Thursday 21 August 2014

Keeping up to date!

Good evening from Fat Fairy H.Q. here in Warwickshire,
Now, I know I say this every time I post on my Blog, but really - honestly, where have the last 2 months gone since I last blogged?  I really feel someone is stealing the time from me...... and if anyone knows who it is or where the time has gone, please just let me know........
I can remember saying earlier in the year that I felt I'd lost a couple of months and I feel that again here + now! How can it be August already - how can my son be getting married next month - yes next month already! I feel nowhere near ready for such an emotional day.... and I still haven't sorted out and fixed my mascara problem!  The lovely Avril over on School Gate Style (http://www.schoolgatestyle.com/) very kindly let me ask her followers if they could recommend a waterproof mascara that would not let me down on the big day and the answers came in thick and fast!  I'm still going through them all but Clinque seemed to come out quite well and I'm also going to try the suggestion of using an eye primer on my eyelids which apparently might help (at this late point I'll try almost anything!).  Whereas the Maybelline one I had already purchased has been next to useless.....
Well..... I am now pondering exactly what we've been up to since I last blogged back in June?  We've been back up to Preston to help out with wedding preparations, we've been out and about with our lovely neighbours for drinks at the new Bacco Lounge here in Rugby which is very nice (http://www.thelounges.co.uk/bacco-lounge/) and has a lovely atmosphere.  We've also caught up with friends - both in person and via Facebook including my friend Becca who now lives on the Isle of Wight but I know from my days down in Hampshire and working for TAMBA (Twins + Multiple Births Association) and we hope to catch up in person one of these days!  Ironically Becca has her own art studio over there - am I envious.... yes!
The garden - as ever - has decided to go mad this year and have a real growth spurt and I keep having to have Danny our lovely gardener come in and tame it again (think I need to ring him again.....) and, as ever, I am yet again battling the slugs + snails who are quite happy to eat their way through all my plants but seem to leave the weeds alone (how does that happen..?).
We've lots of wedding news but maybe best to leave that to another post - the BIG DAY is now just 4 weeks (yep you did read that correctly.....) this Sunday and I can't believe how quickly it's coming round - bit scary really seeing I started my count-down at 29wks......
Our other BIG news is that we have been offered some craft space on the normal Saturday market here in Rugby.  It's an absolutely brilliant chance but why are people being so difficult? I've a trusty band of a few crafting friends who are very supportive but others are already moaning..... honestly there is just no pleasing some people!
It will be a fantastic opportunity in the build-up to Christmas, especially with events such as the Christmas Lights switch on etc. We are really hoping it will become a regular event each + every Saturday.  At the moment we know some people are still away and the children are still home from school and people have visitors staying but, hopefully, a few weeks down the line and we'll be getting more interest! We were very happy that some people on our first Saturday loved our jewellery enough to purchase a piece of Fat Fairy Jewellery to take home with them or as a present for a loved one!
Well we'll sign off for now so we can get this posted and then head off to bed! Sleep well everyone, so it's good night from Fat Fairy H.Q. xx

Thursday 19 June 2014

A mid-week Blog......

Hello again!
OK, we could argue that maybe this Blog should be entitled a 'nearer the weekend' blog than a 'mid week' blog but I just wanted to write a quick Blog before the weekend when the Summer Solistice hits us and, of course, that also means that Saturday - being the 21st June - will also be the longest day!
Here at Fat Fairy HQ, I have been banned from saying 'Oh my goodness, it's the longest day on Saturday' - honestly it's those little pleasures in life don't you think.....
As a lot of people are saying, where has nearly half the year gone to? Certainly the last couple of months have sped by.  I always feel that the Summer Solistice is the turning point of the year - more so than the Winter Solistice.  I guess we are aware that the Summer Solistice means that the nights will then start to draw in - just as we were getting used to, and enjoying, these long summer evenings spent pottering out in the garden.  Talking of gardens, I'm hoping to spend the Summer Solistice over at Coton Manor Gardens with my friend Gill.  We've been before and had a lovely time walking round, putting the world to rights and then having lunch and cake..... Plus you can also buy plants over there so, no doubt, a couple might just jump into my basket to come home with me.  I've bought two lovely fuchsia's this week from a shop in town, so hopefully when they are planted out, they will make a nice show of colour.  I have lots of plans for the house and garden this year but, so far, don't seem to be achieving much - again I think because the time is flying by - and the wedding coming up (more of this later!).
With the Summer Solistice approaching, I thought it might be a good time to mention both the Mosaic Magazine published by my friend Beth Forster and also the Cygnus Review.  Both are lovely magazines and well worth a look - website links here:-
http://www.mosaic-lifestyle.com/
http://www.cygnus-books.co.uk/
I distribute Mosaic here in Rugby for Beth, so if any of you reading this are local to me and would like a copy, please get in touch! Anyone further afield, there are people doted around the country where you may be able to pick a copy up or if not, please get in touch with either Beth or myself and we can send you one.
Those of you reading this who actually know me, will also know that this year sees the wedding of my son Paul to his fiancee Amie.  Wedding date is 3mths on Saturday date wise and 3mths on Sunday day wise - again the time is flying by and this very special day will be here before we know it.  They had their 'Pre-Wedding' shoot with their choosen photographer on 8th June and we've just seen some of the photo's. He has certainly taken some stunning shots of them, so can only imagine how fab the wedding photo's will be!  I also need to get my outfit sorted out, we are planning a girlie day out with my lovely friend Gaynor, hoping to go to a shop in Warwick that has 'Mother of the Bride/Groom' outfits and the hat, shoes, bag etc.  I love the hat probably more than the dress! We'll also have lunch out and probably coffee when we first get there - well one has to make a day of it! I did buy some waterproof mascara today as thought I'd best try some out ready for the wedding photo's so I don't end up looking like a Panda!  I normally use L'Oreal mascara but have bought some Maybelline today to try - will keep you posted!
That's all for now folks!
love from us here at Fat Fairy H.Q
xx

Sunday 1 June 2014

Happy Holidays........

It's a good evening again from Fat Fairy Towers,
Well...... the intention in my previous blog (which was to try and blog every night for a week), obviously didn't get very far...... I can only say (yet again....!) that time really does seem to be disappearing and I am definitely blaming it on that Chinese Year of the Horse....
My reason for the intended blog every night was to bring you all up to date with what we'd been up to and what's been happening but I've decided that can wait for another blog (oh yes - another one!) as here at Fat Fairy Jewellery, we've just come back from holiday, so I wanted to share with you all some of our lovely holiday photo's - mostly I should say, taken by my daughter!
I managed to find + arrange a very late booking to our very favourite and special island..... of Guernsey in the Channel Islands.  For us here in the Midlands, it's a really easy journey as we don't live far from our local station and the train link takes us straight to Birmingham International.  From there we just get on the 'MonoRail' which takes us directly into the airport.
I should, maybe, give you a little background to the island, which was obviously occupied by the Germans during World War 2 and there is still evidence of that to this day.  But my love affair with Guernsey began back in 1982 - the year before my twins were born. We were then living down in Hampshire, having moved from our native London a couple of years previously. I had a fabulous job working for Estee Lauder Cosmetics but was going through a pretty stressful time.  Our lovely GP at the time - Dr Giles, suggested to my husband that we should go away for a good holiday.  We debated where to go - husband fancied Spain but then we thought the heat might adversely affect my migraines, so somehow we decided upon Guernsey. As we lived just outside Portsmouth, the ferry was the then obvious option - sailing overnight and arriving into St Peter Port early the next morning. That was fine - it was the return journey the following Saturday that was a complete nightmare and I vowed then and there never to take the ferry again!
It was a few years later that we were able to return - with the twins who were then just over 5 (or maybe 6) and we flew from Southampton - which, depending on which way the wind is blowing, can take as little as 30mins!
Anyway, we've been back many times, the last was 4 years ago when Debs and I treated ourselves to a long weekend there for my birthday.  This time, it was Debs who got the chance to celebrate as she woke up last Sunday (25th) on Guernsey and had a lovely day which included a day on the beach and later a lovely meal at Christie's Restaurant in St Peter Port.  Unfortunately, despite wearing Factor 50 suncream, Debs also managed to get badly sunburnt on her birthday - so we then had to find the duty chemist the following day which, lucky enough, was Boots in St Peter Port.  So we duly purchased enough lotion and potions, to keep the sunburn under control.
Over the years, we've seen a few changes, not least that the lovely B+B Guesthouse that we always stayed in had been sold off and last time we looked, it was in a state of disrepair.  We noted 4 yrs ago that one of the main attractions on the island - the Hanging Strawberry Farm - had closed down and this time were told that the Butterfly Farm had also gone.  But, some old favourites remain - not least the very special and sacred Little Chapel at St Andrews.  My daughter fell in love with this beautiful and tiny chapel as a 5yr old and wanted to get married there and she still loves it to this day.  Sadly it is beginning to subside but they are working hard to save her.  We were also saddened to discover that some people have been chipping off pieces of the china and pottery that cover the Little Chapel to obviously take home as mementoes.  
We stayed at La Trelade Hotel in St Martins and were very pleasantly surprised - there were some reviews on Trip Advisor that were not that complementary but we couldn't fault it - how many hotels these days give you not only free Wi-fi but also free calls to the mainland - landlines and mobiles? Another favourite place to visit is Bruce Russell, Goldsmith + Silversmith at Le Gron.  Absolutely gorgeous jewellery and the only place we reckon to buy an engagement and/or wedding ring!
All too soon, our lovely break was over and we flew back home to Birmingham and now it's time to get ready to go back to work and my day job tomorrow. I'll leave you with a few of our favourite photo's from Guernsey, hope you enjoy them!

with love from us here at Fat Fairy Jewellery
xx

Boats in the harbour at St Peter Port

 The Little Chapel, St Andrews

One of the many beaches

Everything's different on Guernsey - post boxes are blue and phone boxes yellow!
The view from Jerbourg Point - very dramatic
A stunning Guernsey sunset at Grand Rocque
 Guernsey is well known for it's beautiful flowers
 One of the bunkers left over from the war
The Little Chapel again!

View of St Peter Port town rising up above the harbour

Sunday 11 May 2014

Goodbye April, hello May.....

Good evening from Fat Fairy Towers,
Really hope this finds you all keeping well and warm on this Sunday evening! I think like the rest of the country, we've had a very mixed bag of weather here in Warwickshire this weekend.  Some lovely sunshine and then, just as we are starting to get used to it, the rain quickly follows!  Plus it still seems very chilly for May.  Last Friday they did forecast heavy rain coming up from the south-west but the day started bright and sunny here, so I took a chance and pegged the washing out..... Once at work and in my office, I could see (from our vantage point on the 6th floor) the storm clouds looming over Coventry way.... Lucky enough they passed us by and when I got home, the washing was nice + dry.  Now, I think you just can't beat drying the washing outside on a lovely day, it has a totally different 'smell' to it compared to being dried indoors - and, no, I don't have a tumble dryer either!
Well, as the title of my post says, goodbye April and hello May!  Here we are then with a 1/3rd of the year now behind us.  Someone told me a few weeks ago - when I complained about how fast the time is going - that apparently 2014 is the Chinese Year of the Horse!  This, of course, would make perfect sense as a horse is very much a creature of speed - so at least that does explain something....  
As I type this Blog to you all, I am very aware that 18 weeks today, will be my son's wedding day! And, by the way the time is disappearing fast, that will be here before we know it!  The big day will be up in Preston at Beeston Manor, they will have a civil ceremony at the hotel, followed by the reception. Just hope the weather improves and that on Sunday 21st September, we have a lovely, warm, late summer day.  It will be slightly tinged with sadness for the much loved + missed family members who won't be there to share in this lovely day.  I'm thinking of my much loved + missed Mum - my two's very special Nan and also my brother. The bride will be missing her granddad who passed away just over a year ago.  No doubt, at some point, we will raise a glass to those loved ones no longer with us.
Well, what have we been up to here at Fat Fairy HQ since our last Blog I hear you say?  Well..... quite a lot I think!  Firstly, I've been busy making lots of our gorgeous Gemstone jewellery to restock Brackley Rocks.  For those of you who've not come across Brackley Rocks, it's a lovely crystal, spiritual + holistic shop run by the lovely Dianne down in Brackley, Northants.  It's in the main high street so you can't really miss it.  Dianne has very kindly been stocking and selling Fat Fairy Jewellery for about 2 yrs now and every now + again, we like to pop down to see her and restock.  It's always a lovely visit as Dianne is always pleased to see us, we have a lovely catch up on all the local gossip! Also the latest issue of the lovely Mosaic magazine is also now out which I distribute here in Rugby for my friend Beth who edits and publishes Mosaic. Brackley Rocks also stocks this lovely magazine, so this was a chance as well for me to leave some of the latest edition with Dianne.  If anyone local (or even not so local....) would like a copy, please just email me and I will pop one in the post to you (fatfairyjewellery2010@hotmail.co.uk). I've got some lovely photo's of our latest items which are now for sale at Brackley Rocks but will post them in my next Blog.  I'm going to try and Blog each day for the next week (oh yes that's likely I can hear you say.....) as, for some reason, I find that easier to bring you all up to date than sitting down and writing a very long Blog.....!
Wishing you all a happy, peaceful + productive week,
with love + blessings from Fat Fairy Jewellery
xx

Wednesday 2 April 2014

Is it really April already.......

Good morning everyone from here in Warwickshire!

Well, I can only say what on earth happened to January, February and March....?  Time really does seem to be flying by and I can't believe I've not managed to blog since January.  Obviously my 'New Year Intention' of blogging every Sunday didn't get very far.....!
Well, what have we been up to since our last blog I hear you ask?  Of course, the first event as mentioned in our previous blog, was our Valentine's Artisan Handmade Craft Market at the end of January. That was a lovely day and the 2nd of our handmade markets that we hope to run on a regular basis here in Rugby. We met some lovely + very talented artists and were lucky enough to have the local paper come along and take a few photos for the following week's Rugby Advertiser.  
I am constantly amazed at just how many people are contacting me about having a stall at our craft markets, which only goes to prove my point that there are a lot of very talented local artists around and about!  I will try and upload a couple of photos from our January event at the end of this blog.
We've also been busy working on our new website as we decided to change hosting agents, so we are now with Create - who I have to say have been brilliant but it has been a lot of work getting the new website up and running but it's certainly been worth it - take a peek here at:-
www.fatfairyjewellery.com
More about our website in our next post!
We've been busy creating more jewellery as we love to try out new designs and patterns and are using more Sterling Silver findings with our gemstone beads.  Also the knitting is still going well, still making lots of things for my baby granddaughter Lilly - who is growing fast! Now 16 months old, not quite walking but not far off and then the fun will start!
Well, folks I'll sign off for now and will promise to blog again this week so I can bring you all up to date with our happenings here at Fat Fairy Towers!
Have a great day everyone, I'll leave you with these photo's from our Valentine's Craft Market!
with love from Fat Fairy Jewellery
xx
 Beautiful artwork from Amber Feng Shui Art
 Gorgeous wildlife cards, bookmarks etc from Kevin Groocock

And jewellery from Fat Fairy Jewellery......

Monday 20 January 2014

A Sunday night blog - slightly late

Evening everyone from a freezing cold Warwickshire tonight!
Well, my New Year Intention (I made Intentions instead of Resolutions because they have a better 'energy' attached to them!), didn't last long...... I had planned to Blog every Sunday night but somehow time has run away with me - yet again!  Mainly I think because I've been up to my eyes in organising our first craft market of 2014!
This coming Saturday 25th, sees our Valentine themed Handmade Craft Market at The Rugby Hotel, Sheep Street, Rugby CV21 3BX.  The market will be open to the public from 10am til 4pm and with free admission!  We have 14 stalls, including our very own Fat Fairy Jewellery and handmade cards from Hazza Designs, cushions, tote bags and some amazing fairies from Angela Hallam Designs.  Along with some lovely Heart Artwork from Amber Feng Shui Art and handmade soap from Titti Handmade to name but a few!
Over the last two weeks, I also managed to catch up with two dear friends who I didn't get round to seeing before Christmas due to my cold which then turned itself into a mild dose of bronchitis!  I was very lucky to receive some more Christmas presents from the lovely Mrs Woodhouse who shares my love of knitting + crocheting.  With us both having grandchildren means one of us is always knitting something!  I had a very lovely book on knitted baby blankets (some of you will remember I seem to have a 'thing' about knitting and crocheting blankets for our Lilly!), a very lovely fabric wallet to keep my crochet hooks in and also a set of lovely coloured crochet hooks - very spoilt or what....!  Will try and post a couple of photos of these lovely presents. Also as my friend and I share a love of reading, so a couple of years ago (or maybe longer ago now.....) we decided to start swapping books, this is a fab idea because not only is it very handy but also makes you read books that you might otherwise not have bothered with!  As a family, we tend to be 'bookworms' and it looks like we've passed that onto our Lilly already as she just loves her books and I'm so pleased as I think they can learn so much - even at this young age!
 Lovely fabric wallet to keep all my crochet hooks + tape measure safe!
 Lots of lovely baby blankets in here for me to try out!

And, finally, a complete set of gorgeous coloured crochet hooks - all ready for use!
Well, that's all from Fat Fairy Towers tonight, back to making some more lovely Valentine themed jewellery ready for our craft market on Saturday - hope to see some of you there!
So will sign off for now by saying goodnight and keep warm from here in Warwickshire!
xx

Sunday 5 January 2014

The 1st Sunday night Blog of 2014........

Hello everyone!

Whilst it is literally blowing a hooley outside (not even sure if that is how you spell it....), I thought I'd sit down and write my first Blog of the New Year.  One of the ladies that I follow has, very bravely I think, said that she will try and blog each and every day of 2014 - now that is going some.....!  That means 365 blogs by the end of the year..... I'm sure I would run out of things to blog about (or, maybe not.....!!).

Up here in Warwickshire, it is really awful out there tonight, the wind is very strong and it's howling down our chimney as I type this. I really would not want to be outside tonight and my heart goes out to all the people who are working tonight - especially the emergency services and the Environment Agency (who we deal with at work) as they are on standby for any flood emergencies that may arise.  Here in Warwickshire and the surrounding counties, most of the rivers have already burst their banks.  So fingers crossed that it all calms down very soon.

I thought I would use tonight's Blog to look back over 2013 and think about what were the highlights for me?  I think spending time with my much loved family has to be top of my list.  Especially now that my family includes our very precious Lilly - who celebrated her first birthday at the end of November. I just can't believe how quickly that year has gone by.  We've made lots of trips up to Lancashire where they live and then we also had that lovely, long weekend up in Edinburgh.  What a lovely city that is and I can't wait to go back!  I also spent a few lovely days over in Norfolk with my son and his family, where Lilly had her first taste of ice-cream and paddling in the sea!

We also had the naming ceremony of my nephew's baby daughter and then also in November, the wedding of my niece.  We had another wedding in September when my future daughter-in-law's Mum married her partner - another lovely day!

We also attended lot's of craft events during 2013, including taking part in Warwickshire Open Studios.  Last October also saw Fat Fairy Jewellery stage our very own first craft event called Artisan Handmade Craft Market.  We hope to make these a regular event during 2014, so watch this space. They are held here in Rugby at The Rugby Hotel in Sheep Street.  There are so many talented local artists out there and we all need somewhere to showcase, share + sell our work!

I also managed to get some reading done last year and often 'swap' books with a close friend which works out really well.  Often we find that our tastes are similar but sometimes it makes us read a book we wouldn't normally have picked up!  I've just finished reading a really good one - 'The Girl in Times Square' by Paullina Simons and will be passing this one on when I next meet up with my friend!

Last year also saw my lovely daughter finally leave her awful job in Milton Keynes and move to another firm in Birmingham.  Unfortunately, this firm don't seem much better, so I'm really hoping 2014 brings much better things for her.  She adores her baby niece and can't wait to spend more time with her this year!

Last year saw me doing more knitting for Lilly and I've recently just finished a 'Christmas' blanket for her.  This time I crocheted it - for a change, in red, white + green in keeping with the festive theme!  I was really pleased with it (photo's below!), especially as I tried out a shell edging that I'd not done before. 



I also used some of the special 'Handmade by Grandma' ribbon I purchased at the NEC (photo below as well)!  Might have to order some more of this as it is lovely to be able to attach a piece to something you have made.

One sad event of 2013 was having to have our little Jack Russell put to sleep back in August.  We miss her loads and as a tribute to the love she gave us, we'll share one final photo of her with you. Those of you who actually know me, will know that as Judy belonged to my late Mum, it was a double blow losing her.  This photo was taken a couple of years ago down in Emsworth, not far from where we used to live in Hampshire and was my Mum's favourite place - apart from Guernsey of course!  We miss Mum more than words can say, especially now Lilly is here and just wish she was still with us to share in the joy and love that Lilly has brought the family - although I'm sure she knows!

I think it just remains for us to say thank you for following us during 2013 and we do hope you'll stay with us during 2014!  

Happy New Year to you all and please stay safe during this awful weather,
with love from us here at Fat Fairy Jewellery
xx