Good News (and Bad!)

Start off with the bad news, I didnt make the Craft Fair yesterday *big sad face*.  I had a very poorly Lillie pickle at home, who had been up most of the night so didnt think it fair to leave her with my also very tired hubby and a hyper active five year old!  I thought one of them may not make it through the afternoon!

However, on returning to my blog I discovered I have won another award!!  Thank you so much Leah from Faith's Craft Box for awarding me The Versatile Bloggers Award!

This is my second time getting this award and as I've said before, its so lovely to know people read my ramblings let alone enjoy them enough to give me an award!!

Conditions of the award are I have to pass the award on.  I have so many favourites at the moment but I'd like to pass the award on too...

1. Twinkles, Tutus & Twirls
My lovely friend Estelle's blog.  She's so creative and does the most amazing parties with loads of handmade stuff for her kids.  Also, Tuesdays are Tutorial Days over at her blog so make sure you check it out!

2. Sweet Williams - A Handmade Home
This blog is exactly the sort of blog I love reading and soon she will be launching her fab website!  (I might aswell hand over all my earnings now!)  She's so talented and I can only aspire to her sewing skills.  Definitely an inspirational blog to follow.

Think I shared seven reasonably boring facts about myself last time, so I'll directly steal some of the questions answered by Leah on her blog!


On waking the first three things I do....think to myself is it really time to get up, give Lillie and Maddy a good morning kiss, make myself strong coffee (nobody need bother talking to me before I have drunk said coffee).  I'd love to say the first thing I do is "switch off the alarm" but Im always woken up way before my alarm by one or both of my children.


If I had a superpower it would be....the ability to make time stand still while I get on with things!!  Too often time runs out on me.

Fab, might be able to get stuff done!

Three things I will tell my children...only say nice things to each other, share and be kind, Mummy and Daddy will love you forever and ever no matter what

When I was seven years old I was.... afraid of dogs.  To the point where I would risk my life running across a busy road to avoid one.  Funny thing is, fast forward a few years I love dogs and used to have two Labradors!! 

If you open my fridge you will see...yoghurt, fruit bags and probably 16 pints of milk!!  My kids love milk - on cereal, milk shakes, just on its own.  Ok 16 is probably a slight exaggeration, but only slight!  I'm thinking of getting our own cow.

Reckon she would fit in the garden?

My guilty pleasure...cake.  I cant leave it alone if its in the house.  Also, chocolate rich tea biscuits dipped in my coffee.  Too good!


My wardrobe is...plain and practical!  Jeans, tshirts, leggings, dresses to go over leggings.  My sister would love to revamp my wardrobe!  Maybe I'll let her one day...

My kids have taught me....to be patient and have fun!!

Life is like....the most amazing thing in the world that should not be wasted!! 

Thanks for reading

x x

Look What The Postman Brought

I love waiting for the postman when I've ordered something lovely. I don't, however, like it when the postman walks straight past my house, which is what he's been doing this week!! Is there a postal strike I should know about? Or maybe my postman only works part time?? Either way there's been a severe lack of delivered goods in this house this week!

So I was super pleased when this lovely gorgeous cupcake fabric arrived! Don't have a clue what I'm going to make yet. Any ideas? I'm kind of thinking something for the kitchen, maybe some kind of noticeboard? Any suggestions lovely followers?

I went out tonight with my lovely sister and my lovely mum. It was a proper girls night out, food, a film and lots of fun!!

I'm nearly ready for my next fair tomorrow. Hope it's a good one!

Hope everyones having a lovely weekend!

x x

Two Pretty Fairies and Some Halloween Sprinkles

I'm still here! Been working hard on some orders I've had and putting together more for the craft fair I've got on Sunday. So please excuse my poor blogging lately, but I have still been reading everyones lovely blogs! I have them on my iPhone and check them on a regular/hourly basis!

I want to show you something my lovely friend over at Twinkles, Tutus and Twirls made for my girls after her fab Fairy and Elf party recently. Instead of thank you cards, she made us gorgeous scrapbook pages complete with fan photos of my girlies in their tutus and a verse she wrote herself! Clever? I know, I have Crafters Envy! We've put ours up under our stairs and you can see it as soon as you walk through the front door-perfect!

I've also had through the post recently some fab Halloween sprinkles! Bats and pumpkins for my Halloween party cupcakes I will be making FROM SCRATCH!! (promise!). I will be making a start on the crafty bits I want to include at the party soon-never too early to start planning (Stel, back me up here!)

Hope you are all having a lovely week-thank goodness it's nearly the weekend!

x x

Cupcake Week? Amazing!!

Regular readers of my blog will know I LOVE cupcakes. Not just the edible variety but anything with cupcakes on! I just think they're so pretty and girly and love everything about them!

I found out via other blogs only yesterday that it's National Cupcake Week this week! Amazing! So today has seen me looking around my house and taking photos of everything cupcake...

including my cupcake mug, my cupcake pen, tealight holder, cookie jar and umbrella modelled by Lillie!!

Also, in honour of National Cupcake Week, I've given making cupcakes a go!!

They were yummy! Maddy and her friends loved them anyway, so they couldn't have been that bad! Putting the frosting on was tricky though and if anyone has any tips they would be gratefully received! Definitely need more practice. Oh well, more cake anyone?!

I feel we've suitably celebrated National Cupcake Week in our house!

Until next time x x

Cant Go Wrong With Buttons

I heart buttons lots!  When my husband came home a few months back and said we were going to be receiving a box of 10,000 buttons I was ecstatic!!  (my only disappointment was they were already sorted into colour/size order!  I would have had HOURS of fun with that!)

Anyway, needless to say, a lot of my makes are embellished with buttons.  I just think they're so pretty!  Plus, I have nearly 10,000 of them to put to good use.

Here are a couple of my latest makes for an order that I had.  I couldnt resist including some buttons...

And for the same customer, one of the biggest letters I've made!

When the customer asked for red and white for this letter, I didnt want it to look "Christmassy" if you know what I mean?  I dont think this does though, I think it looks pretty and cute!

x x

A Lovely Afternoon

Wasnt sure what to expect from the craft fair yesterday as it was the first one in Cwmbran, the weather was HORRENDOUS and its a funny time between just after summer but not quite Christmas yet.  However, I had a lovely afternoon. 

My sister and I managed to have not one, but two cups of hot coffee and some amazing cake, we gave out lots and lots of flyers, spoke to lots of people about the stuff I make and even made a few sales! 

These things are impossible to judge and I really struggle with what to take - guaranteed, if I relied on just orders for stuff, people would want items they could take away there and then, take lots of stock, people just place orders!  I feel, for the first time, I had the best of both yesterday - enough items for people to see examples of items they could order and little things they could buy to take away if they wish.

I was also so much happier with my stall set up this time....

My stall with my new price labels

Close up of the canvases

Aliens peeking!

The Halloween Area!

So many people looked at the Halloween area, which included a Halloween table cloth from the poundshop and some lovely twirling wands from my friend Twinkle Star.

And I had to include this photo of my sister, who helped me loads and really got chatting to people about my makes so she can come again!  However, in this photo her mind looks like its on other things....

Rachel "What to have, what to have?"

Love you sis! 

x x

Getting There

So tomorrow is the day of the craft fair.  I feel like I've done LOADS of prep for this one, and yet, Im still going to be up into the small hours sewing.  I dont know where I go wrong.  This is only my fourth ever fair so I do feel I have a lot to learn, but seriously, surely getting stuff ready is simply a case of time management??!!  Clearly not a skill I have.

Anyway, Im getting there...

New pricing labels

Lots of Little Aliens!

My box of stock, slowly but surely filling up!

My lovely sister is coming to help me out tomorrow.  So Im looking forward to spending the afternoon with her - and even if we get no customers, we can have some lovely cake and a nice cup of coffee without our kids hanging off us or demanding a drink!!

However, the ladies who have organised the first ever Cwmbran Craft Fair have put in so much work advertising and marketing the event, Im sure it will be a huge success.

Wish me luck!!

x x

We Survived!

The summer holidays that is!  This year was a vast improvement on last year.  I learned a lot about my darling little girl last year i.e. she's a nightmare when she's bored, she's better behaved when she's out and she's really naughty after a few late nights - like most children really, but I learnt the hard way!  As a result we've done so much these past six weeks, I was a little sad to see her go back to school today.  Well maybe 49% sad and 51% relieved that we'd survived and I can now get back into some sort of routine.  I do like my routine!

As a result, I've managed to finish this little lot today while Lillie was sleeping ready for the craft fair...

Trick or treat bags for Halloween

I wanted to make something "useful" for Halloween and decided to make trick or treat bags.  These are the first two I've made.  What do you think?  I've also cut out a purple one that will have a ghost on!

I also finished off bagging up this little lot...

Create Your Own Kits

Lovely Felty Hearts To Create With

At my very first craft stall ever (read about it here) I had some "make your own" kits that I had put together made up of some felt shapes and ribbon and buttons to decorate and make either a brooch, key ring or hanging decoration.  They sold out at that fair but I kind of lost my way with them at the last few fairs.  For Sunday I wanted something that perhaps kids could buy with their pocket money and take away.  I know how much Madison loves sitting and making things with me (mainly a mess in her case) so thought perhaps other people might like to give sewing a try and these kits would give them a start.  Just a thought so we'll see!  Im just glad my stock is finally building up.

On a finally note, look what happens every time I get my camera out these days...

CHEEEEEEEEEESE!!

Lillie's learnt how to say cheese and does so every time I get my camera or phone out!  Funny little pickle :)

Until next time...

Rhi x x

The Party and Craft Fair Prep

Just a quick post from me as Im so so busy getting ready for the craft fair on Sunday.  Why is it that, no matter how much I try to get ready in advance, I always seem to be rushing!??  I'm still snipping stuff out, got to sew everything and start pricing and labelling.  If anyone knows of a way I can cram a few hours into my day, I'd appreciate it!!

I've also had a few orders from Folksy recently, which is amazing!!  Someone has bought quite a few ice-cream toppers - maybe they are scrapbooking about summer?  Either way, if you fancy taking a look, they can be found in my shop here.

Perfect of creating scrapbook pages of the summer!

Also, I had to stop by to say that my lovely nephew was one last week and his party was a resounding success!  Not that he knew about it, but the photos will tell a fab story when he looks back on them in years to come.  My lovely sis put on an amazing spread, we had some fab Mickey Mouse decorations, plus a few handmade touches from me!!

Painted number 1 and polystyrene mickey heads!

Mickey Centre Piece!

We've got ears say cheers!!

Too much yummy stuff!

I had so many other things planned for Neo's party that I wanted to make, but with Lillie being ill from Wednesday to Saturday, I just ran out of time.  I did make these though....

Party bag favours with cardboard micky ears

Special party bags for the big brother and sister!

Im hoping my next post will be one full of pictures of stock ready to take to the fair, but we will see!!  Madison goes back to school tomorrow so maybe I'll get a bit more time to sew.

Until next time x x

A Spooky Afternoon

Not in the traditional sense, thank goodness, Im a wuss when it comes to anything horror related or scary.  Im trying to get myself organised for the next craft fair, which is on 11th September and I want to get a lot of stock on my stall this time, rather than relying on people making orders, which they do, but I feel I could do a lot better if I had a lot more "ready" stock.

So as the next "holiday" we are approaching is halloween, Im doing a lot of halloween themed felt-y things!  Have spent the best part of the afternoon while a poorly Lillie was sleeping, cutting out this little lot...

Thats just the start as I've got a couple of other Halloween type ideas to start on, hopefully tomorrow! 

Since the girls have come along, and especially since Maddy is old enough to get excited about dressing up, we love halloween in our house and always have a party and fireworks.  I hope there will be a couple of like-minded people at my next couple of craft fairs!

I've also cut out these ready to be stitched...

They will be birthday badges and mobile phone covers to add to my stock!  I thought my table looked a bit sparse at my last craft fair but this time its going to be overflowing with lots of lovely felt goodies! (if I say so myself!)

Im surprised at how much I've got done today given the shocking night I had with Lillie being sick, Maddy not wanting to sleep in her own bed and me freezing on the sofa!!  The housework however, has definitely suffered and crafting won today (no different from any other day really).

Hopefully I'll have lots of finished products to show you very very soon! 

x x