Thriftiness & Stitchiness

Wintery weather is back again and it was far too soggy for the carboot today. I'm keeping all my fingers crossed that the horrible rain stays away for Saturday when I'll be manning my pitch at Woodbridge.

I still needed some beautiful coloured glass to add to the mix for my stall and so I went off looking in charity shop world. I picked an area where there seems to be a CS every other shop, so stands to reason I'd find something or other.

What I found was a gorgeous selection of green and rose pink bowls and a vase.

When I popped into the antique centre to check out the prices (need to know what everyone else is selling at afterall) I found this so sweet basket. I think it might get put to good use on Sunday collecting chocolatey eggs. Oh and such a pretty tablecloth that had been shoved into a washing up bowl, that came home too.

On the way back to the car I stopped at the newsagents and found a great American crochet mag. There's so much to inspire in it.

What I really love are these cushions. I remember seeing something similar on Sarah London's blog and loving the bumpy ridges. Guess that's the next hooky project sorted then.


The stitchy stuff I'm finishing off is nearly done. A mix of hooky and fabric hangers;



a basketful of colourful big flower brooches and jolly hooky bunting;


and finally trivets, leaping hares and pincushions to be. Just labels to sew on and I'll be all done and dusted.


Have a wonderful Easter Weekend won't you and I'll see you again after the celebrations.

Knitty Bouquet

Do you find that some things can't be put into the to be finished later pile? In the main I have a lot of WIP's and unfinished, probably never to be finished things. Last night I stayed up pretty late because I really really wanted to finish this lovely bouquet brooch. It's a Julie Arkell pattern from one of the Loop knitbooks and I love it. It's oversized, bold, bright and has just that dash of humour which she injects into all of her work.

Now being a Wednesday and it's Spring, there's much excitement as the Car Boot is back. A friend came with me today and we whizzed around trying to spot treasure before anyone else. Sadly it was a bit thin on the ground today, but I did manage to get a few bits and bobs.

A selection of cards to attach to my brooches. Not sure if this lot and a small sample of their fine fare would put you off or not.

I also grabbed a jolly jug and a crinoline lady plate for my upcoming markets. The coloured glass that I love to gather and sell on is hiding well this winter so I might have to start buying off some of my friends to add to the supply. Who knows what treasure next week might bring.

Now it's off for a spot of sewing before getting my lovelies from school. Crochet group tonight and then planning for work tomorrow. Oh and I've just remembered Mr Bun has asked me to get some Guiness if I happen to be near any. In celebration of our Irish blood methinks on St Patricks Day. Personally I can't stand the stuff, so I think a drop of the red stuff for me.

Jollity All Round

Amongst all the busy busy that is general life around here at the moment there is a lot of colour. It's frankly all very jolly indeed and that's how we like it best.

Colourful vintage needles are all be-ribboned and ready for Little Vintage Lover at Burnham Market this weekend. There are also quite a few makes that are ready and waiting for their finishing touches. So I thought you might like a peek at some of them before they arrange themselves all decoratively on my stall.

I've made some of the playing cards I put my brooches on into gift labels. I was asked a few times at Woodbridge market if I sold them as gift tags so I thought I'd better make a few ready for christmas gifts.

In the mornings tucked up in bed I've been crocheting these adorable mistletoe kisses. Some I've made into brooches and the rest have been sewn on to hairclips. With your mistletoe always at the ready you'll be able to ask for a kiss whenever you want.

Now as I've suddenly acquired a lot of vintage wooden hangers from Craig and also from Emmie I needed to get on with prettying them up.

This was my first one which I'm really pleased with. I always make just one of each new thing to see if I like it before I start cutting into my fabric stash. Well I was very pleased, so all the rest have been cut and sewn today.

I love taking something vintage, adding some new fabric or embellishments and then hey presto it's something new to be loved once more.

Tonight's job will be lining this basket and padding out the top. I'm not so sure I'll be able to part with this one, but then I do still have another larger one to cover gifted from Teena.

After a busy morning making, I had to go to the bank which meant a whizz around the charity shops too. Now only yesterday I was moaning about the shortage of good booty in the CS lately. Well today was a great gathering goodies day. A pair of beautiful rose bowls and lilac needles were found in the first one.

Then another holiday tablecloth, this time from Devon.



I couldn't believe my luck when I found this pair of vintage children's pinnies. I'll definately be popping them on my stall.

Now for the really exciting bit as these are for us and us alone.

I found some baubles. Not just any old baubles, but frosted pink baubles and just the one golden one all hidden in a box of nasty plastic ones. I think they look just perfect with the crepe paper which will become homemade decorations of one sort or another. That's going to be a decision for another day I think as we have ooohhh - weeks and weeks left for all that stuff.


So I put them to one side with the conkers which are being fiercely guarded by the orangutan. Autumn and winter side by side in two dishes.

Now tomorrow is another busy day. A chocolate cake and buns to bake for the school christmas bazaar on Saturday. Little Bun's class are in charge of the cafe, so I can't get out of that one. Then more making before the end of the day when we'll be heading off to the Christmas Lights in the market town we used to live in.

All very jolly all round I think.

Inside and Outside

My week wouldn't be whole without the Wednesday carboot. Only a few goodies this week, but they were definately worth the trip, despite having to take a very naughty Mr Alfie Blue with me. Mr Salt and Ms Pepper above are in fantastic condition so will be perfect for the next fair. Yet more Enid's which are always added to the pile with delight by the Bun's. In front is the most delightful child's saucer, Such a shame the cup is no longer with it, but it is still a small object of gorgeousness in it's own right. I especially love the snail pulling a trolley along.

Yet more fantastic linens and cloths before they become something entirely new indeed.

A pretty oval glass dish and lots and lots of buttons and buckles. I picked these out from a pitch laid out on the floor. With my right hand I searched through all the treasures in front of me whilst my left held on tightly to a very naughty Pug. As I got more absorbed in selecting my buttons, Alfie saw a dog he absolutely needed to chase walk behind me. So off he went and I followed on my bum in the mud. I wonder why I've never really enjoyed taking him with me. He loves being the star of the moment though and so we stop and talk to people who want to know all about this very mischievious boy that walks amongst them.

I also picked up a fantastic plant stand soon to be painted. I'll add that to the next post or so. Might choose a different colour as Little Bun said quite dismissively "I bet it will blue or white as usual." That's me told then.

It seems whilst I've been out and about this week our garden has used all the sun and tons of rain to go mad. It's becoming quite jungly in parts and something needs to be done. A father's day treat perhaps. Mr Bun can clear while we serve him Pimms and fancy cakes. Aren't these water lillies fabulous?

In the apple tree above the hen run tbere is an enormous rose bush that literally explodes with blooms each year. This picture doesn't capture how pink the roses really are, nor the amazing scent when I stand underneath feeding the ladies and collecting their eggs.

These lilies grow alongside my lily of the valley which have now stopped flowering and I have these huge ones instead.

Finally some incredibly tall delphiniums. Yet another of my favourite plants. The sunlight is a bit too strong on them too fully make out the fantastic colours. I'm not going to knock the sun though. It can carry on shining.

Now for a more peaceful weekend as it's my first for a couple of weeks when I'm not at a fair. I think we may be going to a riverside concert on Saturday evening as it starts early so it's ideal for the Bun's. The real lure though is the promise of a colourdome. Not sure what one is, so I hope it is as exciting as it sounds. Then High Tea of strawberries, scones, cake and delicate sandwiches planned for the two fathers on Sunday.

Wishing you all a great weekend too.

Fair on the Square

I got up at the ridiculous time of 5am on Saturday and I was incredibly glad I did as I had a wonderful day in Woodbridge, Suffolk. This is the peaceful candy coloured scene on one side of the road, at 7am, as I walked down the hill towards the Shire Hall where the Fair in the Square was being held. On the other all was busyness as everyone set up their travelling shops ready for the first customers of the day.

Here's Sarah, one of the fair's organisers, caught putting out her fabulous vintage fabric lamps.

Then looking across the square to the Shire Hall shortly before the crowds (and I mean crowds - no poetic licence here today at all) arrived.

(*)

The Shire Hall from the back looked just as fantastic decked out with it's bunting and pitches being set up.

I was really pleased with my pitch. I was the first stall on the walk into the hall. You couldn't avoid me, so all had to stop and look. Luckily for me most were also tempted and I had already made my first sale shortly before we opened for business. It wasn't just about selling though. These events never are, even though that's a pretty good reason for getting up so early. It was great meeting so many new people and bouncing ideas of each other aswell as chatting a lot (which I'm getting good at as I get older). I spied one lady with a familiar looking crochet bag. I shouted out that's an Attic 24 bag isn't it before I could stop myself. The lady was pleased, but surprised as she had only just finished making it the night before. I also made contact with shopkeepers to discuss possible wholesale of some of my handmade wares and I managed to fit in a spot of shopping before the day began.

It's not easy including this picture as I'm still kicking myself very very hard. When I showed Mr Bun he asked me what I was thinking of (in not buying these cups and saucers). I was trying to be good and not spend much, how I wish I'd said to hell with it as I normally do. They are truly beautiful.

I settled on getting dinky little condiment pots for picnics,

a tablecloth covered in tulips and some more fabric. The larger one is a fabulous double sheet which will go towards making a teepee for the buns.

The picture marked with a star above and these last ones were sent to me by Richard, another one of the team of organisers. I can't take credit for such great pictures. They really show what a fantastic bustling day it was. I'd never been to Woodbridge before, just kept on going on the A12 to London, so it was a delight to find such a lively market town. How can you not want to visit somewhere that has a windmill nestled between the houses as you drive in, lots of quirky shops, cafes, bars, antique shops and water to enjoy. Make sure you don't miss the next Fair on the Square on Saturday 26th September if you're looking for a fabulous day out. I'll post more details when I have them.