Sunday 28 September 2008

Lynn and Tracy went on a jolly

Today Lynn and Tracy went off to Trimcraft to see some of the new goodies that will be coming out soon - but we are sworn to secrecy.

We spent a wonderful day in the company of Michelle Saxon of QVC and we have talked her into coming down to do a demonstration soon.

So watch this space!!

We also got to play with the new acrylic covers to go with the bind it all and the new leather clasps/ closures that make your books look fab.

Tracy introduced Lynn to a whole new world of Trimcraft, Lynn never new existed - the haberdashery side of the warehouse, so look out for some fancy new lace trimmings and things coming soon Lynn spent way toOO!! much. LOL ( Ha Ha Tracys' wicked laughter).

So what have we planned tomorrow. We are going to see Jenny and then to check on the men folk at the new shop to make sure all the work is on schedule. I cannot believe how much has been done but just how much is left to do. You are going to love it.

we have got lots planned to keep you all busy, but Lynn is not letting me tell you, and it is killing me!!

Ohh and Tuesday we are talking to Mr Graham 'handsome' Hansford of funstamps fame and an all round Mr Nice Guy to come and Demo too.

Monday 22 September 2008

Good Morning

What a lovely morning we are having too.


Things are moving swiftly on with the expansion into the new shop I hear, and as soon as Lynn gets the photos to me I will post them all here for you to see.


Are you Getting excited yet, I know I am.


We are going to have some fab, special events coming up. Planning them all is going to be such fun.


We hope you all enjoyed the beautiful weather and it was lovely to see people come upto the shop on one of our very limited sunny days.


On a more personal note Look what Tracy Nabbed at a boot sale, she is going to paint it up with the Jo Sonjas' acrylic paints and Crackle decor and add a Serviette or two. In these tight times, recycling the old to make new is Good fun. Its going to make a fab Christmas pressie for someone.

Friday 19 September 2008

Good morning- to you all

Just to give you something pretty to see, the picture is of a card I made using the Jo Sonjas' paints and mediums. All products are available in the shop.

Well What a busy time we are having here at flutterby.


Not one, not two, not even three but four Distributor reps came into the shop today, and of course Lynn had to order with all four as all the delicious goodies are irresistible.


So what happening in our world.


So much at the moment - the work on the new shop is coming along nicely we have a nice new floor all done on the inside. The outside paving area is done to spec and we even have a nice little rockery put in.


Lynn will be taking photos so we can see the progress being made for before and after shots.


Nicky is off On her Hols soon - Who said she could go and why is she not taking all of us thats'
what we want to know. LOL!!! Don't panic she does not go till the last week of September beginning of October so still a couple of workshops to do before she can swan off and relax.


How is lynn going to cope, Ha Ha, she has kindly asked me to come up and give you all headache for the week, so if you have got any questions pop in, it would be lovely to see some of you. I am not saying I will get much work done but will try.


We will all be getting together over that week to discuss exciting things and special evening events and the Sunday specials. Oh err was I supposed to mention that yet. OOOPPPSS to late.


Monday 15 September 2008

Been a Bit hectic Here!!

Well with one thing and another, things have been a bit hectic for everyone at flutterby for the last week or so.

So the blog has been neglected.

We will be sure to update you with whats been going on Soon.

Lynn has got visitors, Helen (Daughter) and Jet (Grandaughter) have come a visiting so I am sure we will all here how little Jet has grown since the last time we saw her.

Tracy has been snowed under with demo work and making samples and so has Ruth and Nicky.

Chat soon

Monday 8 September 2008

Another week has flown by!

Well gosh its monday morning here already. Lynn is having a well earned break this week, bet she won't stay away all week LOL!

On Sunday Nicky and Lynn went of to Woodware for a retailer training day, where they were using the NEw Francoise Read stamps and being taught by the lady herself. So watch out to see what they got upto whilst there.

Me myself I was at Wrexham Artstamp show, which turned out to be quite an adventure thanks to the atrocious weather this weekend, We all hope you are all dry, safe and well!

Lynns Newsletter went out and for those that are not on our e-mailing list, the newsletter is printed below

So its goodbye from me for now and over to Lynn:-

Hi Everybody

Did you all survive the school summer holidays? What grotty weather! We had a great time, though. Well....in reality Ruth, Catherine and the Children had a great time - I just showed everybody where they needed to be and supplied the crafty bits!!


So, the Kids are back at school and life (as we know it!) settles down to normal (Nicky is back working mornings, hurray!). The dark nights are coming (bleak by 8pm!), so time for loads of crafting and I am, hopefully, going to kick start it for you with this newsletter.

Let us begin by making a nice cup of whatever you like to drink and settling down for a long read. This letter is FULL of news, so it is going to be VERY long. Sorry, but I think you will like it.

Where do I start? Let's begin with the workshops.

If you look at our website, you will find that all the workshops have been updated with all this terms information (we are introducing a few new classes). If you look at our website you will also find that there have been other changes going on.
Apart from the workshop updates there has been a blog started, we have a poll, details have been put on about the girls and some new gallery items have been added.

How is all this for 'wonders will never cease, Flutterby's getting the internet sorted!'? And at what point in the early hours of the morning did I get all this work done? Well, I better let you into the secret so that you will all realise that I am not quite the heroine you all thought.
I did not do it (no surprise there, then!).

We have a new member of the team! And she is going to be in charge of co-ordinating the workshops, setting up a programme of demonstrations and dragging us into the 21st century with the internet.

Who is this paragon of virtue? It is someone that we all know and love, Tracy Watkiss.

Tracy will be working for us from a distance (for a while, 'til we manage to force her to move up here!) and coming up monthly to work in the shop (mind you, having read what she says about us, she might get the sack before has the chance to make her first visit!).
Then we thought, if we are going to have Tracy working with us and she is going to be setting up a demonstration programme, we had better set up somewhere where the demonstrators can....well.....demonstrate. We looked at moving the papers around in the paper shop, but could not fit it all in. What are we going to do?
No point in Tracy doing all that work organising things if we have no where to enjoy it. So we thought we had better move the papercrafting shop into a bigger space!

So we are moving!!!

But, before you start hyperventillating, don't worry - we are not moving too far. Only as far as the next building, into the shop that used to be the motorcross shop.

Think of all that extra space. Think about a permenant seated area where demonstrations can be set up at any time. Think about being able to sit comfortably and look through the peel-offs & decoupage sheets at your leisure. Think about somewhere that hubby can comfortably sit and wait out his time, while you have a quiet wonder around. Think about full wheelchair access into the shop. Think about no more stairs into the shop. How do all think these things sound?
I know that some of you had already heard about the move - but now you all know about it.
The work starts on the unit during the next week (after 15+ years of motorbikes, there is a lot of work to be done!) and we are hoping to have the big opening sometime in the middle of October. So watch out for more details as the time goes on.

Oh, and we will be increasing our opening times by opening on Sundays.

How is all that for exciting news?!?

And what is happening to the other shops? Well, the bead shop will stay as it is and the old papershop will become a gift shop where we will sell the bits & pieces that we make when demonstrating and showing off - of course you can also use our masterpieces to get inspiration.
Well, with all that going on - what else have I go to tell you?

Ah, I suppose I had better give you all the info about the NEC coach trip - you are all badgering me for the details! It takes place on the 16th November. The cost is £24.50 for adults, £23.50 for consessions and £16 for the under 16's (this includes the entrance ticket). We will be leaving Flutterby's at 8.30 am and will be leaving the NEC at 4pm. I have put an application form on the website on the events page and forms are available in the shop.

Remember that your ticket also lets you into the Crafts for Christmas show. If anybody would like to use the coach trip to visit one of the other shows being held that day, please can you let me know. We are happy for anybody to purchase a seat on the coach, but I cannot guarantee that we can get the advance tickets - you may have to organise your own ticket. Talk to me and I will see what I can do.

Now, what else? We are starting a Drop-in-Jewellery class for a Thursday lunchtime. Details are on the website. We are arranging some Saturday Christmas Gift & Greetings workshops - more details coming soon (if I can drag Tracy away from playing with blogs & stuff!!).
So, how was all that? Exciting times or what? Probably you have all finished your drink now and you are itching to get up and stretch your legs. I won't keep you much longer.
I just needed to get in a quick word about my favourite subject. It would not be my newsletter if I did not mention her. Darling little Jet is a chip off of the old block. She loves finger painting!! A crafter at 14 months!! Wow! I have some lovely masterpieces. What a great Mum she has, who lets her just go for all that mess and have wonderful fun. Marvellous!
Right go and have that leg stretch, make a fresh drink, take a look at the website, then get on with that crafting.
Have a great weekend.
Regards, Lynn & the Girls (including Tracy!)

Friday 5 September 2008

Workshops abound.

We had a workshop last night and the lovely Nicky was Hosting to teach you all the delights of Pyramage!

I hope you all had a fab night ladies.

Nicky gave lynn the night off and I know she was very thankful, to get home and have a proper evening meal!

I would just like to add Why? Do reps think that 5pm is a good time to call on a shop after they have been open all day and are about to close. ITS NOT!!! We are tired and appreciate you to visit earlier even a phonecall before arrival helps us help you. LOL!!! Rant Over!

Back to the main reason for the post today.

Workshops we have several on going every week ones and then we do special one off all day events. Both are very well organised and sure to be a hoot.

So why not check out the Workshop pages on our shop website Here once there just click on the relevant link.

I will be posting about our specials soon!!!

Well I will be away now until Sunday!! Wrexham Art Stamp show.!

I'll be back with all the gossip then.

Happy crafting

Tracyx

Wednesday 3 September 2008

Thought you Might like to have a look Around!!




Well things are on the up and up and we have been adding things to the website today:- Want to visit Just Click on the picture of the shop to the right >>>>>>>>>>

Busy Day today as preparations for the workshop this evening are in full swing which also means another late night for Lynn.

I digress, thought for anybody that has not paid a visit yet, we would tempt you in with a couple of Piccies of the inside of both shops.


Wow they look so tidy!!!! We normally have something creative in mid prep spread out on the
Counters LOL!!!

Tuesday 2 September 2008

Wow!!!!!

Well Good Morning and Welcome to this Our Very own Blog spot. We have been pulled kicking and screaming in to the 21st century. LOL!!!

So who are We?
Its all in the blurb to the Right; but to give you a little more detail:-

Flutterby Crafts - Newbury - West Berkshire
Is a delightful Little Craft shop and bead shop, we may be little but we have BIG plans, more of that later.

We stock a wide Range of papercrafting goods, Ideal for the cardmakers and scrapbookers out there. Our Beading shop is very popular for all those Jewellery makers and is ideal for embellishing your craft projects in a variety of different ways.

More recently we have started to stock Jo Sonjas' Artist Acrylics for those of you who like to express yourselves with paint.

We Offer Workshops and events in all the above and we will try to keep you posted here as well as on our website and online shop.

So thats the Shop! But Who Are WE!!!

Lynn :- The Gaffer, The head honcho, She who must be obeyed (by Grant, her other half). The Hirer and The Firer!!! (Lynn we love you we do!)

Nicky :- Card Maker Extraordinaire, You'll find her in the shop and taking the cardmaking and papercraft workshops.

Ruth :- \Patience of a Saint, and excellent Beader/ jewellery maker, and great with the little crafters (Ruth runs the childrens workshops, Yes we do Childrens workshops and Parties. How Cool are We!).

Katherine :- Ruths Daughter, and an avid cardmaker/scrapbooker, and about to become Our Wedding Co-Ordinator to help all those wishing to make their own Invitations.

Katie :- We borrow her from her proper job, Katie runs our Jewellery workshops and is beautiful/ intelligent/ an excellent all round crafter ( doesn't she want to make you spit, Seriously we lover her, and we have to because she may become the Bosses D-I-LAW)


Others you may see dotted around.

Jenny (we are not worthy) :- Join Jenny to make some fantabulous products, using the Jo Sonjas' and Kaiser ranges. She loves it so much she bought the company - well the wholesale company that supplies these wonderful products to the uk, but thats close enough.

Grant - TEABOY!!! Lynns hubby

ME:- Tracy, web girl, In charge of blogging and wedsite updates. You may see me occassionally around but considering I live a bit further away from the shop, 3 1/2 hours away to be exact, it is only occasionally.