Gee How Quaint

"I've got the Oscar in a shoe bag at the moment"

 

Whilst reading the Saturday edition of The Times, I found a wonderful little quote from Slumdog Millionaire Director, Danny Boyle. 

'I've got the Oscar in a shoe bag at the moment...'

What a statement!  If you read his write up online, he outlines his next steps, which include going to St Mary's Catholic Social Club in Manchester where his dad is a member.  That is such a lovely picture.  So ordinary.  So normal.  Something that you may not imagine a man of his achievement to find important.  Forget about that gold encrusted Oscar.  Boyle has got a heart full of the stuff.

I also like it that the man uses shoe bags.  Ah ha!  I knew I was on to a good thing when I started making shoe bags for men.  Maybe I will send him one as a gift of Congratulations.  Anyone have his address?

Hello, Dollface

With Gocco supplies becoming more and more scarce, I have been buying in as much stock as my little business bank account will allow.  This has been a difficult, yet necessary decision to make as it has meant curtailing some much needed new designs and designs on bags.  That money has instead had to go to preparing my little business for the death of Gocco. Selah.

The Work Placement student is doing just fine.  She had a go-go on the Gocco and realised that it can be a game of luck.  One of her screens didn't flash properly. We did begin to print her new fabric and I tell you, Dollface, it is going to be smashing.  Super cute.  Very candy-coloured and fun.  But that's what we are all about here at GHQ HQ.  Producing fun, cute, quirky and a bit of madness.

Work has also begun with creating a website to feature my artwork.  My plan is to create art pieces that are more affordable (ie; without heavy, expensive frames).  Updates will follow regarding that progress.

Bespoke Bridal Bags is on the agenda for next week.

Over and out, little buddy.

My Work Placement Student is...

... a giant felt cupcake.  I did find our initial meeting rather odd.  Not knowing where to direct my attention.  Perhaps the blue sprinkle at the top?  Or to the blue ribbon.  Honestly, I don't know how she was able to carry her portfolio.  It was at least 10 x bigger than she.

Okay.  I'm quite finished being surreal.  Truthfully, I am very excited to announce the new addition to the Gee How Quaint team.  I believe that she is going to inject a something new, a something quirky, an extra flavouring of, oh, I don't know...cotton candy goodness.  The fact that she is rocking and rolling all over the etsy.com world with her own handmade trickery is indicative of the get-up-and-do-it attitude I really admire.

She officially starts on Monday.  We discussed the plan of attack, the attack plan, and it goes a little like this:  She will create fabric for a range of 3 items to slot into the Gee How Quaint website section entitled 'Hostess with the Mostest'.  She will then promote her items by writing a press release and sending it to my small roster of contacts and beyond.  I would also like her to contribute to other sections of the website, but will let her get on with this project first.

Welcome to the team, Emma!

Diggin' the cupcake and other such sundries?  Hop to Emma's etsy site candydollcouture.

The Naked truth

 

I'm not sure what's happening to me.  Is it old age? (eh-hem...I'm not THAT old).  Is it the anxiety of others swaying my decisions?  Is it Sarah Beany telling me about the baddies in many cosmetic products when she isn't telling me to re-check my house renovations plans?  And even though that little show was on over a year ago, why am I only now making an informative decision.

Whatever it is, I am suddenly very wary of what gets slathered on my person.  It's parabens that I'm specifically talking about.  This is only one type of baddy found in many cosmetics and creams.  So, last night I thought I would do a little hunt to see what I could find that was sans paraben.  Come to fine out, the Naked range (found at any good Boots store) is mad about parabens and other nasties.

Hope to NAKED to find out more. 

I've made the MakerFaire!

If you subscribe to Makezine then the title might make sense to you. 

Here's their blurb from the MakerFaire homepage:

From out of nowhere, MAKE has established itself as one of the hottest new brands in the magazine publishing industry - with close to 130,000 paid circulation; newsstand sell-through near twice the industry norm: over 3 million unique visitors to makezine.com per month; and a podcast that consistently ranks in the top 25 computer and tech podcasts.

Anyway, they are rockin up to Newcastle for a huge two day event of all things crafty and make-tastic.  Guess who put in their application and has received the 'We dig you, so you can join us' email?!

I have!

For more info on the MakerFaire in Newcastle, the art epicentre of Europe, go to Maker Faire Newcastle.

This was such a welcome to my very heavy week.  From finding out via email about the death of my grandmother (why can't my parents figure out how to call me in the UK?!?!) to recovering from an outpatient procedure, I really needed something uplifting to happen.  Thank you.  

How Root Beer saved my life.

 

Well.  It actually didn't.  Root Beer did not save my life in the life saving sense of the phrase.  On a more shallow level, however, it sure brought a whole lot of happy into this household.

I have recently discovered American Soda and to my delight and joy, Dave (one of the two brains behind this ingenius website) has concocted his own Root Beer recipe.  Hurrah.  Hurray!  O joyous day! - chortled she with glee.

This weekend I have been introducing my relatives to the delight of Root Beer.  My in-laws are not too impressed.  Someone said it tasted like mouthwash.  Don't worry.  That particular black sheep has been disowned. I have been generous, yet selfish in that I have made it appear that I have shared my many bottles.  Unbeknownst to them, there are 5 hiding out in the garage under the cover of clutter.