my creative space . . . just chillin :)

Not a huge amount happening this week - I have a lovely long list of 'things to do' in my crafty diary and have managed to tick off ONE so far! I think there may be a little 'burn-out' syndrome going on after last week's fair :) I did manage to edge a couple of my granny squares in black double crochet - really enjoying having this as a background project, perfect when the motivation for other stuff isn't quite there!!

Baked some scones at the beginning of the week (think I ate most of them!) and am enjoying browsing through this fabulous book - Craft Activism, which is giving me all sorts of notions and ideas - just love it! (I think some yarn-bombing is definitely on the cards, hehe!!)

It was my niece's birthday this week so I made her one of my 'tweedie' cupcake cards (with sprinkles of course!) . . .

. . . and managed to add some of my craft fair stock to my Esty shop - hurray!! :) Looking forward to adding more stock as I make it for the next fairs (I've booked a small number over the Summer). Really enjoyed finishing off these rustic 'tweedie' garlands which I'd started last Summer - no rush!!! Here's the heart one which I added to my Etsy shop . . .

Loads of ideas in my head at the moment - just got to process 'em! :)

More creative types over here - Byee!

Alison x

P.S. Blogger is really driving me nuts at the moment since it changed over - aaaaaaargh! Anyone else having difficulty getting to grips with it - or am I just getting old, don't answer that one hehe!

Craft Fair - the Low Down . . .

Pheeeew, back from the craft-fair and all in one piece! (And yikes! - Blogger has changed in my absence, I knew it was coming but . . . forgive me if my post reads a little funny, I'm trying to get used to the new layout - change, change, change, I don't know - can't they keep anything the same anymore?????, hehe :)

Anyway, yes, I survived the fair - it wasn't as intimidating as I thought it might be - my two year absence was worrying me a little! It was very reassuring to see some of the craftstall owners whom I knew already, so nice to see familiar faces :) The Craft Fair organisers are very accommodating and friendly and do a really good job of looking after all the crafters - how nice to be asked 'Is everything OK for you?', a big thumbs up for them :)

Here's some pics of the fair in the newly refurbished Stornoway Town Hall . . .

The other craft-stall holders were lovely and friendly (there was quite a few 'newbies'!) - so any fears of my sitting on my ownsome all day with no-one to talk to were quickly put to rest - the couple beside me were really kind and had me in kinks of laughter. I think I was very fortunate with my neighbouring stall holders - all selling a variety of items and very interesting to talk to. The lady opposite me was selling some pretty felted soaps so I had to have some of course, hehe . . .

All in all, a good experience - saleswise I did OK, but not great, enough to cover the cost of the stall (very reasonably priced!) and some extra over and above that. It wasn't a particularly busy day and there were a few lulls in the stream of visitors but heigh, ho - that's craft fairs for you! I enjoyed the challenge of it all, and it really made me feel more focused on my craft business by doing it - heck, it fairly got me finishing and packing all these little items I'd been meaning to do for ages . . . :)

I've even managed to add some of my craft fair stock to my Etsy shop today - hopefully more to be added through the week. Off to enjoy a good nosh of curry now as my Other Half is making Sunday dinner - it smells delish!!
Speak soon

Alison x

P.S. Hopefully I'll get used to the new Blogger soon - bear with me:)

my creative space . . . getting ready for the fair :)

I haven't done a craft fair for a couple of years now, for one reason or another - general 'life' stuff getting in the way again! Hence I'm being a bit of a control freak with this one on Saturday, and I'm having to do a dummy-run of my display, probably a couple of times before I get it right and, of course, the horrible job of pricing everything which I have to do today : /

I couldn't resist adding a few new designs at the beginning of the week, and made some crochet square pincushions (backed in co-ordinated tweed of course!) - I think they add a nice dash of colour, you can't beat a 'granny' or two, I'm becoming a serious crochet-bore, hehe! Here's a little run-down and sneaky preview of the stall.

The new pincushions (and tweedie-mug warmers - not sure that folk will 'get' these!!) . . .

My 'tweedie' fish and tweedie' matryoshkas,and some bookmarks . . .

wee croft house brooches and tweedie cuff-bands, all a bit higgledy-piggledy still . . .

I finally made some garlands with the tweedie-fish, stars and hearts I'd made last Summer . . .

. . . and yes, that's my red tweed bunting - I thought it might brighten up my stall, and it was the perfect length too! More garlands (stars) . . .

And the overall picture (some tidying required!) . . .

It'll look more organised on the day (she says hopefully!). I'm off to do the finishing touches and get that pesky-pricing done now.

I'll be on my ownsome on Saturday as I'll be leaving the boys asleep in their beds (lucky things, hehe!) and Other Half will be dropping me off on his way to work - so it works out quite well and no-one is really put out by my traipsing off to the fair. I'll just put my feet up and maybe take Kirsty Allsopps crafty book with me for company, a few snacks, and we'll see how it goes! I'll be back on Sunday or Monday with a full report, and some pics I hope - wish me luck, I'll probably need it, yikes! Here's a link to the craft-fair website. See you soon - byeee :)

Alison x

Oooops, almost forgot to link up with my crafty-buddies over here - lots to see as usual! :)

What I did on my hols . . . .

Three whole weeks and no blogging . . . . I don't really know where to start! But it was a lovely break - I managed to do a little tidying done before any visitors arrived and get some 'tweedie' gadget sleeves (and a lovely bright yellow i-pad sleeve!) made too - yet to be photographed and listed tho!

I was sorely tempted to pop in and show you pics of the lovely little lambs next door - they are now cheekly little rascals, headbutting each other - aw, they grow up so fast, hehe :) Lots of crafting too, in between visits from family - what's not to like :) Here's a pictorial guide to the lot LOL . . .

. . . tweedie Kindle sleeves ready to sew and now ready to be sold, once I get them in the shop.

. . . cute lambs, growing fast!

Lots of crochet! . . .

. . . I relented, and treated my self to some new yarn - well, I had been working really hard, hehe!

One finished crochet panel (for something or other???) . . .

. . . and playing around with methods of joining my new granny squares (possibly to be used as a chair throw?) - I suddenly realised that after making a few of these, using 4 different colours of very cheaply bought chunky acrylic yarn, that I would have to think how to join them - I'm now thinking of edging them in black to make quite a dramatic throw . . .

. . . and just to finish off, a little bundle of embroidered Russian-doll softies for my craft fair next week, which I seem to be in denial about!

Ach, I'm going with the flow for this fair, I think. I'm going to turn up, set up, sit back and let it happen - or NOT!

All our visitors are now gone, and the boys are back in school on Monday - I feel suitably refreshed to continue with crafty stuff, actually I don't think I actually stopped, hehe - but it was mostly crafting for fun, apart from some serious 'gadget/laptop' sleeves (the bread and butter stuff!!)

I'll be back later in the week - normal blogging resumes - and shorter posts, you'll be glad to know - 'see' you soon :) Off to panic about my fair, eeeks!

P.S. Rereading my post makes me realise that it sounded like a very busy holiday - oooops!!! :) :) Well, it was a computer-free break and a school-free break, too - and very nice that was too! Hope you had (or are having) good Easter hols if you're in this part of the hemisphere!

Alison x