Handmade at Dar Msallema

ICHF at Bluewater

2012-02-21T06:11:00.008-08:00

Nice write-up of the Creative Stitches and Hobbycrafts fair at Bluewater in February. It was the first one they have held there, and it was excellent. I loved demonstrating there.

http://www.glowbluewater.co.uk/en/Blog/2012/February/February%20Success%20at%20Glow%20Bluewater.aspx

Harassed by a Chicken

2012-02-15T15:32:00.007-08:00

It's not the first time I have been harassed by a fowl. That was when I was chased by a cockerel, screaming my head off, at the age of three. This time it was a chicken who behaved more like my pet cat, with territorial rights.

Today, I decided to go to my allotment briefly - the sun was shining, and I wanted to see if the cooch grass had won again during the winter months. Last time I posted about the allotment it looked like this:

http://allhandmadeatdarmsallema.blogspot.com/2011/04/up-road.html

In the Autumn, I did quite a lot of hard digging to achieve this look:

My poor, poor fork.............

Pleasantly surprised, the ground wasn't too bad, and had not been taken over by an insidiously creeping carpet of tough green grass and unidentified weeds with roots that go down to Hades. So... I did a little digging, then realised I was not alone - something was lurking behind me - and scratching.

I turned and the chicken stared at me, then manoeuvred itself on to the clod of earth I was about to lift with the fork. Undeterred by levitating six inches, it clung on, beak darting in and out of the soil I was lifting. I tried moving up a bit on the patch. No way. The chicken planted one clawed foot on my boot and looked up at me, before moving on to the next patch of soil I was going to lift. This went on for some ten minutes, until I began to think one of us would get hurt ...... bets on who? So, fork put away, knocked mud off boots, and all the time the chicken fixed its beady eyes on me, while scratching and digging. As I left, feeling distinctly harassed, it stuck its' tail in the air and stalked off to the allotment next to mine without so much as a backward glance, thank you, or forwarding address.

A belated Happy New Year

2012-01-07T07:01:00.000-08:00

Hello, and here's hoping you all had a great Christmas and the new year hasn't started too badly! I have just updated my Facebook page with a new album - some of my unusual and original bunting, perfect for special occasions! Christenings, weddings, Valentine's Day, special parties.............

Bunting with a difference...........©.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dar-Msallema/162215410457015?ref=tn_t
http://www.etsy.com/listing/72354343/bunting-special-unique-birds-mobile

An item on Pin Interest!

2011-12-05T15:01:00.000-08:00

Oh, how nice! Judy has pinned one of my blue cushions on here....

http://pinterest.com/graffiti/blue/

http://pinterest.com/pin/689792394/

Blue via zibbet.com

Crikey It's Vintage! fair

2011-11-28T14:45:00.000-08:00

And what a great day it was! Absolutely packed out, interested and interesting visitors, people dressed up in vintage clothes - some were brilliant - music, singing.......

It was so busy, it was very difficult to leave my stand and go round to have a look, but friends assured me it was really good.

Here are some of my pictures showing the Handmade Haven.........my stand...

and a couple of others....

Roll on the next one........in March.

https://www.facebook.com/CrikeyItsVintage

The link above is to Crikey's Facebook page where there are loads of pictures being loaded up, and still coming! Do have a look.........

Movember

2011-11-16T16:51:00.000-08:00

About The Campaign

"During November each year, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men’s faces in the UK and around the world. The aim of which is to raise vital funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and other cancers that affect men.
On Movember 1st, guys register at Movember.com with a clean-shave face and then for the rest of the month, these selfless and generous men, known as Mo Bros, groom, trim and wax their way into the annals of fine moustachery. Mo Sistas are the women who register to support the men in their lives, raising funds by seeking sponsorship for their Mo-growing efforts."

Every penny is needed; I have lost two very dear male friends over the years to prostrate cancer, both taken far too young.

I have given two links here to the profiles of two young men I know well, who are taking part in Movember.

Please take a look, and donate anything you can to help.

Thank you.

http://uk.movember.com/mospace/1376880/

Movember - Martin Coleman's Mo Space

uk.movember.com

Martin's Motivation: is to change the face of men's health

http://mobro.co/TallTommyC

http://uk.movember.com/mospace/2569236/

Tom's Motivation

Is to actually grow something. Anything. Even a half-remembered dream of a stolen glimpse of the flicker of a moustache will do. It's a humble aim, but it keeps a man sane.

Calling all lovers of Handmade and Vintage..

2011-11-11T11:30:00.000-08:00

The second fair of this kind organised in Exeter. Put the date in your diary, and hope to see you there! After the promise of the first one by these organisers, I am really looking forward to it and being involved this time..............

Handmade and Vintage fair

2011-07-17T12:20:00.000-07:00

Last week I stumbled across a card advertising the Exeter Handmade and Vintage Craft Fair, a first for the organisers: it was to be held at the Thistle Hotel in Exeter last Saturday. I wish I had known about it earlier!

This is the rather enticing picture on the card...

I went along to have a look, and am really glad that I did. It was very hot and crowded in the hour that I was there, but the atmosphere was very pleasant, lots of tables loaded with varied displays, music playing, and plenty of food and drink available. It was interesting being on the other side of the table, as a viewer!

These lovely ladies, dressed as gorgeous ladies from the forties, very kindly posed for me...

Thank you, Lady Lace and Kitty!

Another fair will be held on November 19th this year - definitely a date to put in your diary!

http://www.thisisexeter.co.uk/Exeter-Vintage-Handmade-Fair/story-12757383-detail/story.html