What I made in 2014

WARNING: Photo overload!!

At the end of each year I always think I haven't made enough. I took a year off selling in 2014, only doing 1 fair in November. I kept my Etsy & Folksy shops going but didn't really push them.

As I look back over the photo's I'm amazed how much I made!

In no particular order....

My own knitted poppy for Remembrance day 

3 service men from an original 1940's pattern

My first cardigan for myself in over 20 years!

A pair of swing trousers

Miss Marple scarf 

Fox stole 

Matthews fair isle tank top for 1940's events 

Finished my granny square blanket

Knit for Victory beret 

Making poppies to sell for The British Legion 

A selection of hats & scarves for sale at Crikey

Flower brooches 

Animals for the RSPCA week window

Knitted turban from original 1940's pattern

Fair Isle wrist warmers for me

My finished cardigan, it did get some wear in the summer

My Christmas jumper!!!

 I'm cheating now because although I started my Christmas jumper in August I had to put it on the back burner to make orders etc leading up to Christmas. However I did finish it in early January.

I love the detail on the back.

I'm glad I took the time to look back over my makes..... it's good to know I've achieved something!

November 2014

oh boy oh boy I've been away for weeks!

November started really good..... I sold lots of poppies to raise money for The British Legion, decorated our charity Christmas tree, spent an afternoon travelling around the city on old buses & went to see the fabulous Amsterdam.

It then went pear shape on the 11th when water started coming through the ceiling :(

An emergency roofer was called & I was told I needed a new roof.

After weeks of phone calls & roofers not turning up I've finally got it sorted.

The end of the month saw me celebrating my friends 40th birthday...... I can't believe we met just after her 18th!!

I also had 2 craft fairs at the end of the month. The 1st one was at Exeter library, although I only sold 1 brooch I did enjoy the talk given by Amanda Prowse. Have you read any of her books? I haven't but I might be tempted now.

Crikey was a real success for me this year with my bow scarves being the best seller.

I also have a number of orders from the fair so unfortunately my Christmas jumper is on the back burner..... maybe next year!

Only 2 weeks until the big day...... why does time go so fast?

Crikey!

Yes I've done it again! 

It's Crikey it's Christmas tomorrow & once again I'm in panic mode.

As you can imagine the Christmas fair is always my best….. I'm mean who wants to buy knitted mittens in the summer? Even though I have great plans & ideas I never get around to doing them all.

So my table will be full of Christmas brooches

And some decorations

It didn't help that I had a large order of stockings on Folksy last week so all my stock went!

I'll also be taking along a knitted nativity scene that my mum made. I'll be raffling it off to raise money for the RSPCA Little Valley Animal Shelter.

I'll post pictures soon.

Do pop in & say hello if you're in the area

I'm back!!!

So sorry for the unexplained break from blogging..... not sure what happened!

The time has just flown by & I haven't felt I had much to say.

So today it St Patricks Day..... as you know I love to celebrate but this year has been different.

I've been off for Cheltenham racing this week as normal...... however I haven't really got into it & it's been the first year in many I didn't put a bet on.

I've spent most of the week asleep...... not sure why I'm so worn out but hey I'm happy to go with it.

I was due back to work on Tuesday but I was told on Thursday I had to return on Monday..... this made me very unhappy as I had plans for the weekend which I was told I had to cancel.

So for the first time in over 20 years I'm not celebrating today.

Feels kinda weird!

So today OH went out to celebrate while I stayed at home finishing the list of jobs..... well ok I did have a nap this afternoon too!

So what have I been up to...

In my last post I mentioned the Crikey Spring Fling...

My 1940's crochet brooches went down a storm!

Hoping to get them on my website & Folksy shop later.

On the Sunday it was Matthew's birthday so we had a party

Can't believe he's 4!

Tuesday was Make, Do and Mend.... this month it was yarn bombing!

You can read more about it on our blog and the local newspapers website 

I have been busy...... lots going on at work too so no wonder I was worn out!

This week is was nice to relax with the girls

And try to finish my blanket

Remember that?

I started it about 5 years & I still have about 60 squares to make!

I hope to be back to normal next week..... commenting & blogging!

All The Fun Of The Fair

Wow...... Crikey was amazing!!!

I hope you enjoyed it if you came........ with nearly 1300 visitors through the door it was my best fair to date!

Can you see me???

It was so busy I didn't get time to take any photo's :(

This was my view 

Then we had the pleasure of these lovely people

ooohhh I love a good sing song & now I've learnt a new dance to go with Run Rabbit Run..... you've been warned!!!

The fair was also in aid of the Women's Land Army..... there was a lovely display of goodies.... shame you couldn't buy them but I did get some lovely Christmas cards, just wish I brought the plain cards too :(

If you'd like to find out more click here

My best seller????

My Mistletoe brooches sold like hot cakes on the day!!!

Even Teddy was getting into the vintage spirit!

He wasn't keen hence the blurred photo!!!!

My Internet is hit & miss at the moment so I can't catch up with you all over breakfast..... sorry I'll keep trying!

Have a good week

Lavender

I've been away so long.... sorry!

Last year I told you all about my lovely lavender growing in my garden

It was getting out of hand so I cut it back early this year

I have 4 plants in the front garden, this is the crop this year

Crikey....

It's all hanging up in the shed drying

Plus the 3 plants in the back garden have done really well this year ...... they're different & much easier to cut & dry..... must remmeber that for next year!

I bagged some up to sell at the vintage fair & sold out so I'm thinking of putting it in my Folksy shop.

I have more then enough to make my lavender bags!

Hope you all have a lovely weekend..... work for me!

Back soon

Finished project

Well another week has passed..... did you have a good one?? 

Back to work for me & I can't believe how fast it's gone.

As Monday was the last day of my holiday I decided to tackle a project that's been in the pipeline for a long, long time!

Remember these?

I brought them & posted about it in October 2009 ...... so it's only taken nearly 2 years to do something with them! It's on my list of jobs to do every time I'm on holiday but I never get around to it....... but I had a real urge to cross it off my list last week.

First I took them apart to clean

This took longer then I thought as the screws had been painted over!

Sanding down the steps

Some lovely red spotty oil cloth

Can you see where this is going?

Painting....

oh what a mess I made..... this was a plastic kind of craft paint that my dad brought me.... be warned you can't wash it off your hands!!! One small bit resulted in big red hands!!!

Then quickly putting it back together before the rain came...

Ta-da!

I'm very happy & the total price was under £5! :)

They live in the red sewing corner of my kitchen

A job well done I think

We had a customer event on Thursday night at work with 25% off..... 

we had wine

and tapas

in fact I've been eating tapas for the last 3 days!!!

I also had Olivia's birthday this week, this was the first birthday in 7 that I didn't make her anything. So that was 2 nights out...... On Friday I attended a funeral, lovely way to spend your day off!

I worked all weekend then went out last night...... so today I'm doing nothing! 

As it's raining I plan to watch movies & knit. I've been working on a rabbit toy which has worked out well so I'm hoping to make more for my Folksy shop.

So that was my week..... at least I feel I achieved something!

Hope you're all having a lovely bank holiday weekend