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My Blog
Lavender hearts, lavender pillows, dried lavender gifts
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Bev: Posted on Friday, March 16, 2012 1:36 PM
What an exciting Friday I'm having!!! Just picked up the latest issue of Craftseller magazine and there is a fab article in it on page 25 all about my unique aprons. I have a smile from ear to ear.....Thank you.xx |
Aprons and Pinnies, Cupcakes, Press release and news, hearts, Lavender hearts, lavender pillows, dried lavender gifts, How to make, Calendar Girls, Pink products, Mother's day Gifts
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Bev: Posted on Thursday, March 01, 2012 3:40 PM
Happy Saint David's Day to all my Welsh readers. Spring is here! Daffodils are blooming, days are getting longer - so time to get out and about...offers to tempt you and places to visit, Mothers to pamper and a few jobs to do.... plus Customer of the Month celebrations.. So let March blow away your cobwebs! For the Love of Mothers With Mothering Sunday on the 18th March, it's time to pamper her - breakfast in bed, lunch out, afternoon tea treat, weekend away... or make it a girly trip out. March's Offer Have you got the urge yet to start your Spring Cleaning? Well as a special treat to my readers I am offering FREE SHIPPING within the UK during March on my Spring Cleaning Aprons They make your chores easier, giving you more time to enjoy yourself! So get ahead, get organised and look forward to a sparkly house and some much deserved ME-time. If you don't have time to visit my website, click on the "Buy Now" button below to purchase the above apron. First come first served as they are all unique! Shop on the go at mrs madden makes! No need to stay in! Isn't technology wonderful? You can now visit my web shop on the move on your mobile phone. It is only a mini version of the full website but it makes it easier for you if you have the urge to splurge! Coffee and Crafts What a fab concept? If you like to craft and are a lover of home-made cakes then Rivers Meet is a destination Craft Cafe for you. Situated just outside Leeds in the village of Methley, Jo, the proprietor, teaches sewing classes and also makes the cakes for the cafe. The day we visited was very icy but we were greeted by a roaring fire. We spent a lovely morning there - I was quite good, having the fat free fruit cake - browsing the shop and enjoying a couple of cups of coffee. We shall be back - either to visit one of the many craft fairs, join in a craft class or just for lunch. Customer of the Month a male Customer of the Month!!! This month's voucher to goes to Caroline & Johnny..."..sending you some pics of the man in action wearing his apron. He loved it. Thanks once again...Caroline xx" Congratulations to Johnny - hard at work jamming!! Please do keep sending your photos in...I like to see the aprons being put to good use and you could win a voucher too! Remember it doesn't have to be an apron - it can be anything that you have bought from Please, can you help spread the word? I have been busy getting some new postcards made to promote my mrs madden makes newsletter and website. If any you would like some of them to hand out to your friends, family, neighbours and work colleagues or know of somewhere, where you can put one up as a poster, then I will be only too happy to pop some in the post to you and will really appreciate your help. Just email me with your address and I will give you 10% off your next purchase. Thank you. xx A Taste of Summer......in March! Love to try different ciders? A friend of mine has just had an article published in Specialty Food Magazine - a first for her! Read her fabulous article on Cider here on page 32 I feel a glass of cider is in order..........cheers! Discount Voucher Just for you If you fancy a trip out to Wakefield, please do come along and say hello and bring this voucher with you....you never know you may just find something you like. With Mother's Day and Easter coming along shortly, I will have some new products being launched... Well, here's wishing you a marvellous March! ©mrs madden makes 2012 |
Aprons and Pinnies, Food, Slimming World,slimming, Christmas, Cafes in West Yorkshire, Newsletter Archive, Cupcakes, Fairs, Press release and news, Customer photos, Lavender hearts, lavender pillows, dried lavender gifts, farm Shops, daffodils, Customer of the month, Calendar Girls, Pink products, Spring cleaning, Mother's day Gifts
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Bev: Posted on Monday, February 06, 2012 12:42 PM
This month is all about food and love or is it just love of food??!! Love is in the Air February is the month of love with Valentine's Day on the 14th and it's also Leap Year. So if you have a beau in tow - now's the time to go for it girls! And if you need a little help why not treat yourself to this lovely cushion and position it just right to catch his eye! "Cuddle up to the Cook!" It could get HOT in the kitchen!!! Must-do this month! Red and pink and the colours of love and also Rhubarb! After living in Yorkshire for many years, last February we managed to do the"Rhubarb Tour" and thoroughly enjoyed it and wondered why it had taken us so long to get around to it. For those of you who don't know, the area around Wakefield and south of Leeds is known as the Rhubarb Triangle and this wonderful vegetable now has the EU's Protected Designation of Origin Status. So if you get chance, please do come to Wakefield for the Rhubarb Festival which takes place from the 24th to the 26th February. Take the Oldroyd and Sons Tour - if you are lucky you will get Janet who is a fantastic guide and you may have even seen her on Countryfile. Also visit the fabulous food stalls and cookery demos in the city centre. There's more to rhubarb than crumble! Right, my mouth is now watering, so I'm off to make a rhubarb dessert for tonight using some of my rhubarb and vanilla liqueur from the Customer of the month Wow!!! Another first for mrs madden makes! Thank you so much to the lovely Jennie for sending these fab photos across from the other end of the earth and for taking the time to model the apron in full view of all the tourists on the waterfront in Sydney! This month's prize voucher goes to Maggie who emailed the photos in..... "My sister in law, Jennie, loved her Mrs Madden Makes apron and has sent through some photos of it from Oz. Not everyday tourists get to see a random woman standing out front of Sydney Opera House with a cooking apron on" - Maggie So far this year we have had photos from New York and now Sydney...so where will we get to see next.....Antartica??? Do send your photos in as it's so nice to see where my aprons are living and you too could win a mrs madden makes voucher. Tip of the Month Next time you have a coffee, try having white sugar instead of brown in it..that is of course if you take sugar. Are you crazy? It's not normal! I can hear you saying... well the reason being, I spent a lovely Saturday with a friend on a coffee course the other week, and the lady running it told us that the molasses in the brown sugar can make the coffee taste quite bitter but the white sweetens it properly. Let me know how you get on. Lady Aga New stock of Aga aprons has arrived this week at Country Warmth in Norton near Malton, including this lovely "Lady AGA" cupcake apron. They are also stocking the "Do my buns look big in this?" Cupcake apron ...so pop along and say hello and get warm amongst the AGAs...just what you need with all the wintery weather. So that's all for now..hope to see you at some of my fairs , and do write in and let me know your news too and I'd love to see your photos. Please forward this onto anyone you think may like to read it and if you want to have it sent direct to your inbox each month then please sign up for my newsletter by following this link now. Best wishes and take care in this cold weather, Foodie Bev ©mrs madden makes 2012 |
Aprons and Pinnies, Newsletter Archive, Cupcakes, Recipes, Press release and news, Customer photos, hearts, Valentine's Day Gifts, Lavender hearts, lavender pillows, dried lavender gifts, How to make, Rhubarb, Customer of the month, Calendar Girls, Pink products
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Bev: Posted on Sunday, January 22, 2012 3:58 PM
 Make your own Valentine Heart Kit Give someone you love a unique heart.
The kit comes complete with an 8" twiggy heart, fabric and instructions for you to make your own heart. All it needs is your creativity and a pair of scissors!
The fabrics will differ in each pack but will generally be a mixture of reds and pinks unless you require another colour combination. |
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Bev: Posted on Sunday, October 16, 2011 3:45 PM
Aprons and Pinnies, Cupcakes, Fairs, hearts, Lavender hearts, lavender pillows, dried lavender gifts, tea cosies, tea cosy, shopping bags, Calendar Girls, Christmas cards, Christmas
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Bev: Posted on Saturday, September 10, 2011 2:47 PM
Be the first in the queue and visit my shop for the launch of my mrs madden makes Christmas cards. Get ahead for Christmas and get your cards written ready for posting and saving precious time for yourself later.... |
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Bev: Posted on Tuesday, September 06, 2011 3:45 PM
Welcome to September's newsletter. I hope that you all have had a wonderful summer and been to some exciting places, but dare I say it, we are now on the count down to Christmas! However, I'm hoping for an Indian Summer and putting off the Christmas To-Do list until next month We have lots of exciting news to share from new products, to recipes to Customer of the Month, even some handy hints and tips and where you can see me this month, so I hope you enjoy reading it. New Products Following the successful launch of my greeting cards at the Driffield Show, you are now able to buy them on line for the first time. You can buy them individually or save when you buy 6....take a look Taken from my original watercolours and left blank for your own messages, I'm sure you will find some that you like. The NEW "Andy" Bag, so called as it's very Handy Andy, comprises of cotton and cord and because of the length of it's re-inforced hessian webbing straps, can either be worn over the shoulder or carried in your hand. With the contrast cord or twill lining it becomes reversible for a change too! Very serviceable as it has a dark coloured lining and the body has also been strengthened for durability. Size:43cms x 28cms Ideal for taking on holiday, shopping at your local farm shop or just nice & fun to have handy at any time to brighten your day! New Stock arrives at AGA To celebrate the launch of the new AGA Total Control oven, Country Warmth in Norton near Malton commissioned some new aprons including some old favourites.....why not pop down and take a look. As these are bespoke for AGA you won't find them anywhere else! How to harvest your lavender Lavender can help the body and mind to relax and when used correctly it is a valuable little oil to have with you at all times, as it is antiseptic, antibiotic and antiviral. So if you have lavender in your garden, get picking! It's best to harvest it when it is in full flower as it holds it's scent the best and longest. Arm yourself with an apron with pockets - I use my favourite garden apron as it has lots - a ball of string, a pair of scissors or secateurs and a few paper carrier bags...read on Glut of tomatoes? Gosh, it doesn't seem five minutes since I last had to deal with a glut of tomatoes...so if you're like me and are looking for something really quick & easy to do with your little red darlings then you may find this recipejust the job..... for an added piz-zaz I've included a chopped red chilli this year...watch this space! Customer of the Month Isn't he a cutie?! I just couldn't resist this photo, so a big thank you to Rohan's Mum, Liz for sending it in. He's pictured here with his mrs madden makes celebration baby cushion. He looks so laid back and happy. Congratulations to Liz & Rohan, from West Yorkshire, who win this month's voucher towards any future purchases. In every monthly newsletter, I will be featuring a customer of the month. This will allow you to see how other customers are using our products. In addition, it will help you feel confident that you are going to get the service and attention you will need. If you have a photo that you want featured and want to be entered into next month's draw, please email it in before the end of September. Tip of the Month Want to save on seeds for 2012? Then this is the time of year to start collecting seed heads from your flowers that are finishing. These wonderful marigolds have been blooming all summer in my veg garden and they were from only a handful of seeds from last year's blooms. Pick them and place them in a brown paper bag. Tie the top loosely with string and put in a warm, ventilated dark room such as a linen cupboard. Within weeks you should have lots of seeds ready for next spring's sowing. Once dried you can store them in paper envelopes....don't forget to mark them with the name of your flower. You can also do it with the sunny happy cosmos... Meet me in September Friday 30th September Shelley Village Hall near Huddersfield 11am to 2pm in aid of MacMillan Have a wonderful September and keep those photos and emails coming as I love to hear from you Best wishes, ©Copyright 2011 |
Aprons and Pinnies, Newsletter Archive, Cupcakes, Recipes, Fairs, Press release and news, Customer photos, Lavender hearts, lavender pillows, dried lavender gifts, How to make, Customer of the month, shopping bags
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Bev: Posted on Monday, August 22, 2011 5:23 PM
Back by popular demand, the article on how to harvest your lavender.  Well I feel so laid back and relaxed as I have just spent the past hour harvesting my lavender.It 's such a shame to do it in one way as the bees seem to be having a ball but if I leave it any longer then it will all have gone to seed.
How to harvest your lavender:
- It's best to harvest it when it is in full flower as it holds it's scent the best and longest.
- Arm yourself with an apron with pockets - I use my favourite garden apron as it has lots - a ball of string, a pair of scissors or secateurs and a few paper carrier bags. However any kind of paper bag will do.
- I put my ball of string into one pocket and my scissors in the other.
Cut into the lavender and try to get as long stalk as possible. Try not to cut into the dead wood as it will prevent it from flowering next year. - Tie a piece of string around a good bunch and then tie this to the handles of the bag, making sure the lavender is inside the bag of course. The seeds can then dry off and fall into the bag.
Keep doing this until the bag is full, about 4 to 5 bunches and then move onto the next bag.
Next tie the handles together with the string
Tie the bag to a hook or somehing similar in a dark, dry room such as an airing cupboard. I tend to use my airing cupbaord but also my cellar. It's lovely when you open the door and your linen smells of lavender. - Leave for a couple of months until it is really dry and the seeds fall off, then you are raring to go.
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Bev: Posted on Wednesday, July 27, 2011 1:27 PM
What a day it was! Sun, rain, wind, thunder, lightening but still the crowds came. It was so nice to see some of my customers too. Thank you for dropping by to say hello and a big thank you for making a purchase again this year. But the icing on the cake was winning 2nd Prize for the Best Rural Craft Trade Stand..thank you to all the judges at Driffield...it made my day, my week...my year!!! A FIRST for mrs madden makes. I still have the grin on my face..the cat that got the cream, so to speak! |
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Bev: Posted on Saturday, June 11, 2011 3:01 PM
Thank you for all your lovely comments on my newsletters. It's great to know that you are reading them and that they brighten your day! Well what happened to May and the warm weather that we were expecting? Apparently it's been saving itself for June.....so unwrap that scarf from around your neck, dig out your floaty summer dress and look forward to spending some time outside in the sunshine....here comes summer! So give yourself permission to take time out in your garden for your morning coffee. Weather permitting, I like to sit here surrounded by the fantastic scent of my summer pinks and climbing rose - giving me inspiration to carry on designing. Useful Holiday ideas Don't know about you, but my thoughts are now on holidays and a break from the sewing machine...even though I love it. I like to be organised and make packing easy..... but it's usually last minute when it's done Here are a few of my latest products that may help your holiday & packing go with a swing Lovely lavender travel pillows for your journey and your summer napping in the garden - lavender harvested from my garden Limited Edition Watercolour print Holiday Tote bags - complete with book marks and pockets for your books too. Ideal for carrying all your bits and pieces and also fold up to go in your case. Watercolours by yours truly! Keep your smalls neat and tidy in these fab travel laundry bags A girl can never have too many pairs of shoes on holiday. Keep them clean and safe in the gorgeous vintage shoe bags These products will be launched at the Southwell Fair so are not yet in my web shop, but if you fancy one or two of them then justgive me a call A date for July: Driffield County Show July 20th more details to follow shortly where you will be able to see my new products as they roll off the sewing machine Please let all your friends know...the more the merrier. I am trying to get to 100 followers by the end of this summer. Holiday Tip of the month Roll up your smalls and pack them inside your shoes to maximise on space and keep your shoes in shape in the case Don't Forget Father's day 19th June If he loves to barbecue or is a whizz in the kitchen, then why not treat him to a fun apron? Get 10% off your first mrs madden makes purchase If you would also enjoy reading my newsletters then please do sign up for a regular newsletter. Make sure you tell me where you heard about me and as a thank you, you will get 10% off your next purchase New Pinnies at Ainsty's Farm Shop Why treat yourself to a trip out and pop along to Ainsty's Farm shop in Green Hammerton, near York and have a look at my new batch of pinnies hot off the sewing machine - floral frilly pinnies, Baking Queen and Pastry Princess are a few among the new designs. Stock up on some great local produce too...their local strawberries are a must...please tell Lily and Stuart that you heard about them here..they like to know where their customers come from |
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