To Website or Not To Website... That is the Question!

I've been having a debate with myself recently as to whether or not I actually need a website.  I do have one mwldesigns.co.uk but there haven't been any sales via the online shop for quite a few months.  Most of my sales come from friends, work colleagues, Facebook/Twitter recommendations and at events so not sure if the website just causes me extra work??  

What I do need is a place to showcase my recent designs and launch ones so I'm thinking that my blog would be the best place to do this... and it's free!!

What do you think??  

A Parisian Dream - Day 1

Last weekend we went to Paris for a few days to celebrate our 4 year Wedding Anniversary.  I have wanted to go for years but never got round to booking it so this year I decided we were going!

I had a vision in my head of what it would be like and I was not disappointed!  Our flight landed mid morning which gave us a couple of hours to collect our Paris Passes (an absolute must!) and then find the hotel.  Now I don't speak a word of french and hubby wasn't much better.  I just expected most people to speak English and for everything to have an English translation... very ignorant of me I know!!  We managed to make it onto a metro tram and got off at a stop miles away from the hotel but a short walk and we finally arrived. 

We checked in and made our way to our room which was on the top floor and had this amazing view...wow!!  I was over the moon.... couldn't have asked for anything more.

 

We'd been put in a Privilege room which meant we had a great view, a fridge stocked with free cold drink and robe and slippers.  The room was great considering what we paid.  Now I'm not sure whether we got a upgrade as I'd previously emailed the hotel and mentioned  it was our anniversary.  They never mentioned it so we'll never know!

We unpacked and ventured out in Paris.  We were staying just around the corner from the Moulin Rouge which was sex shop city..... not a bad place during the day but wasn't sure about being out around there at night!  Hubby was checking out the ticket prices and needless to say we didn't go!

We were also next door to Montmartre Cemetery a very weird but strangely fascinating place! 

We then went up to the Sacré-Coeur, which was packed with people as the weather was gorgeous.  We didn't go in as the queues were huge so we sat on the steps and admired the view.  After about half an hour a guy appeared and started doing tricks with a football....I kid you not he was balancing on a lamppost kicking a ball and he never dropped it..... wow!!  Amazing view from up here too!

In the evening we found a great little Italian Restaurant then bought wine and went back to our room to make the most of the view.... hubby spent a while trying to perfect his Paris By Night photo!

A Transformation has occurred!!

You've heard of a caterpillar changing into a butterfly haven't you??  Well that's exactly what's happened with my business over the last month. 

I have been trading under the name Made With Love Designs for quite a while but got to thinking that it was time for a change so I closed my online cardshop and I've had myself lovely new logo designed by Dylan at Aqua Design Group and ordered some new business cards and yesterday I revealed my new brand and website to the world ...... I am now My Wonderful Little Designs!!

I have to say the fabulous feedback has been forthcoming and I know that this change is the start of great things.... the future is very bright from where I'm sitting.  My business has grown from strength to strength since I won my #SBS award from Theo Paphitis back in March this year but I know there's still great things on the horizon and I'm going for it!!

Orders are mounting up and events are booked from now until December..... I will succeed!!

Check out my brand spanking new logo and website here.

Do your bit for our Armed Forces

I blogged about this last year but thought I'd write about it again as I'm about to send another batch of cards.

I'm a sucker for a good cause and a couple of years ago I heard about Operation Blue Witch Squadron via the power of Twitter.

Operation Blue Witch Squadron or OBWS was set up by Cazz Wright and it's a scheme which involves sending handmade cards to Army Personnel serving overseas so that they can send lovely cards back home to their family & friends. 

If you want to do your bit for OBWS then all you have to do is make a handmade card or cards, pop them in a cellophane bag with an envelope and send to Cazz at the following address :

Operation Blue Witch Squadron

Flat14a Cambridge Street

St. Neots

Cambs

PE19 1JL

Cards are accepted from anyone and everyone and if they are not hand-made but shop-bought that's fine.   

For further information you can email Cazzwright@gmail.com

or checkout the website

Grab a bargain!! Website closing down until further notice

Today, for reasons I am unable to disclose, my website will close down and as a little parting gesture everything is discounted by 20%.

As I'm a charitable soul I will also donate 25% from every sale today to the Oldham Distress Fund.  The blast in Buckley Street killed two-year-old Jamie Heaton and residents at up to 100 properties in the area were also evacuated to a Rest Centre at Crompton House school.  I work in Oldham in the dayjob, not far from Shaw, and know of quite a few people who have been effected by this terrible explosion. 

 

I would love to sell most of my remaining stock today and raise some money for a very worthy cause and I promise that when my website is re-launched in the near future there will be lots of fabulous new designs available.


Go to my website now and grab a bargain - all cards are 100% handmade and unique!! http://www.mwldesigns.co.uk/

It's almost Summer Festival time.... and it's raining!

The weather forecast for this weekend isn't looking too good so why not bring the family to Uppermill in the lovely Saddleworth hills on Sunday and visit the Saddleworth Creative Network Summer Craft Festival.

It's free entry from 10am and I promise you this is THE event of the Summer!  Not only will there be 40+ stalls selling gorgeous handmade gifts etc but the bar & tearoom will be open, there'll be a hog roast, chocolate fountain, kids workshops and craft demos, facepainting and much, much more.

Please stop by my stall and say hello and I look forward to meeting you!

DON'T MISS THIS EVENT!!

June's events get off to a great start!!

This month I have a packed calendar of selling cards at various craft events in the local area.  

Last Sunday 3rd June I had a stall at the Saddleworth Vintage and Handmade Fair which was an altogether splendid event.  Lots of fabulous vintage and handmade stalls and even better lots of customers.  I managed to break my sales record and my cards sold well.  I almost sold out of Father's Day cards, most of my new vintage designs went and my sale box was depleted!  The event was organised by Saddleworth Vintage which is made up of Samantha Mills of SJM Designs, Jude Gidney of Jude Gidney Photograph, Lisa Gee of Pamper & Pose and Russell Wood.  Together they created an outstanding event which will hopefully become a regular occurrence.

Photo courtesy of Hazel from Hazelnut Bakery

Photo courtesy of Jude Gidney Photography

 

 

 

 

Next weekend I will be selling cards at Saddleworth Show.  

This year it's a 2 day event and has temporarily relocated to Saddleworth School.  The event is open 12noon - 5pm Saturday and then 10am - 5pm Sunday.  I've had a stall at this event for the last 4 years and weather permitting there's always a fabulous turnout.  There is so much going on for all the family including BMX displays, duck herding by sheepdogs, a duck race, live music and of course lots of stalls and trade stands.

On the 24th June I will be back at Uppermill Civic Hall with a stall at the Saddleworth Creative Network's Summer Craft Festival.  This is a must for any local who loves handmade.  So many stalls selling fantastic handmade products and also some tasty treats too!

The network is run by Maria Hourigan and Claire Hilton who's aim is to provide a local event which is run for crafters by crafters.  Both of these ladies run their own businesses and still manage to find the time to organise a fantastic event.  Make sure you put this one in your diaries now - it really is worth a visit!!

 

Made With Love Designs Goes Vintage

It's been a while since my last post but now seems like a good time to start up the old blog again!!

Made With Love Designs has evolved over the last couple of months and back in March I won a very prestigious small business award from non other than Theo Paphitis of Dragon's Den fame.  I will write a seperate post about this but since then the business has really taken off.


On Sunday 3rd June I am taking my cards to a fabulous fair in Uppermill, Saddleworth. The Saddleworth Vintage & Handmade Fair at the Civic Hall 10am - 4pm.  The fair is part of a 4 day local festival celebrating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, and this event is to promote the best of local British makers.  There will be around 33 stalls and aims to create a celebration atmosphere where members of the public can experience a vintage tearooms and a shopping delight within the beautiful village of Uppermill.

I have only recently started creating vintage and shabby chic inspired cards and even though they take longer to make they are selling well and hoping to sell even more on Sunday. 

If you're local and love handmade and vintage then this is the event for you.  Pop by and make sure you say hi!!