Taking some time out

I've been busy knitting all week, making more bags for the next craft show, and making bags for customers orders from the last event.

It was only after I had pegged out my latest set of felted bags on the washing line to dry that I took a moment to look

not at how many I'd made  or if the colours are quite right

 or whether the sizes are what I'm going to need. 

I remembered to actually see what was in front of me, 

To look at how fun they appear hanging in the sun in my beloved but sadly neglected garden.

and I remembered why I live this crazy crafting life.

after all

"what is this life if full of care we take no time to stop and stare"?

And before I run off to another craft show!

I thought I'd better tell you all about the last one....

This time I used two tables and my new white tablecloths had their first airing.. I like the drapes at the back of the stand too, they are there thanks to my daughter who discarded them after re-decorating her room!

I think my  posh new display stands worked really well. I was so excited when I spotted these chrome stands on eBay. I've been looking for a better way to show of my bags for a long time

 

Sitting to the side of my display is much friendlier,Sitting there makes it much easier to demonstrate how I knit my bags and show folks the finished bags before the are felted. I think I'm going to use this set up from now on.

 

The "Oopah" band was a joy! They were playing right outside my marquee and brought some much needed sunshine to the day.

 

I love this view of weary visitors having their lunch and watching the craft world go by...

 

Even when the sun was hiding the crowds came.

This is the marquee where I set up my stall, and went to work each day!!!

Evening time is so peaceful. After talking all day and all the hustle and bustle it's lovely to have a quite walk around the grounds.

This little bridge reminds me of a Monet painting,

 And in the fields as I walked back to my little caravan I found some heartsease growing wild in the meadow.

Patchings art and craft festival is special somehow.....

Every cloud has a silver linning....

I firmly believe in silver linings, I feel that the very act of searching for a hint of silver can cause that glimmer to appear.

And so it was with the last craft fair I attended, although the show was the worst attended event I have ever been to, the upside was not hard to find.

 

And that flash of silver lining was actually Stripey!!

Cara's stall was opposite mine, her glorious collection of fabric bags caught my eye immediately.I was pleased to think that it would have such a pleasant view from my stall for the next 2 days. little realising at that point that the view would be all but uninterrupted by visitors..

 

 

As soon as my stand was set up I went to see Cara's bags close up,

 

  Of course we quickly got chatting. I was so relieved to find that like me, Cara see's other bag makers as exhibiting complimentary products to her own and not as competition.

 

We quickly agreed that folk who fell in love with her wonderfull fabric selections would not be torn between them and my felted lovelies and of course vice versa.

Stripey finds stall has such a fresh interesting look, It's hard to pass by without stopping to look a little closer.

I like the fresh display hanging from the stall with all her new summery bags.

If my daughter were a few years younger I know we would have come home with one of these fantastic hair accesory rolls, what little girl could resist all those goodies?

After 2 days of laughter and no, not tears but certainly mutual support we parted as friends.

I'm sure we will both be meeting again at a future event, and hopefully we will be too busy selling our creations to wear another path through the grass between our stalls!

Sunny Country show, but what went wrong?

I was so happy to see sunny skies as we set of with our dear little caravan for the short drive of 40 miles or so to Elton Hall. After the winter craft shows Emma and I were looking forward to camping in the warm summer weather.

I wondered who else would arrive to fill up the showground, I've not exhibited at a country show before, but soon found my pitch and some friends from other events too!

All set up an enjoying the view over the fields...

Followed by a beautifull sunset...

Emma and I sat on the grass ate dinner and watched the sun go down.

Time for work sleepy head!

Ahh my early morning cup of rooibosch tea

Time to brush my hair...

and enjoy a short stroll over to the craft tents, with a short diversion to buy summer clothes.

 Everything should have been perfect.

The weather was hot, the show had lots going on, donkey rides and bouncy castles, gardeners question time and cooking demonstrations, Falconry and medieval re-enactors.

 But sadly no crowds came, the day wore on and still no crowds.

The Showground looked empty and the knights had no-one to demonstrate thier skills to.

 We sweltered in our craft marquee, as a few customers drifted by, long minutes would pass with no visiters in the craft tent all.

 Ahh we said it's too hot! 

Folk will come on Sunday. 

So the day closed and we retreated back to our caravan.

Not to be down hearted we had a lovely walk over the fields  and through  the churchyard into the village of Elton,

It is a little jewel of an english village with thatched cottages

and walled cottage gardens

Thunder storms raged in the night, but  we awoke to another sunny bright day. 

Sadly the crowds never did find the country show, the knights fought to desultry applause, the falcons flew sulkily and the donkeys waited patiently in the shade.

And we packed our good and chatels on Sunday evening and drove home feeling a little subdued.

BUT

I'm off to another show in 2 days time!!!

So wish me luck 

X