Miss Araminta comes to stay.

Look who came to live with us this morning.

Isn't Miss Araminta just lovely? And look how well she fit's in...

Isn't she pretty? And aren't I lucky?
I snapped Miss Araminta up when this wonderfully talented young lady offered her up for sale in her new Shop !

As I'm sure you all know,  Lily is Kristy's  very talented 12 year old daughter who decided recently that she was going to take the plunge and set up her own business called Novelty 12. Yes, at 12 years old!
I can't tell you how impressed I am by Lily and her already obvious talent. She completely understands the need to make your own mark in the creative world. It's already about coming up with pieces that are original and unique rather than just following someone elses patterns and I think you'll all agree that she's succeeding! And I'm not just talking about how sweet it is that she wants to be like her mum, or saying look how clever my friend's daughter is. I'm talking about a young lady that really does grasp the whole business side of creating as well as the creative side.  I mean, just look at the tag that came with Miss Araminta.

It more than earns it's place next to some of my other favourite business cards, with it's clean lines and simplicity.

I can't tell you how much I love the fact that we are not only teaching our children to appreciate creativity, but also teaching them that it is a viable business. Not that I'm saying that you should go into  crafting for the money (hah!), but I do think it's vital that our children are taught that handcrafted goods are worth paying good money for and that you are justified in wanting to have an actual career in the arts.
So many of us say that we love to craft but that the whole business side of it stumps and scares us. So how wonderful is it to see someone as young as Lily taking the bull by the horns and going for it. And how wonderful to think that there may be a generation of new crafters that are at  home with both the creative side to crafting and the business side. Handcrafting won't be taken seriously until crafters can stop being embarressed to charge for their time and talents and can stand up and say that we are viable business women and men. And maybe that's something that we can pass on to the next generation.
Which is why I think it's so important to celebrate Lily's new venture and give her all the praise and encouragement she deserves. She has a belief in herself that most of us sadly know disappears with age and I say lets try and keep that belief alive for as long as possible.
But  even if you ignore all of that, I can honestly say that Miss Araminta is one very cool softy! And that as long as Lily wants to create softy's I'm pretty sure this household will be happy to make more space for them!

Comments

[Sue]

What a sweetie - and she looks so at home already!!

[Sam]

Fantastic. I'm looking forward to seeing Bella's first creation too!
I reached the end of my tether with being pregnant the day I could no longer put on my own socks.
I am going to be watching your shop for new additions like a hawk because there are some quick shoppers out there and I am always missing out!

[Hilda May]

I'm totally with you on this.....I started a sewing/needlework club at my boys school last term and have re-started it again this term....I look at those kids and think will you be doing something with this in the future?....they are absolutley enjoying themselves...there is a need out there to get kids awakening their creativeness and just go and experiment...they are just as excited as I am.......
Rachel x

[tracy x]

i am waiting in line for a pretty green softie from this very talented (and beautiful) young craft worker x
tracy x

[Georgia]

Araminta is gorgeous - love her kissy lips!

[Grainne]

Well said Manda, and well done Lily!

Have you considered Lily as a name for MP-2. I love that name.

[Nyk]

I just love this story. I'm guilty of the business side of things fear. Well done for Lily! I will be checking back to purchase one of her creations. I love her tags too.

[Louise]

Isn't she a gorgeous doll - I love the off centre legs sewn in one piece of fabric - brilliant. There is such a lot of character in that little face. Well done Lily!

['the' Kristy]

Thank you so much Manda.Lily is truely blessed to have such encouraging people in her life.I love how she is really running with the whole idea.Not just the crafting but the marketing and the creating of a whole package.She really is inspired by so many things she sees.I hope that this all gives her a fantastic foundation for whatever she choses to do.The confidence she has gained is so noticeable.It's given her a focus that so many her age don't seem to have. xxx

['the' Kristy]

Hi Manda, thank you for your lovely post! I'm blushing. It's lovely to have someone say nice thinks about you and even better when people say nice things about your work aswell! I just hope that the other girls have gotten to their new homes and haven't got lost. I remember when I was packing them all I could think was to make sure I didn't put each one in the wrong envelope. Yours is the right one and I hope the others are right aswell!
Thank you for the thanks
Lily
xxx

[Alicia P.]

I love you.