Finding my feet on Facebook...slowly!

As you may have noticed from the side bar, my little business, rebeccamaryjane's, is on Facebook! To promote my page a little, I am having a Christmassy-themed giveaway - why not take a look http://www.facebook.com/pages/rebeccamaryjanes/166961191015. Everyone who becomes a fan by 15th November will be entered into a draw to receive a small Christmassy parcel, which will include one of these:

Christmas Pudding Brooch

Well, I really must go now...more Christmas Puddings to finish and then I must return to the kitchen to add candles to the chocolate cake I've made for my lovely hubby, whose birthday it is today, and begin preparations for our small celebratory dinner tonight!

Back soon,

Rebecca

x

Spooky Afternoon

I had spooky afternoon yesterday making Halloweeny things with a small group of arty, crafty children at one of my workshops. We did tile painting...

made coasters and scary things to hang in our windows out of old CDs...bottle top bugs...

...a stop watch and compass!!

And I really liked this football tile!!

Bye for now,

Rebecca

x

It's beginning to look...and smell...a lot like Christmas!

Over the weekend I have been working on Christmassy things!



These crocheted Christmas pudding earrings will end up here. I am pleased with how they've turned out so shall be making some more to take to Christmas fairs and markets.

On Saturday the house was full of the spicy, vinegary aromas of this apple chutney bubbling away on the stove. By Christmas time, it'll be ready for a chunk of mature cheddar and a slice of home cooked ham...delicious!

And, yesterday, cinnamon and spice wafted from the kitchen as the mincemeat cooked in the oven - mmm, I love Christmassy smells...in fact, I love Christmas!

Back soon,

Rebecca

x

When will there be broccoli?

Oh, my poor, neglected blog! Where has all the time gone - it's been over 2 weeks since my last post! Well, I am here now...for a few minutes, anyway!

I've been busy finishing off a large wholesale order, which included kilt pins and brooches like these:


Having had quite a good run of sales over the last few weeks, I am busy making more stock and trying to update my various online shops, including a new outlet here. November is going to be quite a busy month with various fairs & markets and, of course, my Learn to Crochet Workshop (see side bar for details - there are still some places left), not to mention thinking about Christmas on a personal level! But I do like to be busy, so I am not complaining!

The nights are drawing in, which I quite like...curtains closed to the world, lamps on...time to snuggle down on the sofa with a hot drink and some crochet or knitting! I love he colours of Autumn! I can see this miniature apple tree from the kitchen window and have watched its leaves change from green to gold to this vibrant russet shade that brightens some the dull days we have been having of late!
There is no doubt that it is easy to see the seasons progressing at a pace by looking at all the changes in the garden and around abouts. However, while some things are changing quickly, others are taking rather longer! Each day I go to the bottom of the garden to our small veg patch and search...and always return to the house asking myself the same question: when will there be broccoli? Despite massive leaves and careful nurturing (you might remember this), there is no sign of any broccoli! It's been in the ground for a year...how long does getting broccoli take? Are we nearly there yet?


Bye for now,

Rebecca
x

Pushing the right buttons

I use lots of vintage buttons and, in my various tins, jars and boxes, there are lots that have special memories attached to them...memories of people, occasions, and outfits...and I could never part with those.


I made this knitted flower brooch a while ago as a special order for a lady's 60th birthday. Its centre is filled with special buttons that her daughter had secretly taken from the button box...one with memories of her father, one from her first nurse's uniform, one from a cardigan that the children had worn as babies. So many people that I meet at fairs and markets reminisce about button tins and boxes that they used to play with as children...and I'm lucky enough to still be playing with buttons making things like this Ladybird Flower Corsage:



"Is that a Ladybird ladybird?" I was asked. You can imagine my delight...someone had spotted it! My Ladybird Flower Corsage had pushed all the right buttons with this lady! It is a button from a Ladybird dressing gown from many years ago...and the lady remembered how she had had that dressing gown...and how she just had to have my Ladybird Flower Corsage! Powerful things, buttons!

What's in your button tin?

Back soon,

Rebecca
x

Busy making...

...new friends, contacts and sales at the weekend at the Wool & Textiles Craft Fair in Sheffield which, combined with a large wholesale order, has meant that I've also been busy making more of these:

Meanwhile, bags of these gorgeous apples and plums are waiting for me in the kitchen so it looks like I shall be busy making jams, chutneys and mincemeat over the next few days too!

My husband returned home from work with a box full of these jars, which were given to him by a work colleague on the proviso that she receives one back full of something!! - I don't think that will be a problem, do you?

I've just been busy making way around the Big Apple...no, not New York...this beauty:

A scrumptious 12oz apple...yes, it really is a standard sized mug in the photo! Delicious and yet another example of fabulous home grown produce that would never make it to the supermarket shelves because of its size!

Well, I should really be busy making more lovely brooches and Christmassy things so I had better sign off for today.....

Back soon,

Rebecca

x

Joy

My little bundle of joy....

is 16 years old today! 16 - how did that happen? It reminds me how much truth there is in the words of a poem that I used to keep on the fridge door when the children were small:

I hope that my children look back on today
And remember a mother who had time to play.
Children grow up while you're not looking;
There will be years and years for cleaning and cooking.
So hush now cobwebs, dust go to sleep,
I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.

Little did I realise 16 years ago what a wonderful daughter, friend, young woman she would become - I am very lucky indeed. Happy Birthday D! xxxxx