JANUARY 2014

So here we are on the 6th January 2014 - and a very Happy New Year to everyone, and thank you for visiting.

THE VILLAGE

I always feel that today is really the beginning of the New Year - the beginning of the first week when we actually know what day it is, the Christmas Decorations are packed away for another year, the village green is quite dark again without the fairy lights on most of the houses, and the Christmas Tree there has stopped twinkling.

The house feels clearer and slightly more spacious, and the sitting room is definitely a little lighter now the Tree is no longer in front of the window overlooking the garden.

I noticed yesterday too, that at 4 p.m. it wasn't quite dark - a real bonus!

We are very lucky here as our village sits at the top of a hill - you have to climb to get to it from whichever direction you arrive, but in the valley the river has burst it's banks and many fields are flooded.  At this moment, the sun is shining, but it is also raining and the sky outside my window as I type looks a very threatening grey.

THE KNITTING ON MY NEEDLES

My project at the moment is a quickie - I made my husband a super scarlet cabled cowl/snood towards the end of last year to wear when he is playing golf, but just before Christmas he left it on a radiator at the Club to dry off and when he went to collect it - gone!  So another is now half done in a ridge pattern in bright scarlet and orange.

JUMPING LAMB

Work on my website to gain the most interest goes on, and after some good sales of beanie hats, cowls and wrist-warmers, I now need to think about Spring inspired items for your delectation - do have a look and see what you think!  Just click on JUMPING LAMB above.

Thank you for visiting, see you again very soon,

Ruth

THE HAND-CRAFTED HOME IN OCTOBER

What a super day we had yesterday at my Hand-Crafted Home Fair at Stanwick Lakes.

I have to say the prospect didn't look good - high winds and torrential rain all night, and still raining when I set out first thing, but as we were setting up the day began to brighten - the sun shone a bit and the rain stopped only to begin again as I was driving home - perfect!

We had really super visitors who were genuinely interested in what we do - they spent time chatting and asking about our work and most importantly - buying some of our work.

My stall holders too, as usual were amazing - truly beautiful stalls - and I never cease to be amazed at the diversity of ideas these fantastic artisans come up with.

Thank you too to Stanwick Lakes - especially Liz with all her help rescuing tables and chairs from the cupboard without causing a landslide, and for organising the free tea and coffee for the stallholders - and thanks to the lads in the kitchen for providing it!

SO A VERY BIG THANK YOU TO ALL CONCERNED and HERE ARE THE PICS!!

Belinda

Carolyn

Caroline and Michelle

Caroline

Lesley

Daisy and Pauline

Sandie

Shelley

Sue

Me

The next Fair will be at Stanwick Lakes on Saturday 9th November from 10.30 to 4.30.

Will you join us to find some really beautiful and unusual hand-made gifts for your friends and family this Christmastime ???

PLEASE SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL PRODUCERS

COME TO THE FAIR !!

Hi Everyone,

I can't believe that the next Hand-Crafted Home Fair at Stanwick Lakes is this Saturday - 12th October open from 10.30 to 4.30.

Well, I do know, but it does seem to have crept up on me this time!

We will have a full compliment of fantastic stalls, so do come along - it really is time to think about a bit of Christmas Shopping now - and what could be better than superb quality, original hand-made pieces locally produced - and made with love and care instead of being thrown together in some far off, dismal factory!!



This month you will find:

Semi-precious gemstones, pearls, crystal, glass and shell jewellery,

Really super greetings cards - so much better quality and cheaper than those in the shops!

Fleece Blankets
Hair Accessories
All sorts of knitting

Felt flowers
Candles

Soaps and lip balm etc
Home fragrances
Bag and wine glass charms
Children's clothes

Decoupage bracelets and picture frames
Button art
Small items of restored furniture and other wooden pieces.

Why not take a walk, call into the Visitor Centre for a cup of tea and a bun, and visit my lovely stallholders and me  - we will be waiting for you !!!

PLEASE SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL PRODUCERS

ANOTHER FAIR HAS COME AND GONE!

The day began quite wet and miserable for my latest Hand-Crafted Home Fair at Stanwick Lakes, but the rain stopped, the ground dried up a bit and we had a nice trickle of interested customers for most of the day.

My stallholders, as usual were just great - I'm sure the quality of both the stalls and the products gets better and better.  Someone even said to me that our products looked so good, people might not realise we had made them ourselves - I think that is a compliment - what do you think?!!!

So here are the pics and thank you so much to Karen, Diane, Pam, Carly, Lesley, Analiza, Ally and not forgetting Jamie of course!

Ally

Analiza

Carly

Diane

Jamie

Karen

Lesley

Pam

Me - Jumping Lamb

Thank you too to George for the complimentary tea and coffee for the stallholders - it was much appreciated and last, but certainly not least, THANK YOU to our customers and visitors.

We hope to see you again next month on Saturday 12th October 10.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. at Stanwick Lakes.

Why not hop across and visit my new website - Jumping Lamb to see what else I am up to.

PLEASE SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL PRODUCERS.

NEXT FAIR ON THE HORIZON

We all say it, but "Doesn't time fly?"  

I must admit, now that my sons are up and grown long ago, I don't get caught up in the school year as I used to, except through my grand-children, and as we live next door to the village school, I suddenly notice a flurry at the gates morning and afternoon again, and in September see the new starters and each year marvel how tiny they look!

And so, September is here and on the 14th my next Hand-Crafted Home Fair will be open for business again at Stanwick Lakes.

I have lots of lovely new stallholders once again as well as some old friends and for your delectation we will be offering:

Pam's happy hats,

Hand-woven bags,

Jewellery of all sorts

Shell jewellery boxes

Marshmallow sweety things and more

Hand-made children's clothes

Baked treats from Miss Bumblebee

Personalised wooden items,

Greetings cards

Embroidery

Jigsaw and stamp designs from Banmars Barn

Cushions

Vintage floral peg-bags and aprons

Heart door decorations

More fabric products of all sorts

and, of course,

Hand-Knits from Jumping Lamb

So, if you are around, come and see us - it's never too early to start your Christmas Shopping - and your presents will have been well thought out and designed exclusively for your friends and family.

PLEASE SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL PRODUCERS

SUMMER ROLLING ON

Last week a few days in Suffolk with the family camping and caravanning, and a super time had by all.

Great dips in the sea and much digging on the beach at Walberswick followed by an excellent lunch at The Bell Inn, which has to be one of the most characterful pubs I have been in - and there have been a few! - and it's apparently very haunted too, and then crabbing and we caught 21 - I think the best thing was letting them go again - they are so comical running sideways down the ramp back into the water.

The next day, some rain in the morning, but then a hearty lunch at the campsite followed by a visit to Southwold where the children with Mum and Dad climbed the Lighthouse, a walk along the Pier, a browse in the shops and tea and cake at the Adnams Brewery - and a bit of shopping in there too!

The roads were really busy with tractors and corn carts and the combines were busy in the fields throwing up great amounts of dust as they race to get the harvest in which is looking good after a slow start.

Home again now, and seeing the Harvest coming in always makes be begin to think about Autumn - especially with my knitting projects as knitting, not being an instant thing, you really have to think ahead and so on the go at the moment are my Autumn Leaves Throw and Mug Hugs - textured, basketweave ones on display at  http://www.jumpinglamb.co.uk/#!refreshing/c18t8, but two colour Brick Design ones in the making too.

You can see the Throw work in progress at http://www.jumpinglamb.co.uk/#!inspiration/c24vq  

Keep an eye open for the finished article.

See you soon.

YESTERDAY'S FAIR

Once again a most grateful THANK YOU to all my stallholders who made such a super Hand-Crafted Home Fair yesterday at Stanwick Lakes, with their beautiful products displayed in such attractive and professional ways.

There seemed to be a good atmosphere, Stanwick Lakes was quite busy, and hopefully, we all had a good day.

Here are the pics - if you would like to see any more of my stallholders' work, do contact me and I will put you in touch.

Alex' Scrummy Cakes - 

I had the most fantastic Coffee and Walnut Muffin with my coffee - 

I feel so sorry for those who missed out  !!!

Emma -

her beautiful and unusual felted and beaded artwork are as vibrant as she is

Jumping Lamb - 

A new look for me following the going live this week of my website

www.jumpinglamb.co.uk

See lots more there

Lydia - 

Her bright and fun beaded jewellery would enhance any outfit

Maggie - 

Her delicate and intricate beadwork was simply a joy

Pauline -

Fantastic button art - and Pauline runs workshops too

if you would like to have a go

And with Pauline, her friend -

with some unusual and quirky hand-knits and crochet

Paula - 

Incredible sterling silver jewellery hand made, of course

and showing here my favourite of her pieces - an Amethyst pendant,

and super hand made cards from her Mum, Marsha too!

Pauline -

One of my regular ladies with her so cute children's clothes -

One little girl's gran bought a dress for her and she just wore it for the rest of the day!

Steph -

A stall just packed with the most beautiful cushions, bunting and more

in colours all little girls dream of.

Victoria - 

An array of spectacular oil paintings -

wouldn't you like to own an Art Original?

Zoe - 

Sumptious, glinting beaded jewellery and gorgeous hand knit bags too

Thank you so much for reading and don't forget -

THE HAND-CRAFTED HOME FAIR 

will be at

Stanwick Lakes

on

SATURDAY 14 SEPTEMBER

with more fantastic hand-made products

PLEASE SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL PRODUCERS