Disappointment!

We were all very disappointed when our first vintage and craft fair of the season had to be cancelled on Saturday due to this.....................












and this........

But don't worry, this is not my gateway!  We went out in the car last evening to see the white-out that arrived here in the UK on Friday.  Some local roads, including the main A5, are still closed today and I've got an unexpected day off work.

The fair has been rearranged now to 27th April - plenty of time to rethink my stock.  I'd put far too much into my Easter basket - but no problem, I'll keep it all for next year and have a head start then.

 

I crocheted these hanging eggs and decorated them with buttons, braid, crochet and felt flowers and hung them on the twisted willow a friend kindly cut from her tree for me.  Rather tempting for the cats though!

And I have lots of things that will be just as appropriate for an April fair - like these scented hearts cut from old embroidered linens I've been collecting.

And the hair clips I've made using my new Boutique Accessories stamps and dies.

So now I'm off to find new inspiration in my files and on Pinterest - with a new springtime theme.  Try to keep warm everyone - apparently there's more to come!

Rabbit rabbit rabbit rabbit.......

If you've never heard of Chas & Dave the title of this post won't make any sense at all!  Search on Youtube if you are curious!  Anyway, its been a while I know but I have been getting creative and working hard towards the first of the year's craft fairs next Saturday.  I've made lots of my felt brooches with an Easter theme, mostly these cute little rabbits.  I found the Impression Obsession die set at Dies to Die For online craft store.

I made some more using my Papertrey Ink egg and rabbit dies and as usual I've carded them up for sale using the Button Boutique stamps and dies, also from Papertrey. 

Finally I made animal brooches using the On the Farm die set, again from Papertrey.  These dies are quite small and fiddly to sew so I used iron-on adhesive to avoid having to stitch the animals to the brooches which apart from being very tedious, would have distorted the shapes. 

I'm sure she thought she was helping but..................

Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Sant Hapus Pawb!

Well I may have said this last month, but really! can someone tell me where February went??  I know its a short month but this is ridiculous!  Anyway, Happy St David's Day to all my fellow countrymen whether at home or abroad.  As children I remember we made and wore paper leeks at school but the daffodil is much prettier and now its the emblem of the Marie Curie charity as well, I wear my latest daffodil pin on St David's Day.  Each year they are slightly different in design and as I never throw them away I now have quite a little collection.

I'm always on the lookout for anything with a Welsh theme when I'm browsing the charity and vintage shops and this sweet little daffodil brooch is my latest acquisition, found last weekend at  Becnicks Wonder Emporium in Chester.  Its plastic or Bakelite and I can't make up my mind whether its 50s or 30s.  I love it anyway.  The Welsh lady in trousers vase is a curiosity I've had for some time.  It looks like a lady but it may be a man I suppose - I've not seen anything like it anywhere else!

However, these are definitely ladies..... my Nain (grandmother) is 8th from the left in the middle row.


And finally......

To be born in Wales,
Not with a silver spoon in your mouth,
But, with music in your blood
And with poetry in your soul,
Is a privilege indeed. 

                                                                                                 In Passing, Brian Harris