NEW dress x handmade of course...

Not handmade by me but by Abi: Abi has an etsy shop but really her PROPER shop is the best!
There is nothing in Abi's shop but that is because i think her real shop is what it is all about for Abi. It is an Aladdins cave of gorgeous textiles and reconstructed clothes and original patterns and amazing ideas.
Excuse the one-woman fashion show but no photo did this dress real justice...

Look at this cute lining...

I love the pleats...

I adore the back, like a pinafore type design...

Heavy wool fabric in PINK with Aqua wool stitch detail, oh i love it x

And i have been wearing it with my grey tights and green shoes and stripey cardigan....

You could not find this in the High Street. It is why handmade is so amazing and important.

It isn't that i *must* look different and great! It is just that i want to look like 'me'. I want to look how i feel and High Street rarely gives me that feeling that i look like 'me' x

P.s. The Fishmarket in Northampton, UK - "Kismet": If you live locally, go see her.....

P.S Look!

Look what was waiting on my doorstep when i got home today!!!!
My big brother sent us an XBOX 360.
I know it is very generous and me and the Other Fish can play games on it BUT.... i've never really seen one before so that is the extent of my knowledge....
I will attempt to get it out of the box and then, take it from there...

Balls of Colour....

I am currently salvaging all my photos from the old computer and attempting to re-organise them in my *new* PC (easier for many Others than it is for me!)
So.... in place of a scintilating new crafty post.... i give you my 3cm great balls of colour.

Fat Cherry Pie - 3 shades of red:

Winter Rabbits - grey, black and white:

The 50 piece multi-colour pack:

Club Tropicana (for the 80's generation):

Spring Fling:

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas...

"What's that?" said the Little Fish "Looking like Christmas?" Gingerbread Men have been sold to Craft Stall shoppers...

Button Wreaths have gone to new homes, ready to satisfy the most ardent button fans...

Packs of mixed decorations have met with approval...

And this little pack has been featured in the etsy gift guides...

Yes, all in all, it is beginning to look alot like Christmas!

I have my biggest Christmas Fair on Sunday - the Boddington Rural Market with over 40 mixed stalls for local crafts and business.

Many of my friends will be there... all of my family! Lots of food, breads, cakes, chutneys, crafts... I'll take some pictures for you x


P.s. We have technology... maybe I'll webcam the event?

"Local Craft Matters" .... *waves*

I write a regular column for a little publication in the UK called "Local Craft Matters".
I really enjoy it as i LOVE to talk about how fantastic and important Craft is and how you can support craft and 'find' social crafting in our area.
Anyway, i wrote my article and said about "craft fairs are the best place to Christmas Shop" and "why not make stuff... like chutney!" SO.... in case my readers wanted proof - here is me and the smallerFish making chutney...


Me, in love with Nigella (sigh) if she knew me, she'd really like me I'm sure... Always sterilize those jars! We don't have a dish washer as i find washing-up rather therapeutic (but a little rough on my poor hands)

It is a Nigella recipe called "Christmas Chutney" with all my favourites: Apples, Clementine, Cloves, Spice, Cranberries, Dates (and sugar and vinegar!)

Of course, all kitchen Divas need crowns! But please, I am NOT a terrible 'affected' lady that feels the need for Diva-ness. Any Mother to a 4yr old girl knows that Princess Crowns are worn by everyone in the family on a regular basis (including the dog x)

Yeh, go on, make Chutney! Make 'something' - feel good about yourself.

Staying in is soooooo the new 'going out'!

Cat Brooch & Helmdon 'Crafts in Action'

I took part in theeee most lovely of Craft Fairs last weekend - "Crafts in Action" at Helmdon village Church.
The church was amazing and so well facilitated. But it is always the people that make a fair as good as it can be. Taking money is imperative and all part of the retail life ... BUT, the people make the day. Great stall holders, lovely organisers, friendly locals.

But, that reminds me - did you come along with your little girl and order a cat brooch? I am looking for the lady who bought a few things (including red Matroyshka) and wanted a Cat Brooch?
Well, here it is:
Very sweet in blue felt with lots of embroidered detail AND smells softly of lavender.
I hope you like it? You have inspired to try more new things...
P.S. pop in to your local Christmas Craft Fair - you never know what treasures are there! x

Craft yourself

I am 'new' to the world of technical possibilities...
But any new way to be creative? - I'm here with my notebook and ready to learn.
Craft yourself x The Fish, now available in glorious technicolour x

Oh Sew Tired...

Hello friends .... it is 5.45am in this picture.
I cannot sleep.


I am not stressed.
I am not worried.
I think my insomnia is happiness and excitement and creativity.
I am feeling a crafty vibe at the moment and I am loving all the Christmas retail rushing and the etsy shops and the MADNESS of craft fairs .... last minute stitching....

So, i sit at my sewing machine, 5.45am and take a few photos of me 'here' / 'now' to show you what i see and what sees me...
My pile of felted wool, jumpers collected from jumble sales, for 'that' project...

My threads and jars and bobbins and bits and stash and stuff....

And i see my sewing machine, slightly askew because so is my brain...

And my sewing machine sees me... this photo was taken from the top of my Janome and my machine sees me looking at it, like a love affair.
When i am sat here, i want to be out - walking, yoga, dancing, swimming...

And when I am not sat here, it is the only place i long to be.
I am Oh, sew tired and sew happy, today x

Am i 'So Hip'?...

#1 apologies for hurried photo...
#2 Wow! Yippee for me x and Manda McGory, the very kind editor of this new magazine -
"SEW HIP" Manda featured one of my products (inner glee) in the launch edition!
I was just browsing at Borders Book shop when i suddenly remembered ... "Oooh is that new magazine out yet?" ......... I saw it ....... i reached for it ........ i stood thumbing it at the Paperchase counter ...... "LOOK, that's me!" i shouted and the girls that worked there made all the right appreciative noises to massage my craft soul.



I love this page! It looks yummy - i sort of feel not good enough to be there.... but there I am, in the bottom right corner .... my Matroyshka NeedleBook!


You know, like many, i too have that childhood story "no good at art" / "not allowed to take the subject" / "craft isn't a proper job" etc.... Look teachers, i made a 'proper job' of it.

And just to finish ... i was going to Blog my great new purchases - handmade lovliness... but that will have to wait to make way for the hasty magazine shots.
Instead i will end this post with my 4yr olds photo "Ode to Rat" - rather good i thought.

Thanks for sharing my enthusiasm friends x

A comfortable Sunday...

Off to HobbyCraft then Sainsburys...
The weather?.... hideous, damp, dank, grey, cold, miserable.... JUST the weather for the red beret! And it worked because other people smiled at the redness of the beret too (it has magic qualities and brings much joy)
One Gentleman even started singing to me "where did you get that hat, lalala..."
Unfortunately he was a homeless alcoholic who was trying to distract me whilst his friend attempted to steal the newly purchased bottle of Brandy from my shopping trolley. Ah well, i told him off and we all had a laugh about it, the Brandy made it home with me and so did the child and the beret.

Hobbycraft!? i know, i didn't mean to swear in my own Blog but... i needed some embroidery skeins very quickly x
On our return from the commercial abyss ... i got out my Gorgon Ramsey cookbook.... SEE? notice? and i quote "To Kirsty, Love Gordon" The photograph is my sister getting it signed for me in Selfridges. How cute is she? She knows i live in a fantasy world, in which Gordon and I are blissfully married...


NO, i didn't cook from that book. That is just for dreamy smugness and a quick 'Gordon fix' in my heart, no.... The Smaller Fish and I made chocolate FUDGE from Nigella's recipie (she's my best friend you know, in my fantasy world)
We 'improved' the recipie, like all good crafters should, and added the BRANDY (see, the beret story had relevance) and extra sugar.

And we made them in this heart shaped ice tray so we had HEART shaped fudge, how cute is that?
Then i invited my Mum and Dad for Sunday lunch. Brandy glazed and Bacon stuffed Chicken (Brandy again!) with dauphinoise Pots and carrots and Leeks in white sauce. Then followed by Vanilla ice-cream (the only thing my dad and daugter will eat for dessert) and Brandy Fudge.
It was, on reflection, a comfortable Sunday x

Strike a Pose...

"Strike a Pose
There's nothing to it
Vogue..." - I am super happy with a new Hair Clip i purchased on a sudden whim from Kitty Eden. I bought it from her Folksy store (UK handmade site)Isn't it pretty?! Yes, i thought so too, which is why i ordered 2 more for the Fish's hair. Mainly because my baby sister (who is now 30 and cannot reeeaaallly be classed as a 'baby' anymore) is returning from her world travels in December and i just know this hair clip will mysteriously disappear.....

And then .... Hair Clip MANIA! My little girl, who has been a 'poorly Poppet' this past 7 days, gets a parcel in the post too.....

How pretty is that packet? How sweet are those stamps?? How divine is that little flower sticker???
What if i tell you, that THESE gorgeous felt hair clips were made by a really lovely UK customer of BigFish called Caroline!? How nice is that? I mentioned that the Poppet-Fish was poorly and she sent this "Cheer up" parcel. Doesn't it restore One's faith in the beauty of human nature?
Thankyou so much friend x
I love my Poppet
I love my job
I love my Crafty life x