Get it out there!

As I'm not too good at standing on the street corner proclaiming everyone should have one of my wee creations, I have decided to continue making my children's friend's birthday presents ("Lucky them" I hear you cry).

[Jane, look away now...this is your son's present here]. I have made a football themed holiday journal for my lad's friend who has a birthday tomorrow. The crowning glory of my day was Max saying "Yeah, he'll really like that. He won't want toys. Can I have one? Can I have this other one? I'll pay you cash for it."

You need to know that in the past, Max has offered all the cash he owns to be allowed to stay up for an extra half hour. And before you ask, yes I was sorely tempted.

Anyhow, I will rustle up one for Max and finish off the two for my friend's girls.

I had my first free weekday morning sans enfants for what feels like an eternity. Here's a pic of a nice little stash of fabric I purchased whilst on my lonesome. I plan to do some Jubilee bunting and a Jubilee PVC peg bag...come on, they'll jump off the virtual shelves.

Right next batch of kids to bed then hurrah to Friday nights.

Home Alone!

Peace and Quiet if only for two hours before the kidlings finish school. Actually, my little lass, Jody, has joined the dizzy heights of Pre-School this week, chomping at the bit she was. So proud was she to finally be a big girl. Furthermore, she had her first swimming lesson on Monday after spending the last two years waiting patiently (mostly) at the poolside watching Max and Phoebe have fun in the water. Oh, and learn to swim of course.

And I have sold my first item as a result of having a virtual shop! Woo Hoo! Celebrations are afoot and I am close to jacking in my job on the back of this.

OK, it was to a lovely lady who works at the aforementioned Pre-School so not quite a stranger from afar who stumbled across my wares on-line. But she saw my Holiday Journal as it was posted on Facebook and asked to have one! Then (there's more) my friend saw these journals and has placed an order of 2 personalised ones for her two girls in prep of their holiday in May. And (this is the last) I plan to drag my wee charges to a tiny, dark but packed fabric shop in Leighton Buzzard this afternoon to get some football fabric so I can make yet another journal as a birthday present for my lad's friend. It's all go here in Wingrave!

And did I mention the homemade bread? Best not, eh? But Phoebe and Jody love kneading and each effort is better than the last. What more can I say?  Happy days xxx

Easter in the Peaks

Just back from another lovely holiday in our caravan and as expected the weather was...changeable! We trekked all over Chatsworth Estate where we were staying, visited a local National Trust House and Gardens (much to my 3 year old's delight...not!) and won on the Grand National. The children had the freedom to cycle and scooter all over the site with their new found friends. I had toyed with the idea of taking a range of caravan inspired creations with me but the weather forecast and lack of backbone changed my mind for me.

Been busy creating new things for my little Folksy shop. My inspiration here was how to keep your little ones entertained in a tiny 5 berth caravan whilst Blighty unleashes its best thunderstorm outside. Both my girls like to sew so I have created little sewing kits aimed at the young novice. They include all you need to make a small felt coin purse. I loved making these, I really did. 

That was the girls sorted (for a time, at least) so I had to dig deep for the young lads who prefer football to embroidery! All my children have had Caravan Journals which have lived in the caravan since our very first trip away so I came up with a Holiday Journal with a removable cover and a pouch for stationary. 


One of my favourite excursions was a visit to a working Nat Trust flour mill and of course, I had to buy some flour! Tonight my girls and I have been kneeding the dough to within an inch of its life ready for the packed lunches tomorrow. They were born naturals and I will try and encourage this further.


Which reminds me, the dough has proven (and proven - I had forgotten all about it!) so needs to be baked. Yum yum xxx

Little Helpers

Well, you didn't think I was going to be able to do all this on my own, now did you?!

My 5 year old, Phoebe, on the left, has already received a Headteacher's Award for her sewing prowess and she is now teaching her friends this skill!

Here they are sewing ribbons, beads and buttons onto fabric which I then made into little pretty bags. I know she will actually be of practical help in just a few years time but for now I am more than content with having my wee sewing buddy around when I am being creative.

Round-up on where I am with my venture into mini-entrepreneurship. Blog looks different. I wanted an outdoorsy feel but then bloggers who stumble across it would believe it to be about...camping! Hey no! The current backdrop is too busy but I spent too long getting there so will settle for that for now.

And I have a button to my Folksy shop! I need to now link this blog to my shop. Aaagghhh! I have had 45 unique visitors so far yet no sales. Two issues, methinks: photo quality - too amateurish - and perhaps price. Ignoring minimum wage, I still don't to be giving the things away! New camera and crack on with my new range including insulating lunch bags and water bottle slings, now my pack of insulating wadding has arrived from a little seller on ebay.

But I have also been looking at exams covering Personal Taxation just in case I need to do a proper job such as paraplanning once my current contract finishes. Oh, such an interesting dilemma...NOT!!!

 Been busy finding a decent home for my growing stash of fabric. Commandeered a shelf by removing the kid's books to their bedrooms. The puzzles will be my next victims. And I was fed up ferreting about behind the settee for my sewing machine so it is now in pride of place in the family room. Compromise all round. One day I will have a space of my own for my bits'n'bobs. Too late to sew tonight after Parent's Evening. A dose of 'Upstairs Downstairs' on the iPlayer and to bed with my Kindle.

Then it all starts again tomorrow.

Great news! I have set up my shop properly on Folksy. Bad news....how on earth do I install a button on this blog linking it to my virtual shop? I have tried and tried and the best I came up with was having it as a post. I want it in a fixed place as a funky button, not buried knee deep in my whitterings. Can anyone help?

And I forgot to say "Please leave your comments, warts and all!"  I will need a wee bit of encouragement and guidance throughout the course of this year otherwise I may feel the need to go and get a 'proper' job. Aaaaggghhhh! 

Great Start!

What a great start I've had in setting up my shop! As I had already registered as a buyer with Folksy, I simply set up my shop with my existing username of Kirsty (novel, I know). So my shop name was....Kirsty! Not Strictly Camping! Duh. I will never hit the little-big time this way. So I have been advised to delete the old shop and start again. As I had only listed three items and have composed all the blurb already, it shouldn't take too long to do.


On a brighter note, my wonderful husband finished work early enough to take the children to their swimming class giving me 1.5 hours uninterrupted time which I put to good use by preparing a water-bottle sling.

This little over-the-shoulder number will be great for anyone venturing out for a walk whilst on their camping or caravanning holiday, especially if they're blessed with some good weather and are rendered a little parched. I was also able to fit my fabulous new toy to my sewing machine - my freehand embroidery foot. I just love this and to think I was looking at replacing my wee Janome with a special embroidery machine when all I needed was a £10 foot.


I have read with the the children who are now all in bed and my aforementioned wonderful husband is cooking up something smelling delicious in the kitchen. I should be able to manage to draft a few more item descriptions before I am called to the table.

Just to show you what it's all about, here's one I made earlier!

Welcome to Strictly Camping

Welcome to Strictly Camping.

My mission for this blog is to plot my progress into the world of kitchen table-based cottage industries when my current job comes to an end later on this year. I will be squeezing this venture into my family-rich-time-poor lifestyle and I would love you to join me on my journey into micro-entrepreneurship.


I am a Mum to three delightful children under the age of 8 and I also work part-time in the financial services industry (boo). Making things, whether it’s sewing, crochet or cake decorating, has always been my release; my wind down.


I have finally decided to put my sewing skills to the test in a bid to replace my income when my contract concludes.


Here I will share my creations (well, I like them), inspirations (mainly from my hobbies and holidays), time management (rotten) and family life (terrific) as I try to juggle the lot and keep everyone around me at least a little bit content.


I am new to blogging and this has taken me an eternity already to set this up. Also we've spent the day with my Grandparents (combined age 197) and I am tired. And I have work tomorrow. And I haven't ironed the school uniform or made the packed lunches. And it's swimming after school but I'll try and stick in a photo or two tomorrow evening.


Last thing....who is actually going to read this thing??!!