A long Weekend Craft Bonanza - Day 2 Part 2

As it's the season, we visited the Frost Fair at Hatfield House, Hatfield.

You enter the fair through a little wooden trellis arch, where a foam machine above drops/blows faux snow onto you. An attempt I'm sure to get you into the festive spirit. So from the foam machine you find yourself in a marquee portico, through that we emerged into the first marquee proper. The shopping temptress appeared instantly in the form of Linden Lady and their handmade English chocolates, fudges and other things naughty but nice's. Another highlight hidden  amongst the silverware, toys, books, furniture and much, much more to purchase was a Sarsaparilla stall, Yes! Sarsaparilla!! complete with vendor dressed like he was about the serve Calamity Jane in one of those white aprons that buttoned to his waistcoat and a bowler hat atop his head.

Just so you know sarsaparilla is tasty hot or cold, I prefer it hot personally. Apparently it's a natural source of iron, an anti-inflammatory and cleansing. The Taste of Yesterday, I wish I had bought more than just those glasses to drink as I wondered the fair and more for over the Christmas period.

A Long Weekend Craft Bonanza - Day 1 Part 1

Today was the first day of my craft weekend bonanza and with my craft comrade Carole, we wondered the beautiful city of Cambridge.

We had an extremely early start, arriving by train at 9:30 in the morning and after a short soup stop, we made our way to the Christmas Made-It Market held in Cambridge Guildhall. this is a relatively new and growing designer/crafter-maker market. That said this market had over 50 stalls to browse, 19 workshops to try throughout the day. as they say in their welcome leaflet, " relax, feel free to browse .... and take home inspiration if nothing else."

Our first port-of-call was to make our way to the workshops desk to book Lino Printing, at only £15 per person it was an absolute bargain.With that locked in motion, there was just over an hour free to browse the rest of the Made-It Market.

The browsing hour soon turned into a shopping spree and with the quality and variety of goods available was truely impressive, from bespoke traditionally made rocking horses to woven sterling silver jewellery, to toys, doorstops and brooches.

Screenprinting - what a rush

I have just completed my 5th week of my silk screen-printing course at the Morely, and I am loving it.

Although the process is very structured, at the same time the experience feels so organic.

Have a look at what I have done so far.

As this is only a 6 week course I only have one week left, which I will definately be making the most of and as for next term, I have all ready signed up.

A Fresh Coat of Paint

So after months of thought and planning I am devising a reshuffle of my bedroom and crafting space. Something all together more organised and tidy. Along with this I will be repainting all the walls and ceiling in Natural Twine, Sugar Sweet and Nutmeg Spice. I think it will look fab-u-las! Will post photos as soon as I'm finished.

Only as Strong as the Weakest Link

This evening I did my first commissioned repair work. It was actually a very simple fix, but it does make it feel so much more self-succient. As my craft skills develop I am trying to explore my ideas and any new techniques that I'm learning.I am proud that I will be returning something that is as good as new.

When Cleaning Is Not Cleaning

This weekend I discovered Doktor Power, a few of my friends had mentioned to me how amazing this oven cleaning product was but I just could not quite believe it. Who would believe that putting your well used oven shelves into a bag and pouring a bottle of pink liquid in and sealing the bag for about 10 hours would result in dazzlingly clean oven shevles that only needed rinsing in hot soapy water. Where was it when I over filled a pirex dish with a creamy fish pie. I was scrubbing for ages, actually I think Doktor Power may have removed the stuff left in all the nocks and crannies that I could not get to.

All hail Doktor Power!!

I think my green aspirations are in serious danger.

You can never really leave your school days behind

I am now enrolled on two courses that I am extremely excited to be studying/taking next term. They are hand knitting and silk screen printing. Although my gran and mother had taught me to knit in the past, so I can cast on, knit, purl etc my attempts at cable knitting have not been successful. I joined Stitch London - I felt like too much of a begginer to really enjoy myself, everyone was really nice and helpful but I still felt ... away. I do miss the fun I had proudly knitting in public.The second of the two courses is silk screen printing - I have a vague memory of doing it during Art.

Thank you Miss Miranda, I loved going to her classes!

I really want to print some unique cushion covers and wall hangings.

I will keep you posted with my progress.

Project: Reborn 2 - Black & Grey Ribbon Beaded Necklace

Last night, I felt inspired to revamp a Black bead necklace and Grey bead necklace (both beads of the super chucky over-sized variety) into one fabulous black and grey necklace on black wide ribbon. Apologies as I forgot to take photos of the pieces individually before I started but when inspiration strikes... what's a crafter to do?

What happens when you drop something and don't pick it up

This mornining I had to do some emergency gardening - my tomatoe plants have not been receiving all the care and attention they need from me. I kew that propping their stems against the bamboo trainers wouldn't suffice forever and today was the day that my lasy attitude came home to roost.

Picture it - still in my fanel dressing gown fantically tying stems to their trainers, all in all I was extremely luckly only a few brocken leaf stems and one with a tomatoe sacrificed. Out of six plants that was very lucky! Did I mention that almost as soon as I started it started to rain - thank goodess for my hooded fanel dressing gown.

All flushed with my success, I didn't really pay attention to what the dogs where doing. This is what happens when you dont pick it after yourself.

You cannot mention one without the other

So I told you about my subscription to "Making" but not about "Molly Makes" currently only upto its thrid issue but again it's insightful, fun and light-hearted, very female focused but I generally think that is true of the whole industry.

Although I'm always om the look out for more inspiration, I am loving the craft offerings so far from these two subcriptions.