What has been happening around here?

The last three days I have been busy with the Salisbury Craft and Hobby Fair. We are at the end of day two and there is one more to go. There is a lot of work that goes into participating in an event like this and 80% of the work is behind the scenes.

Now being away from shop is hard because you can't take everything, so I do try to take a selection and ask if there is any special requests to bring along. There is always something I miss but that is generally the least of my problems. 

 Also there isn't much time for sewing but I do try to work my demos around something I am working on so even if I only get 5 minutes here and there I still get to make some progress on a project. So what was I working on, applecores for the shop sample of Sue Daley's Travel Companion using Sue's Bittersweet fabric range. By the end of day two I have finished the applecores panel and have appliqued to the background fabric.

So now to pin it and quilt the panel before finishing it. So tomorrow I will need another shape to feature in my English paper piecing demonstration.

Until Next Time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

PS More on the fair tomorrow.

Salisbury Craft and Hobby Fair Round Up

At the weekend I attended the Salisbury Craft and Hobby Fair which I have done for over 10 years. Things sure have changed in that time. Some good, some bad. That is life you take the ups with the downs.
 I have a real soft spot for this event it was the first big fair I tried. So even with attendance down over the last couple of years I still have gone to sell my wares. One of the things I love about this one is my spot. I am along a wall with a railing high enough that I can hang quilts along. This year I had the beautiful Pemberley Quilt (on loan to me) hanging there. She was eye catching to put it simply. There centre stage you couldn't miss her.

A few English paper piecing demonstrations using some of month #1 fabrics from our All Over the Octagon Fabric Club.

Thomas was popular with the kids that all the panels sold out leaving 3 kits only. They are part of the Quick Quilts series.

There was plenty on offer but fabric was the most popular.

Of course this little giraffe Raff was a big hit. So I have kitted it up with the pattern so you can make one yourself in this colourway.
Until Next Time
Keep Stitching
Cynthia

Salisbury Craft & Hobby Fair 2015 Round Up

I can't believe the Salisbury Craft & Hobby Fair is finished for another year. Time flies when you are with good company. We had lovely weather this time, it was still cool but at least there was no rain. I can't believe how many years we have been doing this event, it is over 15 years. Things have changed over that time, some good, some bad but that just like life isn't it.
Saturday was my best day.  It was a little bit quiet for me sales wise on the Sunday and Monday but that meant I could spend a little more time with the customers I did have and catch up with some of my market friends I don't see as often as I would like. Plus I did some work on my Inklingo black and white hexagon quilt which is starting to come along nicely except I seem to be missing 1 black hexagon flower. I will find it, I don't need it at the moment so it's ok.
Anyway back to the craft fair there was a good crowd each day with lots on offer over a wide selection of crafts, maybe a few too many jewellery stalls but who's counting.

As you have seen over the last few months I have had a few new animal friends arrive here at Cynthia's Ark and they were really popular at the fair. Having them sitting on the stall in a few different places sure did attract people attention, along with The Quilted Fish Pigs in Blanket slippers which I made up in Noosa at Cotton Carnivale early this year. So if you missed out because the patterns sold out they will be back in stock shortly. I know Larry the Lion will be back in stock in the next day or two as they are in an order on it way to me. I think there will be a few more new arrivals come soon to join their friends in store. I will keep you posted on their arrivals.

Now I have four weeks to restock the craft fair boxes for the Adelaide Sewing, Stitching & Handcraft Show starting on the 17th July to 19th July. I know there will be some more new stock arriving just in time for this event. It is alway good to have new stock for people to see.

Until Next Time

Keep Stitching

Cynthia

Salisbury Craft & Hobby Fair 2014

What a blast I had at the Salisbury Craft & Hobby Fair over the June long weekend. I didn't realise how many people I had to catch up with, so in between sales I was catching up with all the news from stall holders and friends I haven't seen in a while. Over 3 days there was a lot to do with promoting my products, demonstrating English paper piecing,  giving my opinion on a variety of topics, answering lots of questions, some were very interesting. At least they were all easy enough to answer on my part. I don't like it when I get that really curly question that I can't answer.  I had empty boxes when I packed up and that is always a good feeling as I must have sold plenty. I would love to sell out just once but I know that will never happen. I'm just too well prepared. Here is a couple pictures of my stall.

  The only problem with having such a good weekend was I got no sewing done. I'm itching to get behind the sewing machine and start on June's blocks that are waiting to be done. 

Until next time 

Keep Stitching

 Cynthia