Blogtoberfest day 4

Well it appears that I've been on another planet ( like some other people I know ) for the past few days because I missed the beginning of Blogtoberfest! Arrrrrrgh! How ever I did a post yesterday which was overloaded with pretty pictures so that might make up for it :)

So here we go.....day 4 and I'm sharing a few pics of some little birds I made last week.

 I know I wasn't going to do any markets this year just a bit of online stuff and Shop Handmade, but a gorgeous friend of mine is having an open garden on her property and she wanted to have a few stalls as well. I thought about it for a week or  two, had a look at my stock levels which had suffered severely in the past few months due to my time off, then decided that my stall might not be as fully stocked as I'd usually like but it's going to be beautiful!

I hope you are all enjoying the last week of the school holidays, and if you want to meet some lovely bloggers join in with Blogtoberfest.......you'll have a great time!

Thanks for stopping by.

Where have I been spending my time.....

I never thought I'd say this but I've been having a bit of fun on Facebook lately and been a bit slack on the blogging side of things. I found it a great way to see what was going on  while I was in hospital, have a bit of fun chatting to friends, I guess the fun is still continuing.......sorry blogger I haven't forgotten you I promise!

Apart from Facebook I have been busy sewing up a storm ready for my return to Shop Handmade this week, so excited to be busy and creative again.

 I packed up two huge parcels full of Red Stitch Designs goodness, now working on filling the next few boxes to the brim.

 I've been talking to a few marketing friends about some of the bigger upcoming markets, I'd love to attend a few this season because they are so much fun and you meet the most beautiful people, but because I've had a few months off the sewing machine I'm not sure if I can pull off the amount of stock I think I'll need......but I'm sure going to give it a go, If I can't well that's just the way it is!

I'll try and blog a bit more in the future, so sorry about that!

Thanks for stopping by.

Big Weekend.

Yesterday was spent making some more JOY pears and pricing some owls ready for posting to Shop Handmade. I have a huge order to complete today ( 30 owls ) and then I'll get stuck back into more goodies for Shop.
Even though I had another great weekend with the markets I'm totally finished with them for the year, I think Shop Handmade and on-line sales will keep me busy enough for the next few weeks. Actually I'm looking forward to slowing the pace a bit, I'm not going to stop sewing just slow it down...........I'm a bit over the 12 - 14 hour days.

I came home with a big box full of these beautiful Agave's, now I have to find about 15 big pots to put them in and try not to kill them in the process.

I did a big shop yesterday just incase the water goes over the road and we can't get through, all the rivers around us a flooded in a big way ( Peel, Namoi, Mooki ) and there is simply no where esle for the water to go, with more big rain on the way tomorrow who knows what will happen!

Thanks for stopping by

More Fabric Boxes!

I hope you are all having a lovely week, maybe doing a bit of Chrissy shopping.......I haven't even started yet! I know what I've got to get I just need a day to to and get it then hide it so the kids don't get tempted by shaking and poking the parcels!

Well it's the 1st of December and that means it's time to put up your tree! My kids are going to have to wait until next week for that one, the one and only spot left in this tiny house to put the massive tree is currently taken up by boxes of handmade goodies ready for market......they've been really good about it and they understand.


Ok here are some pictures to share......This was a special order I made for a lovely friend of mine.......I was so pleased with how the colours worked out that I made another set ( with handles ) for the market in Gundy on the weekend.

This was the view out my bedroom window the other day while I was stitching away.

So glad it's all finished because the amount of dust they created was a bit much to handle, and I bet they're glad they are finished because of the pending rain which has now arrived.

Sorry for the lack of blogging over the past few days, the rush is nearly over and then things will return to normal.

A huge congratulations goes out to a friend of mine Bridgette who was announced as one of this years Scrapbooking Memories Masters for 2011. Woooohoooo that deserves a drink I think!

Meet my new little friend!

Isn't he beautiful, tall and mysterious? This is an owl I couldn't resist purchasing at the Markets last weekend, I gave Megan the money to go over and buy it, she was so excited but not as excited as I was!
He has one of those sensor things in the little bit of wood he's standing on and every time you walk past he turns his head towards you and goes "Hoo Hoo", I love it! Don't go thinking that my house is full of toys on display, it most certainly is not but I had to make an exception for this one just because of the owl thing I have going on.

A few weeks ago I had a real busy week, what I thought had to be my busiest so far! This week I think I've topped that week........I love a handmade Christmas and it looks as though everyone else does too!

I love the idea of being able to put some pretty things I've made on my tree this year..........I think it's going to have to wait another few weeks until the rush is over, then maybe I can make special things just for us!

I must go and put some smiling faces on these little hanging babushka dolls I made yesterday, then I plan on doing the little bird brooches for the rest of the day.

Thanks for stopping by

Yesterdays Christmas Fair!

It makes a huge difference when you go to a market where the stall holders are selected and just happen to be the nicest people ever! I had such a great time it was like we were all just one big family! There was lots of chatting, laughter and of course the customers were all so nice.....a few of them mentioned they have been following my blog, one lovely lady called herself the stalker, she was the sweetest customer I'd love to chat to her again one day because she was so funny!
I've been to markets before where the stall holder next to you doesn't even say hello.....like get over yourself it doesn't hurt to say hello does it! That wasn't the case at the 2010 Annual Christmas Fair for the Brain Foundation, one of the organisers ( Pip ) even looks after your stall if you want a loo break or to get a coffee and lunch! How amazing is that!!

I had a great day on the sales front but that was way surpassed by how much fun I had with all the gorgeous people I met.....some of which I had met through blogs previously, it was like catching up with old friends!

Now I need to get my sewing space cleaned up so I can start fresh, I only have two weeks ( 4 Dec ) until the next market and I'd like to get another big parcel filled with goodies off to Shop Handmade also!

Have a lovely day and thanks for stopping by.

Don't forget the boys!

I have made things for boys in the past but I've been guilty of just making whatever suits me and not necessarily catering for the little men in our lives! Yesterday I made it my mission to make something boyish and practical, I made some cute little fabric boxes.
Perfect for all sorts of things that you want kept tidy.

I didn't forget the girls either and because the other set I made sold last weekend I made some more this time with a polka do lining!

I wish I had time to make some more, maybe some to fit inside the larger one......like stacker boxes, but I only have tonight and not much energy left!

For now I'm going to check out the cherries that Ryan is currently dipping in some chocolate for a special snack............oooops just ate one and they're amazing!

I hope you all have a lovely weekend planned and if you're in Tamworth don't forget to go to the Christmas Fair held out at the racecourse......it should be a great day with all sorts of goodies to cater for everyone!

Bye for now

As if I wasn't busy enough.......

I decide to enquire about the huge Christmas Fair held in Tamworth which is run by The Brain Foundation today, just on the off chance that someone had cancelled and there might be enough room for me to squeeze in.

I think I made the call at the right time because THERE IS NOW A STALL WITH MY NAME ON IT!!!! Wooohoooo!!!

So if you just happen to be in Tamworth on Saturday drop by and say hello to the crazy lady who thinks she can sew til midnight for the next few weeks! eeek!!!

P.S. Bring Coffee and toothpicks.....I might need them!!

Weekend Wrap!

The market on Saturday was a huge success, I had loads of fun and it was great chatting to some of the locals.......some of which had no idea that I lived here!

Now I have to get all geared up to do it all again in another few weeks, but first because the last two advent calendars went really well down at Shop Handmade and I've had a few emails requesting more, I thought I'd better get crackin' on another couple! This time they should be much quicker, or should I say less stressful because I have the pattern worked out and I know exactly what to do...........well that's the plan anyway!
Here is a funny or maybe not so funny story I just have to tell! Back to Saturday morning the morning of the markets, my husband had the kids and had to deal with all their activities, which doesn't hurt him to do every now and then, they had quite a busy day with cricket, riding lessons, birthday present shopping for little girl and a birthday party to get ready for..........average day for most mum's! Well he thought he'd get a little domestic and clean up a little in the laundry before he took the bins into the tip after dropping Ryan off at cricket. This was a nice surprise for me when I got home on Saturday afternoon, that was until I was ironing all the school uniforms for the kids yesterday and noticed that Megan only had one dress! I searched everywhere, in the car thinking that she left it in there after little athletics, under her bed, under my bed, everywhere! It was driving me crazy until I realized that it was in a plastic bag on the laundry floor waiting to be washed! Guess where it is now?

Off to Market I go!

It's been one of the busiest weeks I've had so far this year with my sewing, it feels so good to get so much done and sent to various customers, and to finally be ready for the first of my Christmas markets in the morning..........I've already been to town and set my stand up so I won't have to rush too much in the morning, how good is that!

This will be the first time the people of Gunnedah ( apart from close friends ) will be able to see what I spend most of my time doing.......I hope they like what they see!

There's mostly all the items I've been making for a little while now and a few new ones.......sorry haven't taken as many pictures as I should have, here are just a few of the items I'll have on my stand tomorrow.
Some pears all done up for Christmas and some of the originals without bells and ribbon.

Loads of these little cuties!

I've taken my tree which will be adorned with gorgeous Christmas ornaments.

I think there is about 60 of these in various colours........all ready to hang!

Babushka hanging ornaments galore!

I had loads of fun making these and watching them all come to life!

I even set up a table in my house and set out some of the items to make sure everything would fit on the tables supplied and that it all looked nice.

These would have to be my favourites!

Fabric boxes made from linen and lined with some of the most gorgeous ticking I've ever seen...... all with a touch of Aunty Cookie on the front.

It's going to be a fun day and I'm really looking forward to meeting some lovely local people.

I must go and get some dinner......think I'll be having an early night tonight!

Thanks for stopping by.

Baby Babushka!

I have a slight obsession with these babushka dolls at the moment, I've made them in all sorts of colours not just your traditional red and white for Christmas. I think they are going to look extra special hanging on the tree this Christmas and afterwards they'll look cute hanging over a door/drawer knob in a little girls room.
This small gathering has since tripled and I just cut out another 40 to send to Shop Handmade.

My poor sewing machine is not liking all the work it has to do.......it had a little moment when I was blanket stitching a few of these on Saturday night, I think it needs a loving service..........or a big rest!

Thanks for visiting.

Blogtoberfest day 26.

It took a while and I had a sore back from sitting at my sewing machine but I've finished sewing all the trims on and putting all my cuddly babushka dolls together.
I think I'll take Megan's antique cot to display them in.

Or her red suitcase.

Either way I think I'm going to need a truck to get there.

I should be home soon, then I'll be able to visit and see what all you lovely talented people are up to!

Take care and thanks for visiting!

Blogtoberfest day 25.

I've only ever done a couple of market stalls before and to make sure I've got things right I like to have a bit of a trial run! I like to use all types of things from around my house to help make my display work the way I want it too.

Once I put a few things out it's a great visual indication as to whether I'm going to have enough stock.............now I'm slightly worried! Not only am I away for a few days but I'll only have two weeks until this first of two markets when I get back. I think I need to double what I've already done!

You'll find me at the Christmas Fair in Gunnedah on the 13th of November and at the Goondiwindi Cultural Centre on the 4th of December. One day I hope to do the bigger markets............something I'll enjoy working towards in the future!

Thanks for visiting.

Blogtoberfest day 21 and 22.

Believe me I didn't miss blogtoberfest yesterday on purpose! I simply couldn't get any service on my computer! It shits me that we have to use a wireless modem because we don't have ADSL access and the signal just comes and goes continually! I tried to send an email last night.......it took me 45 minutes!

I spent the day yesterday appliqueing some Aunty Cookie cuteness on a few zippered pouches for my market stall.
These little characters are so cute, I'd put them on everything if I could.

I'll try and get around to visit a few of you today.........if I can get a signal that is! Grrrrrr!

Blogtoberfest day 18.

I have a friend that is interested in a few Babushka Dolls for her daughter so yesterday afternoon while Mark and the kids were at the block I had a bit of a trial run. The first attempt I'm not even going to show you, but I will tell you that it's head was so small that it looked like a pin-head on a big bump!

After a few hours of mucking around these sleepy twins were done!
I did go back to the hand stitching of the eyes and mouth.......however I did use the copic pen for the blush, it worked perfectly!

The cute little trim was found in my retired ( for now ) scrapbooking stash, I think I'll dip into all the trims and embellishments more often and use them up!

I hope you all had a lovely weekend.