Lee and I spent 6 hours in the studio today dismantling it, cleaning it and putting it back together in a different formation. I’m much happier with it –  it has a little more personality now, less junk hanging around and is much more organised.

This is the new area created by moving the shelves to create a “back room” area. Behind the shelves is the new kitchenette – there’s a sink back there, kettle, etc. There’s also a zillion boxes ready to pack up orders.

The shelves have some of the stock, kits and more packaging and that there is the table where all the samplers are ironed and framed up and the orders are packed on.

There’s even space now for a display area! Here’s the new shop-ette. We’re in the midst of setting it up for our first open studio evening which is happening this Thursday!

We’ll have handmade gifts and accessories for sale, including samplers, coasters, magnets, Christmas cards, kits and much more. The studio is open from 4pm until 8pm.

We’re at 6C Argyle Court Workshops, The Hidden Lane, 1103 Argyle Street, Glasgow, G3 8ND. For those in the know, we’re down the Hidden Lane (just next to the legendary GG Brothers!) – turn left and head for the cafe and we’re just to the left through the green door next to the cafe.

Here’s a handy map for how to find us. We’re right on the main bus route from the city centre – the 9, 62, 42, 747 and many more buses will bring you right to the Lane!

And there’s more than one shop open down the Lane this Thursday:

The Much Too Fun Hidden Pop-Up Shop is also opening for the first time! Double rainbow of awesome! Click here for information – it’s going to be ace.

Invite your friends, tell your neighbour, bring your colleague – hope to see you there!

PS  - If you’re a Facebooker, why not like our page and RSVP? It’s not essential, but it’d be nice to have your Facebook company!

Just a quick post to say that our little studio warming shindig has had to be postponed due to a few things in the studio not running quite to timescale for being sorted out! We will be holding our open evening in November instead, which will be perfect for Christmas shopping too!

But you can come along to Hannah Zakari tomorrow and catch us in action – so hotly anticipated that even the Guardian’s talking about it - ooh la la!

On Saturday 16th October (yes, that’s this Saturday!), I’ll be setting up camp in indie design heaven Hannah Zakari, in Edinburgh, to stitch badges and indeed whatever else you fancy, to order!

It’s also a celebration of 6 years of Hannah Zakari, so there will be cake, cross-stitching and me, Claire – what more could you want?! Join us between 12 and 5. See you there!

For information and address, etc, click here.

..you need to be here. If nothing else, for the pear and lemongrass martinis and to have a natter with yours truly. I’ll be heading down to London to meet up with the x-stitch crew for this exciting event and the Knitting and Stitching Show too. Hope to see you there!

We’ll be at the last Made In The Shade at the Lighthouse this Saturday, from 1o-5.  I say we, I’ll be there for the first half and Mr Miso Funky will be manning the stall when I have to go to work – be gentle with him!

Although this is the last event at the Lighthouse, the event will continue elsewhere in the city and in Edinburgh – phew! To check out who will be joining Hamish & the gang, click here.

Hope to see you there!

Phew, what a scorcher! London was so hot and I’m almost glad to be back in rainy, windy, cold Glasgow, where summer seems to be over already.

Myself and former Miso Funkateer and best friend Jo went down to London for the Bust Craftacular last weekend and what a weekend it was! We crammed a lot in besides the big event, including:

a trip to see Sister Act at the London Palladium! It was awesome and we got half -price second row seats. What better way to prepare for a craftacular?

On Saturday, we were up bright and early to be driven by our Hilton driver (la-di-da! We got a very cheap deal!) from Canary Wharf to Bethnal Green where a queue right around the block waited to get in:

We got set up on our mini half-stall next to lovely Kali from Lush and Lovely. It was already starting to get warm in there – it was such a hot day outside and even hotter inside!

Here’s our stall, ready to go. Two thumbs up from Jo! I had time for a quick photo of the calm before the storm…

..and then the doors opened and it was so busy that the next thing I knew it was past 3pm and we’d almost run out of postcards, which were doubling up as very handy fans in the sweltering heat.

A wee close up of the Miso Funky stall – all carried down to London in the biggest suitcase known to man.

It’s never a good day out without cake or pie, and luckily, at the indie food court, we could have both! I am sure our stall neighbours thought we did nothing but eat all day! But it really was too hot for cake – I had a mouthful of this brownie then brought the rest home for Lee.

We also had the most awesome pork pie from Lardy Da.

We met so many awesome people, including our stall neighbour Phil from Urban Cross Stitch, who we are really looking forwards to working with in the future! We also hooked up with Jamie from Mr X Stitch and met some good online friends, including Lee May from Bonbi Forest and Anna from Custom Made, to name but a few!

After a very long day’s sweating craftacularising, we were sad to miss out on the 1983 disco Phil invited us to, but we just had enough energy to drop off the giant suitcase and have a curry on Brick Lane before retiring to our air conditioned room to go over our purchases (another post soon about those!).

Sunday, before we had to come back on the tilty train, we managed to squeeze in a whistlestop tour of the Cabinet War Rooms after a walk down the sunny Embankment and then the obligatory self-portrait…

..before hopping on that train and getting back to Glasgow.

Whilst I was down in the big smoke, meeting all those awesome people and bringing cross stitched goodness to the people of our capital, Lee was at home, having a wife-less birthday! Lee aka Mr Miso Funky worked very hard in the run up to the Craftacular to make sure that no-one would go away tea towel-less and make sure I ate and had clean clothes – so join me in a big belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY to him!

I’ve returned to a giant to-do list with a lot of shops seemingly running out of stuff all at once, so the pace has not dropped – it’s relentless! I’m pleased about that of course! Also another couple of exciting things coming up in the next few months, so looking forwards to sharing those with you when the time comes.

For now, though, I think I need to get round to unpacking that suitcase before Lee or I break our necks tripping over it in the hall!

Hurrah! I didn’t think it was going to happen, but I’m excited to announce that Miso Funky shall go to the ball!

We’ve secured a mini stall at the BUST Craftacular in London on Saturday 10th July.

From 12-7, me and 59 other indie businesses will be plying our wares alongside DJs, crafting, cake and all sorts of other shenanigans.

I’ve also contributed to the Ladyfest 10 zine which is launching at the Craftacular.

Click here to find out more. Hope to see you there!

In London this Saturday? The We Make market is in town!

Although Miso Funky won’t be there, many of our crafting compadres will be putting on a good spread, so if you can make it to Chelsea Town Hall, do pop in and say hello.

There’s over 80 stalls to choose from, bunting workshops, a tombola, cake… A real fun day out!

Hope you have fun if you can make it!

Don’t forget, that if you’re in Edinburgh tomorrow, or elsewhere, looking for something to do, it’s all going on at the Roxy Art House!

From 10.30am – 5pm join Miso Funky and 38 other indie designers, crafters and vintage purveyors for a shopping experience with style. There’s live music, a pop-up cake lounge from Auntie M, a tombola and much more. I L-O-V-E tombolas!

At the Miso Funky stall, we’ll have a great selection of samplers and home accessories as usual as well as a big sale on some craft supplies and kits, including over 50% off some items, so make sure you stop by!

Click here for more info on the event and other stall-holders.

Miso Funky is taking part, albeit from afar, in Dundee’s Big Top Jamboree!

We’re in great company – the organisers are extremely talented young ladies themselves and there’s a whole host of creative goings-on throughout the event on Monday 17th May.

If you’re in Dundee, be sure to check it out! More info here.