~Busy making and crafting~

In amongst all the usual family stuff this half-term, I've made a few things to sell and also to give as Christmas presents.  I'm having a stall at J's school Christmas Fair, as well as a shopping evening in the next couple of weeks.
These brooches were made using Homemade Gifts Vintage Style by Sarah Moore . I used loads of felt, wool blankets, velvet, vintage fabric, doilies and vintage buttons.  I'm a bit too safe and precise with crafting, but I did try to be random with my fabric choices, which worked out better than over-thinking it. These will be lovely gifts along with some wristwarmers!

Some stockings made from wool felt - and I'm going to make some larger versions from a cream Early's blanket...

A hot water bottle cover made from a felted fairisle jumper (accidentally felted I have to say, but never mind)...

I love the velvet ribbon on this.  Remember to keep a look out in charity shops for jumpers suitable for felting. 
Is anyone else making their own Christmas gifts this year?
ooh and by the way, I have started work on the Lavender Attic shop, but being a technophobe it's taking me a while to plod through the process, but I'm getting there...

~Recent projects~

This piece of vintage dress fabric from the local village charity shop for £1...

(A decent piece, about 3 yards long and gorgeous quality)
...Has been turned into this...

A vintage- inspired pretty dress! It fits really well, so I'll be making it in a few different fabrics.  I'd forgotten how much I loved dressmaking - I had my first sewing machine and made my own clothes from about age 14.  (How I remember the black cotton floor-length trenchcoat I made myself in 6th Form!) Anyway, I'm back on track, and have finally mastered a neat, covered and shaped side zip - yay!
I used this New Look Pattern which is really really easy.

As well as selling my homewares and vintage treasures locally, I have decided to have some items available via my blog.  This recently completed Rose tea cosy is for sale if you click on the 'Shop' tab in my menu bar.  I'll add selected items on a regular basis, some vintage treasures and some handmade items.

I used Louisa Harding Fleuris wool for the body, with oddments of cashmerino and double knitting for the roses and petals. Hope you like it!

~Keep Calm and have a Giveaway~

It's anything but calm at the minute in my daily life and I'm sorry to say regular blogging has been a casualty. I have got a few finished projects and ones in the pipeline to share later this week,  but firstly I'd intended to have a 1st Bloggiversary back in early June, so here it is now...

♥ A canvas bag from the famous Yorkshire Betty's tearooms
♥ St Eval Orange & Cinnamon tealights
♥Keep Calm and Carry On magnet
♥Lavender Attic bunting made from Cath Kidston fabrics

I'm happy to post anywhere in the world so as many people as possible can enter..
 In order to join in please become a follower and leave me a comment below before midday on 1st July.
 For an extra entry, please cut and paste the giveaway photo as a linky on your blog, and let me know you've done this.
Good luck everyone!

~Stall Photos from Rivers Meet Market~

Stacy @Sostacysews and Lexie @secretthimble and I have had a lovely day at Rivers Meet Market in May. We were pretty quick at setting up our 3-in-1 pop-up shop - all ready with 30 minutes to spare for our flasks of coffee and jubilee chocolate brownies...
I aimed for a red, white and blue theme including some jubilee union jack bunting on the gazebo.

Best-sellers of the day for me were candles, vintage fabric, brooches, vintage knitting patterns and bric-a-brac. Unfortunately my tea cosy, mug warmers, pincushion and bunny didn't sell...

Below - some of Lexie's cushions made from repurposed coffee sacks and embroidery hoops - available on www.etsy.com/shop/secretthimble

Some of Stacy's lovely bags (right of photo) and she had lots of cross-stitched badges and cards that will shortly be for sale at Vintage Rose in Selby, North Yorkshire       http://www.vintageroseselby.co.uk/

It's a shame the warm sun didn't show it's face but thankfully it didn't rain!

~Lavender Attic, Rivers Meet & Lubylu Candles~

Next Sunday 20th May is the Market In May event at Rivers Meet Craft Cafe http://riversmeetcraftcafe.wordpress.com/
from 10am - 3pm where I'm sharing a stall with @sostacysews and @secretthimble.
I've decided to have a sort of travelling pop-up shop of Lavender Attic's favourite things where you can find...

♥Vintage-inspired homewares
♥Vintage finds such as kitchenalia, bric-a-brac, fabrics & buttons
♥Homemade lovely things 
♥ St Eval candles handmade in Cornwall
When I host an afternoon tea, there will be the opportunity to have a look. Tea, cake and shopping - it really doesn't get any better! Also I'll be happy to have a stall at fundraising events or even parties at home if requested. 

I'm also really excited to be a stockist of Lubylu candles - beautiful handmade natural wax candles which are made in Yorkshire by the very talented Lucy, who lives not too far from me. I have the pretty tins which are decorated with stamped wax motifs and glitter... 

and the gorgeous rainbow of colours in glass jar candles...

I met Lucy at the last Rivers Meet event and I'll be selling these Lubylu candles on my stall on Sunday.
I'm also planning to have a launch and shopping evening; no doubt with cake and perhaps a Pimms or two, one night in the next couple of weeks. Must get organised!
It's also coming up to my 1st Blogger-versary next week...I really appreciate it so much that you read and follow Lavender Attic.  I'm really pleased to have reached this little milestone along with 101 followers! Thankyou x