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

Pretty Christmas Angel...

Hey! Look who's in the WINTER UK HANDMADE online magazine....? Me n' Her: I was asked if i would like to do a "How to" for the Winter edition... and i was making this angel so, thought she would be a pretty thing to share.

All the instructions and templates and full photos are in the last few pages (save the best till last *wink*) of the UK HANDMADE magazine, if you fancy making one for yourself.

I really enjoyed making something Chrsitmassy 'just for fun' - there are lots of other Christmas ideas and makes / bakes over in the magazine so why not take a look for yourselves and put your name on the email mailing list. It is a really good quality crafty read.

P.S If you do have a go at making this angel for yourself, feel free to email me if you have any questions.

xxx Read on further to see my HOLLY DECO too.....

More Flora and a Rudolph...

A few more of the *all new* singing and dancing Flora Brooches - into the PaperFish shop today. I think i enjoy making these because they are all a little different and it can get tedious sewing the same designs over again. I love discovering a new colour scheme and thinking "why haven't i mixed these colours before?" (i do talk to myself alot, i am terribly fascinating...)

Some are pastel-y, some are BrIgHt as can be and others are all muted and subtle.

I think i need to photograph a big batch of them and make the piccy into postcards... i might have to wait till slightly sunnier weather tho - anyone seen the sun of late? or has it gone on a small vacation?

And.... a Rudolph. A silly little something that might find its way into the SmallFish's Advent Calender - it has little pockets and i put a gift in for each day. HEY, she's my child and i will spoil her if i want to :)

Felt fancies do you good x

I saw my first Christmas advert on TV...

I am one of those rare people that doesn't mind Christmas quietly arriving.
I am naturally thrifty and crafty, so i am making, cooking, shopping, buying for Christmas all year round. I am not ashamed to admit, i like it. So, aswell as talking about the beauty and crafting of Autumn, i might start showing off a few decorations and 'how to's' on the blog, if that's ok....

Shaker style felt heart: red and white is such a winning combination for christmas.

I did an entirely WHITE Christmas home last year. This year i will be going for: Pumpkin Orange, Chocolate Brown, Red and White x

Weekend Craft Fairs...

So, i found myself at 2 Fairs this weekend. The first was in a school and was a very small fair. I'm afraid there was little to report from there, other than some lovely people that i met.
The Sunday Fair was where it was allll happening. "MaKe" in Wolverton, Milton Keynes. If you missed it, you missed a treat! What a joy to be at a fair that was so friendly, with so much space and very well organised. I had a massive stall area to play with which is always so nice. I hate being rammed table end to table end in a grotty light-less hall. This was a theatre - blissful hall and so sunny (when Jamie opened those wooden shutters)

I am in no way ashamed to admit, i had my small Christmas Tree up and was selling early decorations. Why not? People were enjoying them and buying them so i make no apologies for it.

I love looking at the stalls all set up - 2 mins till the Fair opens to the public (stall holders grabbing drinks and toilet stops, worrying about where we parked our vehicles for the day...)

Lovely lovely JANE Charles and her wonderful felt items. Isn't she great? watch this space for her own etsy shop http://buysmallbeans.etsy.com

Her items have an almost scandinavian look to them? and Jane herself was wearing fab clothes (wish i'd got her in a shot now...)

A lady selling her paintings - she was telling me she is a keen photographer too and this was her first fair! Great artwork lady x

Cake Makers / decorators, mmmmm.... look at that castle - it is darling!

Oh... and, ummmm they were selling cupcakes too so i HAD to have one....

I would love to be really slim and wear tiny jeans and tight vest tops, BUT... i think i like cake even more than i want to be thin (i tell myself i'm feeding my hour glass figure)

Cute, cute, cute.... this lady is fresh from Art School - cast out into the big bad world and she ended up next to me.... poor / lucky her (depending on how you view it)

She is Jessica Sharp and you can see some of her stuff here: http://nellieandelsie.etsy.com but again, this is a virgin etsy shop so keep watching, there is more good to come from Jessica (ooohhh, teacups and whimsy and seaside shells and nostalgic letters)

I didn't get a chance to catch this lady's name but she was a stunning artists - and needs to keep her stuff to galleries as she was soooo good and her stuff is much too divine (and heavy) to be carting around to fairs.

Jamie's Wife.... "Mrs Chalmers". Now, no offence J, but i'm pleased i have a pic of your good lady rather than yourself. You are such a limelight gent and your wife was so quiet - she is also far better looking :) "Hello MrsXstitch - it was lovely to meet you" x

Schmooze himself, MrXstitch had a really lovely, simple and galleresque display of Cross Stitch pictures he had swapped with other cross stitchers / embroiderers / contemporary needlefolk.

There were some great pieces....

I really liked this picture>>>>> but i want to clarify, this day was far from being 'pants'. It was great. Thanks J, thanks Carole, thanks to all of those who came along, it was nice to meet previous internet customers!! get to know new people and share the enthusiasm for crafting.

Back to the grindstone.... 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!

Sharing the Craftiness...

New selection of Butterfly Party Badges - Paper stolen (well purchased) from the ever wonderful Paperchase shop x A new file drawer system - mainly for allll those button mixes! Shame it's white as i wanted one in red :( from IKEA (that trip i went on, on Monday!)

As THIS aqua set is my sisters and she may want it returned to her soon....

AND i really have had a bunting week!

I made this pretty design for my daughters bedroom x

And this gorgeous line is called 'BRIGHTON PIER' as my sister is moving to Brighton soon and i love Brighton too ( UK seaside town for the US reader!)

Carnival Bunting - very much like the 'Frida' set of two weeks previous but it sold and so this is it's replacement, similiar but different. Bright, funky and 'carnival-esque'.

My personal favourite 'REGATTA' - i luffs it - reminds me of colourful sails on fast little boats!

And finally, ....this week, i have sold many sets of these:

Off cuts / Scrap Bags of the yummy Bunting fabric. All small pieces that would be perfect for smaller projects like hair pins or brooches or.....

What a fabric week x

n.b....

P.s..... crazy people from the UK 'scene' (MrsB x) have been snapping up the cool new badges and lots of the yummy fabric! It makes me happy and proud x

Thanks guys and thankyou FOLKSY where the UK handmade ladies have been shopping...

Biggest of snogs, you know who you are....