Well I've just finshed uploading a range of new purses into my etsy store and there are quite an assortment of purse designs. I've also added more items in the sale, and there are some nice pieces that would make perfect Christmas presents.

Etsy Purse sale

To make room for all the new purses that I'm making at the moment, I'm selling off some off my purses in my etsy shop at a brilliant price for the next couple of weeks. They're really cute and would make ideal girly gifts for friends and family this chrismas. Take a look at www.vickyriley.etsy.com

The Hollies Food festival and Craft Fair

Thankfully the weather held and the sun even shone this weekend for the first of the craft fairs I've booked on the run up to the festive season. I had such an amazing time setting up the stall with my friend gill and selling our goods to the nice people who had come out for the day. The hollies is a brilliant farm shop that stocks everything you can imagine and at the weekend they held a food festival along with a fantastic craft fair. I was positioned nicely opposite the coffee vendor and the hog roast, and was quite pleased with my spot (I love food!). I had so many lovely comments about my things and was really happy that Gill sold so many off her fantastic girls hair accessories, and that a lot of my purses were snapped up as presents for Christmas stockings.

Manchester Craft Mafia Christmas Market

Sorry I've been totally rubbish at keeping my blog upto date recently. Thought I'd mention a craft fair I'm taking part in, in December. It has been organised by the Manchester Craft Mafia (http://www.manchestercraftmafia.com) and will be at the Whitworth Art gallery on the 13th and 14th December.

New things

There are lots of new stationary bits been added to my etsy site at the moment

My new Etsy shop

This week I've been making more wedding congratulations cards and more wedding clutches which can now be seen in my new shop . . . .

vickyrileyweddings.etsy.com

a BIG thank you!

Oh gosh I've been a bit rubbish at posting anything new in my blogs recently, probably because I've been so busy getting lots of new stock ready. Its been over a month since I lasted posted anything and was so surprised to find such a huge response in my inbox to all of the blogs that I've been featured in over the past month.

http://decor8blog.com/2008/08/05/etsy-take-five-tuesday-3/
http://www.parsiri.com/2008/08/11/like-sugar/
http://peasandbees.typepad.com/peas_and_bees/2008/08/lovin-these.html
http://bluemossgirls.blogspot.com/2008/08/more-coin-purse-love.html
http://fashionmefabulous.blogspot.com/2008/08/project-design-coing-purses.html

Thank you x x x x

Uk Bag designers

The blog which I have created about designers in the UK who make handmade bags is slowly beginning to build up into a nice little resource directory for those who want to buy handmade. Sometimes its easier to go and buy things of the shelf from one of the many over exposed stores that line every high street, but isn't it nice when you can buy an item that you know is exclusive.
http://handmadebagsuk.blogspot.com/

Thank you as well to Little Black Duck who wrote a lovely post- bag ladies unite, about both me and the new blog!

Cushion

I've added a cushion to the store that I made at the weekend. I took the pattern idea from a book called Sew Easy by Jane Cumberbatch. There are lots of fun projects in there including a large laundry bag which I fancy attempting and adding my laundry girls print on.

I've added lots of new goodies to my etsy site ! ! ! !

A week away does the world of good.

i had such a fantastic week on my holidays last week. I spent a few days in London, visiting galleries, eating cake, drinking coffee, attending life drawing classes, eating more cake, taking the eurostar to Paris, shopping and so much more. I'm yet to develop the pictures as I didn't have the digital with me and had to buy a single use camera, which felt a little like going back into the dark ages. Whilst everyone was snapping away, I had to click and wind on, but hey ho.
Whilst in London I visited the - China Design Now Exhibition, which was really interesting and well worth a visit. I also went into the most amazing fabric shop- The cloth House, on Berwick street. They actually have two stores, and it was the newest one which I was totally in awe at. It had such a beautiful collection of linens and vintage ribbons that I have ever seen, and the coolest sales assistant, who was dressed in a trendy 40's style.
Fortunately the day we traveled to Paris the weather was glorious, and it took a while to adjust to the sunlight. We took the batobus(river boat) along the seine and enjoyed fantastic views of the Eiffel tower, Notre Dame and all the other popular scenes from the water. We also spent hours walking the street of Monmartre whilst enjoying the best creme brulee icecream I have ever eaten.

Clutch bags

I've made a selection of clutch bag styles which I've just added to the website. I'm not sure yet when they will go on sale, as I will be away next week, YEY! Lucky old me! Fingers crossed if all goes to plan, I'll be spending a couple of days in the big smoke visiting lots of gallerys and many shops, and then a day in Paris. I can't wait, and I'm going to take my camera so I can take lots of pics which I will blog when I get back.

Jolaby

I've recently been asked by Jo at Jolaby to have a collection of my purses for sale at her new boutique Dare Boutique in Huddersfield. The shop will be opening on 2nd June, but if you can't get there visit the fantastic website www.jolaby.co.uk which has some fantastic bag designs.

Pleats Please

I found this dress in Zara and just had to buy it to wear out for the weekend! I love the pleated front, and I'm thinking of trying out something similar with a clutch design as I have bought some large clasp frames that look really funky. So much to do, so little time to do it in!

Well at the moment I seem to be spending all of my time making purses (I will upload some new images very soon!) so it was a welcome relief to escape the sewing and design this card for a request.

Tigerprint mention

Those lovely people over on the tigerprint blog have mentioned my website. How fantastic! They design a lot of the card collections for Marks and Spencers, and I'm always having a little look in store to see what they've been upto and so I was thrilled to get a mention.
As a fan I decided today to post an entry for the monthly card design competition that they promote, this months theme is fashion illustration.
You can view my entry and the blog entry @
http://tigerprint.typepad.com/tigerprint/2008/05/vicky-riley.html

Wedding invites now available to buy

Today the new site
www.vickyrileystationery.com website has gone live and are for sale at notonthehighstreet.

The new www.vickyriley.com site

I've been promising myself that I will have a new site up and running for so long now that I can't wait to get the final bits done and dusted. The majority of it is up now although there are lots of silly spelling mistakes and I need to add in some links to where you can buy the items from.

Purses

I've finally managed to finish the collection of new purses that i've been working on lately. I have drawers full of bits of fabric, buttons, lace and ribbons, so i've decided to put them to good use and make something a bit creative out of them. Let me know what you think.

Its been a while . . . . .

but I'm back!!!!! What a fab day its been today, the sun is shining and it finally feels like life is really good again. And i've also been working on lots of bits that I need to tell you all about, new websites, new goodies and new plans.

A bit of fun!

girl with a bun
Originally uploaded by vickiii

Instead of working on photoshop scanning in some new drawings, I thought I'd waste some time playing around with some of my old images (eek I never can stick to doing one thing! I always get sidetracked). I used the pencil crayon effect on a image and its given it quite a nice ghostly effect!
I've also noticed I've been tagged, and so must think of 7 random facts about myself. I think I'm going to get back to you all on that one and have a bit of a think about it!

Landbaby

rosette bag
Originally uploaded by vickiii

The lovely Clare at Landbaby has added some of my designs to her collection of beautiful goods for the opening of her third shop in Liverpool. I can't wait to go and visit, as by looking at what she has to sell I think I might have to buy lots and lots and lots of things!
You can see more info and pics about Landbaby at
http://www.myspace.com/clairebateslandbaby

daz 4 zoe

daz 4 zoe poster
Originally uploaded by vickiii

One of my friends Anne-Marie is directing this play for the Youth theatre at Nantwich Players this week. This is the poster that I designed for it, and is posted around the town at the moment. I really hope it all goes well for her and that its a massive success as she really deserves it.

Wedding Invitations

Tonight I have a customer evening at work, and seeing as we sell Bridesmaid dresses my manager has allowed me to display a range of my work. Fingers crossed it goes well! I thought I'd display a few of the designs on here as well, hopefully they will be going on the new website soon, which will be up by the end of the month.

Thank you . . .

I just found out that the Rachel Loves blog has written a little piece on my hedgehog pin badge. Thank you!

You can read it at
http://rachelloves.wordpress.com/2008/02/23/hedgehog-pin/

thursday afternoon doodle

thursday afternoon doodle
Originally uploaded by vickiii

I've decided to venture into doing some more card designs after the success of the Christmas card collection. I'm playing around with images which I'm putting on Flickr as I go along, and hopefully will have them in my shop for easter.

valentines day promotion

valentines day promotion pic 1
Originally uploaded by vickiii

Its not that long until valentines day, and wouldn't it be great for someone special to treat you to something very nice on this romantic day. And wouldn't it be very nice if it was one of my lovely bags. Hee hee . . .

A rather large bag

A rather large bag
Originally uploaded by vickiii

I have just listed this bag on etsy today. It is rather a large bag! but very roomy to put all of your goodies in.

Floral bag

Floral bag
Originally uploaded by vickiii

Yesterday I really struggled to sit at my sewing machine for more than 5 mins, but eventually I managed to finish a bag. I defiantly ate way too much over the Christmas and new year holidays, all I want to do is sleep!
I'm adding it to my etsy site later today, I think it would make a great bag to take on holiday, it very light weight, and can fit lots inside of it.

Spring into Spring

I really can't wait to get into spring time, and for it to start warming up a bit. I've put some more spring time bags onto my notonthehighstreet.com site, that will look fab with funky mac's.

A little rucksack

This is a picture of a child's rucksack that I worked on last year. I was really pleased with how it turned out.

A new venture into softies

Well I had a busy period over the Christmas holidays as I decided to handmake all of my presents. And I end up making a lot of cuddly soft animals for friends and family, and have now decided to start them as a new line for the new year.
Here is a peek at one of my first attempts. I'm going to add him to my etsy shop
www.vickyriley.etsy.com