If you would like to know how you can start shopping small, this Christmas, here are my top 5 actionable tips you can start using right now.

# 1 | Make a list – This is a great place to start, make a list with everyone you need to buy for this year, with a budget next to their name. Having a list will help keep you focussed and stop you from being distracted by all the lovely things you will find on-line.  And don’t forget if you want to make it even easier, use my free printable gift guide buying list when you sign up to my email newsletter list.

# 2 | ​Shop while you scroll – My go-to places to finding small businesses are Instagram & Facebook.  My best tip is the save button on Instagram, so while you are scrolling and you see something you think would be good for someone on your gift buying list, hit the small flag in the bottom corner of the post and save it – create a new collection/folder called Christmas and then it’s super easy to find when you come to buying.  ((You can also use this feature in Facebook just click the three dots in the top right-hand corner of the post and click on “Save link”.))

# 3 |  Connecting with makers/small businesses on Instagram & FaceBook-Comments, likes and sharing a post on your stories are great ways to connecting more with independent makers on IG and FB. This also helps you to get-to-know the maker more too!
I know as a small maker myself that I love connecting with people through my social pages and love starting conversations. A great tip to use if you have found a maker you love on Instagram, is to go to their profile page and under their bio are some boxes hit the small arrow down button to find similar accounts.

# 4 | ​Research & use independent maker websites – Sites like Not on the High Street, And So To Shop and Etsy do great gift guides but also filter gifts by receipt, occasions and interests - so delve deep into what the person you are buying for loves to do or what they enjoy doing in their spare time; they may enjoy taking time for themselves or enjoy exercising / reading or loves to craft. These places are great for finding unique gifts to give this Christmas!!

# 5 | Enjoy On-line Markets - Many cancelled craft and gift events are taking place on-line this year and they offer  a great source of inspiration and will open you eyes to  finding new small businesses to follow and buy from.  I love these on-line events and am particularly looking forward to my next event with on Friday 20th November 2020! If you are interested in finding out about other events I would recommend Pedddle.com for a variety of on-line events taking place.

​I hope this has helped - enjoy shopping small this year - don't forget to check out my 'Shop Small Xmas'  highlight on my Instagram page​ for all my favourite small businesses and if you have something you would like sewn to fill a stocking or give as a gift then please do contact me - I love working on special one-off items or visit the shop page for some gift buying inspiration! 
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After going for a long walk (the scenic route home) after the morning school run and refreshing myself with nature, I was really inspired by the changing seasons, the slightly lower sun and the changing colour of leaves.

I was left inspired to do the same with my threads and fabrics….so here I introduce you to part 1 of my Autumn range - the colours are reflective of this time of year and some velvet to welcome in a more warming and tactile fabric for the cosier season.  And I love the idea of these quotes from Tolkien and Van Gogh about walking in the countryside and evoking those feelings and memories that will last all winter long.

If you would like to find out more about each product please click on the link where you will find them in my Etsy shop.

P.S. I am working on some new additions for this range inspired by the countryside which would make perfect additions to your home.....so watch this space or better yet why not sign up to my newsletter for exclusive access for all new products launching!! Sign up at the top of this page!!

Last week there was a definite chill in the air, and I had to concede that Autumn had finally made its arrival known, which inspired me to take a scenic walk home from the school run. I was such a good walk, it was the first one since lockdown where I was on my own, I didn’t need to rush and I could take time to appreciate this beautiful place where I live – and boy, did I need it!!

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So as soon I got home, I felt inspired, I got out all my lovely autumnal threads and started to work on some new ideas and once I started, I really couldn’t stop. Here is a little sneak peek I what I started on and can not wait to share the rest with you next week when I launch them – there may also be a cheeky little giveaway involved, so watch this space!!
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​Ever feel as if your perfectionist ways are holding you back? You get stuck in the nitty gritty of the fine details and cannot share/do anything until it is exactly how you had imagined it?!
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There is nothing wrong with being a perfectionist, of course I have to say that being a self-proclaimed perfectionist.  Although, I have also recently realised that it holds me back. It stops me from achieving my goals, it makes me procrastinate and that takes time and stress so I have been working on my mindset and that is when I came across the quote 'progress over perfection' and it seemed quite fitting!!

Having a small business is hard and putting yourself out there can be scary, so I am learning to detach myself from the results.  Not everyone is going to like everything I do and that is okay, but I do have to make progress.  Sometimes I will fail and this will be a hard lesson but I will be in control of how I manage that.  I hope that learning from these failures and successes will get to my goal quicker and which inspired me to make this hoop - a perfect reminder to see the importance of progress over perfection in the hope that these mistakes will make me stronger and wiser than if I had never put it out there in the first place. 
*Side note - I wasn't even sure I liked this hoop when I posted it to my Instagram feed, the spots were not what I had imagined, but posted it regardless of my perfectionist thoughts and to my surprise I got some really lovely feedback (point proven to myself).

So if you are putting something off because you feel it isn't perfect, then have a little faith in yourself and whisper under your breathe to put 'progress over perfection',  write it on sticky note and have it next to that project that you have been trying to get finished and start moving towards your goals. You must make things happen, regardless of how perfectionism wants to make you feel!!

I have really missed attending craft fairs, especially not being able to meet and talk people in person, but also as this is the best chance to see my collection altogether. So to celebrate this weekends Pedddle on-line 'Local' market I set up a gallery wall, this is also especially great as it coincides with the launch of my new banners range !  I hope you enjoy this process. Hayley x