Apologies for not blogging...

Well it's been a really hectic few weeks here at Trouble HQ so I'm afraid the blog has suffered a little because of it. I'd love to say, 'But HEY! I'm back!' but if I'm totally honest, I think you may have to put up with me being a little sporadic over the next few weeks. New Year's Resolution: To blog more regularly!

The main reason I've been so absent is craft fairs, craft fairs and even more craft fairs. I can't even begin to start talking about them, but needless to say it's been crazy busy making sure I've got enough stock for all of them. If you're London based and fancy coming along to some of the fabulous fairs that I'll be at along with some other great artists and crafters, then look to the sidebar on the right and you'll find a list of upcoming events. (That's a new bit on the blog!)

My stall set up at the Balham Craft Fair (25th November) 

I have to say, while I find craft fairs absolutely exhausting, I do really enjoy doing them. There are always some fabulous other crafty folk around (and my Christmas gifts are almost sorted due to some incredibly talented people) and even when they aren't the most successful, I still enjoy getting to spend time with some really great people.

Then there has been the launching of Inspired: London a guide to London designers and crafters - in which I am featured! I'm so excited about it. If you click on the picture, you'll be redirected to the online order form where you can pick up your own copy for just £12.99 - good either for giving as a Christmas present or for using to find some Christmas presents!

The launch of Inspired: London was a really nice opportunity to meet some other great artists and designers from London. It was really fantastic getting to put faces to names as a number of people featured are shops I know from Etsy and being able to finally say face to face how much I like people's work. 

In addition to these, there have been new designs, new lines, more things added onto Etsy and all sorts of other craziness as well. I'll write a separate blog post about some of those as I've got lots of pictures to show you... watch this space! 

A Bit of Blog Lovin'

This month's Blog Lovin' goes to Baban Cat - a fellow Etsian who I discovered through the British Sellers on Etsy team. I've been following her blog since she started her July 'Take One a Day' challenge: every day Cat made a new creative item for her Etsy and Folksy storefronts and I was seriously impressed with her dedication - especially as she makes such pretty things! This month Cat has been looking at Pantone colours and has produced some beautiful treasuries and blog posts using different colours as her themes. I love that idea and may have to steal it! I like the clean, fresh look of her blog and I'm sure you will enjoy finding out more about her and her work. Oh and she also nominated me for a Versatile Blogger award so I am very grateful for her support! Go and check out BabanCat's blog!

Blogger Winner!!

Well a little later than I previously hoped, I have finally got around to the results of the blog giveaway. In case you have forgotten, the prize is a fabulous blue lotsa bunnies tote bag and you can see it here. Anyway, as I am not a very technical bunny my method of finding a winner is the old-fashioned write everyone's names down and pick them out of a hat... or in this case a bowl. Are you excited yet? Shall I reveal who won?

All the names were put into a bowl - in today's case it was our ultra heavy mortar... hmmm wonder where the pestle has got to?

I put my hand in, closed my eyes and picked out a piece of paper which for some reason I felt the need to put on the floor beside the bowl and take a photo of before I opened it...

But then of course I did open it... and the lucky winner is:

Congratulations Shannon! 

A bunny bag will be hopping its way over to you just as soon as you have sent me an e-mail with your address on it. I hope you like it! 

For those of you who didn't get the bunny bag - bunny bags are available in my Etsy store and I'm sure I'll be doing another giveaway at some point in the near enough future. What should the next goal be? 500 facebook followers? 1000 tweeps? 200 GFC followers? hmmmm - what do you think? 

Blogger Giveaway!

Well well well, I promised a giveaway when this blog had 100 followers... and now it does! Hurray! Thank you so much to everyone who has supported Creating Trouble getting to where it presently is - I really appreciate your comments, advice, participation and the fact that you take time out to read some of my ramblings! So, in recognition of that, I'm really happy to announce this giveaway!

Its... a..... BUNNY BAG! And this one has not been seen anywhere else - it's a new variation on the original design. So, if you would like to have a chance to win this great blue lotsa-bunnies bag, here's what to do:

Follow this blog and write a comment below this post (along the lines of 'enter me!' or sth!)
For extra entries you can also:

1) Follow me on twitter,
 2) LIKE my facebook page
3) Go to my etsy store and leave me a comment what your favourite item is.

Make sure you write a comment for each of the entries here under this post as I'm only a bunny of very little brain and am liable to get confused unless comments are here on the post. I'll announce a winner on my return from San Diego on Thursday 25th August. You have 10 days...

A Bit of Blog Lovin'

This month's blog loving goes to 'It's Always Something' headed up by the lovely Marci. Not only does she have a great blog, but she is also on twitter (immarci) and sells on Etsy too. Her blog is varied - from Music Monday's to the In Your Eyes photography collaboration via some cute little plushies and more. I really enjoy reading Marci's blog and I recommend you go and have a browse. Thank you Marci for being a great tweep to chat to, an interesting blogger to read and a lovely creator.

Twitter Giveaway!

Hooray! I said I'd do a giveaway once I'd got to 500 followers and... well it's time for a giveaway now! As this is my first one, I'm starting small... so it's your chance to win one of my unique designed cards. The material for this card came from India and there's hardly any left - which means that actually this really is a unique card as there won't be many more of these! If you'd prefer a different card, stop by my Etsy store and take your pick (let me know in a comment below) So... here's what you do:

If you want to enter, just leave me a note with your twitter username either here or on twitter (twitter.com/create_trouble)

For extra entries (1 extra entry each)

1) Follow this blog and let me know you are following

2) Follow my facebook page and tell me you entered.

3) Go past my Etsy shop and let me know what your favourite item is.

Let me know that you have done each of these though - either with a mention on twitter or a comment below.
You have until Sunday 24th July and I will be announcing a winner on Monday 25th.

Good Luck!

A Bit of Blog Lovin'

This is the first of what I hope to become a monthly feature...

The Wug's Backyard BlogSpot

Every month Creating Trouble looks around at some of the blogs that I read and follow and chooses one to say a big hello to and recommend to everyone else. 

This month I'd like to give some Blog-Lovin' to the wonderful Wuglyees. Debbie, who is the lovely lady behind it sells on Etsy, tweets regularly and blogs every day. I follow all three! I want to shout her out a bit because she has been super-supportive of Creating Trouble - I know she's a regular reader because she always leaves me a lovely comment and that makes my day! Not only that, but she writes a really good blog (I wouldn't read it otherwise) - there is always something interesting to see and read at The Wug's Backyard BlogSpot. Aaaannnddd... Debbie's a poet too! How cool is that? 

So if you haven't already heard of Poetess Wug, follow one of the links in this post and look her up!

Blogs of Note

Every Friday I do a bit of an Etsy shout-out, featuring a few photos of different shops where I've seen some cute items. But I've realised that they aren't the only people who might want shouting out - you, my fellow bloggers, might too! So many bloggers have been inspirational, supportive and brilliant over the past few months, and it's you who I would most like to thank.

So here's the deal - every month I'll pop round to someone's blog that I read and enjoy and let you know that I'm putting a link to your blog on Creating Trouble. If it's OK with you, I'll post a photo from your blog and put up a link with a very short bio / reason as to why I think everyone should follow you and that's it. What do you think?


If you want to get ahead on the shout-outs, then leave me a comment and I'll try to make sure I go and look at your blogs first!!