Its Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas...at the 2009 Christmas Fair that is! The Fair was a great success, for all involved! It has taken me up to today to get my breath back! What a day! Everyone had so much fun and the Charity did really well.

I made 3 more little Christmas bags on Thursday night to bump my table out a bit more and I was going to make another one but my husband said he was unplugging my sewing machine if I didn’t stop, I just needed to rest. So, in fear of being unplugged, I snuggled up on the couch with him instead.

I could not sleep from all the excitement, I was up at 4 and it was a frosty morning when I left the house at 6:30. Everything was quiet and calm and it gave me a chance to collect my thoughts as I walked to the Fair.

The front porch was decorated so sweetly and that immediately put you in the Christmas mood. Upon entering the house, Christmas music was already going and Ella Fitzgerald was crooning you through the doorway. I made 3 Christmas mixer Cd’s a few years ago and that is what plays throughout the day, I was in dreamland getting to listen to Christmas music all day long.

After, putting the finishing touches on my table, I took the chance to look around everyone else’s stall, I oohed and aahed and began to do a little Christmas shopping of my own before the crowds arrived. A beautifully hand painted, "Twas the Night Before Christmas" sign, a vintage green trunk and a vintage school poster with a snowman scene were just a few of the treasures I found.

Lucky for me, my stand was next to the very sweet Penelope of RosaBlue. Everyone’s stall looked splendid! There was such a nice mixture of new things, antiques and homemade items, as a customer you were definitely spoiled for choice.

The day went by too quickly and as we were packing up, it was sad to think that I will not see some of my “fair” friends again until the Summer Fair or even next year’s Christmas Fair; but, to a cozy house we will all march to get warm by the Aga, enjoy a cup of tea, catch up with each other and spend a day of “work” just having fun!

I have a commission for my “Oh What Fun!” blanket, so I am off to cut out hearts and start stitching away in my own little world with some Christmas music in the background of course!

Oh What Fun!

I have spent the morning finishing up sewing together some bags for the Christmas Fair. I am all packed and ready to go now. I made this "Oh what fun!" blanket yesterday, so I hope that it sells.

This is always the hardest part for me, I want to sell things, but I get attached to the things I have made. I really enjoyed making the mittens for my ribbon garland, so I made some extra as ornaments or they could be used as a gift decoration.
I ran out of red thread last night, so all my little bags had to be sewn in green, but they still look Christmassy. I am off to move my bags to the door and get ready to head out of here, I am going to try and set up this afternoon, so there is less work to do in the morning. I can't wait to see everyone, lots of us have not seen each other since the Summer Fair, so there is a lot of catching up to do!

This is it! Here we go....Oh what fun!

Breakfast of Champions

This was my breakfast this morning! I can think of nothing better. Well... maybe if I had some chocolate cake to go with it! I have finished all the little tooth bears and Christmas bears (I know they are happy some have been very patiently waiting to be stitched together), gingerbread wreaths and ribbon garlands. I am now working on a blanket and I plan to make some bags this afternoon.

I am definitely on countdown! The fair is just 2 days away and there still seems like there is so much more to do! But, Shhh! don't tell anyone, I am ahead of schedule, so everything I am doing now are bonus items. I need to begin labeling things and start gathering together my tablecloths and display pieces I plan to use. This is really the exciting part!

Well, I'm off to stitch a little sleigh riding snow bunny onto a heart and maybe make another cup of hot chocolate. What could be better than hot chocolate, Christmas music and sewing cozy things on a sunny but frosty November morning? Right now I can't think of anything else.

Cozy Felt Mittens

I was saddened to say goodbye to Cornwall on Saturday, but, I have now jumped back into the full swing of things here. I spent most of yesterday creating a mitten pattern for some garlands I am making for the fair.

I finished the mittens last night and stitched “cozy” & “frosty” onto some antique white colored felt that I will cut out with my scallop edger and attach to a small felt pillow that will hang from the garland as well.
This is my project to finish today! I have 5 more little bears that need to be sewn up, I am done with my tooth bears, now I am working on my holiday bears and there is a little bear with holly on her pocket who has patiently been waiting to be stitched together.

The Christmas Fair on Friday will come faster than I can imagine, I am so excited! I am back to work as soon as I make myself a cup of hot chocolate with plenty of marshmallows to fuel my sewing fingers on this cold morning!

Everything is coming up Rosy with an Ice-Skating Afternoon

I have just received my Ice-Skating Afternoon kit from "Rosy Little Things", better known as: Posie Gets Cozy. If you have not come across Alicia Paulson, you are truly missing out on a very warm, witty, creative and cozy woman. I saw this kit last year when I first found her blog and I was saddened that she had completely sold out. Lucky for me, she sold the kits again this year with a new set of 3 ornaments, Walk in the Woods to coordinate with her previous designs.

I had the kit sent to my parent's house and as my Mom and I skyped, she
waved this adorable package in front of the screen, taunting me with cuteness. But, it will have to wait, I refuse to let her send it to me, because I have so much I am trying to complete for the Christmas Fair at the moment. Today, I am sealing my gingerbread wreaths. So, the kit will be my reward for finishing all my little tooth bears and Christmas bears and apple garlands and mitten garlands....

The kit was beautifully packaged and holds almost everything needed to make each ornament. Once it is is in my hands, I know I will just gaze at it for ages before I bring myself to start cutting up the gorgeous colored felt and snipping into pretty threads. Not only was everything so nicely packaged, it held within it a handwritten thank you, and it is those personal touches that make it truly special. Even though it is more work, when I create my pieces for the fair I like to make sure that all the items have personal touches from me; so, it is lovely when you meet other kindred spirits who do the same.
Unfortunately, Alicia has sold out of the kits for this season but she has informed me that in the next few days, PDF versions of the kit patterns will be available through her website. So keep checking there and on her blog for information, these are too cute to miss!

Now, my hardest decision will be which one to start with first? A pom-pom adorned ice skate, a warming cup of cocoa, or a Heidi-ish looking gingerbread girl? Please check out Alicia's site if you have not before, it always brings a smile to my face when I do!



(All images used are copyright to Alicia Paulson, Posie Gets Cozy)

Gingerbread & Rolls of Ribbon

Yesterday, I finished baking all my gingerbread wreaths. Now they will just have to be varnished and have gingham ribbon strung through their little adjoining arms. With my leftover dough, I cut out little ornaments, to attach to my "Christmas Packaging" for the Fair. Presentation is everything, it makes even the smallest item look lovely.

I also organized my ribbons yesterday to make it easier to cut for my garlands. One of the places that I purchase ribbon has no rolling system, so they bundle up your items that you have spent ages pondering over and oohing and aahing, with one swoop and dump them unceremoniously in a bag. I don't like being in the middle of a project and then having to stop to untangle knots in my ribbon.

In telling this story to my Mom, she asked if I had any toilet paper rolls in my recycling bag? After replying with a yes, she told me to use that to wrap my ribbon on. What a fantastic idea! Sometimes you just can't see the forest for the trees. So, into my recycle bag I dove and came out with a paper towel roll.

Like a kindergartner I happily sat on my couch yesterday with the scent of baking cinnamony Christmas dough in the air and the crooning voice of Ella Fitzgerald, inviting me out for a sleigh ride and wrapped ribbon around my newfound holder. I love being organized (in my small cottage you have to be) and a great way to make use of something I was going to throw out, it just makes me happy.

(My treasured ribbon next to my sewing house that my adorable husband gave me for Christmas one year, he is such a cutie!)

Getting Ready for the Fair

Well, with a sharp rap at the door, my felt arrived this morning and this weekend I was busy gathering ribbons, jingle bells, fabric scraps and making my plan of attack to get everything done on time.

I still have one more roll of ribbon to order for my gingerbread men wreaths. They are in the oven as I write and the house is filled with the scent of spicy cinnamon, it is wonderful. I have Christmas music playing in my kitchen, because you can only create true gingerbread wreaths with the sounds of the season going through your head as you roll and cut and lay out.

I will hopefully be cutting my bears out today and working on a mitten pattern for a garland so I will busy, busy, busy. I have so much to get done and not a lot of time, but I work well under pressure and I love a challenge.

Well, my timer has just beeped to let me know that another batch of wreaths are ready to come out of the oven, so I am twirling off to gingerbread men, Christmas music, and visions of sugarplum fairies dancing in my head...this little peppermint fairy just really puts me in a jolly Christmassy mood, doesn't she make you happy too?

(Peppermint Fairy by WeeWonderfuls)

To the Christmas Fair we go...

Over the river and through the woods to the Christmas Fair we go... I just received my form today for the Fair, so I am going to fill it out now to be sure a spot is held for me.

The fair will be held this year on November 6th. So, 4 short weeks from today, I better be ready. I am getting all my ideas together and I will be ordering my supplies tomorrow and then working like an elf to get everything done on time.

I have so many ideas, but I am going to narrow it down to just a few things to have on my table, and focus on those. My little tooth bears will be making an appearance and some will most likely be dressed for the season, 'tis the season to be jolly, as they say! I will have to start making my gingerbread wreaths soon, oh so much to do, but what fun it is!

I can't wait, for a crackling fire, warm tea, cozy things, homespun love and to be surrounded by friends. I can't think of a better way to get November started.

All the Fun of the Fair!

The day of the Fair was an early one. I was up at 5 am and after showering, double-checking I had everything that I needed; I was out the door and on my way. There was already a flurry of activity when I arrived.

The sun was beaming through the trees and drying up the morning dew. The stallholders who had already arrived were moving methodically and quietly. Everyone was concentrating on setting up their stall and getting ready for the fun but long day.

It didn’t take me long to set up and before we all knew it, customers started to appear. The weather held out for us and we had a steady flow of people. Children squealed at the sight of the dollhouse they could play in and had their own tea parties inside while their mother’s had grown-up tea parties at one of the quilt covered tables. You would see everyone making 2 to 3 loops around the stalls trying to take everything in, before stopping to have tea and then going back to make purchases.

It was an exciting day and I got my first big break. Penelope, another stallholder and owner of RosaBlue (www.rosablue.com), came over to look at my stand and after seeing my products she was interested in trading with me.

Our first venture together will be selling my “tooth” bears to her and offering a personalizing service to her customers who want a child’s name placed on their particular bear. I am thrilled and hoping to be able to have some of my other products sold by her in the future.

The day was over all too quickly and after breaking down my stand and helping to clean up we all sat down and toasted the day and the sunset with a glass of wine. After hugs and kisses goodbye, to some friends I won't see again until November, I gathered up my stock and decided to take the long way home to just have time to myself to reflect upon the day.

Click on the Pictures Below to see some of what the day held.

Away We Go!

The eve of the Fair is finally here. I have spent the day helping to put up tents, hang bunting and creating signs for the “Big Day”. After months of hard work tomorrow will prove if I have made the right decisions about the products I am selling.

I always said that if I had the opportunity to have my own store I would not sell anything that I wouldn’t personally buy myself. So, in saying that, I have not made anything that I would not personally have in my own home. There are quite a few things I am going to be very hard pressed to part with, but I will just hope they go to a good home.

I have so many emotions about tomorrow, I am excited and nervous, but at the same time I am sad that it will all be over too quickly. I just have to remember that it isn’t that long till November and after a short rest I will be back and busy working away on things during the summer for the Christmas Fair.

This is it! So, I’ll just hold on tight and away we go….

4 Days and Counting...

The Fair is almost here. Friday is D-Day! Today I have been busy washing and ironing the tablecloths that I will bring with me. Double checking to make sure I have the baskets and items I want to use for display to set the "mood" and just coming up with layout ideas for my table.

A small gang is gathering on Thursday and we will all pitch in to put up tents and hang bunting from every available space. Now, if the weather just holds out we will be doing fine. The forecast is sunny, but this is England and by Friday the weather report could change to snow. Only here can you have all 4 seasons in one day.

Tonight I will be finish up packaging, pricing and labeling. I am in the home stretch, and raring to go!

Please Note: Illustration by Margaret Tempest from "The Little Grey Rabbit" series.

Yo-Yos

The days seem to be ticking by faster than I want them to, as I still feel like I have so much left to do for the Fair. This year is going to be very exciting, it sounds like there will be a very good crowd of people coming and an even more diverse range of stalls.

One of the projects I have been busy working away on involves making yo-yos. I was never a fan of them before but after seeing them in a magazine, they somehow began to grow on me. Now, I seem to notice them everywhere. The possibilities of what you can make with them are endless.

My mind has been buzzing non-stop with ideas which led to the creation of one of my main Fair projects; a collaborative concept formulated by my Mom and I. I had so many notions, some of which have come into being however some will just have to wait until the Christmas Fair.

Knowing that November seems forever away until the Christmas Fair, when we will all be together again, but this time, in the coziness of an inviting house, with a crackling fire, Christmas trees adorning every free space and a coming together of friends old and new to have fun and raise money for a worthwhile charity along the way.

Like the March girls we gather, shaking the snow off our boots and heading for the kitchen, where a kettle is always boiling on top of the Aga. We gather to share ideas, celebrate each others company, love and cozy warmth.

Teeth & Fairies & Bears, Oh My!

I have been quite the busy bee at the moment working on banners and embellishing bags and items for the fair. June is almost upon us, so I do not have long before everything must be done. One of the projects I have made is a variation on a pattern I found on Martha Stewart. They are these adorable “Tooth Bears”.

The little bear is made out of felt with a pocket in the front to place your little one’s tooth in to await a visit from the Tooth Fairy. Martha embroidered the child’s name on her bears, but I have decided to simply put “tooth” across their little pockets. I have also changed the suggested stitch you were to use and I have slightly varied their faces.

They were a fun project to create; they are all different, each with their own little personality coming through. So, hopefully my little bears will speak to the right person at the fair and they will all go to lovely new homes, as they were made to support a charitable cause.

I have included the link from Martha Stewart where you will be able to find more information to make your own Tooth Bear (with the pattern template) for your little person or a friend.

Martha Stewart Show

Please note this template is copyright to Martha Stewart Living.

Summertime is Calling Me

As summer finally begins to wave her hand over this quaint part of the world, fetes begin to appear all over the countryside. They bring the young and old together to enjoy the festivities. Often outside, they take in the best that the English summer has to offer. Whatever the weather may be the fete soldiers on, oblivious to any thing that will put a damper on the day.

A local friend of mine puts on a fair twice a year to support a nearby charity. The summer fair is soon approaching at the beginning of June and I have been working away at the moment making all kinds of handmade items for my table.

There is a large selection for guests coming to the fair to choose from. Tables spill over with the sellers’ wares. Adorned in pretty tablecloths and vintage quilts, decorated with homemade bunting and tents, the fair is a chance for artists of all genres to come together and sell their goods. Some stalls feature established shop keepers with their tables overflowing with vintage treasures and baked goods; others feature those of us who use this an opportunity to sell items we have worked hard making over the past few months.

I usually have a bake sale table, but this year I am trying my hand at something different. I’m making a variety of items with a mixture of vintage and new materials. It will be a wonderful opportunity for me to see how well my items sell and I am hoping to make a more permanent business of this, selling on Etsy in the future. But, for now I will just have to be content with what opportunities the fair holds for me.