Word Bunting!

How excited am I?!  I had no energy today so I sat this afternoon and made this word bunting which goes on my craft fair display shelves.  I love it!  It took a while to make as I don't have one of those fancy machines which cuts out letters for you so I had to type the letters into word, then enlarge them to the right size, print them off, cut them out to use them as a template, draw round the templates onto the back of the thick paper I was using, remembering to turn them so they were right side down, then cut them all out!! I then threaded them onto some thin cord.  Phew!!  Good job Harry Potter was there for the duration ;o).

More Props :o)

 Remember me telling you about doing a basket so people could take it into their workplace?  Well I finally got a basket curtesy of the MIL (thank you).  I made a liner for it yesterday (I won't show you a close up of some of the stitching as the sewing machine was having an off day) then made a little hanging thing to go on one side.  I'm also going to make a small pocket to hang from the handle which will contact my contact info (save it getting lost under all the goodies). 

The in-laws used to stand at fairs so they brought me this display shelf for using at the fairs.  I've given it a good clean and now I feel the need to make some small bunting to hang on it.  I've also got a few custom orders I'm in the middle of so I'll see you later :o)

Story of the Birds

 I've started a craft group for some of my friends and we wanted to make some hanging decorations.  I shall prep some of the spring flowers and hearts but we wanted a bird too.  I set to started with the above one.  I love the wing inside but that's about it with that one.

 Next came this one..to test the pattern I'd drawn out.  I loved it so....

 ...then came these two.  The had a longer, pointy tail and they have features on both sides so they can be hung facing whichever direction you choose.  I shall make a few more (I may even add legs) then take better piccies, and then they shall be in the shop :o)

Let me know what you think won't you :o)

New Soap

A new soap for you all (as suggested by Shazronnie Makes Stuff) - Bare with Oatmeal.  Great for those who suffer from eczema as it's very beneficial for the skin.  Ready 22nd March 2012.

Also added a new date to the craft fair list!  Think it's going to be a very busy few months.

Exhausted, exhilerated, excited!

What a day I had at the Craft, Stitch and Hobby Trade Fair.  Got a few catalogues to look through, found some suppliers that I'm hoping to start using, and got a bucketful of excitement and enthusiasm for expanding the business.  I had to get up this morning as my head was just whirling with stuff so watch this space in the coming months :o)

I also got another craft fair booked for July, which I've added to the list on the left :o)

Re-Vamped Handmade Cards

I tweaked the New Baby Card a little....they definitely needed some buttons ;o).

And while I was at it I had a play with the 'I Love Cats' cards.  They now have a border - some with a button and some without :o).

Gorgeous-ness

New fabrics to play with.  The first is for a commission order and the others are the pieces I bought in York yesterday.  Very restrained I think ;o).

And this is where I shall be heading on Monday...my first ever trade fair.  I'm rather excited, and also a little apprehensive as I haven't much time there.  Anyway,  I shall make the most of it and spread my wings as far as they will go :o). 



Craft Fair Props

 As I've got a fair few craft fairs booked now I thought I'd better get some better display items for the tables.  I picked up those cup holders for £2 each in Wilko's...£2!! a bargain.  The small basket was in the charity shop...it's perfect for putting cards in.  I also got the small kilner jar to use as a money box which will then go in a basket of my goodies to various work places for people to purchase things they like). 

When I got home I set to and got the jar ready.  I removed the kilner inner and made a cardboard one with a slot cut into it.  I've used some paisley vellum to hide the contents, with a round of felt stuck inside on the bottom to stop the clanking of coins (hopefully).  I'll then put a strip of sellotape to stop the lid being opened with a ribbon over that to make it look pretty. 

 This is the soap boxed with different ribbon...

...and this is it with the new labels.  Off to pop them in the shop now so they'll be ready for Mothers Day :o)

New Baby

Don't get too excited...it's just a new card design!

I'm officially a great aunt!  This is for my great nephew, but I love the simplicity of it so there shall be more for the shop :o).

Brocklesby Country Fair, 2012

I am unbelievably excited (and just a little bit nervous) as I've just had my table at the Brocklesby Country Fair confirmed!!  This is amazing for me as it has over 10000 visitors on one day (if the weather is nice) so for me to get a table there is just amazing.  You have to apply to have a stall, and not everyone gets in as it's very popular.  It's also 3 miles up the road, so not such an early morning ;o).

Whoop whoop...off to try and calm down a bit!

Playing

 Playing with cardboard and papers...

 ..and with the shredder.

 Finding the boxes I ordered months ago...

 Then having a play!  Do you wanna see?

 Really?



Go on then :o).  What do you think? 

I've been wanting to get the soaps into gift boxes for ages but I've always put it off for some reason.  Well, today was the day to sort them out.  I really like how they look and I'm making a label to go on the front tonight too, then they'll be in the shop.



Artisans in Action

I thought I'd tell you a bit more about the Artisan in Action event which I've been invited to participate in.  The lovely ladies who are organising it wanted people to understand what goes into these handmade pieces.  As veterans to the craft fairs, they've had there fair share of people commenting about prices, etc so they've organised this wonderful event over 2 days.  There will be demonstrations by approx 30 crafters throughout the course of the weekend, plus the chance to buy some wonderful items too.

I'm so thrilled to be involved.  For someone who started making things because I loved doing it, to creating Handmade Haven to sell some of those things, it's a huge boost to my confidence.  It's spurring me on to expand the things I make and sell, and to hopefully introduce some supplies to the shop too.

If you'd like any further info on the event you can contact Lorraine at chrisj.eyre@mypostoffice.co.uk or Linda at laurelcottagecrafts@gmail.com.

Happily busy

 Wow, it's been a busy few weeks.  I had my first craft fair this last weekend, after being away at Center Parcs for a few days.  I had a lovely spot where I could watch the ducks and geese slipping on the frozen water when it wasn't very busy...which was quite often because of the bad weather.  Visitor numbers were greatly reduced unfortunately, but I still had a fab time.  I met some lovely other crafters, I've been invited to have a stand at a demo/fair in a very presitigious hotel (in this area) at the end of April which is absolutely amazing for me.  I also found out details about other fairs so I've applied for those too.  All details will be added into the sidebar on the left when I have anything new confirmed.

Now though, I'm still trying to catch up on a mountian of housework, which will have to wait as I'm stitching some custom bunting for an order :o)