A jolly old English time (just 6 months early)

I know it is only June and the weather has been (sometimes) really sunny but I have had nothing but Christmas on my mind now for a while. Probably because this is my favourite time and busiest time of the year and I'm going to be away in a foreign country for the first time EVER!!!

So I have decided to get lots of lovely stock all made up for the craft fairs around here and make sure I make the most of a jolly good old English time before I go. So here is another little sneak peak of what's in store.

These are just a few of my cards. Please don't mind the shininess but they are all locked away in plastic wrappings  for protection. For more pictures, please visit my Facebook page www.facebook.com.LBACouture

Working away

Been a bit of a tough week in the land of LBAC. Been beavering away making lots of new bookmarks and magnets and managed to upload onto Facebook quite a few pictures but it's been a tough old slog as my nan would say.

Half the time the weather has been dreary and I have just wanted to snuggle on the settee with my granny blanket reading my book (Dracula by Bram Stoker) then the weather suddenly decides to be nice and sunny and I want to bask in the glorious sun whilst we still have it.

Hopefully this time tomorrow the weather will decide what it wants to do so I can have a bit of regularity in my day. Mustn't do too much work though because I'm seriously running out of my special glue and it's discontinued. Never know anything to stick paper/wood/fabric/metal together like it does. If anyone knows of any other miracle glue, please let me know!

Hope you are having a wonderful week wherever you may be.

Photos of bits

FINALLY got to updating some photos on my Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/LBACouture of all manner of wonderful goodies. Managed to get a bit of natural light for this too which is nice for a change. Still in the process of cropping and rotating but feel free to browse all of the current photos. Updated especially, the bookmark and brooch sections

Cards

Finally managed to get a bit more organised and have posted all my up-to-date hand-made cards (including prices) for sale on my Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/LBACouture next stop will be all my brooches.

Cheat's Strawberry Cheesecake Trifle

Cheat's Strawberry Cheesecake Trifle:

As well as a lot of crafting, I love to cook. Unfortunately I sometimes don't have a lot of time to do anything extravagant so this is where I have a few cheat's recipes up my sleeve.

This is a basic thing that anyone can make, take a strawberry jelly and make to manufacturers instructions. I like to add some real strawberries in too. Once set, make a strawberry Angel Delight and put on top. Once this is set, add some crushed digestive biscuits and add a layer of cold custard on the top. Decorate if wish and it's done. Quick, simple but very tasty.

Magnetic

Unfortunately I have come down with a very large illness - magnet fetish fever. I just can't stop wanting to magnetise everything so it all sticks together. I've made big ones, small ones, flowery ones and educational ones but I just can't stop.

Anyone know a good therapist?

Busy busy busy

Keeping very busy designing and making lots of new goodies. Also have been uploading more pictures on my Facebook site http://www.facebook.com/LBACouture trying to keep everyone posted and up to date.

A lot of mixed media pieces are being designed as well as a lot of very affordable trinkets/gifts/etc. This is because I will be attending a lot of craft fairs in schools and I want to make sure that they're pieces that even the children can afford with pocket money.

Peek

This is the little peek of what's cute and coming up in Christmas:

And for more photos and info, find me here: https://www.facebook.com/LBACouture

Garlands

Just a quicky - Been rather busy the past couple of days making lovely felt garlands. Full of flowery and Christmassy loveliness. A few tweaks to be made to the designs, then I will give you a peek.

Keep crafty!

This week, knits and Christmas

This week...
When I have stopped moping around moaning about the constant rain, I have managed to find time to squeeze some work in as well as some crafting.
I have an inability to stop knitting when I get going which can get rather out of control. This is when the other half steps in and brings me back to reality. It also leads to me not organising things. This is why I have a hamper of wolly thing-a-ma-bobs...

Also, even though we have just crept into May, I have started on my Christmas projects. I fear that I will run out of time. Also, this year we are spending Christmas in France with my sister, her man and his family. (I hope I manage to remember more than one word of French when I get there. ) This means that I will have to make all orders up early and get them finished quick so having some stock in will be a bonus.
Just a little taster of what's in store for this year:

Keep crafty!

I will sneak it in...

So Sunday has rolled around again and I will shortly be going off to work. Just to my little part-time post. The other half will be going to his drum lesson soon so I will be able to sneak in an hour of knitting in peace before I go off to work.

I wonder if I can get another three scarves made in the hour?

Knitting

Today I will mostly be doing...finger knitting!

It has just become my new little obsession. I can't put down the wool if I tried. Furthermore, not to help matters but my sister has decided that she would like me to knit her a couple of skinny scarves as well as making her some headbands (because apparently these are so hard to find in the fashion capital of the world - Paris - where she lives).

So anyway, as I was knitting away I realised that I have a massive knot in my wool. Don't have a clue how these things happen to me. So I decided to cut it there. It made a teeny scarf... or a cute and unusual necklace. So out comes the sewing basket and whoosh.. after ten minutes and a few choice swear words, I had fashioned a cute little necklace. Now I just have to hope my sister doesn't see otherwise she will be adding to her order and I'm pushed for time as it is.

Not sure if I am keen on the bow ribbon. Will have to have a play around.

Starting up

This isn't easy but I'm giving it a go. I am a person with sporadic free time periods on my hands and whenever I get the chance I pick up the sewing kit/glue/paper or what ever else is my latest half-finished project and try to finish. This blog will be full of my crafts, ideas and musings. Hopefully this will help inspire other crafters out there.

So hello and welcome. X