Newtown Festival shivers

Well, I can't pretend it was everything I had dreamed it would be. When I woke up during the night to hear the rain pelting down on the roof, my wee heart sank. And on Sunday morning when the rain was flying sideways past my window I figured the stall was not happening. I waited and waited and about midday toddled down to my spot in the vain hope the rain would hold off.
And yes, it was arctic - a stark contrast to 2010 when it was sunny and glorious. One shouldn’t have to wear a winter coast and gloves in the first weekend of March. But I am SO PLEASED I turned up - even though it was just for a few hours. It was great to see what customers liked and I appreciated all the lovely comments from people. Thank you so much to those who came up to see my stall and share nice words and to those who liked things enough to take an item home. It was so nice to get some feedback on things and to chat to the lovely and encouraging ladies at the next door stall - it has inspired me to try more markets and take things further. And lastly (I know – this is reading a bit like an Oscars speech but without the satin gowns) thanks to my dear friend Vanessa and my man who stood by and gave me the strength to set the stall up, even though the weather threatened to wash away my will. Wonderful!

Stall preps

So, the stall preparations continue.

I am concerned I don't have much 'stock' but I guess its more a market testing exercise than a "look, I've become a professional crafter overnight" exercise. I think I just expect a bit much of myself - a half-mast attempt doesn't suit. Anyway, having looked at the weather forecast for Sunday I'm not holding out much hope for a big day.

- I have been tidying up the purses and bags. I had needed to stitch the linings closed where they had been turned which is always the dull part. Two hours in front of The Biggest Looser last night dealt to most of them. (Is it wrong to sit on your arse and watch Biggest Loser?)
- I have also printed some signs for the products.
- I'm been fretting about displaying the shoulder bags. I wish I had bought the dress form I have been eyeing up the last few months but I simply don't have any space at home. I'm crammed into a cupboard type arrangement as it is, so the dress form has always been the treat I would shout myself once I get a bit more space. However, I'm wishing I had one now as it would look great with some bags slung over. Anyway - my only other option was perhaps a coat rack so I'm hoping to borrow a coat rack from work and have some of the shoulder bags hanging from that. Not entirely sure how to make a coat rack look nice but never mind.
- I made some price tags. I was horrified to see that a pack of 5 price tags was $7 at the stationers. Yeah right. So I bought an 80cent manila folder and made some.
- I've been stockpiling $5 and $10 notes for change (perhaps optimistic of sales but hey - gotta go in positive right?) so I have a wallet of mid-sized cash.
- I had big dreams about getting some paper bags and stamping them with a threadbird design (for my many sales). Sadly when I dashed to the wholesale supplier yesterday, they were out of stock of the right sized bags. Bit bummed - I thought this would be great idea. Though to be honest, perhaps an unnecessary expenditure at this point in the game. - I've just been lectured by a dear friend that printing carry bags is not the aim of a first-time stall-holder, Roger that!
- And today I have taken a few photos of the flags in various locations. My friend Deb has a lovely house (complete with baby) that makes a great back drop for the flags - very photogenic. I thought having a few photos of how the flags can be used (on a cot, in the garden etc) might act as a good prompt for people.

- And I've made a few little tid-bits. Some of the Divine Twine I ordered in from the States. I've made some little cards with 10metres of twine each so people can use themselves. And I made a few magnets with the high-domed cabochons. These will be priced at below cost but I still like the idea and I think they make better magnets than broaches to be frank.
- I still have to make some of the wrist straps for the purses and figure out how the display will work. Oh, and I need to remember to take some weights to keep things from blowing away if it turns out to be a horrid Wellington day. *sigh*
Too much to do!

Low maintenance Bacon and Egg Pie

I've been meaning to share this recipe for a while as the be all and end all of your picnic or Pot Luck problems.

I discovered this recipe in the Comfort recipe book a while ago, and it is now a standard. It takes no time to whip up and I challenge you to find anyone who doesn't like bacon and egg pie. The thing I love the most about this recipe is the lack of dishes. No fry pan required, no cups for beating or bowls for mixing. Just a chopping board, knife, grater and the tin you cook it in. Love it.

Process as follows:
Turn on oven to about 210 degrees. (the suggestion in the recipe was to put an oven tray in the oven whilst its heating so tray gets hot and then when you put the pie in and place on tray, this helps cook the bottom pastry of the pie. Not sure how sound the theory is but hey - it works so lets not mess with it.)
I use frozen flaky puff pastry - its about ease after all. 2 sheets needed. Defrost the pastry. I have been using a square tin because the pastry is square (less effort = more smiles). Of course you can roll the pastry to fit a circular tin and it will look much nicer, but I'm all for minimising the time to make this. Plonk one sheet of pastry in a greased tin to form the base and sides of pie.

For the filling:
- Grate some cheese and throw into the pastry case (about 1 cup I guess - but depends on your taste). [Grater goes to dishwasher.]
- Thinly slice bacon (4 rashers) into strips and then bits, and throw on top of cheese. Note - no prior cooking required. Yay.
- Then crack 6-7 eggs whole straight on top of the bacon (recipe said 9 eggs but seemed a bit full on and my pie was smaller - I used 6-7 depending on size). Egg will slop around a little but try not to break the yolks. Space out the yolks around the pie and let the whites dribble into the other areas. At this point I keep aside a teeny bit of one of the eggs to glaze the pastry at the end - this is likely to mean one of your eggs will break but hey - who cares.
- Chop up some basil and parsley and sprinkle on top of eggs. Salt and pepper if you wish (I usually forget this stage but I encourage you to remember it).
- Thinly slice tomato and place slices on top of eggs/herbs. [Chopping board and knife to dishwasher.]
- Throw on the top of pastry. Press pastry lid and sides together to seal pie - use a fork if necessary. I usually use a little strip of extra pastry to make a + decoration on top - do whatever you feel. Brush pastry with leftover egg to make sure pastry top looks browned and delicious.

Then throw in oven for about ~45-50mins at about 200 degrees. [wipe bench]
Take out from oven and if you think its fine, leave in tin for 5-10mins. Turn out of tin and place on cooling rack to dry.

Honestly, so easy and so yummy - you feel guilty when someone compliments you on this one.

What the stall will hold

So, with the settlement not going through perhaps the only up-side was that I could now continue to have the stall at the Newtown Festival. Of course, with all the distraction, my time frames are somewhat compacted. So I am very conscious I now have a week. Eeek. I have tried to create a few things.

I took the patchwork idea and applied it to a messenger style shoulder bag. These are using some old stretchy denim fabric I had around (and would not use for clothing) and some home décor scraps. They have the main pocket and a front pocket. I quite like them.






I also tried a couple in a one colour option with a little printed picture on them. I think these might be my favourite - they came out looking quite good. The fabric is actually thermal lined curtains so will be nice and sturdy and is a really good weight for this bag.










I made a few more purses in the same style as the ones I'd sold on Felt. Two with the blue lining and two with the white. I might make some more if I have time …..






I also have a few wee gift bag type ones. I made these after noting that lots of the girls at work had their handbag and then another little bag for their shoes, or book or lunch. They were using shop branded bags but I thought it would be nice to have something small you can fold up. They are made from simple calico but I printed various types of pictures on the pocket.






Oh and I've made some bunting flags. Having done these before I thought these would be easy and not take much time - was I wrong! Making some for a friend is one thing, making a stack for a stall is another thing entirely. However, I think these look really nice and would be great around a cot, or in the kitchen, or even in a tree in the garden.










And I am trying my hand at another purse design. The one I tried last night didn't quite work out. I was a seam allowance off with one bit and then in a moment of idiocy I put the magnetic catch on the wrong of the purse side (*sigh - NB: why do I never learn to not make decisions after 2 glasses of wine?). Nevertheless, I am hoping that I can figure this out tonight.

A tough February

It has been a very up and down month. My post below had me at the start of the month focussed on preparing for the Newtown Festival. That fell away when, after so many months of searching, we found a house we liked. We made an offer on a house which was accepted - settlement was due to occur the weekend of the Festival. I was so excited about the house and was dreaming of finally getting some space and room to play. It would have been a blank canvas to create in. However, the sale sadly fell through due to a defect in the foundations. I spent quite some time just being totally deflated and depressed. I guess it’s a lesson for those of us not very experienced in these things … never get your hopes up.

And then this week, all of that was put into perspective. Our poor wee country was rocked by yet another terrible earthquake. Poor Christchurch, already at its wits end after a big one in September and hundreds of aftershocks, suffered a destructive earthquake that has crippled the city. My heart goes out to everyone effected, whatever the reason may be: whether it be property damage, financial worries, physical injury or the tragic loss of someone. I think everyone in New Zealand carries the burden with them this week as the news rolls in of more impact, more loss and more dead. It is surreal to try to plod on with your own life as normal, knowing not far away people are in turmoil and countless lives have been lost. We all grieve for those poor people like you or I who were leading just another day at the office - eating their lunch, shopping for shoes - who never got to complete their day. It makes you very aware of everyone's fragility, and that the comfort that we award ourselves by the routine of life can be snatched away so quickly. Tell your friends and family you love them and give as generously as you can!

Stall plans

I have taken the plunge and booked a stall at the Newtown Festival taking place on 6 March. I went to this Festival last year and it was a lovely sunny day and full of life. I am super excited about this as well as horrendously nervous. However, my New Year's resolution is to take the leap --- and so I am.

I have been gradually stockpiling a bounty of stall items with this very thing in mind and so am now conscious that there is a date that needs to be met and stuff that needs to be sold.

I had a bundle of these cute wee purses I had made for the occasion. I really liked the contrast between the natural mottled outer and then the bright funky inner linings. I also thought it might be quite nice to have a broach on the outside. It means you bring some colour to the outside, link to the lining fabric, but you can also use the broach however you want or our even pin it to your jacket if you feel like it. I really like the fact that when you look at the broach you are forced to really appreciate the print of the fabric and also the weave, which tends to get lost when you look at fabric on a larger scale. It makes the fabric the attraction.

On a whim I listed some of these items on my felt shop and I was totally delighted that they have been snaffled up. I was so pleased that people liked the purses too (sometimes its easy to labour under a misconception that everyone will like your style but actually they don't).

However, with those purses flying out the door, my stockpile is now low - I only have two left. Eeek. So I shall have to whip up a few more. I've opted to make a few out of some material I found at the fabricabrac sale - it’s a deep rich brown with a thick weave and is quite dramatic. I have enough to make 4 purses from this fabric so excited about that. I might have to resist putting them on felt when they are done.

Sweet wee girls

Just thought I'd share a couple of cute photos. A friend asked me to take some photos at her daughter's fourth birthday - that's you lovely Liv. Typical girls but oh so sweet. The concentration and focus applied to Musical Chairs and Cut The Chocloate Block was awe inspiring.