at
07:46
If I was following this blog, I would have given up on it a long time ago! It is nearly two months since I last posted anything - hardly what you would call a dynamic site!!! I have had a good excuse though, we moved house on 6th November 2009 and just look at the view from our bedroom..........we keep having to pinch ourselves! If you would like our new address it is:
1 Old Coastguard House
Penmon Point
Beaumaris
LL58 8RR
Everything is all over the place and I have a Craft Fair this weekend at Chatsworth House - this should be interesting!!! I have made some lovely new things and hopefully I should be putting them on the website soon, incidentally the website will be updated in the next few weeks but please bear with me for a while!
Well, I best sign off and unpack the hundredth box but I think I shall leave you with a picture of our lovely house......
Labels:
blocks,
lavender6172,
live laugh love,
shabby chic
at
20:07
I love the 'Live, Laugh, Love' philosophy and I find it creeping into many things that I make and my latest creation is no exception. I have painted 5 blocks which, when turned, spell out Live (with a little daisy on the fifth block), Laugh and Love (again with a daisy). I have painted them in different ice cream shades and distressed the letters and block edges for a 'shabby chic' feel. The photograph doesn't do the colours justice really!
Labels:
fabric,
houses,
sew sunny homestyle,
tone finnager
at
08:41
........I have come to the conclusion that I am getting to be a saddo (if I wasn't already there!) It comes to something when the arrival of a craft book sends you into raptures - the way a night out with your mates or a win on the lottery might have done! I just love the range of books by Tone Finnanger and await each one with eager anticipation, this is her latest and I must say it doesn't disappoint!
Tone makes and designs the 'Tilda' range of products and she is an inspiration, especially if you like all things country and shabby chic! I have managed to make some of her gorgeous little houses, I have even given them names and they will be available on the website very soon - you will even be able to customise them with your own unique name.
Since taking the photo I have added a flower by the door - they look so cute, I just have to make sure I don't do overkill and make hundreds - something I am apt to do when I like a new product!!!!
Labels:
christening gifts,
felt letters,
felt terrier,
handmade,
hollow hearts,
home sweet home,
shabby chic
at
20:02
Sometimes I just can't get going and the creative juices are suffering a drought! I did manage to make two felt terriers today, inspired by the Allsorts blog and a lovely pattern by Jennie B Harris. I only made mine in 2D but Jennies look great with a gusset. The picture doesn't do them justice - I have made them in my favourite colours of the moment - pink and green!
I used to make these for the craft fairs many moons ago but for some reason I stopped. If I remember rightly they were a good seller, I used to make them with buttons and small ribbons attached but this was my favourite with a small 'star' design, I sometimes attach small jewels in the centre, you can always email me at enquiries@lavenderandlime.com if you would like a price.
And last but not least, I love my new 'Home Sweet Home' signs and even better I have made them from the usually discarded inners of my 'hollow hearts' both can be seen at www.lavenderandlime.com and with all my products they can be customised to suit your every need.
Labels:
anglesey,
crafts,
local hero,
penmon point,
pennan,
puffin island
at
19:54
Every now and then you visit a place and it does something to you, Rob and I are like that with two places, Pennan off the Eastern coast of Scotland (the setting for Local Hero) and Penmon Point which is a headland off Anglesey. The latter is beautiful and when you have paid the £2.00 toll you can spend forever just looking out to sea or over to Puffin Island, the Great Orme or to the right, the Snowdonian Mountain Range - where else would you get all those views rolled into one. My dream is to live here one day and have a little craft shed, I have got it all worked out in my head and there is a house for sale so watch this space......
at
14:17
I am always intrigued when I see these fabulous work spaces in magazines and on craft sites and I marvel at how tidy they keep them, well I thought I would share mine! This is after three (?!?) hours of sorting and tidying which gives you an idea of the 'before' picture! I love the idea of a floor to ceiling storage area and a plush carpet but in theory if you are creating, this is not possible and so I shall be content with my paint splattered floor, the bits of thread that I seem to bring with me everywhere I go and the smell of lavender that pervades our home (the latter is not a chore!).
I love the calm before the storm ie just before a Craft Fair when all my baskets are full and labelled and ready to go, I store them all in our spare room and often just pop in to take a look - I really need to get out more!!! But, seriously, I believe that if you spend so much time creating then that is the reward, being able to see your things nicely displayed and (hopefully!) flying off the shelves.
Me at Dobbies, Southport with a black rooster through my head!
If you would like to order anything you see on my blog, you can always visit my website at:
www.lavenderandlime.com
Labels:
arts,
festival,
stockton heath,
wendy massey
at
16:34
What a great festival, after an initially shaky start it was the perfect venue to show off my goods and people were ready to buy too which is always a plus! Surrounded by lovely people, the very sociable Catherine and Rachel to my left and the wonderful Wendy Massey over to the right - it always makes these venues when you are with great people.
The festival was very well organised too, I believe the organisers also do an event at Christmas - put me down for that!!!
There was someone taking lots of photos so I will post them here (if I can get permission) when they are available!
Labels:
canvasses,
capesthorne,
cheshire show,
personalised,
wendy massey
at
19:18
Phew!!! What a tiring week! First the Cheshire Show and then a day off followed by three days at the Capesthorne Balloon Festival. I sold out of all my best lines at both shows! It was hard work but made a lot easier by the fact that I had my lovely friends Joan, Terry, Wendy and Margaret next to me - it made the quiet times very bearable.
Wendy makes the most wonderful personalised canvasses, my favourite is a stork carrying a baby which can be customised with baby's name, birth weight and date of birth but as she is so talented I think you could have anything you wanted. I am hoping she will put some of her lovely designs on my web site so watch this space! Wendy's website is http://www.1stUniqueGifts.co.uk/ and you can order her wonderful canvasses on line.
Labels:
craft,
cranage hall,
fair,
lavender,
lime
at
20:34
Not the best fair I have ever done, in fact it was the worst but hey! who said we were in it for the money? Just as well really! It was great to see some of the other 'crafters' though. I was pleased with my stall and the new products went down really well. I am at Haydock Park this week and I have booked a 12' table in the hope that this may help, my table
s until now have always been 8' and most of that is a return and people don't walk down the return part, I'll let you know how that goes!
Labels:
butterfly,
chicken,
craft,
cushions,
dragonfly,
fair,
kath,
kidston,
lavender,
lettering,
rose,
spectacle
at
19:10
....tomorrow is my first fair of the year and, despite the fact that I have been working flat out for weeks, I am still convinced that I haven't got enough stock - ever the optimist! I have lots of new items from felt spectacle cases, catnip cushions, Kath Kidston fragranced cushions, bags of lavender and rose and some lovely chicken 'hangies, I will take lots of photos and post them tomorrow. I am looking forward to getting some feedback from the customers (good or bad!) and seeing some of the lovely crafters that I met last year. The picture is some wooden lettering that I make with butterfly and dragonfly adornments. Well I shall get on and check my bag for the last time!Lizzy's tip: Don't spend money on expensive bags of filling from craft stores, I buy the pillows/cushions from my local £1.00 shop - they are ideal!
Labels:
coastal,
cushion,
lavender and lime,
lighthouse,
pillow,
printed
at
18:08
Well. we didn't make it to Belgium - I came down with the Dreaded Lurgy the night before and we decided not to go - we were both so disappointed , especially as it was our anniversary but we have decided to go again in a few weeks when I am better. I have spent the time thinking of new ideas and I have come up with this Lighthouse Pillow, the quote reads, "At the bottom of the lighthouse is darkness" - Rob thinks this is a pessimistic quote but I think the opposite a
pplies? I have also been busy making hair slides and brooches for my next craft fair, which is fast approaching, and updating Gilby the Terrier by adding a 'coat' and a flower - I think they look so much better? I have put some organic French lavender in them and so they should help drift you off to sleep - aaaahhhhhh!
Labels:
bruges
at
17:51
.....we are off to Bruges tomorrow for a few days as it was our twentieth anniversary on Wednesday - can't wait! Some friends have recommended Bruges and say we may even get some lovely fabric - poor Rob he doesn't know what he is letting himself in for! I am taking the Blackberry and so I can still reply to any of your comments/queries from the website http://www.lavenderandlime.com/
Labels:
distressed,
french,
handmade,
phrase,
quote,
sign,
style
at
16:14
I have been very busy this week, I have made fifteen of these for the craft fairs (with the help of my lovely husband) all ready for my first fair in March. They will be available on the website from mid-March and the colour, phrase and style can all be dictated by you, keep a look out on our website for them www.lavenderandlime.com.
I have yet to price them but I think they will retail at about £8.50 each.
Labels:
cushion,
handmade,
phrase,
quote
at
16:01
These are my latest project, a little cushion with a quote/phrase on, I just love them and they can be made in any colour/fabric or with any quote you desire, they can even come with lavender. I have tried to show you a selection and they will be available on the web mid to end of March and at the craft fairs from early March.
Labels:
chic,
french,
key,
shabby,
vintage,
wooden
at
15:09
These are very popular at the fairs, they are a 'shabby chic' key holder and have 'vintage' French advertisements on them. I rub them back for that 'aged' look, I love making them as they look authentic.I am working on some 'quote' cushions at the moment (so new I am not sure what to call them yet), I have found this fabulous fabric that you can print on to and then sew with, it is a little thin (like muslin) but I find attaching iron on interfacing helps, I will post a picture when I have done some. I am also working on some signs - ideally 'shabby chic' style with popular phrases on, I am working on one for the Craft Fair for Mother's Day, again I will post a picture when I have done them.
Labels:
brooches,
felt,
hearts
at
13:51
These are my latest creation, they are so new they are not even on the website yet, they are miniature felt hearts with beading details and contrasting stitching, they are a joy to make but I have had to stop myself...I think thirty is enough! Oh well, at least I am stocked up for the craft fairs, the first of which is in March but I am at that lovely stage where I spend most of my time dreaming up new products. I also love the
wooden primitive hearts that I have made. I have suspended them from a wire and I am not sure whether to put anything on these yet - what do you think, maybe a small bow on the wire or some beads? Also, I am trying to keep the colours quite 'calm' (except for the vivid pink!!) are there any colours you think I should be including? I know I need to concentrate more on little boys colours, the tendency is to go more towards the lovely pink
s and lilacs. Incidentally the lovely rack was bought at a craft fair, I just loved it and had to have it! Anyway, best sign off - I want to package up my new catnip cushions before tea.....I know how to live eh?
Labels:
name,
personalised,
plaque,
wooden
at
18:35
I love anything personalised and these handmade wooden plaques are just great. I make them from MDF and then paint them in any colour (Mademoiselle Pink and Moonlight blue shown) and slightly distress them. The letters are painted in an off white and are also given the 'shabby chic' treatment, I then add a butterfly (girls) or a star (boys). This picture doesn't show it but I now add mirror plates for fixing.
Labels:
beaded,
heart,
wire
at
16:09
This is one of my 'Beaded Hearts' that I sell, I make them in any color that you wish, you can buy them at my website by clicking on the picture link, it will take you directly there. I would love to know what you think?
Labels:
lavender and lime,
new,
start
at
15:01
...well I have finally done it - created my blog! Why? Well, I have got so much information over the years from the internet, I thought it was pay back time plus I am a craft fanatic and run my own small website http://www.lavenderandlime.com/ and I wanted to share my products and hopefully get some (good?) feedback on what I am doing and who knows, maybe I will get to chat to some like-minded people. I hope you like what I do and I would love your comments.
