Crafty…..

So Saturday saw me head off bright & early to Crikey it's Vintage.

Tea cosies & toys!

The fab nativity scene my mum made, we raised £21 on the day which beat my target. It goes in the shop on Monday 25th November & I'm hoping to raise £50 in total :) 

You can buy tickets HERE

Unfortunately Exeter city centre also had a EDL march & a protest march against the EDL…. not great!!

It was a busy morning until 250 EDL members went right by the hotel with 500 police!

They held the rally in the park opposite & the road was blocked for a long time. Of course the trade died off :( 

So another disappointing fair. This is becoming a regular thing & I've heard many sellers saying the same. I had so many people pulling at things to see how they're made or even asking out right!

I had one lady who told her mum that she could knit better than me so why not take MY ideas & set up a website….. she said 'she must be making a packet charging those prices', well love I'm not!!!

As you know I've struggled with Carpal Tunnel for the last month, my hands are numb most of the time & I keep stabbing my self with pins & needles so they're cut as well. You know I thought SOD IT….. let them knit a decoration for nearly 2 hours & charge a measly £3!

So I think my fair days are over :(

It's a long day with lots of lifting, standing, smiling etc & when I look at the take I have to ask myself if it's really worth it?

I'll still be selling online but manly to order. I'll never say never but for now I just want a rest from the crafty world & make something for me!

And I'm sad to say I think this will also include Make, Do and Mend…… I've been doing it for 4 years now & it's hard to keep thinking of new ideas. Plus so many craft groups, shops doing courses, knitting clubs etc have sprung up I have to fight to keep my ladies.

I make no money from this but spend hours doing the website & advertising, working 15 hours on the day of the meeting & then only 6 people turn up!!!

So new year new plans!

I love crafting & have been doing it as a part time business for over 15 years, way before it became trendy! I'm not sure if I'll be able to step away from it all but for now I need to before I punch someone very hard in the face ….. if only my numb hands would let me!

On a brighter note this is what I brought!

I've been looking for a 1950's yarn holder for years and I think the bowls will be lovely for my girls.

And my best purchase

A 1914 WW1 Christmas tin, OH brought it for me as a Christmas gift….. perfect!

 I also got a few bargains at the boot sale yesterday 

Back soon with details about a knitting project I have planned

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.....

What do you think?

It's only me & OH so I don't go over the top but I think it look festive! Can you spot my lovely new deer hanging in the middle?...... it was an early gift from my friend :) 

As you can see the cats with pudding are here again! I've had these for so long & look forward to getting them out.

Also my new curtains...... a bargain from LA at only £17.50!!!

My mantle piece is too full this year for my neon tree so it found a new home in the plant stand!

And the tree!!!

I was planning on getting a real one this year but with no car it's very difficult....... I think my retro white tree looks just as nice..... cheaper & kinder!

Looking forward to seeing your decorations 

I'll be doing a Christmas giveaway over on Facebook soon ..... pop over & say hello.

Little Treats

Hello everyone..... good week??

I've had a funny week & haven't been feeling very happy...... I guess it's the weather & the fact it's dark when I leave & when I get home :(

It's going to be a long winter unless I give myself a kick up the back side!!!

On Wednesday I went to Otter Nurseries for the tea dance.... no photo's this year as no one dressed up but you can read about last year here. 

On Thursday I managed to escape from work to dash to the Cathedral for the 11am service & today I've enjoyed watching the BBC coverage.

It's amazing isn't it? How does it run so smoothly?

So I've been treating myself, first up my lovely new deer's that my friend Claire found in Otto Retro..... thanks Claire!

This is the photo she sent me from the shop asking if I like.... well silly question really!!!

I need to clean them up & try to fit them on the deer shelf :)

I then spotted this on Folksy....

I don't really wear jewellery but I really like this, I may change the velvet ribbon to red!

You can find more like this here

Then today I was opening my Internet & Jayne's shop came up, I've had something in mind for weeks but couldn't decided if I should buy..... I then had a panic, what if she sold them at the fair on the 28th.... well I had to buy..

Lovely :)

Hopefully my goodies will cheer me up!

This also made me smile while waiting for the bus...

A lovely frosty morning, much better then the horrible rain.

I was trying out a new app on my phone & I remembered I haven't shown you this when I was talking about needlepoint etc

I made him years ago, he's a little dusty now :) mmm nice slippers in the corner!

Hope next week is better at work.... if I remember rightly I felt like this before but what I wouldn't give to leave & knit all day!!!

I'm planning an event on Saturday 20th as we have the annual Christmas parade....with real reindeer's!!!.... they pass the shop about 11.30ish & we're planning to have competitions, treats & a raffle for children in need..... so if you're in Exeter next weekend please pop in & say hello...... I'll be the stressed one in the corner as the store manager is taking the weekend off!!!

Have a good week

We're all going to the zoo!!!!

Hope you've all had a good week.

Today should be show & tell Sunday but as October has gone so fast I hadn't planned anything ..... so I'm doing my own show & tell...... the zoo!!!

Last week I had the pleasure of going to Dartmoor Zoo with my friend Charlie & family....and what a fantastic day out it was!!!

Now I know some people aren't keen on zoos but I thought it was great & would recommend it to anyone. Although it was half term it was very quite & unlike many zoo they didn't seem keen to get you to spend money while there! Luckily we had taken a picnic as there wasn't much food for sale, it was lovely sat in the autumn sunshine eating our pack up with a flask of tea!

If you're a regular reader of my blog you'll know I love animals, my favourites are of course cats but I do have a soft spot for deers...any deer will do!!!

I was lucky they're both there...... not many monkeys but that suits me just fine, not that keen!!!

So I'm saving the best til last....

As we headed up the hill I saw him sat on the rock & my heart skipped a beat..... I couldn't believe how close we got.

Just before 2pm we went back to see them being fed, this only happens every other day so we were very glad it was tiger day. As we waited a man came out & asked if anyone wanted to go in the tiger house!!!! ooohhhhh me please!!!!

There was only 6 places so I quickly signed up.... it wasn't cheap but it's something I've always wanted to do

Look how close I was....

They were pacing up & down so much I couldn't take photo's :( but the memory will stay forever....as will the smell!!!!!

It was such a good day out....... if you don't know the story of the zoo pop over to the web site here...... there's also a book & a film will be coming soon!!!

It's a lovely story, there was a documentary on TV about 3 years ago called 'Ben's Zoo'...did you see it? I did but it's taken 3 years to get there!

Do visit they need all the help they can get :)

Have a good week

Folksy

Hello everyone..... hope you're all having a good half term :)

Today I thought we'd talk about Folksy..... now I'm sure you've all taken a look at some point but have you brought?

There's loads of things & some times it can be a bit over whelming so I though I'd share a few of my favourite things...

Firstly.....

Remembrance day is just around the corner so go on treat yourself!

I love this shop....so many lovely things :)

Another favourite shop

I'll be buying some of these for Christmas

I can just see this little fellow on my hand bag

I think I'll be buying most of my presents from here this year..... much nicer then the high street shops.

And if you're looking maybe you could pop over to my shop...

I had a fantastic day out yesterday which I'll be telling you about another time

200th Post & Birthday Gifts....

Yes this really is my 200th post....... my I was surprised to make it to 100 yet alone 200!

I was planning on doing a giveaway but I have so many birthday's coming up I need to focus on that (& save money!) so I will be doing a giveaway for my 2nd birthday which is only a few weeks away.

So as promised here are my gifts....

Yes we all know that I like books but I better get my reading head on to get through all of these!!

I haven't been reading much since I've had my phone...... too busy playing games, I must stop that & get reading but the last few books haven't gripped me. I hate not finishing books so I solider on taking far to long..... I'm thinking I might start The Notebook as it's not very big & has very large writing!!

Lovely PJ's from my friend Helen. Spot the Cath Kids tin......

I love this print even through its for children..... I'm thinking of using the tin for taking my crochet to Make, Do and Mend. I love the little breakfast set inside.... this was from my parents.

Hand made lavender jelly from Kim - she also gave me handmade white chocolate rocky road but that didn't hang around long!!!

Hot water bottle from my brother..... he thought it was very Cath.

Kim also gave me the Keep Calm tin calender which is lovely. The deer head is from Helen again...... lovely retro scales from 2 of my oldest friends, they also paid for me to have the tarot card reading which I must say was very interesting. I really do believe but I still found it a surprise when she told me things about myself..... how did she know!!!!

The good news is I'll come into lots of money in the next year...... after tough times she told me I'll deserve this. Also a fantastic job will come my way...... a wedding next March..... and a surprise baby for a loved one that has been trying for ages.....phew not me then, boy that would be a surprise!!!

So all in all a good birthday was had & it's been great to be off work for 9 days. 

All things come to an end & I've spent all morning cleaning the house from top to bottom ready to return to work tomorrow.

It'll be hard work as I'm starting at 8am so I can go straight to Make, Do and Mend...... we're finishing at 10pm tomorrow night (a trial run to see if more people come) ..... that's a long day!!!

Do you see this? 

It made my day :)

That's it for another year!

Have a good week

Happy Birthday......

Yes in case you didn't know today is my birthday!!!

I've had a lovely day.... it was suppose to be very busy but after some changed plans etc it's turned out quite nice. 

I can tell you it involved roast chicken, a nap & lots of this......

I know it's sad isn't it? But I've been waiting for season 2 for months - I loved it when I was young (I think I've mentioned that before!) it has made me chuckle today because I still remember all the words! We used to video it & watch it over & over....... I still think it's as good today!

I've had some great presents which I'll show you later in the week & the sun has shone all day....I feel very special!

And the best bit....... I'm not working until Tuesday 7th........hurray!!!!

Bargains & fairs.......

Hope you're having a great 1/2 term enjoying the sun. It really feels like summer doesn't it?
I thought I'd share this first photo with you. I brought the candle at the Handmade Home Fair from Christina......it smells so lovely. The flowers came from the lovely Amanda.

I found a few bargains just before the fair but I haven't had time to share.....

Lovely hand crocheted blanket, it was so cheap it made me feel sad that someone had spent so long making it only to be found on a charity shop floor!
Can you spot something?

Yes another deer!!!!
I found him in Otto Retro......I don't think they wanted to sell him but I told them about all my other deers & they seemed happy he was going to a good home :)

As I said in my last post the fair was fun but I didn't make my millions.....

I forgot to photograph my table & it did look good in the sunshine :(

Don't forget Show & Tell Sunday......your favourite book.

Another week, another fair

Hello everyone, I say this all the time but where did that week go? Older people say 'you wait til you get old it goes even faster'.......well & this rate I don't think it's worth even getting up in the mornings!

I was going to be good this week..... try to post twice & leave some comments but no yet again the time has raced by.

I went back to work on Tuesday....blimey that's hard work! I've have a 5 day week including an 11 hours day, I feel very tired now.
Would someone please employ me to sit at home & make things???
Thought not!!

Here's some delayed photo's.

First up.......

My lovely deer book ends that I purchased at the Vintage & Handmade fair, these came from Michele........she knows I have a thing for deers so she was tempting me!
Well of course I couldn't resist & now they have a lovely new home with all my other deers.

A long, long time ago I mentioned my friend (Hello Claire!!) was going to Ikea & I was planning on going with her ....however I felt under the weather with a rotten cold so stayed away.

She very kindly brought this for me.........

I'm so pleased as I regretted buying it all those years ago & was really happy when I heard they had brought it back......I need more bedlinen like a hole in the head but hey this is lovely!!!

Notice Nanny?.......I think he spends his whole life in bed....lazy tyke!

Today sees me heading off to Bow.....a little village not far from Exeter. I'll be selling at Heart of Devon ....it's like a festival with live music all day & free to get in!
Hope it stays dry..... I thought I'd be sitting in the sun all afternoon, now I'm just hoping I don't get wet!
I'll be going with my crafty partner in crime.....Amy

I'm also getting ready for yet another Make, Do and Mend meeting on Tuesday.

Must dash as I need to finish my hair slides.

Back soon

The final countdown.....

Morning everyone, so this is it....... the final few days...... It'll be a quick post today as it's 6am & I'm having my breakfast before heading off to work. It seems weird that my next day off will be Christmas day but I do feel more Christmassy then normal. OH has escaped to Majorca for the week as I'm working so many hours that we just wouldn't see each other.

On Friday I went to cover the Cheltenham store & it was snowing!!! It was fantastic, although it didn't come to anything.....any guesses where I went on my lunch break???

Yesterday was my last day off so it was busy. I visited my parents & my brother, how cute is Santa's little helper???

I could do with a little helper for wrapping all my gifts....hate that job!!! He's a sweet little boy who has so many facial expressions, he laughs at everything. Now don't worry ladies I don't want one....although his friend is rather cute too.......

I was planning on buying a tree yesterday, the first time in a few years, maybe you've helped me be more cheerful!!! We left my parents to go to the garden centre but the road was so icy dad couldn't get up the hill!! This was at 2.30pm....... with the wheels spinning we thought it was best to leave the tree! Lucky mum had a little one in her garden that they brought but realised how small it was...... Now I like a small little tree so he came home with me...... the photo is later in the post.

First is the fire place......
All my lovely deers together at last.....they lived in different places around the house but have come together for the festive period. It was really dark when I took this photo & the neon tree looked great but the photo doesn't!!

My tree.....
Isn't he tiny??? Some lovely decorations there.... I'd forgotten what lovely decorations I had....some old & some new.....couldn't resit the red glittery Stanley! I love the birds & had collected them over the years....also I found some lovely vintage decorations in CS & Otto retro in Exeter.

And my lovely Nanny....
I brought this from Past Times so many years ago but it still makes me smile because it does look like Nanny.... I've tried to get him to carry Christmas puds but he wasn't keen!!!!

Last picture.....

I forgot to show you this in my last post..... my lovely new necklace. Do you like??? It's great isn't it???...........I get so many comments when I wear it & at £8 I think it was a bargain!

On Thursday I had the pleasure of meeting Donna while she was Christmas shopping, we both ended up in the same shop....Otto retro.....now I did treat myself to some thing lovely but I don't have time to show you today. I'll be back soon when I have 5 mins.....have a good week & stay warm