...I am still standing...

Dear All,
I am aware I have not been looking after you and the blog for too long now and I am very sorry. I know what it feels like to look forward to receive updates or news and it's disappointing when it does not happen as we thought.

I cannot make any excuses really, I have simply not being blogging as I did not take the time to do so and I chose to do something else instead. Sometimes I am like that though, I am known by my family & friends for starting things and not finishing them, I could write you a very long list, and it's such a shame.

Anyway, I am certainly carrying on with my 'Ilaria Rocks' project, hobby, business, whatever you want to call it, I am still not sure what label to put on it at the moment. I have been lucky so far to have been approached to work on interesting projects and my first love is always for handmade paper goodies. I will always be committed to handmade cards and decorations and I have so many ideas at times it's overwhelming and then when it's too much I don't know where to start so I don't even start at all!

However, this time I have given myself a target, a goal, which is fast approaching actually. In the last few weeks I have been working towards my first craft market, which is this Sunday 16th June at Stockport Market Hall. It's not easy motivating yourself when you are your own boss and I find that giving myself a target really helps me.

Thinking at 2013 so far, there has been a lot happening in my professional and personal life, like all of you I guess, but it's been hard concentrating on what I really want to do and on what I love doing. Sometimes I find myself doing what I really didn't want to do and I can tell my heart is not in it, which makes me sad, but that's life hey. Then when I am doing what I am passionate about there is no stopping me, I will put everything into it. All this to get to the point I want to make, which is how much I have loved working towards this market, and I am so excited, nervous and scared at the same time. One thing is making cards to give to friends and family, another one is actually making something that customers will want to buy! I think the ranges of designs I have made are different from what's already out there, and I hope I won't be the only one thinking that. There is still a lot to do though...I want to take pictures of all the products I made before packaging them, then there is the packaging itself ( I am hoping in some help from my gorgeous hubby, pretty please?!) and thinking how I will set up the stall. I have an idea in my head, it's all about getting it out of there! 

Right, now I have put these thoughts down on cyber-paper I better go back to work. It's the first time I write something quite personal on the blog but I just felt like it so there it is, I hope you don't mind, if you do then I am sorry! :o)

Monday Rocks

Happy Monday! 

A little reminder for all of us :o)

by Alyssa Nassner

birthday surprise

It was my mother in law's birthday last Saturday so I wanted to make her day special with a few treats. I baked her a cake and had a go at covering it with icing and decorated it, my first attempt at writing with icing, too. I love baking but let's say my goodies usually look more rustic than this! Well even this one had its imperfections but I tell myself it's a sign that's properly homemade ;o)

I also enjoyed making her birthday card, carrying on the cake theme...

I added the final touches by wrapping her pressies with pretty papers, doilies and ribbons. 

I am pleased to say I think she enjoyed it all and we had a great family afternoon together.

Happy Birthday Sandra!

Cute Notes - Free Printable

I prepare both mine and my husband's lunch every morning before we go out to work and sometimes I sneak in a little note in my husband's lunch box, and I know that despite the first embarassment in front of his colleagues, he really does appreciate the surprise. Who does not like being looked after?! I always think it's the little, unexpected things that count the most. 

If you feel the same then you' love these cute notes. Surprise your children, husbands, mums, all your loved ones, when they least expect it.

They are offered by Love Stiched. Please download these sweet notes from her blog here.

Vendors @ Manchester Something Old Vintage Fair

As promised in my previous post I am going to show you some of the lovely vendors and traders I met at the Something Old Vintage Wedding Fair in Manchester last year.

Sweet & Beautiful

Sweet Sixpence Co.

Lottie Loves Vintage

One Day Wedding

Ruth's Vintage Sparkle

Dotmoxee Photographers

The Wedding Parlour

Little Jem

Lifeline Photography

There are so many more I did not have chance of taking pictures of so please take a look here at the blog of a photographer who was also at the fair, Claire Basiuk. You can also find more pictures on the Dotmoxee Photographer facebook page here.

Something Old Vintage Wedding Fair

This post is well overdue! I attented the Something Old Vintage Wedding Fair in Manchester last year on 24th November. It was the first time showing my creations and a big step for me as I was going to find out how they would have been received by the public.
It was a brilliant day, I was really nervous but yet buzzing with energy and excitement.I have come away from  it with more confidence in my products and loads of compliments as well - which was really nice! I have also met some great vendors, all with a great passion for all things vintage.

And this post comes at a funny time because I am actually taking some time "off" from actively selling my wedding stationery, in the sense that for a while I will not be attending fairs or promote my bespoke wedding service. I will still be accepting orders of course so feel free to contact me. In the meantime I will put my efforts and energy in growing my brand, build an audience, set up my online shop and will hopefully also take part to some crafts fairs in the next few months. 

Sorry I have been going off the tangent for a bit, I think it's only fair I show you some pictures from the fair. In the next post I will show you pictures of the lovely vendors I met with links to their websites/blogs/pages and also links to the the pictures of the fair taken by two great photographers which were also exhibiting.

Enjoy!

my stall 

vintage rose stationery set

doily mixture wedding set

love in bloom stationery set

teabag place card

bunting rocks stationery set

Mr & Mrs bunting

tea party stationery set

handmade buttonholes

handmade bouquets

  

Sweet New Year Calendar - free printable

Happy Friday and I hope 2013 is treating you well so far. 

Today's freebie is a sweet 2013 calendar, ideal to keep in your handbag or why not display it on your noteboard on the kitchen wall? I feel in love with it straight way with those cute sweets graphics, I had to print it and play with it. So I did and after printing it on pearlised paper, I glued it on thick card and applied some glitter glue on some of the details. 

It was created by the talented Amy Moss from Eat Drink Chic. You can download yours here. Enjoy!