The Leopard Anchor

Life is slowly falling in to place.

Today marks three weeks since I've been in Canada. I've found it kind of hard to find my feet and settle in to a routine. Although I've been here many times before, I've always been on holiday, so I've been in automatic holiday mode since I've been here (with added errand running & bureaucracy). Yesterday I finally bought a car, it needs a little work so I'm not quite on the road yet but I'm hoping that once I am I can figure out what I'm doing and what shape my life should take.

I've been working on starting to craft again, and today I've been journalling, it's such a nice way to spend a few hours.

My BFF bought me this journal for Christmas and I love it.

Etsy spotlight: Poppy & Fern

My latest Etsy discovery is Poppy & Fern, and what a lovely discovery it was.

My first (of many, I am positive) order was one of the embroidered initial necklaces, it turned up pretty fast and Rachel is really lovely to deal with.

I can't start to describe how much I love her stuff without coming across as a gushing maniac, so I'm just going to post some photos of her wares.

{click on individual images for the product listing}

I could go on and on.

Crafty Pint Handmade Christmas + when bloggers collide

Saturday was the day when I finally got to meet Karen from Did You Make That, hers was one of the first sewing blogs I started reading and so it was appropriate that she was the first blogger I met. As a fab bonus I got to meet her lovely friend, who blogs at Huggie Does Homespun. Karen is exactly as great as I knew she would be, I had so much fun with these ladies.

Saturday was also the day of Crafty Pint's Handmade Christmas event and it was FANTASTIC. Truly. There's something really great about spending the afternoon in a room filled with people making things. I've already posted a bunch of pictures from the fabulous venue, so there's only a few here. 

The whole room was set up with mini workshops to dip in and out of, it was heaven, if a little overwhelming at first! We had to get a drink (see? you need a bar at these things) to aid the decision making process.

Our first stop was pottery painting, the table was run by Caragh Buxton who sells some delightful things!

I loved painting my mug, but it's harder than I thought. And we were concentrating so hard there was barely any time for chitchat!

Our masterpieces, I can't wait to see how they look when they're all fired! I don't think Karen will mind me saying Huggie put us both to shame, check out her fab work on the right.

I gave my mug some hallmarks so that my future ancestors know where it came from when it becomes a treasured heirloom! Heh.

After that we hit the shrinkie tables, where we spent some more time in deep concentration. Making these things was so simple and I'm positive there is a little magic going on in the shrinking! The reindeer & moose designs were traced and I drew the anchor design myself, we drew our designs on to special plastic and then they were blasted with a heat gun to make them shrink. These tables were run by Vicky of Stars & Scars, she declared my anchor design of the day :) I bet she says that to all the girls!

I will no doubt return to Tooting Tram & Social, I really think it's a special venue. I'll also be looking out for future Crafty Pint events, they know how to throw a fun party. And I'm hoping to meet up with the lovely Karen & Sarah again too.

xo K

The art of creating

Yesterday morning I had a pile of crumpled cotton, some bits of paper taped together with masking tape and no real idea what I was trying to achieve. Yesterday evening I had a whole shepherd outfit for my nephew's first nativity play. (I can't provide you with a photo because my nephew is insisting he isn't dressing up, little tyke.) Taking a pile of nothing and turning it to something has to be one of the most satisfying things in the world.

I'm the first person to undersell myself, I don't even know how many times I've said "oh no, I'm not clever, it was easy" or "if I can do it anyone can" or "I only followed the pattern instructions". But it's not true, is it? Just because I can do it, doesn't mean anyone can. In our little bubble of hand-making we read blogs every day about the wonderful things people make, we read magazines full of beautiful handmade items, we are immersed in the world of designing and making. It's easy to forget that having the ability to make something from scratch is really bloody special. I always say sewing is just engineering, but with prettier materials. 

So from today I solemnly swear to celebrate each and every make a bit more, to accept the praise and be proud of everything I create. And I think you should too.

xo K

PS How many 4 year old shepherds have french seams in their costume do you think? I know one, that's just how we roll in my family.

The best way to spend a Sunday

Yesterday I ventured to Tooting for the first Got Craft? fair held in London, and it was LOVELY!

It was my first time at the venue (Tooting Tram & Social), I thought it was a great space. And I think that every craft fair should have a bar!

On top of the fabulous location, Got Craft? was full of very sweet, very talented vendors! These were some of my favourites:

Hannah Melin

Robin & Mould

Tilly Flop Designs

The Aviary

And my absolute favourite - Pretty Zoo, I bought this ring from her and it is by far my favourite piece of jewellery, I'm in love with it. It is no exaggeration when I say I could have bought everything on her stall.

Perfect Sunday!

I hope you had a good one.

xo Kirsty