Thursday 26 September 2013

We love Autumn

I have to admit if you were to ask me what my favourite season was I always have to say Summer! I'm a bit of a sun worshipper and love the warms days and balmy nights...... although you might argue they are few and far between here in the Emerald isle! Don't spoil my illusion! We were spoilt this year with a fabulous summer so I'm sticking with the memories .......

BUT following very closely behind is Autumn or Fall as they say in the USA!
What do you think of when this time of year comes round?
I love the beautiful rich colours in nature that Autumn brings. The rich browns, rusty reds, oranges and yellows! 


I start to think about cosy hats, scarfs and gloves in warm chunky yarns, fleece socks and fur lined boots.
So with those colours in mind I've been searching around for you to 
find Autumn themed crafty stuff ! 


Autumn or "Fall" wreaths seems to be a very american trend but I, for one, love them! 
The stunning colours are so inviting and rustic, whether they're made from nature with leaves branches & twigs or created with the wonderful array of fabrics, felts or other craft supplies

So I thought I'd do my own version and show you just how easy it is to make a rustic autumn wreath
firstly I picked up a polystyrene wreath base in Inspiring Ideas in Blanchardstown for €2.50

I think hessain or burlap has a lovely autumn rustic feel to it, so I cut it into strips and started to wrap it around the wreath frame. I secured it with hot glue but I'm sure maybe mod podge might work too.


trim off if you feel theres too many stray fibres but the frayed edges give it a great look.
So next thing it to decorate!
let you imagination run riot!
Think dried flowers, fallen autumn leaves, burlap flowers, felt roses, beads etc
It can be as simple or as extravagant as you like!

This is my version, It took me about 20 minutes !!!



To make the easy burlap and felt flowers see previous post for the fascinator here

We'd love to see your versions
why not post to our facebook page here or email craftyfairs@gmail.com and 
we'd love to share your lovely Autumn makes !!


Gillian xxx

Thursday 19 September 2013

Halloween Spooktacle Handmade Goodies

Its coming up to that spooky time of year! 

I'm seeing a more and more beautiful handmade christmas goodies every day but lets not forget about the wonderful spooky stuff that crafters are making also. I've put together a little list of crafters, what they have for this halloween season and where you can find them

We love this colourful bunting from Huggable Home. Based in Waterford you can find a collection of knitwear, home accessories and gift


Kasia over at In My Nest has the best selection of adorable wreaths and 
we love this halloween themed one. Kasia also has an Etsy Shop

For something a little different pop over to Little Miss Sofi
for these fantastic exploding cards! 
You might find something you like in her Etsy Shop



How about some cute crochet pumpkin hats for your little monster. Pop over to Little Lids Siobhan
Siobhan has a huge range of crochet hats for all occasions. They can also be found in
Krazy Kids, Main st, Portaoise, Co Laois 

Or how about these window decals from The Crafty Shamrock  , a Dublin based business.
You can find them in their Etsy Shop The Crafty Shamrock



You can find these fab embroidered skull embellishments over at Little Snippets Craft Supplies
You might remember a post we did with Geraldine a while back..... you can read it again here

you can find some handmade costumes over at Handmade princess fairy & ballerina tutu's

This fab bracelet can be found at Miriam's Handmade Gifts
Another Laois based business. Miriam has a range of handmade jewellery for all occasions 

We will have some great tutorials & ideas
for halloween coming very soon! 



Sunday 15 September 2013

Winter Woolys - our favourite free patterns

So the kids are back to school, the days are getting shorter and theres a definite nip in the air.
Its official summer is over....
And wasn't it a great summer! The unpredictable Irish weather was at it again and 2013 it gave us a little heatwave .... Thank you!

So its time to start thinking warm log fires, cosy mugs of hot chocolate and dressing in our wooly hats, scarves and gloves.


Personally with my improving crochet skills, I'm looking forward to getting my hook out and hooking up some chunky accessories for myself and the kids.

So with that in mind we've put together for you a little collection some of our favourite free patterns online


Crochet




Knitting 





Sewing 




We would love to see your lovely makes!
Why not pop over to Crafty Craft Fairs 
on facebook and share with us. 
Remember to say you used one of these pattern recommendations !
Or share your own favourite patterns ? 

Wednesday 11 September 2013

Get your hook on in Dublin 15 !

A haven for knitters and crochet enthusiasts, since February 2010 News & Yarn in Blanchardstown village Dublin 15 is your one stop shop for all your yarn needs .


 Greeted with a friendly , family welcome this is a heart warming wool shop / newsagents located in the bustling village of Blanchardstown. Although it was originally just a newsagents, in recent years it has grown immensely since its introduction of wool. What started off as a 4x4 space has now taken over half the shop.
                                         

Manageress Barbara Fitzpatrick runs the shop along with her daughter Jenny. Barbara being an avid knitter noticed the lack of suppliers of wool so three years ago she introduced wool into the shop and hasn't looked back . Inundated with requests from customers for new brands and products Barbara keeps the shop well stocked at all times, from floor to ceiling is no exaggeration !  It all took off from there and is a roaring success in the local community.
There was a buzz in the shop from customers coming and going whilst I took the photos for this article, I had a good aul nosey around and was delighted to see such a range of new colours and brands for the autumn/winter seasons. Stylecraft is on of my favourites and have a new item, Trendsetter-chunky this is fab! gorgeous colours to choose from each with a sparkle thread running throughout, i will definitely be knitting up a winter cowl using this wool.
From Sirdar to Tivoli, King Cole to Katia , dk,aran,cotton,4ply, scarf yarn and lots lots more if you want it they have it !
Needles , hooks, lace, findings, buttons GALORE! it's great to see a busy shop in ireland :-).


Knitting and crochet has become so popular over the last year they felt the need to introduce classes. Jenny thought herself to crochet after taking a fancy to it from looking at a crochet magazine, one of the many craft magazines they stock in the shop. I have to say i was surprised when Jenny told me she was self thought, she certainly has the knack for it, expertly i might add!
Classes are held in St.Brigids community centre in Blanchardstown Dublin 15 and are drop in classes.Wednesday evenings 7- 9pm and friday mornings 10-12 . price is €4 per class , a bargain!, bring your yarn , needles , hook etc . which can be purchased in store beforehand where the girls are on hand to advise on whats best for starting out.
This Flutterby yarn is just gorgeous for baby items , check out the picture...


Lots of offers running constantly in the shop and sales dk for €1 , you've got a range of colours to choose from. There are literally thousands of patterns and books to choose from and i mean thousands ! I could spend hours going through them . Customers can order over the phone and items can be held for 2 weeks      

All in all a shop well worth a visit !
                                                                                                                                        
Sinead. xx

News & Yarn
Blanchardstown village
Dublin 15
018212644                                    
News & Yarn   

Sunday 8 September 2013

A day at the races - Fascinator Tutorial

Every now and again most of us are lucky enough to have a special occasion to go to, a wedding, the races etc
So in this wonderful handmade and upcycling world we are living in, its never been easier to have or should I say make a stylish fascinator to match your special outfit.

This weekend I had a day at the races to go to. Leopardstown Racecourse to be precise. The Red Mills Irish Champion Stakes day to be even more precise !

So I had my dress!
All I need is something for the hair and I'm away ......

Now I happened to be a sewer so that also means I have a fabric stash.

So I started with a simple fabric rose 
Cut a strip of fabric to your desired length, this depends on the size of the flower you want..... mine was 34inchs

you have 2 options:

  • cut 3inch width, fold length ways and sew along edge 
  • turn inside out
  • iron flat 
This will give a smooth hemmed edge


 OR 
you can cut a length of fabric and leave the edges raw to give a rustic slightly frayed edge

At one end fold in and fix with glue (I used my trustee glue gun) 
Start twisting the fabric outwards fixing with glue as you wrap around the edge


tuck in the end 

fix some felt to the back 

Gather your accessories: flowers, beads, lace, hairband, feathers 
arrange them and fix to a felt base 
glue to you hairband 

cover with another piece of felt 

Another option is to add your flowers to a comb. I covered this with a piece of matching fabric to create a larger base 

So I had 2 options that cost me next to nothing 

I hope that you like my little tutorial. You're individual style and personality will reflect in your choice of colours, fabrics, beads etc so you can guarantee you'll have a unique hair accessory 



And so myself, my mum Pauline and my good friend Edwina headed off. 
We had a couple of winners....... and some losers !




The style was outstanding! Its always lovely to see the amazing effort put in from those hoping to win Best Dressed Lady & Best Dressed Man. 


Although the weather wasn't great ..... in fact it was pretty bad, 
we had a thoroughly enjoyable day!

Gillian xx

Monday 2 September 2013

Clever Craft Room Organising

So who has a craft room that is 100% organised? 

  • You know where everything is.
  • You have your fabrics or yarns colour coordinated
  • Your spools of thread are neat and tidy
  • Your paper is neatly stacked
  • Paint and brushes clean and tidy 
No?
Well you are not alone!

Sometimes with enthusiastic creativity comes a little bit of creative mess. I'm sure you have all had moments where you decide "ok its time to get my creative space organised"!. You'll spend a day or 2 sorting and arranging and think "yes I vow to keep it this way" Then within a week its starting to look a bit chaotic again.
I think we may have to except that it comes with the territory.
Don't we all have a head packed full of ideas we want to do and a mountain of half finished projects !

None the less we will continue to try to find clever storage ideas and tips to make our creative lives a little less chaotic!

Here are a few ideas I've found around the web that some of you might be able to adapt to your craft room/space.....  myself its a craft "area" what I wouldn't give for my own craft room !! Dare I dream?


I love this clever idea of using magazine holders for yarn storage 

label your storage boxes to make finding things a little easier 

One word - Ikea! 

you can never have enough jars for storing your buttons and beads

simple and cute 

I love this thread storage idea 

And here are some beautiful craft rooms I've found online that will give you all serious 
C.R.E (Craft Room Envy !!)



I'm right aren't I, the little green eyed monster has popped out 

Don't worry you are not alone ! 

Gillian xx