Thursday 31 January 2013

a crafty community...

Hello! How are you today? I have been living in a land of germs again.  My poor boys have had a horrible virus which has had them laid up in bed for most of the week.  So sorry if you've commented and I haven't replied - I've been on 24/7 Mum duty which doesn't always leave much time for fun stuff like blogging!  I am going a bit stir crazy as I have hardly left the house since my lovely trip to the Vintage Fair on Sunday.  It's not too bad being stuck inside when it's raining, but today the sun has been shining...I want to go out and play!! 

Never mind...I have an exciting weekend planned.  This Sunday, rather than buying lovely things, I will be selling them.  If it goes well then once a month I will be spending a Sunday in my local craft shop, with a big pile of vintage fabric...what fun! 

It is a great shop, as well as selling all kinds of fantastic art and craft supplies Vicky, the super crafty owner, runs workshops, drop in sessions and courses, and gets involved in lots of community events such as our annual Lantern Parade

Here are some of the lovely things that she stocks for us lucky locals to play with...

ribbons and trims...

lots of lovely papers...

beads and bling...

gorgeous yarns...

and if we're ever stuck for inspiration she has a great stock of craft books and journals.

Her latest community project is a Crochet Coral Reef...this is a global project which was started by an organisation called the Institute for Figuring in Los Angeles but has now been taken up all over the world...this image is from a reef made in Latvia:

Last time I popped into the shop this was what Vicky had been working on:

Isn't it amazing? Lots of people are getting involved in making coral of all shapes and sizes, and she's also running drop-in needle felting workshops, where you are taught to needle felt for a tiny fee but the 'catch' is that you have to make a fish and leave it there to live in the reef... 

...as I'm sure you can imagine, it's the kind of shop I feel very at home in!

So I am really looking forward to Sunday.  I will be taking lots of fabrics with me to sell - scrap packs, fat quarters, patchwork squares and a few half metres and metres for those with a bigger project in mind. I'm also going to try to restock my vintage fabric-covered button stash by then - if my poorly boys give me a chance!  Of course if you're in Bristol then please pop in - it would be lovely to see you there and you'll get the chance to rummage through my fabric stash and take your pick of all the goodies!

I hope your week has been less full of illness than mine, and that you have a lovely weekend coming up.  Fingers crossed my kids will be well next week and I'll be able to catch up properly with all your blogs to see what you've been up to!

Rachel x




25 comments:

  1. Wow lots of great materials, I hope your kids get better soon :)

    www.vindiebaby.com
    Vintage Inspired Fashion by Independent Designers for Your Little darling

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  2. Thank you! They are improving thank goodness! I hope you're having a good day. :)

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  3. Ooh, good luck. Vintage fabrics are so 'now', I'm sure you'll do really well :D

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    1. Thanks Annie! I've always loved vintge fabric...glad the world has caught up with me! x

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  4. That looks like an amazing shop.
    Hope the boys are better soon. x

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    1. It's great - it was the only thing missing for our very well-served high street a few years ago - I was so happy when it opened! And thanks - the little one seems to be full of beans again but my oldest is really wiped out - total bed rest for him all week! Hopefully back to normal soon. x

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  5. might well stick my nose in and see you on Sunday - have fun x

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  6. Wish I could pop in and rummage through your wares! Wish your boys better soon x

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    1. I wish you could too! One day we'll meet up and rummage our way round a vintage fair together - heaven! x

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  7. Oh my, that wall of ribbons looks amazing! Hope your house is soon germ-free!x

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    1. Isn't it fab? Made of guttering from the DIY shop - clever! x

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  8. Oh what a gorgeous shop and with loads of your lovely fabric ... I wish I could pop in and see you ... hope the little ones feel much better soon ... Bee xx

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    1. Thanks lovely Bee - one is better one is worse...ho hum that's how it goes! I wish I could teleport all my lovely bloggy friends to join me...would be so lovely to all hang out and play with fabric! xx

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  9. The ribbons and tapes look fabulous, I have been buying lots of bits like that recently to help texturize my illustrations before I scan them into the computer and develop them into prints.

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    1. It is a great shop April - I like the sound of playing with textures and then scanning them...it's the kind of thing I could have a lot of fun with if only I had the time! One day...x

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  10. aren't poorly weeks the pits! Thank goodness its Feb, spring is on its way - have fun at PV on Sun:)

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    1. It really hasn't been a great week - I've only left the house once since Sunday!! Hurrah for spring being imminent! x

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  11. Good luck for the weekend.....I'm hyperventilating over these pictures! :) x

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    1. Thanks Ada! I wish you could come and rummage among all the wonderful bits & pieces in the shop - not to mention my fabric! Have a lovely weekend. xx

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  12. Hope your boys recover quickly so that you can go out and play! That shop looks wonderful - well stocked and part of the local community. Love that crochet coral reef idea. Good luck for Sunday - hope you sell loads.

    Gillian x

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    1. It is a brilliant shop - and it's closer to my house than our local Newsagent - perfect! Hope you have a great weekend. xx

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  13. what an inspiring place to get to hang out and be crafty! hope your all well now, Heather x

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