It’s been a funny old week, and time to take a reflective pause.  We’ve known for months that this particular part of the year was going to have a lot going on, with our son’s wedding next weekend, our niece’s three weeks later, and Norfolk Open Studios.  And strangely several other invitations turned up – and had to be turned down – because they were all for things taking place during that exact period.

So it’s probably not the time to be making monumental decisions!

I started writing a blog for myself to start with.  I certainly didn’t think anyone else would want to read it!  And although I’ve read the articles, and joined in discussions on how to build a blog following, it has grown up organically over the last couple of years, and I’ve felt it a cosy place to be, with friends dropping in for a chat, an opportunity to share ideas and generally ‘spread a little happiness’ if I can.  I started the Cotton Club idea because I liked the idea of sharing something I had found and really liked, and I’ve been amazed at how popular it’s been. I’ve been particularly surprised at how the Rainbow Mouse idea, the Wreath and the clock seems to have struck a chord, and it’s been shared on UK Handmade, and Pinterest, and Facebook and who know where else.

I have been happy to share the few patterns I have on Planet Penny too, as it’s been a thrill to see my design turning up as a make on someone else blog, and I also wanted to give ideas to the people who have bought the yarn..

But the World Wide Web can be a big scary place, and it’s all too easy to think you’re sitting in a cosy little corner sharing your stuff with a few chums as I found out this week.   Imagine you’d invited a few friends round for coffee, and when you opened the door half the county streamed in, and started helping themselves to the soft furnishings…That’s how it felt on Tuesday, when someone, somewhere with a big following,  I think I’ve narrowed it down, mentioned I had a free pattern for the Rainbow mice.

I had seven and a half thousand hits in less than 24 hours!!!

Thousands of hits on all the patterns, but obviously most of all on the mice, and it completely ‘freaked me out’ as they say!  It felt like a smash and grab, or a raid!   It has had some positive points, I’ve picked up some lovely new followers, who have said very kind things,  and I do appreciate that.   I really don’t want to make anyone feel unwelcome, if you are a returning visitor then this is obviously not aimed at you.  But I feel the bulk of those 7500 hits won’t be repeated now they’ve gone through my assets!

So I’ve moved the Rainbow Mouse Pattern to my Folksy shop, where it can be bought, after Paypal and Folksy have taken their cut, for a nominal sum.  I shall do that with future patterns that are in the pipeline too.

BUT….I still want to share things with the Planet Penny Cotton Club Members so the patterns will always be free to anyone who has bought the yarn already, or to future purchasers.

On a lighter note, I went to a Tweet-up this week!  Several makers who Tweet together, but without necessarily knowing each other getting together for lunch, and a chat and a bit of a brainstorming session.  I already knew Gabriella, of Moobaacluck who organised it, and Lisa of Bobobun, but I was also able to meet Penny of Penny Lindop Designs, Suzanne Lake who sells on Folksy and Jane Pennington who sells her jewellery here.  It was so nice to put faces to Twitter names, and swap tips, ideas and horror stories over pizza and coffee!

Nearly all the creativity that’s been going on this week has still been of the secret variety I’m afraid, but I have had a play with the little flowers I made last week…

…and I think it’s something I’ll return to when things are a little quieter.

I’m hoping that qualifies me to join in with Handmade Monday again over with Wendy on 1st Unique Gifts where there will be lots of lovely things to see.  Do go and visit…

In the meantime, see you soon …x

Edited to add: The mystery has been solved with an apology from an American TV Show ‘Knit and Crochet Now’ which had forgotten to warn me they were featuring the Rainbow Mice on their Facebook Page (which has rather a large following!)  I’m glad I know, I can now feel flattered they noticed, rather than scared of the attention!