Great news

I finally heard from St George's Market and I'm in for the Christmas craft fair on 4th & 5th December. I usually apply during September and hear by October. This year they didn't put applications out, I just phoned and it dragged on & on. Finally I got a call today to let me know I had a stall.

I also have a ladies retail pamper evening in Belmont Tower on Thursday 25th November @ 7.30-9.30pm.

Unfortunately this means 3 weeks of major sewing, oh man. Hope to see any locals there.

A well earned break

Life was very hectic for a little while so I have spent some down time lately, catching up on important things like sleep. I have been making some fun purchases.

I purchased two of these fab little ornaments from Petite House. I bought the cupcake and the one on the far left.

I got one sent to my mum as a surprise

I have been after a wristlet now for many weeks from Made by Hank. When I say things like this people often exclaim "why would you buy a bag made by another". My answer is simple I appreciate others work and I also want something different.

Is it any different than a chef eating at someone else's restaurant? Things are always nicer when made by someone else. Anyway I have been after a specific wristlet but I kept missing it, I even had my poor OH checking many times a day but we always just missed it. We even put an RSS feed up to get updates. I had all but given up :( When magically and by complete accident I was online on Christmas day producing Christmas Quizzes for the dinner table, when I spotted the updated RSS feed. It said it was in stock but I could hardly believe it, I went to Made by Hank and there it was. So now all I have to do is patiently wait ..... for it to arrive.

Merry Christmas

Hope you all have a great day.

St George's Christmas Craft Fair

I will be attending St George's Christmas Craft Fair in Belfast this year again. Last year it was our first ever craft fair, so we are looking forward to going back.

It is on

Saturday 5 December: 9am - 5pm

Sunday 6 December: 10am - 5pm

If you are in the local area stop by and have a chat.

***Update - Having just looked at photo's from last year it has suddenly occurred to me I didn't have much stock and this year I have tonnes.****

Yum

I saw this on the front page of Etsy yesterday. Two of my favorite things - felt and chocolate yule log. A fab creation by Becky M.

More craft shopping

From time to time I am a craft shopper. On Saturday my OH and I headed of to a craft fair on Londonderry in the Guild Hall. It was about an hour a little bit before we arrived so not to bad. The venue was fab and had a lovely feel about it, everyone we met was very friendly.

We had heard it was a good fair and were checking it out, as one to possibly apply for next year. It was lovely and a nice change being back on the other side of the stall. We drank coffee and ambled around. I spoke to a few stall holders I knew and they seemed to be quite positive, so a definite maybe.

I also made a few purchases and even bought something for myself from Hennies Beads.

Featured Shop - Sewn Natural

While looking at around Etsy for Christmas stuff I found Sewn Natural. The idea behind this store is that nice things can be pretty "while making the world a little bit better at the same time". What I really liked was the fresh approach they take. These lovely christmas trees are made from red vintage Japanese kimono silk. It has a beautiful balsam fir tree sachet in it which would leave that christmas tree smell in the room.

I really like these little trees as well.

When I looked on through the shop I saw some lovely other items. Here are a few other lovelies.

upcycled duck baby rattle toy

 

retro elephant baby

Etsy Finds - Christmas

Oh I can smell the cinnamon in the air, I even heard a Christmas song on the radio during the week. So I trolled around Etsy to look at the some of goodies on offer.

This little star is made by wordzoflife. I like the patchwork aspect in this decoration.

Stitchin sew prim has this pretty cushion in their store. It has a delightful country feel about it.

I have been looking at patchwork lately and I love this quilted wall hanging by Bound For Glory

& So 2 Sew

With my first big fair of the Christmas season 7 weeks away the time has come to start some serious sewing. My approach this year is very different, it is more structured and ordered.

At the beginning of each week I plan exactly what I want to have done by the end of the week and then break it up into smaller tasks. This has streamlined my processes and is allowing me to have a set work period every day. Some may believe that this stops the creativeness of the process, but really it allows me to focus on choosing fabric combinations. My bags are not "cookie cutter" but to fit the frames they do have to be cut to a specific shape so there are some limitations for creative freedoms.

Having tasks planned for each day means I come home from work, with my mind already switched on to what I need to do, so I spend less time ambling and more time working.

I am hoping this new approach will enable me to increase my productivity while keeping my sanity this year but I suppose only time will tell :0)

Watch this space for updates.

Problem with Fabric

I have more than a passing problem with fabric. The problem is I can't pass it. I have to at the very minimum touch it and usually I have to buy it. I had went through a period of trying not to buy too much, but a few weeks ago I just went a bit mad and spent a fortune. I did think I needed some new fabrics for the Christmas fairs but I think I went a little over board.

Here is a small selection of what has been arriving.

I bought the sock monkey fabric (below) a while ago from Modern Retro Textiles in Austraila, whilst I was ordering an Audrey and Maude pattern. I have been eyeing it up for a while and I got it at a complete steal. Not sure how it will work for bags but it will work for a few zip pouches.

I did indulge a little and buy some pretty Christmas fabric just for me. I intend to make some PJ shorts out of the pink snowman for Christmas and a Christmas shopping bag out of the blue snowman. I'm sure the left over pieces will make very pretty purses for sale or even as Xmas pressies.

Check out a few new arrivals in my store.

New Bag

I have been toying with the idea of making a tote for a while. They are the most useful things, great for magazines, shopping or just for all those things a girl needs for during the day. This is my first attempt.

I am thinking of introducing these for Christmas craft fairs.

Craft Fair

I did get them all framed and I survived the craft fair, as well, but only with a little help from some friends. It was the most fantastic 2 days, we had great craic, drunk lots of coffee and indulged in a little cake.


It was a very early start on the Saturday morning, about 6am, after a very late finish, about 2am. We got all packed up said goodbye to the dog and set off. We arrived at St Georges Market at about 7.30am and went and located our stall. We had a good spot, a little of the main path through the market. We set up.....



and waited...

After I had made my first sale I felt much better. The thought of going, putting all that effort in and selling nothing was very stressful.

After the 1st sale was the next and next. In total we sold about 50 bags on the first day, I went home very happy, but a little worried as I had only brought 92 bags with me, so I made some more that night. I was quite lucky I had some bags that were 1/2 made so just needed finished, while others had to be started from scratch. In total I was able to make and finish over 20 more. It's amazing what you can do when you backs up against it.

Sunday was not quite as busy but brisk enough. We sold another 40 bags, including all of the ones I had made on Saturday night.

So all in all it was definitely worth it. On Sunday my husband & I were able to chill out for the first time in weeks. I was asleep by 9pm.

Busy Busy Busy

I have been flat out lately, between work, Christmas shopping and sewing. I finally found out that I definitely have a stall at St Georges Christmas Craft Fair in Belfast, 6th & 7th December. I have been working on the theory that I was getting it and have been working on getting a decent inventory ready. As a consequence, my house looks like a fabric shop and my second bedroom has become a storage facility. I haven't been counting as I go along, but bravely checked last night and there is 100+ bags and still 2 weeks to go. Woo Hoo.


There are so many lovely bags and some new ideas I have been working on, so I am quite excited and scared all at the same time.


I have also come to the conclusion that I really need to factor in more sleeping time. I reached this decision due to the fact that I have acquired a stinking cold. When you are running a business being sick really sucks, even just from the point of view that you need some down time to get better, and during this down time all I can think about is I have so much to do. However tomorrow is another day and I'm hoping that when I wake up I will be feeling much better, as at the mo I am very motivated.

Presents and Cake

A little while ago it was my other half's birthday, after much thought and a few panic purchases I had sorted out his gift (or should I say gifts). When I went to wrap them the night before his birthday I discovered our normal healthy stash of wrapping paper was in a bad way, to the point there wasn't enough unless I went into the pink options - which isn't really his colour. So I improvised.

I wrapped them in brown paper and put a strip of patterned paper over it. I was really pleased with the outcome and plan to wrap my Christmas presents in a similar way. I really fancy using this patterned paper

This paper is hand printed by Rifferaff and designed by Black Pearl Press. I have already indulged in some Christmas gingerbread paper so I think this will fit right in.

After all of my husbands pressies were ripped open at 12.05am we decided it was time for cake.

Which was just delicious in the early hours of the morning

Oh Christmas Tree

Last week when I was cutting out some christmas trees, I got a little bored and cut a new design. Here's what I come up with.

I really like the long skinny design, now all I ned to do is create more hours in the day to sew and to be honest a few more days in this month would be great.

I finally got a gingerbread boy finished and tagged so here he is.

I've popped him in my Etsy shop, so more people can get to see him.

Christmas is coming part 2

As well as the lovely Gingerbread Men & Ladies, I also make these. Hanging trees. I personally hang them from places like door handles, but there is one or two on my "Colonial" themed tree. In a few weeks I have been invited to attend a meeting to show of my bags, explain the processes involved and sell my craft, and these little lovelies are coming as well.


The dilemma is to tag or not. I usually don't, however, I normally only give these items away as gifts. The further dilemma is the tag. My usual tags look like this.


Which don't really fit in with the whole handmade Christmas decoration vibe, so I have come up with these.

This is what it looks like from a distance. I just really don't want the tag to take away from the overall look of the little tree.Ginger is also being tagged and this is the alternative I have come up with, although I think the tree tag may work equally as well.

I had promised to show some Gingerbread Boys, but they aren't baked yet so those will have to wait a little while longer, by which time I will have made up my mind regarding the tags.

Christmas is Coming Part 1

I just love Christmas, it's not really the presents , it's all the other things. I love the meaning behind it and the general feeling of goodwill. I adore the colours and the lights, I like to wander around with coats and scarves on and feel the cold air on my face. Most of all I like the endless opportunity to make things.

Ribbon in Proper Christmas Colours

I like to make little decorations, not really just for trees, but for anywhere you can hang them. Here are two of my little Gingerbread Girls.

Almost there, just waiting for the all important bow and buttons.

Here is a finished girl, she just needs to get a little hanging ribbon.

Just in case you think I have a girl only production factory, I do make little Gingerbread Boys, but none are currently cut out. I will post one soon. Traditionally I only give them away, to good homes of course, this year I am toying with the idea of selling them at my Etsy store.

While I was digging around in my felt box I discovered these little stockings.
I started to make these the first Christmas my husband I were married with the intent of stringing them together and making a garland, with the J & K in the centre. It appears I never got around to finishing them, so on my to do list for before Christmas this year is to finish the garland.

I'm back

Sorry for the break in transmission. I have been having a little break from my trusty sewing machine and I have been trying to avoid the computer as well. Going back to work after the holidays is soooo tiring and it has just taken some time to get back on my feet. I'm only half there but that's not too bad.
I have been thinking about my little etsy shop a lot lately and my bags and other things that I just love to sew. So I think I might introduce a seasonal line of christmas items that I usually can't resist making at christmas. Watch this space to see them first.