A disappointing day...

You know how things seem to be going so well then 'blam' it all blows up in your face?
Well that might be a little dramatic but it was how I felt yesterday at the craft fair.

It turned out to be a poorly advertised venue, with most store holders than customers. Out of 32 stalls only 4 sold an item. I didn't sell a thing, nor did most of the other people there despite them all having some beautiful stuff.

I suppose I should just chalk that one up to experience. I wouldn't mind so much but it was my first one and has left me rather jaded for the future.

Fortunately I have found a reputable company who organises fairs and I will be going to one of them sometime next year.

Meanwhile here is a panoramic picture of people setting up....

Busy Busy Busy

As the title says, Busy!
40+ cards made, 40+ bookmarks also finished. Numerous other bits and pieces...
The fair better be worth it!

Here are the bookmarks...

....and some of the elements for the cards before I added them...

See you soon!

It has been a while...

Hi all!

Its been a while since my last post.
State of play so far...

Bowl is more or less finished. I used a high gloss, oil based varnish though and now have to wait for the smell to dissipate!
I've got a craft fair coming up in 2 weeks time with my daughter. I have been extremely busy getting lots of nice things made for it and sorting out the indemnity insurance that they always advise you to have if you are selling products to the public. Found a great deal through the market traders association which covers both of us for just £57 a year (as we don't sell toys, cosmetics or food, which is a lot more).
As Christmas is rapidly approaching I have also been stepping up the card making.

Pictures to follow! (Hopefully)

I'll blog some from the fair as well....

A bowl too far?

Hi...

My bowl. Its hard to know when its almost finished.

Im basing it on an ancient roman bowl similar to this one... (image via google images... thanks!)



I saw one years ao in a museum and the slight asymmetry of it has had me fascinated ever since.
But its not an easy shape to, well not reproduce but take after, in papier mache.  For instance the wide brim is easily doable but I didnt like it aesthetically so went for more of a suggestion than the whole.
The look. I wanted it to look like papier mache but also ceramic. I think though that I am going to take a different approach. Using the slightly off-centre design Im going to go with a contemporary finish.

Its almost in the end stages now, its been a real labour of love, when its had the final decoration I'll post it here.....

A few pictures...

Hi all!

Here are a few pictures I promised of my scatter cushions and the Surprise rug I made.

Enjoy!

A Surprise Project.

Hi all...

I finished the twin-set scatter cushions last week and was at a bit of a loose end.
I decided to go to the local market for ideas. I wandered past my favourite yarn stall and spied some really soft, multicoloured chunky yarn
Well normally I never work with chunky, I find it a bit.. well... BIG, but I couldn't resist buying some.

I sat looking at it for most of the evening, trying to decide what on earth I was going to do with it!

After sleeping on it I decided. By the next evening I had a small semi-circle hearth rug made!
It came out really nice. Once I've wash tested it (along with the scatter cushions) I'll pop some photos on here.

See you soon!

A Tree....

Hi everyone...

Today I chopped down a tree.

Now before you all get over-excited and going 'Oh my god you cruel thing!' I didnt kill it, I used the ancient art of coppicing. Basically I cut it back in such a way that it will grow back with more branches. You can do this to most hardy trees, mine is a Sycamore and VERY hardy. I only have a small garden and doing this ensures the tree doesn't outgrow its space and have to be removed completely. I grew it from a seed so there is no way I'm going to harm it!

Do I recommend this to everyone? No, if in doubt get a professional. I use to be a Park Ranger and I've done this many times before. Done wrong and it can kill or weaken the tree so it falls down. Mine was only 20ft tall, I keep it set to that height as its the best for its roots in a small garden. Why now, before full autumn? I usually do this particular tree at this time of year, before it gets too wet and in danger of rotting the wood in the cuts. It has time to heal before winter sets in. Its better now than in spring when the sap is rising, the tree 'feels' it more then.

The resulting wood will not go to waste. I have set it to one side to dry, even the small branches can make something, and the leaves have been added to my wildlife pile where I get a lot of frogs. Good shading for them.

Why am I telling you this? Its to show that some crafting projects can be a long time in the making. I have plans for the wood but it will be at least 12 - 18 months before its really ready, the branches a little sooner.

Patience is as much a part of crafting as the creation process is......

Machine life...

Hi!

Finally got a new washing machine after two weeks of waiting. Got a project for Folksy washing as I type this. :)

My problem now is that I have TOO MANY ideas floating around my head. So many I am in danger of not completing any of them!

As well as the bowl (which has stopped for the moment while I get hold of some more paint and varnish) and a pair of striking neon-striped cushions (I like cushions) I have also just drawn out a pattern ready for crocheting of a stylised fat black kitty. It will be my first tapestry crochet project. I never make things easy for myself!

EDIT...

Diamond cushion is now of Folksy!
Im not very good at taking photos though, heres an extra picture thats not on Folksy of the soft-brushed edging I did.

Heres the unedited pic of the full thing, not much different to what I finally used.

Broken washing machine....

Hi!
A broken washing machine has put most of my textile projects on the back-burner for a week or two so I decided to go back to another project i started some time ago.

Im currently working on a paper-machete Potpourri bowl in the rustic style popular at the moment. Slightly (and deliberately) off-centred and created without a 'mould' such as a balloon or another bowl, just using a card ring, its starting to come along nicely. At about 8 and 1/2 inches across by 4 and 1/2 inches high, its quite a decent size.

Ive just finished layering the paper and given it a good sanding. The hardest part is knowing when to sand and when not, I dont want to lose the 'roughness' too much as its the whole point of the piece. I've also added the first of about 20 (yes 20!) coats of paint ready for another light sanding. Ive already got in mind the decoration for it, but its a secret for now! Another month and it should be done (hopefully)...

In the meantime Im ploughing on with crocheted cushions... I got a thing for them..

See you soon!

😊

What I've been doing...

Hi!
Ive been busy this month with my job but I have managed to start working on a diamond shaped crochet cushion. When Its done It'll be up on my Folksy page. I need to start doing some 'in progress' pictures, I really do!

In the meantime I've also just started practising Multicoloured Tapestry crochet, but its in very early days yet. I've always done tapestry knitting, but the crochet version is much more challenging.
I'll let you know how it goes...

In the meantime, here is a picture of a kitty to keep you all pleased...

Happy crafting!

Hello

Hi! And welcome to the new blog page for Homemayden!

I am just branching out into the world of blogging but currently have a page on Folksy for my crafts (thats new to). Hopefully here I can post about projects new and old, add a few photos and give a few hints and tips on everyday stuff.

Please feel free to contact me, just understand I also work and I might not reply straight away!