Monday 31 October 2011

H is for a Happy Halloween, Handmade Monday & a Husky Plaque

Hello all, I had a great time (and a full Order Book) at a local event this week end, I was at the Undley Pumpkin Patch for a Halloween Bonanza, in a marquee set up in the middle of a field, not only could you pick your own pumpkins but you could 'get lost' in the huge Maize Maze. I wasn't alone at this great event, there were some great other exhibitors and entertainers along for the fun.


There was the lovely Laurie at Mondays Child  whose face painting was truly  fantastic, along with the Amazing Adam Strange, Childrens Entertainer & Balloonatic who made the most wonderful balloon spiders and ghosties. The equally lovely Natalie aka  Hungry Hippie, Natalie makes great button jewellery, and a selection of fabric items including the aprons and pumpkins shown in the picture above.


We also have the tasty jams and preserves by Jo-Anne, I can attest that the pumpkin and apple is delicious, not that I had much, honest!! The colourful Letter Pegs by Justine and the fantastic Wacky Wax colourful candles in a jar. There was jewellery, books, cards, more tasty food (MMmmm cinnamon donuts and hot chocolate) and of course, ittle ol' me.

Plaques and Pumpkins
Some of my popular plaques

The Scull and 'Warning' plaques always do well with the boys and the scull with the bow is a big hit with the girls. So I had a great Halloween week end, I hope you did too.

As it says in the title, H is also for Husky Plaque as mentioned in my last post...

A Husky Plaque for Jackie

and also for Handmade Monday so don't forget to pop over and see what everyone else has been up to.

Take care all and if you are off trick 'n' treating tonight have fun and take extra care.

Jan x

Monday 24 October 2011

Hi from me and Elmo

Hello to you all, and hello from Elmo

Elmo Plaque for Noah

as most of you know it's Handmade Monday  today, and for those who don't know what it all about then why not follow the link and check out what's going on. I've been popping over to read some of the other blogs who contribute, and there are some great blogs too. I'm hoping to get round to comment on all of them but I've got such a busy week ahead it may take me some time, so, if you don't hear from me it's not because I don't care, it's because there are not enough hours in the day.


This week I'll be at the Pumpkin Patch , It's not only the place to pick your pumpkin, you can also go on a pony ride, find your way around a Maize Maze, meet some brilliant people and generally have great fun. It's a bustling place to be so I'm hoping that this good weather we are having will continue through to the week end. I'm planning to take lots of photo's so be sure to check back next week.

A couple of Welcome Plaques

I'm off to get my sketch book and do a bit of catch up, I need to draw a Husky, a Pig, a couple of  Owls and a Penguin. No, not for the same picture but that would look interesting wouldn't it?

Have fun folks and take care

Jan x

Sunday 16 October 2011

Note Holders and To Do Lists

Another week has passed and the weather is getting colder, I woke up this morning to lovely blue skies and bright sunshine but my, it was chilly. I'm not complaining though, it is October after all. 

I had a table at a local charity fair on Saturday and although there wasn't as many people there as we had hoped, we done quite well. Most of my 'takings' were for commissioned pieces or personalised items so it seems like I'm going to have another busy week catching up on orders. 
Lots of business cards were given out so future orders may hopefully follow.





I did sell a few of my note holders.
These two were bought by the same person for Christmas 'Stocking fillers' for her friends.


 Another thing that done well on the day were my Chalkboards, you can check them out by following the link.


As part of the Wear it Pink campaign I decided that for the month of October, every time I showed something pink on my blog I would 'pop some pennies in the pot' at my local Cancer Research Shop
So I think this Plaque counts for a few pennies.



How about these, they are pink aren't they??


Don't forget, it is for charity.




Maybe followed by some of these.................for charity


Ok, so now I need to use this.................


instead of the 'real' thing.

I'm off to make myself a cup of coffee, with 2 calories worth of sugar then I'm off to pop my link onto the linky thing on Wendy's blog.
Don't forget to mosey on over to 1st Unique Gifts and have a look at what some other crafty peeps are up to.


Take care to one and all

Jan x




Sunday 9 October 2011

G is for.....

I've been very lax with my Alphabet Posts lately, so I thought I'd rectify that today.
I'm now up to the letter G and I thought I'd do a bit of a shout out for three of my favourite G 'things' and also combine this post with Handmade Monday.

I have a long list of blogs that I like to dip in and out of, one of my favourites is the Going Green Blog  which is a great community of crafters, artists and writers coming together to share ideas. Pop over and have a look, it's full of great ideas.                                                                                                                                                                                                                      


How about these cute Ghostie Suncatchers.

Can ghosts be cute? Yes I think they can.



These little fellows can be found at  Diomo Glass 
Folksy Shop or follow the blog HERE
A great idea for Halloween but would look good all year round.



or how about checking out this Goose at JonBurgess Art Cards. I love his quirky artwork and humorous animal characters. He not only makes brilliant cards but is a great illustrator too. Check out his blog HERE


 

My contribution for this weeks Handmade Monday is a G is for Giraffe Plaque I painted.



My customer chose the Giraffe she wanted from the following selection of designs.
Have you got a favourite one?

A selection of my Giraffe sketches

Don't forget to visit with the other bloggers who join in Handmade Monday

Wishing you all a good week

Jan x

Wednesday 5 October 2011

A day out

What lovely weather we have been having, I didn't think hubby and I would be enjoying a such a hot ride out during the first weekend of October.

Our transport for the day
  
We rode out to Denver Windmill  which is in North West Norfolk and on the edge of the Fens.

Denver Windmill

The Mill from across the fields

We crossed the bridges at Denver Sluice on the River Great Ouse, where huge sluice gates control the water levels across the fens. Without these great gates the high tides would flood the low lying areas.

View from the bridge

We enjoyed a traditional Sunday Roast sitting in the garden overlooking the river at the The Jenyns Arms


View of a sluice gate from the pub garden

The view of the pub garden from the opposite bank

On our way home we passed a lovely cottage that was up for sale.....


The garden is full of lavender plants, perfect for drying and using for Lavender bags and Pillows.

It's very picturesque but I don't think we will be putting in an offer.






We had a wonderful day out and I'm now fully refreshed and ready to continue my crafting.

Take care

Jan x

Monday 3 October 2011

All things Pink

I had a lovely request last week, a customer wanted a Plaque for her child's Play House in the garden, as most of you may know, daises and toadstools are favourites of mine so I really enjoyed painting this Plaque.

A Plaque for a Play House



Close up of Daisies and Toadstools


 
Most of the Name Plaques I make are 7 x 3.5 inches but this one is a bit bigger and chunkier at 9 x 5 inches, just the thing for the Play House, it has been protected with an exterior varnish so perfect for leaving out in the garden.

...000oOo00oooOooo00oOo000ooo...

It seems to be a pink week this week, a couple more of my makes are a Name Plaque for Poppy

A Name Plaque for Poppy

and Pink Bunting for baby Eden.

mdf Bunting

As my items are 'in the pink' this week I've been inspired by a great blogger, 'Caroline' of  Carolee Crafts to give a donation to Wear it Pink, click on the link to find out more about this great campaign.

I'm off now to have a look at the other great blogs that take part in Handmade Monday

Take care
Jan X