Window To My Soul

Talking to Plants

I was watching an item on the Matthew Wright show this morning about people who talk to themselves

Now I would be the first to admit that I do this all the time - I find it helps!

But Im getting worried as I seem to be spending more and more time talking to inanimate objects (and no I dont mean my husband!)

Let me explain......... Something Im really enjoying at the moment is spending time at home making our house look like a home again

For the last few years Ive been too busy to do more than just the necessary housework to keep us from infection!

Anyway, me and mr b toddled down to a new garden centre last weekend and came out with 3 new houseplants for our living room which is looking a bit stark now Ive cleared it of clutter

They are - a rather large Kentia Palm, a cute little Asparagus Fern (which from what Ive read on the net doesnt stay cute - apparantly its a bit of a thug) and a really sweet CURLY spider plant which already has 2 babies

Arthur

Dave and Walter

Curly

Now hubby is of the opinion that they wont last long under my care so to prove him wrong I have given them names and decided to talk to them every day to make them feel cared for

So, the palm is called Arthur, the fern Dave and the spider plant well, it had to be Curly! and in case you were wondering, Walter is our little wooden cat (see what I mean)

Is this just some strange hormonal, pre-menopausal condition or do other people name their plants? And more to the point does it help them grow?

Please let me know before I have to give in to the straight jacket

By the way a million thanks to all of you who emailed saying how much you like the new How To... blog and also for all your good wishes

Pop over and have a look - today I am featuring PaperAtsy stamps

New Blog

Some of you may have noticed a new link on the site entitled "How To....."

This is something I have been plotting for a while and finally got around to doing!

How To .... is a craft site which will contain free projects, downloads, patterns, tutorials and links to all sorts of useful craft related stuff on the web

I have gathered such a lot of information during my time at Cucumber Cottage on all sorts of crafts and I would like to share it with you lovely people

I would love to hear your comments on How To ......  please comment on the blog or email me at juliebtextiles@tiscali.co.uk

The first project is a Papercraft one  - its a project I have demonstrated and used my self over and over again and one people seem to love

Its a cute little Tag Book which can be adapted for any occasion  -  the instructions can be downloaded FREE as a PDF file

Im also hoping to have a little competition every week to make it all a bit more fun

This week there are 3 mini albums up for grabs

Click here to go to How To ....

Cucumber Cottage Closing Down Sale

Even though the CC shop is now closed we still have some stock we need to sell

Take a look at the website for some amazing bargains

PaperArtsy stamps are now at £2 each and we have quilting tools at silly prices EG rotary cutters from £1.50

We also have a few OTT-Lite daylight lamps at £12  - as Im sure you all know these normally retail for around £50 so at this price you cant miss the bargain!

There is also quite a bit of fabric and sewing notions still to be added so keep looking

Moving On

Ooo Ive been busy!

Dont know how I ever had time to run a shop!

Just a few loose ends to tie up and soon Cucumber Cottage will no longer exist

We are keeping the sale going on the online shop for a few weeks to get rid of the remaining stock - I will start uploading the bargains later today!

I want to thank all you lovely customers who came to wish us well before the shop closed

Me and Stuart were so touched by your kind words, best wishes, cards, emails, phone calls, gifts and flowers

I have been bowled over by your kindness and support and will miss you all, especially those of you I have taught over the last 3 years

If any one would like to keep in touch please email me at juliebtextiles@tiscali.co.uk

I would be delighted to keep up with your news and offer any help on creative matters!

Its been a very difficult time for us but we are staying positive and looking forward to what life brings along next

I am waiting to see if a door opens on an exciting opportunity in the next few weeks, more on that later!

End of the Road for Cucumber Cottage

We regret to announce that Cucumber Cottage Studios is closing down

After 3 years of doing battle with shopping channels, Ebay, internet shops and unscrupulous suppliers we have admitted defeat

Unfortunately, we are not the only craft shop in the UK to close and there will be many more in the near future

The UK Craft Industry is in crisis - mainly due to greedy , money grabbing suppliers who will sell products to ANYONE

Things used to be so simple

Manufacturers sell to Suppliers

Suppliers sell to retailers

Retailers sell to customers

Everyone was happy - businesses were able to make a profit and customers were being charged a fair price for products

How things have changed!

Now suppliers charge retailers vastly inflated prices to import goods which gets passed on to the customer because of the overheads involved in running a bricks and mortar shop

Customers can buy the same goods online from the US and pay less even with the postage added

And I dont blame them one bit - this really is rip off Britain!

One thing that suppliers do that really really annoys me is that they are so greedy and desperate to make money that they will sell products to ANYONE who can pay on a credit card

These products usually end up on Ebay shops run by the unemployed (on benefits) who have no overheads and wouldnt recognise Tax and VAT if it bit them on the bum

All this creates a false market as the products are being sold just above trade price making all craft shops seem expensive and eventually putting them out of business

Is it just me or are these suppliers contributing to benefit fraud?

Dont want to start a heated political debate but what do you think?

At the end of the world we will all only be able to buy anything from 3 places Ebay, Tesco and QVC all sold by robots

We are now connected

Thankfully the phone is now connected to the right number!

Only thing is now that I dont have broadband connected at the studio (because of 2 more errors  - thats one all to both telephone providers!)

This means that I cant post images at the moment as Im working from my little laptop at home which cant really cope with that sort of thing (bless -its getting on a bit like me)

So I have no choice but to wait patiently for these people to get their act together - its frustrating to be surrounded by such incompetence!

Life is still busy with never a dull moment at the shop and studio - one thing about working with the general public is that you never know what or who the day will bring into your path

I have some hilarious stories but cant really tell them in public for fear of offending customers!

I suppose I will have to wait a while and write a book eventually - honestly talk about life being stranger than fiction!

The Patchwork and Quilting Beginners classes have been going well - we are due to start another 2 (daytime and evening) around the 15th May

I still get so much pleasure out of seeing people achieve  - massive thanks to all the lovely ladies I have met at these classes - you have been a joy to teach!

When you see people once a week for 6 weeks its hard to let them go! But new friendships have been made (and new customers) and Im hoping that our new quilting group will be somewhere we can carry on meeting and sharing ideas

Cucumber Quilters meet on the 2nd and 4th Friday of each month 10am to 12.30pm

There is a small charge of £3.50 and the idea is that we provide the tea and biccies and you bring along whatever you are working on and have fun!

Telephone Problems

Sincere apologies to customers who may have tried to ring us at the shop last week

We have just changed telephone providers and cant believe that the new lot have actually connected us to the WRONG NUMBER!!!!!!!

Ive been promised that it will be sorted out by Tuesday 15th April but if you need to contact us in the meantime please email information@cucumbercottage.co.uk

Also we have just realised that the old providers (surely the most useless company on the face of the earth!) have listed us in the phone book under 2 different numbers!

The first listing is completely WRONG!

The second listing is thankfully our number 01253 714860

Oh well it never rains...................etc!!

Sunday Afternoon Photos

Took advantage of the unseasonal weather and went for a little stroll on

Sunday afternoon

Gave the camera an outing and took these shots of some of the great sculptures on Blackpool Prom

Happy New Year!

Hope you are all well and not nursing too bad a hangover!

Ive been a very bad blogger lately so thats one of my resolutions - to update this blog regularly (honest I promise!!!)

There are big things planned in our personal life this year (We will be putting the house up for sale ASAP and hopefully moving nearer the shop)

Many of you will have noticed that CC is being gradually transformed into more of a sewing type Craft Shop

For all our lovely Scrapbooking, Altered Art and Jewellery customers - dont panic - we will continue to bring you the best products and value for money that we can find!!!!!

And of course our expert staff are there to help you with any craft related problems you may have

Anne, Margaret and Myself will be joined by our new Saturday girl, Tara from Sat 12th January

Many thanks to Sarah, our current Saturday girl who is leaving this week to concentrate on the final few months of her degree at UCLAN

GOOD LUCK SARAH!

As for me, I'm busier than ever working on designs for bag patterns, jewellery kits etc and Stuart thinks I'm training for the Welsh Sewing Squad at the next Olympics!

But give me a bit of fabric and a sewing machine and Im happy

Hope this will be a happy, healthy and prosperous year for us all

take care

Julie

New Shop

A glimpse of the new shop  taken yesterday

More soon!