Good old apple tree

I decided to take some pictures of my now leaf-less but still abundant wee apple tree, before the lucky birds have their way and the apples disappear completely. I also wanted to show just how productive this tired




















moss-ridden




















and neglected old tree has been this year (as in previous years amazingly!).





















































I think four of these are the same apples pictured in my previous and earlier blog - though a bit more ripe - still hanging around!
























































This photograph was an accident - but I like it!

Lazy blogger!

Hello! It's been a while! After lots of work and a hectic month of August I put behind me my experiences of large craft events and all the preparations leading up to them and allowed myself to slow down a bit - to have some free time to do - nothing very much really! Great! But where on earth did the month of August go? What happened to Summer? Suddenly we are nearing the end of October and three months have passed!!

We had fantastic weather in June and life couldn't have been better. The garden was looking good, the flowers were in full bloom, the fruit bushes and the apple tree were doing their thing and all was well. Then I got busy preparing for the upcoming events. Mid-July arrived, followed by August and all I can remember is dreich, drab and dreary weather on almost a daily basis. The lovely flowers in the garden that had been so healthy and vibrant became sopping wet, bedraggled and good for nothing! The blackcurrants and raspberries were left for the birds. The apples grew in abundance and presumably were very juicy as they hung very low on the tree ready to drop - and still it rained. So there was no incentive to get into the garden for the autumn clear up. Most of the apples are still hanging on the now leafless tree - I had no time to pick and make with them - so they are now an autumn feast for the birds!

After much hard work, many late nights and early rises and virtually no social life over weeks and months I attended two of the biggest craft events for me so far. First, the Ayr Flower Show and just a week later Edinburgh's West End Art, Craft and Design Fair. Although really tiring both were very rewarding experiences for me. I had finally put myself out there, to my biggest audience thus far, over three days, then seven days, and I coped - yeh! Lots of people bought lots of things and I was really heartened by the comments and kind words of encouragement that came my way. Many people asked if I would be attending the Country Living Christmas Fair in Glasgow this year and where I would previously have shrieked at the very idea, the comments gave me food for thought. Certainly not this year, probably not even next year, but if I work really hard perhaps it is not beyond the realms of possibility that maybe one day.... Who knows? But let's not get too carried away! I was on a high after the events and not really thinking straight!

West End Craft Fair, Edinburgh

Before this event, I was very nervous about attending Edinburgh's West End Craft & Design Fair. However, having had the experience of the Ayr Flower Show the weekend before, put me at my ease, as I had coped well there and people seemed to like my wares. In addition, and fortunately for me Suzanne had been at the WECF during the first week of the Fair and her advice was invaluable in preparing me for what was to come - thanks Suzanne! I set up on Sunday evening and was definitely excited about the coming week. The location couldn't have been better. There was I in the centre of Edinburgh! On Princes Street in Edinburgh! With Edinburgh Castle as our backdrop! I was thrilled! I travelled each day from Glasgow and although tiring it didn't trouble me one bit.





















Edinburgh is a terrific city - and there was I selling my wares in the heart of it! It felt pretty unbelievable really. On leaving Waverly train station, as you rise to street level you are greeted by a vibrant, beautiful and interesting city. The architecture, the Castle, the gardens, the monuments......... and in August, the Festival! Virtually every day it rained at some point, if not most of the day, but each day I would walk with pleasure through Princes Street Gardens to and from the train station, taking photographs; enjoying the flowers, particularly the thistles; the people; the busy-ness; the street theatre; pretty much everything really! So much going on but not a great deal of time to experience it. I was located in the Marquee, on The Terrace, which was the area where you could set up your wares and leave them each night as the place was under lock and key and was made secure. The only way I could have done it really given my daily commute. Each day it was like arriving at my own little shop. We didn't open the doors until 11.00 am so it was an easy start to the day. It is difficult to know how many visitors came - on a couple of days there weren't that many, but I decided to reserve my judgement until the end of the week rather than on a day by day basis which, as it turned out, was the best way to look at it. Some days were pretty quite but on the Saturday it was extremely busy and more than made up for the quite times. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I felt that my products were well received and any inferiority complex I had given myself prior to the event by the end of my week was washed away.




























































The West End Craft Fair is great event and the people of Edinburgh are so lucky to have it on their doorstep on an annual basis. The standard of craft and design is very high and the setting is hard to beat. There must have been around 70 stallholders so lots of interest for everyone.

















Before heading for home, finally, and after years of promising myself to do so, I climbed all 287 of the stairs to the top of the Sir Walter Scott monument on Princes Street and took in some of the sights over Edinburgh. I will post some pics next time.

Heading for a fall - an Omen?

As indicated in my previous post I suggested that my ambitions and capabilities are pretty much at odds with each other right now and I am having very serious doubts about my preparation, or lack thereof, for my next two craft events. A two-day event at Ayr Flower Show and a seven-day event at the West End Craft Fair in Edinburgh - (what on earth was I thinking when I booked these events?!) I also mentioned the Scarecrow Festival in West Kilbride, which I attended last weekend, and how I thought that might have been a mistake. Well, I went and it was - a mistake - but not in a bad way; simply that I should have been here at home working on the upcoming bigger events rather than there having a nice time.

The Scarecrow Festival is a community event held in West Kilbride every year and for the first time this year they added a craft fair to it to provide additional interest. The craft fair was held in the village hall, which had a really nice vibe about it, I felt instantly comfortable there and looked forward to my day. West Kilbride is lovely, the village hall is lovely, my fellow crafters were lovely, the weather was lovely. Suzanne came and we chatted at length and that was lovely, plus I liked being at the beginning of something that will hopefully gather pace and become a regular fixture. Despite all the loveliness, there were simply too few people there to look or to buy and so attendance was not as I might have hoped! However, the reasons I went still remain - and the fact that I enjoyed my day made it worthwhile - it just came at a bad time for me and that is the only reason for any negativity.


The Scarecrow Festival was the reason why people were there. It seems that not many people knew the craft fair was taking place at the same time and so publicity was clearly one issue. Had they known that the craft fair was on, more might have come, but who knows? Anyway, it should have been a two-day affair but as few came on the Saturday, and I couldn't imagine that Sunday would be any better, I made the decision that my time would be better spent making and not having a nice time chatting to fellow crafters. So with regret I cancelled Sunday and spent my time working my little fingers to the bone with the extra day I had.

But as each hour passed I realised how much I still have to do! (I am such an amateur - what on earth was I thinking?! )

Added to that, this morning, as I was rushing to catch the 8.30am train to my paid job, I ran to hopefully(!) just make the train. I was sure I would make it as I saw it pull into the station, saw the passengers get on just in front of me, knew the driver had seen me as I was within two paces of getting on the train. I was almost there and was preparing my thank you acknowledgement to the driver for allowing me to make it, when he began to close the doors - (I was two running paces from the doors!). Those two paces were all I had left before I missed my step and went careering, flat out, on my face, hands in front of me, spreadeagled like you wouldn't believe, at rush hour on the platform!! The train ticket collector sprang into action, leapt off the train, helped me up and asked if I needed first aid. Of course I did but refused because I had already caused enough fuss by splaying myself all over the platform, causing a slight delay to the train - which I made! - but only got on because I was so embarrassed and needed a seat and needed to crawl away - almost literally! After apologising to my fellow passengers for my grand entrance, and grateful to the woman next to me who offered up paper tissues for my wounds, I thought "Where am I going on this train - to work? I think not!" As the blood trickled down my left leg from my knee, together with the blood oozing from my two skinned hands I realised I was in no fit state for work - so I dabbed at my injuries until the next train stop, got off the train, changed platforms, and got the next train back home - to lick my wounds!

So here I am at home with a grazed and very swollen knee and two skinned palms - (and I am supposed to be preparing for the two biggest craft events of my crafting life so far! Could this be an Omen?)

(Note: Despite my injured palms I can type because I was taught to type by keeping my palms raised from the keyboard - a ruler would sharply smack the back of my hands if they were lowered! Ah, so that was the reason.....!)

Ambitions v capabilities.....!

I have been attending craft fairs for a number of years, to varying degrees of success. At the end of last year I made the decision to drop some craft fairs and to be more selective in 2009 about which ones I attend. In the coming 4 weeks I will be attending two of the largest craft fairs I have ever attempted - the Ayr Flower Show, which is over 3 days in August and the Edinburgh Festival's West End Arts and Craft Fair, 10 days later, lasting 7 days! Plus, I am going to sneak in the Scarecrow Festival in West Kilbride this coming weekend (which could be a big mistake!). I had booked the Ayr Flower Show some time ago, which I'm quite relaxed about but I only enquired about the WE Fair about 4 weeks ago as a last minute thought- and to my surprise and delight I was accepted!

Eeek! I'm beginning to have a wobble that perhaps I am being seriously over-ambitious. (Perhaps?!!)

All too often do I get my ambitions and capabilities confused! However, venue payments have been made and cheques banked so I just have to run with my decisions and give it my best!

For the last 3 days I have been working my little fingers to the bone. Apart from the occasional wander into the garden I have barely moved from my house. Last week I picked up this pine shelving unit from a charity shop in town for £10:

and spent Thursday sanding and painting it. I meant to take a 'before' pic of the unit but you can see by the drawer what the original colour was.

I removed the black metal drawer handle it had and replaced it with this lovely little ceramic handle - one of around 6 that I removed from a chest of drawers that was going to the dump.

"Et Voila"! Looks great doesn't it?

I hope to be able to use the unit for displaying some of my crafty bits. Now I have to decide what I am going to make to display on it and how many of each!

How long do I have?("Ambitions v capabilities!")

Happiness is...... Inver Cottage - with friends!

Happiness is.......... the preparation for, and anticipation of, our first Handmade Craft Fair at Inver Cottage, Strathlachlan - and not being disappointed!
















After much talk and lots of preparation, yesterday, together with Caireen, Lynne and Suzanne, I attended our first Handmade Craft Fair at Inver Cottage nestled in Strathlachlan on the edge of Loch Fyne, in The Trossachs.




















After working into the wee sma' oors of Saturday morning, I set off for Inver Cottage at 7.15 am. The sun was high in the clear blue sky and I couldn't help but feel that a good day lay ahead for us.

The one and a half hour's drive was easy. At that time of the morning the roads were empty so no traffic problems. The Scottish Open Golf Championship was taking place at Loch Lomond Golf Course, this weekend, which would see huge traffic queues later, but we were ahead of them thankfully.

















After a brief stop in Strachur to stretch the legs and take some pics,

it wasn't too long before we arrived at Inver Cottage.

I was there earlier than anticipated and, before it had opened up for the day, so just enjoyed the views.

Soon the others arrived and after some discussion we set about laying out our tables.

We were located in a room, which could have been tailor-made just for us - with an exposed stone wall and wooden floor, it was just beautiful.

FiELDy

thepatchworkdress

Caireen's

















"Clutterbuckets". I like to say "Clutterbucket" - it's funny!

My Baboo

On their way there Caireen and Lynne stopped at various vantage points and put up Caireen's professionally made poster, extending an invitation to anyone who might be interested - and quite a few people took up the invitation!

Our pretend shop!

I have never been located in such a space - it added so much to our lovely crafts.

The day progressed at an easy, steady pace. Most people arrived late am until mid pm and were prepared to spend some money. At various times we were able to walk outside, take some pics and grab some sunshine. We had a lovely lunch and by around 4.00 pm traffic had tailed-off at which point we four sat outside basking in the sun, reflecting on our experiences thus far, drinking tea and coffee and scoffing hot scones with strawberry jam and clotted cream, on the shore of Loch Fyne - what could be better?

All too soon it was time to pack up, say our goodbyes, and make the journey back home - and to prepare for whatever comes next.

A lovely, leisurely drive back over the Rest and be Thankful and soon we were home.




















Definitely in need of some rest -











and ever so thankful!

Thanks Caireen, Lynne and Suzanne.xx

Huge thanks to Jasmine and Joe and all at Inver Cottage!

Handmade Craft Fair, Inver Cottage

Thanks to the efforts of Caireen we now have our own poster for the
Inver Cottage Craft Fair to be held next weekend. I think it looks great.





















I am so looking forward to this particular craft fair because when I used to attend The Ladies Circle annual craft fairs in Dunoon, I would spend the weekend in Strathlachlan, and before leaving for home visit Inver Cottage. Isn't it beautiful? I want to move in - today!



The location is terrific,



the food, delicious



and the gift shop is just lovely. When treating myself in the gift shop then, little did I know that in a couple of years time I would be selling my wares there. Life's twists and turns.....!

I hope we have a successful day but what a nice way to spend a Saturday. If you happen to be nearby please drop in - we'd love to see you!

Crafting weekend ahead

Together with Suzanne, Caireen and Lynne, I am taking part in a small craft fair at Inver Cottage, Strathlachlan, on 11 July. To help Caireen prepare some promotional material for the craft fair she asked for some images of our work. 'Staging' my crafty bits isn't something I am very good at but here are some of the pics I took of some of my cards and gifts.



When I was sifting through my boxes of products it was clear to me that I have a lot of work to do for the various craft events I plan to attend over the summer. This weekend I plan to get busy and so have a self-imposed blogging ban on me for the entire weekend! No blogging - either reading or writing - until I get my stock piled high!

I need to work... I must work... I will work!! No distractions please!