Cupcakes for Clara

what if I've fallen out of love with blogging?

When I started my business it began as a blog. A teeny tiny little blog.

It wasn't much of anything really, just a few posts here and there about my work and my life. As my work and my life got busier so did my blog. My work became more interesting so my blog became more interesting and I started to find my groove. You could almost say that my business grew out of my blog - an organic process almost.

And I loved every second of it. 

Until one day I didn't. I totally and utterly fell out of love with my blog. My business took over and my blog just became another chore in the never ending list of things to get done by the end of the week. And that's not what blogging is about is it?

So I took a break. A pretty long break. And to be honest I wasn't sure if I would ever properly blog again. Except that a day came when I had an email from one of my most favourite inspirations - April Bowles. An incredible blogger with no end of energy and amazingness. It made me reassess. How on earth had I let myself fall out of love with one of my very favourite things? Something that was good for me and good for my business and gave me the sense of community that only writing a blog can. How could I do that? What kind of idiot was I?! 

So I got a cup of tea (obviously) and thought about it for a while. And a while more. And then I got scared. What if I've fallen so out of love with blogging that I can never do it again? And then I started writing. I started writing this. And as I'm writing this my brain is starting to hum, ideas are starting to pop into my head, blog posts are almost writing themselves somewhere in my mind palace, and I can feel it. I'm falling in love all over again. 

That's the beauty of blogging - a post about one thing can so easily become about another. It can transform and be organic and inspire and make you fall in love with something you thought had disappeared forever.

You just have to find your spark.

Your little bit of the world that excites you. It can be so teeny tiny that you might almost not even notice it exists - like the frantic tapping of your keyboard and your ideas grow. Or realising that the email asking you to participate in a blog hop has actually just sparked the ignition of falling back in love with your blog. And that is quite exciting. 

It's pretty lucky that April contacted me that day wouldn't you say? 

~

And thank-flipping-goodness she's sticking around with some more awesome inspiration. Not just for me, but for you too. April's new workshop is all about blogging and getting your voice heard and finding your spark. 

Learn how to write engaging headlines {you know, the kind that actually make you click}, take pretty pictures, develop a solid content strategy {bye bye writer's block}, monetize your blog {yes, actual money} and so much more in April Bowles Olin's workshop on creativeLIVE May 1st to May 3rd.

 

RSVP to watch it live for FREE. Because, free things are pretty awesome. (High-fives, wine samples at the grocery store, library books, birthday desserts at your fav restaurant, Pinterest. All pretty awesome.) On a tad more serious note, you've got to tune in for this course. It won't disappoint.

 

If you fancy having a look at some of the other blog hoppers then definitely take a little visit to Mayi Carles', Coral's, and Sage Grayson's blogs. And look out for Emily Thopson's blog tomorrow. Pretty inspirational stuff.

 

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well hello there, how are you?

Cripes o' riley it's been a long time since I've blogged. I have no excuse other than life. Although I guess life is a pretty good excuse. Things have been getting pretty busy around here and unfortunately blogging always ends up at the bottom of the to do list. 

I don't want it to be the bottom. I love blogging. And I miss it. So I'm going to try and schedule in some blog writing/posting time over the next few weeks. Posts might be a bit sporadic, but *hopefully* I'll manage to get a few in there.

Christmas has well and truly started here at Clara & Macy HQ and the shops have had a festive makeover. I've got lots of new products to show you, if you haven't seen them already. If you have don't panic because I'm going to do some behind the scenes, making of type posts.

And guess what... I have two workers now. Actual people working with me! It's amazing! I'll introduce you to them soon.

So that's me. Still here. Still sending out orders. Still designing for magazines and books. Still working at ridiculous times of the night. Still building the business with two little ones 'helping'. And most importantly still happy. 

the AW13 wholesale catalogue is here!

I am ridiculously excited to tell you that my very first proper and official wholesale catalogue is finished! There are 26 pages of Clara and Macy goodness - including some really rather fancy Christmas goodies. 

I'm so so so pleased to have finished it! 

It's only a digital version at the moment until I can get around to working on the printed versions - which judging by how long this has taken might be some time in 2022. Hmmm.

So grab a cuppa and have a browse. And if you are interested in stocking Clara & Macy products in your fine establishment (or know someone that might) please do get in touch for a pricelist.

You can email me at [email protected] or use the contact form above. Either way is good with me!

I really, really hope you like it. Please do let me know what you think (or if you spot any errors) - I'm ever so nervous about it.

But it's done and it's out there and I think that means maybe I can have a cup of tea now too. 

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the big bamboo stars pre-launch offer

Hello lovelies, I have got a whole bunch of blog catching up to do but I wanted to give you a heads up on the big offer I'm running this week. 

It's all about bamboo stars.

So I'm offering a 30% discount for anyone wanting to order their star (or stars) this week until 12th September. Yeay!

Every star variation is available using the offer - large, small, family sets, and cards. Each can be personalised and has a choice of four ribbons. You can find more information and images in my bamboo stars facebook album. 

All I need you to do is message me or email me ([email protected]) with your order details. Don't forget to let me know which colour ribbon you would like, and include a paypal email address so that I can send you an invoice.

Simple.

A lot of you have sent ordered through already and I am genuinely terrified about quite how popular they seem to be. Not On The High Street are featuring them in this year's Christmas catalogue and I am getting a little (a lot) nervous about how busy things are going to get. 

Fingers crossed though!

The shape of the stars on these cards is an old shape. It's wrong. The correct shape is the same as the small stars seen in the photos above.

I really need to photograph the new ones - hence the fabulous deal!

So, if you're interested in making an early Christmas star order with a 30% discount then get in touch. I'm ready to get stamping!

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About a month ago I had a phone call from Noths HQ to tell me some very exciting news...

My personalised doll kits were chosen as one of the three winners of their annual catalogue competition.

That means that not only will my doll kits feature in the 2013 Christmas catalogue and marketing campaign, I get all of that extra promotion for free! Usually commission is slightly increased for catalogue products but not for these kits! I am beyond excited - and completely terrified!

I am so in love with the doll kits. They have been a bit of a planning nightmare but I'm nearly there with them! 

Boxes and boxes of materials have been arriving, and I just have the instructions to write before they can go live on the site. So exciting!

The packaging will be completely personalised, and the kits come with four hair colour options and four dress fabric options. So you really can make a little doll version of yourself!

Noths asked me to send down three full kits with finished dolls for the photo shoot. It was a long full nighter to make that little lot in time!

I cannot wait to see what they do with them and how they are featured in the catalogue.

Then a couple of weeks later I had another phonecall from Noths HQ. They also want to feature my bamboo stars in the catalogue! Woo hoo!

I am so so thrilled!

And completely scared about just how busy Christmas might be!

The stars will be available in various formats - large, small, family sets, and cards. They will all be personalisable and come with a choice of ribbons.

I have taken a huge scary leap by ordering thousands of the bamboo stars in an attempt to be prepared.

I thought that I had completely overestimated the amount I would need but then Noths said "hmmm... we're not sure that will be enough".

What?????!!!!! 

I almost collapsed in a heap when I read that!

So, this is me. Two products in the Christmas catalogue, tons of stock arriving, and a huge panic surrounding my every thought! 

I am simply over the moon especially as I'm only just into my second year of the business as it is now. But keep your fingers crossed I can get at least a couple of hours sleep before January!!

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Huge apologies for my sporadic posting/emailing/replying/generally being here lately. School holidays have been well, let's say, interesting! 

A summer of no school is quite tough for working parents - especially those running their own businesses. You can't just stop working and time gets even more stretched than usual.

But we had some amazing fun, and I don't think *I hope* that the kids didn't feel the stress that I did.

There has been sports camp, gymnastics classes, grandparent visits, sleepovers, pyjama parties, birthdays, fruit picking, swimming, ice skating, lots of crafting, painting the dining room, tractor riding, watching movies, face painting, scavenger hunts, paddling pools, sprinklers, climbing, going to the cinema, visiting the zoo, visiting the children's museum, soft play, legoland, perfecting our llama faces, and lots and lots of cuddling. 

And now she's in year one. Ack! 

School holidays you have been very tough, and there have been a fair amount of tears (mine) but also lots and lots of fun.

We'll miss you but don't come back too quickly!

my baby is five... how did that happen?!

I honestly don't understand how this has happened. How is she five? 

Matilda, how are you five already? Aren't you one? I'm sure you are. You're still my baby girl. The one who isn't as old as my blog. 

Five. 

Five.

Five.

No matter how many times I say it, it still feels strange. How can we have a five year old? A great big beautiful smart charming hilarious five year old.

Oh and a three year old too. Gah!

It is so much fun being your mum Matilda. You are just an absolute delight to be around. And you are so funny. I think you get that from Daddy!

What a lovely birthday we had at Eureka. It was so much fun! And there was cake, presents, family and a pyjama party. What more does a five year old need?

Happy birthday little moustache monkey!

happy birthday little one

I just can't believe that my baby is three.

Three.

How did that happen? I'm sure he was just two, no wait - one. Wasn't he just one? It's going too quickly. Far too quickly.

But oh my goodness he is an absolute sweetheart! I am completely head over heels in love with him. 

And I'm so incredibly grateful for the strong and healthy three year old he has become after his start in this world was undoubtedly one of the scariest times in my life.

I never thought it would end so well. 

We've had a marvellous day today with presents and cake and a trip to Chester Zoo.

It was perfect.

And it was an absolute priviledge to spend such a lovely day with my three most favourite people in the entire world. 

Happy birthday little squishy xx

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I had wanted to make Theo a special little something for his birthday, and as he is quite particular about t-shirts I thought a number three shirt might be just the thing.

I used a plain white t-shirt and one of his old baby vests. 

I machined sewed the number onto the t-shirt in contrasting blue thread, and added some deep yellow felt stars. He really loves stars.

I added a roughly machine embroidered label into the inside collar of the shirt and attached a small piece of the baby vest to cover the back of the stitching so that it didn't feel itchy.

I'm so pleased with it!

And even better, Theo seemed pretty pleased too. In fact when he put it on this morning he hugged himself really tightly and declared "I love it!".

Ack! Could I have had a better reaction? 

He wore it all day and is now peacefully sleeping in it.

I would say it was a hit! 

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Week two of the school holidays and it's been an interesting one! 

It started with searching for spiders, frantically trying to finish samples for a photoshoot, working late into the night (and through the night) to finish said samples, doodling some new ideas, treating the little ones to a gorgeous new rucksack each, both little ones starting gymnastics classes with them both declaring it to be "the best thing in the world ever!".

The week finished with a visit to Granny and Grandad's house where we had the most marvellous weekend. Spending almost the entire weekend in the garden getting messy, doing scavenger hunts, painting each other, getting to know a new step-cousin, and teaching Grandad how technology works. 

It was perfect.