Friday Feature! Abywillow

Today's Friday Feature is Abywillow who make very pretty fabric letters and other lovely things. Take a look...........

• About you......who you are, what you like, what you don’t like…. Basically anything you want to share

Hello – I’m Aby Hoskison, I am 29 and I live in Derbyshire.  I sometimes think I was born in the wrong era as I love -

*    Noir films especially Double Indemnity and Blue Dahlia

*    Murder Mysteries – Miss Marple, Poirot, Morse…

*    Baking – bread, cakes, pastries and sometimes pies

*    Craft in many forms – especially crocheting

*    Car booting and renovating the junk treasures I find

*    Reading and history especially Social and Feminist

*    My tortoise Sylvio (was Sylvia but found out she was a he!)

• About your company...... 

Abywillow began when my Niece, Isabelle, was born.  My sister wanted some fabric letters that were good quality, in subtle shades and affordable and we struggled to find them so I said “I can make them” and it grew from there.

As it was an ‘unplanned’ business start-up I was initially living and working in 1 room – which was less than ideal! We have since moved house and I now have an attic room workshop which is fantastic – I love the room and look forward to getting to work.

The letters have evolved, they are now padded and are available in many colours and patterns but I still ensure

*     I use great quality fabrics

*     I provide affordable, high quality items

*     I sell products I would love to own myself!

I think my products reflect my style which has old fashioned values/inspiration in a modern setting.  I love providing a personalised service and I often spend a lot of time with customers scanning fabric choices to find the perfect combination for their letters.  The arrival of a baby is such an exciting time and I love being a small part of this.

I have expanded the range of items I sell and I now also sell smaller, wooden fabric letters, fantastic cake toppers and bunting.

I think there are so many mass produced, identical items that to have something made by hand to your specifications that will last is really special and shows lots of love.

You can find lots more pictures at www.facebook.com/abywillow

And you can make purchases on Ebay at http://tinyurl.com/87j4csx or by searching by seller Abywillow

Or email me abywillow@hotmail.co.uk

• What or who inspires you?

Strong women inspire me especially unsung, non-famous people who quietly do their thing

*     My friend Ruth who has done the BEST job of single handedly bringing up her daughter, who is a star!

• Top 3 on your wish list right now?

I’m very lucky already… but

1.      I’d love my own website

2.      A 1950s Kitchen larder unit

3.      A free weekend to go to Wales with my Boy!

• Tell us your best/ funniest joke…………go on its Friday!

I can never remember jokes so it is lame!

Why was the sand crying? Because the sea weed

• What do you have planned for this weekend?

It is my Dad’s 60^th Birthday and my 2 sisters and I are taking him away for the week – I can’t tell you where as he doesn’t know and he’ll be reading this… the surprise is killing him!

• Finally (thank Chrunchie) what gives you that ‘Friday-Feeling’?

A great film, a massive bowl of popcorn and cosiness on the sofa – perfect.

I'd like to say a massive "THANKS" to Aby for wanting to be featured and for sharing all of this with us. I hope you agree that her beautiful handmade letters are amazing!

Have a great weekend.

Love Kate x

Friday Feature! Lovely Pretty Little Things

 Happy Friday!

Today I have what may just be my most favourite feature! Yes, she is THAT good! The best way I can think to describe what Vicky does in short is, she makes huggable memories!!! I defy you not to fall in love with the memory bears that Vicky creates.......

• About you......who you are, what you like, what you don’t like…. Basically anything you want to share

My name is Vicky Ashwell, I am 34, very soon to be 35 and I live in Wiltshire.  I was born in Yorkshire into a military family, my great Grandfather was in the Horse Artillery, one Grandfather was in the Airforce, the other in the Reme, my Uncle was in the RAF, my mum was in the WRAC and my Dad in the Signals and (lastly) my partner was also in the Signals! I was born in Catterick in North Yorkshire and moved to Germany when I was 4 and lived there until I came back to University when I was 18. I loved living in Germany and am grateful for having such a fantastic upbringing. Growing up in a military environment gives you an enormous sense of family and community.

Things I love: my family and friends are the most important things in my life. I like reading, cooking, cuddles, pink, sewing, knitting, cats, snowboarding, camping. I also love poetry and inspiring quotes, one of my favourites being:

" I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. And because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do the something that I can do."

• About your company; Lovely Pretty Little Things......

A memory bear made by Vicky from baby clothes!

My company really started by accident! When my nephew was born 6 years ago I put together a box of goodies for my sister with all sorts of things that I thought she might find useful. She loved it! 4 years later she had my neice but she already had all the things she needed for a new baby so I had to get my thinking cap on. I came up with the idea of a Nappy Cake after doing some research and she loved it! After that whenever a friend had a baby they wanted a Nappy cake and eventually that led to me making them for friends of friends and later selling them.

I then got talking to a local florist who wanted to stock them and things went from there. The next thing I started making was sock cup cakes. Having spoken to lots of friends they said you didn't get many essentials as gifts so never had enough socks and bibs. The cupcakes went down a storm, made from socks and bibs and they look so good they are often mistaken for real cupcakes!

Moving on from that I started stitching cards and making quilts and then I made a sock rabbit for a friend which resulted in lots more orders for sock animals. This then evolved into someone asking me to make a bear out of her daughters babygrows and the rest, as they say is history! I knew there were people out there who made stuffed animals from babygrows and I do make a lot of these but I wanted to expand the possibilities and do something to support a worthy cause. A friend of mine became a coordinator for an amazing charity called scotty's little soldiers www.scottyslittlesoldiers.co.uk that raises money for children who have lost a parent in conflict. It is a fantastic cause and very close to home. So I decided to donate money from each bear sold to support Scotty's.

I have made bears from all sorts of fabrics and for all sorts of reasons from army and RAF uniforms for children who's Dad's were going out to Afghanistan to give them to snuggle up to while Daddy is away. I made a bear for my Mum to chear her up when she was diagnosed with Cancer and I used my Dad's ties, tshirts and pj's from my brother and sister and clothes from myslef and neice and nephew. All the clothes had special meaning and make the bear that bit more special, I used my neices dress that she wore for her first Christmas, a jumper that I knitted for my nephew when he was born, my brother's climbing tshirt. When she looks at that bear she sees all of us and all of those happy memories.

I have also made bears for people who have lost somebody close to them. One was a particluar challenge as my client wanted a hat to be incorporated so I used the hat for the tummy! Another client wanted me to incorporate a pair of gloves as her Dad was a Mason when he was alive so I used the gloves to make a heart on the tummy!

I am about to make a bear from a bridesmaids dress and another from a first communion gown so the list of what can be used is endless!

I love the fact that what I make is so personal and can bring so much comfort. It is also a lovely way to keep a memory close to you instead of keeping something in a drawer. The bears make a great gift for Grandparents too, what a gorgeous and unique gift!

The business has gone from strength to strength and evolved gradually into what it is at the moment, who knows where it will go in the next 6 months. I tend to sell Nappy cakes locally but the bears go all over the country and this is where my focus is at the moment.

If you want to contact me here are my details:

website: www.lovelyprettylittlethings.com
email: lovelyprettylittlethings@hotmail.co.uk
find me on facebook: lovely pretty little things
Twitter @VickyAshwell
Pinterest: Vicky Ashwell

'Sarge' made from military uniform! Amazing idea!

• What or who inspires you?

My parents are my biggest inspiration. They had only known each other for 3 months before they got married, they have brought up 3 children, and a lot of the time my Mum had to cope on her own in a foreign country while my Dad was away.

General inspiration, I think is everywhere, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, the people you meet, books, TV, Films, Nature. It is everywhere!

• Top 3 on your wish list right now?

Now that depends on whether you want a serious or pie in the sky answer.... pie in the sky would be: 1. Win the lottery (I don't buy tickets) 2. endless sunny weather in the day and rain at night when I'm sleeping and for the temperature not to fall below 25C 3. Guaranteed health and happiness to me and all my family

On a serious note, my Mum has just been diagnosed with Cancer so I would wish for her Cancer to be cured and her to remain in good health, I would like my business to be a great success so that I can raise lots of money and awareness of Scotty's Little Soldiers and I would really love an end to this financial crisis!

• What do you have planned for this weekend?

I am going to meet one of my bestest friends and her son, who is also my godson and we are going to have lots of FUN!

• Finally (thank Chrunchie) what give’s you that ‘Friday-Feeling’?

Bacon and Halloumi baguettes from the canteen at work to celebrate "Fat Fridays" 

Scotty’s Little Soldiers is dedicated to supporting the children of men and women killed in action while serving with the British Armed Forces.


The charity provides treats, trips and activities for families of the fallen with the aim of offering a respite – however brief - from the daily ups and downs of coping without a loved one.

Lovely Pretty Little Things support Scottys with every Bear they make, For more information and to make a donation click the logo >

I'd personally like to say a massive thank you to Vicky for sharing her heartfelt story with us. I hope you aggree what an amazing person Vicky is and I hope you love Lovely Pretty Little Things as much as I do. I'm already thinking who I can order one for!!! Vicky I wish you every success and I'm sure your business will only continue to go from strength to strength!

Have a great weekend all!

Love Kate x

Friday Feature - Beautiful Cuticle!

Happy Friday!

Today I'm super pleased to introduce the very lovely Imogen from Beautiful Cuticle as my Friday Feature. I have 'known' Imogen for a while as we have many mutual friends in our little home town of Macclesfield, but it's not until recently when we connected on Twitter did we spark up a great friendship. Not only is Imogen a talented business woman she is also a totally fab and lovely girl as you shall see.........

• About you......who you are, what you like, what you don’t like…. Basically anything you want to share

I'm Imogen Hope, I'm a mum and wife. I love friends, yoga, meditation, swimming, friends & family.

• About your company......when, why and how you started, what your company does and why it does it best, where can we find you (email, website, shop, etc)

Beautiful Cuticle started in February 2012. I decided it was a career I wanted to follow after I'd had my son (Jonah now 2) as i knew it might be my only chance to re-train (originally I have studied art, design and art history) and I wanted to do something I had a genuine interest in and could start my own business with so I could work around my family. It's a mobile nail technician service that does all nail treatments from manicures, pedicures to luxury spa treatments to extensions, overlays, Shellac and pamper parties. All in the comfort of your home at a time to suit you. BeautifulCuticle is THE best because it's friendly and professional with the best quality products and services, knowledge of the beauty industry, fashion industry and all the latest trends available for great prices.

Email is Imogen.hope@hotmail.co.uk, website is www.beautifulcuticle.com, phone number is 07948276535

• What or who inspires you?

The people who inspire me are all my friends who I've got to know more since starting my own business who are in the same position. People who have connected with me via twitter and Facebook, it's a beautiful little community who all support and elevate each other. As well as Kate Lewis cards I have friends making cushions, bags, cider, selling lingerie, painting, making jam, hiring vintage crockery, opening shops, cafes and more! All these little local business' are inspirational to be taking on the big guys and winning and I love to be part of that.

• Top 3 on your wish list right now?

1. A massage ( house moving is taking its toll!)
2. One of my husbands made from scratch currys and
3. Lots of sunshine!!

• Tell us your best/ funniest joke…………go on its Friday!

How do you make a duck into a soul singer?

Put it in a microwave till its Bill Withers ;-)

(Aahahahaha LOVE it!)

• What do you have planned for this weekend?

So much! Friday I have a wedding reception, Saturday we move house, Sunday my husband and I are going away to Chester for the day/night because Monday is our 3rd wedding anniversary then it's his birthday! Busiest weekend ever!

• Finally (thank Chrunchie) what give’s you that ‘Friday-Feeling’?

A chilled glass of Pinot.

Thanks so much to Imogen for sharing all of this with us........which reminds me I must book an appointment with Beautiful Cuticle for a wedding in June I'm going to! Good luck with the big move this weekend, I hope it's sunny for you! And Happy Anniversary and Happy Birthday to Nick! 

Love Kate x

Friday Feature! Becky Broome

My Friday Feature today is Becky Broome. I first came across Becky on Twitter and after a sneak peak at her website was amazed by her designs!

• About you......who you are, what you like, what you don’t like…. Basically anything you want to share

Hello!  I’m Becky, I’m 25 years old and I run BeckyBroome Ltd.  I love going on holiday, reading my Kindle and walking in the Lake District.  Dislikes ... mmm .... miserable weather!!

• About your company......when, why and how you started, what your company does and why it does it best, where can we find you?

I design and hand print homewares and kitchen textiles which are all made in Britain.  Literally the week I finished university, even before my graduation, I started researching and setting up my business.  That was in 2009.  It took until February 2010 to get the first batch of stock and I did my first trade show in July of that year.  The full range can be found on http://www.beckybroome.com you can also find Becky on Twitter

• What or who inspires you?

My family has been by far the biggest inspiration.  Nearly every member of my family runs their own business.  Being around business growing up means it’s in my blood.

I also find inspiration in my surroundings so I am inspired when I’m travelling or even just out in the countryside with fresh air and some space to think!  Flicking through magazines, looking at interior spaces and scouring internet blogs can be really influential too.

• Top 3 on your wish list right now?

1.      A holiday!

2.      A holiday!

3.      A holiday!

• Tell us your best/ funniest joke…………go on its Friday!

Here goes ...

What do you get when you cross a parrot with a centipede?

A walkie-talkie!

• What do you have planned for this weekend?

I’m off to the Cotswold’s for a friend’s wedding and then it’s my brother-in-law’s 30^th birthday on Sunday!

• Finally (thank Chrunchie) what give’s you that ‘Friday-Feeling’?

Just knowing that it’s the weekend means that I can really relax and enjoy my Friday night.  Normally I will cook a really beautiful meal and spend time with my family.  

I'd like to say a huge "thank you" to Becky for sharing all of this with us. I hope you have fallen in love with her beautiful designs too! If so you can find all of her designs on her website

Happy weekend all

Love Kate x

Friday Feature! Gift Wrapped & Gorgeous!

Happy Friday!!!

Ooooh I've got a GORGEOUS Friday Feature for you today!!!!! If you've not heard of them yet - where have you been hiding? Gift Wrapped and Gorgeous is a haven of all things, you've guessed it, totally gorgeous! As the strap line says "for a gift less ordinary" and it is so true.  Gift Wrapped & Gorgeous have brought together the UK's finest and most talented designer makers and showcase their products in this one fantastic place. I am of course a little biased as I am proud to have a Kate Lewis Design boutique on GWAG where I sell my Wedding Stationery and Greeting Cards!
So if you're still looking for some GORGEOUS Christmas Gifts and  Christmas Cards - look no further!


So I will stop rambling on and let you see the gorgeousness of this amazing company.......

• About you......who you are, what you like, what you don’t like…. Basically anything you want to share

I’m a married Mum of two beautiful girls and about to become a Grandma for the first time next month which I am very excited about.  I am passionate about design, interiors, soft furnishings, art and textile design which is bizarre as I am absolutely terrible at sewing and painting.  I do have a good eye for an excellent product though which helps in this business.  I love animals and have a menagerie of 4 cats, a Jack Russell & 5 fish.  I would have more but time & husband deny me this pleasure.  I am a real soap and telly addict, love chocolate and having a good natter with friends.  In the past I have been a model, acted and sang in panto and have travelled the world as a BA Air Stewardess.

http://www.giftwrappedandgorgeous.co.uk/product-NOEL_Christmas_Glass_Bunting-5890.htm

• About your company......when, why and how you started, what your company does and why it does it best, where can we find you (email, website, shop, etc)

Gift Wrapped& Gorgeous started because of a situation where I was badly let down by an ex business partner.  We had a wedding design company and she literally walked out on me after only 3 months of trading, leaving me with a shop lease, a full appointment book of brides and a bank overdraft!  I knew I couldn’t manage this business on my own because of child care issues so I decided to close it and start up Gift Wrapped & Gorgeous.  Having caught the business bug I couldn’t give it up entirely!

Website: www.giftwrappedandgorgeous.co.uk

Twitter: @GWAG_UK

Facebook: www.facebook.com/giftwrappedandgorgeous 

http://www.giftwrappedandgorgeous.co.uk/product-Baby%E2%80%99s_1st_Christmas_Card_by_Kate_Lewis_Design-6742.htm

http://www.giftwrappedandgorgeous.co.uk/product-Christmas_Butterfly_Decoration-6340.htm

• What or who inspires you?

Lots of people and situations inspire me such as soldiers who have been in Alfghanistan & who have lost limbs yet keep smiling & trek miles for charity.  People with great tenacity and compassion inspire me.

http://www.giftwrappedandgorgeous.co.uk/product-XMAS___Wooden_Letters-6104.htm

http://www.giftwrappedandgorgeous.co.uk/product-Maximillan_the_Moose_Baby_Bib-2039.htm

• Top 3 on your wish list right now?

1. My baby granddaughter being delivered safely
2. My business being a huge success for everyone concerned
3. My house being completely re decorated and styled by Linda Barker!

http://www.giftwrappedandgorgeous.co.uk/product-Handmade_Nordic_Christmas_Tree_Garland-6377.htm

http://www.giftwrappedandgorgeous.co.uk/product-DADDY_Christmas_Card_by_Kate_Lewis_Design-6740.htm

• Tell us your best/ funniest joke…………go on its Friday!

Oh good grief, I don’t really know any jokes.  Let me see….. Why do only 10% of men make it to heaven?
Because if they all went, it would be hell.

http://www.giftwrappedandgorgeous.co.uk/product-Christmas_Heart_Necklace_-6507.htm

• What do you have planned for this weekend?

Putting e newsletters together for the following week, going to see a movie with my little girl & my husband & cleaning the house.

http://www.giftwrappedandgorgeous.co.uk/product-_Vintage_Style_Christmas_Tags___Set_of_10-6218.htm

http://www.giftwrappedandgorgeous.co.uk/product-Little_Star_Child's_Necklace___Assorted_Colours-1682.htm

• Finally (thank Chrunchie) what give’s you that ‘Friday-Feeling’?

Hmm, the last time I had a Friday feeling was when I was at college & looking forward to seeing my boyfriend at the weekend doing normal things like going out for a meal or a party.  Now I actually think weekends get in the way and look forward to work on Monday!!

http://www.giftwrappedandgorgeous.co.uk/product-Red_Felt_and_Gingham_Scented_Bird-5150.htm

I'd like to say a massive THANK YOU to the gorgeous Amanda who's taken the time to share all of this with us, I know she's an incredibly busy lady and I really appreciate it - so thank you so much Amanda x x

Hope you all have a festive Friday!
Love Kate x