Remember these?

Well those of you who tried to guess what they were might have noticed in the previous post that there was a pic of them?

That's right, they belong to the Santa's.

And we have one very clever winner, Mrs A
who guessed correctly, so I'll be sending you out the lovely fabric.

Meantime I need to seriously clean up my sewing room.

Carole :)

A gorgeous country fair

Friday night was blustery and grim and I wondered how I was going to cope with a fly-away gazebo while collecting lavender bags from the lawn.

But Saturday morning it was a little tamer and as we worked to get our buntings hung and the table looking nice the wind disappeared and the sun popped out now and again. 

Everyone was busy presenting their wares and making tempting displays of goods, from home interior

items inside the homestead, to cakes and books, baby clothes and jams, plants and quilts.

Traci and I were allocated a spot down on the bottom garden, right opposite Hester Guy's Cafe which made the best coffee by the way.

It was a lovely sheltered spot with a lovely old water fountain, with tables and chairs scattered round. People came and sat and ate club sandwiches and cakes and drank home made lemonade.

Once again my lavender bags were a best seller and I was pleased I had made extra so I could refill my hat case.

Twice during the day Hester Guy gave a talk and a demonstration to anyone who wanted to sit and listen. She had loads of tips for serving food to guests and catering for your guests at home. She also advised serving lots of small amounts of food before the main, then a small main, and a light desert. 

She also said that after only one glass of alcohol no one will appreciate the effort you've put into making your meal.

I thought she was a very interesting, down-to-earth cook.

She visited our table too and told us we had a lovely display and noticed the smell of lavender which wafted round our table.

I had wondered it people would be able to smell it out doors, but almost everyone commented on it.

Traci even sold lavender bags to a few men.

There were loads of nooks and crannies in the garden, and it is not surprising to learn it is hired out as a wedding venue.

New season's Santa's graced the table, some looked a little drunk, I don't think they were used to the bright sun!

Our gazebo looked lovely with all the different buntings fluttering in the breeze. 

Everyone commented on them. It was lovely to meet so many people, and some had even found my blog and popped in to say hello.

Pins for sale in ice cream sundae dishes.

Fabric brooches caught in the sunlight. 

Thanks Traci for helping me out. And to my friend Lynette who always comes by and takes a photo of me for the record! 

I think you might find some more photos on Lynette's blog....

Hope you're all enjoying your weekend too!

Carole :)

making plain bags pretty

Just taking the plain edge off brown paper bags.

Carole :)

a few more lavender bags

Fabric all cut out ready to sew.

Pretty little bags waiting to be filled.

Carole :)

A few buntings to hang around my table

Have to have a few strings of bunting around my table.

Think they'll look pretty fluttering in the breeze.

Carole :)

6th Annual Country Christmas Gift Fair

This coming Saturday 26th Nov I am having a table at the Country Christmas Gift Fair. 

If you are going to be in Palmerston North on Saturday it's well worth visiting. The last two years I went along to shop there were hundreds of people popping in and out.

It is held in the gardens of Caroline's Creative Interiors between 10am and 4pm. 

Poppies Bookshop will be there with their lovely selection of books and Hester Guy will set up a cafe and have a selection of yummy things to eat and drink. She will also hold two demonstrations of Creative Christmas ideas at 11.30am and 2.00pm.

What makes this market special is that this homestead used to belong to my great grandmother. My grandmother grew up here. There used to be a tennis court where the fountain is now. 

The grounds are beautiful and the old home is beautifully cared for. 

I will be down in this sheltered oval with the cafe and the tables and chairs. 

I've got a wee gazebo to put up over my table, but am keeping my fingers crossed it's not showery and blowy. I haven't had a table out of doors before.

There are lots of lovely nooks in the large developed garden. 

It must be amazing to live here.

There is going to be a lovely selection of Christmas gifts.

Caroline's Creative Interiors,

613 Fitzherbert East Road,

(between Aokautere and the Gorge)

10.00am to 4.00pm

Free Admission

Pop in and say hi if you are visiting!

Carole :)

sewing for the fair

I have another fair coming up next weekend, I have been sewing like there's no tomorrow. 

Or trying to.

Stamped calico.

Ready for sewing.

-Carole :)

A bit of exercise and fresh air

After what has seemed an eternity of sewing and ripping and hand stitching 

I felt the need to get out and get some fresh air and exercise.

What better place to go to than the beach.

Foxton.

A grey windy day, warm jackets, an excited dog.

Where the river meets the open sea

I love the textures

And when the wind blows 

all sign of life vanishes and new patterns are formed and discoveries are made

I used to play here as a child, 

these sand hills kept me healthy and happy and I knew every inch of them

they are full of memories

and today they leave me feeling refreshed and ready to start the stitching and cutting and compiling processes all over again :)

Carole  x

two down, two to go

The Christmas and cocktails at Caccia Birch is over with. I have not been to this before so had no expectations.

All my stall was packed up ready to go.

It was held over two hours on Friday evening, tickets sold for $20.00 each and the guests were wined and offered gorgeous nibbles while they shopped.

There an amazing array of talented women selling their crafts (and at this stage I shall apologise for the serious lack of photos).

I am very pleased I wasn't next to one of the tempting stalls selling Christmas cakes and fudges.

This is Caccia Birch, gorgeous inside and out! The last time I was here I was the photographer for a wedding.

Lynette popped by and snapped a quick pic of me and my table between customers.

Thanks Lynette :)

I had a busy two hours and came home with a lot less stock which was great.

Lots of lovely comments, a few repeat customers, and loads of new ones!

Now to prepare myself for the next one.

Hope you are enjoying your weekend

Carole :)

New cards

I've been making new cards for my table at the Christmas at Caccia Cocktails and Craft evening.

It's hard knowing what people will like and what might sell.

I have 3 craft fairs in a row before Christmas, so I'm thinking that if they don't sell at 

one, I'll have less stock to make for the next!

What stock is left will go into my Etsy store, however if you spot a card you like

do let me know, I don't mind you getting first choice!

Well, still have cutting and stitching to do....

must run.

Hope you all have a lovely creative week,

Carole ;D

What the heck?

OK, so what the heck is it?

The QB5 group swap is about to happen, 

and it coincides with Christmas.

I've made my swaps and I'm wondering if you can guess what I've made?

If you can I've got two more fabric fat quarters to give away.

I'll give them to the first person who guesses what I've made. If there are more than one person who is a guessing genius, then I'll draw the winners name on the 1st December, when I'll reveal what I've made and they have reached their destinations.

Happy guessing!

Carole ;D

Robin, you won!

Congrats Robin!

Your name was drawn from all the comments left over the last week for the fabric and the stamp. :)

Send me an email off blog and let me know your address!

I will have another challenge for you tomorrow....

come back and see me then...

Carole ;D

head down in my sewing room

Making hair clips (or barrettes) for my craft fair table.

Something different, wonder if anyone will like them?

Carole :)