sock I can't see anything wrong with renewing last year's gift.  Have had these American Apparel ones before and they're brilliant quality. 

Going on seven months

Seven months have flown by since our wedding day and apart from wishing I'd recorded the actual speeches either via video or just sound recording, my brain has created a montage of moments which are the closest to a wedding video I'll ever have.  (And hearing from people who have watched wedding videos from 10 years ago, it's probably for the best!)

There's certain moments from the day that stand out, as I'm sure anyone who has gotten married will agree... moments that you never planned to happen or anticipated happening - and certain moments which I didn't get to witness but knowing that they happened make me smile... because hopefully they added to someone else's memory video for the day.

I made these handkerchiefs for my Mom and for Richard's Mom, for them to receive in the morning of the wedding day.  The mother-in-law hanky was delivered to her hotel and my mom's went in the taxi with my bridesmaids for her to open on her way to the Town Hall.  I can confirm both hankies brought on happy tears - result :)

Because these were tried and tested by my nearest and dearest, I have since started making these hankies available through my etsy shop and Not on the High Street account - and I must say they've been very popular.

Do your wedding memory montage a favour and add some happy tears!

A new habit.

I joined a gym.

I feel somewhat embarrassed and flustered about this.

Running still stays outside and so does the bike.

Swimming also for the most part stays outside.

I just needed a better locker room than what the Aquatics Centre has to offer.  I wanted weights and yoga classes and a pool that wasn't full of miniature human beings.

The idea is to use it as an addition to running.  The dream is to achieve gunshow arms and an instagram booty.  And no, Zumba is 100% without question completely not happening. (By the way HOW DO PEOPLE KNOW THE DANCE MOVES? I SWEAR IT'S INSANE HOW EVERYONE JUST KNOWS THE MOVES RIGHT AWAY IT'S THE HARDEST THING EVER NOT TO MENTION PROBABLY VERY FUNNY TO WATCH)

Anyways my point is I'm offering a special offer in my etsy shop to kind of fund this new lifestyle. Each month I'm going to offer two couple portraits at 40% off.  So, instead of being £50 they will be £30.  The first two are available now and will be on a first come first served basis.

Cheers dears. x

The Fear

I've got a secret to reveal.

Over the past month or so, I have somehow developed The Fear.

If you're a long-time runner of the long-distance variety, you'll likely struggle to remember The Fear.  A 5k is something you do as a warm up, a 10k is a little jog and apart from those two distances everything else is measured in miles because kilometres are for wussies.

If you're a non-runner, however, 5k is an actual achievement.  10k, that's something you train for. Miles? Scary... 10 miles? How far is that even? Probably can't run that far.

When I joined my run club almost 2 years ago, I found the amazing power of having other runners around me to laugh at those shorter distances and carry me from kilometres to miles.  Together we chatted our way through a 6 or 7 mile run and those voices in my head that had been so convinced that anything further than 5k was probably very difficult and shouldn't be attempted alone - well they couldn't be heard.  I was busy sweating and chatting and seeking out muddy hills to conquer.

But with a few months off, I've allowed my brain to convince me again that those miles are pretty long. And because my body is a bit heavier and cumbersome than when I was in tip top marathon form, those kilometres feel that much harder.  With my foot having healed over a month ago and the doc giving me an a-ok to run again, I've found it difficult to get over that Fear.  Tuesday evening run club has been each week tempting me and frightening me and heck, I even gave up halfway through a 10k race the other weekend because I was scared of overdoing it.  What's happened to me?!

But last week I went back to run club.  I must admit, I texted my coach beforehand to get him to convince me to come back.  We went 7 miles and we ran 7 hills.  And uh, yeah. I was fine.  And my coach said, you need to run with other people.  You're not going to get anywhere on your own.

So Parkrun yesterday it was.  And though I started at the back and finished towards the back too, it was wonderful. A 29 minute finish but heck I enjoyed it much more than dragging my doubtful mind around the block for 3 pathetic kilometres, telling myself I've completely lost my fitness all the way around.

My point is, whether you're starting from scratch as a runner or whether you've had an injury and been sent right back to the beginning again - don't be scared of the deep end.  Jump in, but don't try and swim by yourself.  Having others swimming alongside makes for a pretty good distraction and a wonderful current that'll carry your scaredy ass to its rightful potential.

Being glad

I don't know what the weather is like where you are but here in Manchester it's horrendous.  Grey, rainy, blustery.  We've not had rain like this in a very long time!

But today so far has been wonderful.
A morning yoga class with Claire in Bramhall realigned me and gave me some space.
I bought two new striped items of clothing.
And some blueberry licorice and sparkling water.
Three treats before noon.

I don't know about you but I feel so grateful for every day, even when it's blustering like hell outside.
(new cushion.  If you love it as much as I do you can purchase one over here.)

To serve aside your egg barm

I decided to produce a set of napkins for you to use at your table.  A very special set of two designs with a Manchester theme.