A SUCCESSFUL CRAFT FAIR

Well the dust has settled on the 2011 Emerald State School Craft Fair & we had a blast.

This is the Bindi Taneal Photography & Outback Crafter Site.

 This is 'teacher' corner.  The rulers and hangings sold like hot cakes.

 These adorable horses made by Bindi also 'ran like the wind'

 much to my delight, the car bags were a hit too.

 Here is the beautiful Bindi & I

 and the beautiful Bindi & Raelea (Bindi's Mum)

We had a successful and enjoyable weekend.  Thanks for the great time Bindi & thanks to the help of our support crew (hubby & my boys) it went off without a hitch.

See you again next year Bindi?

Special Delivery and more Bindi Taneal Photos

On Friday the post man left a lovely little parcel in my mail box.  It was from Lynda.  Over on her blog Heavens to Bettsy  Lynda was giving away some adorable Giggle Buttons to be used in the FREE Red Brolly Christmas Stitchery.

Now I had completely forgotten that Lynda had emailed me to tell me I had won, so it was a lovely surprise when they arrived in the mail.  Thanks so much Lynda.  Go pop over to Lynda's blog to see what she has been up to and over to Red Brolly to see what I should be stitching. 

If you click here, you will see a photo of the finished design.  So once again thanks Lynda, I just need to get stitching.

And onto my other finises for the weekend.  I have used more of the photographs from the lovely Bindi of Bindi Taneal Photography to create coasters for the upcoming craft fair (on This weekend).

The coasters are in 3 sets

"Views from the Farm"

.

 "Objects from the Farm"

(Sorry about the sideways photo, I don't know how to fix it)

"Animal Life on the Farm"

Bundled up and ready to go.

I am really getting quite excited (and nervous) about the Craft Fair now.  It is literally only 4 days away.  Friday 25 & Saturday 26 November, Emerald Town Hall, Emerald Queensland.

Crafting, Crafting, Crafting

While wandering our local 2nd hand shop the other day I stumbled across these sad looking lamp bases for just $5 each.

They both decided to follow me home with hope of becoming something greater.

 When they got home they found some thumb tacks that wanted to be with them.

 and after some magic PVA glue and spray paint look what they became.....

a perfect stand for my latest OPAM and Craft Fair finishes "Car" bags.

I am so excited about the stand.  I am excited because it worked and I am excited because it looked like what I had pictured inside my head.  I love it when things just work.

Props and Shaggy Photo Quilts

In my post yesterday I mentioned that my Hubby was making some props for me for the craft fair.

Here he is 'playing' with the old garden stakes

to create some rustic stands for me

that are perfect for holding my blackboards.  Thanks P they are perfect.

While P was making stands, I was finishing 2 Shaggy Photo Quilts featuring the photos of Bindi Taneal Photography.  Bindi is the lovely lady I am exhibiting with when I go to Emerald.  I think our work will really complement each other.  She has some great canvas images, calendars & cards to sell.

Now for the Shaggy Photo Quilts.

"Denim"

and a close up of the photo block

and

"Modern"

 This one was really out of my colour comfort zone, but I love it.  I think it still shows off the lovely photos but is fresh.

 and another close up.

So these can go in the pile ready for Craft Fair and I have to get back to the grindstone (after home work and looking after a sick boy).

Tea Towels & Christmas, Craft Fair and OPAM

 Look what has been whipping through my sewing machine.  18 tea towels ready for sale at the Craft Fair all paired up and tagged.

Tea cups

 Christmas

 Farm Animals

 Birdhouses

 Books

 And 3 embroidered wall hangings/ bell pulls.

and a close up of  one of the embroideries.

I am getting really excited now.  My hubby is making 'props' for me, we have repainted other props to match our colour scheme and the stock is coming together.  It is just as well I am organised  getting it together as it is only 3 weeks till the Craft Fair.

Christmas has arrived and OPAM

Yes, I know it is only the end of October, so Christmas cannot have arrived, but if you looked at my sewing area at the moment, you would think that it was Christmas tomorrow.

I have completed 3 lovely table runners

 and a couple of adorable wall hangings.

 Here they are in closeup.  The fabric panels were designed by Dianna Marcum (a couple of years ago I think)

 I love the phrase on this one.  It really makes you think.

I have also finished a 'secret squirrel' quilt (made with a friend) that I can't reveal or it won't be a secret, but we love it and we're am sure it's new owner will love it too.

So I am quite excited.  These are 6more items for my OPAM list and that brings the month tally to a very healthy 30 items.  Whew, no wonder I feel tired  like I have been sewing alot.

Gifts for our teachers

Well a few more "Teacher" towels have joined the craft fair stock.

 but more importantly than 'stock' are these two towels for our class Teachers.

Tomorrow (Friday 28th October) is World Teacher's Day & we will give these to the two ladies who spend 5 days a week educating my boys and making them feel like they can do anything.  We really appreciate the work of our teachers. They are dedicated, they care, they are approachable and they genuinely want to know what is going on in the lives of the boys.  They share in sorrow for the boys, they share in joy. They are exactly what a teacher should be and we are going to make sure we say thank you.

The boys will put the finishing touches on their notes/pictures to give to the ladies tomorrow.  

Will you take 5 to thank your teacher?

A 'flock' of elves and a 'herd' of angels

Well I am not sure of the technical term for a group of elves and I am fairly certain that a group of Angels is a 'host' but I feel like they are a 'flock' and a 'herd' due to their behaviour.  They were rolling all around the table and wings were flying and the elves were joking around.

These three were chosen due to their exemplary behaviour, but look at Red there, he is try to steal the limelight from the others.

Now he is behaving himself, but he looks kind of cheeky.

These three along with about 47 others are destined for the craft fair where their new owners will be able to choose the letter they wish to have personalised onto their elf or angel like these three below for the family of a good Roma friend.

Just in case you think I am joking, here are the rest of them waiting to go.

Well these don't count on my OPAM list, but it sure feels good to have more finishes under my belt.

OPAM and Craft Fair

Well the Craft Fair is getting closer (only  32 days to go Bindi - don't panic though) and my stock is coming together nicely.  As it needs to as we have a 9th birthday, a wedding, a 60th birthday and just the usual craziness of Term 4 to deal with before then.

These Christmas towels will accompany my 'teacher towels to the event.

and a close up of some of the phrases

 These are my favourite, but I forgot to photograph them before I stitched them into rolls.

  "Peace on Earth" so you can sort of see the stars and "peace on" one towel and "earth" on the other.

 and the same idea with an awesome tree & "Merry" on one towel and "Christmas" on the other.

I am getting excited now and as a bonus these are 11 OPAM finishes.  YEAH!!

OPAM and Teacher Gifts

Well I have 6 more projects to add to my OPAM list and to tuck away into my stock for the Craft Fair in November.

These are "Teacher Towels". Thank you gifts for your child's teacher.

 the towels come with a large hanging loop

 that fits over your hand,

 over a door knob

 over a chair

 or can hang on a towel rail.

there are 2 phrases stitched on the towels "Thank You Teacher" or "I belong to the TEACHER".

Hopefully a few other parents think these are a good idea and buy them for their class teacher.