My First Craft Fair

I had a really good day yesterday at the Craft Fair in The Playhouse here in Derry.  I was quite nervous before I went but once I had my table set, I felt fine. 

My table at the Craft Fair

The aim of the day for me was to promote the classes that my friends and I teach in the Parish Centre at St Peter's.  We're known as Keep it Crafty.  I met lots of old friends and quite a few new people interested in quilting.  It was a very positive day.

One of my vintage sewing machines provided a lovely prop for my table.

Class Timetables and Gift Vouchers

 

I enjoyed the fair so I reckon that I would do it again.  Maybe next time I would have some small items for sale as well.

On the way home that afternoon my husband and I were passing by Enagh Lough, which is near where we live, and the light was absolutely amazing.  It was just before sunset and I couldn't resist stopping to take a few photographs.

Enagh Lough, Derry

 Must go now, it's late.  Talk soon.

Sandra

Craft Fair at The Playhouse

I belong to a group called 'Keep it Crafty' who offer quilt classes in St Peter's Parish Centre, Culmore, here in Derry.  I will be representing the group at the Craft Fair in The Playhouse here on Saturday 19 November between 11am and 4pm. 

Come along and pick up our new timetable for classes starting in January 2012.  Enrol for a class or stop for a chat. 

My husband has kindly made me some ladders to display the quilts, some of which I will teach in January, at the Craft Fair.

Selection of Quilts

Space saving display

An alternative to hanging quilts

But they are also great for my home as there is only so much wall space for hanging the quilts.  It's a shame, I think, to keep them in cupboards all the time.  This way, they can still be on display without taking up too much space.

Lots more quilting to do tonight so I must go.

Sandra

Fresh Starts

It seems like ages since my last post.  I have been so busy!  My youngest son has just joined his older brother at secondary school and there were lots of preparations for that milestone.  He has had a growth spurt since I bought his uniform and his shirts won't last long.  But that's life.  My daughter went back to university and I miss girly chats at night.  I was also getting ready for two new classes which started this week.  My new quilt is for one of these classes but I haven't quite finished the quilting on it yet.  I promise to put up pictures when I can. 

My friends and I are starting a new chapter together as we no longer have our local quilt shop.  Our group is called "Keep It Crafty" and we offer quilting and knitting classes. We were very grateful to be offered the use of St Peter's Parish Centre here in Derry to run our classes.  It's fantastic!  Big room, nice and bright, good lighting with a big car park right outside the door.  Really handy.  Big thanks go to Rev. Robert Miller for being so generous.

Mary Good is giving a class in patchwork landscape, Louise Kelly is offering kids sewing classes and she should have a knitting class in the near future.  I have a free motion quilting class and then my country sampler quilt. 

Free Motion Quilting Designs

My classes went well and everyone was really positive about our new venue. 

I was back at the Car Boot Sale  again this week and I found some lovely old glass bottles and ink pots.  Most of them were dug up by a digger driver who now has quite a collection.  They needed a lot of washing and even though some of the glass is damaged, I still thought they were very pretty. 

Old Glass Bottles and Ink Pots

The big green one is a milk bottle with a cow on the front and someone milking it.  The tall bottle is apparently a lime cordial bottle from Ross' s of Belfast and has shamrocks all over it.

Before

All clean and shiny

Well, I must go now as it's late.  Hopefully it won't be too long until the next one.

Bye for now.
Sandra

More Treasures

Yesterday, I went for the first time with my husband and kids to the market where he found my lovely old sewing machines.  We found lots of new treasures, and guess what?  Another old Singer machine.  It has the cover, it is working and there is a little bobbin as well.  I looked up an internet site which dated the serial number as 1889 and the logo on the front says THE SINGER MFG. CO. NY..  So I'm wondering if this one was actually made in New York, which would make it even more special for me as I have some lovely memories of my time there.

Old Singer & Button Box

 I also found an old rusty box full of old buttons.  When I began to sort through it and to clean some of the buttons, Catherine realised that some had the name of a department store, Austins & Co., on them.  I thought that was lovely as it's here in my home town.  Apparently, it's the oldest independent department store in the world.

Austin & Co. Buttons

The little tin box, although very rusty, still had some of it's original design on the sides, which was very pretty.

Rusty Tin Box & Buttons

I think that I will try and contact the store to try and find out when the buttons date from and if they were sold on their own or on garments.

I still have to finish the baby quilt that I was making but I am enjoying the free motion quilting on it.  I'll let you see it when it's finished. 

Just thought I would let everyone see a copy of the timetable for the classes in  September that my friends and I are offering.  Look us up on facebook.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Keep-it-Crafty/219037148139153#!/profile.php?id=100002644233674&sk=wall

Must go now.  Lots more to do.
Sandra