All things Brighton beautiful....

See what I did there!?

I popped over to Brighton this morning to go to the Creative Stitches and Hobbycraft show, and then took a quick sprint round Churchill Square.

I'm glad I went, and I managed to buy a few bits and pieces, but it was way too busy for me.  Unfortunately about 75% of the exhibitors were selling paper-craft type things which I did not stop to look at, and the average age of the visitors was about 80, which seemed to determine the walking pace and my patience just doesn't stretch that far!

So here are my lovelies, a scrap bag from The Eternal Maker, a nice big rule, and a fantastic pattern for a union jack quilt from Mandy Shaw of Dandelion Designs.

There was also the most amazing/weird knitted/crocheted seascape!  I didn't venture through the undersea tunnel as I didn't want to be trapped under all that wool with a bunch of octogenarians, but it was quite fun, if you like knitted fish.  There was also a small display by members of the Quilter's Guild.   Unfortunately I forgot my camera, so I could only get a couple of snaps on my phone, so they aren't very clear.

After a quick look in Habitat, I bumped into a Dalek or two, then came home for a cup of tea...

More sewing, less worrying...

This evening I am going to spend more time sewing and less time listening to the creaking, groaning, thumping and knocking emanating from my airing cupboard! 

We narrowed it down to a motorised valve, and the plumber is going to take a look on Monday evening - the full flush may be the way to go, thanks Terri.  I will refrain from attempting a little self-help, as we all know what happened last time! (me + pipe + hammer = water + plumber + £).

I am also deliberating whether to go to Brighton on the weekend for the Creative Stitches & Hobbycrafts show...anyone else going?  The list of exhibitors is rather tempting, especially as The Eternal Maker have a stall.  'Mmm Echino' ... in my best Homer Simpson voice!

We are having more deliveries tomorrow, plus a roof gully re-bedded, and a burglar alarm chap and tree surgeon are all coming round - thank goodness it's hubby's turn for a 'day off'!!  I think I better write a list so he can make sure he remembers who, when and what is going on, just in case he thinks he has time for a nap!

If you go down to the coast today...

Today was the first day of the Lancing College Weekend Craft Fair.  A spectacular setting, I arrived in sunshine and left with thunder and lightening for a full-on Hogwarts experience!

Amongst the obligatory teasle hedgehogs, toilet roll cosies, and miles and miles of liquorice, there nestled some lovely stalls.  Obviously I am allowed to be biased, and my father's stained glass was the best.  Frustratingly, this seemed not to be to the taste of today's predominately over-70s browsers, but each to his or her own.

Stained Glass by Paul Chave, Garden Glass Design

A close second for me was Liz and her Quilty Pleasures stall loaded with yards of the most beautiful fabrics, quilts, buttons, rik-rak and patterns.  Having been a keen follower of her blog, but not having been able to make it over to her shop yet, it was great to have a real chat face to face.  Not having a wallet to match my desires, I managed to narrow down my purchase to a yard of scrummy Moda 'Bliss' Aqua Tulip, to go with the charm pack I bought back at Hever, and a couple of fat quarters of Anna Griffin 'Lizzie' prints.

I also bought a nice bag of mixed buttons from Kittie's Closet.

I will be venturing back with 'the family' tomorrow, having had the opportunity to have a proper look today, and may well end up buying something from Robin Johnson; his pieces remind me of New Zealand crafts, using lots of drilled pebbles and driftwood.  Unfortunately his website is not up and running just yet.

So if you fancy a trip down to the coast tomorrow, pop in, and get yourself some beautiful glass leaves, fishes or other lovelies ready for Christmas presents or better still, treat yourself.

PS. Don't forget my Giveaway!

GIVEAWAY GIVEAWAY GIVEAWAY!

100 posts - how did that happen!!!

I really don't want to have brought you here under false pretenses, so without further ado...

If you would like to win a copy of this fun book:

and a little goody-bag containing all you will need to make your own pair of baby-sock owls:

plus at least a couple more little surprises, one of which is edible (so may not survive the weekend!), then all you have to do is:

• be a Follower of my blog, and leave a comment telling me so, for your first chance;
• tell your Followers, and add a comment with a link so I can check you aren't fibbing!
• and for a bonus chance, leave a comment telling us all the last fib you told!

So 3 separate comments = 3 chances. (updated instructions!)

I will use Random.org to select the lucky winner at 8pm (UK - BST) Monday evening, so you have until then to be in with a chance.

I will be off to the craft show this weekend, so I am hoping to find some extras to pop in the parcel too; maybe I'll see you there.

Good luck everybody!

This week, I will mostly be 'being positive'!

Leaves by Paul Chave, Garden-Glass-Design

So as not to fall into a pit of moaning, aggro and despair, I am going to be (mostly) blogging about great stuff this week.  If I slip towards the dark side, pull me back and rap my knuckles!

Today I am once again going for some shameless promotion!  The Lancing College Craft Fair is zooming up on us, so please check out my father's website.

Flying Fish by Paul Chave, Garden-Glass-Design

My dear husband and I figured out the design and uploaded it with some good old trial and error, and hopefully we have done the beautiful glass justice.  Let me know what you think.  After the fair, and if he has anything left, he will hopefully be setting up an Etsy or Folksy shop.  If any of you have any personal selling experience of either and can recommend, or otherwise, I would love to hear your thoughts, thank you.

Some of you with eagle eyes may have spotted that this week I will reach post number 100!  So I am planning a little GIVEAWAY!!  So keep coming back.  I still need to actually work out what to give away, but with all the things on my plate right now, that's got to be the easy bit, right?

Now, Kirstie arrived on my doorstep this morning, so we have a date!

An unashamed plug!

A little while ago I mentioned that my father was going to be selling some of his stained glass at the Crafts at Lancing College show (23-24 October 2010).  I also promised to show you some pictures. 

I have been trying to be a good daughter and sort out his webpage today, (I am not a genius in this area, but I think we are getting there - again I will post a link when all is done), these are a couple of the pictures he wants included.

I love them and I am not just saying that because he's my dad!  If you can make it to the show, I will be helping out over the weekend, and it would be great to meet some of you.

Round and around...

This afternoon, a good deed for my father resulted in the girls and I driving round an industrial estate, in the rain, chased by a fleet of re-cycling bin-lorries, trying to locate a chandlers for about 30 minutes before I had to stop and phone them up and ask to be guided in!

All this for 200 tiny ferrules for some my father's stained glass creations - I will get some photos for you to see (of the stained glass, not the ferrules), as he is working up his 'stock' for Crafts at Lancing College in October.

The venue is like something out of Harry Potter and hopefully the pre-Christmas show will be a big success.  If you are in the area on 23rd/24th October, I can obviously recommend it.  I am hoping for some inspiration, and who knows, maybe next year I'll have made so many quilts I'll need (or rather, be told) to sell some!