In progress...

Well now the show is over I have some time to work on a few other projects and to start developing new ideas. I had a very enjoyable and relaxed felting session this afternoon with my embellisher... I am definitely beginning to feel more confident with colour and am feeling more able to experiment with combining colours within pieces. This week I have had a major clearout and 'streamline' (!) of my craft stash, and during the process I came across lots of wee bits and pieces of work that let me see how things have developed since I first set off down this path just over two years ago.  It's all been trial and error really - I'm still not very good at detailed planning, I tend much more to go with my 'instinct' (whatever that is!) - but it's interesting to see a thread of continuity between pieces that I have made along the way.  Anyway, here is what I've been working on today:

The larger pieces are for attempts at a new jewellery idea.  More about that soon!

Also this week I've been able to finish another project I wrote about recently - here's the back of it:

can you tell what it is yet? :P 

Right now the finished piece is stretching its legs on the wall in our living room - more photos to follow!

Mission accomplished!

Well, I have survived another craft fair and lived to tell the tale...

Actually it was a much better experience all round this time, with some of my lovely friends helping me set up or popping along to offer moral support (and buying things too - thanks guys!).

Particular thanks go to my 11-year old friend, photographer, organiser, arranger, de-linter and financial adviser Hannah (she took the photos), who helped me man the table for most of the day.   Thanks Hannah!

(her being chief photographer unfortunately meant I didn't get any photos of Hannah in action...)

...so instead here I am instead looking a bit cheeky for no reason...

...and a bigger view of the table.

Generally the fair was a lot busier than my last one, and again the time went very quickly.  Lots of interest in my kumihimo braiding on the marudai, some very nice compliments, and excitingly, some sales!  I met my target, which is great, and also actually had a good time.  Yay!

My Etsy shop is now up-and-running again after a month-long break, with lots of new items to be listed over the next few days.

Colour...

A work in progress...

Cardorama!

(last cheesy title, I promise :P)

It's finally done: the last of the big projects I needed to finish before the craft fair:

lots of fibre art cards!

- I love looking at these once they are finished but boy do they take up the most room and time to make!

That's everything major finished now - my last decision is whether to make up a few more kumihimo rings and earrings.  

The earrings were popular at the last craft fair but don't sell well on my Etsy shop - and the rings are a fairly new idea so they weren't around last time.  To be honest I think I have enough to cover the table (!) but maybe people would like the option of matching bracelets and earrings/rings.... what do you think?

Braidelicious!

(I just can't enough of these cheesy post titles. Really.)

Here are some other things I've been working on...

...bracelets!  

Thanks so much as always to Sarah and Myfanwy for the beautiful threads that I love to work with so much :)

Ringtastic!

I'm busily crafting away building up stock for the craft fair... .

My favourite things to make are still

rings!!

Makers' Market table rehearsal...part 1

My second ever craft fair is looming on the horizon (ok, it's not until 3rd July but that feels quite soon!) - this afternoon I tried my first 'dry-run' of my table set-up, so I know what still needs to be done.  I have a lot to go on from last time - so I have most of the necessary bits and pieces.  The challenge this time is that I have a greater range of pieces that I somehow have to arrange and fit onto the table!

Here's my first attempt:

(so my kitchen table is actually 2' shorter than the 6' table I'll have at the fair, but you get the general idea!)

I haven't finished a few things as yet (there'll be more bracelets, more felted rings, and the box on the far left will be filled with greetings cards rather than cake :P) so this is just a general idea.  I've gone for rings on a piece of Indian slate, and some earrings on a plate (I'll source a more interesting and suitable plate somehow before the event!).

As always, any comments or suggestions are more than welcome.  What do you think of the earrings display - too busy?  Too busy in general?  Should I group similarly shaped brooches together or mix them up?  So many options!!

The other most exciting crafty thing happening has been the arrival of some new threads from the ever-wonderful Sarah of therainbowgirl.  She has produced the most amazing custom selection of hand-dyed mixed threads for me to use for new kumihimo bracelets - check out these beauties:

yum!