After School Tea Party...

 Last Week's Post School TEA PARTY

no need for an excuse - it's a 'just because' party

and we invited Grandma and Grandad too....

 I don't reeecccaaallll inviting the dog.

But he seems to have found himself a comfortable seat at the table.

 mmmm, tea and cake.

Sweeties and pretty china.

Fresh tealeaves and candles for fun

 And a *new* Sweetie Wreath in the GingerBread World Christams Collection.

 And i sold some more GIANT Lime Wreaths!

Sooo cool.

I have just made a new version of this Cath Kidston Christmas Butnting with Fresh Aqua Stripes to replace the traditional green spot.

Peoples: the sun is apparantly gonna shine this week...

Go Make Hay!!!! xxx

Bountiful Button Brooches...

 So many cute Button Brooches, all piling into the PaperFish Shops.

 I think it is because i have attended so many children's parties since we started school in September?

 Or, maybe, because i the run the bar for so many weddings at our local hall...?

 And definately because these have flying off the PaperFish Craft stall and from my wee retail outlet.

 That is why i have been making so many Button Brooches.

They are so easy - i'm not trying to show you i am any great design genius... they're buttons, made into brooches.

 They make the most awesome little gifts for yourself. I think i have become addicted to wearing them (gulp)

but even better than that, they are fun and FUNKY party favors / favours.

Every party i have sold these for have said they are "really unique" and "fun" and something they loved taking home. Awesome feeling :)

 But the Button Brooches are things i have whipping up in batches when i find a spot in my day (and a clear surface to dry them out on)

I have been sewing lots AND making some well needed and long overdue THANKYOU cards.

For a few people who i need to say belated thanks to.

They are very quick and easy to make - well, you know me! But they are sweet and say what they are intended to say xxx

KkkeerrrrrPpppoWWwwww!

 Egad.... byJinks.... crikey love...

Laptop broke - Enforced Cyber break! but that is a story for another day.

Child has a birthday disco tomorrow. It has been chaos!

But listen, MrsB arrives in about an hour so all will be well.

 The sun has been shining, neigh.... burning for days / weeks even, and life seems somewhat sleepy right now. Maybe that's the exhaustion talking?

 Felt flowers - yes sireeee.

Available in Strawberry & Lime at present - FuzzyFish.etsy.com

They will find their way into LovePaperFish, maybe, when the Little Ones get back to school and the sun gives in to the inevitable pregnant rain clouds.
I popped the first few FELTY FLOWERS into my new webshop:
http://www.mrsite.co.uk/usersitesv30/LovePaperFish.com/wwwroot/userimages/procart26.htm

 More importantly, i have been having fun making them into brooches and into stems for a felty, floral bouquet. So quick and easy. Cheating really. Taking the skill out of crafting. But not the fun! As i am someone who does not feel the need to SLAVE hours over a handmade project - i can feel quite satisfied with a quick n easy too.

Cannot wait to get back to blogging - to putting lots of new things into the shops - to tell you all about the crafty plans i have in my pocket.

It is allll good people.

Happy Eggs! and Happy Sunshine!

Sometimes people let you down...

My LittleFish and I were disappointed that someone we were expecting for dinner - didn't bother to come.

That level of disappointment can be hard to stomach. The joy, anticipation, preparation, looking forward to... 'gone' in that briefest moment when you realise 'it's just us'.

But HEY! it isn't 'just us'. it IS US!! so what do the Fishes do in this situation? why we get Mamma's favourite tea cups out and make tea.  

I'm not that great with words, but it sorted of lifted us straight out of that melancholic tinge. All of a sudden the slow mouthed dinner was transformed into something teetering between ceremony and party! In that teacup moment, i swear, our downturned faces slipped into smiles and everything seemed just that touch brighter.

Resourceful Mamma found 2 halves of a Milky Way, tucked away in the back of a "party paraphenalia" box and Joy! they were still in their UseBy date...

We had forgotten to open the parcel left outside the back door (in our haste to make dinner for the special guest that never came) so we sat with our tea and sickly sweet confectionary and opened the parcel....

The spontaneity of enjoyment and sugar was enough to make us feel like a Circus had fallen out of the packet. It was little vintage tins but it felt like clowns juggling on a tightrope, pulling gargoyle faces...

The special guest didn't seem so special any more. LittleFish was happy and replete. MammaFish felt suitably sustained, like the sky wasn't 'always cloudy' and all those grey day feelings would eventually give way to some sunshine.

It was just tea cups. It was just tea in pretty cups, sat on matching saucers. It could have been the world on a plate, for that's how we felt in our moment.

Welcome to the Secret Forest...

I get itchy fingers...
Once i have spent a few days making NeedleBooks, i get the urge to make PinPots. And then i am "oh, so Over PinPots" and i want to move on to a new project.... it all goes in cycles.

Then i had a new delivery of Yummy DEER fabric and it had to be made into bunting immediately or else i would burst. WORLD STOP: i must sew bunting! Cute x100!?
I made 2 different colourways. A sort of Baby coloured 'Secret Forest' line of bunting, followed by a bright / more 'foresty' colourway. I don't know which i like better?

And, as i am like a human Crafting Machine, i had to make a few more whilst i was in the mood.

This line of bright orange and red Cath Kidston (below) *was* made for the shop.... but as i passed through my kitchen (which is a huge detour from the Studio) i found myself hanging it in my own kitchen :)

Yippee, lush! I am calling it "Juicy Lucy"

The Bakery Bunting has been made since last Summer! and sat waiting to be photographed till now. I do usually save bunting till the Spring - but feeling the cold weather in the UK and the chill of Post-Christmas Blues, i needed a colour injection.

Lastly, a re-working of a design that sold well last year - "Cool Britannia" OR "London Baby!"

Like i have said before, there is nothing for sale in my shops that One really "needs...." it is more about colour, fun, frivolity... i make no apologies x

Details of a Party...

Saturday Night was the Christmas Ball.
An annual village event with a new 'theme' each year.
This year was "Art Deco" ~ Vintage / Black / Sparkles a-go-go... Vintage Dress from Etsy.

Sepia photos to set the period feel.

Pearl and diamante necklace ~ thrifted some years back and worn, worn, worn. Suits all occasions.

Diamante Brooch ~~~ hmm, i can't remember... maybe it came on a jumper that i bought in the January Sales? but it was a long while ago now. "Sparkles"

Funny, messy, scrunchy hair clipped bed hair.

Didn't mean to repeat that photo but can't seem to get rid of it now.

Individual tables with seating plans and each table is dedicated to an Old Time Movie star.

Caterers getting the run-through from the Chef on order of table service and all that Jazz.

Evening begins and Lots of my favourite people all talking, laughing, eating (drinking!)

There was a Champagne Reception and Bellini Cocktails. There was a magician and a Live Band. There were tears and some early home time... but that is the party itself and these were just some little details xxx

Happy Christmas Parties people. December arrives....

"Men at Work"

AAaaaahh, my very cheeky and very cute nephew.... Playing tunnels at the local Visitors Farm :)
We had him overnight this Summer - he's only 2 x we had a great time.

I need to be around little boys and try to get some idea of what they like!?!?

I spent a bit of time with some other small boys too and this is what my extensive and comprehensive research showed ::

Little Boys like:

Tractors

Diggers

Aeroplanes

Diggers

Combine Harvesters

Diggers

Pirates

Diggers

(BOY lavender bags below - you know, for their Pyjama drawer)

They also like:

Dolls

and diggers.

I think my nephew might be having a DIGGERS themed birthday party in October!

Do me a favour, and let me know if you come across any items that are currently available and party related with the theme of.... DiGgErS x

thanks x

A quick Crafty update....

Those Magnificent Men in their flying Machines... wheeeee, great new BOYS bunting in the Paperfish.etsy.com shop: And a cute *new* NeedleBook design in the PaperFish shop too

Pretty Poochina Brooch has been uploaded for sale in the UK Folksy store :)

Ooooh, another new NeedleBook - "Sewing Story" in the PaperFish shop, complete with a cup of tea on the front... I am in love with these new designs...

AND... Men at Work Bunting in PaperFish also! I made one of these my nephew's new bedroom (big boy now he's nearly 3!) and an extra line for the shop

CraftyFish, CraftyFish, too much hard work... go and relax!