A busy weekend

We delivered the photos of the Soap Corner's products on Tuedsay, Margaret seemed very pleased with them.  
Despite buying two  more different  fabrics for the quilt, I haven't made a single square since I last posted - I was out every evening last week - not socialising either, mostly meetings etc.   There is a shop in Marshside Road, Southport, which sells, among other things, a vast selection of patchwork fabrics - I would like to live there!  

I finished some felt book covers and they are now covering  2012 diaries and there will be more before too long.

Liz and I started on the Christmas table decorations last week, we only made 3 before we ran out of steam.  We intend to do some serious work on them this Friday.   

The weekend was extremely busy.  On Satruday, after delivering some of the Club's photos for a competition, we headed for Lark Lane.  We hadn't been there since July, so it was nice to meet up with all the familiar faces.   In fact, one couple who had bought prints from me before, came back for another one.    Apart from that, I didn't sell much apart from cards.

Sunday morning, very early, saw us heading for the unknown.   There was an Open Day at Wyresdale Hall and Country Park near Scorton which is between Preston and Lancaster.   We found it without too much difficulty,  despite the extremely narrow bridge over the River Wyre which was a bit daunting at first.   The Hall was an interesting old Manor House which I would have loved to visit, but we just didn't get the chance.  We hope to go back again, one day, to have a good look at it.    The Craft Fair itself was in a barn with the farmers' market.    It was very large, quite draughty,  and we shared it with some sheep!  However, we had dressed up in our walking gear so we were fine.    Surrounded by chutney, yoghurts, puddings etc. we had a great time.   There were lots of people browsing and buying, and quite a few took cards and said they'd either look at the website, or come to see us again when we visit Scorton Village Hall in November.   As usual, we met some very interesting people - especially Oliver, a gorgeous little boy who helped his mum and gran with their yoghurt/ice cream stall -  he entertained us greatly.    There was also a stall run by volunteers who were friends of Trinity Hospice in. or near, Blackpool.    They were selling the most beautiful, inexpensive, quilts and bags, and other crafts.   I hope they made a lot of money - they deserved it.   By the end of the day, when we had carried everything back to the car and made our way home,  we were absolutely exhausted - what a cure for insomnia.

On Monday, I had another busy but enjoyable day.  I went to run a mini felt-making workshop for my daughter and her friend.   We spent the whole day round her big kitchen table making felt.   They were both rank beginners but, by 'school run' time, they had each completed a piece of felt for a book cover and a small bag or purse, while I made a book cover and another felt bowl.   I hope they enjoyed the day as much as I did -  they said they did!


I've had my second ever order from the website this week - cue great rejoicing - it was for a double poppy corsage and I have already posted it.    I also had a call from the Coffee Etc Gallery in Parbold to say she'd sold some of my cowls and corsages, so I took some more there.    I need to get making some more corsages I think - perhaps on Friday.   So, all in all, an exhausting and successful week.


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The Rain it raineth................

I've worked hard, this week, with not a lot to show for it.   I've been busy every evening what  with activities which have just started again after the summer, a photography club committee meeting and some product photography.

On Tuesday evening, Liz and I went to 'The Soap Corner' to take some photos of Margaret's products for her web site.  Despite the fact that we are total novices at product photography and, thanks to the loan of a light tent, we were really pleased with the results.   We worked hard for 3 or 4 hours but we had a really pleasant evening - lots of laughs.    I've now finished the post processing and the photos are all ready to deliver - I hope they'll be acceptable - I think they will.

Our photography club is planning an exhibition at the local town hall in November so we are expecting to have to put in quite a few hours towards getting that ready.  

I actually bought some more fabric for the quilt, this week, you wouldn't believe how difficult it was to find 100% cotton in white or cream - I could have had any amount of plain but I really needed patterned.  In the event I bought some white spotted cotton and have completed 8 more squares but I still could do with another, different fabric, so that I can have some variety in the squares.   The search continues!

I've made a couple of pieces of felt and one red bowl this week.  The felt is now covering 3 diaries -  I can't believe that 2012 diaries are available already.  In the same vein, Liz and I are starting to make Christmas table decorations - we've already sprayed some pine cones and various seed heads and now we just need some candles and some greenery.   We have to get started now or we'll never get them done in time.

The Medieval Fair at Lydiate Abbey proved to be beyond us.   We arrived in very threatening weather at about 10.30 to start unloading.    We had just unloaded the table and a couple of boxes when there was a torrential downpour.   Even the tent which had been erected couldn't completely shelter us from the driving rain.  By about 11.15 the rain had eased but the damp had begun to penetrate the boxes so, reluctantly, we decided not to risk getting everything spoiled and we decamped.   It cleared up later in the afternoon but, by that time if we'd stayed, all my things would have been ruined.   It was such a shame the weather was so bad - the organisers had worked really hard and everyone was very disappointed, not least us. 

The plan, for the coming week is to try to catch up with everything which was put on hold last week - gardening in particular, and to prepare for the Craft Fair at Lark Lane on Saturday and Wyresdale Country Park, near Scorton, on Sunday.   It's going to be a busy weekend, I think.

Home again

I haven't posted for a couple of weeks, partly because I've been away for a few days.   I seem to be continually on holiday - it's got to stop!    Had a very enjoyable couple of days (except for the food poisoning) in Edinburgh. 

As promised in my last post, here are the photos of more treasure bags - I've actually completed all six now but haven't photographed the last two which a both in shades of purple.   I have taken the bags, some brooches and one or two other things to a new gallery which has opened at Coffee Etc. in Parbold.   It is newly opened and is a very pleasant place to go for a quiet cup of coffee and to browse through the lovely craft items and paintings exhibited.    It's not difficult to find, on the same side as the mill, a little bit nearer the railway - it is set back a little off the road so don't miss it.

My output since I last posted has been a bit sparse, but I've completed another 8 squares for the quilt and now I'm really struggling for fabric.   I'm going to have to bite the bullet and actually buy some - heigh ho!   

As well as that, I have completed another scarf and  have made a couple of pieces of felt which I intend to make more book covers with.  I  actually completed one earlier in the week and, before I could photograph it, I sold it.  

We went to a craft fair at the Chapel Gallery in Ormskirk, yesterday.   As usually, it was very well-organised and the space is light and airy.   Again, as usual, we met some old acquaintances and made a couple of new ones.   Liz and I both sold a scarf each and some photo cards.   All in all, we had a very pleasant day.

This week, I know I'm going to be very busy - a couple of meetings and social events.   Liz and I are also going to spend some time taking photos for a friend's website - I think it might be quite a learning curve - apart from our own website, neither of us are adept at product photography.   Here goes!

I wonder if, as well as all that, some gardening and the odd bit of washing, ironing, shopping, cooking etc,  I'll actually get some book covers made.  We'll see.

On Saturday next, 17th, we will be taking our wares to the Medieval Fair at St. Catherine's Abbey, Lydiate.   A new venture for us and, as it's outdoors, it would be wonderful if the weather would stay find for us.   Let's hope this awful wind has dropped by then or we'll spend the afternoon chasing our stock!