It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas!

 

The adverts are all around us, on TV, in the newspapers and magazines, in the shops and on every billboard you care to look at!  Christmas is rushing ever closer and faster on our heels - never mind that today is 5th November in the UK!  Guy Fawkes deserves a little consideration surely?  Then we must stop a while and think of those who've given their lives for our freedom - that's this Sunday and again on 11th November...we must never forget!  On a lighter note, I have 4 family birthdays to consider this month too.  So, Christmas is lucky to even get a look-in before December....well...I say that...

 

 

 ...I have a Christmas market coming up in mid-November so I am on event overload.  Something will surely give.  And, indeed, it has!  I am as sick as a dog but soldiering on because...I have to.  Thank goodness for Lemsip and paracetamol.  I have completed my carol hearts and my key rings are looking great.  It really is beginning to look a lot like Christmas in the Horgan household!!!

Countdown to the 'C' Word!

Okay, I'm at it again!  Counting down to the dreaded 'C' word that is Christmas (of course!  What were you thinking?).

I posted off 5 of my darling little tartan Christmas stars today to the good old US of A!  Thanks to my latest colonial customer in Texas - I hope they like them!  I have been busy making some delightful decoupage key rings in readiness for the Bath Artisan Christmas Market  (just 2 weeks to go this Sunday!) and my carol music-themed hearts are now complete (pictures to follow soon) - they look fab.

In the meantime, I have been lucky enough to have a few quality days away in glorious Devon with my favourite people (my family).  We visited RHS Rosemoor (pumpkin hunting), went swimming, went to Exmoor Zoo (ghost hunting), Westward Ho! (it was verrrry windy!), and even managed to fit in a bit of golf, as well as eating way too much rich and tasty food - not forgetting the cider (it's practically compulsory in Devon!).





That's it for now!  Will BLOG again soon with loving pictures of my Vintage Christmas Carol hearts.

Don't Panic! Don't Panic!

Well, what a nail-biting couple of weeks.  Me (and a bunch of other crafters no doubt) received a complete curve-ball from the organisers of Handmade Winchester...the Christmas Handmade Winchester Fair is cancelled!  Oh no - yikes - help - I was banking on that one - now what do I do? Why?  I know not...and breathe.  Suffice to say I was a tad perplexed.  It was such a successful event last year!

 

I was face-booking fellow crafters, bemoaning my sorry fate when I happened upon a post which mentioned another company (Inspired Events) had taken over the venue and there were spaces available on Saturday 30th November.  Without hesitation I applied for a table and (phew) got one.  I just hope the event is as successful as last year's!

 

So, I am back on track and making one or two very Christmassy items (see below) and once again getting excited about my next stall at Bath Artisan Market (17th November and then 15th December) and all things festive in general.



Wintery Pooh Bear and Christopher Robin Decoupage Heart

72 days to go - just in case you were wondering

WRONGO!?

Yikes!  This must be all too familiar to those of you who take the trouble to read this blog but...I AM starting to panic about Christmas!

I was lucky enough to have a blinding day in Winchester last December and was foolishly expecting similar interest and enthusiasm from post-Christmas events...WRONGO!

I am still relatively new to this 'game' and the penny has certainly taken it's own sweet time to drop very slowly, but equally heavily, onto (and into) my head!  My makes are 'arty' - created with and from love - and as such they are not 'essential' but they ARE life-enhancing.  They are beautiful and tactile, of the earth and the sea and up cycled to the 'nth degree! 

At the end of the day...I love what I do and take pride in my creations.  If others do too?  All the better!!!

101 Days!

Oh crikey!  I can't believe I am starting to work/think towards Christmas already!  101 days to go and it feels like I have a million and one things to do.

 

I have some adorable Pooh Bear winter scenes which I've decoupaged onto some wooden hearts and am also creating decoupaged Christmas decorations to add to my collection.

 

I'm still working on trying to display my wares so that they are shown at their best - less is more and all that!  Trouble is, I find it really hard to do minimalism - it's not really my thing!  TTFN.

Just when I thought 'I'd' nailed it...

Phew!  It's been a long old day today.  We were up with the lark and in Bath shortly after 8 o' clock this morning.  By we I mean me and my 2 daughters (Daisy and Grace - 8 and 5 respectively).

 

I had packed the car the day before while my 'helpers' were off swimming with Daddy - lucky things.  I was pretty pleased with myself, I can tell you, since my initial load was a mere four boxes and the trestle table.  Piece of cake...or so I thought!  Hang on a minute!  What about the chairs (I needed 3 this time), the snacks (for me and my helpers), the bag of things to do when we're not selling stuff (which we, hopefully won't need!), the kids' things to sell (old dresses etc) for pocket money, my 'all-important' trolley (it's a lifesaver!), coats, wipes (you never know, but if you don't take them...), the hessian hanging board and the hammer?  These were all unceremoniously chucked in on top of the four, neatly packed, boxes - my smug "organised" self was very swiftly eating humble pie.  I am sure I will get it right one day!

 

Organisation and efficiency aside, we managed to unload the car and set up the stall in plenty of time.  Daisy and Grace were keen to help with the display and worked beautifully together with just the odd bit of input from me.

Lots of lovely comments and lots of people taking leaflets and cards.  I could really have done with more sales and sincerely hope November and December offer a more profitable outcome!  On the plus side Daisy and Grace had an absolute ball and took a variety of pictures of their favourite stalls around the market - I'll post the less blurry ones later on this week.  In the meantime, I will try and fathom out the perfect packing technique for my market forays - I think a list may be in order next time...



WHAM BAM! September 8th 2013!

Okay, so I'm unashamedly self-promoting my next Bath Artisan Market appearance - next Sunday 8th September 2013 - be there, share the date and venue.  Come and buy some gorgeous gifts and things.  Stock up for Christmas and wow at all the handmade and crafted items for sale.  Click on the link below to find out more...

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If you can't make the market you can always visit my Etsy shop (see the link on the right) where I have (for sale) a comprehensive selection of my wares.

Markets aside, I have been extremely idle throughout this glorious summer- no apologies, I have spent the time with family and friends re-charging and enjoying life, remembering why we all work so hard in the first place!  It is only today that reality has struck - it is now September and I have 3 Bath Artisan Markets (September, November, December) and one Winchester Handmade Christmas Fair (1st December).  Yikes!  Given the success of last year's Winchester (indoor = nice and cosy) Fair, I feel I may need to make some extra items.  I have been gathering bits and pieces for my decoupage makes and my lovely friends have been collecting shells and bits of driftwood from across the globe - I am always incredibly grateful for these extra materials and am looking forward to creating some unique pieces in the next month or so.

Today, though, I have turned my hand to making a couple of fantastic (I kid you not!) Christmas decorative stars from some up-cycled wrapping paper that I managed to salvage from one of daughter's birthday presents (she had to open that particular present extremely carefully - under my watch - so that not a shred of it was ripped or torn).  I hope the picture below demonstrates the beauty and funky potential the paper promises - if all goes well, the stars will be on sale this coming weekend!

Funky Christmas Star!