In the last month...

 I just wanted to share some moments from the last month or so. Both business and pleasure.

So, in the last month I have...

Made my first wholesale order to a beautiful shop in Frome called SEED which sells an eclectic array of items, handmade by British designers. I’m currently working on a much larger wholesale order for a chain of independent bookshops in Australia which is both daunting and exciting (and bloody hard work!)

Got published in some magazines! I’ve always wanted an excuse to buy Your Cat magazine and I finally had one!

Made this. If you haven’t read The Great Gatsby I highly recommend it. I loved Fitzgerald’s writing style – ornately crafted sentences without being overly complex.  Also Baz Luhrmann’s film version is out in May and it’s got Leo in. Need I say more?

 Eaten a lot of these

But also tried to be healthy by eating this

 And this

 Apart from the pink fairy cakes which look like they were made by a seven year old.

But I made them...

 There’s nothing like eating cake mix out of the bowl to transport you back to your childhood.

Made a new friend...

 This little guy keeps appearing in my garden and I thought it was rude not to go out and introduce myself. But ever since then he’s literally been pawing at my door trying to get in.

Look at him, toying with my emotions.

He seems healthy and fed but I’m going to keep an eye on him as he’s a bit lonely.

Wore my Penguin brooch and which caused a major colour clash situation but I don’t care.

Next month I will be visiting Shakespeare’s birthplace, doing some more baking and probably adopting the cat.

Overwhelmed

What a week! When starting Literary Emporium I never thought I would be completely rushed off my feet with orders but this week has been mental!

I’ve hit a major order milestone on my Not on The Street shop and I’m so very grateful to all my customers for giving me such a positive start to my craft business.

Not on the High Street warned all sellers of a large increase in orders in the run up to Christmas. They weren’t lying! This is orders from last weekend. The Post Office loved me on Monday!

 

I’m still working full time at the moment so my evenings have mainly consisted making, packaging, and everything else that comes with running a business. It’s no exaggeration when I say I haven’t had a free minute spare during the day.

Luckily I was able to put the man to work and he’s been amazing with helping me with everything from setting up a stamping production line....

....to making me lovely food.

 

I've only got four days left of employment and then I’m on my own! So despite having no time to sit down at the moment, I’m so pleased that it’s going as well as it is. So thank you to all those literature geeks out there who have bought items from my shop – I’m very grateful :)

Catch up

This week has mostly been spent catching up on orders from NotontheHighStreet.com and making a mess in the lounge while I try and package items without having any space to do so (see previous post!!)

 

I’m really pleased with my sales from NotontheHighStreet.com so far and I hope it continues in the run up to Christmas. I quite worried about a decrease in sales in January as this will be the point when I will no longer have a job (or any money!). I’ve only got four weeks left in my current job so I’m squirreling away any extra money in anticipation of being destitute in January. I’ll get the move and Christmas out of the way and then look for a part-time job to supplement my Literary Emporium income.

On the subject of the big move, me and the boyfriend went the Frome to view some houses and we think we’ve found somewhere. Finding somewhere to rent has been a lot harder than we first thought as for every house available there are around three other people interested in renting it! So fingers crossed for the house that we want!

When we were in Frome we came across the Garden Cafe, a lovely little place which seemed to be very popular with the locals.

 Picture Source

As a vegetarian I often find that the veggie options on the menu are quote uninspiring but the all the food in the Garden Cafe is free of meat (and in some cases vegan) and their menu is great!

We both had the all-day veggie breakfast which was incredible. I ate every lat bite. I can definitely see breakfast at the Garden Cafe becoming a regular occurrence when I’m a resident of Frome.

 

I didn’t have a chance to wander around and take photos as we were busy viewing houses. I did snap this pretty little side street which was hidden away. I’d like to live down there please.

 

Other things that have made me happy this week...

 

Little early birthday present and a lovely letter from a very good friend that I don’t see as often as I like. Nothing beats getting a handwritten letter through the post.

 

Vintage penguin book about cats. Penguin books and cats are two of my favourite things so this was an amazing find (on eBay). I was originally going to sell in Literary Emporium but I think it will work its way into my bookcase instead.

 

Designing new things – this necklace features a little ships wheel charm and I love the quote by Louisa May Alcott. This will be available to buy from my shops later this week. Hope you like it.

Office space (or lack of)

As you may know, I’m moving to Somerset in December, and one of my specifications for my new house is to have some sort of space to work, make jewellery and pack orders in. At the moment we live in a 2 bedroom flat, and although it is quite big, I have no room for any of my Literary Emporium stuff. Every inch of the living room is crammed with boxes, supplies and books!

 

This is my dresser current storage space for all my business stuff! It may not look very businessy but it has been a life saver when trying to find home for all my stuff (and it was a bargain eBay find. But now I have outgrown it and the drawers are overflowing!

 

These Cath Kidston tins are probably meant for the kitchen but they are used for all my jewellery making supplies.

 

This lovely Alice in Wonderland tin was a charity shop find by my Mum and is used for all random bits and bobs like glue and ink.

 I don’t have a desk and every evening I take over the dining table to make and pack orders. It’s not very time efficient and it makes a mess!

 

So I am aiming to create an office / work space area in my new house. I’ve got a bit carried away on Pinterest looking for inspiration!

 

 

 

Source for all

One can only dream....

If any of you have a nice desk area / work space, or any ideas of how to design a cheap office do let me know!

New challenge

This week has been very busy in my Etsy shop and many evenings have been spent with my table resembling a little production line.

 

 

As someone who works full time as well as running an online shop, I’m finding that time is a luxury I don’t have. But all this is set to change....

In two months time I will be embarking on a completely new journey and leaving behind Dorset to move to Somerset. My partner has been offered a new job which means we will have to relocate. I’m seizing this opportunity to do something I have always wanted to do – concentrate on running my own business. I’m quitting my job in charity fundraising (a job that I love and will be sad to leave) to head into the unknown. So I’m faced with the daunting and exciting prospect of making Literary Emporium a success.

We hope to live here...



Frome

 A little town in Somerset called Frome. Frome is famous for its thriving arts and crafts scene so it’s the perfect place for me to live if I’m starting a craft business. It’s got loads of independent shops and cafes along with being very pretty with lots of countryside. You know when you visit a place and you can feel some sort of positive atmosphere about it, well I had that feeling.

 

So my current ‘to do’ list is:
 

1.     Look for houses in Frome

2.     Make Literary Emporium a success

I’ll let you know how it goes!

 

P.S If you haven’t already entered my giveaway to win an Oscar Wilde pocket mirror click here