Plastic Bob

Before I start rambling on, I thought I'd better show you my all done and dusted Patchy Cushions.

I love the fabrics in these so much. I could sit and look and then look some more just to get my happy fix for the day. I'll be popping these ones in my etsy shop in the next few days, but I'll definately be making some for us too.

On Saturday Miss Rosey and I set off to try out a new market. She's never come with me before and was really looking forward to it.

The church hall looked great when we arrived, all decked out with bunting. There were a few stalls that caught my eye too for a spot of shopping later on.

Through the day I caught up with a few friends who stopped by and chatted with a few more lovely people who read this here stuff and know me from Pick 'n' Mix Makers Market. 

One very lovely lady bought these tasty cupcakes for Rosey and I as she enjoys reading Bobo Bun so much. Thanks so much Patricia, we really enjoyed munching them, Rosey picked the windmill one.

I sold a few bits, but on the whole it was a slow day. I wasn't disappointed though as I hadn't gone with any expectations and I had a lovely day chatting with Rosey and meeting other lovely people. I'm sure this sounds a bit odd as from a selling point of view the whole reason I bother going to markets is to make a profit. Well I wanted to see what it was all about and as the pitches were so reasonable I knew it was an ok gamble to go and try it out.

I've also had the necessary kick up the bum to get making new stock, so now I just need another kick to get me adding it to my etsy store tommorow. 

We did make sure we came home with a few goodies too. There were a couple of stalls selling some kitsch bits and bobs that really appealed to me. I'm annoyed I didn't get the carousel horse ring - ho hum, but I did get Bob the Elephant (for me), the musical cat for Miss Rosey and ...

Miss Rosey chose the wee white bear for Little Bun. 

I added a few buttons and plastic stuff to my bag too. I'm not sure what I'll do with them, but I think it'll involve a bit of glue.

Our last buys were these Japanese notebooks. One for each of us.

Next Saturday there'll be the Golden Triangle Makers Market in the same hall. A friend of mine has a stall there so we'll pop along and check it out as I think it'll be a good one.

Thanks Lily, Heather and Annie (and anyone else if I've forgotten you) for your technical advice. I've not had a chance to give it a go, but I will very soon so fingers crossed it works. 

Royal Treats

Before I tell you all the news of the weekend, I really really must tell you about something we've had to keep a secret for a while now.

My incredibly talented, driven and compassionate husband has added another award to his collection. In 2003 he set up his business Blue Cat Initiative  as a Social Enterprise to provide training and education to vulnerable learners. At the time he was Head of Media Studies in a college and an Educational Consultant for government programmes. He had the choice to either climb the ranks or follow his heart. After hearing Tony Benn talk in London he came home fired up and knowing it was time to act on his plans and ideas. As a committed Socialist and lecturer he knew there were far too many barriers to learning faced by so many which stopped them living the lives they deserved. He has worked tirelessly over the years creating projects, seeking funding for them, having a business lunch with Princess Anne and politicans who have the power to make change and has seen the small and large successes of those who have benefited from the projects accumulate.

This morning his invitation to the Palace to receive the Queens Award for Blue Cat came through the door.

He was notified over a month ago, but was told to tell no one until June 5th. Just before this he was also awarded funding to ensure Streetlife Soccer, a sport and education project he designed for homeless people, would be able to run for another five years. The successes on this project have been phenomenal.

I very rarely talk about my marvellous man as this is my space and he doesn't really want to inhabit it. He's such a star with the wickedest humour that makes me laugh like a drain and I still go weak at the knees when I look at him. We're a great team and as always he was there to help and support me this weekend for the Pick 'n' Mix Makers Market. See enough of him now, lets talk about me me me.

If you pop on over to the Pick 'n' Mix blog you'll see the stunning work that was brought to market on Saturday. If you do visit then it would be great if you left a comment as I'd love to hear what you think.

Throughout the day I hit the streets with gorgeous Zoe to spread the word. She was decked out in an ever changing array of hats and fascinators which are designed and made by her mum. I was lent a yellow fascinator to wear. I don't have a photo which is  probably a good thing.

 

Mr Bun and Alfie Blue manned the welcome desk wonderfully. Alfie had four girlie Pugs come to visit and say hello which was a bit overwhelming for him. Mr Bun also ran a great creche with makers and our own children lined up beside him playing hang man.

Now I'm only showing you this because some of you asked to see the dress. I'm in shock by how matronly and mumsy I look. Note to self need to lose weight and growing my hair maybe isn't such a good idea. 

We had a wonderful day, full of laughter and hard work. I brought a couple of gnomes home with me from Sasha. I could buy all of her work as it's sensational. New to the homestead are Geoffrey and Mimi.

Little Bun bought a purple sheep brooch from Penny. She was quivering with delight when she found them. 

Sara , who is behind Wildwood, brought me a pack of these delightful Donkey cards which was so kind of her. I had only just seen her on the Friday as I ended up rescuing a hedgehog who was dragging its leg across the road. It was near her cottage so I called in for numbers of rescue places. Instead of my planned sewing I ended up racing around the countryside with another friend Lizzie in search of a vet we'd been told about. Hedgie all delivered and doing well.

I'd only popped out to collect my new business cards before I found my new spiky friend.

Well what a whirlygig of stuff to tell you. Apologies for it being such a long one, but I couldn't wait to tell you in lots of smaller posts.

Pick 'n' Mix

After the rollercoaster ride of juggling the demands of my teaching job with home life and a visit to Mr Rod Stewart, I can finally concentrate on the main thing in my mind. My list of to do's for those last minute things for Pick 'n' Mix seems to be getting a bit shorter. That worries me a bit as then I end up thinking I've forgotten something, but it all seems to be ticketyboo and shipshape.

Most importantly I have a dress all hanging and waiting for me to wrap myself into it. In the week I was just passing Ruth's shop Glory Days. I only popped in to say hello and then gave in to full blown temptation. While we sat there chatting over her sewing machine, my eyes kept wandering to a dress I'd thought about for a good while.

All of a sudden there it was, wrapped in tissue paper, in a bag and off I went as happy as Larry. It's made by Kind Hearts who make fabulous clothes. It doesn't really look so exciting on the hanger. On it gives the illusion I'm a lot slimmer and has a lovely girlie frill that hides up knees I'm not so keen on. I always like a good excuse for a dress I've waited a whole year for.

At the midweek Car Boot I got all excited to see tons of tents up for sale. I didn't have enough paper stuff with me, so I hope they'll be back so I can buy one. I used to do the more glamorous version of camping all over the UK and Europe many a moon ago. By that I mean lipstick at all times and an airbed, no roughing it. Anyways I want to show the Bun's how there's nothing like sleeping under the stars. When I saw this flask in town later on I decided it was a fairly good start to our camping kit. Start small and work up.

I did have enough pennies at the boot for these lovelies.

And this. Can you believe the seller called it tat? Mr Bun roared with laughter when he saw the kitten. He thinks I'm turning our home into an old folks home, but that's ok as he thinks it's funny.

Somehow tommorow I've got to turn this pile of fabric into purses, make some more hangers, collect cards from the printers and loads more stuff than I think the day is long.

Oh and wash and iron all these cloths I found at the car boot too to pretty up the cafe tables at Pick 'n' Mix. It'll get done won't it?

See you the other side with pics of the market and tales of our goings on.

I'm late, I'm late ...

Why oh why is it always last minute with me? Tommorow is Little Vintage Lover Fair in Heydon and as usual I'm stitching up to the last.

Today I've finished up two cushions, a pile of brooches and edged some vintage towelling I've turned into hand towels. I'm really pleased with all I've done so all good there, no panic honest.

I love my Roundabout Cushions and need to get hooking in circles again pretty soon to work through the other orders I have for them. I think a basket of wool will be coming with me as I am on a makey roll at the moment.

The cushions that make me happiest at the moment are my Candysplash Patchy Cushions. I think it's the childhood memories these 1960's and 70's fabrics bring back. Mind you I remember dark purple wallpaper covered in brown owls in my bedroom too, so it wasn't all zingy and jolly back then.

   

In the middle of all this last minute busy I ran out of Bobo Bun labels. Then I thought I could make my own. I think I like these just as much. 

Somehow we packed the four of us, the dog, furniture and boxes and boxes of my stuff into the car later on. We dropped the three cuties off and Mr Bun and I went to Holt to put up the signs and banner for next weeks Pick 'n' Mix Makers Market. We even managed to drop most of my stuff off in Heydon. 

I'm looking forward to tommorow as it's always a lovely day in Heydon. Lots of small nitty gritties to sort out for Pick 'n' Mix and then suddenly it'll be the day itself, I can't wait. It always feels the same as organising the lovliest party just the way you always dreamed of.

Summer Workroom

Eldest Bun was very poorly with food poisoning yesterday. Little Bun was so disappointed as we had an exciting day planned with Grandma. We swapped our days around so Grandma went to work so she could have today off and I worked instead of working today. Problem solved.

Once Eldest Bun slept the afternoon away my full-time nursey role was over. Little Bun and I played with the angel cards for a bit and then made plans.

I painted a table and a few other bits and bobs while she painted posters and drew pictures of her toys. We chatted about this and that catching up on her news and views.

Later I brought my work outside while she showed me her skipping act. It was slow progress - hook a few - "watch this mummy", " hang on a mo", " are you ready now?" - I kept reminding myself these moments are irreplaceable, so I slowed down and just enjoyed watching her.

Most of the flowers I made while I sat with Eldest Bun in the morning. I think I made two during the skipping show.

I made a new brooch on Tuesday night based on a favourite of mine in felt. I wore it to the beach and I love it. I love the size and how the colours work so well together. The plan is to make a few more to take with me to LVL on Sunday and Pick 'n' Mix Makers Market next week.

When Little Bun ran in to see her sister and daddy I stayed, enjoying the sun and watching the ladies decide which plant to wreck next.

 

It's slow progress working outside, but so relaxing. We dream of having a Shepherds Hut one day and then maybe I'll be out here more and more stitching and knitting away.

Thankfully my beautiful girl is so much better today and eating lots of toast. A morning of sewing for me and then off to the Grandparents for us.

I Can Fly

With the wheels a whirring to organise this years Pick 'n' Mix Makers Markets, my heads been buzzing with all sorts of ideas. Next up on my list of to do's was postcard and poster designs. I knew exactly what I wanted, but failed at the first hurdle of techie wizardy to make my designs become real things. Then I thought of the fabulous Jane of Teawagontales who had mentioned her graphics background. I also knew she liked a lot of the same stuff as me, so I reckoned she'd get exactly what I was after.  I was thrilled when she said she'd love to design the cards for me.

When I got home tonight the designs we'd discussed were there and waiting for me to download. I can't tell you how excited I was. I'm only going to show you the summer one for now, even though the christmas design will be going on the back of the postcards.
Are you ready?

Isn't it gorgeous. I'm over the moon. I told Jane I had in my head the pictures from a story I loved when I was little of a girl who mimicks chickens, fish and owls. I couldn't find my book and didn't know who the artist was. The very next day she'd come up with the exact book I was thinking of.  I'd loved Mary Blair's illustrations for I Can Fly and now love Jane's interpretation. Not only that, but Jane has exactly captured what I had in my head for the christmas postcards and I love them too. 

Now if it wasn't for this community I wouldn't get to know about the amazing talented people out there and I'd miss out on the collaboration and sharing of our skills.

Normal Service Resumed

After weeks of shedding their feathers and looking pretty rank, the ladies have got back into full scale egg production again. Hooray I say. Weeks of buying shop bought eggs for the first time in two years just wasn't the same. Now we're back to sunshine yellow yolks and that good feeling that comes from baking with your own hens eggs. I can forgive them for pooing everywhere and trashing the garden if they pay for their destruction in eggs.

 

Just as the hens have got their groove back it seems we're all supposed to do so too. We don't really want to though. Mr Bun went back to work yesterday and said he sulked most of the morning as he knew what fun we were having at home.

 

Our mission for the day was to eat lots and lots of cake, especially these lovely choccy ones made by Eldest Bun. Then I had to make up a couple of pencil cases. The Buns chose the fabric when we were christmas shopping. A bright spark, who should have known better, said let's make pencil cases in the holidays. Needless to say we ran out of time and so I ended up making them on the last day so they could take them to school today. No photos I'm afraid as I finished them later on and they were packed into schoolbags straightaway.

Three back to normal service and the house is very quiet. today I have jobs though. We always follow the twelve days of christmas and take our decorations down at the latest moment on the 6th. This year I've got to do it all today as I'm back at work tommorow. We've loved our tree this year. The Bun's did a minutes silence for it yesterday with me counting to sixty loudly. Little Bun asked if I would cry when I took the decorations off. Does she just imagine or perhaps she actually knows her mummy is a bit touched in the head. So I've cut a slice of my mum's christmas cake to drink with my coffee while I get on with it. Wish me luck for all the cleaning up afterwards.

Some of the Mix

It's now a whole week since we set free our first Pick 'n' Mix Makers Market. A whole week which has been so busy that I've fallen asleep on the sofa each evening. A week later I have a handful of pics to show you and to tell you what a great day we had.

We had a queue forming before we had even opened for business, so at 10am we threw the doors open and then pretty much until the end of the day we had a hall full of excited shoppers.

Best eye candy jar of sweeties for the stall that had that christmas zing. Catherine, from Blue Sky at Wells, came to judge the sweet toothed winner and she picked the lovely Daniella of Acorn and Will. I bought quite a few lovelies from Daniella which I must remember to show you. A small boy doll (who has now been named George) was spied by Mr Bun. He came home with us as a thankyou for all his hard work and support (Mr Bun, not George).

If you look carefully you can see him standing between the two shelves.

Once the Bun girlies turned up they did a lot of dealing with Sasha for some of her gorgous and truly original toys. I'll add these to my list of pictures I must show you.

After setting up the night before and then the whirlygig of manning a stall and the market I realise I have very few decent pictures to show of all the fabulous makers that were there. Apologies for that as the stalls looked fantastic.

This week I started my new job, fought off yet another bug and am madly trying to finish making the Bun's presents. On top of that Mr Bun has his birthday on Sunday so tomorrow will be a day of preparations and dashing again.

I need to get back to this blogging lark in the next few days as on January 2nd I'll have been doing it for a whole year. I guess I'd better come up with an idea how to celebrate and thank all of you who take the time to read, follow and leave me a comment. See you soon.

Jingly Jangly

On Sunday we rose very early as we had a steam train to catch. The Santa Express no less and we didn't want to get in trouble with the elves if we got there too late.

We boarded the train and snuggled up in our seats with sherry, mince pies and juice. As we set off along the North Norfolk coastline we waited for that first glimpse of sea, laughed as the golfers disappeared in clouds of smoke and then suddenly we were there at Santa Land. We've been doing this for the last five years now and think we'll still be dragging the Buns here as teenagers as we love it so much.

On the way back we took a slight detour to Holt so we could put our very snazzy banner up for this weekends Pick 'n' Mix Market. I can't believe it's here at last. What was an idea in February is very nearly a reality all these months later.

Last Friday we were in the local press with a great feature and tomorrow will see us in another edition.

Now back to the reason for all of this which is the making of things. I've been busy cutting, sewing and generally decorating stuff. A few months ago I ordered a fat quarter of fabric from Aneela. It was the first of the designs she sent off to Spoonflower and quite a few of us wanted some. Well it's been a long time coming, but I've finally cut into it and made a few brooches with a small piece.

All a little bit of doodly christmas to pin on your outfit.

I've finally covered all the hangers I'll be taking with me. Now just to sew up all those trinket and button bags, sew the floral brooches and just a few more things and I might just be done.

Tomorrow I'll be back in Holt with Teena a few signs and a mallet. Fingers crossed for no rain. Hopefully there'll be time to hit the shops there again as last week I found a couple of these gentlemen and a bit of tinsle. If I find any treasure you'll be the first to know.