Stanwick Lakes Fair

I am enjoying making more of these little coasters ready for my next fair at Stanwick Lakes on 28th July.

Again the yarn used is 100% cotton just knitted sideways, and the really pretty blue floral fabric was found at a Garage Sale - as it is a duvet, I have loads of it, and also looking through my fabric stash, I have found it in a brown and cream colour way - which I had in my bedroom during the 1970's - coasters using that and more of this same yarn in turquoise and beige colour way are in progress!

Here they are prettily tied and ready for sale - they will be £6 for 6!  Nice and simple.

Neatly stacked!

and with my little Pink and Blue Jug found on my last visit to Oxfam!

Hand-Crafted Home Fair - Great Addington - Roundup

I just want to say a huge "Thank you" to all my stallholders at Great Addington yesterday - everything looked great and you all make such beautiful products.

Crafters are just really happy, friendly people and the atmosphere reflected that.

Thank you also to all our visitors and not forgetting husband Bill doing duty on the refreshments, and make a note in your diaries for the next Hand-Crafted Home Fair which will be at Stanwick Lakes on Saturday 28 July and the stalls are flying!

Here are the pics from yesterday.

Amy - Bert's Boutique

Clare - Maropa Crafts

Me - The Hand-Crafted Home

Pauline - Children's Handmade Clothes

Stephanie - Passion Artworks

Tracy and Molly - Sweet Sensations and Finishing Touches

June with Vintage Fleur

Wendy - Necklaces and Scarves - Neck'arfs

Ryta - Children's Author

Thank you for reading.  Back soon.

This Saturday's Fair

My second Fair is now nearly here and consequently, the 'To Do' list is very high at the moment.

Above is one of my Hand Knit blankets - would be super for a little boy's room, and also the checked cushion which was made from vintage seersucker napkins.  The lined basket has found a home in my bathroom!

Brownies are in the oven at the moment - and smelling really good - and when   they are cooked and I have done my computer bits for the day, I am off to do a leaflet drop in Great Addington to remind everyone about the Fair.

This afternoon, I have some more coasters to finish and hope to do that while having a quick look at Ascot - I do love both the fashions and the horses!  I also have a bit more bunting to run up, and I would like to do some covered notebooks - a little pic of one on my earlier blog.

Tomorrow will be more baking and keeping in touch with my stall holders and Friday, a bit more baking, thinking what to take for my stall and packing and so, I'll be back afterwards!

P.S.  The cake below, Raspberry and Walnut Loaf courtesy of a Bonne Marie recipe card, will also be appearing in the form of a little refreshment to be served by husband Bill and update - the Brownies are out of the oven now - hard to resist, but I must!

Lots of lovely ladies selling their goodies at the Fair and so do pop along if you have a moment - I'm sure you will find something you can't resist.

So - The Hand-Crafted Home Fair - Great Addington Village Hall - Saturday 23 June from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Don't be square   etc. etc.  - Oh so corny  !!

Small, Beautiful, Practical

With my next sale approaching, I decided I wanted some small items for my stall and so have come up with these coasters which are hand knitted in Summery, random, cotton yarn and are backed with this really pretty cotton floral - courtesy of a dress bought at a car boot sale for £1 - and there is still plenty more to use!

They look so bright and cheerful and are really practical as the knitting gives them the padding they need and they can be used either side up. 

I couldn't resist photographing them with my retro tumblers - 6 bought at another car boot sale for £1.50 and I use them every day!  No dishwashing mind!!

More coasters are on the way, plus I think I am getting the traditional patch working bug back, and have decided to make lots of hexagonal and square patches and just see where I go from there.

My aunt taught me when I was in my teens, and I taught her daughter later on.  I have really gone off the boil since, but seeing so much super patchwork on all these great blogs has really got me thinking again - and although it is much slower than using a machine - I really do prefer sitting and hand sewing - it just goes hand in hand with knitting.

Have a good weekend.

The HAND-CRAFTED HOME FAIR - GREAT ADDINGTON - 23 JUNE 2012

I'm sorry to say I have been away from my blog for a few days - not by choice, but because of some problems with Explorer which wouldn't let me write a new post, but I'm doing this through Google Chrome, so hopefully things will be OK now!

This was particularly annoying, because my next Hand-Crafted Home Fair is on the horizon and approaching quite rapidly.

As you can see above it is to be at Great Addington Village Hall on Saturday 23 June.  Great Addington is easy to reach from the A6 - turn off at Irthlingborough and you will first go through the outskirts of Irthlingborough at the top of Crow Hill, then arrive at Little Addington and Great Addington is the next village or put NN14 4BS in your satnav!

Stalls are going rapidly and I have only one or two left now and so if anyone is interested in taking one, please don't leave it too late to book.

Visit www.stallfinder.com for all the details of how to get in touch and book.

We have some of our friends from Aldwincle coming along and some great new crafters too and so please do make it a date whether to sell, buy or browse and SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL PRODUCERS.

I am busily producing for my stall too and below is my latest hand-knit cushion for your delectation!

It is based on the traditional Log Cabin design, which traditionally has a red centre to represent the hearth around which the log cabin was built, but as my super cotton and linen mix yarn is in such beautiful ice cream colours - I have decided that my cushion is a garden - with a pond in the middle  !!!!

Below is the reverse side of the cushion which as you can see is fastened with super little vintage buttons and the pad is feather filled.

This cushion also blends really well with my other nursery cushions - one of which was shown on a previous blog.

I will feature some more of my products in a few days.

Have a good weekend despite the weather and don't forget to put in your diary THE HAND-CRAFTED HOME FAIR - 23 JUNE - GREAT ADDINGTON!

Ironing? - Time in the Garden? - Tough Choice!

As my title suggests, I did intend to do some ironing, but having wandered into the garden to eat breakfast, surprisingly - the garden won!  Not actually to weed, dig etc., but to brush down and sweep up etc., and this is the result:

As you can see it is 'bijou', more like an outside room which we use loads, but it is south-west facing and I love it!

Here below a few close ups:

Aubretia + Honeysuckle and Lavender on the way.

Clematis

Climbing Hydrangea - can never remember the real name - can anyone tell me?

Blowsy, beautiful Peonies - correct spelling ??

Self-set Honeysuckle in the lane - clever eh? and it has loads of flowers coming!

Cow Parsley in the lane + a little more Honeysuckle on its way!

And last but not least for today - a view from my bench where I knit, sew, drink cups of tea and coffee and enjoy the odd glass of wine.

Happy Summer  !

Aldwincle Fair Round Up

Well, today I am about to relax in the garden with a book and a glass of wine after just rounding up on yesterday.

The shone brightly, a gentle breeze and a beautiful setting.

The stalls all looked great (see all the pics below taken before we opened) and we had a steady stream of visitors in the morning, though fewer in the afternoon.

Great camararderie among the stallholders, very friendly visitors, and the feedback I have had is that everyone enjoyed the day and I received bookings for my next Fair which will be at Great Addington on Saturday 23 June - more details to follow!

Carole and Sylvia's Stall - and Sylvia rather sad when she sold Gerald Giraffe who was her favourite !!!

Helen demonstrating with her Spinning Wheel



I'm rather pleased with our sign - do you recognise the picture on it - our Beloved River Nene



 Tracy's Stall

 Wendy's Stall - Very Colourful

 Jade's Stall - Vintage Fleur - run by her Mum on Saturday!

 Husband Bill on Refreshments - He looks a bit stern, but he was happy really - honestly  !!!

 Paula's stall

 My stall - not me there, but Linda

 Linda's stall

 Caroline's stall

Tables outside ready for refreshments

Enjoy the sun  !!!