RedFestive

I spent the afternoon in a disused carpet showroom hawking my wares (the stitchy kind, I haven't taken to a life of vice).  All part of RedFestive, a Christmassy fundraiser for our local arts festival. It got a bit parky at times as there was no heating, but wearing woolly socks and 24-hole Doc Martens at least kept my feet warm.

The unit looked really cool, decked out in shiny stuff and fairy lights. There was a Narnia-themed grotto for the children, which you entered through a wardrobe. And in keeping with the theme a bare-chested Mr Tumnus, on stilts. He was bravely battling the elements, and hordes of small children.

I sold some robins, some purses and a few other bits. My retro-style aprons were picked up, admired, tried on, but no sales - boo! But I chatted to loads of people I know, some of whom I haven't seen for ages, so a good afternoon all round. And now only a week until Christmas, eek!

We love robots

Phew! Just a quick post to say what a great time I had at Redfest this afternoon. The weather was kind to us and the rain stayed away (although it did get a bit breezy at times). I borrowed a gazebo from a friend which we managed to construct with fairly minimal hassle.

I made this little felt robot as a mascot for the event - as robots were the theme of this year's festival.  He was supposed to be a friendly robot but I think he looks a little sinister... We were asked to donate a prize for the tombola so he was it. Hope he found a good home.

I sold a few bits and pieces, and chatted to some lovely people. We were pitched next to Sew Be It and Verity Bloom who had some amazing stuff on their stall.  Feel all enthused and have lots of ideas for my next stall.

Now off to put the children to bed so that I can relax in front of Dr Who (too scary for them!)

All you need is love

I spent most of today in a storm of toddlers and glitter, a craft session at St George Community Centre that was part of RedFest. Many robots were made, as well as flowers on a stick (toddlers love any craft activity that involves a lolly stick!) and one very messy table where biscuits were daubed with lurid red icing before being liberally coated with sprinkles.

So it was a bit of a relief to get home and have a cuppa...  I'm looking forward to some serious sewing time tomorrow, but for now have been pondering display techniques. I read somewhere about using a bunch of sticks in a vase to show small hanging items, so I had a bit of a trawl through the park on the way home.  With a bit of judicious use of gaffer tape, I have managed to arrange the sticks (fairly) artfully and have hung lavender bags and some heart-shaped rose sachets.

I don't usually go in for hearts and flowers, but I think we could all do with a bit more love in the world at the moment!

Back to school...

Apologies for the boasty post, but I've just got back from a mini-holiday with the children - visiting some friends in Switzerland. This morning I was standing looking out at vineyards! We had a wonderful couple of days with mountains, swimming, paddling in rivers and picnics galore. Now it's back into real life to get ready for school on Monday.

New school shoes were purchased last week along with new daps (what they call plimsolls round these parts).  There may be a bit of name-tape sewing to be done - not my favourite kind of stitching it has to be said! I also need to focus my mind on RedFest next weekend, where I am sharing a stall a couple of local crafty companions. So far I have only made one new bag, plus a bit of fiddling around with some new ideas. Time to get off the interweb and get my head down over the sewing machine...

I sold a bag!

We had the RedFest fundraiser on Saturday, and although the weather was not kind to us, a fair few people came out to enjoy themselves. I was sharing a stall with the lovely Jo and Anna. I only sold a few bits, including this bag, but it was very gratifying to have someone minutely scrutinising it for a good five minutes before declaring 'I don't need it but I have to have it!'. Thank you bag-purchasing lady and I hope it gives you many years of service.

RedFest itself is coming up soon, and there is a grand finale day on Saturday 11 Sept around St Georges Park and the community centre. I'm sharing a stall with Anna again and one conclusion that I came to is that I need more stock, and also to think about displaying it more effectively. There were a couple of other craft stalls there this weekend and it was interesting to see how they set out their stalls. I might involve my other half in making a little something - it's been a while since he did any carpentry and he has many power tools.

The price is right...

So this week I have mostly been going on outings with the shorter members of my household, but am now making the most of a Postman Pat DVD to sort out my stock for the stall on Saturday. I don't have a huge amount, so far it's looking like:

* 4 denim shopping bags
* About 12 purses in varying sizes
* 4 strings of bunting
* 20 lavender bags
* A patchwork cushion that I made years ago

As I'm sharing a table with two others, I think that should be enough.  I've also been wrestling with the thorny issue of pricing items.  I've aimed for covering the costs of the materials, plus a bit more for my time. I find that it's best to think of it as a way of funding my hobby, rather than a serious income stream! But it is a really good feeling when someone likes your stuff enough to buy it...

Shock second post of the day...

So, Friday is normally a 'working' day, but as the Studio Upstairs office was closed today, I had some v rare childfree time (as they were having a great time with the childminder).  I may have mentioned before that I have a habit of having lots of projects on the go at once. So today was the day of Finishing Things.

And do you know what? It's been a really productive day.  I did plenty of small jobs that niggled and suddenly I have lots of completed stuff. Firstly I finished off a circle skirt that I'm wearing to a party tomorrow - all that needed doing was a tiny bit of the hem plus a buttonhole and button. Then I finished off a half-done string of bunting and some lavender bags (pictured) for the We Heart Redfield event next Saturday. I have been doing a bit of a stock check and really need to get a wiggle on. Especially as both the crafty peeps I am sharing a stall with have been incredibly prolific (look out for Anna's lovely crochet flowers).

Now off to tidy my sewing room the spare room as my mum is coming to stay this weekend.

Hang out the flags

One fifth birthday party over and done with, so now time to get back to some making! I've signed up to have a stall at the We Heart Redfield Funday at St George Community Centre on 20 August (it's a fundraiser for Redfest, a fantastic local arts festival - more about it here) I'm sharing a pitch with a couple of friends, but need to get a wriggle on to make enough stock.

So because it's summer, and because I just treated myself to a big bundle from Fabric Rehab... it had to be bunting. My aim is to make a couple of strings to sell but it just so happens to fit in rather well in my garden too!  I do like a fluttery string of bunting, makes me think of seasides and street parties. And it means I get to play with the pinking shears...

I've been busy making more purses too, plus I have a couple of shopping bags already made. Not sure whether the lavender in the garden will be ready for lavender bags yet. Oh, and I'm about half-way through with the tapestry kit, and knitting a little doll from a Debbie Bliss book. I'm not exactly a completer-finisher!