WOYWW 910

 OOH AH JUST A LITTLE BIT,

OOH AH, A LITTLE BIT MORE...

Hello lovely Deskers, hope you're keeping well and happy. It was good that Sarah's sons organised the livestream of her funeral so folk could attend if they wished and that the service reflected her passions. Thank you Jo for attending in person and representing us all, that was a kind thing to do xx

Goodness the weeks are rushing past and I'm busy replacing the stock that sold so well at the last fair. I'm trying something new:

Hence why my desk is full of stuff!

It's a little angel pattern, I'm just using some stash felt whilst waiting for some new supplies to come, that yellow is way too bright for her hair! There's lots to be added, I've only just started tbh.

The mice I've knitted this week are waiting to have shirring elastic threaded around the bottom of their dresses (cos we don't want the choc oranges to drop out lol!)

That wouldn't be very ladylike would it?!

The Ferrero Rocher Santas are just getting their final details of buckles and eyes. I've enjoyed knitting these, I adapted another pattern and it's worked quite well.

Pound Fabrics were having a bit of a sale so I got some more stash, some for next year's crafting....

...or to start when Christmas making is over!

And some festive fabric to make extra gnomes and possibly some angels too:

The tartan is really lovely and was only £3.99 a metre (down from £8.99)  It'll come in handy for next year if it doesn't get used now!

Short and sweet today, I'm sorry my desk has shown the same old things for weeks now but that's just the way it goes in the mad rush up to Christmas. I've got two weeks of nothing then four fairs between the 21st and 29th November, fortunately I've got lots of help from the RNLI elves who are still crafting away and will help run the stalls...I'm very grateful to them!!

Have a good week, lots of love to you all xxxxxxxxx

WOYWW 909

 IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE......

Hello lovely Deskers, hope I find you well and happy this week! Sorry about the song title above but it's ok to mention the C word now Halloween has been and gone *grin*

I've been trying some new things this week:

Hence all the detritus on my desk.  Annie was kind enough to send me her pattern for the little teddy so I had a go. I enjoyed making it but need some practise to get it right.

He's quite sweet, I'll definitely make some more.

I found this fun little gnome pattern in a magazine on my Readly Subscription, he sold well at my stall on Monday.

And I had a go at crocheting little hearts in the sparkly red chunky yarn from my stash - the tutorial is by Hooked on Robin on Youtube and was easy to do. 

I'm meeting up with a friend on Friday who has just become a Grandmother for the first time!

So I made some bunting for little Harriet, a fun project to do.

It's been a full week, I ran a stall at a local Friendship Club on Monday afternoon and made £300! Quite wonderful, the ladies were so generous...the £17k target is getting closer xx

Short and sweet this week, hope you're all enjoying your crafting, whatever it may be. I'm playing with the local brass band at the Remembrance Day Memorial Service on Sunday, so that will be a good thing to do. And of course Sarah's funeral will be next Monday, I'm hoping to hear about it being streamed in order to pay my respects.

Take care everyone xx

WOYWW 908

 CHOO CHOO, CHOO CHOO CH’BOOGIE

Hi there lovely Deskers, here we are for our weekly hop around the craft rooms of the world, I hope you're all keeping well and happy. If anyone new is reading then the link up is over at Julia's blog, Stamping Ground, join in, it's great fun and wonderful friendships have been made!

Did you all survive the crazy storms at the weekend? It wasn't a day for venturing out on Saturday, that's for sure...but that's exactly what I did lol!

It wasn't my usual craft fair event! Gents of a certain age buying and selling train equipment and collectables...I thought hmmm, not going to sell much here. But I'd been invited and the stall cost nothing so it was worth a go.

It was fun to see another form of hobby!

I blagged a corner space, having an extra table made all the difference and made it easier to get more stock out on show. But the very best thing?

A surprise visit from Annie, Doddy and Peggy!! I knew they were on a break near Tenby but it was lovely to see them turn up at the fair! The weather was shonky so they decided to have a run over to Kidwelly and I'm so glad they did, we had a great chat.  And in the end, I made £122 which was very pleasing given I thought we'd not sell much.  We got absolutely soaked packing up after the event though and had to get changed when we got home!!

Christmas making is still continuing in the JanCave:

The little mouse's tail is supposed to be trailing behind but it gets in the way so I sewed it up the back, neater in my opinion.

The Christmas crafting has also been going on in my SiL Jill's sewing room!

She's been busy making some decorations too, it's so kind of her and brilliant to have more variety of items for sale.

Jill works on the floor just like you Helen, kindred spirits!! I know those little cottages are going to sell well...

as will these lovely little felt ornaments too. Thanks again Jill, you're a star - I'm very fortunate to have so many lovely folk helping make stuff, it really helps xx

Truly, life is never boring...!!

Have a great week xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

WOYWW 907

 I JUST CAN'T GET ENOUGH...

After a sad couple of weeks, things have settled down a bit. I sent a card to Sarah's sons and family, they've mentioned that if people want to then they're collecting donations to the British Heart Foundation in lieu of flowers - there are no details about the funeral yet either.  

I have had an odd week, alternating between really busy and feeling really meh after a shingles jab last Thursday, it affected me a lot but better than getting the real thing. Consequently I did quite a lot of knitting whilst sitting on the sofa not feeling like doing much else!

This has been my view for a few days!  I did have a fair last Saturday so went to set it up then four of the RNLI craft group gals stood in to run it - I was very grateful to them as it meant I could go home and rest again.

There was a nice mix of autumn and some Christmas stuff and we did ok. I look an awful lot better than I felt in this photo lol!

The knitted hedgehogs with the Terry's Choc Oranges in have continued to be a top seller so a few of us are knitting replacements like crazy.

They're breeding fast....Lol!

So are the Ferrero Rocher characters....

And this lot want all the attention too! Ah well, it's keeping me busy, no chance of being bored......

I have a stall at a Toy and Train fair this Saturday, I was invited to go along by an RNLI buddy so thought I'd give it a go. I have no idea how it'll pan out, either brilliant or I won't sell anything at all, it's worth a try though eh?!

Hope you're all keeping well and happy and that you're enjoying your crafting. Long Live WOYWW, the original and best desky link up, only at Julia's Stamping Ground!!

WOYWW 906

 I'LL BE MISSING YOU...

Last week was tough but it was heartwarming to read how Sarah had affected all our lives and how very much she'll be missed, she really won't be forgotten. I know her family were very touched by all the memories and condolences, there is a British Heart Foundation collection for Sarah in lieu of family flowers.

She wouldn't have wanted WOYWW  to grind to a halt though and so it's back to a more normal show and tell this week. 

I had a very successful fair on the 3rd October and sold lots of the chocolate orange hedgehogs so there's been a run on making replacements. Also Ferrero Rocher versions too:

Every spare moment is taken up knitting something! These are Ferrero Santas, well the first stage anyway.

This is how he'll end up - the cat and dog need something on their collar to gussy them up a bit.

I have 60 chocolate oranges on my guest room bed!! They were 95p in Tesco, half price, so my RNLI crafting buddies were buying lots - it makes a big difference to the margins and profit. My friend Sue has been busy too:

Aren't they fun? The wreath is made from pipe cleaners and the angel is from macrame cord! I'm sure they'll be best sellers.

I've got to replace a lot of folding shopping bags that also sold well so I've dragged some fabrics out and am seeing what goes with what. That's this week's job!

And a small bit of loveliness happened, I saw on The Gift of Warmth Facebook page that someone was offering a pack of buttons free and I got them!

Aren't they pretty? They'll be so useful, the lady didn't even want any money for the postage, a lovely bit of positivity.

Hope you're all keeping well and happy, after last week it's even more important to make the most of every day and don't sweat the small stuff. Love to you all xxxxx

WOYWW 905

 FAREWELL...

Well, this isn't the post I was expecting to write today. The shock of hearing that Sarah, our WOYWW host for the past couple of years, had passed away stopped me in my tracks. She was still a young woman with her deserved retirement stretching out in front of her. So when Eva, her best mate (pictured below) contacted us with the news I genuinely didn't know what to say or do.

This pic was taken at the Llandudno Crop run by Margaret Glitter and Glue, the first time we'd met Sarah in real life. As at all the Crops, the joy and knowledge of our back stories meant that conversation and fun started from the get go. I feel for Eva so badly, she is going to be bereft as are Sarah's family.

Such a gorgeous group of crafting friends xx

We met again at the Shrewsbury Crop organised by Wipso and Twiglet:

And once again she was a big part of the day.

When Julia felt she needed a break, Sarah stepped up to host WOYWW and has done so for a couple of years for which we are so grateful, I know I would have missed WOYWW  so very much had it stopped. It seemed important to post today even though I don't really know what to say but we can all share our different memories.

Sarah, you'll never be forgotten.....thank you and Rest in Peace.

WOYWW 904

 SWEETS FOR MY SWEET...

Hi there all you lovely Deskers, hope you've had a good week! This one has shot by, it's been all go - I've had more time in the JanCave and am crafting like mad as I've signed up for nine events between October to December - fortunately my RNLI buddies are helping run the stalls, I'm very grateful!

I've made up a few trios from this very pretty floral fabric with lavender and pink contrasts, they just need some ribbon to tie them all together.

Most of my yarn crafting has been Christmas related, this is what my guest room looks at the moment:

And there is much more to come courtesy of my friends!

My friend Kim (aka Chief Titivator *grin*) has been doing sterling work putting the holly leaves and berries on the Christmas puds.  I've not started stuffing the 24 chocolate oranges into anything yet, it's only a matter of time lol!!

I was opening up the dining room curtains on Sunday morning and saw a brown bedraggled bird sitting on our fence:

A juvenile female sparrowhawk! She was there for about ten minutes obviously just resting, her feathery petticoats were being blown around by the gusty wind. I had a really good look at her through the binoculars, the pic is a bit fuzzy as it was taken on my phone. She flew off after a magpie came down to hassle her but it was a really magical start to the day!

Short and sweet this week unlike last Wednesday - hope you have a good week ahead, enjoy your crafting xxxxx