My new blog, rebeccamaryjane's, is up and running so please pop over and take a look!

Thank you

Rx

Things that make me happy: 4

My lovely studio...

a very happy place to be!

Rebecca

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Buttons & Flowers

One of my "things to do this year" is to try harder with this blog that I started nearly 4 years ago!  I have just about managed to keep up with Facebook and Twitter, but this has been sadly neglected.  I really don't know how others manage to juggle it all!  I am hopeful that my new camera will make it easier (and quicker) for me to keep things up to date so watch this space!  I have a smart camera that allows me to upload photos straight to social media sites...I just have to be smart enough to know how to use it properly!

Anyway, here I am!  A very belated Happy New Year to you all!  I  am so excited about all that I have planned for the year ahead...some things are business related and others are to do with home.  I hope to share it all with you here!

My first day workshop of 2013 will be taking place this Saturday...it is called Crochet Buttons & Flowers and I so looking forward to it.  The gorgeous colours I have been working with have really brightened up the cold, dark days we've having of late!   So, as you will see, I am still mad about buttons and flowers...

Rebecca
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Moving

If you 'like' my rebeccamaryjane's Facebook page, you will know that I have a lovely, bright, new studio that I am in the process of moving into! A blank canvas, a fresh start, new things...

  

 As usual with moving, you never realise exactly how much stuff you have until you have to carry it all up and down lots of stairs and load it into and out the car!  There's been a lot of that over the last few weeks!  

My new studio at The Mac Gallery, 12a South Parade, Doncaster is much bigger, much lighter and far more suited to the direction in which I want to take my business than the room I had before.  I couldn't let the opportunity to rent this space pass by!

More stuff...and there's plenty more still to come so down the stairs we go

...and down again

I really couldn't have managed it without the help of my lovely family: here's helpful hubby, wishing I would stop taking photos and carry something!

Now that everything is there, I have started moving furniture around, unpacking and started to settle in

I might re-arrange the furniture again, but I do like my small work desk by the the window

The union flag bunting over the lovely old fireplace was carefully arranged by hubby in the early stages of the move.  He's not usually very creative so, as a sign of appreciation of his efforts, I shall keep it there for the time being!

I am so impressed with the amount of space!  I love it and I think that I will be very happy there!

 Just a few more things to sort out!

I'm so glad I chose to move, so glad the moving part is over and ready to move forward with all my plans for the future.

Rebecca

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Flea market finds

Today is flea market day, which means that I shall be taking a wander round the stalls at lunchtime.  Last week I found so many lovely things, I could hardly believe it...and all for a grand total of £5.60!

Old books, crochet cottons, vintage buttons & snap fasteners...I'm in heaven! A vintage embroidered table cloth for 25p - it has a huge hole in the middle, but I'm not worried about that as it will be used to make more handbag mirrors or magnets.  An enormous pillow case with a beautiful crocheted edging, also for 25p.  I usually end up paying a lot more for vintage linens like these so you can imagine my delight!

Two pressed glass bowls at 20p each.  There was a lovely pale blue one too, but it was damaged so I shall be on the look out for another one of those - I wonder if there are other colours too...green perhaps?  I found one lonely etched glass (20p) and this has now joined some others of the same design in our glass cabinet ready for when we next "pass the port"! A very grubby coffee cup in a box full of crockery grabbed my attention...I love Portmerion Botanic Garden and thank heavens for dishwashers!

As you will see, there are a lot of flowers amongst my finds:

I love these old books with floral designs on the front - this one is from the pansy series.  I've been crocheting pansies too using one the crochet cottons that I bought for 50p.

So much for so little...I wonder what I will find today?

Rebecca

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BCTF

Last Saturday morning hubby and I arrived in Harrogate to set up for rebeccamaryjane's very first trade fair, a prospect that had been filling me with excitement and fear all at the same time! Here's rebeccamaryjane's stand at the British Craft Trade Fair, small and white...very white infact! I had underestimated how white, and did not imagine that there would be a white carpet as well! However, by mid-afternoon my lovely hubby, aided by 'S' hooks, fishing line and Velcro hook and loop, had helped me turn it into this:

I was pleased with the simplicity of it and how I had managed to display my products, but I learnt a lot and there are definitely things that I would do differently next time.

I had some lovely neighbours in the Newcomers' Gallery, including Stephanie and her gorgeous porcelain and glass made using vintage lace:

and Sarah with her striking display of contemporary jewellery.

It was a very tiring four days, but it was well worth it as I have come away with so much. I have made some new friends, I have put faces to names of Twitter friends, I have orders, enquiries to follow up, ideas to work upon, and lots and lots to think about. It was a very inspiring place to be and I thoroughly enjoyed it...so much so that I have booked to do it all again next year!

Meanwhile, back at home, the jobs have mounted up a little and, now that the sun has started to shine, the garden is calling me! There's so much to do out there, especially as we've been bold by digging up some of the lawn for two large raised beds, which will give us the vegetable growing space that we need. I'd better get on...

Back soon,

Rebecca

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Nic Noc's

A couple of weekends ago I visited Nic Noc's in Grimethorpe...

I love this old bicycle!

A warm welcome awaits you in this little shop that is full to the brim with gifts for all occasions.

There is so much to look at...

I'm so glad I took the time to visit Tina to deliver her order of rebeccamaryjane's goodies, which included more knitted flower brooches...

and more Liberty Fabric Handbag Mirrors.

Why not pop along and take a look...I'm glad I did!

Finally, I'd just like to say a huge thank you for all your comments and kind words...they mean so much to me. We are okay.

I am slowly finding my social network groove again and I hope to be blogging more regularly from now on...I've been away a while and I've lots to tell you!

Back soon,

Rebecca

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Distracted

I didn't mean to be away for so long, but I have been distracted...

by Audrey Hepburn, my daughter's new kitten, who likes to be at the centre of all that we do;

knitting and crocheting for rebeccamaryjane's

and making and creating with the children at my after school art and craft clubs.

It's been a busy time.

It has also been a very stressful and emotional time: my husband's brother has cancer and it has shaken us all to the very core. He is battling hard...and we are all trying to carry on as best we can.

Back soon,

Rebecca

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Summer

One of the things I love about summer is watching the garden come alive with colour. I love the vibrant shades of orange of this gorgeous lily that has come into bloom this week. It was gift from a good friend of mine some years ago and I am always amazed when it bursts back to life from its seemingly empty, weathered terracotta pot that stands on the patio all through winter. This winter its pot was even piled high with snow and ice for days on end, but it's still grown back...the wonders of nature!

Another thing that I love about summer is being able to have breakfast in the garden...I sit on the bench and just watch for while...bliss! Ooh, and another thing I love about summer...the fruit: the other morning I had muesli with yoghurt and nectarine, which was delicious! I know you can buy so many summer fruits all year round now, but I tend not to: I prefer to keep to the seasons. It might be all in my mind, but I think the fruit just tastes better that way!


I do hope the summer weather continues as I shall be at Hooton Pagnell Summer Fete on Sunday and I've been soaked there too many times before! Hooton Pagnell is a gorgeous South Yorkshire village with a fascinating history and the Fete is always good fun...even in the rain!

I've lots to do to get ready so I had better go...

Back soon,

Rebecca
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The Devil Makes...gorgeous scarves!

Just before the bank holiday, I was lucky enough to be the winner of a giveaway on Facebook...and this week, a pretty pink parcel arrived, making a delightful change from the all the boring brown envelopes and bills!

Inside was a pale blue tissue paper parcel from the lovely Woo of The Devil Makes Work...

inside which was this beautiful Hand Felted Mohair, Merino & Cotswold Lock scarf!

The Devil Makes...gorgeous scarves - I love its emeraldy green colour (although it looks more turquoise in the photo!), which suits my auburn complexion perfectly! Thank you so much Woo!

The Devil Makes Work is one of many small businesses that are using social media to promote their work. If you like my gorgeous scarf, you might 'Like' The Devil Makes Work's page on Facebook...who knows, it could be you that is the next winner of one of the giveaways!

Speaking of giveaways, I am having a monthly giveaway for people that 'Like' my rebeccamaryjane's page on Facebook...June's giveaway is a Vintage Embroidery Handbag Mirror.

I do hope the sun shines this weekend...it is June after all! If it gets any colder, I might be needing my new scarf!

Bye for now,

Rebecca

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It's all happening in the garden...and I'm off to Saltaire

I always get very excited at the first sign of growth in our little veggie garden. With the warmth of this week and a few April showers the mangetout peas have started to show in their pots

and the rocket has shot up nicely!

You will see that I have a piece of netting over the seeds (and other obstacles and contraptions that you cannot see) - not to stop birds or wild animals, but to stop this pesky critter...

...naughty cat no.1, who seems to think that any freshly dug piece of soil in his garden is for his purposes! The netting alone proved insufficient as he was caught in the act, hunched under it doing his business - I was not a happy gardener! But, he really is the most adorable, loving cat I have ever known and it is so very difficult to stay cross with him for long! Just stay off my veg patch!

On Sunday (2nd May) I shall be having a stall at the Saltaire Charity Craft Market, which is being held to raise funds for the Bradford City Burns Unit Appeal. There will be two rooms of craft stalls with "everything from bangles and beads to food and drink and everything in between!" There's also going to be café selling drinks, homemade cakes and snacks with all proceeds from the café being shared between The Burns Unit and Cancer Research UK - the latter being a charity that is very close to my heart at the moment. It is a new event and I am hoping that it will be a good one! Victoria Hall is a lovely location and Saltaire is a UNESCO World Heritage village - it's definitely worth a visit if you never been there. The Craft Market is open from 11am to 4pm with free entry to the public but, of course, any donations to the Burns Unit Appeal will be very gratefully received. If you're nearby, please do stop by and say "hello"!

On that note, I had better finish this post and get on with making some more brooches, mirrors....

Back soon,

Rebecca

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And the winner is...

Congratulations Becca! I shall be sending the parcel of goodies to you next week. Thank you so much to everyone that took the time to leave a comment - I have thoroughly enjoyed reading them all!

This week I've been making these with the children at art club...

...we've called them "squidgies" and I now have around 35 of the creatures waiting for me in the kitchen! Job for today: to give the Squidgies their squidgy filling and stitch them up!

I don't normally buy craft magazines, but I just had to get a copy of May's Knitting magazine as my Flower Hair Grips are featured in the 'Get Inspired' section (top right hand corner!).

I have to say it is a lovely magazine - I'm particularly looking forward to reading the 'WI Controversial: The Changing Face of the Women's Institute' article and I love this Strawberries and Cream Tea Cosy pattern by Patti di Cagli.

As it's another sunny day outside, I shall be doing a little more weeding, sorting and planning in the garden later. Lettuce, rocket, beetroot and mangetout seeds went in last weekend - a little late, but we always get there in the end! I am planning a good sort out at the bottom of the garden by the pond so that I can scatter some wild flower seeds and just wait to see what happens! Hopefully, a colourful display in late summer! Watch this space...

Back soon,

Rebecca

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Oh, for the life of a cat!

How can it be Friday again? It's been a week full of children's activities for me - starting Easter projects with my school-based art clubs and back to knitting egg cosies with the Brownies! The egg cosies are coming along nicely and we've begun making the pom-poms for the top. I've been invited back for a third week, which is really good because it means that all of the girls should be able to finish their work to take home for the Easter holidays.

I've also been working hard on my website - www.rebeccamaryjanes.co.uk. Not being a very technical person, I'm quite pleased with what I have achieved - perhaps you'd like to take a look and let me know what you think?

All in all it's been a busy week...oh, for the life of a cat, eh?


Back soon,

Rebecca
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Doing well!

I am so pleased to say that my lovely neighbour B is home from hospital now and doing well. Needless to say, I am checking on her all the time to make sure that she is alright...I just cannot help it! I don't think she minds though...not yet anyway! It's so good to have her back and, of course, the pussies were delighted to see her!

I am also pleased to report that Amaryllis is doing well...

despite having suffered the further trauma of losing a flower bud as a result of the antics of a couple of high spirited teenagers!

I don't whether the broken off flower will do well, but the flower in the pot is just beginning to open today...

and it is so beautiful...I love those colours!

I have been making lots more vintage embroidery handbag mirrors this week...

as they've been extremely popular since they were featured in the Telegraph Magazine! It was lovely to receive this pretty 'thank you' card from a customer saying that she was "thrilled to bits" with her mirrors.

I would also like to say thank you...thank you to everyone who has commented on my blog over the last couple of weeks...I appreciate it so much and I've not forgotten you! I hope to find the time to catch up on what all you lovely people have been up to very soon but, at the moment, it seems that doing well at one thing means not doing quite so well at others!

Back soon,

Rebecca

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