U-handblog

Thankful New Year

Thank you for giving me another year to love and to live.  Thank you for giving me the promise of a whole new year to live and to love some more.  There is much to enjoy now and to look forward to.

 

'Silver lining' (taken by my house earlier this month).  When the sun broke through the clouds it became the sunniest day.  Mabel and I were walking along the promenade and we met a very sweet old man seated at one of the beach shelters. The lovely chap was feeding the birds from a huge bag of crumbs.  Whilst he and I had a nice chat he shared some crumbs with Mabel and taught her how to feed the birds.  It's lovely to be able to stop a while and spend time getting to know someone you haven't met before - and now Mabel knows how to feed the birdies.  Next year I am going to make a point of stopping more often to indulge in simple (and nourishing) pursuits like this.

 

I am fortunate enough to feel that I am fortunate.  Since becoming a mother I feel even more blessed than ever. I hope you are able to feel blessed in your lives too.  I know that there are many that cannot.  Next year onward I will more contribute (not just comment).  I'm a position to do so and I need to set a good example to my daughter.

 

I hope you had good year and you are feeling hopeful and happy to be entering the next one.  I hope you are loved and you are able to return that love. 

I also hope your sewing machines/knitting/tapestry/crochet needles/glue guns/carving/jewellery/toy making tools/you name it... are primed and ready for another year of big fat crafting action  Let's go!!  XX

 

...and the winner is...

Thank you to everyone who entered our BIG Christmas giveaway!

If you ever need some inspiration, just check out some of the amazing entries - you guys are craft crazy!
We're so impressed with all of your makes and can't wait to see what you get up to next year.

The winner of some super awesome bag-tastic goodies is:

Congratulations Jill Baum; please step forward and contact us to claim your prize! 

From all of us here at U-Handbag, we wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year - see you in 2014!

Lisa's Holiday Wish & BIG Giveaway Time

We're officially feeling the festive cheer here at U-Handbag, so what better way to share the joy than with an über special Christmas give away!!   The winner will get handles, purse chain, frames, fabrics, yarn, buttons, ribbons and hardware. Everything you see in pics.  It's all new and yummy.

 

A year-end message from me:

So U-Handbag came into being back in 2006, 7 years on we are still rolling along nice and steady.  Thanks to you dearest customers, fans and readers for keeping me in the best work I've ever had.  We and my lovely girls wouldn't have our fantastic jobs if it weren't for you.  I'm very grateful to you all for your kind words, your pattern errata, your suggestions/advice/critique, your humor, for spreading the word and for shopping with us.  In fact, thank you for being so communicative!  How very lucky we are that you take the time to ket us know how we are doing!  Thanks for being so fabby-dabby to work for!

It's been a learning curve being a mum and being self-employed (as many of you know, being a mum is a learning curve all in itself).  Thanks for your sweet and kind wishes towards Mabel and I.  Thanks for caring and getting personal. I appreciate it. XX  

If I have my wish, we'll all remain in good health, have love in our lives and I'll get to do this for a very very long time. 

I love you folks, I'd happily make tea for you all.  :)

 

As a farewell to another year I have set aside a whopping great load of stitchy, bag making goodness for 1 lucky craft fiend.  The winner will get handles, frames, fabrics, yarn, buttons, ribbons and hardware.  It's all new.

To be in with a chance of winning this fab bundle of goodies, we want to know: what have you made this year that you're most proud of, and what have you got planned to make for next year? 

Leave us your answers in the comments below, and we'll pick a winner at random in a week - it's as simple as that :)

 

Contest Details (please read carefully)

To one lucky winner I'll send the whopping prize pictured above. 
 

To enter all you have to do is comment on THIS PARTICULAR POST by:

• Let us know what you have made this year that you're most proud of, and what have you got planned to make for next year? 
• Enter as many times as you like. Good luck!
   

Contest Official-ness :

1. I'll select the winning name in a week's time - 19th December (GMT).
   
2. I'll need to ask the winner to make a donation for the postage. 
   
3. Sorry I can't notify winners, so please keep an eye for the winner announcement. This is made easier for you if you subscribe to this blog so you don't have to keep checking back, although it's always great to have you pop-in for a read :0)
4. Prizes which are not claimed within 3 weeks of the winner announcement will be carried forward to the next draw.
5. Sorry I can't reply to contest/draw comments, but I do love reading every single one :)
   
   

Our 5 favourite winter moments of the day

image source

We're all super busy at this time of year, and despite the festive vibes of Christmas, with the shorter days and colder temps it can sometimes feel a bit meh.

BUT, when you can stop to enjoy a few simple moments of the day, those cozy winter evenings suddenly feel all the more worth it :)

Here are our top picks, we're all creatures of comfort here in the U-Handbag office! 

Lisa:

    1.  Seeing Mabel's toothy grin first thing in morning
    2.  First cup of coffee with emails/sosh mediahh
    3.  Swapping shoes for slippers at the end of the day
    4.  Cosy bedtime cuddle and story with Mabel
    5.  Sitting down to yummy dinner & winter telly
    6.  I know I shouldn't have 6, but getting into bed when electric underblanket has been on (for 30 mins) is just soooooo awesome!  :)

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Mary:

    1.  Morning routine of cleansing/toning/moisturising (but not putting on mascara!)
    2.  People watching on the walk to work 
    3.  First coffee of the day
    4.  Smiling at strangers
    5.  Browsing charity shops on the walk home

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 Sarah: 

    1.  First cup of tea...
    2.   ...whilst checking social media sites
    3.  Morning shower - great thinking time
    4.  Working on and finishing Shark Alley goodies
    5.  Getting intp pj's and getting cozy in bed with a hot water bottle

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 Skye:

    1.  First cup of tea
    2.  Being greeted by Pixel (my crazy cat!) when walking through the front door
    3.  Evening baths with a good book
    4.  Phone conversations with family
    5.  Remembering to turn on the electric blanket before bed

 

We'd love to know what your favourite moments of the day are, can you pick your top 5?!

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