A bunch of fairies

No, I'm not trading insults with some football team or other!  I have been having fun revamping my fairy design.  The year before last I had fun making fairies like these...

...even if the sight in my workroom, as the task was in progress, was somewhat alarming...

This year, I decided to make a few more - they seem popular as presents - but I wanted to simplify the body design and use a bit of colour.  All those upper and lower arms and legs were a lot fiddly, and though I liked the pose-ability, I wasn't quite convinced.  So this time, arms and legs were one-piece and skinny.  And instead of white-with-touches-of-pastel, I decided to use velvet ribbon and Liberty Tana lawns, or faded vintage prints. Oh, and I ditched the beaded wings and crowns in favour of salvaged lace.

So here are some of my new bunch...

Liberty 'Tatum' lawn in red

Liberty 'Capel' lawn 

Liberty 'Tatum' lawn in turquoise

This Paisly print feels like Tana lawn but I have no idea  whether it is or not as it is a remnant that appeared in my workroom from I know not where!

Vintage fabric rescued from an old bed cover, gloriously faded

I am rather pleased with how they turned out, but won't be having one on top of our tree, which is always crowned with the cardboard angel made by Miss U-t-B when she was just a tiny thing.

What do you have on top of your Christmas tree?

Elf-ing mad...

In the frozen depths of the Arctic forest, elves have been gathering...

First one, then a second...

Soon a small throng of cheery souls...

...gathered to discuss plans for the busy times ahead. (They have been a-working all year, but with the beginning of the eleventh month (which is actually the START of the elven year - so last night was the equivalent of New Year's Eve for them (you might be able to tell from some of their faces!)) the real dash for the finish line is on...)

Did you know that instead of Facebook, elves proclaim their 'Status' through their hoods? (Yes, I know they look like hats, but elves prefer the term 'hood'.)

A single fold in the hat means 'In a relationship'.  Sometimes they fold to the left, sometimes to the right, and occasionally backwards.  I won't go into the significance of this...)  

Twice folded means 'Married', whilst aloft means 'Available and looking for love'.  

Elves, as I'm sure you are aware, live in cosy toadstools...

Their normally chose to wear hoods to complement the colour of their (somewhat sparse, but please don't mention this, for 'tis a sore subject) but the more fashion-conscious sometimes buck the trend with contrasting scarves.

Bells are essential...

I've been having such fun with these!  Thanks to the pinner who first pinned Kaniko's picture which was my inspiration...

Kaniko on Etsy

I just need some jute twine so they can become hanging decorations in readiness for Saturday at The Maltings.  Back with a how-to very soon!

My busy days are nearly over (phew!) and so I'm looking forward to getting back to some proper blogging, including, most importantly, time to read and comment on those of others...

'Vintage at the Village' Booty

'My adventure yesterday took me past the rolling north Hampshire hills, dusted to the palest of hues by a heavy frost, then skirting past the tawny edges of the New Forest to Pamphill Village Hall, near Wimborne Minster, for the first ever 'Vintage at the Village' Fair.   It was a lovely journey, part of which I used to do regularly about 20 years ago, so a bit of a trip down memory lane.

When I arrived, the car park and lane were filled with cars and happy shoppers returning with their purchases.  I was pretty desperate to get in as quickly as possible before all the goodies had been snapped up.  I need not have worried as the stalls were still laden with lots of gorgeous items, though I later heard that it had been absolutely JAM packed as soon as the doors had opened, so no doubt all those early birds went home with some juicy worms!  I'll have to NOT think about the beauties I missed!

I had a little mooch around to start with, then spotted this fabulous French print.

The sort of fabric that I normally only ever manage to purchase a small piece of.  However on this occasion...

..it's trimmed with red lace round the edges, and pieced with wide panels of lace...

..and big enough to cover our small sofa (for display purposes only - it's too nice to be sat on!)  I think maybe it was a bedspread in its former life.  

On the same stall, which turned out to be that of Simply Chateau, were some strips of glorious ticking.  This one had to come home with me.

There's about a metre of the wider bit (on the left) and about six metres of the narrower bit (on the right).  I can think of all sorts of possibilities for these!  Both fabrics are now having a gentle wash in the  bath, ready for a bit of creativity!

Next thing I spotted was this little needlecase.

You may have seen similar on this blog before, but this one is tiny (about 10 centimetres tall).  And eminently copiable...

I think she was from Elegance Maison, though you know what it's like at these things, it's a bit of a blur! Might otherwise have been from The Washerwoman! 

Next came a little pause, sidetracked by the thought of an invigorating coffee and a slice of cake.  Okay, I admit it - it was really the cake!  Carrot Cake I chose and it was DELICIOUS!

Then onward and forward to find these two Grandmother's Garden pieces..

...from either Linda Clift or Lizzie Drake.

  

Other stalls included The Vintage Bothy with loads of tempting textile;, Lucy Bloom with all kinds of girly gorgeous-ness (a lovely peg doll I bought from her last year will soon be making a festive re-appearance!); jewellery by Mary Elliott and Random Jewellery; vintage childhood items from Yummy-Mummy; Wild Rose Vintage; bottlcap jewellery by Joanna Jacobs; and tempting tea party china and catering by both Miss Dolly and The Utterly Sexy Cafe.  A fantastic range!  I include them all, because if you are reading this you might well like to follow the links!

And last but by no means least, a festive touch was added to my bag when I bought these...

 ...which will look very good with mince pies piled on top.

And this (the likes of which I have been hankering after since last Christmas!)...

Both from Elaine of Ted and Bunny fame, organiser of this fabulous event! Congratulations!

A lovely little adventure, and one I will definitely repeat when the next fair comes around (pretty please!)

It's that time of year...

...when it's impossible to avoid signs that you-know-what is just around the corner. 

I wouldn't normally be so ahead of time in my preparations (in fact, quite the opposite, as those who never received their cards last year will testify)  but with some special Fairs coming up, I have had to be. So now I want to share!

My 'Heirloom Stockings'.

You may have seen little peeks of these in an earlier post, but now they are finished!

Four different sizes, ranging from 45cm...

...down to about 13cm!

  I'm calling this smallest size 'Bling' size as it is perfect for something small and expensive to be slipped into. When I sell at the Maltings I am right next to the lovely Elizabeth who sells antiques, but mostly jewellery, and I'm hoping that next month I will spy some romantic young fellow buying an engagement ring - I'll be suggesting how to disguise his gift!

I have developed a passion for embroidering snowflakes.

And every one of the larger sizes seems to have had the following stitched on...

...because I always hope it will!

If you want to make a similar stocking, they are very much based on those featured on Kirstie's Homemade Christmas last year - I made one for Miss U-t-B, which turned into two because I made one of those stupid mistakes and patchworked two 'fronts' rather than a front and a back! - and I found them rather addictive!  If you follow the link, it takes you to the instructions.


I used a mix of vintage fabrics from Rag Rescue and Sal's Snippets, as well as new, vintage style bits from Tikki, and a large dose of my own remnants.

Much as I love the festive red, white and green combination, I have done a couple of others.

These planned for new additions...

They are 'Bling-Size', just for the tree (or for a cheque to start baby's pension fund?)


I am selling these (£15-£45 dependent on size) - if you wish to acquire a truly individual and lasting stocking, email me!


And to finish a picture of a different kind of baby...

My friend Jane's new cockapoo puppy who came for a sleep on my lap this morning whilst we had a natter!