Patterns and Plans!

My craft stall at the local village Fun Day, last weekend was not hugely successful in the selling stakes. However, it was a useful day in other ways: such as networking and upping my local profile.

After being given another box of lovely fabric and goodies by my aunt, I was able to run up a quick string of bunting to decorate my stall (will show a stall pic next time).

Also, for the stall, I finished this clutch bag from Michelle patterns. I added a thin strap after taking this picture, because it was awkward to carry without one. This is the first time I've used a pattern when making my bags and, crikey, there were a lot of different bits and pieces! All the stiffening and padding added to the structure of the bag but don't really fit with my upcycling ethos. If I make this style again, I'll try some modifications and alternative materials.

In an effort to appeal to the children who would be at the Fun Day, I made 5 mini shopper bags at the last minute; which was a good decision because I sold 2 of them and had an order for another in a different colour.

I was also given a bag of useful buttons by a local resident and a tip for another craft fair that should be more up my street. 

We live and learn!

It's about time I added some money to the household pot, though, so I've a plan in mind, and I've also been asked to proofread a couple of books that are in the process of being written, so things are looking up!

Bye for now

Teresa x

Progress?!

 There are 2 mighty oak trees on our lane. Wonderful specimens that I have known all my life, and that have stood here probably hundreds of years while change has gone on all around them. They were originally surrounded with fields with the lane running alongside. Then along came the by-pass (just visible to the right of the second pic) which was later widened into a duel-carriageway (in the early 1980s).

Also in the 1980s came the construction of a large estate (to the right of the above oak). This oak is the furthest from my house - you can just see the next one behind it.

As children my brothers and sisters and I loved kicking through the piles of oak leaves that built up against this wall in the autumn.

 This is the other side of the oak in the first pic. I noticed a lot of ivy growing up its trunk this year that I don't remember seeing before. I hope it isn't a sign of anything sinister!

This is the next oak tree towards our house. It's a bit smaller than the first one and is beginning to show signs of age. It's had quite a lot of ivy growing on it for years and tends to be a bit slower in responding to the seasons.

Where the smaller trees stand in this pic (above) is where a 3rd mighty oak once stood. We were very sad to see it go, almost 20 years ago, when it was (conveniently) condemned and chopped down to make way for this entrance road for 4 new houses. Our house is out of sight, on the left of this pic, just underneath the huge, new house to the left of the telegraph pole.

Here you can see our garden, as of a few weeks ago (opposite the huge, new house), where OH is rotovating ready for planting. It's now planted up and the crops are well on their way. There are promising signs for a good crop of apples and plums, too.

This may, or may not, be the last year we will be able to plant our garden. We are awaiting a decision from the county council and, if things go to plan, things will change drastically, including the moving of The Shed!

Bye for now
Teresa x