Day 30 - Ta Dah......!

Finally.... here we are.

Day 30 of my 30 Day Blogging Challenge.

A post every single day for 30 days.... that's almost half as many as the whole of last year! Not only that, I've been multitasking like a productivity ninja all month too.

I know.

I can't quite believe it either.

It feels like a long time since the beginning of January, and my first challenge post.  I can't claim to have succeeded in my quest to write 'shimmering prose' but I've enjoyed the journey, and have even managed to rekindle affection for my blog, which had been languishing in neglect for far too long.

So, what now?

Well, since I signed up for this, (and if you're a fellow blogger and fancy having a go yourself, simply visit Sarah Arrow's 30 Day Blogging Challenge ) I've received an email from Sarah every day, with helpful hints, tips, suggestions, tools and resources.  Many of the emails also contained tasks designed to improve your blogging prowess.

I must admit I've mostly 'free-styled' over the course of the last 30 days, so I'm going to go systematically through every email and carefully implement all of the suggestions which are relevant to me.

I'm also determined to post more consistently this year, although I will most certainly be taking tomorrow off.

However, to round off this challenge, it has been brought to my attention that in my first post I wrote...

"There will be action, adventure, elephants, intrigue, exposés, and exclusive insights."

So....

Day 29 - Penultimate day....

I seriously doubted whether I would have time to post at all today.

Since this morning I've been cleaning all the things, prepping all the food and chilling all the wine.... anyone would think we had guests coming later.

Tomorrow is the last day of this 30 day blogging challenge, so I'll write a rip-roaring, barnstorming, call-to-arms post which will both amazing and great.

However, today, I'm taking the easy option so here is my mood in a picture......

Day 28 - Ending Sunday......

As well as my 30 day blog challenge ending on Sunday, my latest Ebay auction will finish then too.  At 4.00 pm, GMT.

I made this little half scale doll and wicker pram set specially for the auction and full details are on my Ebay listing HERE.  

As always, if you decide to bid, good luck!

I'm still putting the finishing touches to my last listing of January, which will start straight after the current auction ends.  

Can't post photos yet but here's a clue...... "You SHALL go to the ball!"

Day 27 - The end is in sight.....

This daily blogging mallarkey has had some unforeseen consequences.

When I started, 27 days ago, I really didn't know if I'd be able to do it.  I'm not known for consistent perseverance and the prospect of compulsion, of having to post, whether I felt like it or not, was not an attractive one.

I'm also not known for being excessively well organised and I worried about where I'd find the time to commit to the task.  I thought, wrongly as it turns out, that I wouldn't be able to get anything else done, and that my creativity and productivity would suffer.

But I needn't have worried.

I haven't fallen behind in anything.  As well as managing to post every day, I've been turning into a real productivity ninja, spending quality time in the workroom, actually creating rather than staring out of the window and looking for stuff.  

I've cleared no end of commission work this month, and fulfilled orders, as well as designing and producing several new miniatures.  

I've made a return to Ebay and I've kept up with my business Facebook page, as well as completing the 5-Day Art Challenge.

And that's on top of all the other domestic stuff including de-Christmassing the house and tackling the porch makeover.

All in all I'm gobsmacked!

However, it does beg the question of what will happen when I'm no longer blogging daily. Will I return to my slothful, procrastinating ways, regressing from ninja to dormouse in one swell foop...?

Day 26 - With a little help from my friend......

Scene - Sandra's desk in the office.  Her laptop is unattended while she's in the workroom.
Enter Small Dog, at a trot.  Breaking stride she leaps up onto the empty chair, and sits, looking at the computer screen, the germ of an idea forming in her furry little head.

A few minutes later, a tapping noise can be heard, which Sandra eventually decides to investigate.....

SD: (typing)  Helo.  This is Small Dog. Aparentlie mai mumm mukked up hur blogg challinj  yestirdai and sumwun sujestid that ai help hur owt so heer ai... 

Me: (from the doorway) Excuse me!  

SD:(turning slowly) O..... Hai

Me: What ARE you doing?

SD:  Helpen.

Me:  ?

SD:  Yue kno.... with yure bloggurs blok.  Shimmrin pros and stuff.  Ai am rytin it.

Me:  Down.

SD:  O but muurrrmmmm....... this is kawld showen inishyativ.....

Me:  DOWN! Now.

SD: (jumping down sulkily) *muttr, grumbul* wel thats the larst tym aym helpen yue, so DOANT wurri *skowl* emploiyea of the munth * mone, winj* kno gratitewd......


I sit down and stare at the screen......

Stuk with bloggurs blok
Kno problemo sais Small Dog
Ai am heer to hellp....

Noises off :  *muttr, sie* this is orl the thancs ai gett...... bluddie hai kews....doant kno what orl the fus is abowt.  Sum peepul have kno imajinashun *grumbl, snuffel*

Day 25 - Errrmmmm.....

It had to happen eventually.

I've hit the 'blog wall'

Having just spent 20 minutes starting at my laptop screen, getting nowhere, I have to admit defeat.

So here's a haiku.....

It seems a lost hope
Thoughts and words escape me now.
Buggrit, oh buggrit.

Day 24 - Little boxes.....

I have a guilty secret.

I'm a sucker for little things in boxes.  The smaller the better.

All of my little toy dolls come in special boxes, many of my toys come in boxes, I've just started a range of Mignonette dolls in boxes...... I'm a little bit obsessed with boxes.

So for Day 3 of my Art Challenge, I present a selection of little toy dolls in boxes.  Or, to be more precise, tiny wooden trunks.

 Illustrated vintage-style wooden doll trunk

Which opens to reveal.......

Inside, the trunks are decorated in tiny print papers.  The little toy doll is on a removable stand and is dressed in shades of silk to complement the trunk.  She carries a tiny leather handbag.

On the other side of the box is a silk dress on a hanger.  Under the shelf is a matching silk and lace bonnet and a tiny posy of silk roses.

Doll trunk in pink

These little vintage doll trunks are very popular, and often sell out as soon as they're listed on the website, so I'm always happy to make them to order, in specific colours to match or contrast with customers' doll's house decor.