Competition Winners!

Just a quick note to say a big THANK YOU to everyone who signed up for my mailing list over the last few
weeks! It's great to have so many of you on board!

There have been so many of you that I have decided to pick TWO LUCKY WINNERS at random.  They are Betty and Claire. So CONGRATULATIONS you two!! I will email you shortly to ask for your postal addresses and then send your Fairy Calendar off as soon as possible.

Have a great NEW YEAR everyone! and I'll be back soon!

Thermals at the Ready!!

The girls and I are getting ready for our last two Craft Fairs of 2010.  These take place in the centre of Hereford this weekend - Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th December. Thermals are at the ready to protect us all from Jack Frost!!  Apparently there will be an ice rink there too! (An official one that is!) I've checked the weather forecast and Saturday says it will be a balmy 7 degrees!!

It's been really great meeting so many of you "in the flesh" over the last few weeks and I must say thank you to my helpers, Nicky and, of course Evie. Please do come along and say Hello if you possibly can over the weekend.  Plus it's a great chance to buy something completely different for your Christmas pressies.

Plus don't forget to sign up to my mailing list to be in with a chance of winning a fabulous Fairy Calendar!

Cheerio! x

FABULOUS COMPETITION!!

My Fairies of Much Pottering calendars have been a roaring success and before I sell out completely I thought I would give you a chance to win one of your own.

All you have to do for your chance to win one (worth £14.50) just visit my website - www.corinnephillips.co.uk  and add your name to my mailing list before 25th December

All names - including you lucky folk who already receive my newsletter! - will be put in a hat on Christmas Day and the winner will be notified by email and via this blog!

Thank you and Good Luck!

Didn't we have a luverly time the day we went to ....

My stall

Guardian Angel in waiting!

Stallholders all ready and waiting!

Clocks, fairies, cards and sketch books

Just add customers!

... Chipping Sodbury!  Evie and I had a very busy weekend last weekend.  On Saturday we were back at The Guildhall in Bath.  I managed to find some brilliant collapsible shelves at the local flea market the previous week which meant I could put loads more stock on show. So we met some lovely people in Bath and after we had packed up we went mooching around the Bath Christmas Markets which was lovely.  We had pancakes - maple syrup for me and chocolate for Evie - at one stall and bought some fantastic cheese - which was supposed to be for Christmas Day but I don't think it will make it until then!

Then it was off to a lovely little pub in Ford called The White Hart where it was great to have a hot meal cooked for us and then we tumbled into our Four Poster Bed !! and watched X-Factor! And because we had to leave so early they even made us bacon sarnies to take with us - now that's what I call service.

So Sunday dawned and, with bacon sarnies in hand we made our way to The Vintage and Handmade Christmas Fair.  What an absolute treat!  The atmosphere was brilliant and it was so lovely to see blogging friends in person!  I met Donna from The Fabric of my Life, had a good catch up with Viv from Hen's Teeth and Katie from Textile Treasure Seeker and Lizzie from The Washerwoman.  And of course Michele and Jayne who worked so hard to organise it all. Thank you both.

It's made me realise that I must get back to blogging on a regular basis.  Yes,  ... I know you've heard it all before! And before you say it I know I'm a hopeless case!

It was also good meeting all the lovely people who came to support the event. Thank you all for all your lovely comments and feedback.  

PANIC!!

Can you believe it - all geared up for working towards my Craft Fairs this weekend and they're going to switch our electricity off ALL DAY tomorrow to do tree cutting!  Talk about timing! Aaaargh! x

BIG WEEKEND AHEAD!!

Me hiding behind my stall at Bourton-on-the-Water!

I am just about to go into my studio to make more scrumptious goodies to put on my stalls this weekend but I thought I would just drop you a quick email to remind you that there are some fab events on this weekend.

Firstly, to coincide with the Bath Christmas Markets, I will be at The Guildhall in Bath on the next two Saturdays - 27th November and 4th December. The Guildhall is right by the Abbey so if you are attending the Christmas Markets and want a bit of a thaw out please do pop in and say Hello!

And secondly I will be at The Vintage and Handmade Fair at Chipping Sodbury Town Hall from 10 - 4 p.m Sunday 28th November. Just click on the link to go to their blog which has a full list of very talented exhibitors.  This will be my first time as a stall holder at The V&H but I have been on many occasions as a customer and I can assure you it is well worth a visit.

My daughter, Evie, will be helping me on the stalls and we are having a girly sleepover on the Saturday night which we are both looking forward to.  I think Evie has packed the "Bop It" already - although I'm hoping Twister gets left behind!!

As always, it would be great to see you!

Fairy Calendar - NOW AVAILABLE!

It was great to see so many of you in Bath this weekend. Thank you for coming along to say "Hello!"



I have now managed to get my act together enough to produce a gorgeous Calendar celebrating the Fairies of Much Pottering. This is available either direct from me at my Craft fairs or by clicking the link below:

 http://www.lulu.com/content/legacy-lulustudio-calendar/fairy-calendar/9521743




This is beautifully produced and features a different fairy for each month. It makes a lovely gift - either for a friend or why not treat yourself?!



My next Craft Fair will be at Bourton-on-the-Water on Saturday 20th November, and then back to The Guildhall, Bath, for Saturday 27th November and Saturday 4th December. Oh - and don't forget the Vintage and Handmade Fair at Chipping Sodbury on Sunday 28th November.



Have a fabulous day!

Christmas Approach-eth

It has been SOOOOOO very long since I posted an entry on my blog.  There are even new buttons I can use that I know nothing about!! - Alright so I didn't know many buttons before!

Anyway I just wanted to say that, if any of you happen upon this blog in the coming weeks - I am in Craft Market Mode - I will be at the following Craft Markets as listed and would love to have a few old friends pop by to say Hello!  Even though I am a hopeless blogger!!

6 Nov - The Brunswick Room, The Guildhall, Bath - THIS SATURDAY!! (so not panicking at all!)

20 Nov - Contemporary Craft Market,Victoria Hall,  Bourton-on-the-Water

27 Nov - The Brunswick Room, The Guildhall, Bath

28 Nov - Vintage and Handmade Fair, Chipping Sodbury Village Hall

4 Dec - The Brunswick Room The Guildhall, Bath

11 Dec - Hereford Contemporary Craft Market, Hereford Town Centre
12 Dec - Hereford Contemporary Craft Market, Hereford Town Centre

My work is also available at blue-ginger Gallery, Cradley, Malvern, Worcestershire WR13 5NW
and Fisherton Mill Gallery, 108 Fisherton Street,Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP2 7QY and on
exhibition from 13 Nov - 24 Dec at the Gifted Exhibition, Newcastle-under-Lyme Museum and Art Gallery

I have been working very hard making some gorgeous pieces and it would be great to see you if you are in the area. 
Please do come along and say "Hello!"

Here come the Girls!

I can't believe it's been so long since I have posted an entry on my blog.  Where does the time go?  Well I'll tell you what I've been doing and then maybe you'll forgive me!! ...

Here are some of my girls waiting for their wings. They get very chatty when they are together and love to gossip.  After they have wings they will be framed - so that's tomorrow's job!

I have also been working hard on my new silk clocks. This is a picture of some of them. The small ones were still waiting for hands in this picture but they are finished now. Am just waiting for another sunny day so that I can photograph the finished article - it's been a bit on the cloudy side here today.

Both the fairies and the clocks will be at art-upfront's next exhibition

at Blue-Ginger Gallery in Cradley, Herefordshire from 1st July.

I am just gearing up now for all the Craft Fairs I have booked for the end of the year. I think I will be all fairy-ed and clock-ed out by the time they come round!  But it is exciting thinking what I want to put out for sale although I do get quite nervous just beforehand!

Chris and I are doing a Flea Market on Monday - our first one as sellers! Evie is having a friend to help her as she has decided to sell her perfume bottle collection :-( So we have to price and parcel everything up this weekend. Wish us luck!

Anyway, I think I ought to go and feed my children! Would love to hear from you.

Have a great Bank Holiday!

Procrastination!

OK so I'll own up - I'm supposed to be in my workroom completing a commission for which the deadline is Friday!  Yes - this Friday - and I am out all day with my Art Group Art-upfront on Wednesday and at work all day Thursday.  So this is my only day and what am I doing?  Updating my blog!  I only came on to book my mum's birthday present - (two tickets to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre to see The Winter's Tale) and then decided that my blog was in need of a new post.  Which, to be honest, it is - where does the time go?
Anyway - the pic is of my cat, Archie.

Sorry Archie - Have we woken you up?  He's gorgeous.  I love how cats have their own little routines don't you?  I wonder if they ever procrastinate? 

So, whilst I'm here I may as well introduce you to my dog as well ...

 

Lulu

She is lovely. She is a cross between a black labrador and a border collie - and she is fab.  Actually she needs a walk - no- honestly she hasn't been yet - it's not procrastinating! I can get on as soon as we get back.  Why do I do this?  Anyone else have this problem?
My most favourite thing is to be in my workroom, creating and all the buzz of ideas that goes on and I find it difficult to drag myself away - but to actually get in through the door - and then to actually START WORK... I find it so hard. And the computer just seems to eat up time doesn't it? You just think you'll check your emails and the next thing you know an hour or two has disappeared! Or is it just me?
Well I'll say Cheerio and get down to it.  No more excuses! Honest!  (Now where's that lead? ...)

April Fool!

Meet April! She is a miniature fairy - about 4" from head to toe and she will adorn the cover of my latest work in progress - a fabric book!

The pages are made from silk noil which I have tea dyed and I have free machine embroidered the words. I will add found objects and other embellishments on to the pages.  The only problem is assembling the thing afterwards.  Originally I had thought I would just put the pages right sides together and then turn inside out but I don't think I will be able to do that if I have the found objects attached. So I will have to have a bit of a think on that one.

I wanted this page to signify the night time and so I used dark navy silk dupion and I have to say I am really pleased with the result. Although I don't think my photograph does it justice!

Aladdin's Cave

The other day my hubby, youngest daughter and I went over to Mum and Dad's to help them sort out the attic.  A lot of the time my inspiration for my work comes from my childhood and I had asked Mum previously if we had still got my Ladybird books but she said she thought she had taken them to school - she was a primary school teacher. So imagine my absolute JOY when this rusty old tin trunk came out of the attic and we opened up to find ....

All of my Ladybird books!  Plus Thomas the Tank Engine and Beatrix Potter.

We didn't find my favourite Thomas the Tank story which was the one where Thomas got stuck in the snow but we've only done half of the attic so you never know!

Unfortunately I ripped the picture on the cover of Samuel Whiskers because he scared me so much - plus he deserved it for treating the little kitten so cruelly!

It was a great day - and it was great to relive childhood memories.

What do you remember reading when you were a child?

Exciting News!

I have been working on a new project over the last few weeks and wanted to share it with you.

Just visit http://www.thefairytalemaker.com/ and http://www.thefairytalemaker.blogspot.com/ to have a look.

It would be great to hear what you think.

xx

Results Just In!!

What a busy week I've had. I've only just got round to doing the Prize Draw.

Thanks to all of you lovely people who signed up for my mailing list recently. There was a fantastic response but, as they say on Ant and Dec's Push the Button - and indeed all quality quiz shows!! there can only be

three winners - OK so they normally say one - but I am no cheapskate!!

The Fairies have chosen the three lucky winners who are:

Jayne , Maria Paula and Suzie.

They win a set of three fairy brooches worth £15!

Thanks again to everyone who joined - and keep checking back

- Exciting things are afoot!!!

Caught someone's fancy!!

Looks like someone's taken a bit of a shine to my new purchase!!

Competition Ends 1st March!

I thought I would share some of my latest Flea Market finds with you.

This delightful child's sewing machine is so cute.  The box has seen better days but

I just couldn't walk past it.

These are some gorgeous tins that I will use in my work at some stage.

I love the old text and graphics.

And here are a few other bits. Sorry it's not a brilliant photo.

The little bird is actually one of two that belonged to mum and dad.

There was a green one as well and they were on the Christmas tree lights.

We found this one whilst sorting out the attic. 

The little shoes - well I fell in love with them but I have absolutely no idea what

I will use them for - perhaps I was just feeling a little nostalgic.  My lot are growing up

so fast now.  Ruby is 14 on Tuesday! I can't believe it.

Thanks for all your supportive comments about the talk by the way!

It went well - I was nervous to start with but then got into the flow and actually quite enjoyed myself.

I'm glad it's over though!

The competition to win a set of Fairy Brooches ends tomorrow! So you don't have long to

sign up for my mailing list.  Just visit my website http://www.corinnephillips.co.uk/ and sign up and all

the names will go into a "hat" and 3 lucky winners will receive a set worth £15 each!!

Good Luck!

Knocking Knees!

My hubby and I actually managed to get away for a night WITHOUT KIDS over half term. We travelled down to Bath for the day and stayed in this pretty little pub called The White Hart at Ford which is about 30 minutes north of Bath.

Sorry about the quality of the photographs. It was very dark but I am a sucker for twinkly lights!

Whilst in Bath we came across this clothes store which had its window displays

absolutely packed full of vintage sewing machines.

There must have been at least 200! They looked stunning.

Everyone was taking photographs. Sorry about the reflections

but hopefully you get the idea!

Anyway the reason for the title to this post is that tonight I am due to give

a talk about my textiles/mixed media work!!! I haven't done this for at least

2 years and am getting a little nervous!

I am supposed to talk for an hour - which some of my friends will say would be

easy for me! - but I've tried and tried and it keeps coming out at 30 minutes.

Even when I try and pad it out it's still 30 minutes.

I'll just have to open the floor to questions and hope for the best.

Wish me luck!

Oh and by the way - don't forget to sign up to my mailing list to be

in with a chance of winning a set of 3 lovely fairy brooches.

Winners will be drawn on 1st March.

Competition Time!

I thought it was about time I ran another little competition!  So here goes ...

Everyone who signs up to my mailing list/newsletter on my website

www.corinnephillips.co.uk will be entered in a free prize draw to

win a set of Fairy Brooches worth £15!

The Closing Date is 1st March 2010 and there are three sets up for grabs.

Good Luck xx

Meeting up with Old Friends!

What a joy it is to meet up with Old Friends!  It was Up-Front's first Play Day since before Christmas. The snow had meant that it had been postponed - and more snow threatened to stop us today - but the Up-Front girls are made of stronger stuff!  Only Gilly Mound was unable to make it - and just in case any of us thought she was making it up she sent us this:

 

Not that we are a mean bunch you understand -but she was so looking forward to it and

then was thwarted at the last minute!

But, back to the Play Day, - much cake and tea was had by all - we didn't actually DO much today - just catch up on things and generally enjoy ourselves - What more can you ask for!

Not more snow!

Well, true to my word, I have taken pictures and am posting again.

Although - don't get used to daily posts - let me tell you it

ain't gonna happen! But everything did look gorgeous this morning

I thought it would be a good opportunity to share it with you.

This is the view from our front window this morning. Doesn't it look pretty?

Chris is having to clear the drive AGAIN! Just when I thought it was safe(r) to go out!

The school is closed once more. The children have only been at school

for 2 and a half days since they broke up for Christmas.

And, don't get me wrong, I love them and everything but I was looking

forward to a day at home on my own!!

And this is the view from the back window.

This is Evie's writing studio! Her ambition is to be an

author when she gets older (She was 12 at Christmas!)

It reminds me of Dylan Thomas's shed in Laugherne -

so you never know she may follow in his footsteps!

Not that I'm a pushy mother or anything you understand.

So what am I going to do today?  I was going to create

in my workroom but now I have three children around me

I doubt I'll get much chance.

Up-Front were due to meet and have our first Play Day of

the year but, luckily we postponed it until next week.

I can't wait to see everyone. It seems such a long time!

It'll probably be a bit of a "pottering" day but I may get

chance to watch one of those Doris Day DVDs I had for

Christmas! Yummy!

Enjoy!

New Year's Resolution?

This is Edie and she has just given me a right royal talking to and told me that this year I must post to my blog more regularly!! And, therefore, (I hesitate to put this in writing) I aim to do just that! I must also remember to take my camera everywhere!! I could often post an entry but find that my lack of images lets me down!!

Anyway, onward and upward - I am reading a fabulous book at the moment called "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society"by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Burrows. It is a collection of letters sent just after the end of the Nazi occupation of Guernsey in World War II.  It really is delightful and I would heartily recommend it to you.  It really takes you back to the glorious days of letter writing! and waiting for the Postman to arrive.

I have just finished and sent off new Fairy Wings which will be on exhibition at Leeds Design and Craft Gallery until the end of April - so if any of you are in that part of the country please do see if you can pay them a visit - they are a long way from home and, although they have been briefed to be on their best behaviour, they may get a little homesick!!