When is a craft fair not a craft fair??? (and the 2012 Pop-up shop is launched)

Good afternoon

So the big questions - when is a craft fair not a craft fair? and what is a craft fair?

To me a craft fair is somewhere where you can buy handmade items direct from the maker - it is not a place where plastic wrapped goods are sold from cartons of maybe 30 of the same item. Craft fair goods in my view do not have barcodes on them.

Sunday should have been great - a biggish venue, lots of advertising and plenty of footfall. My sister and I had worked hard on our makes and we thought we'd do well;

Oh dear - we were wrong. Too many stalls with barcoded new goods - made in china and being stored in their shopping cartons behind the tables. 

Don't get me wrong  - there were some lovely handmade items available direct from the makers. Sadly the buyers only seemed interested in the first stuff. Comments we heard included 'oh homemade - how quaint' - grrr. None of the makers did very well - some didn't cover their costs - luckily I was sharing a stall with my sister so our loses weren't as great as others. The organisers were told by several people that the day had not been good for them and most of the makers would not be bothering to have stalls at that venue again.

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Anyhow - rather than just put stuff away till our wounds have healed, I thought I'd try selling direct via this blog and my Facebook page.

 Large raggies - one girl & one boy - £7.50 each

 Small raggies - Pink or Blue - £6.00 each

 Gingerbread men - light bake - £3.50 each

 Gingerbread men - dark bake - £3.50 each

 Felt hanging stockings with knitted tops - £3.00 each

 Wise Owls - £3.50 each - state colour

 Gingerbread Cottages - £3.75 each

 Christmas Trees - £3.00 each

 Gingerbread hearts - £3.00 each - state red or green

 Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer - £3.50 each

Felt Poppy Brooches - all proceeds from these will go to the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal - £3.50 

Postage and packaging regardless of quantity will be £3.00

At the moment these are all the items I have - if I sell out or you'd like a specific colourway then I can make to order (payment require with order).

Payment for items can be made via Paypal, direct transfer or cheque - email me and I can give you the right details.

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Oh to top yesterdays poor sales - when I got home I was told that our dishwasher was dead - it decided Saturday night that it would rather be a floor washer :( MrVV had taken it apart yesterday and tried to repair it - it washed the floor again :(

See you soon

xxx Vicki xxx

Stanley & his new friends

Good afternoon

Just a quick post. Hurrah its Friday, the end of a hectic week with a fairly busy weekend ahead of us too. No lie-ins this weekend - a very early start for MrVV tomorrow and one for me on Sunday. Least mine is more fun than his boring course - hurrah for me its craft fair time :) Just the pricing left to do tomorrow and then I'm all ready. Here's hoping for lots of sales.

I've found to great things in our Church charity shop this week - firstly another Stanley to add to my growing collection;

and then the next day - something even so kitsch I couldn't bear to leave it;

Bondage slightly evil looking reindeers! 

Thanks for all the comments on the last post - looks like anything CK sends my viewing figures sky high - this one will end up at the top of my most viewed posts list like the Crochet Tin Review did!!

I had a look on THAT website today - seems they are selling some of the felt decs made up - the quality looks better than in the book but I beat there's glue involved rather than proper sewing :( Have a look here and see what you think?

Have a great weekend whether you get a lie-in or not!!

xxx Vicki xxx

The clashing of seasons

Good evening 

It has been the most gorgeous autumn day here in Suffolk - blue skies with a slight chill in the air. Cool enough to be able to wear my favourite granny boots again;

Oh yes be warned - todays photos have been taken with an extra ounce of ponce in them ;) Well for once it was dry and I do love taking pics in natural light!!

Whilst I was outside, I spotted 2 tiny little signs of autumn - in the parts of the garden that shall remain shady and damp until next spring - I found these;

The first I've spotted this year - I shall be watching in the normal fungi places for the larger more photogenic ones to appear.

I treated myself to a magazine today;

Issue 2 of The Simple Things - I am rather enjoying this new magazine at the moment - a good mix of stuff and some great photos. I won't however be subscribing as I've gone off that since the MollieMakes muddles - late or missing deliveries and to be honest the quality of the magazine rather dipped after a few months. Instead I shall be checking out each issue and only buying if enough of it appeals to me.

The reason I went into the garden and the title of this post was to take some photos of more Christmassy makes towards the fair I'm doing. I've decided that the ivy on the side of the house is perfect for hanging decorations from for photography purposes;

 Just a small forest of trees at the moment - I've more in my pile of shapes to put together.

I am really loving this new shape I've come up with this year - Rudolph & friends are rather cute I think - must make sure I make one for myself too.

I have a list of makes that I'm hoping to get finished - the end is almost in sight.

Off back to my sewing seat and some Wartime Farm watching.

See you soon

xxx Vicki xxx

Shades of red and other colours

Good evening

What a difference a few hours made - the rain Monday afternoon gave way to a beautiful sunset here in Suffolk - luckily I was in the right place at the right time and snapped a picture on my phone;

We were lucky here - yes it rained but there was no flooding and destruction like in other parts of the country - quite shocking to see the news pictures.

Tuesday I went to visit my Grandma - as ever I had a plastic tub with me so I could collect the blackberries that grow along the driveway. I also raided her orchard as I knew there were pears that were ready to pick - some for her and some for me. I also collected some of the windfalls for jam making.

 After lots of peeling & poaching of the pears - it was time to add them to the blackberries I've been collecting - the perfect amount - 1kg of fruit for 1kg of jam sugar. After bubbling away nicely it was time to jar it up - 6 jars in total - 5 for us and 1 for my Grandma :)

I've also been making pressies this week - this time for a stitch and bitch group friend - a simple string of rainbow felt hearts finished off with a jingly bell. Each heart being edged with blanket stitch in a contrasting colour;

Today there was a very rare sight. Me wearing trainers! and also gym gear. Yep I've rejoined the gym - I used to go regularly a few years ago and enjoyed it but the job I had at the time increased its hours and sadly I stopped going. Well after thinking about it since I stopped physio I finally made the call the other week and today was my first session with an instructor. Off tomorrow for a proper work out - I wonder how much my body will ache on Saturday? Probably quite a lot but am sure it will be worth it long term!

 As its the end of the month almost it time for 2 mosaic pictures. Firstly 9 pictures that sum up September in the VV household;

 Spiders, berries, butterflies, back to school, The Tour of Britain, autumn fruits, leaves changing colour, the steam fair at Henham and lastly chutney making time.

There have even been a few makes this month - mostly for the fair in 2 weeks time - more have been made since these pictures were taken. I need to spend a day with my sewing machine this weekend as there are strings of bunting to be made too.

Right that's more than enough for tonight - my eyes are feeling very tired. As soon as Little Son gets home from brass practise I'm off to bed!

See you soon

xxx Vicki xxx
 

Changing of the seasons

Good evening

Its that time of year again - the switch from Summer to Autumn - almost as soon the month started I noticed the dewy mornings and an invasion of eight-legged creatures in the house. Currently battling against the cobwebs - seems hit squad of spiders works faster than me!!

 This one has set up home in the garden - on one of the conservatory windows - just leaving him/her alone after all outside is where I'd prefer them to be!! The web is growing daily and there are little 'food' bundles in there which seem to disappear quickly!

These berries were on the honeysuckle that grows over the summerhouse - the birds have been happily feeding on them.

I was so pleased the other day when I found the perfect dandelion clock - just more proof of the 'wildness' that's taking over the garden!!

I spend ages the other day trying to get photos of the butterflies on one of our buddleia plants - they are so camera shy - eventually I managed this pic of a Red Admiral.

I mentioned that my crafting mojo has returned - am sure the cooler evenings make me want to find a hook & yarn and also some sewing.  Firstly a couple of felt christmas decorations towards next months fair;

and then - the first of a least 49 squares towards one of the blankets I'm making;

I am so glad I learnt to crochet - its been in my bag during both hospital trips this week - ideal for waiting around! Just wish I could have taken it into the MRI scanner - not the best experience - not keen on enclosed spaces especially as my head was clamped still! The ENT doctor thinks that it was a nasty attack of Labarintitis - I've a follow up appointment next spring just to check the progress, retesting my hearing and to let them know if I've had any further attacks.

Happily things seem to have settled down - a few giddy moments but nothing serious and they've soon passed. Back out & about and working in the charity shop again. We've been changing over the stock to Autumn things and despite the gorgeous sunshine we've been selling loads too :)

Right back to my Paralympic watching - I am in awe of these athletes and their abilities.

See you soon

xxx Vicki xxx

Sunday at Somerleyton Hall

Good evening

Thanks for your kind words on my last post - am feeling much better - still giddy at times but the tablets are working. Hopefully after an ENT visit tomorrow then an MRI scan on Wednesday I should know more - even if the 50 mile round trips to hospital wear me out. Even if I could drive (which I can't) I'd not be allowed to at the moment - am braving the buses for part of each trip!!!

Anyhow - Sunday - a brass engagement at Somerleyton Hall nr Lowestoft. Fairly close to home but somewhere I've never visited - we've visited other parts of the site including Fritton Lake but never the Hall itself. What a fab location - the Hall a Tudor-Jacobean mansion is stunning - I wish I'd gone on the tour around it. The gardens were amazing - am sure that during June/July they'd be even more lovely with everything in full bloom.

What a garden - what neat lawns - I wonder if the Gardeners want to come and sort our garden out - lets just say the VV garden is very wildlife friendly at the moment!!

I didn't take many pictures because my camera batteries ran out :(

 This building was an aviary - so pretty and full of colourful budgies who wouldn't stay still for photos!!

Despite the grey skies it was warm - great for a wander around followed by listening to the band;

Hopefully the Hall will have us back next summer - there's a maze I fancy a wander around and of course the inside of the Hall to see.

How are your back-to-school preparations going? We're just about sorted - Little Son packed his bag earlier - he's back on Wednesday. Big Son has a little longer - 6th Form registration tomorrow with a start next Monday.

One final thing - my crafting mojo has returned - rather handy as I've Craft Fair table booked for next month with a sister and 2 blankets that need making for next year!! One is a large one for a special persons 'big' birthday and the other for a new niece/nephew who is due to arrive just before my birthday :)

See you soon

xxx Vicki xxx

The 3 Little Pigs & the Big Bad Raindrops!!

Good morning

Well two days of the three day weekend have passed by - definitely an exercise in dodging raindrops! So far we've managed to do the things we've wanted to - just making sure the right clothing was worn - more December at times than early May though.

I spent Saturday in church! Not my normal location but quite enjoyable. I'd been asked if I'd like a free craft stall at the church spring flower festival. As the forecast wasn't great and the boxes in the spare room had a selection of makes left in them it seemed a good idea. I mean getting to sit down, drink tea, natter, read and crochet uninterrupted by my menfolk - what more could a girl ask for? Oh and there were sales to be made and funds will be deposited in my savings account this week :)

There were also lots of lovely flower displays to look at - the theme this year traditional fairy stories - hence the 3 little pigs;

and many more;

Jack & the Beanstalk, Hansel & Gretel, Puss in Boots & Rapunzel.

The Witches Cottage (H&G), Alice In Wonderland, Sleeping Beauty & Peter Pan.

Sunday morning dawned damp - however MrVV & I were determined to do what we'd planned - again the right clothes were needed - never have I worn waterproofs and walking boots so much in May!! We headed out cross country to the car boot sale - I wanted to snap the fields of gold that are around here at the moment - they make me sneeze but are oh so pretty;

The car boot sale was pretty quiet - the weather was turning and many of the stall holders were packing up. I did manage to get some more plug plants to grow on for my garden but that was it. The few stalls selling 'junk' were poor and very overpriced - I think I'll leave it until the genuine booters who prefer warmer weather start selling - am tired of tatty biscuits tin and chipped china being offered for silly money because they are 'vintage'.

In the afternoon we headed out to celebrate May Day at the same pretty riverside pub as last year. Despite the weather there was a good crowd and the rain mainly held off so things could happen;

 May Pole Dancing (and no I didn't join in).

 Morris Dancing

 Love the concentration of the face of the bearded one!

Mummers and the story of St George - aided I am sure by plenty of pints of local beer!!

After a couple of hours we headed back along the bumpy track to the village where we'd left the car. Last year we'd been able to park on the water meadows - this year they'd done their job in the recent bad weather and were occupied by plenty of wild fowl including loads of swans;

 

Right that's all for today folks - thanks for reading.

Off to wake the final member of the VV household up - we're are going out as a family today - he just doesn't know that yet!!

See you soon

xxx Vicki xxx