Thursday 30 April 2015

New Items and a Giddy Moment...

Hi all,

For today's post I would like to show you a few new items (there's never a dull moment here), first up is a small batch of Freehand Machine Embroidery Cards that I took to the fair last weekend:


Whenever I put these out at the fairs they go almost straight away (which of course is good!) but I can pretty much guarantee I will not go home with many... Those of you who are eagle-eyed will notice there are some similarities to ones I have made before, but you may also notice there are some slight changes in style and colours materials/used, due to natural evolution of skills and experience in making items...

The next thing to show you are these:


These are really cute little Linen Coin Purses! They have two different sides to each purse, a cute little zip and a cream lining and a snazzy little string pull. Even though they are really small, they pack a punch in the content they hold! These will be going out at my next fair.

And my third items today:


My Freehand Machine Embroidery Denim and Firm Linen Purses. These are slightly different to the ones I made last time in that they have a different front to their back, so it makes them even more interesting. I love the little birds design and the materials are so hard wearing, adding to durability. They look cute too and you can get LOADS in them. I made one a while ago for myself and boy, does it take some abuse! I am not a pretty handbag type of girl - in that the exterior will be lovely, but inside? Jeez. My Mum often comments on the amount of unnecessary stuff items I carry in my bag and asks how it all fits, so my purse does get bashed around a bit, but it still looks like new :)

And finally for today, I tweeted about my Freehand Machine Embroidery Bakewell Pudding Shop framed piece of art recently and the Bakewell Pudding Shop themselves picked it up; here's a screen shot:


Teehee! I was made up! I am so proud...

And on that note, I'll sign off, until the next time :D

Julie.
(C) FMN Crafts 2015

Friday 24 April 2015

Final Post This Week: Bakewell and New Items

Evening all,

For the last post of this week I would like to show you a couple of things, but before that details of my fair as mentioned in the earlier post.

I am at the Bakewell Town Hall tomorrow and Sunday from 10am to 4.30pm for a Craft and Gift Fair, organised by Dawn of Craftwise Art and Craft Markets.

The Craftwise Art & Craft Markets have been held regularly in Bakewell Town Hall since 2002, they are held in the downstairs room and admission is free.

There are a range of quality gifts available including handmade cards, knitted baby clothes, wrapped gifts, fabric crafts, a variety of different styles of jewellery, art work, photography and others - it sure is a great fair to visit and I for one am looking forward to it.


OK, so just a couple of things to show you that i have managed to make before tomorrow, firstly these:

 
You will recognise the new style rabbit from the previous post but I have also tweaked some of the others, either in design or materials used. These are part of my selection of Freehand Machine Embroidery Cards which I think are little pieces of art in themselves.





Plus, they can be framed after standing on the shelf or fireplace and hung on a wall :)

And finally for the week, this:


This is a Freehand Machine Embroidery Bunting Door Stop. It is made using sturdy denim and hard wearing linen, it has a webbing strap handle and is decorated in cute little bunting pieces. It is filled with sand, stones and padding and holds open a door just as it should. I like this. :D 

Click to enlarge

As you would expect, this will be going with me the the fair tomorrow.

If you feel like a day out, please go to Bakewell in the lovely Peak District, it is a fabulous little town that has all you need - including our craft fair! You will not be disappointed. 

Thank you for reading, please leave a comment if you wish.

Julie.
(C) FMN Crafts 2015

Wednesday 22 April 2015

More New items :)

Evening all,

So over the last two days I have been busy making some new things, two repeat items with a little difference and a new item, so without further ado:


As part of my freehand machine embroidery cards range (I have made a rabbit before, which was cute, but this one I think is even cuter!) this is my new style rabbit. Rabbit #2 if you like. He has different fur and a pink inner ear and a cheeky little smile too ;)


Just look at his face! Arr. These kinds of cards sell really quickly at the fairs, below are a couple of pictures of the first batches I made and you can just see the Rabbit #1 at the base of the second picture:


It's a really great feeling when someone picks up a card (or anything I have made) and admires it, then gives lovely comments on it and then buys it - to give to someone else as a gift/greeting that hopefully they will appreciate too. I know that I have made that item and I have made someone have that reaction to it and taken action upon that reaction, and then, that item that I have made, is going into somebody's house! It's just fab. :)

Next up:




I recently made just one of these iPad Air cases and it sold at the first fair I took it to, so today I managed to make two of them, similar to the last but again slightly different, to add variety. These have been made using sturdy denim, with cotton linings and cotton freehand machine embroidery birds to decorate. They both close with an elastic loop over a button and they are padded too, to protect the iPad. If I had an iPad, I would have one of these...

And finally for today, I made two sets of these:

Click the picture to enlarge

These are children's bedrooms or children's play rooms bunting! I love this printed cotton material and it came in a flash to me today to make these, just something a little bit different. The colours are so cute and would look good in any room - it doesn't have to be for children!

I made them to be 8 feet long, they have 12 flags per set which are approximately 8 inches tall and there is an 18" piece of overhang at each end so it can be pinned or tied easily as necessary. The pattern is also on both sides so it doesn't matter which way you hang them and they don't have to be up against a wall, unless you want them to be. What do you think?

That's it for now, these items will be taken to the fair on Saturday - more details later.

Thanks for reading, please leave a comment if you wish.

Julie.
(C) FMN Crafts 2015

Sunday 19 April 2015

The Goboka Rwanda Trust Cafe and Craft Fair

Hi everyone,

Just a small blog to advertise the event we will be attending tomorrow, The Goboka Rwanda Trust Charity Cafe and Craft Fair at the Bakewell Town Hall tomorrow, 20th April 2015.

Please see their Facebook page for details, they are a group of wonderful people helping make the lives of people in Africa that little bit easier. The Goboka Rwanda Trust is a small UK registered charity that supports and delivers projects to help the Rwandan people, their families and communities.


The fair is a monthly one held in the town hall and has a fabulous little cafe with some craft, gift and artist stalls selling lots of lovely things you wouldn't usually see on the high street, all designed and made by the stall holders. It has a lovely atmosphere and is a relaxing environment - the charity and the stall holders appreciate all the support they recieve.



My husband also runs his Royal National Lifeboat Institution stall, where he sells quality bric-a-brac items donated by very kind members of the public, who no longer have a need for their items and who would love to help support the charity. His stall is becoming well known for the quality of items, including such things as crystal decanters and glasses, named crockery and glass wears including Crown Derby, Moorcroft and Beswick etc, as well as antique jewellery, fountain pens and silver wear all at rediculously low prices. Buyers gain beautiful items whilst giving to the RNLI at the same time. It's a win-win situation. If you have any items you would like to donate for him to sell, please contact me or come along tomorrow and speak to David, or bring your items! Here is a look at part of his stall:



Each fair will be different with new items each time as the items sell quickly - piece of advise here: If you see it and you like it, BUY IT! It will probably not be there 30 minutes later. Bring cash. Lots. ;)

Anyway, enough plugging, hope see you tomorrow, doors open at 10am, The Bakewell Town Hall, Derbyshire, DE45 1BT. Plus, Monday is market day in town and always has a fabulous atmosphere.

Julie.

Friday 17 April 2015

New Item: Patchwork Vintage and Upholstery Materials Sling Bag.

Afternoon all,

For the last two days I have been working on this:



This is my (Hobo Style?) Patchwork Vintage and Upholstery Materials Sling Bag.

I made it using some of the most fabulous materials gathered from all over the place, for example upholstery factories, vintage and retro shops and markets etc and they are pieces that I have kept with the thought of 'to work on later'. You know what I mean...

This bag is an absolute favourite of mine and I am very tempted to keep it! The materials are soft yet sturdy so that they will last, it is lined in cream cotton curtain lining material, it has two internal pockets in upholstery material, is has a long 52" strap designed so the bag can be worn across the body, it has curved corners and it has a magnetic snap to close that is concealed with a coconut shell button. What's not to love? The doilies are vintage are are so beautiful, it was quite painful having to cut them in half! Plus, they have been hand sewn on, just like the little buttons too.





I will be taking this to my next fair which is at the Bakewell Town Hall, this Monday 20th April 2015, this event is run by the Rwanda Charity - details of which can be found in an earlier post, just scroll down.

Let me know what you think to this bag though please, it'd be great to get some feedback!

Julie.
(C) FMN Crafts 2015

Wednesday 15 April 2015

Next New Item...

Evening all,

For today's blog, again another little one, I'd like to show you these:


These are Linen Needle Cases, in two different designs made from the same batch of materials that I bought on Monday.

The stash of four made so far

The interior containing four leaves for needles and pins

Two cuts of the materials made so far

Beautiful French print in a sewing theme

Just over 3.5 inches wide

Just under 5.5 inches tall

My FMN Crafts tag, as always, sewn with pride :)

The material is so lovely to work with and I love the print - very appropriate to the item. I teamed it with cream cotton, and the felt pieces inside for the needles and pins compliment the exterior in cream and black colours. They are finished with cream ribbon to close.

What do you think? They would look great with any sewing kit and would make great gifts too.

An example of use

These will be coming with me to my next fair and I will be making more soon.

Thanks for taking a look, please leave a comment if you wish :)

Julie.
(C) FMN Crafts 2015

Tuesday 14 April 2015

Fab New Items

Evening all,

Just one little post today, to show you these:


This is my first batch of three Mixed Linen Patchwork Cosmetic Cases.

David and I went to Bakewell yesterday on a day trip (can't seem to get enough of the place!) and on the market, we came across a stall run by a lovely lady named Sue, who runs a business called Wonkey Donkey Bazaar. She has a fabulous collection of all things crafty including the gorgeous new linens you see above (the cream based ones). As soon as I saw them, I knew I had to have a load of them! 


These cases measure a generous 7.5 inches wide by 5.5 inches tall and are roomy enough for all types of cosmetics and toiletries. They have pretty embellishments, fabulous red zips and are lined in complimentary cream cotton. They also have fancy stitching and just look at the buttons! Even though I made these myself, I must say, I love them!









 

What do you think? We are in Bakewell again next Monday exhibiting in the Town Hall so I will be taking these with me - details of that and more later.

Thanks for reading, please leave a comment below if you wish, or Like me on Facebook.

Julie.

(C) FMN Crafts 2015

Wednesday 8 April 2015

Post Fair News and New Makes

Hi all,

It's been a busy time of late what with preparations for the four days Craft, Gift and Food Fair at Bakewell, then the fair itself and then the full on action with designing and making afterwards...

However, I would MUCH rather be busy than sitting around, and so onto the fruits of my labour.

The weekend was a fun one, there were lots and lots of people through the doors and there was a constant buzz in the atmosphere. Many people were on holiday and then there were the day trippers; on Monday it was really busy throughout Bakewell as it's market day too. I had quite a few sales, a couple of orders and some lovely comments on my items so it was a happy four days and I am looking forward to the next event. 

And so on to that, here is the first thing to show you:


These are some really cute little Red and White Coin Purses, capable of holding change, notes and around 6 cards, just perfect for dropping in your bag, leaving as emergency in the car, giving as gifts or even for children to use.

As you can see they are made using beautiful red and white cotton materials in flowers, checks and paisley designs, they are all adorned with pretty red bows, have white cotton interiors and have white zips to close. They are sure to make you smile and although only around 4.25 inches wide, they are big enough to pack a punch!

Check Purse Front

Flowers Purse Back

Paisley Purse Ready for Action

Next to show you, some more of my favourites:


These Freehand Machine Embroidery Birds Purses are one of my best sellers right now! I almost sold out at the weekend and so have made these three so far to start re-stocking. Customers said they liked the colours and the technique and agreed that the bright interior will make them feel happy when diving into the purse. One lady bought two as gifts for her daughters as 'from my holiday' gifts, which I felt really honoured about.

As I mentioned in a previous post, these are really roomy and as I have one (yes, I couldn't resist it) I am able to hold loads of card, notes and coins as well as lip balm, shop vouchers and even a couple of tissues! Just ask my Mum, she knows how much rubbish I carry around with me... So, they are strong, durable and pretty at the same time. :)

And finally for today, I want to show you this:


A VW Beetle made using Freehand Machine Embroidery. If you are an avid follower of my Blog, you will know that I made one of these last week in green colours, and when I put pictures on my Facebook page, my step-daughter said she wanted one straight away! She used to have a real one in baby blue, it was gorgeous and so I can only guess that's why she wanted a blue VW cushion and here it is... It's 12" square and will fit perfectly in several areas of her home. I hope she likes it, she hasn't seen it yet!

That's all for today folks, please pass this on, leave a comment below or head over to Facebook to give me a Like.

Thanks for reading,
Julie.

(C) FMN Crafts 2015