Good evening everyone from here at Fat Fairy H.Q.
Well, I can't (once again!) believe it's been nearly 3 weeks since our last Blog post and such a lot has happened that I'm not really sure where to start! I also have lots of photo's to share with you but more of that later!
Firstly, how time flies - not only the 3 weeks since I was last on here but also the 7 months of 2013! How did it get to the last day of July already? And also our gorgeous baby Lilly is now 8 months old - only seems like yesterday I was announcing her arrival in the world.
Secondly - another British favourite - the weather! Haven't we been lucky with such gorgeous summer weather and so hot..... I must admit I've struggled slightly as our office has no air conditioning, we have to rely on opening the windows (and then all the paperwork flies off the desk) and the odd fan or two. It was so lovely though at the weekends and I also loved sleeping with the windows wide open (although not too keen on the moths that kept on insisting on joining me in the room!).
Well, the weekend after my last Blog saw Fat Fairy Jewellery at the Warwickshire Open Studios. We were invited to share the studios of two local potters out in Barby village and it was a lovely experience. A lot of work in the build up to the weekend but worth it to meet some other lovely and very talented artists and some lovely people in general. The object of the Open Studios is not so much to sell your work (although this is always very welcome!) but to network and meet potential future customers. We were surprised how far some of our visitors had come to see us, which was lovely!
We also managed to fit in a lovely hot stone massage one weekend with our normal lady who had just received her hot stones and this was lovely - very relaxing. We then had a lovely surprise visit from my daughter's best friend Vicky and her lovely baby daughter Abi, they drove all the way up from Bristol to spend a few hours with us. Abi is just over a year old and very adorable too! I also finally, managed to get my pots and baskets planted up and some look lovely - even if I do say so myself!
Then last week I had to opportunity to go over to Norfolk where my son and his family were renting a cottage. I had already booked some time off work as one of my bosses was away himself, so last Thursday I headed off over to Norfolk. We'd been before some years previously but I always forget what a lovely county it is - so pretty. The cottage was in Little Walsingham which has the Shrine to the Lady of Walsingham. Again, we'd visited here some years ago - not long after we lost my much loved Mum, but it looked like they had done some building work as a lot of it looked new but it is such a lovely, peaceful and restful place. We had a lovely walk around the grounds of Walsingham Abbey - the Abbey is in ruins but it's still lovely and the sun shone. Lilly is at that lovely age, taking notice, making lots of noises and absolutely loving her food. It was lovely to spend more time with her and my son and his fiancée - not forgetting their little dog Ruby!
We also visited Wells next the Sea which again was lovely. I found a gorgeous crystal shop and, of course, had to bring several tumblestones home which I hope to wire-wrap when time allows! We also managed to spend half a day actually on the beach which was an added bonus. We left on Saturday and I popped into Holt to have a look around - again another lovely little market town. I then drove home via Spoilt Rotten Beads in Haddenham, just outside Cambridge, to stock up on some lovely and very sparkly Swarovski crystals which I hope to be using very soon!
I've just let the dog out and I hate to say this but there seemed a definite nip in the air - despite the weather forecast for tomorrow being very hot again! I'm going to leave you with a photo of the lovely crystals I bought from The Crystal Tree in Wells next the Sea!
Will share more photo's over the next couple of days,
Goodnight everyone!
with love from Fat Fairy Jewellery
Morning everyone,
Well, it looks like the weather has cooled down + today it's overcast and quite cool here in Warwickshire.
We did say earlier this week that we had some exciting news to share with you all and here it is..... Last Thursday saw the latest edition of the Craftseller magazine published and we are featured in this edition! Feeling very proud to see us in print and thanks must go, not only to the magazine for featuring us, but also to Rebecca at Poppito who suggested us!
Some of you will already be aware that we also have a shop within the Poppito website (www.poppito.com) as well as our own website (www.fatfairyjewellery.com) and Rebecca is a real delight to deal with, always extremely helpful and a jewellery designer herself who also makes some gorgeous things!
Anyway, here is the article along with a copy of the cover of the magazine - available from WH Smiths, Asda and local newsagents! It's a lovely craft magazine, full of lots of lovely idea's, so well worth buying a copy!
Wishing you all a happy + productive day, with love from Fat Fairy H.Q.
xx
Evening everyone,
Well, what another glorious day it's been - well it has here in Warwickshire so I really hope it's been nice wherever you are too! From some of the comments I've just read on Twitter, it does seem that most of the country are having this heatwave!
It's knocking our poor, elderly little Jack Russell out as well, she's now fast asleep on her blanket in the coolness of our dining room and I also have our patio doors wide open and I can hear the birds singing!
One thing I thought I'd share with you - and it doesn't have anything to do with jewellery or knitting (is that a sigh of relief I can hear......!) but it does have something to do with another love of mine and that's cooking. Not that I get enough time to do much these days but my son has been on at me for ages to take a leaf out of their book and plan our menu out for the week before we go shopping. He swears by it, says it saves them money because you only buy what you need for your menu choices and also it saves time.....
Anyway, we have tried it out over the last few weeks - mainly because both my daughter and I are just so busy and I am fed up with spending most of every lunchtime going round our local Asda's! I have to admit it is a bit of a pain sitting down on a Sunday (or Saturday) and having to think of a week's menu and then make a list to take with you to Asda or Sainsbury's etc but I'm finding it does work (ok Paul - you were right again - as ever!).
So, here is our menu for this week - what do you think? We went shopping yesterday so now have (hopefully) everything we need.....
Monday - Quiche, new potatoes + mixed salad (not homemade quiche I'm afraid as I just don't have the time)
Tuesday - Smoked haddock fishcakes (by the Saucy Fish Company available at Asda's), homemade potato wedges and mixed salad
Wednesday - having to cheat here as we will be without a cooker (new one being delivered on Thursday) so having to get fish + chips from the chip shop! Haven't done this for ages but still feeling slightly guilty about it....
Thursday (hopefully with brand new Hotpoint cooker!) Cheese + ham omelettes, new potatoes + more salad
Friday - Fresh salmon, rice + yes, you've guessed it, more salad.....
We haven't done Saturday + Sunday yet as that's going to be a difficult one as we are out both days at our Open Studios!
Does anyone else do a weekly menu? Would love to hear from you and how it works out for you?
Enjoy the rest of this gorgeous evening!
with love from Fat Fairy Jewellery
xx
Good evening everyone from Fat Fairy H.Q.
Well, what a busy couple of weeks it's been since we last blogged! It has been the most amazing day here in Warwickshire, hot + sunny and, of course, the day Andy Murray won the Mens Single's title at Wimbledon. The first time we have won since 1936 and, oh my goodness, how times have changed since then - not least the clothes and the prize money.......!
Anyway, firstly as I cannot share any photo's of my beautiful granddaughter with you all, I thought you might like to see what I've just knitted her (I did warn you that this might well turn into a Jewellery + Knitting Blog....)! I seem to have a bit of a 'thing' about blankets - not quite sure why but recently finished knitting our Lilly her 3rd blanket. This time in a lovely, cream cotton wool by Patons in a diamond stitch. I am really pleased with it and always wash things first - mainly to make sure they can withstand a wash in the machine! For some reason at the moment, Lilly has taken to sleeping with whatever blanket she has in her cot, over her face...., so this cotton one should be nice + soft for her and it's really pretty for a girl!
You'll remember me telling you all that we are taking part in this year's Warwickshire Open Studio's? Well, as part and parcel of this, there is also a Showcase Exhibition running at the Floor One Gallery in Rugby Library and we have 2 pieces of our jewellery on display there! (photos below!)
That's all for now folks, we'll be back soon with some more exciting news!
With love from us all here at Fat Fairy HQ,
xx
