Where I've Been... Saltmarshe Hall Handmade Fair

Through my lovely friend Emma from Lemonade Sundays I was invited to attend a handmade fair held in a beautiful country house in the East Riding, on the bank of the River Ouse.

What a gorgeous place to spend a leisurely Saturday morning. The Grade II listed Regency house has remained in the same family for over 900 years and has been described as one of Yorkshire's best-kept secrets, and I can see why. 

The rooms are tall, spacious and airy. Decorated in keeping with the style of the period.  The large windows let the sunlight just pour in, the amazing chandelier in the morning room glints as the light catches each facet. 

I walked into the hall to be met with a gorgeous lemon cupcake, just what my morning called for. 

In the first room were a number of tables, the one that first caught my eye was bchicy. A wonderful mix of kitsch, shabby chic gifts and home accessories.

There was also a jewellery stall, Just Gems. Their stock comprised mainly of classically set stones that you get from homemade jewellery. 

Their products are well executed, just not up my street. I have seen lots of this style of jewellery and I like something a bit more original and quirky.

In the next room, was two more jewellery stalls and two handmade gift stalls. My favourite of which was Slights Crafts made by Gill Shaw.

A shabby chic mix of classic knitted finger puppets (some more contemporary than others - the jungle creatures were amazing), hanging signs and cards. 

Then last, but not least, there was the brightly lit breakfast room. Wow. They seriously saved the best until last. In here were another three crafty stalls. 

Sue at Spotty Dotty Crafts fashions amazing memory pillows and stuffed animals from your little one's baby clothes, as well as other bespoke gifts with a personal touch. A lovely lady and I look forward to getting some bits and bobs from her in the future. 

Helen's Homemade Home stall stole my heart. From the myriad of stuffed owls and cushions to the make your own cake plates and diy craft kits (keep your eyes open as I bought one of the owl kits).

The there is Lemonade Sundays, recently nominated for a Mumpreneur UK award, Emma makes bespoke jewellery from buttons of many colours. I currently have my eye on this brooch, and it is firmly on the I Want List.

Lemonade Sundays also ran a bracelet making workshop. A chance to make your own personalised button bracelet. More coming on that too soon. Don't forget when the What BeeBee Did... page finally reaches 100 likes I am giving away one of Lemonade Sundays' fabulous bracelets. 

This craft fair was put together by Gemma at Glossy Communications. I know I'm looking forward to hearing more about the vintage fair mentioned on her blog.

May your day Glitter & Sparkle!

BeeBee

Seasonal Flavours: Harper's Bizarre

Late last October I found myself wandering around a local craft fair in my home town. The scent as I walked in was amazing. After a leisurely meander, stopping by the Pampered Chef stall, a cupcake counter and some fabulous cross stitching I found out where the scrumptious smells were coming from.

I adore scented candles. But I find most of them disappointing. Never quite living up to the promise of their label or their initial sniff test. I am a huge fan of sweet caramel tones at the moment. Probably a comfort thing as both my mum and gran were bakers, at home and at work.

Made with natural soya wax Victoria, the lovely lady behind Harper's Bizarre, mixes each batch [of candles by hand. If you visit her stall you can also find limited editions that don't make it onto the website.

I'm currently burning Peanut Brittle, and have been since October - giving it a miss in December for a more cinnamon-based candle,  which is an incredibly cozy candle. I am lusting after so many others. On my long list are Cherries Jubilee,  Birthday Cake, Fruit Fairy, Spicy & Homey, Sweet & Musky, Sweet Pea and Cherry Pie. Those would last me a very long time indeed, and new ranges are brought out regularly. Recent additions have been Licorice Alsorts and Parma Violets.

If you are in the East Riding of Yorkshire you can find these vegan beauties at the UpMarket popup shop at Hull's Prospect Centre every Saturday 9-5pm and on the 1st Sunday of the month at Humber Bridge Farmers Market 9-1pm.

Her range is also available online at http://harpersbizarre.org.uk

At £8 per candle, or 3 for £20, each candle has an approximate burn time of 25 hours. Victoria has a fantastic nose and has even perfected a candle which smells like an authentic Jaffa Cake, which even now I still covet.

This is a great product which stays true to it's scent and lasts for ages, with a nice even burn and makes a wonderful gift for that someone special.

Valentines DIY: Jar of Love

To make your Jar of Love you will need:

Pretty paper, the origami/scrapbooking type.
Glue dots or glue stick.
I love you, either written or printed out in the style of a fortune cookie.











Instructions

1. Cut circles. My circles have a diameter of 4.5 inches, but you could go smaller – down as small as 3 inches – with no problem. Find a saucer, bowl, Tupperware, or some other round object with a diameter of approximately 3 inches and trace it over and over and over. 

2. Fold one of the circles in half, but don’t crease it. Hold it shut at the edge where the two sides meet. Once you've made a few cookies, you’ll be able to put the fortune in at this step. 

3. Using your other hand, grab the two “corners” – the places where you would have creased it if you were creasing it. Using your thumb and ring finger, gently pinch those two corners together, while pushing the centre backwards with your pointer finger. It sounds much more difficult than it is. When you do this, one of the pieces will crease underneath the other piece (or, if you are holding it, they will form a crease with both edges in the same direction – both ways look nice, so it doesn't matter). Crease the centre a little on the outside. 

4. Add a glue dot/dab of glue between the two ends of the cookie to hold them together. This is what will keep the cookie in the cookie shape. 

That’s it. Your paper fortune cookies are done. Now repeat three or four dozen times and put them all in a nice jar or bowl.

Valentine's DIY: Easy Crochet Bunting

I was looking for something different to do, and I came across this idea while I was googling. 

Simple Crochet Bunting

The only stitches you need to know are:-

ch - chain

dc - double crochet (single crochet in US)

I'm using a 4mm hook and double knit wool.

***

Row 1.  First, chain 2.

Row 2.  Work two dc into the second chain from the hook (ie. the first chain you made).

Row 3.  Turn your work.  Ch 1.  Dc twice into each of the two stitches.

You should now have four dc stitches in your row.

Row 4.  Turn your work.  Ch 1.  Dc twice in the first stitch then dc once in each of the remaining 3 stitches.  (5 stitches in row.)

 

Row 5.  Turn your work.  Ch 1.  Dc twice in the first stitch then dc once in each of the remaining 4 stitches.  (6 stitches in row.)

Row 6.  Turn your work.  Ch 1.  Dc twice in the first stitch then dc once in each of the remaining 5 stitches.  (7 stitches in row.)

 Continue working two dcs in the first stitch of each row and one in each of the rest.

Turn.  Ch 1.

Keep going until you are happy with the size of your triangle.

Fasten off and sew in the end of the yarn.

You can do the same with the original end of the yarn (at the bottom) or thread it through a glass bead before knotting and cutting.

To join your bunting triangles together, select your choice of yarn.  I chose cream.  Chain 30 (or more if you want a longer tie) and then, right side of your triangle facing you, carefully double crochet along the top.

Carry on chaining (I chained 6 in between each triangle) and dc-ing along the tops of all your triangles and then chain an additional 30 for the other end of the tie.  Turn your work, chain 1 and then dc your way all the way back along both the chains and dcs.

Fasten off and sew in your ends.

What do you think?

Valentine DIYs: Valentine's Wreath

I thought as Valentine's Day is looming, and I've been scrolling through different decorations on @pinterest, that I would try my hand at making a wreath.

As we are still feeling the pinch of the post Christmas/Birthday season I have made this from items I already had in the house.

Here I have an offcut of red material, a wire coat hanger and the inside of a laundered old pillow.

I made a rough circle shape out of the hanger, don't worry if it's not totally round as you are adding the wadding next. (apologies for the lighting, daft Yorkshire mid afternoon drizzly weather)

Then I took the red fabric. This offcut already had a hem on there which made then next step slightly easier/neater.

I wrapped the material around the wadding and sewed it with a rough running stitch. I did this all the way around the circle.

Then my mind moved to how do I decorate this?

BUTTONS!!! I have so many different styles, colours and shaped buttons. So I selected a few.