A BIT OF A CHEAT

Another week over, my goodness isn't 2010 flying by! Another craft class come and gone. Progress on the calendar continues and I did actually complete a whole page in one class this week (that's a first) - shame I need to do three a week now to finish on time.

You'll notice that I've gone a bit out of sequence here and lacking inspiration for April, May, June ... (you get the message!) I jumped to October - well easy isn't it - Hallow e'en - colours already prescribed, theme all ready and waiting and I just happened to have some decoupage stickers in my stash. So as I said a bit of a cheat really but still, it's one page closer to the finished article!

Here it is...




And in detail

AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT

In the mean time Crafty Club has been continuing, now on Friday afternoons and in a new location (thank heavens!) the old place was dark, cold and miserable, but burst pipes over the holidays have made the rooms unusable and we are now permanently installed in a Community Centre with light, warmth and A CAR PARK!!!!! (no more driving round and round trying to find that last elusive on street parking place and praying that the Parking Nazis don't put in an appearance!)

Our teacher had promised a term of learning stamping techniques which I was really looking forward to, but along with the change of venue we are now funded by a different department who will only fund "tangible projects" so this term's "project" is a calendar.

I'm afraid I've been a bit low on inspiration this term and with only four weeks left I've only managed to complete pages for January, February and March. I had planned on using a different technique on each page but now I'm not so sure.

Anyway here are my efforts so far...




A close up of the embellishment...



As you can see I've used a paper patchwork effect for January, choosing co-ordinating papers from the Dovecraft Christmas Blues collection. I had some 2x12 papers sitting in my stash and inspired by the dark snowy days we had this January thought that the cold dark colours matched the miserable weather perfectly. A few snowflake brads and a touch of pink to lighten the mood - perfect! Although the fringing took FOREVER I really like the effect, especially when put together with the doodled "stitches".




Sorry, predictable heart motifs for February. and a touch of very simple teabag folding (I told you I was lacking in inspiration!) The teabag papers were some I've had in my stash forever and want to get rid of (shiny paper - nasty) and really don't go with the lovely background paper, but I was so low on inspiration and general enthusiasm for the project that I didn't really care. (I know - SHAME ON ME!)






March - A REVELATION. I REALLY REALLY REALLY enjoyed this one. I've always looked at quilling and thought Nah - can't be bothered, too fiddly - now I'm HOOKED - and yes it is too fiddly (for me - not brilliant at doing things requiring great dexterity. (I can do it, but it takes me ages and is a struggle - AND I find I'm pulling RIDICULOUS faces too (OK at home V. EMBARRASSING at Crafty Club!!!)) The observant amongst you will have spotted that the flowers on my border are yellow roses - not botanically accurate for March but I wanted something small and compact and I'm really pleased with the end result, simple, clean and with a promise of spring.

I have NO IDEA what I'm going to do for the remaining nine months and I'm pretty sure that quilling will make at least one more appearance, but you can bet they wont all get done in the next four weeks. I'll keep you updated!

WHERE SHALL I START?

Since I last blogged (and believe me I hadn't intended it to take so long to blog again!) SO many things have happened. But more of that another time. I'll carry on with my story...

I left you with things having snowballed vis-a-vis the owls / craft thingy (sorry, that has turned out to be no joke given the dreadful winter we're having!)

Well, at the beginning of October I had the mad idea of getting together enough stock to run a craft stall at the annual Christmas Craft & Gift Fair at Moonshine Major's school. (Scheduled for 29th November) Could I do it? Should I do it? Mr Moonshine was prepared to back the initial outlay on felt and materials, I had loads of crafty bits just sitting there in my craft room ... why not give it a go... and so Maisie Moonshine's Handmade Crafts Emporium was born, over tea, toast and tayberry jam one Sunday breakfast time.

There followed of course a frantic scramble to get together enough stock, felt owls, cupcakes, Christmas decorations, bookmarks, phone charms, place setting holders, photo clips, calendars and decorated sweetie jars to put on a decent show.

Of course nothing ever runs smoothly and for a week or so in the middle of November the whole fair was in doubt as there were not enough stall holders to make it worth while. I couldn't believe it! All that effort for nothing! Hang on, what on earth was I going to do with 16 owls, cupcakes, calendars etc, etc? Well everybody's Christmas presents would be sorted!

PING! lightbulb moment - I could sell them on the internet, either on my own site or through Folksy - or both...

A little bit of surfing the web and doing some research opened a whole new can of worms, the biggest of which was that as soon as you start to sell anything you have made on the net you are "Trading" and so have to register as Self Employed - with all the stress and hassle that involves.

Thankfully, having rung around anyone I could think of who might be interested in running a stall at the fair the news came through that the fair was back on. PHEWWW!

By working all hours and pretty much giving up on doing any Christmas shopping I was ready in time.

And here is a photo of my stall.




I had a great afternoon. Mum came over to help me out and give me some moral support! (Thanks Mum!). The afternoon passed quickly, although there didn't seem to be many people shopping. I've got to say that The BGF was one of my best customers and some of my other girl friends rallied round to show their support. I did actually have a very successful afternoon, even picking up some orders along the way.

So Maisie Moonshine's Handmade Crafts Emporium is definitely in business, you can visit my shop by clicking here , and soon by clicking on my shop button on the sidebar.