Lots Going On

I have not blogged for a couple of weeks, I seem to spend lots of time on twitter as it is more instant and you can also chat to other crafters while you work :)

I was embellishing these little hats last week. After teaching lots of teenagers how to do blanket stitch over the summer holidays while making mobile phone socks, I realised I could do it myself, I had not been able to do it neatly before, its still not perfect but I am pleased with the results.  I have used found bits of fabric and embroidery to add onto the hats a great way of recycling little bits of fabric.  I have cheated and not knitted the hats first, the credit for those goes to Bridgette my knitting angel :) using the Adriafil Mirage yarn. I have just realised i have not put those on my website..lots of updating to do next week :)

On Saturday I ran a Needlefelting workshop, always great fun. I cover the table with all the lovely Merino wools, a mixture of the embellishing yarns I have in the shop as well as beads, buttons and findings so everyone can take home finished items.

This is what every body made Tina aka Mollimoo has blogged about the workshop :)

One of the ladies went home wearing her cupcake and leek brooches she made during the class and was also armed with enough knowledge to go and teach needlefelting at a craft workshop in the school where she works.

I am getting ready to have a stand with The Travelling Anonymous Market at the Bison Centre East knoyle On Saturday.

Arthur helped me to paint these lovely old potato trugs, he loves doing little jobs like this,

and cocentrates very hard :)
I chose some colours I thought looked a little bit vintage and would look great sanded down to give an aged feel.
Then I realised that I had been influenced by the colours in the car museum..inspiration can come from anywhere, it is funny that I took the picture above while we were at the car museum, it obviously was ingrained in my brain. As I took the picture below I had a feeling I had seen it before and had to search back through my photos for the one above ;)
They have come out quite well considering they were covered in mud and looking very shabby.
Now I can put my yarns in them and they will stack on top of each other (easier to use sack trucks to get to pitch) and then go straight on the shelves saving me some setting up time.
George said they look like 'farmers market' but with yarn instead of veg, well that about sums it up I think?

The week in pictures.

I have been making these little button hearts to go on Folksy (the bottom one has already Sold :) and also for
a little craft market this Saturday called the Anonymous Travelling Market, it's going to be held at Pyt House Garden, which is a lovely pyo and has a gorgeous cafe. There is going to be food stalls as well as local crafts.  I have no idea how its going to go, and it will be the first time i have exhibited for a very long time.
It was lovely being able to work in the garden last week in the sun. 
Tony and george thought I had gone mad when these Bakelite furniture rests arrived, but I did have a plan for them..
Great for putting all the little beads in and also for people to use on my workshops for collecting the buttons and bits for making. They don't take up as much space as the little saucers i have been using.
It was a great week for barbeques and yummy salads in the garden.
George went to a 70's and 80's party and decided to go as a pacman...think he had got a little bit bored by the time it got to painting it :)  Arthur had to help him test it out.
Apparently it lasted about an hour at the party (as george had predicted) every one wanted a go in it till it completely fell apart.

Well I'm off to do some making with lots of other ladies as its Crafty Tuesday! Any one can join me round the table and bring whatever they are working on, knitting,crochet,sewing,beading etc. A lovely way to start the week :)

Back to work.

I had a lovely delivery of Jewellery Tuesday and have been busy changing my whole cabinet, which now looks very flowery, and organised....another delivery of Pearls and Girls jewellery is due in any day, and really there is not much space left for it. I think I need a rush of customers, always the optimist :)  Today i am going to finish these brooches just need to add butons and beads.
I really should be doing a whole shop stock take :( but keep getting side tracked as usual..there are much more fun things to do, counting is boring!  I have started though..slowly slowly, I have found Items that no longer go well in with the constantly changing stock, so next week I am going to have a photography week, and update my shops on Folksy and Etsy (with new bits) and have a sale on e-bay (with old bits).  While doing the link to my Etsy shop I realised how long it is since i updated it, poor shop.  
These are some of my button brooches using some of my huge stash of Vintage buttons, I have been teaching people how to make these and button hearts as well as jewellery as part of the new button workshop.
I thought I would share a couple of my favorite cards with you, these are by Pulp, and I have a great range of them in my shop.
Der.. think that might be me ;0