Building The Burrow!

Pearla*Merle

Habibiboo wrote: »

:wave:

Glad you're feeling a bit perkier ... sensible not to rush back into the full-on exercise routine though!

Your bonus money plans sound interesting, are you thinking online outlet such as F*sy or E*sy shop for all your lovely knitted bobbins? I had a good go at that for a while with tea cosies and made a bit on the side but then got into the freelancing and let that go. I always find inspiration on those sites too!

So, what are you painting?

Doodles mostly! Though the plan is to do more fine art and then other illustrations that I can then turn into cards/printed products (practically passive income!)

E*sy, got it in one Although no knitted bits, I'm not that good(!)... though I may inflict a scarf or two on the public at some point. :think: I used to use E a lot but it all tailed off as I wasn't doing much with it and the site became a bit saturated & it was harder to sell (was making £200-300 a month at one point! But that was a golden age several years ago when there wasn't much competition!), but I thought I'd give it another whirl. As long as I try and get (roughly) 3-5 items up a day that should make all the difference. It's much easier to list things there now, so it shouldn't be too hard.... as long as I've got stuff to put up there, hmm. :rotfl:

I keep trying to use F*sy but always feel dispirited by the lack of views the items get... but it's probably my own fault for (again) not putting enough stuff up on there frequently. So I've decided to just blast on with E, try and focus on one thing at a time for once (I'm a sucker for spreading myself too thin) and when that's working smoothly then expand out and put some stuff on F again. It's always worth having things on there for Christmas etc & wouldn't want to miss out.

I do love both sites though, so many truly beautiful things on there, and I absolutely love having things that are unique and obviously made with care, it feels so much more special.

Pearla*Merle

Thanks newgirly and mouche

Mouche (or anyone reading), PM me if you want to take a peek. Am hesitant to post a link or say too much here (don't want to make it too easy to ID me here, though it's probably pretty obvious if you know me, ha) anyway, am always up for sharing hints & tips if anyone has any questions about starting similar money making schemes

Pearla*Merle

Another busy day, I think the adrenaline kicked in on Wednesday and my body's just been Go! Go! Go! every since. Yesterday was just manic. Haven't had much sleep, had biscuits for breakfast... can't see this ending well.

Chose moneymaking over exercise today, can't let myself get away with that for too long, need to be fighting fit for future endeavours. Sharpen the saw and all that.

Used excess bratwurst from yesterday as filling for fajitas today. Worked strangely well. Super cheap & filling tea, two very enthusiastic thumbs up.

A bit of a potentially stressful day tomorrow as we have to head off to a social thing that may be a bit awkward. Cross fingers that it's all relatively painless. I'd like to say I could think of it as a break away but I just feel on edge. Daresay it'll be easier than I imagine and over soon enough!


:www: MFW Wonderment: loads of stuff put up for sale, even more waiting in the wings, just need to do a photography session and I'll be good to go. Followed up worky things that would mean more monies (if all goes to plan!). 1Poll ticking over nicely.

:coffee: Simple Pleasures: a super comfy bed after insanely busy days.

:heartsmil Burrow Building: fun chats and thinking up fun days out for Mr M's days off.

Pearla*Merle

All I can say about today is Thank God For Tipsy Grandmothers! :T

Quick stop at shops for (medicinal) chocolate. All gone now, it was utterly needed.

Not really any MFW news today, will be back in the game tomorrow with all that photo taking of stuff to sell

Simple Pleasures: the first stirrings of spring on the trees (hawthorn! !!!!! willows!), quaint villages with thatch roof cottages, gentle & dreamy soft sunsets and I would say paddling in gorgeous clear water but according to Anglian water it was verboten

Pearla*Merle

Oops, I see puzzy willows got exclamationed out.

Have had a busy few days with Mr M being off on holiday, we completed a canal walk we've been meaning to do for years on Sunday (it felt about 20-odd degrees, proper shorts & tshirt weather, madness!), had a nice day wandering about in York with our nice railcard discounts and cl*b card boost for a meal out (it cost less than £10 in the end). We also went into free museums & generally soaked up the atmosphere, so that all worked out rather well... we're now plotting where else we can conquer with our railcard.

Out to the cinema today (free with cards), though not a totally free day as had to pick up a quick bite to eat before a social thing this evening. Oh heck, I also had to buy mascara. I thought I had a stash still - a friend brought me back cheap ones from America ages ago but sadly it's all run out without me realising, boo. I've made the last tube last as long as humanely possible but needs must. Got £1.50 in extra B00ts points though! :dance:

Feeling a little sad this eve as over the past week quite a few friends have had some bad health news, which is a bit of a worry. Am trying to distract myself by thinking up some nice little cheering presents I can give them.

Have also been doing a bit of thinking regarding my own projects, and refining what I do in order to not spread myself too thin. Think I've worked out a better plan of action, just need to focus on implementing it now. It's hard to let good things go, but focusing on fewer things so the better things can become the best seems like a good idea.


:www: MFW Wonderment: have been doing excellent work with listing things up for sale and someone has asked for a custom order already, woohoo! I've got a few ideas for other things I can make for sale, so looking forward to trying some of those out asap. Only £15 away from 1Poll payout, yay!

:coffee: Simple Pleasures: walks on sunny days, I cannot get enough of being outside -I'm determined to spend a lot more lazy afternoons lounging about outside in nature this year.

:heartsmil Burrow Building: lots of lovely days out, the railcard is really going to help with this in future Tomorrow should be very burrow building as we seriously need to spend some time tidying the house

mouche

What a lovely day out you seem to have had Pearla. I have friends in York and pre-baby, it was one of my favourite places to visit. Especially since one of them works at Betty's and would bring home goodies at staff prices every evening!

Good going on the online shop and custom order and also on 'clearing the decks' mentally.

in_need_of_direction

Oh, Betty's. Haven't had a fat rascal in years.

Pearla*Merle

Wow mouche, a Betty's insider! I wish I had one of those We were salivating over the chocolate Easter Eggs (& chocolate otters!).

I've never actually had tea in there, I'm not sure why... surely something to remedy one day! INOD, I had to google fat rascal, that shows you how uninitiated I am!) :rotfl:

Pearla*Merle

I tried to have a rest day but it ended up full of people and chatter in the end! Not entirely unwelcome, but I feel very sleepy now. ETA: I've just realised it's past midnight, so no wonder(!)

During today's tidying we eradicated a pile of stuff including a huge bag of accumulated random bits and papers. Though sadly managed to break the shredder in our enthusiasm! Ah well. Still a few hot spot areas to sort out, hopefully that'll be done over the next few days.

My other hip has now started to feel sore (thanks joints!) and I think it's carrying heavy weights which isn't helping, so Operation Tiny Handbag is going to have to commence asap. The bag I thought I could use for a while has decided to disintegrate anyway so I suppose that's a sign to move on. I tried to find one when we were out at the shops the other day but had no luck.

I need to have an adjustable strap for cross body wear (I walk everywhere, safety measure), along with a decent closure ie. zip top (again, precaution against pickpockets for city travel) and apparently not a lot of bag makers think about these things. They all have easily detachable long straps (so easy to click the lobster clasps and run away with your bag!) and then no properly secure top closures. And I do want a pretty bag, not something that looks like I'm about to go out hiking. So the search continues!


:www: MFW Wonderment: a batchcooked sausage stew from the freezer for tea tonight and did some more simple living/minimalism reading which is really helping to shift my thinking about material things... I'm realising more and more than I don't want to weigh myself down with things I don't really need. And I certainly don't want to have to pay for the space to keep them!

:coffee: Simple Pleasures: downing elderflower liqueur while (dramatically) reading Shakespeare's sonnets (it was number 29 that set me off, if you must know).

:heartsmil Burrow Building: lovely chats with the neighbours, there's been some things kicking off locally which have caused a bit of a ruckus, but despite all that it's nice to take the time to help and connect more with those living nearby.

gallygirl

Pearla*Merle wrote: »

My other hip has now started to feel sore (thanks joints!) and I think it's carrying heavy weights which isn't helping, so Operation Tiny Handbag is going to have to commence asap. The bag I thought I could use for a while has decided to disintegrate anyway so I suppose that's a sign to move on. I tried to find one when we were out at the shops the other day but had no luck.

You need a Kipling bag m'dear . Something like THIS, THIS or THIS. All of those have 'proper' straps (though I've never thought about someone unclipping the other kinds, I suppose it would be just as easy to cut the strap :eek:?) Ignore the dearest prices as they are often on really good offers.

I DO NOT need another one. Even if that first one is a good price and really pretty colour .