Marti Crafts

Blog closed

2011-04-14T09:33:00.000+01:00

Hello Folks
I'd like to take this oppurtunity to thank you all so much for your support over the last year or so, I have had to close my folksy store down and will not be blogging anymore due to illness and I hope you all keep doing the handmade thing, its good for your soul.
So you all take care and make and grow and mend!
Lots of love to you all
Marti

Cassis Oil Cookies (easter biscuits)

2011-04-06T14:27:00.000+01:00

extra large butter cookie men

Daisy shaped cookies, notice the small hand coming in for a steal!

Today we decided to make huge ginger bread men without the ginger and used Cassis Oil instead which is typical easter scent and taste. These men are so large I could only fit 2 onto my cake stand! Now we made ours with a vegetable spread as my LO's both have a milk intolerance.

The recipe for these is so easy as follows...

500g plain flour
1 tsp baking powder
2 eggs
200g castor sugar
7 drops cassis oil
250g chilled butter (vegetable spread)

Heat oven to 175 Degrees C.

Mix all ingredients together, form a nice dough on a floured surface, Chill wrapped in clingfilm for 40 mins in the fridge, Heat oven to 175 Degrees C. Roll out to about 3-4mm thick and cut with your favourite cookie cutters. Bake on floured or greased baking trays for 8-12 minutes.

Perfect!

Gardening & Crab Apple Jelly

2011-04-04T08:35:00.000+01:00

Mini disaster - March winds?

Garlic, Spinach, Spring onions, Mint, Bay tree,

Large pot (left) ready for new potatoes

A peony popped up beside the bird bath
& Cosmos seedlings growing in the front

The beans are still growing, slower outside as its still cold yet

and finally my new crab apple tree

One of my favourites to grow and to use is Crab apples, so I purchased a new crab apple tree for our new home, and one day when she's grown into a tree we will have delicious crab apples. You will be able to find this recipe in my Family Cook Book once it's published....So here's a recipe for the jelly.

4 kg crab apples
1 kg caster sugar
1 lemon, juiced

Makes 6 x 500ml jars

1.Wash the apples, removing any bruised fruit. Put in a saucepan, fill with water to just cover the apples.

2.Bring to the boil and simmer until the fruit is soft (about 30 minutes).

3.Pour the pulp into a jelly bag or several layers of muslin and let drip overnight into a pan. Do NOT squeeze the bag or it will make the juice cloudy.

4.The next day, measure the juice, and add sugar in the ratio of 10 parts juice to 7 of sugar. Add some lemon juice, then bring to the boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar.

5.Keep at a rolling boil for 40 minutes, skimming off the froth. To test the set, chill a dessertspoon in the refrigerator.

6.When the jelly is set, it will solidify on the back of the spoon. Pour into warm, sterilised preserving jars and tightly seal while still slightly warm. Store in a cool dark place.

ENJOY!

Stage 3 of summer dress

2011-03-30T21:24:00.000+01:00

Well stage 3 complete.

Added some bias binding in a floral pattern.

Picture number 3 is my mothers day card (a bit early) in the form of Millie as the hungry green caterpillar.

How cute!

Dress stage 2

2011-03-29T23:08:00.000+01:00

second stage complete

Now I have sewn all of the peices of fabric together I just need to get all of the trimmings for the neck line, and sleeve holes, I have a sample of the fabric and will go in search tomorrow for embelishments, possibly bias binding and then a coursage for the dress. Also it may need an underskirt, Will have to wait to see stage 3 .... watch this space!

Summer dress & cake!

2011-03-29T16:52:00.000+01:00

Birthday!

Cut dress pattern

I made a birthday cake with bunting on, 37 flags for my OH. Yummy!

Then today I cut out a pattern for a summer dress for my neice (if it goes to plan!) its a trial make for the bridesmaid dresses I am going to hopefully make for October. I now just have to sew it all together, and add a zip??? ahhh!

Car tidy

2011-03-28T15:41:00.000+01:00

My OH was cleaning my car over the weekend and had a little moan about the kiddies feet being on the backs on the chairs and about the amount of toys and rubbish we collect... So I decided to make some pockets that tie to the head rest to solve both problems. Ive made this one and a spotty one so both the girls have one each for all their "in-car essentials"

Made from left over fabric

What do you think?

Is there anything you've made recently to solve problems/issues you have?

Gifts added to Folksy Shop

2011-03-25T23:42:00.000Z

My Folksy shop now has all of my goods in for sale, that I have been making for the past month. So please feel free to come along and have a peek, if you click on my name ---> MARTI CRAFTS this will take you directly to my shop. Also whilst you're there check out a shop called Lauramics. I have just brought two amazing hand made bowls from Laura there, and they are so lovely. Will post a picture of them later. Righ well I had a lovely time at the craft fair tonight, and came home with out spending anything except my stall money so that was a good night!

My Millie

2011-03-23T01:15:00.000Z

Millie a couple of years ago

This is how I think the cooking should be done.... This was almost 2 years ago when we lived in our little apartment with a huge garden! She still loves to bake now, I'm glad she enjoys cooking, its such a relaxing job....and if it's not you're doing something wrong!!!

Childrens aprons & Ceramic hearts

2011-03-22T12:38:00.000Z

Blue paper rose ceramic heart

Ivory ribbon rose ceramic heart

Pretties

Apron modelled by Millie

Fruit oil cloth

Set of 8 Unisex childrens aprons

I have spent the morning making these ceramic hearts, they came out better than I thought, so im pleased with them them. They look great hanging up.

I've also made 8 aprons from an oil cloth fabric for our local Sure Start childrens centre for the children to wear whilst they prepare their food and snacks. Making 8 in one go was abit tricky as my attention span is like a gnat's. But I did it and they even have my Marti Crafts labels in them just for a bit of good advertising! I will take them in on thursday when we have our next toddler play session.

Now its back to real world and the chores need doing, oh the ironing, the hoovering, the washing etc etc.

Joys of spring!!!!

Aprons wrapped and ready

2011-03-21T16:06:00.000Z

All wrapped and labelled

who will buy???

Well thats another job, jobbed!

I Love it when you finish a project.

Now just have to do some selling!

xxx

Gifts ~ ready to be sold

2011-03-21T12:47:00.000Z

Purple design

Green design

Well 4 more gifts now ready to be sold.

Love these I want to keep one for myself!

I have also brought some nice fruity style oil cloth fabric to make some childrens aprons as my next project.

Also I am now a registered Childminder,

It took me 6 months to get registered and do all of the relevant courses and peadiatric first aid But now its all done Yay!

Hope fully I will soon have lots of little crafters in my home with me!

Leave me comments on how you think my gifts have turned out wont you?!!

Custom order complete!

2011-03-19T20:59:00.000Z

Apron finished !

All wrapped and ready to go

Well, what a lovely day we have been blessed with here in Somerset. Sun shining, A trip to IKEA for our wedding decorations and a Maccy D's all funded by my gorgeous OH. Got home and finished the apron for Liza. Next project is already swimming in my head!

Custom Order Apron & More

2011-03-19T00:17:00.000Z

One plain pocket with white ribbon

...Now has pretty pale pink rhinestones on

Chiffon neck tie (adjustable) and "Nails by Liza" has
to be attacthed but its too late to have the sewing machine
going! So a job for tomorrow

Ceramic heart with embellishments for Mothers day

Well I have started the apron that was ordered last week, and all was going well until it got to 12am...Then I couldn't use the machine or I'd wake the whole house up! So I will finish it off tomorrow ready for delivery.

I also brought some gorgeous ceramic hearts today that were crying out to me for a personal touch! I thought I might hand paint a couple of them with some nice sayings. So that's it another crafty day in the Marti Crafts household!

Baby & Toddlers knitted jumper

2011-03-17T15:53:00.000Z

Roo wearing her peek a boo jumper

What's in the pocket?

Eeeeek a mouse!

How adorable?

Just received this in the post amongst a little selection of jumpers and cardigans knitted 'with love' by my Granma. I just love this jumper, the idea is so brilliant. Roo looks a little like a boy in these pictures but the seriously cute factor is still there. Aww I love my granma - Thank you!

More gifts in the making

2011-03-16T20:40:00.000Z

Painted the boards
white,pink and gold and then distressed them

Close up of the distressed look

Added some writing to the bottoms

Covered the notepads and stamped a design,
then used my hotfix tool to add rhinestones

Close up

Thomas working with me tonight

I have been working on the gifts for the pamper evening on the 25th March. Had some help from my daughter and Thomas our cat. Im waiting for holes to be drilled into the boards so I can add rope to hang them up by and they need pencils attatched to them too. Tomorrow I shall be working on the custom order for an apron for a lady who has put in a custom request.

Tutorial to make favour pockets

2011-03-12T22:22:00.000Z

10 Steps to make favour pockets.

All of my products apart from the paper came from Karen a lovely stampin up demonstrator There are so many great ideas on her blog to try, I am going to use these, well, similar to these as my wedding favours. So I am practising for mothers day. See my Marti Crafts on facebook to see how I've filled them and the extra embellishments I have added.

Stamp the card (half A4)

Stick double sided tape to one end

Roll into a tube

Stick double sided tape to inside of one end of tube

Squash the two sides of tube together

Add tape to the other end of tube its at this
stage you would add something inside the pocket
(Nice chocolates?)

Squash tube flat in the opposite direction to the first one

So this is how it should look now

Use the crimper to crimp both ends of your pocket

This is the effect the crimper gives

TA-DA! one favour pocket

Aprons

2011-03-09T11:52:00.000Z

Made a few aprons for a fiar im doing on the 25th March, I have made one with double pockets and its looking good, My order for my Marti Crafts labels came today aswell so all my handmade goods will all be labelled to show that I designed and made them!

Then me and my best friend Cara went and had a lovely day together getting pampered and had a photoshoot, here is a selection of the pictures I had done, they are really too expensive to buy so we brought a couple each and the studio gave us the contact sheets to keep. So these are from the contact sheets so they are not the best quality but a nice reminder of our day together.

New year New Projects

2011-03-02T09:22:00.000Z

First project of the year was to make a set of wedding invites for a lady, these were 3d hearts with silver loops, For 55 card I had to made 330 hearts to all be glued together and 110 silver loops, I also had to individually stamp all the hearts and backgrounds on both sides. Major project for a small amount of cards!

Then the second project was to make a pichard curry and Puri to photograph it for my cookery book that I am writing, So we made it according to my father-in-laws recipe and it was actually really scrummy! A meal perfect for a saturday afternoon. Needs to be served I am told with apricot jam. The puri is absolutley fantastic, even the children munch away at that.

Then the next project was to install the raised vegetable bed ready for the growing season. We had a wonderful time on a sunny day in febuary. Millie gardening in her tiara of course! Also we planted 27 garlic cloves and they have started to grow already! I have never grown garlic before so it will be great to see how that comes along.

Then the next project was to start making my own wedding invites, After the time consuming job of making the 55 for the client at the beginning of january, We decided to go go for a simple design as we had 150 to make! So I ordered the pieces I needed to get started from a brilliant company called "stampin' up" my local demonstrator is a lady called Karen Reeves, Karen's great really really helpful and the best demonstartor i think stampin up has! If you would like her details please message me. I would say that all of the products she sells and demonstrates are superb quality and well worth checking out.

The green, ivory and aubergine are the colours we have choosen for our theme, We chose gold brads for the male heart as my OH likes yellow gold and used silver loops for the female heart as I prefer white gold.

And finally the project im working on now is a set of aprons ready for a craft fair at the end of march..... I have chosen lots of bright retro fabrics.

So I am still alive and STILL crafting I just haven't found the time to blog my "doings!" So here we are all up to date again! Its nice to be back documenting my projects.

a picture from my last crafty xmas fair

2010-12-17T14:12:00.000Z

My stall

I had my last fair before Christmas and I had a VERY SMALL table so I only displayed a few pieces this time concentrated mainly on the chalkboards. There was a bit of a poor turnout so really it consisted of sellers buying from sellers! but we kept up the morale until an hour until it finished and we decided to pack up and go home! So came home with a profit but a bit of a meagre one! Never mind will keep the ideas stacking up ready for the new year. I'm introducing loyalty cards next year where you have a card and after you buy a certain number of my gifts you get one free! How splendid! Well I hope you are all ready for the Christmas celebrations and I wish you all a very merry Christmas and a PROSPEROUS new year!

******And a special thanks to all my customers and my family mainly SHADANN for his hard work helping me after his own hard days work and my friends especially CARA for helping me and supporting the HANDMADE world!

How to make chalk boards

2010-12-09T10:03:00.000Z

paper template

MDF/wood

chalkboard paint

any shape

First of all you get your design, I think about roughly about foot square is an ideal shape to start with and draw it onto paper. Then you get your obliging partner or yourself whoever is handiest with a jigsaw cutter and get them to cut out on 12mm (1.2cm) MDF your shape.
Then once you have your shape give it a good sanding on the edges so there is no rough pieces, then I found that using a small roller is a great way to get even coverage onto your board, first roller the edges, getting into the crevices with a paintbrush, then just simply roller the front side, leave for a couple of hours and roller the back side, make sure you give them at least 2 coats of the chalkboard paint.
Next when the boards are dry, I drill 2 holes into the top edges and attach some plaited twine to make an ideal hanger.
There you have an original chalk board perfect gifts for any occasion.
(on the rectangle shape ones I buy rub on transfers and decorate them round the edges making sure I leave room for someone to be able to chalk onto the board)

making gift wrap paper

2010-12-08T06:05:00.000Z

Today I brought 20 sheets of plain paper for £1.20 and have stamped them with various designs to use as the tissue paper to wrap my craft gifts in for when they sell.

Plain paper before they are stamped

green leaf design

heart design

words and hearts

I am hoping that wrapping in these pretty papers will just add a finishing touch to the way they are presented, especially when I post gifts off its nice to recieve something well presented and after all its "handmade"

I am getting ready for 2 more craft fairs that are coming up so we have new shapes for chalkboards and have to get a move on blacking them up and have an array of aprons to get stitched up.

Custom order...

2010-11-29T22:55:00.000Z

Sefton's Jeep

This will have a couple of small holes drilled in the top corners to add some wire for it to hang from once the clear coat of varnish is dried. To make a door/wall hanging of a little boys jeep personalised with his name "Sefton"

I think this is the first "boy" thing I've ever done! So I am hoping its "boyish" enough...watch this space

100 facebook likes!

2010-11-29T14:15:00.000Z

Add caption

.....Ben Patient. Congrats Ben, Address details will be sought and gift will be handmade and posted to the lucky man Ben! Im trying really hard now to advertise and network to get Marti Crafts a recognised and liked business. After all what can be more heart felt than getting a personal gift for someone you love?

Custom order for bunting

2010-11-28T13:20:00.000Z

Personalised bunting

This is a new make for Sunday morning. What a lovely way to keep out of mischief!

Horse clock

2010-11-27T21:42:00.000Z

Horse clock (silent motion)

My middle daughters christmas star

This morning I took 2 of my daughters to a local craft fair and Millie made a christmas star, I think crafty-ness is in the genes! I love it! Then this evening the horse clock got his mechanism added and is now finished ready for delivery. the hands are silent motion so you do not get the tick tock sound. I think its rather cute to be honest, not that I am bias or anything! Also made a few christmas cards with Millie earlier this afternoon. So very cold we didn't want to leave the house, the woodburner was a delight to sit beside today.

Another custom order completed

2010-11-25T12:06:00.000Z

Personalised bunting

If anyone has an unusual name its often hard to buy things that are personlised so I have started making bunting that is personalised with those more unusual names on, This is an example of a pink & purple 8 flag bunting that I have just finished. Depending on how long the name is they range from £8 upto £12. Its quite a good gift idea too.

Custom order completed

2010-11-23T19:46:00.000Z

6 handmade doorstops

I had to complete an order for a lady and have now finished it. So they are all packaged up tonight and ready to go. Also packed up a parcel for my friend CARA and one for my friend Jane. So now need to get back to the real world and sort my house out!

All set

2010-11-20T06:55:00.000Z

Marti Crafts stall

My new mannequin

Personalised heart

Well my neice Hanny and my middle daughter Millie helped me sett up the stall last night ready for todays fair. As a thank you I made Hanny a little heart for her bedroom. Thanks girlies! Hanny was great setting up and helpful and had some constructive comments too. She is a little love. Millie was good too but stole yet another cat doorstop for her own and named it "Pete" So fingers crossed that today goes well and I can get some money for the clothes show at the NEC in Birmingham next month.

Chalkboards

2010-11-17T13:51:00.000Z

Rectangle chalkboard

Heart chalkboard

Chicken chalkboard

Today's work included these chalkboards, 6 in total we still have to add the rope to hang them by, but I am really pleased with them and I have lots of ideas for more to come.

Also I made some more Lavender scented hangers but in green and red ready for christmas, and posted off my pink polka dot cat doorstop that was brought by someone from my

MARTI CRAFTS FOLKSY store.

Early morning productions....

2010-11-16T12:13:00.000Z

Lavender hanging bags

Granma's puppets

Green hat with pink flowers

White and green hat

Blue, orange,purple and cream hat

I got up at 4.50am today with Baby Roo and whilst she went back to sleep I started to make some lavender bags with the big bag of lavender that my friend gave to me, they look really sweet and will look great on the stalls this weekend. Then when the postie came my Granma had made and sent me some hats and puppets that she had knitted for the stall... How sweet.

Aprons & Doorstops

2010-11-15T12:23:00.000Z

Afternoon Tea fabric Apron

Mums pinny (comes with matching childs pinny)

Pleated Apron (comes with matching childs apron)

Cat door stop

Doorstop

Have spent the weekend busy making things ready for 2 craft / xmas fayres this weekend coming, Also have in production some really great chalkboards, lovely chicken designs and heart shapes, kindly cut out from wood by my ever~giving man. On deciding to narrow down the amount of different things I have been making it gives me time to concentrate on the finer details of how to display effectively.

No one likes a muddle do they?

Let me know which are your favourite items and also your not so favourite, so I can work on those that are not up to scratch.

Beautiful fabric

2010-11-12T13:12:00.000Z

Afternoon tea fabric

I got this fabric yesterday and I love it, so I have cut some patterns for some aprons and thinking I might make a recycling bag from it to maybe, you know one that holds all your carrier bags tidily. Looking at making oven mitts and pot holders aswell but need to buy insulating wadding for those so you dont burn your fingers!

Blackboards, Patchwork & Doorstops

2010-11-10T21:51:00.001Z

Painting with blackboard paint

Personalised Patchwork Quilt

An unfilled cat doorstop

Trio of doorstops

I have less than 2 weeks until my next craft fair and so have to start getting ready, My stall will be different this time in the sense I am going to concentrate on 4 things: Doorstops, Blackboards, Wooden sentiments and clocks. Hopefully this will flow better than having a real mix of products to sell.

I had an order for 3 doorstops in the cat range, so those are now finished, I have had an order for some pink & purple bunting, thats in my "to sew" pile, then I have an order for christmas cards, those are all done, and I have had an order for a horse clock so thats the next job ( has to be ready for christmas so thats ok no panic). Then today a member of staff at my daughters day care asked if I could make her some bunting and a table cloth for a fair she is doing and thats soon. The patchwork quilt I didn't make (shhhh!) but I personalised for my oldest as she's been a bit under the weather and needs something to snuggle up with.
Looks like things are growing in the Marti Crafts world!
WooHoo!

Purrrr fect doorstop

2010-11-08T15:22:00.000Z

Why are all my doorstops funny?

Kitty

I did my first Craft Xmas fayre

2010-11-08T08:13:00.000Z

One end of my table

Then there was a spare so used the other to display more!

Well my first first christmas fair was ok, i learnt that its probably best to sell maybe 2-3 different things rather than lots of mish mash handmade stuff as I felt it looked a little messy, probably my display techinques are not great, but im going to make myself a few stands to make the things look even more professional ready for the Yeovil Craft fair at Abby Manor Barn. 21st November. Come along to see how I've improved my set up. But everyone was friendly and feel really pleased that I did it. Well done me! And i didn't make loads of money but came home in profit even after spending some money (naughty!)

Frustration!

2010-11-05T10:57:00.000Z

I've spent ages uploading my pictures in a way that I can display all of the wooden sentiments on one page so i do not have to spent hours uploading each one onto my blog and it wont work! Sobs! I need to learn a few more tricks I think.

Any hoo I've managed to get everything prepared now for sunday and Im ready to go to the fair yay!

Various sentiments
on the cupcake range

Christmas sentiments

Home sentiments

The xmas gingerbread men

My price tags

2 of my girls relaxing whilst mummy crafts!

Millie and I made some things from Plastiroc (clay)

....So I had to upload just one of each to show you, I really wanted the 20 in one picture I think I will have to seek some advice on how to do it. Millie and I made some bits from a meduim called Plastiroc this morning whilst baby Roo was sleeping we made a tortoise, a house and some butterflies so we can make them into a mobile when they are dry. I love crafting with the children they are so free in what they do as they have no preconceptions. I wish I was like that in my ideas.

On the stall so far...

2010-11-04T04:31:00.000Z

I will be advertising my Posh Pinny

Selection of cards

Marti Crafts Banner

Fairy dress hangers

Bunting

Door stop set

Wooden sentiments

More bunting

Pram / Cot blankets

Drawcord bags

Hnadmade clocks

& more pretty bunting

This is a little guide as to roughly whats on my stall being held at the Brookside school Crafty Christmas fair, in Street Somerset at 11am Sunday the 7th November.
Come along and support us it will be a fun day with lots of stalls and kids activities.

A few bits and peices

2010-11-03T21:12:00.000Z

Our pumkins went all gummy!

Millie eating supper in her handmade hat courtesy of Granma

Cottage Bunting

Pretty bunting this is the cottage bunting

Papier Mache birds (pearl eyes)

Super Duper Display

2010-11-02T22:47:00.000Z

A few of my decorative hangers still more to come!

What would I do without my super duper man?
Clever ole stick!

Close up of one of the hanging hearts

"Run Run you can't catch me im the Gingerbread man"
Posh little fella has rhinestone buttons & eyes!

Well what a productive day its been.

So far so good.

I've made a little list of finishing touches and I'm pleased to say I'm feeling rather satisfied.

Very happy with the doorstop I made today.

My friend Cara (check out her blog and shop whilst you are here) had my first attempt at doorstops in the shape of a doggie and I'm sure she will agree that todays effort was slightly better than Claude! Who was adorable but rather large and amaturish!

Sorry Cara, I promise to send you lovely freebies in the near future as thanks for all your wonderful support!

So anyways looks like I can get to bed before 12am tonight so good night all.

Door stop, draught excluder, bunting & xmas decorations

2010-11-02T12:51:00.000Z

Door stop and matching draught excluder

Boys bunting

Christmas decorations just need ribbon adding to be able to hang

I have been busy again this morning, what do you think of the first of the decorations?

I need to now drill holes in the top of each star and attach the ribbon and then they are ready for your tree!

I really like the door stop and draught excluder they came out well I think.

I have lots on my stall for little girls but not much for boys so I made some bunting from denim this morning.

Just need a few more good ideas to be made into real goods and wow, I'm on a roll !

Christmas cards, bunting, and pretty hangers

2010-11-02T00:29:00.000Z

I have secured these in sets of 2 onto matching card so I can sell 2 at a time

cutting out triangles for bunting

I had a trial run and made some embroidered with CAROUSEL and gave them as a present to my daughters day care

cottage rose set of bunting

sets of 5 smas cards all bundled nicely together

I have spent all day on and off (of course) making bunting and cards, had a lovely day just a shame time runs out, I have also been busy spraying my wooden decorations with Plastikote ready to have holes drilled in them ready for the ribbon to be tied onto them, and I also need to get them ready for the wording to be transfered or painted onto them, I sprayed them in the garage but its made the whole of downstairs smell, areosol can really pong, its no wonder we have not all got headaches!

More makes from Marti Crafts

2010-10-31T17:46:00.000Z

Fridge magnets

Pretty dress hangers

And our little pumpkin

Have now mananged to do a dummy run of filling up my table with the items I have for sale, and am glad to say I have manage dto fill up my table so not worried anymore about not having enough to sell.

I thought the children might like little fridge magnets in a basket to rummage through so made a few last night.

Our pumpkin looks really cute by the burner soSo happy hallows eve folks!
thought I would show him to you all!

Wooden hangers and Bunting

2010-10-30T01:57:00.000+01:00

Marti

Crafts

My bunting for my stall

Uploaded in black and white to keep the colours a surprise!

I have tonight stayed up silly late and made my bunting for my stall turned out pretty well I am pleased, it's 7 foot long and very cute. The woodens hangers have had the undercoat and also 2 layers of top coat except the cupcake designs and will soon resemble christmas tree decorations and hanging pretties. This is my idea of relaxation and its time for myself when the rest of my tribe are sleeping. Now must rest as it was my little one's birthday today and tomorrow we have lots of chores to do....Night all

Posh Pinny

2010-10-29T12:22:00.000+01:00

Diamonte Lettering is what makes these aprons so POSH!

Almost finished: my very own to wear at the craft fair

These will be made to order and will sell at £20 per apron, they are fully lined and you can have any name you like. 

Card stand and Birthday cake

2010-10-29T10:27:00.000+01:00

My card stand

My daughter with her homemade birthday cake

As promised is the photo of the card stand that I will use to display my cards at the fair, I spent a bit of time this morning putting all of the cards into cellophane card bags so they look all professional.
And it is my middle daughters 3rd birthday today and here is her cake she made ...Yummy lemon cake!

More makes for the craft fair

2010-10-28T16:41:00.000+01:00

Spent the morning and half of the afternoon making some cards to go on my stall.

Now feel like I am getting somewhere with the makes! I have a lovely stand for the cards I will take a shot of it and post it on here so you can see how I will display them on the stall.

2010-10-28T05:14:00.000+01:00

blue drawstring bag

dressing up fabric used

Nappy bag?

nice long handle so you can pop it out of the way of your little ones

Ahhh! pink teddy pram/cot blankets

After finally ditching the flu (almost) I got on the machine today and made baby blankets (4 of) I also made 4 blue drawstring bags of different sizes, I thought they might be nice for toy tidies or PE bags, I also made a nappy bag from some Libertys fabric, took up a hem for a friends dress and then cooked a stew, mash and homemade pizza's with the children, now Im ready to collapse again! I have now 10 days left till the first craft fair and am hopefully in full making mode! Tomorrow I shall start with the little wooden hangings I think.

Nothing to do with crafting but please read...

2010-10-25T21:49:00.000+01:00

Dana Nieder has written a peice on her blog that has touched my heart and I feel needs to be shared ..... please click on this link and read her post its very heart warming and very true regardless of your childrens needs or disabilities, There is a lot of people who are slightly uncomfortable with the topic of disabilities and how many of us avoid the subject even with those parents we know have a child with a disability? Dana Nieder's version of welcome to Holland

Finished handmade clock - cupcake £10

2010-10-17T13:06:00.000+01:00

Cupcake clock £10

At last the clocks are almost finished here is the first one and is for sale in my Folksy shop MARTI CRAFTS priced at £10 click the link to take you directly to my little store

Look At My Posh Apron !

2010-10-14T22:55:00.000+01:00

my first apron with Diamonte lettering

I have made this for my mum as it was her birthday

Double sided

These diamonte letterings are so very cool

I made this first apron for my mum as it was her birthday in september but I have been so busy and I have just got round to it tonight. I will post it to her first thing in the morning. I hope she likes it....Im thinking these should be great for christmas day, we all get dressed up lovely then cook christmas dinner with our nice outfits on so thought I could add a touch of class to christmas day cooking!

And some more this afternoon ....

2010-10-13T16:16:00.000+01:00

todays progress

In bertween snuggels with my smallest daughter I managed to paint 7 clocks today. Now must let them dry varnish them and add any embelishments and then the mechinisms will be ready to be fitted.

Handmade clocks being painted

2010-10-13T12:02:00.000+01:00

butterfly clock

cupcake clock

butterfly clock

flower clock

I am now getting back on with the clocks as I now have 2 craft fairs booked up in november so I need to get a wiggle on as there is also lots more to make beside the clocks! I need santa's elves here really!

A new look for the tub chair

2010-10-10T20:54:00.000+01:00

The seat cover looks a little loose but its completly removable.

Box pleat on the front hem

Detailed arm rests

Pretty mermaid tail pleat

ta-da finito !

Well its finished on time ready for Liza to use in her nail bar in the salon.

The plus side is that you can take off all the covers and underneath is the chair as it was before it was covered from cream to black, I think with a few more practises and a little time...I COULD MASTER IT!

I think I have learnt a few lessons like measure not twice and cut once but measure twenty times and cut once is more like the rule to follow.

Project how to recover a tub chair

2010-10-09T01:38:00.000+01:00

Behind the little one is a tub chair due to be re-covered

Placing and marking out the fabric ready for pinning

Trying to get the inward curve whilst working inside is just confusing!

The mess I made in my dining room!

Finally marked, measured and cut

Not a great shot but I've made a feature of the arm rests

base added and pinned ready for machining

Not yet stuffed or the box hem on but im almost there! (its gone 1 in the morning though!)

Yay! I am finished for the night! I have been given this job to recover a tub chair with black fabric and to make a red cushion to co-ordinate with it, So having never recovered anything other than my school exercise book, I took on the challenge rather boldly saying " oh it wont take long!" I thought I had 3 weeks then Liza (whose chair it belongs to) then said "oh i need it done by midweek!" ARGH! But you know I love a mission...Anyhoo Im making really good progress and the photos do not do it justice, so stop by and see it when its finished or even better if you are local pop to see Liza and get your nails done here's a link to her amazing work. Perfectly polish'd

Well worth a little look!

Started to paint the handmade clocks

2010-10-07T09:51:00.000+01:00

Still have a pile to do!

Using Acrylics to paint the MDF and then will laquer the tops

The cupcake clock (only half painted though)

The chugger chugger boat! half painted too...

The flower one also half finished!

The clocks are coming along now, i have various shapes as you will have seen in previous posts and I have brought some lovely embellishments for the like pearls and diamontes for the girly ones I am sure they will look top class when they are finished.
Also yesterday my personalised diamonte name turned up ready to go on my very own "posh" apron which I shall personally be modelling at the YEOVIL ABBEY MANOR craft fair on november the 21st. Look forward to seeing some of you Somerset crafters there.

Clocks cut & primed today

2010-10-04T12:23:00.000+01:00

Using the jigsaw to cut out the marked shapes

2 clocks cut

10 clocks cut and primed with undercoat

So thats done last night and this morning, the next stage will be to let them dry, whilst I have a think about what to do with some beautiful baby pink fleece that arrived from ebay this morning. Yesterday i also brought another sheet of MDF but much thinner and drew on it about 40 shapes and I will be making cute little christmas tree decorations like little gingerbread men and stars, I'm thinking that it's rather nice to have a decoration on the tree with the year on so for example "Christmas 2010" or something like that! And also little hanging hearts and cupcakes with ribbon for the loop hanger. They might make nice little presents for aunties, mums, sisters or nannies, what do you think?

The start of the handmade clocks

2010-10-02T19:39:00.000+01:00

The start: Take one peice of MDF and draw out several shapes

A fairy princess castle

A teddy bear AWWW how cute!

An Owl and a cupcake

I needed to draw shapes that we could cut out easily and would hold the clock mechanisms

Full length view

Next step is to cut out each individual shape and then they will need to be sanded and primed. A busy week ahead I feel!

HALF PRICE SALE IN MY SHOP

2010-10-01T10:16:00.000+01:00

MARTI CRAFTS ON FOLKSY CLICK THIS LINK AND IT WILL TAKE YOU DIRECTLY TO MY STORE ONLINE

New Marti Crafts advert on facebook

2010-10-01T09:46:00.000+01:00

Its surprisingly easy to set up adverts on Social networking sites, I have just set one up for Marti Crafts. You just follow the online instructions, easy peasy.
You know I think that the best step maybe would be to get an actual website of my own.
Does anyone know the best way of creating your own website?

Photo set of crafty makes

2010-09-30T13:32:00.001+01:00

lexi 022
Originally uploaded by Marti Crafts

over 100 photos of things I have made so far this year

New business Ideas for craft stall

2010-09-30T11:46:00.000+01:00

I have decided to make the most of the christmas craft fairs coming up and have decided to make a few of each item so I have a small stock to sell when the local fairs come up. But I will have to geta move on as christmas is only a couple of months away.
Items that I have decided to make are clocks like the one I made for the bedroom set as it turned out so well.
Hanging hearts and doves that will make very sweet little gifts or christmas tree decorations.
Very posh aprons with diamonte detailing thinking of doing them in black so would also be siutable for a man. Will keep you posted with updates of the making process.

Essentially its what I love to do

2010-09-24T09:59:00.000+01:00

These are the curtains being displayed on a pole held by the strong man in my life so I can take pictures!

Close up of the tabs, I have made them quite wide as I find they hang better.

Fully lined with professionl mitred hems! Woo-Hoo!

Back view of the lining and tabs.

And finally all packaged up in clear cellophane ... I'm proud of myself, You know it's nice to know that when it comes down to it I can do things I love to do and that's what this blog is essentially about.

TA ~ DA!!!

2010-09-21T22:23:00.000+01:00

Oh im feeling pretty pleased with myself ;O)

Phase 3 of the bedroom set

2010-09-21T16:48:00.000+01:00

So, so far I have made the pretty dress rack, the clock and the quilt and a lamp shade on a faux leather stand and a ceiling light shade and the name plaque, here you can see the clock which will tonight have the hands popping through the hole in the centre of the butterfly shape, have to make a hole in the top of the butterflys head to attatch the antennea onto her head and also the dress rack will have the hooks attatched and the brass fixings added onto the back to hold it on the wall you can also see in the name plaque photo that I have put Alexis's name onto the small butterfly canvases that make up the dress rack... So still to make the curtains then we are all made and ready for the bedroom. Any thoughts on my efforts?

Next phase of the bedroom set

2010-09-14T10:42:00.001+01:00

Have now completed the ceiling light shade and the leather lamp, I have started on the top coat for the butterfly clock, What do you folks think so far?

If I can get 100 followers....

2010-09-13T16:04:00.000+01:00

Quilt finished!

2010-09-13T11:38:00.000+01:00

Quilt if now finished and can get started on the curtains at last!

The lampshade that ended up in the bin!

2010-09-02T11:24:00.001+01:00

These lampshades I made a paper pattern then made the patchwork material to cover, I sewed the fabric onto the shade then wanted it to have a sheen effect so I used PVA glue to cover the shade and fabric, these pictures here are from when the PVA was wet, when it dried some of the patchwork fabric squares went see through and it was RUINED, So much for good ideas so im starteing again, a whole day wasted, but a learning curve!

Start of the clock

2010-08-29T20:20:00.001+01:00

I brought a clock mechanism, Then traced out the butterfly shape and then had it cut out and the back routered out to fit the clock mechanism and is now just being primed the it will be ready to be painted with my design. What do you think so far?

Posh stem ginger and dark choccy shortbreads

2010-08-28T22:40:00.000+01:00

Yumminess, perfect with Strong coffee, Im glad I made these ones! For the recipe look in Baking Magic by Kate Shirazi

Start of girls bedroom set ~ Patchwork Quilt

2010-08-28T13:04:00.001+01:00

Started with the basics of a patchwork quilt to start me off with the process.
pressing seams is the worst job ever!

New order for girls bedroom set

2010-08-27T16:40:00.000+01:00

I have just been asked to make a matching bedroom set for a little girl, So patchwork quilt, clock, canvasses, curtains and lampshade, Bunting and a wooden freestanding name plaque are all in the thought process at the moment, september is so busy so will have to find some special time to put aside for this task.
Thinking pink butterflies/cupcakes anything cute!

Diamond encrusted hearts

2010-08-17T15:42:00.000+01:00

I love summer holidays!
Its a pleasure baking with the girls, we made butter biscuits then covered them in icing and gems (I think I will eat the plain ones and leave the iced biccys to Millie and Co')

I am VIOLET too...

2010-08-17T10:36:00.000+01:00

VIOLET

You surround yourself with art and music and are constantly driven to express yourself. You often daydream. You prefer honesty in your relationships and believe strongly in your personal morals.

Find out your color at QuizMeme.com!

Although my favourite colour is really green

Garden delight

2010-08-17T03:32:00.000+01:00

Ventured into the garden this morning and didnt get back in till 4.30pm, I had forgotten how much I love the garden. I miss my home grown veggies and apple trees from our old place, We can grow some bits next year, They say that the tax is going up and groceries will get more expensive if thats possible ???
So will be watching the garden this year for where the sunny spots are and where the shade is so I can fit the right plants and veggies in the right positions.
So I got my UV rays I needed, the girls loved the fresh air and went to bed early and feel really positive about next year.

Cant get clip cards right....

2010-08-13T16:50:00.000+01:00

Brought some clips to make into birthday cards, the idea being that the clips can be used once the cards finished with, but need to work on the idea ALOT! as they seem a bit poor right now... does not help that the girls are helping! Dont normally post photos of the girls on here but this is a cute one!

Door signs from Granma's trees

2010-08-11T10:24:00.000+01:00

Today I made some door signs for our house from the trunks of Granma's connifer trees that she had cut down, Granma suggested I should name the house "DUNROAMIN" as I have had a bout 19 addresses in my little ole life so far!

doggie posted ...

2010-08-03T15:27:00.001+01:00

Doggie Craft Swap has now been posted to Cara Go visit her blog and check out her shop for some brilliant artwork and gift ideas!

New Handmade Cards

2010-07-31T07:28:00.000+01:00

Made some more cards to sell in the salon last night when I had a bit of peace and quiet. This is just a few of the ones I made.

Handmade storage heater / radiator cover

2010-07-25T01:34:00.000+01:00

Being in a villlage you get no gas supply so its all electricity. We installed new type storage heaters in the house when we brought it but they are still big and ugly. So shadann looked at getting radiator covers for them but the storage heaters were to deep for the fitting so taking a picture of the radiator cover Shadann made us our own, If anyone would like any thing similar made to custom sizes please get in touch.

Maxi dress from batik fabric table cloth

2010-07-20T14:28:00.000+01:00

Yesterday I brought a table cloth in a batik fabric and today turned it into a maxi dress! Didnt follow a pattern so had the seam ripper out a few times!

Test run on the dress

2010-07-20T08:04:00.001+01:00

Got my gorgeous Millie to try the dress this morning I was worried it might need shorts underneath but I think its OK, what do you think?

Finished the dress....

2010-07-19T22:23:00.000+01:00

....But it needs little matching short trousers I think, will have to wait to try it on Millie in the morning!

sewing and making a new girls dress

2010-07-19T14:19:00.000+01:00

After dropping my middle daughter off at day care today I decided i fancied trying to make a plain white dress embellished wih 3 pocked that have applique on them so found out of my fabric pile a Liberty peice called "dress up" and cut out 3 shapes, mocked up a little white tie top dress and heres my day so far ....(apart from the trip to the opticians that cost a fortune! I'll spare you my story of the huge opticians bill!)

New clothes stand photos

2010-07-19T09:21:00.000+01:00

These are the pictures as promised earlier today. What a find hey? Any one else had any good weekend finds?

Sew magic

2010-07-18T21:26:00.000+01:00

We took a trip to a local boot fair this morning and I got some absolutely brilliant bargains, I found 2 sewing manuals, one was a dress making encyclopedia and the other was just a how to sew book 20 pence each! Then I found a stand to display my clothes on for when I get to set up my own stall for £3. The bonus is that the stand will stand up on my table top as at a lot of craft fairs you get tables close to each other so there's no room for a clothes rail so this is perfect, I will take a couple of pictures so you can see my finds!

Expenses

2010-07-16T20:35:00.000+01:00

I am truly shocked at the price of fabric, I've even started to visit the charity shops for remnants now, The ladies from my local fabric shop have said every time they place their orders for more fabric the prices of cotton and silks are going up weekly. How can we make and sell our handmade products at a decent affordable price if the fabric is so dear in the first place? Anyone have any ideas on where to find fabrics that are not at high prices?

Gorgeous aprons

2010-07-15T08:01:00.001+01:00

Made these lovely mother and daughter aprons yesterday and have just listed them for sale in my shop. I did not follow a sewing pattern so completly original and they look so sweet on, I used Millie as my little model, I want these myself!

Shop link

2010-07-13T09:50:00.000+01:00

Marti Crafts Store
Click on the above writing and it will take you directly to my little shop.

New outfit for sale in Marti Crafts Store

2010-07-13T09:39:00.000+01:00

This outfit is so sweet its made with pretty girlie material, the top is double layered and has 3/4 length trousers and a sunhat to match. Its even labelled with the Marti Craft label for a professional finish!

New shop up and running!

2010-07-08T16:39:00.000+01:00

MARTI CRAFTS STORE This is my new shop I have just listed 3 new items for sale to get things going a bit! having lots of fun looking around the one material shop we have locally, im sure they will get to know me pretty soon

2010-06-22T21:02:00.000+01:00

Pictures of the food in no particular order are Granmas fruit loaf best served with a pot of tea, Blueberry muffins, Spinach and nutmeg muffins (me not having a sweet tooth so I found these were so delicious)and Sri Lankan fish balls of which I made about 30 and only ate them all the same afternoon they are so very good.

More makes

2010-06-22T20:54:00.000+01:00

I have been making some more things this month, the food pictures were taken for my cook book and another bag for millie's nursery bits. I have finally brought myself a second hand sewing machine and ordered some patterns, which include matching mother and daughter aprons (how adorable) Roman blinds and a selection of animals, for example a rag dolly and a big tortoise you can sit on! So hopefully once i get going as well as my cards I can actully get a little stall going to start selling some pieces, No more blood on the patchworks quilts from labouring away with my poor fingers!

new additions

2010-06-15T10:33:00.000+01:00

Not even nearlly finished this is just a pre mock made up with pins, still needs the frills added

Started to have a make time burst, made a patch work blanket with Roo's name embriodered on it, then started to make a dress for Roo out of an old pair of jeans. The frills that have not been added yet actually came from material used to make my mum's maternity nightdresses from when she pregnant with me so the material must be about 34 years old now.

Then made Millie a drwastring bag for her PE kit for daycare out of an old pair of my trousers!

Mothers day makes....

2010-03-15T11:15:00.001Z

I spent the afternoon making puppets with Millie, trouble was in order to play with them we had to wait for the glue to dry how impatient were we?! very! But they are good huh?

Mid march

2010-03-15T07:46:00.000Z

Heres a sample of the "removable bookmark" cards in making the rest can be seen on marti crafts on facebook. Take a look...

Is it possible to do a million things at once? I am writing a cook book, a novel, making cards, grabbing ideas for sewing crafts to make, all whilst trying to look after 2 girls; one is 2 years old and the other 8 weeks old! Yesterday I decided to start writing a book, I brought a leather bound book which I was going to use as a diary but when actually sitting there thinking about my day, it seemed much more interesting to write about someone other than myself, so the novelist is born! So cooking, cleaning, mothering, wife"ing" and crafting and Marti"ing"

Will my enthusiasm crash and burn?

NO!!!!

Crafty March

2010-03-12T10:02:00.000Z

March happened whilst I was not looking!

I finally had my 3rd baby girl on the 21st January so now Baby Roo is 7 weeks old and we are getting into some kind of "routine" so I can get back to being crafty.

I have made a few cards to get selling again in the salon and also made a little peg bag from one of Millie's tshirts the other night.

Its good to be back!

Late december

2009-12-18T14:33:00.001Z

mini bite size goats cheese and spinach tarts

pretty mince pies mincemeat mixed up with extra brandy and pecans and almonds

goats cheese tart with onions, mushrooms, and olives

mini christmas pudding truffles

sweet and sour beetroot side dish

Well its been a while!

The house at Broadstone is looking more like home after the move. We are ready for the christmas season to start and I have made nothing other than food! I have been adding a few things to my family cook book such as Nigella's mini christmas pudding truffles. (very cute) also a sweet and sour beetroot side dish for all those left over frozen beets from the garden. I made some cute goats cheese mini tarts and a different take on mince pies stolen from GMTV daily cook phil vickery! A large goats cheese tart ans some pretty mince pies.

Im very heavily pregnant now as baby is due any day. So everything feels like a mission.

All set though and ready for our new arrival and for santa to come!

3 new hand drawn card designs

2009-11-03T15:25:00.001Z

Just did 3 designs with ink and marker for some christmas cards that have been ordered.

Need to find some good wording for personal inserts for some future orders I have had in. Its actually rather difficult to be creative when you are surrounded by cardboard boxes and have no permanent work station I keep having to clear away my mess every 5 minutes as im in the nursery sitting at the table! What a set up!