For A Friend

I feel your pain.

This is my prayer for you

The New Look Folksy Ra Ra Bazaar Store

The new look Folksy is now up and running and with it my Folksy store Ra Ra Bazaar.  I have been working hard to stock it with great handmade products for your home and for Christmas.  Take a look at it HERE

What will you be doing this Christmas?

Memory Wire Bracelets ~ Storm, Peace and Passion

These are three memory wire bracelets that I have created.  Memory wire is a fantastic invention that means fiddly clasps are no longer required and also one size fits all right from the small child to the adults

Click on the photo to be taken to find out more details.

Storm

Peace

Passion

Introducing My Sock Monkeys

I would like to introduce you to the latest monkeys I have made.  These cheeky monkeys were made just last week and after an outing to the farmers market where some of their friends went to new homes, these ones have now been added to my online store.  Ra Ra Bazaar

 

 Penny

 

 Rufus

 

Lola

We Shall Remember Them

Least we Forget ~ We will remember them

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: 

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. 

At the going down of the sun and in the morning, 

We will remember them.

Open House Christmas Event ~ South Cave East Yorkshire

The First Wednesday in December has become the date I always hold my open house.  This year it is Wednesday 7th December.  Hopefully the weather will be a bit kinder this year and the two foot snow drifts won't shut the world out of the village.
I'm really enjoying making Christmas decorations and this year will have loads of new styles for you to see.
it will be running from 9am until 2.45pm and then in the evening from 7pm until 9pm.
All are welcome to come and browse whilst enjoying free Christmas refreshments!

Miss you Most at Christmas Time

The fire is burning
The room's all aglow
Outside the December wind blows
Away in the distance the carolers sing in the snow
Everybody's laughing
The world is celebrating
And everyone's so happy
Except for me tonight

Because I miss you
Most at Christmas time
And I can't get you
Get you off my mind
Every other season comes along
And I'm all right
But then I miss you, most at Christmas time

I gaze out the window
This cold winter's night
At all of the twinkling lights
Alone in the darkness
Remembering when you were mine
Everybody's smiling
The whole world is rejoicing
And everyone's embracing
Except for you and I

Baby I miss you
Most at Christmas time
And I can't get you
Get you off my mind
Every other season comes along
And I'm all right
But then I miss you, most at Christmas time

In the springtime those memories start to fade
With the April rain
Through the summer days
Till autumn's leaves are gone
I get by without you
Till the snow begins to fall

And then I miss you
Most at Christmas time
And I can't get you
Get you off my mind
Every other season comes along
And I'm all right
But then I miss you, most at Christmas time

A lonely Christmas ~ A Comforting Card

I love Christmas (can you tell?), however in the build up to the event it is becoming more and more obvious that some people find it a real challenge. It's a time when loneliness, illness, bereavement, poverty and unhappiness must come to the fore.  So often when asked what does Christmas mean to you?  the response is "family and friends".  "It's a time when we get together to celebrate"  so how must it feel then to be approaching Christmas knowing that you won't be with your loved ones this year because of illness, bereavement etc. 
A few weeks ago, I saw  these cards (above and below) designed by Ghost Goose to offer a caring approach to those for whom Christmas will be tough.  Their beautiful sensitivity will offer comfort to the person receiving them.

Show someone you care this Christmas!

Mixed Messages ~ charity shop cull

I really enjoyed watching Retial Guru Mary Portas' "Mary queen of shops" and Mary Queen of Charity Shops. "Mary Queen of Shops" featured Mary Portas offering her advise and design skills to shops that had seen better days, were left in the past, or simply did not have direction.  She put together plans that uplifted the shops and gave them a new lease of life and those running them the knowledge and plans to build bright new futures.
Mary Queen of Charity shops showed Mary taking over a charity shop and turning the design and methods of running it around.  She gave it a totally new outlook, engaged the community and left a thriving charity shop in her wake.
So why is Mary now bemoaning the humble charity shop, encouraging local councils to put a cap on the numbers allowed on our high streets? http://www.bis.gov.uk/highstreet

Buy Local

Too Much Information

When I was growing up, it was in a time of  huge protection for children.  Things of a personal nature were not discussed out loud.  Matters of life and death were kept away from children and the news papers, news programmes etc did not show photos or details that would be graphic.

Whilst I beleieve that in modern society, children should be aware of life and death processes and be informed in loving and supportive environments There are certainly ways, means and limitations on what they should be subjected to.

How different it all is now.

This past weekend showed newspaper headlines, front page pictures in full colour and no holds barred.  The news programmes dealt in great detail of minute detailing.

I celebrate with Libya at it's freedom from oppressive leadership.

I do not however wish to see a close up of a bullet entry hole, the dead body of a man paraded, video's of the fear of a condemned man.

Let us instead celebrate a future, a new era and a free country

Crafts Tutorial ~ Papier Mache

I have been asked about making Papier Mache or Paper mache.
There are many recipes out there, but this one is the one I use and is a combination of many, resulting from much trial and error!  This results in a strong, thick and sturdy product which will last for many years.  It's not a quick method, but the quality is worth the process.
You will need:
Newspaper
water
wall paper paste
plain flour
Mold base or balloons etc

Use a ballon or upturned bowl as a base.  Layer up 3 or 4 layers of news paper strips and wall paper paste.  wall paper paste is used as it has anti fungal properties.  If making with children use watered down pva.
Leave to dry in a warm place.  (you could try putting in the oven on a low heat,  but be warned I tried and failed!)

Tear up the newspaper, add plenty of water.

 Boil until the paper disintegrates.

Use a liquidiser, food processor or wand masher to pulverise the paper (ideally you should keep one for none food use)

Drain water from pulp

Squeeze until it's as dry as possible

Crumble into a bowl

In a seperate bowl  mix flour and water and a dash of unmade wall paper paste into a thick gloopy paste.

Add the crumbled paper. Put in your hands and squeeze and manipulate until you have a clay like substance.

Cover the paper layered base with the clay paste.

Leave to dry.

Cover the pot with plain light weight paper or newspaper edges to give a good base for decoration.

leave to dry and then decorate with paints, paper etc.

Have fun

Craft Tutorial ~ Hanging Hearts

The tutorial to make your own hanging hearts can be found on Things To Make And Do.
You could also add lavender for a fresh all year round aroma or for the winter months add pouches of mulled wine spices, cloves or cinnamon sticks.