It's been a while

It's been a while, so I thought it was about time I popped in to say hello to you all. I'm sorry I've been away so long, it's been a bad few months. My nan sadly passed away on bonfire night and my mother in law is poorly with cancer, so I've had nothing cheerful to blog about, and have been rather busy. But anyhow less of the doom and gloom, lets lighten the mood. Christmas is less than a month away now and I love Christmas :o). I had a stall at two small local Xmas gift fairs last weekend and today, but sadly the turnout was poor, I think the cold weather didn't help today. So I thought I'd show you a couple of things I made. The two doll's above were for the fair. I only finished the sleepy one at midnight last night.

I took along some jams and chutney.

And some gingerbread men, as well as other dolls and hearts etc. I will be popping some bits and pieces in my blog shop in a minute if you wanted to take a peek.

Tomorrow I'm off to the Christmas bear fair in Beaulieu with my sister in law, perhaps if your in the area you could visit, its always a lovely fair.

Have you all written your Christmas lists for Santa? I expect a lot of them will be dominated with Cath Kidston, I know mine is.

Hope you are all well, and not too cold.

TTFN

Tis a Bleak House

Firstly, Thank you for all the get well comments. The cold has now gone, but still battling with constant tummy bugs, that's working with kids for you I suppose. I thought I'd show you some pics of my naughty little puppy. He's getting so big and he's a right little terror. Woody never got into so much trouble as a pup, this ones a right hand full.

I have the craft fair this Sunday so I have been frantically sewing over the weekend to get some things made for my stall. I did get a lot done, but nothing is finished, so have no pics yet. Not sure its going to be a particularly good fair though. The only piece of advertising I've seen for it had the wrong day printed. I just hope I haven't been tearing my hair out for nothing.

I normally love Christmas time, but not feeling festive at all yet this year. The recession has hit Pixie towers as Mr Pixie has been put on short hours right before Christmas, so we are needing to be very frugal with funds at the moment. Being my dis-organised self I hadn't bought any Xmas gifts in the year and now can't afford to buy any, so I need to make as many as I can, but with little time left its going to be a struggle. I didn't get hardly any jam made this year or any chutney so that's out. So Cakes, and biscuits it will be. I might have a go at some honeycomb and Turkish delight too. Still there are lots of folks a lot worse off than us, so I shouldn't really grumble.

Off to get some more sewing done before work. Sorry for such a bleak post folks.

TTFN

Pixie xxxx

Todays Craft Fair......

Well after much, toil and very sore fingers from all that sewing, we set off for the craft fair today. Heres a pic of the stall after I'd sold two items, as I forgot to take a pic before then.
As usual, I spent more than I made, when I saw this gorgeous little bracelet and had to buy it. I just love the colour.

My sister in law made the bears and this Beatrix potter hangy. I think its lovely. It didn't sell, but I know she wants to give it as an Xmas gift anyway, so never mind.

I won't be buying my cottage in the country yet. I sold a few bits, but didn't make much, so will be putting it all on etsy in the next few days.

It was a lovely fair, but the people were just not coming in. :o(

This is the Christmas angel that I was up until 12.00 finishing. I still have her too.

Had a nice day until it was home time. The exit from the car park is really tight, and I managed to scrape and dent the side of my car. I'm so cross, and hubby wasn't best pleased either. So the little money I made will be going towards a car repair now. :o( Its just not my year this year. Still I'm enjoying a quiet night in now with a glass of wine.

She's No Angel.......

Well not yet anyway.......I managed to get the clothes finished for my next angel today. They just need a bit of decoration with stitches before they go on, but I'm glad there made. The dress is the most time consuming bit and a little fiddly. I've not bothered attempting to stitch it on the machine, its easier by hand. This is going to be a Christmas angel, and I'm liking the colours. I need to find time to get the angel done now. I'll be running around like a headless chicken this evening, so no chance then. I will try to get her done between working tomorrow and a first aid course on Saturday, ready for the fair on Sunday.

Managed to get this heart done the beginning of the week, its scented with rose. I have another two of these cut out to make. I also need to make a gingerbread garland. AAAGGHH theres not enough hours in the day. At least my orange and cinnamon sticks have turned up now, and also my pink bags have arrived. So almost all set.

Tucked up indoors......

We'd been out yesterday to the cash and carry to stock up on bulk buys, nipped into the DIY store to get some door knobs, popped into the Co-Op then home in the warm and dry. Wasn't the weather horrible yesterday? It doesn't fair much better today either, its so windy here. So once the shopping was unpacked and a cuppa made I raided my fabric stash and made this Sleepy Time Pillow for the craft fair on Sunday.

Its filled with Lavender and the heart danglys in the corner are also filled with Lavender.

I've stitched a border of pink stitches around the outside of the heart, but you can't see it that well on the pics. Also managed to get another angel drawn onto fabric and cut out, as well as three hearts, just got to get them stitched up now. I'm hoping the orange, cinnamon sticks and bags I ordered will arrive today or tomorrow, as I need them for the gingerbread garland and the fair.

Whilst writing this post I'm multi-tasking and making two shepherds pies at the same time. You wouldn't catch a bloke doing that. :o)

Please take a look at Mel Mels blog as shes hosting a Christmas swap, and the more that take part the more brilliant it will be. :o)

Well I'm Back

A bit tired today after last nights first craft fair. It wasn't a great turnout though, apparently it was invitation only and the invites only went out last week, but at least I've got stuff to sell next Sunday at the Christmas fair. It got towards packing up time, and we hadn't sold a thing, until one lady came to our stall and bought one of my sister in laws bears and a mini gingerbread man, and my large gingerbread garland and two gingerbread danglys so wasn't too bad in the end.
This is the angel I made for the craft fair, she took ages, but she's my first angel and I think she turned out alright. I'm tempted to keep her though she looks so pretty on my shelf.

This is the garland I sold. I need to try and make another one for next Sunday.

These pics I took at home. I took my camera to the fair and completely forgot to take pics.

I'm not sure how busy next Sundays fair will be, due the the financial climate, but I won't know until the day. I will put whatever I have left on Etsy. In the meantime I want to try and get some other stuff made for the fair. Thanks for all the well wishes. xxx Pixie xxx

Todays the day......

Its my first craft fair this evening, and I'm nervous and excited all at the same time. The cars packed and I will be headed for the fair straight from work. The bigger fair is next Sunday, so this is a trial run. Wish me luck. xxxx

Busy, Busy, Busy

Well, here are a few pics of what I've getting up too, in preparation for the up and coming craft fairs. I'm really pleased with how my Gingerbread Man garland has turned out, it smells really festive.

I've also made these dangly's which have either a cinnamon or gingerbread scent. I think the red hearts still need a little something, so may add a bow.
I thought I would have a bash at embroidering the chickens.

This cat candle holder and the oil burner below are what I acquired at the recent candle party I held at my house. I had £25 to spend, thanks to my friends which ordered stuff and a 15% discount on other stuff and money off the hostess specials. I've also got a lovely Xmas ornament and an incense set.
I've got this lit, as I'm writing this post. It's got the scent of holiday spices, yummy. x

Workspace and work in progress!

Single gingerbread man garland. I'd quite like to keep these and put all over the house.

And last but not least is the pink, fairy heart I made. This has got a rose scent, and my mum tried to nab it. I'll have to make her one for Christmas. xxx

A Crafty Business......

Well, I'm busy being crafty at the moment. Here's a bit of work in progress. These wooden hearts, when finish will be adorning my craft stall. All of the other things I'm making at the moment are stitched, and when they are finished I will pop up a pic. I've got two up and coming craft fairs and I've never done one before, so its all new to me, but I have been helping out on my SIL's stall for years selling bears so I'm hoping I'll be OK, I've just never had stuff I've made before on a stall.

When I've got enough I'm hoping to put some on Etsy as well, so watch this space.

Off to work again shortly, so its only a short post I'm afraid. xxxx