Cancelled

Excuse the picture it doesn't go with the post (it was taken at the Whitstable Craft Fair back in May), but I needed a nice smiley picture today as I am totally devasted as I have had to cancel the Christmas Crafty at the Coast.

I am so angry beyond belief as it is the hall where I hold them who have cancelled the event today.

To cut a very long story short they have basically double booked the hall with the Farmer's Market whilst the man who I normally book the hall with is off with a long term sickness. The Farmer's Market hold events at the hall every other saturday and I believe they must have changed their dates at some point in the year as I provisionally booked the hall for the 12th December back in January and all of their dates were already in the diary and the 12th was free!

My deposit had not been paid as during the time the man I deal with has been off sick it was sent back from the May fair and not carried over.  I still believed my booking would be safe as I had not had a phone call from anyone saying other wise, until I went to pay the deposit and found out that as my deposit cheque had not been paid in I have lost the hall, and don't appear to have a leg to stand on.

I am so fuming, upset, hurt and angry as I put so much of my heart, soul and time into organising the fairs, but most of all I am upset for those who were due to take part and had probably started working hard on items to sell and for the goodie bags. It just feels like a slap in the face. I confess I was not at my calmest when the man from the hall rang to tell me that I basically do not have a booking and I more or less told him I thought they were incapable and that I would not hold any other events there again.

I have organised five craft fairs now, the Christmas Crafty at the Coast would have been my 6th fair since 2007 and I have met such a great and talented group through them over the last couple of years, I am very sad.  I do feel they have taken so much time over the last few years even though I loved every minute, I don't think I will organise any others for a while! I might change my mind in a few months if I find another venue.

If anyone is organising a crafty type fair in the kent area, do let me know as I would still love to take part!

Germany

Germany. Well it was all about family, sunshine, the zoo, picnics, markets, fribard, trains, buses and sleeping in till 8am every day! heaven!

And getting back, well, you would have thought we had been away for a month and not five days as getting back has been all about the washing and ironing and getting ready for school! Mine were back on Thursday to school and playschool.

I felt a mixture of emotions! So sad as we had a brilliant summer but there is a little tiny bit of relief to having just a little bit of time to myself once again!

Buttonholes

I have had my Janome sewing machine for close to two years now and yesterday decided it was about time I attempted to do a buttonhole! I have never, ever done one!

My sewing machine comes with an automatic buttonhole foot, where you put the button in one end and the buttonhole is sewn the perfect size!  Easy I thought, erm..... it should have been but I managed to make hard work of it!

I have to say, deciding to do this at 11.15pm was probably not the best idea!
Finally at about 12.15am after quite a lot of swearing..

lots of studying the instruction manual..........

lots of failed attempts...

I finally managed to do it!

And what is it? Well, it is just a little travel document holder as we are off to visit some relatives in Germany on Friday and I wanted something to hold all the flight details, passports and travel insurance info!

I can see 'things' with buttonholes are going to be my new thing!

Quick catch up

Me and the kids have been at my parents for the last week having a little holiday there! We had a fab time catching up with grandparents, great nanny's, cousins, uncles and aunties. We also had a lovely day out in London and went on a river cruise to Greenwich.

We are off again next week to visit some relatives in Germany so I am playing catch-up before we head off. Ohh and just to say as well that the new blog for Crafty at the Coast is up and running - so have a look if you think you might like to come along.............

Crafty at the Coast

I haven't touched the sewing machine for a while so no pics of new makes, but we have been to the beach lots so that is all I seem to have pictures of lately!!!

I have been busy with other things too though. I decided the Craft fairs I organise in Whitstable needed a bit of an update rather than just Craft & Gift Fairs, so the new name I have come up with is.........Crafty at the Coast.

I am hoping this new name will make it a bit more exciting and more in keeping with the fantastic handmade stallholders who take part. The next fair being on 12th December will be Christmas Crafty at the Coast. I am working on a logo and a special Crafty at the Coast blog so all will be revealed soon (I hope!). I am also planning on doing goodie bags like Jenny did at the Makey do, as I think this really worked for her and I am hoping it will here too!!!

And I am very excited this evening as I just found out that I have won a giveaway by from all about eden's blog!!! It is a lovely mushroom brooch and green & black chocolate! I have never won anything since the barbie doll house I won in a drawing competition when I was about 8! So I am very excited! Thanks Sara!!!

More blue and white stripes..

Stripy finds at the boot fair last sunday! Some offcuts of old 50's nurses uniforms, which I thought I could use for appliques on vests and cushions, some very old ticking -which I am hoping will clean up as it is a bit grubby! and more stripy staffordshire finds to add to my collection! And it all cost me about £3 in total...oh I love a bargain!

Six

From this ....


To this.....

To this.... in six years.

Gosh, that was quick. And he gets more gorgeous every year!

F was six on 1st August, gulp...I can hardly believe it.

Happy Birthday Monkey!