Christmas is coming!!!

Sorry I've not been around much! I moved house the week before last and not had internet for over a week....It felt like my arm had been cut off! But now I am happily typing this in my new place with my new internet connection :)

The shop has been steady with Christmas orders and there is a special kind of Christmas feeling in the air. I guess it helps that the weather is turning much colder!!!

I've got a special 15% off everything in my Sam's Shenanigans store if you "Like" my facebook page....so check it out on facebook!!! Plus I also have 10% off everything in my The Gingerbreadmama store! :) So get christmas shopping!!!

Every order from the 5th December will also recieve a free gift with their order :) as my way of saying thanks and Merry Christmas!

Happy Tuesday folks! x

New gingerbread goodies!

New gingerbread goodies in my "The Gingerbread Mama" store, these are such a bargain!!! Plus look super cute on your tree!!!

Also, check out and "LIKE" my Sam's Shenanigans page and I'll send you a promo code for 15% off until Dec 20th! :)

Happy Sunday folks! x

In store...Monday!

So I very nervously and excitedly went to drop off the stock for the shop I am now selling in, here in Terrassa (Oh Mai Gat! in the centre) and Laura, the onwer informed that the stock will be available from Monday! Yay! I am very much hoping that she decides to make a window display with some of them for Christmas...cross your fingers for me!

Happy Saturday everyone, hope you have a great weekend! x

I'm dreaming of a pink Christmas...

If you've read my blog a few times before...you might be aware that I like the colour Pink. When I say I like Pink...I actually mean LOVE.

Here's some of the new Pink Christmas range! I love these pink felt stocking tree dec's and the pink sign is just adorable. All of these are now available in the shop, along with even more pink Christmas decorations (and the usual red, green and white ones if you prefer, lol). Happy Thursday Everyone! x

Castanyada

In Catalunya on the 1st of November it is the Castanyada. Similar to All soul´s day/Halloween or All Hallows eve, it celebrates the life of the dead. People eat toasted chestnuts, and these can be found being sold on the street almost right up until Christmas from the Castanyada. They also eat Panellets (as pictured) normally a sweet, almondy flavour rich sweet. These ones pictured were given to me by a student of mine for me to try :) How sweet eh?!
Halloween wasn´t ever celebrated, however with the pressure from films and TV (mainly from america and the UK) people are starting to mix the two celebrations.

Just another little insight to my life here in Catalunya! Happy Tuesday folks! x

Happy Halloween!

It´s that spooky time of year again, Halloween!

I love halloween...mainly because it reminds me that Christmas is just around the corner :) Plus, I am a huge kid and it feeds my "kid-ness" :)

This year, I was working...so we organisied a "kid´s Halloween party" at work and painted faces, made masks..etc.. It really got me in the Halloween mood :)

So..Happy Halloween everyone! x

New In!!!

Yay!!! I´ve finally got sorted and look my lovely "Make-it kits" are ready!!! :) You guys have the first sneak peak! These are not even in the shop yet! :)
See...??? I told you those brown paper bags were exciting really!!! :)

These make-it kits will be available from this evening in my Etsy shop: http://www.thegingerbreadmam.etsy.com

There will be more make-it kits coming!!! :) I love these sooooo much!!!

They also make a great stocking filler or gift idea!

Happy Saturday everyone...hope you are all having a great weekend x x

Exciting things in the post...

Sometimes, the most exicitng things to you, look incredibly boring to another person. My parcel this morning is no exception....

Looks incredibly boring and dull to an on looker but the start of something exciting to me :)

Keep checking in on the blog to find out what is coming next....!!!

Lot´s of lovely goodies!

Like I said in my last post...I´ve been very, very busy! Getting together enough stock for "Oh mai gat!" in Terrassa and a Christmas market in the UK a friend of mine is doing and selling some of my stock :)

Lot´s of lovely signs made (in English and Catalan) and a ton and half of Gingerbread men and women!

The Etsy shops are starting to attract more people as well and I seem to be having more regular sales :) Yay! So far...so good :)

Happy Monday folks! x

Getting ready for the shop :)

I´ve been really busy getting my orders ready for the shop in Terrassa....As you can see ;) It is best to make the gingerbread people in batches, first cut them all out, then sew on their faces..., then sew on their gold sequins.... etc... etc...

It is quite a time consuming job, but a satisfying one! I like nothing more than seeng the piles of completed gingerbread people in packs and all labelled and ready to go :)

I am really looking forward to seeing them all in the shop and set up :)

Lot´s more packs to crack on with!!! Happy Sunday folks! x

Lovely Jan....

I recently sent my Etsy Expat friend, Jan, some gingerbreadmen for entering the prize draw last month. She wrote a lovely, lovely review on her blog. Check it out!

http://fabriquefantastique.blogspot.com/2011/10/gingerbread-men.html

She writes a lovely blog and has a real talent for finding vintage fabrics :)

Back to the routine and madness!

So today is my last day of freedom before back to work tomorrow! :(
I´ve been super, super busy with shop stuff this weekend in order to try and get ahead. I know once I get back to work it will be difficult (and tiring!) to find the time and fit it all in.

I am secretly looking forward to getting back into the routine and to be earning regular money again! :) Plus I never know what classes I get until right before....so sometimes, it´s exciting and sometimes....it´s horrible!!! :) I´ll find out tomorrow!!! arrrrhhhhh....

Other than that life is very busy.....and quite stressful. I got some...ummm...strange....news from the doctors the other day and I have to have lots of tests (mainly horrible ones) on my colon :( Yuck and horrible. But I am super proud of myself as I am being very brave and trying my best to be positive about it all. I´ll keep you updated - but without giving you the gory details! ;)

Have a great Sunday guys! x

Sam´s Shenanigans & The Gingerbreadmama are hitting the Spanish highstreet!!!

So, I can finally spill the beans!! Sam´s Shenanigans & The Gingerbreadmama will be very shortly starting their debut onto the highstreet in Spain :)

From November you can find my gingerbreadmen and some other lines in this lovely shop "Oh mai gat!" in Terrassa, just outside of Barcelona.

This is a complete first for me and I have never even attempted anything on this kind of scale so I am very excitied and a little nervous! :) One step closer to that world domination!!!

Happy Monday folks! x

Exciting news....

I have some (hopefully) very exciting news regarding Sam´s Shenanigans & The Gingerbreadmama...but I can´t tempt fate and spill just yet...not until I know it´s going to 100% go ahead. It´s VERY fustrating!!! I want to tell the world!!

I should know sometime next week....so keep an eye out and I will spill!! :)

Happy Friday folks! I´m not back into the school/work thing until October so I am not feeling the benifit of a Friday yet...but I hope you are all enjoying it! Have a great weekend! x

Custom orders :)

So the Gingerbread race has begun! Two gingerbread custom orders in a week ;) Let´s hope they drive as mad as they did last year!!! :) lol

I have new tags for my gingerbreadmen and women now as well.... From the lovely people at Moo (http://www.moo.com/) Half the size of business cards and ideal as tags for my items :)

Happy wednesday folks! x

Cullera :)

We´ve just got back from a few days away in Cullera, just outside Valencia. Pure paradise. Our apartment looked out to pure sea and it is easy to see how people thought the world was flat...doesn´t it look like the edge of the world?! :)

LUSH.

Back to business today though and a few sales :) Yay! My 60th sale on Sam´s Shenanigans and my first sale for The Gingerbreadmama! Yay! :)

Happy Monday folks! x

New Gingerbread people!

Gorgeous new gingerbread people for The Gingerbreadmama´s store!
http://www.thegingerbreadmama.etsy.com


Secretly my favourite in the store at the moment ;) You know my thing with pink ;)

Happy weekend folks! x

Not just all holiday stuff!

Although the shop has been re-stocked with lots of lovely holiday items...it´s not just all holiday items! I´m still very true to my pink roots ;) and have uploaded lots of lovey girly pink and purple items. Now...although these aren´t holiday items...there would be nothing wrong with giving them as holiday gifts!?! :) hee hee.

Giveaway news...

So I ran a giveaway for a week and only two lovely people entered. It seems wrong to do a draw with just two people....so girls let me know which sign you would like and I will get them out to you! (Either comment on here on convo me on Etsy). Thanks for entering girls!

Lots of new things listed onto the shop this week! Christmas and other holidays are coming in a big way and my shop http://www.samsshenanigans.etsy.com is stocked full of lovely treasures :) (As is http://www.thegingerbreadmama.etsy.com ) so please take a moment to have a look and get inspired for gifts and decorations!

Happy Tuesday folks! x

Free Giveaway...??? Anyone...???

So I´ve been running my free giveaway (for ANY sign in my Etsy store) for a few days..and I´m kinda disappointed. Only two people seem to want my work for FREE :(

Makes a girl feel very unloved!!! and unwanted!!

There´s only three days to go....so if you still want to go into the draw you need to comment on the other post (FREE GIVEAWAY numero dos) to be added. Otherwise...one of the two lovely people who would like my work will stand a very VERY good chance of getting something!

FREE GIVEAWAY!!! Numero Dos :)

It´s well overdue!!! and running until the 5th of September.... Yes...I´m having another FREE GIVEAWAY!!!

This time the giveaway is for any one of my signs in the shop (this includes personalised door signs) all you have to do is leave a comment on this post and be a follower of the blog. It´s completely free!!! No tricks - tell your friends!!!

All comments will be printed off and put into a hat to be drawn on the 5th September. The winner will choose a sign in my Etsy shop and it will be posted out the following Monday for them :) Who doesn´t like free things?? :) You could even choose one of the Christmas themed signs and start early! ;)

So - don´t delay guys! Get leaving your comments! and Good Luck! x

New items!

Lot´s of new items have hit the shop! Especially lot´s of new signs/plaques! I just love making these :)

I also added some more pins/brooches in gorgeous fruit salad colours! Very summery (I was feeling guilty about all the recent Christmas talk! lol) Loads of new things in the shop...so check out the shop! http://www.samsshenanigans.etsy.com !!!

More Christmas goodies...

More Christmas goodies in the shop today! :) I´ve been a busy bunny this week with plaques and things for the shop :)

I have to go for a fabric and ribbon shop tomorrow to stock up on goodies and then this weekend I´ll have EVEN MORE goodies for the shop :) So keep your eyes peeled folks!

Sad today, as my Dad goes home tomorrow morning back to the UK :( No more visitors now and I have a week home alone (one of my biggest hates - sad face!) so not looking forward to tomorrow...partly, this is why I am going fabric and ribbon shopping to try and keep myself busy!!! :)

Anyway, Happy Thursday folks! x

Make a W I S H on a star...

When you wish upon a star.....

Here´s another Christmas themed product that´s new in the Etsy shop this week :)

I have a few more plaques making their way as well this week - so watch this space!

Happy Thursday folks! x

Getting in the mood for Christmas!

Over the summer months I don´t teach (my day job).... The perks of the job! 2 months off work ;) During this time I prepare for the christmas season in my shops - my most favourite time of the year :) Here´s my first Christmas creation of the year!

I know it´s only August...but some of us have to plan ahead (and secretly I love it! lol)

So here´s to December and the joys of Christmas! x

My dearest Auntie Pegs...

My dearest Auntie Peggy passed away at the beginning of this year. We wrote to each other regularly and were both very creative and artistic. When she passed, one thing she left me was a big bowl full of vintage buttons...something I am sooooo pleased about. They are currently back at my Mum´s in the UK, so when I went to visit I chose a bunch of my favourites in different colours to take home to create something with. I have in my head a haert shaped button display on a cushion for our bed :) Making something new and sentimental out of something so simple and basic as buttons. I´m looking forward to getting started on it and will of course, show you all when I´ve finished creating...watch this space! :)

Hope your all having a nice relaxing Sunday! x

The good old British summer!

I´ve been back to the UK this month to catch up with family and friends :) The weather was typically British throughout and mainly drizzled or just poured down. But in true Brit style on my last day it was sunny! lol

I sat in my mum´s garden enjoying the sunshine and managed to capture this photo by her pond...I love the way the bee´s legs look like they are swinging :) Just beautiful!

Happy thursday folks! x

Custom order :)

I´ve been silently working away on a customers custom order for the last few weeks....and finally it´s finished and delivered and = one happy customer :)

I love doing custom orders, it gives me the opportunity to design :) But with the designing part comes the responsibility to match their ideas in their heads with what is acheiveable and I´m actually able to do. It makes me really nervous waiting to hear what the customers think and this order was no exception. Thankfully the customer said she loved it so I´m really happy :)

A lovely lot of owl themed nursery things! x x

Loving the pinkness!!!

If yyou haven´t guessed by now I have a little addiction with Pink :) It started as a little girl always eating the pink smarties at nursery and now I am always drawn to pink things and especially fabric.

I recently went into Barcelona centre to find a special little felt shop with my good friend Lucy. After two attempts of trying to find it and at least 40minutes of searching up and down and up and down...and finally we stumbled on it. Felt in every colour...but this shocking pink really impressed me (I did pre-warn you that I am naturally drawn to pink!). So far, not much has been made from it - however it is only day 3 of the summer holidays! :)

Here´s to pink!!! Happy Monday everyone x x

An interview with........ME! :)

Huge thanks to my lovely Etsy Expat team mate Jac and the interview she gave me a few months back. She recently uploaded it to the Etsy Expat blog, see: http://www.etsyexpats.blogspot.com to read the interview and learn a little bit more about me :)

SUMMER SALE!!!

Sam´s Shenanigans is having a summer sale!!!

A whopping 20% off EVERYTHING! (Even custom orders)

For the month of July

Another reason to smile this summer :)

http://www.samsshenanigans.etsy.com

Happy Birthday ME )

It was my birthday yesterday :) I had a lovely, lovely day spent with good friends and my better half. I was spoilt rotten and now have a house full of flowers and a garden full of plants :)

A huge thank you to my messages, cards and presents guys.

Here´s to 28! :) x x x

Here comes the sun :)

Welcome to the first day of summer :) The weather has been summer like for quite a while, but today it was exceptionally summer-like. It has been lush! :)

I managed (inbetween exams and the last few classes) to get some photos of stock for the shop :) It was a such a beautiful day I think it always enhances the photos when the weather is so nice!

The day job is manic busy at the moment with the end of term exams and taking up lots of time...roll on next week when the day job routine changes and in theory should be a lot easier and I should have more time to sew ;)

Fingers crossed x x x

He looks like butter wouldn´t melt...

Milo has been getting very brave recently in the garden...he´s starting sneaking to the neighbours terrace (both of which have dogs) and generally just getting braver. But today he earnt his claws :( He got a sparrow :( He was so shocked he ran away from it and looked very surprised it wasn´t moving, which did make me feel better (although I know he´s a natural born killer really..the Mama in me doesn´t want to believe this). So it was up to poor Victor to dispose of the poor birdy....poor thing :(

He really does look like butter wouldn´t melt doesn´t he.....?

Not a good start to the week for the birdy! But it was a nice bank holiday here..so a better start for us.

Happy Monday all x

Me and the day job...

During the week, Monday to Friday, I am an English teacher. Generally I really enjoy my job, I work with children from as young as 1 years old to adults of all ages. I get to talk all day long, sing, dance, I get hugs and kisses and on top of this I get paid :) lol

A work colleague and friend of mine, came to take some photos of me teaching my 2=3 year olds on Friday, obviously I can´t put pictures of children on here, but here´s some pictures of very tired me on Friday morning teaching :)

Observe....teacher Sam :) x

Thanks Dad! :)

I am truely a daddy´s girl. My father and I are very alike and have similar tastes and hobbies, one of which is gardening. I LOVE gardening. I love the concept of free food and having grown it yourself knowing what has gone into it and how much time and care you give to achieve it :)

I learnt everything I know about gardening from my dad. My dad has a nice big garden and a massive greenhouse. When he was away with work it was up to me to maintain and feed and water the plants; tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, chillies, potatoes...you can think of it...we had it :) which of course my dad still does now, however with me being in Spain the job of plant caretaker has fallen to my brother. I have my own little veg patch to take of now :) and I grew each one from seed, lovingly. So, currently I have some runner beans, tomatoes, peppers and chillies, as well herbs; mint, basil, parsley and rosemary.

I called my dad today, as I always do on a Sunday, and told him my runner beans weren´t looking to healthy. So he told me to check if they had white fly...which I found out they did (small white flies on the underside of the leaves that fly off when you flick the leaf). I had naturally assumed due the ridiculous amount of rain we had had lately that the runner beans just didn´t appreciate it. So dad gave me a nice cheap trick to get rid of them, as apparently they will kill the plant and drain it of life. "Next time you wash up.." he said, "Fill a spray bottle with the soapy water and spray the underside of the leaves with throughily." he told me it will not only kill the white fly but hopefully prevent more of them. So as soon as I got off the phone with him I filled a bottle with weak soapy water and sprayed away. Fingers crossed!!!

He also told me to spray my tomato plants, as they are more than likely attacked as well. "You can tell if they are as the new leaves will curl right under" he said, and after checking my plants, one was certainly covered! (see photos!) So all my tomatoes, beans and peppers have been soapy sprayed.....hes hoping the white flies find a new home soon!!!

One happy gardening day :) x

Beans on toast - or - Toast on beans?

Being an expat, there are certain things that draw you closer to other Expats....Like Baked beans for example! :)

I have a lovely friend, Laura, however Laura has one little bizzare flaw.....She enjoys her Beans UNDER her toast. Bizzare!!! Please see the photos for further proof of this bizarre bean enjoyment.... (Please note I am the normal person having beans ON toast as they should be! :) lol)

Happy Weekend folks! x

It´s raining, it´s pouring!

Yuck! Yuck! Yuck! The weather in Barcelona and (after being informed by Etsy Expat friend in Palma) so no doubt the rest of Spain has been awful the last fornight, losts of reallt strong thunder and lighting storms and black skies. LOTS of water as well - all very unusual for this time of year! and although I m normally pleased for a bit of rain, it really is starting to make my tomatoes look "weathered" :(

I am manic busy at the moment with work. As the term is drawing to an end we are going through the exams - lots of stress, marking and revision planning. More yuck!

I have lots of projects on the go and lots of new items to share with you - they just aren´t photographed yet as work is so mad! But I hope this weekend (its a bank holiday on Monday!!!) I will be able to finish one or two things and get the shop updated :)

Well, no rest for the wicked ;) Back to work I go!

Happy Wednesday everyone! x

Lovely new items!

Lots of lovely new items on the Sam´s Shenanigans Etsy shop this week :) Yay!

I have been busy the last week sewing away and finally got round to uploading them last night.

I have a big custom order to get through over the next couple of weeks so the shop may be a little quiet with new items until they are uploaded and finished...but they are worth the wait..I promise :)

I have Girl´s night at the new house this weekend and looking forward to spending time with the girl´s and having a few drinks in good company :)

Other than that exams, exams, exams, exams at work so some stress and not much sleep at the moment!! But once they are over I will start on the summer club which will be much more fun :)

Happy Wednesday everyone! We´re half way there!!! :) x