Today's 5 nice things!

Hello everyone and sorry its been so long since our last blog! We've been busy getting ready for our first handmade & vintage fair of the year, which is next Saturday! All tables sold and all systems go!
I've been tweeting a lot lately and have started ending my day by listing 5 nice things which have happened that day. Its such a lovely way to end your day - looking back and appreciating the nice things that the day has brought! I've had several encouraging comments from lovely tweeters so thought I would share today's with you!
No 1 - I spent the day catching up with my very dear friend Kim, who I haven't seen since Christmas. We had intended to go to a card-making day together but when we arrived at the venue it had been cancelled! Undaunted we trundled off to Clarks Village where we had a lovely catch up and a mooch round the shops, followed by a card-making session at my house! She is very special and I love her lots.
No 2 - Luke had a job interview today. He felt it went quite well so I'm keeping everything crossed for a good result - he could really do with some good luck, after a run of bad luck lately!
No 3 - I'm now enjoying a cold glass of wine ... perfect on a Saturday night.
No 4 - Loving the pretty butterfly cards I've made today ... what do you think?
No 5 - Steve is taking me off to Cabot Circus tomorrow to look for a dress for Ben's commissioning ball and passing-out parade. I may finally get my outfits sorted for the big day!
I do think its really important, especially after watching yesterday's tragic events in Japan, to reflect on just how lucky we are in this country not to have to contend with natural disasters and horrendous weather phenomenon - we are able to sleep safe in our beds every night and know the world will still be the same when we wake in the morning!
Lots of love to you all
Tina xxx

My lovely world!

Hello and hope you're all having a lovely, loved-up February.
Mine has been gorgeous so far and yesterday was so heart-warming I wanted to share it with you. Steve and I took the gorgeous scrummy Maddie & Freya to see Steve's mum in North Devon and we had such a lot of fun! The girls sang and chatted all the way down in the car and were so cute trundling around great-nanny's house fetching teddies and organising the soaps in the bathroom!
They both tucked into their lunches, which Maddie told Marg was "dee-lish-us". I've never seen a 2 year old eat so many carrots!! Our trip to the local park wasn't quite so successful and both arrived back at nanny's house with bumps & bruises! They must have been so very tired though because both of them crashed for well over an hour in the back of the car on the journey home!
In the meantime mummy & daddy had got all their painting done - daddy even had some in his hair!
Having to go back to work today was not what I wanted to do ... I wanted to go play again!! Still, I have to admit to being extremely weary by the time I did climb into bed last night!! Don't know how Fi does it every day!
Our email account has been red-hot today and we've had two really exciting opportunities offered to us ... not sure if we'll be able to take them up, but would be great if we could!
Off to make up an order of bunting for baby Hugo's christening ... lots of blue spots, stars and checks - will look fab in the village hall and afterwards in little man's bedroom!!
Live Well, Laugh Often & Love Much
Tina xxx

Tweet! Tweet!

Hi and sorry it's been a while! Amanda and I seem to have so much to do at the moment we've been neglecting you all!
Last week was a bumper week for me - following the lovely coffee morning to raise funds for Taunton Opportunity Group last Friday I was delighted to receive through the post a voucher for a makeover by the lovely Amy Elizabeth, which was first prize in the raffle there! I am looking forward to an hour's pampering at home during my week off soon!
Lucky me, then won January's prize draw by 'liking' Turners Optometrists on facebook and won a pair of Maui Jim designer sunglasses, which I was delighted to collect from the shop recently. I had my photo taken and splashed about on facebook which was all very exciting!
I haven't spent much time making this week, but have rustled up some lovely spring bunting, as you can see above, which I am hoping will go to a good home for a wedding or christening.
I have spent a lot of time in the last couple of weeks tweeting on Twitter to raise our profile and we now have over 460 followers, which is completely staggering and has virtually taken my breath away. Hopefully, our followers will have a look at our shops on Folky (www.folksy.com/shops/tinadarch) & Etsy (www.etsy.com/shop/BellaandtheMoo) where we have listed lots of bunting, cushions & children's aprons in all sorts of colours and fabrics!
Our first daffodils have just opened their faces to the sun so spring must be on the way! I can't wait - think this year will be a good one!
Tina xx

the vintage china has come out!

Hi All

Can't believe how cold it is again! Amanda and I have been to a lovely coffee morning to raise funds for Taunton Opportunity Group, which works with pre-school children with additional needs. We were made very welcome by the hosts Joanne & James and had the opportunity to eat the most scrummy cakes!! As the goodies were served on such lovely plates and the tea in gorgeous china, I thought it was time to get our stock of vintage goodies out of storage, clean them off, photograph them and get ready to release them on the world!
I had forgotten just how much there was and just how lovely it all was! But I know I can't keep it all, so have resigned myself to popping it onto Etsy soon and waving it off to its new homes!
I have lots of birthday cards to make this evening, including a special one commissioned by a very lovely lady for a close friend - can't wait to get started! Steve is out for the evening so I can spread myself all over the dining table without the reproving looks!!
Please let us know what you think of the china and if you want to rehome any of it email us at bellaandthemoo@hotmail.co.uk and we will get back to you.

http://s1176.photobucket.com/albums/x339/bellaandthemoo/

Yesterday is history, tomorrow's a mystery, today is a gift - that's why it's called the present.

Tina xxx

Jumble sales and tea.

What a cold, cold day - glad I'm now home for the day and not planning on going out again! I've put a lovely beef stew in the oven for later and the wine is chilling!
Bella and I have been to a local jumble sale today - the village hall at Holford was heaving with pushing, shoving people all after a bargain! We did do a bit of elbowing, but unfortunately didn't find too many little gems, other than some old Enid Blyton books, which I love and can't resist buying.
Never mind, time for tea! We stopped on the way back for tea (well, you have to, don't you?) but were very good and resisted the temptation to have any cake (Bella was baking this morning, so she has cakes at home!!) but I am trying to slim down a little.
We had bad news about our gallery space this week - unfortunately the offer has been withdrawn and we will have to wait a little longer for space, which will give us more time to make stock!
But the good news for this week is we have now opened an online shop within Etsy. Check it out at http://www.etsy.com/shop/BellaandtheMoo
Bookings for all three hand-made and vintage fairs are coming along nicely and we can't wait for the first one in March!
Keep warm and well everyone!
Tina xx

If you're happy and you know it ....

What a week! Work-wise I have been stressed to the hilt, but was driving home from the office today (my week's end) when I had a text message from Fi asking if I wanted to help her take the girls to a new stay & play group tomorrow morning? Do I? Ooh! Sounds like my idea of bliss! Can't wait, though I dare say I'll be exhausted at the end of the session!
I have done some work for Bella and the Moo this week - opening up a new online shop on Etsy, which will be great as we can start listing our gorgeous vintage china as well as our hand-made items. Keep watching as we will try to add things on a daily basis!
I am planning a lovely sewing weekend to get some new lines ready for our first hand-made and vintage fair in March. Bookings are coming in steadily and we're anticipating another success! We're also looking for some more fairs to attend, so let us know if you hear of any.
Better get some sleep so I'm raring to go tomorrow - I have a feeling I'm going to need my wits about me chasing round after two 2-year olds!!
Lots of love
Tina xxx

Oh what a lovely life!

I sometimes think we need to stop and contemplate life's loveliness. Steve and I have just spent an adorable day out with Maddie & Freya, our gorgeous granddaughters.
We took them to Weston-super-Mare and had a lovely drive up singing all their action songs! Steve tried to join in with the actions but Maddie was most insistent he "put your hands on the steering wheel grandad, you're driving!". Two year olds are priceless!
The new pier was our first destination and we spent a lovely hour in the soft-play area chasing them up and down steps, slides and walkways! I don't know where they get all their energy from as we were huffing and puffing after the first 15 minutes! We then changed into wellies and ran about on the sand, stamping on worm hills and making holes with our fingers!
Lunch was a very refined affair in the fast food cafe, but the girls were perfect angels and ate their meals quite beautifully. We must have exhausted the dear little things as they both fell asleep the minute we put them back in the car to drive home!
Days out like this make me realise how precious family is ... can we do it all again next Sunday please??
xx

Hello 2011, time for fun, cake and patriotism....

Hello Folks and Hello 2011!

Bella and The Moo had a wonderful 2010 and would like to do it all again this year.... so come and join in the fun! Crafts and cake and wonderful vintage things and of course two Royal Weddings to celebrate. Time to get out the red, white and blue bunting, if you don't have any just give us a call and we'd be delighted to make you some.
What a beautiful wintertime we've had with all the snow! I was snowed in in an isolated farmhouse the week before Christmas, just me, the animals, radio 4, an Aga and gallons of tea. I spent my days walking the hills, listening to the radio, reading, watching the circus that was the garden birds on the feeder, taking long blissful baths in a huge roll-top bath and generally being decadent while the rest of the world was frantically preparing for the festivities- BLISS! Same again next year please!
Back to reality now. Tina and I are preparing to stock our space in the rendezvous gallery in Taunton, do come and say hello and see our new stock. We have lot's of gorgeous vintage china, perfect for a garden party to celebrate William & Kates big day. We have also been busy planning new ranges and colour ways, the old favs are still here though.Tina has already been busy making lot's of bunting, which is one of our most popular makes. We sold lot's in red & white colourways in the run upto Christmas.
I've also found a local knitting group..... so watch this space. I'm hoping to learn some new stitches, so we shall see as following a pattern is anathema to me, my brain just doesn't work that way! I have to be shown! Poor Hilary will have her work cut out with me!

I thought I'd share this with you all; Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.
-George Bernard Shaw. ....... maybe I could knit myself?!


Be safe and Be Happy

Amanda xxx

the world's started spinning too fast again!

Grrrr! I've just spent the best part of an hour trying to set up an online shop at www.etsy.com. I have carefully filled in all the boxes to set up our shop profile FOUR times! Each time I hit the Save button and all that confronts me is the same screen blank again! I have had to come away from it before I throw the computer out of the window!!!
It's all very quiet at home - Steve is out playing golf (there's a surprise!) and Luke isn't due back till later this evening, so here I am updating the blog.
Amanda and I had a short business meeting yesterday over tea and mince pies but we did get some ideas buzzing backwards and forwards. Lots of plans for the spring.
We still haven't found any craft / vintage fairs to take part it locally but we'll keep looking! Let us know of any that you hear of!
Our own 3 fairs of this year are starting to fill up - I did a blanket email to all our previous exhibitors and two of them came back the same day requesting a space at all 3, which is really good news! I think they are going to be busy again ... but I suppose if not too many people are putting them on in this part of the country that will happen!!
I have spent a lot of time tweeting lately - I've really got into it! I find it a great community for meeting other crafters and makers of lovely things and its so much more vibrant than facebook! (Sorry fb! but it is!).
I'm back to work tomorrow - I did keep my fingers crossed earlier when it started to snow that I may not be able to get up to work, but it seems not to be! Sigh!!
I hope the new year brings you all everything you want together with peace and love.
Tina xxxx