Nonnie

Getting Busy

The creative urge has finally come back and I have been busy getting on with items for my Christmas Craft Fairs. Above is a little peep at work in progress, some Christmas bunting. I'm a little embarrassed to admit that I'm feeling excited about getting in the Christmas mood. I know! It's only the middle of September! But my first fair is only two and a half weeks away. Actually I'm wondering if the people of Chipping Norton will be ready to go Christmas shopping the first weekend of October! So with that in mind, I will be taking a mixture of Christmas items and general home accessories which can be purchased as Christmas gifts or not.

If any of you are interested in coming to any of the fairs, here's a list of dates and venues -

Saturday 6th October - Chipping Norton Town Hall, Market Place, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire - 10am - 4.30pm

Saturday 20th October - St Edwards Hall, Market Place, Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire - 10am - 4pm

Saturday 1st December - The Crypt, St Michaels Church, Broad Street, Bath - 9am - 5.30

Saturday 15th December - St Margarets Hall, Bradford-on-Avon - 10am - 4pm

I'd love to see you!

The weekend was filled not just with the sewing, but also a trip to my Sisters on Sunday for a delicious dinner of roast chicken cooked by my Brother-in-law, and pavlova made by my Sis. Yummy. My Sister and I went for a walk on the common with my dear little nephew and found lots of sloes to pick so what with the ones I picked at Mum and Dads a couple of weeks ago, I know have hopefully enough for a few bottles of sloe gin. Another job for this week! I'm also hoping to make some chutney and bought some lovely jars yesterday for it to go in. I love making things in the autumn to squirrel away for the depressing winter months!

I'll leave you of a couple of views from Sunday as we walked up the lane on our quest for sloes. See you later in the week. xx

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

These are for you. All you lovely lovely ladies (Sorry, and you too Fred) out there who have sent the kindest messages of support. Especially to those of you who have take the time to regularly email me to check I'm ok, and have listened to me tell you all my problems. You know who you are and I cannot thank you all enough. This has been a pretty tough couple of weeks and I've still a long way to go, but I couldn't have got through it without you all. Obviously family and friends have been fantastic but having this extra 'virtual' support every time I went to my email has just been amazing. I do have to give special thank you to dear Cherry who's lovely home I escaped to on Sunday. We drank lots of champagne and Pimms and ate gorgeous Birthday cupcakes baked by her Sister. It was just what I needed. Thank you Cherry. xx

I don't want to dwell on all the details as this blog is supposed to be more than anything about my creative life. I will just explain though that in past few weeks my lovely George and I have decided to split. I hoped we would always be together and it is heartbreaking to realise that we won't be, but I know in my heart that it is for the best and in a sense he is setting me free to hopefully have the things I really want in life which is more than anything, a family.

So now I need to throw myself into a new future. I am filling my time with lots of plans. I have booked myself into four Christmas fairs which I'll give you details of a little nearer the time so I will be kept busy making plenty of stock in the coming months. I may even be amusing you all with dating tales in a few months time. Can't quite image it yet but give me some time and I know it has to be done.

Some weeks ago now, I was lucky enough to receive a gorgeous little package from Alison in her 'Pay it Forward' post.

Just look how cute this little hearts and strawberry are. They are all tiny so the detail is amazing.

So now it's my turn. I will send a little handmade gift to the first three people to comment on this post, but you must then post the same again on your blog and forward on your own three gifts.

Thank you again for all your messages of support. If I could send you all a little gift I would. You are a very special group of people. xx

Missing you already!

We're going on holiday for a week on Saturday and I've decided to take the opportunity to take a little blogging break. So I'm taking the rest of July off blogging and hope to come back very refreshed at the beginning of August, by which time I hope we might actually have a summer! If not then I think I'll be starting to think Autumnal inspiration!

Although I won't be posting myself, I'll still be checking up on all of you once we're back from our holiday and look forward to hearing what everyone has been up to for the week.

I think the break is just what I need as I feel a little lacking in inspiration just lately so I'll be taking lots of photos and adding to my inspiration and sketch books!

The shop will remain open while I'm away with the sale continuing for a couple more weeks, but please bear in mind that if you send me an order any time during next week, I won't be able to process it until we return from the Isle of Wight so you won't hear anything from me regarding the order until Monday 16th July. Those who have ordered from me this week, I will be posting out your orders before we go away.

Have a lovely, and hopefully sunny, July and I'll see you all on the 1st August. xxx

Little Summer Sale

I've been having a bit of a clearout and sort to make room for new creative ideas in the coming months. So I give you.......

Here is a selection of items that I'm offering at a special price in the hope of sending them all to a happy new home rather than resting rather sadly in my storage boxes! If you would like to purchase any of these items, just send me an email or leave me a comment and I'll get back to you.

Fabric Collages - Little hearts on linen squares in a hand painted frame(approx 35cm x 25cm). Choose from red(5 available) or blue(4 available)

Were £20 each. Now £12.50 each.

Dotty Heart Cushions - red polka dot with pretty floral hearts and button decoration. Filled with a feather pad. 30cm x 30cm

Were £16 each. Now £10 each

Hand painted dotty coat hangers with ribbon trim. Great for children's clothes or small items. Choose from pale blue, pale pink or red.

Were £3 each. Now £1.50 each.

Greetings Cards - Hand made cards using scraps of fabric and buttons. This will be a kind of lucky dip as you will be sent a card(or cards) from the selection I have. They're all based on the same design, but as each one is slightly different I can't really photograph all 80 to give you a choice I'm afraid. You'll just have to trust my judgement and I promise they're all as lovely as each other.

Were £2.25 each. Now £1.25 each

Napkin Rings - Cute little felt and button napkin rings(or little girls bracelets if you wish!).

Were £2 each. Now £1 each

If you have any questions please just ask. I can accept paypal or cheque. I will keep postage and packing to the absolute minimum and will let you know what it is depending on what you might want to purchase. I can post anywhere in the World.

Hopefully I've covered everything and hopefully you'll like what I've put in my little summer sale. x

A bit like a tourist

Around half five last night George called me to see if I felt like going out for something to eat after work. Not the kind of girl to turn down an offer like that, I left the office and headed east to his office, battling through the crowds leaving the Chelsea Flower Show. He works just a stones throw from The Tower of London, so we headed in that direction and along the rivers edge towards Tower Bridge.

It was a lovely warm evening so we carried on into St Katherine's Dock which was looking very lovely in the early evening sunshine. We drooled over some of the yachts but as true sailors, laughed at some of the ugly motor boats. I loved these old barges.

We enjoyed a drink in a pub next to the dock then headed back up onto Tower Bridge to cross over to the south bank. The sun was getting low and the sky looked so pretty, especially with some of the City buildings silhoutted against it. You can just about see St Pauls dome in the centre of the picture.

George got very creative and told me to take this same picture but with the bridge as a surround.

I love this one of the old tower and brand new 'Gherkin' building. Makes a great contrast.

After our little walk we headed into a 'Cafe Rouge' for 'Moules frites' (George) and Steak frites (me) all washed down with a chilled bottle of Muscadet. Yeah, I know white wine and steak isn't really the thing, but I prefer white wine in the summer and it went well with Georges Moules!

I love being a bit of a tourist sometimes and appreciating this amazing city we live in. We spend so much of our free time escaping to the sea or country and dreaming about our more rural future, that it's easy to forget what a beautiful city London is. Neither of us want to live here forever, infact we have a three year timescale, but while we are here, we might as well make the most of it. We definitely did that last night. x

Ready to go.

I just wanted to say a really quick thank you to everyone for your words of advise, encouragement and luck! When I've got more time last week I really will catch up on all my emails and comments and try to say a proper thank you to those of you that left comments on my last post. I feel much more confident about the whole thing knowing you're all thinking of me and now I've done a 'mock up' of the stall. Our kitchen table isn't quite as wide as the table I'll be using tomorrow but it's not far off so it gave me an idea of how it will be. The bunting will be hanging in front of the table rather than on the wall behind which is where is normally lives, but you get the idea. I'm pretty pleased with it overall. Fingers crossed it will appeal to some buyers tomorrow.

I'll be back with a full report on Monday. Hope you all have a lovely weekend whatever you're doing, and I hope that a certain person has a lovely weekend in their new home! x

I'm feeling nervous!

I'm really hoping that unlike me you can see a new banner at the top of the page featuring this pink rose, and that it looks ok! I can't seem to be able to see it despite the fact I've refreshed the page and turned the computer off and on. Anyway, if you can see it please let me know and hopefully it will appear to me soon! Isn't the rose a gorgeous colour. I took George out for dinner on Saturday night as it was his Birthday last Thursday, and I was given this as by the restaurant as we left. We decided that Saturday was his 'official Birthday' as he had a fairly horrid day at work on Thursday followed by a Council meeting in the evening. So on Saturday we had a day out together followed by a delicious Indian meal in the evening. I think it made up for Thursday.

I'm starting to feel a bit nervous now as my first craft fair looms on Saturday. My main worry is whether I have enough stock, or rather if the stock I have is all a bit to much the same. I can see myself up late tomorrow and Thursday making a few more things I think even though I told myself I wasn't going to as I wanted to clear some of my current stock before making more things. I have cushions, collages, painted coat hangers and handmade cards. I've also made the little felt napkin rings and lots of felt and fabric lavender bags, as well as a small amount of bunting, a couple of bags and a 'one off' pinny and some 'one off' cushions. Does that sound like enough? The problem is that I already have more stock than I can really store at home and would like to clear some of it. If the fair is a success then obviously I'll have more space to make more, but if it's a disaster, I don't want even more things taking up space. Not to mention the financial aspect of having money tied up in lots of cushions! But then perhaps I'll sell more if I have more of a selection? I would really appreciate any advise you seasoned fair goers could give. Not just on the stock issue, but anything else you think I should know. I've hired a table, have cloths to cover it, smart carrier bags, containers to display my products and a Mum and Dad who are going to help out during the day. I feel sure there is more I should be thinking about.

Sorry to go on. I'm sure I'm in a worry unnecessarily. It will probably fine, and if it's a disaster it's only one day so doesn't really matter. If any of you are in the area and feel like coming I would love to see you. It's on Saturday, from 10-4 in Stow-on-the-Wold in the heart of the Cotswolds. The hall is right in the very centre of the Market square so hopefully will be un-misable. I'm really hoping for a bit of sunshine to bring all those tourists and locals out and about. Wish me luck?

A Favourite Corner

I thought I'd share a tiny little corner of my home today. My bedside shelf to be precise. It's funny isn't it that when you take photos of where you live you really start to see it in a different way. You really see it. Looking at the photo above I like what I see but I do wonder if it is the bedside of a 35 year old woman or that of a child! We're contemplating moving at the moment and I do have a longing to create a slightly new look. Something a little more subdued and mature perhaps? But I do like my little bedside and the things that are sitting there. It's probably the real me. There's a very simple collage that I made as well as a card I made for George last Valentines. Sitting next to them is the sweet little Angel I bought from Carolyn last year and a gorgeous decorated box from my clever Sis. I must show you all what lives in that box one day. Another of her fabulous creations! Next to the box is a dear little china posy which I've written about before which used to belong to my Grandma. Finally there's my Crabtree and Evelyn rose handcream and a good old Cath Kidston spotty mug full of lovely tea. You'll also be able to spot my bed head which is covered with a lovely paisley eiderdown and another of Catherine's creations which is a gorgeous little bag embroidered with my initial. Above that is another of my heart collages.

All in all a nice bedside although I'm not so keen on the rest of the room. We live in a fairly modern and featureless rented place and I dream of a bit of character and curtains as the landlord has installed rather unattractive wood venetian blinds. I have a dream in my head of how our bedroom will look one day. You will of course see the results when it happens. I might add that George's side is not nearly so attractive. Piles of books and yachting magazines spilling over in a precarious manner are not my idea of a pretty corner of the home but it is his home as well as mine so I can't be too fussy!

Finally inspired

It was a lovely weekend of mixed activites, a bit of shopping, a bit of sailing, a bit of pottering and finally, a bit of creative inspiration.

We stayed in Kew on Saturday and it was just what we needed. Our weekends are generally a little busy so it was nice to not go very far. We caught up on a few jobs and generally lazed around. The best bit was having an indoor picnic in the living room while watching 'Swallows and Amazons' which was just a perfect way to spend the afternoon.

On Sunday we headed down to 'the country cottage' as we've now christened the boat. So it's not quite the size of a cottage but it does offer us our little bit of home away from home. It was actually too windy to sail so we just spent the afternoon pottering which was really lovely. George had a few jobs to do on deck so I cooked us our first proper meal. When I say cooked what I really mean is opened the packet and poured into the pan! Actually what we had was delicious. I discovered a company at the Country Living Fair called Look What We Found who do really lovely kind of packet ready meals. I never normally eat ready meals but for the boat these are fantastic. Definitely beats a tin of beans or soup! Basically they produce lovely easy to prepare dishes using small specialist producers. Rather than me going on, have a look at their website. Even as someone who really likes cooking properly from scratch, I think these are excellent for certain situations.

So on Sunday we sat in our little cabin eating steaming bowls of delicious mutton stew flavoured with rosemary and looking out at the beautiful little creek that is our second home. Bliss.

The pictures you'll see in this post are of the production line I started yesterday. I knew I had to start making a few new things for the fair but I've been struggling to get going. So on Saturday evening I sat with a few books to see if I could inspire myself, and these little napkin rings are the result. I spent a lot of yesterday quietly sitting hand sewing which was very relaxing and also very satisfying seeing the little pile building up next to me. I did actually need a bit of relaxing as we had some unexpected stress on Sunday evening.

After spending the day on the boat, we went for dinner with George's brother and girlfriend so headed off back up the A3 to Kew at about 9.30. We'd been driving about 15 minutes when it started to spit with rain so I flicked the wipers on. Something was clearly wrong as they dragged very slowly accross the screen. I tried all four settings and all were the same. It was at that moment that we also realised the headlights were not quite as bright as usual and within a matter of minutes they got dimmer and dimmer. I have to say that I am very glad to have such a sensible and level headed boyfriend. I don't mind admitting to you all that I did get into a bit of a panic. For those of you who don't know the A3, it is a very dark road, as, apart from in a few places there are no lights and the surrounding countryside is pretty dark. Driving along such a dark road with virtually no headlights is really quite frightening I can tell you and I started to get in a bit of a flap. I was convinced someone was going to come crashing into the back of us but there was no where to stop. Luckily George kept his head and kept me going until we reached a safe place to stop which luckily was a small service station. Unfortunately the garage was closed but there was a travel hotel and after waiting two hours for the AA to turn up, we checked in there for the night and told the AA not to bother coming until the morning.

So yesterday morning started with a drive, we weren't sure would end at home. Mr AA told us the alternator had gone and although the car started, it might not make it all the way to Kew. His parting words were to not use the lights or wipers unless we had to. Easier said than done on a very gloomy morning that threatened rain all the way from Petersfield to Kew. We kept our fingers crossed all the way! But we made it back. We celebrated with a delicious brunch of smoked mackerel and scrambled eggs and an afternoon of films and sewing.

So I'm feeling a little better about the fair. I need to make some more cushions and perhaps a couple of other bits and bobs. I think the fact that so many bloggers seem to have had fairly negative experiences at Craft Fairs, I feel I don't want to go too crazy with my preparations, or produce too much stock. It's difficult to get the balance right. We'll see.

You never know, if ladies don't want my little napkin rings, maybe little girls will like them as bracelets?! What do you think?

A break.

I seem to have been unintentionally taking a little blogging break just lately but I'm hoping to be back to normal again this week. I don't know where the last week or two have gone really. But somehow life has been getting in the way of both writing and reading blogs. So apologies if I've not dropped by recently. I've been missing you all.

Last week was very hectic with the day job, then I had a couple of days off at the end of the week and went and joined George down at his brothers on Hayling Island. The boat has now been moved to just around the corner from where his Brother lives so we'll be down there a lot this summer. George and I had a pleasant little trip out on the boat on Thursday although the sails didn't go up as I need to get my confidence up a bit first! We travelled back to London on Friday, me in a very noisy car as my exhaust had gone so part of the afternoon was spent at Kwik Fit getting it fixed. I then whizzed on the train up to Islington to pop into the Country Living Spring Fair. The lovely Samantha of Plump Pudding had very kindly given me a complimentary ticket to the fair as she was exhibiting there for the first time. Samantha's stand looked really lovely and seemed deservedly to be getting a lot of attention while I was stood chatting to her. I have to say though, that apart from hers and a few other stands, the fair was generally a little disappointing. I've only visited the Spring Fair once before as I normally go to the Christmas one. Usually as you walk through the double doors into the centre there is a real 'wow factor' but this time that seemed to be a little missing. I really hope that Country Living are not getting complacent. I love the magazine, but I have to say I'm even getting a little disappointed with it lately. I've just been reading what Niki has to say on the subject so I know I'm not the only one. I'm hoping that Samantha did well at the Fair and wasn't affected by the lack of atmosphere and inspiration, as I know she worked really hard and her stand was lovely. At least the Scottish Fair will have 'wow factor' as I believe Jane's stand is to be in front of the main doors, complete with her gorgeous little green van. Both Jane and Lisa have stands at the Scottish Fair and I wish them both lots of luck.

So back to my crazy week. On Saturday we travelled to Bath where George was playing rugby. I unfortunately missed the start of the match as I went for a little drive after dropping George off, but when I started watching I had the feeling that George wasn't playing with his usual confidence and enthusiasm. As the match ended he was holding his shoulder and admitted that he'd had a hard tackle and that it was hurting a lot. As we drove back to the Salisbury to the club house, the pain got worse and his shoulder looked pretty swollen. He put ice on it during the evening and even went to sleep on Saturday night with a back of frozen peas clamped to his shoulder! Yesterday morning the pain was worse and the shape of his right shoulder was totally different from the left so we decided a trip to A and E was needed. Two and a half hours and one xray later, a broken collar bone was diagnosed! So my poor love is in a great deal of pain and now faces up to six weeks of healing. He very bravely still sat in the car for a couple of hours each way to go visit my Mum yesterday. I know it must have been very unpleasant for him. This morning I had to remember how to tie a tie (back to front) and am going to have to learn how to do his hair the way he likes it! He was very nervous about taking the tube for fear of being knocked into, as his arm is just in a sling and not at all protected, and I know he was worrying about how he would manage at work with just one arm. I really hope for his sake that it heals quickly as I think he will probably go crazy very quickly if he doesn't get to go on his little boat for six weeks. I think I'm going to have to be extra specially patient and loving in the coming weeks. Wish us both luck!

So it's been an eventful week. I have managed to be just a little bit creative as you'll see from the pictures. These Easter pots are going to be in the shop and are available with yellow or pink dots. Perfect for displaying those little chocolate eggs. I have to admit that the eggs in the picture are long gone. Chocolate is the only thing when things get a little stressful.

If the Country Living Fair was good for one thing, it was as a push to make me go in a slightly different direction style wise. I've just signed up to two Fairs in the Cotswolds during the summer and I hope to add more, so now I need to get my creative thinking cap on to produce some new things. I have a few seeds of ideas in my head. Now I've just got to get them growing. Of course I will share them with you once they're properly germinated! Have a lovely week and I promise I'll be writing and visiting more this week than last. x