Cupcakes for Clara

Hmmm...

I'm not doing too well at this blog updating business this year. Everything just gets so busy at the moment that the days become weeks and before you know it all I can manage is my day job making puppets. We're working on a big film and it's taking up a lot of my creative energy. Some days I'm completely asleep before 9pm.

Please accept my apologies for those who are missing their daily dose of Clara and Macy. Believe me, Clara is NOT happy about it! So not happy in fact that she forced me to sit down and pay her some attention. And so she began to spin...

It's just sketching at the moment, but words will intertwine with the picture soon. And maybe a starting point for a new series of cards?

And just so we don't leave Macy out, here she is dressed up as the most Easterly point in Australia.

I made her for Tom for Christmas. The most Easterly point is where we got engaged, and it is a very special place in our hearts.

And look at this cute fabric...

If I can ever get the cogs of my brain to start working (maybe they need a little grease?), I'll be incorporating these lovely materials in some new products. I think Clara may bagsie the 'Sugar Attracts Ants' for her bedroom curtains or maybe a duvet cover.

Look who we found...

... hiding under Clara'a arm -

MOOSEY!

We're not sure where she came from, but we're guessing that Clara made her. Although Clara insists that Moosey is not a bit like her twin sister Macy, it could be argued that she is...

Moosey has even had her clothes patched up with the same fabric as Clara's own clothes, and now Clara doesn't seem to be without her - although not in front of Macy. Oh no, that would never do!

So it seems that maybe Clara does love Macy after all - she just doesn't want Macy to know that! And maybe she even loves me, because Clara has very kindly given Moosey to me to borrow for the weekend as a bit of good luck. This weekend I'm getting married! Oh my goodness, I am so giddy it is untrue. I have literally been jumping around the house for the past few days with excitement, and also (slightly shamefully) getting upset over cakes, and make up. It's amazing what emotions a wedding can bring out in a person.

And here's a little concern... on tuesday I went to buy a lipstick. I don't normally wear lipstick but thought I should get something to wear for the wedding. And so there I was very quietly and calmly browsing through the unknown territory of lipstick, doing fairly well until...

... a make up counter assistant came over and offered her advice. Well, to cut the story short, two days later I still have a hideous dark pink streak on my hand where she tested the 'perfect' lipstick. Oh it's brilliant, she said - will stay on for 12 hours. Just right for a wedding. Hmmph. I don't think so... it won't come off! I've tried everything! Ah well, at least she didn't test it on my lips!

So, I'm off... to get married here. And I'll be back in a week or so, no longer Miss Fairbrother but Mrs Clempson. Wish me luck! And have a little giggle at this by Molly Chicken.

Au revoir mes amis x x

Holidays are coming and so is a competition

Christmas is upon us folks and, I've finally managed to add my holiday range to my lovely shop. If you would like anything to arrive before Christmas please make sure you order before November 25th.

So before I show you what christmassy goodness I have made, let me tell you a little something... Clara has been up to a bit of her usual bossiness and has persuaded me to hold a competition. So, if you would like the chance of winning one of these...

... then please leave a comment on this post. Any comment will do, I won't be commentist. The competition will be open until November 17th, so get your entries in soon if you'd like your very own big fattie pudding for Christmas.

So, the shop, well there are quite a few things although not as many as I'd hoped. We have...

A few new cupcake keyrings

A cute little robin flattie for your tree, or chair!

Holiday bunting

A teeny pudding flattie for your teeny tree

and big fattie puddings for you big tree

And my favourite of all... Clara and Macy Holiday cards.

Clara is up to her old tricks and has wrapped up a special gift just for you...

Yep... you guessed it, she wrapped up Macy!
Cards are available on their own or as a set of two with a 'wrapped Macy' gift tag.

Clara has just sent out will very soon be sending out November newsletters, if her computer would work properly, so if you're a newbie here and you'd like to receive one... hello, thank you and send me an cupcakesforclara@yahoo.co.uk.

Good luck to all in the competition and a great big

THANK YOU LOTS

to everyone who has voted for the Clara and Macy snowman in the Softie Awards.

And just a quick note to my Dad, who may be reading, we love you and hope you get well as soon as possible, (he's in hospital with a very nasty gallbladder infection and stuck gallstones).

Have a lovely weekend everyone x

Tomorrow...

Be sure to check it out! And if you don't already receive lovely little newsletters like this one, just let me know and start to fill your inbox with cuteness.

Aside from working on fun new products, I've been experimenting with an adventurous entry for the Holiday Softie Awards. What will it be I wonder?

And I've been thinking about cuteness, and how much I absolutely adore one particular song that Tom put on a new compilation he made for me. It really makes my heart melt. It's called I Like Giants by Kimya Dawson who you may know from the Mouldy Peaches. You can hear a bit of it here, I think.

It's the bers!

Hello, this is Macy here. Erm, I just wanted to say... Happy September. And also hello because Clara doesn't...

Oh Macy, move over... Okay, now it is Clara. Everything is fine again. Macy doesn't really know what she is talking about and she is a little bit very boring. And also look...

... she is dressed like a pig. And you can never trust what a pig tells you. Never ever.

But... Happy September! It is officially the BERS! Yeay yeay yeay! Now we can officially, without being naughty or told off, look forward to winter and best of all, Christmas!

Happy September, Happy September, Happy September oh ye-ay oh ye-ay! It's the bers, its the bers, its the bers... woo hoo! September, October, November, December!

And also, being a pirate is fun...

Bye for now, love from Clara, and also from Macy who is sticking her snout at my belly button trying to say Oink!

Sketching

Happy bank holiday weekend!

Wear what you make

You know how people always say that you should wear what you make, so that you're like a walking advert in case anyone says...

'Hey there, that's awesome, wherever did you get it?'

... and then you can reply...

'Ah, well actually I made it. Oh yes, indeed I did, la di da!'

Um hum, that's how it works! So I was thinking that although I made the very wearable flattie Mr Kitten, you can't really wear fatties. And if I wanted to be a walking advert without yelling 'Hey look at my toys gosh darn it!' I really ought to make something quite wearable.

A Clara bag! With a pocket just for business cards, and maybe my phone, and maybe also my keys, small things do tend to get lost in the bottom of my bags. And you know what they also say... it's all in the details.

The bag is made from lovely brown tweed fabric. With straps from a shirt: I cut off the buttoned strips from the front of a shirt, so one strap has the buttons and the other has the buttonholes. The inside of the pocket is lined with cute pink stripey cotton, and little Clara is embroidered on the front. Plus it has a cupcake tag, oh and the green badge is supporting the Woodland Trust.

And the thing is, once you have your very own Clara and Macy, they want to come everywhere with you...

As soon as I purchase some bubble jet set, I'm going to make tote bags for selling. I think I'll make ones similar to this one, with a Clara pocket, except saying 'I'm grumpy but I don't know why!'

A chair full of work

I've been a busy little bee creating a whole chair full of work! Yesterday I was feeling quite under the weather and curled up in bed with a needle, scissors and some fabric. Not the cosiest of poorly things but boy I got a lot of work done!

1. Pirate bunting

I love bunting! And even more I love pirate bunting. This is designed especially for a little friend of mine who is turning one soon, and he just loves pirates.

I just love the old fashioned-ness of it. And not only bunting, I fully intend to bring back the hankie, the petticoat, and I can't think of another right now but there are lots!

And just in case you thought she'd managed to escape...

... it's Clara pirate bunting! As if I could leave her out! Although I am wondering about Macy - she really needs her own range of products. Hmmm... maybe book covers, bookmarks and 'Clara is mean to me' badges!

Pirate bunting is for sale. 3.5m, 15 flags, 5 fabrics: £15 / $30

2. Rupert

Flattie number three. But not just any ordinary flattie, oh no, Rupert is also a decoration. He comes with a detachable ribbon so that you can use him for hugging or hanging. Perfect for chrsitmas trees!

3. Save the date cards

I printed the basic cards, with accommodation inserts, and because I couldn't bear blank envelopes for the hand delivered cards, I made 'Hand delivered' stamps. Which I loved so much I made Clara ones too! So now I just need to add the ribbons and buttons, and pop them in the post.

4. Robin's in the shop

This little fattie hopped into the shop today. Wool felt with a hand knitted red breast. £31 / $62

Well that's all folks! I'm off to hunt down some lovely fabric to make dragon bunting!

Can Clara and Macy save Harry?

Well todays the day, or rather tonights the day, or technically tomorrows the day but its starting tonight! And the day is... Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows in case you weren't sure!

I'm so excited, and so are Clara and Macy. They are proudly wearing Save Harry and Dumbledore's Army badges whilst they stay up until midnight.

Actually I'm not sure that Clara is all that excited, I don't think she likes anything that takes the attention away from herself. But Macy sure is giddy!

If you want to win these limited edition badges so beautifully modelled by the Watkins twins, leave a comment and they could be yours.

We have two sets of three badges... Dumbledore's Army (Tesco made), Save Harry and The End? 21.07.07 (Waterstones made).
Prize drawn on Monday.

And some fun links to keep you entertained until then...
7 signs you're infected with Harry Potter fever
The official JK Rowling site - it's fun
The Leaky Cauldron - just for fun
And finally... Sorting Hat quiz - which house are you? I turned out to be a Hufflepuff.

See all you crazy HP fans at midnight! Hope you all have a Happy Harry Weekend!

flatties

Thank you very much for all the lovely birthday messages. I had such a good day - quiet and laid back. And Harry Potter 5 was great, I loved it, although not quite as much a film 4. This one is very much like the book, and speaking of books... only 5 days to go! Woo hoo! I'm excited beyond all sensibility, especially beyond the point that is acceptable for a few hundred sheets of paper. But it's the final one. Final. I'll be in the Waterstones queue at 11.30pm on Friday to collect my pre-ordered copy, and hopefully will make it in time to sit and read the first chapter at midnight in the coffee shop that they are opening especially!

So, onto the actual reason for posting...

Flatties!

... they've arrived. And here they are...

Little flattie bluebird, perfect for taking out with you. He can come anywhere, just slip him in your pocket.

What a lovely friend he makes. And he has a pal...

Mr Kitten.

And what a lovely one he is too. With a suprise...

He really can go everywhere with you! On your arm, or leg if you prefer, I do feel a new fashion hitting the streets! But that's not all, he has even more up his sleeve. So much so that I have it all in a mosaic to show you...

Not just a softie, but a keeper as well. This one is designed to keep something very wonderful but I'll have to show you that next time.

Oh and thank you a huge big amount to feeling stitchy who included me in a post a while ago but I've only just come across, in which she called me a "sewing god". I think that's the nicest thing I've ever been called!