Time...

...flies when you're enjoying yourself!!  Well when you're busy it does!

Lots of markets and fairs have passed since my last post.  We had great fun at the Hare Fair in Docking at the end of September.  It was in the church and Nicola Hart had worked hard in making all the stalls so pretty.  Others have not been so good, and my regular days at Docking and Swaffham have been good to slow, but I think everyone is checking their pockets these days, so I'm not surprised.

Back to the Hare Fair...hare bags, cushions and prints were favourites and I came away with all the hare cushions and bags having been sold.  I do have a couple of hare prints still, along with a variety of hound prints.

But I've been busy with orders, like the Mum and daughter set below.  Made from Annabel Grey's beautiful fabric, a little bag with purse to match mum's.  A cushion is now available...  Various colours of a my hand--knitted scarves, either frilled or fringed....more fringed on the way.

Christmas is beginning to loom on the horizon with shops having cards and decorations on sale.  Hand made bunting on sale and to order, along with decorations and gifts...

I'm at Docking Market on Wednesday...but there is no market on Friday at Swaffham, we have to give way to the Art Show, but all back to normal next week.

Docking...

...is a village halfway between me and the coast.  Not long ago an enterprising person had the idea of a local produce market there and Docking Market was born and you can find it at Dr W E Ripper Memorial Hall in the High Street.  It's a great mix of food and crafty gifts and ever growing, and from the 6th June I'll be there...so, I look forward to meeting everyone at 10am on that date!

I'll still be at Swaffham Indoor Market on Fridays...and will be there all weekend over the Jubilee (or that's the plan!)

Also had a great lunch at La Campagna can't wait for the yurt to go up and then visit for an evening.  Such a lovely couple...

And has anyone been watching Chelsea...the garden version, plants and gardens to die for.  So, if I can get rid of the rabbits, and stop next doors horse from eating my garden....I can be inspired!  With the sun shining on it...it's a work in progress!  My little bit of horticulture continued yesterday with a visit to Peter Beales Roses.  I simply love roses...especially the old varieties, but since childhood I've had one particularly in my life, it's called Meg and has large, single flowers of peach-apricot.  Why has it been with me for so long?  My mother bought it for my father on their second wedding anniversary, which was the week before I was born, it moved with us each time the family moved, and now has been settled for the best part of fifty years...and now I have my own...

Oh...and PS....they won gold at Chelsea...again!

Today is...

...my craft day.

The first Wednesday of the month...(and yes, it is the 1st of July!!), and a gathering of ladies claim the village hall for craft and lunch. We're an eclectic bunch...there are quilters and patchworkers...water colourists, card makers...embroiderers of varying styles, knitters...and other stitchers and makers. You take what you're up to at that moment...get a perfect lunch...again from the ladies. Homemade puddings for "afters" too. But, mainly we put the world to rights...like all gatherings do, and guys don't tell me you don't, because I know you do!!

This group have been meeting for about ten years, it was originally arranged by our local WI...ahem, when I was president...and it was decided to hold a few craft days to make things for our local fete...(which is very good, and if you want to come, just ask)...ten years later, things are still made for the craft stall, but amongst everything else...and although we've lost a few members, and I for one, have gone and returned, and new faces have arrived...they still gather and make...and have fun.

We did it again yesterday...we beat the Aussies!! This time by 55 runs... Sarah Taylor scoring 120, before being run out. England 259 - 6, Australia 205 all out.

The men have something to live up to, starting next week...

It's cold...

...it's wet and it's 4am. Woken by my shoulder pain, the clock said 2:59am, so I came downstairs, found the painkillers and am typing with my right hand.

I've read my football teams website, and our interim manager is staying through the "Festive Season". I'm not sure he feels very festive, if he knows that'll be it! But, it gives him some time to try to raise the team by the boot-straps....for they certainly need something inspirational. Maybe a few supporters in the dressing room would help....and I've just realised the cricket has started again...(please wait whilst I tune in!) There...cricket peace has come to the world.

I read through some of the blogs I follow, and some I dip into...it's always fun and interesting to read what others are up to, where crafters are showing, and how this world of artisans knows no borders. I'd love to get to a fair in Brooklyn tomorrow, and find a flea market in Los Angeles...view a painting exhibition at a car show room in the Netherlands. I might get to that craft sale I spoke about a couple of weeks ago. It's the last weekend of the craft, though the Christmas shop is open for the rest of the period.

We brought home our tree yesterday. We always have a real one, and now it's waiting to be decorated in the sitting room, and as I can't touch it, it'll have to wait until tomorrow...unless my husband's home early today. I also want to take down a unit in there, move the sofa over, and a cabinet my paternal grandfather made. I'm not sure if it's because things have been "on hold", while we were trying to sell, but I've become restless about homemaking, and now it's been decided life must go on...so the furniture moves, at least! And when the rain stops, and the sweep has been (we've had a rook family living in one chimney), I'll collect some ivy and holly from the garden, and make my other decorations...I use it to decorate the stairs, tables and front door.

And now I need a cuppa...