WIP Wednesday: Frantic Craft Fair Preparations

It’s WIP Wednesday again (or at least I think it is, I thought today was Thursday earlier but I’ve been corrected. This is what happens when you don’t work in an office and don’t lift your head up from making lavender bags for three days, the passage of time becomes confusing) – thanks Tami for hosting, and if you want to see more WIP posts (or link your own) then get on over to Tami’s blog and her Mr Linky widget.

Now, I bring you hot-off-the-press dispatches from the Craft Show Preparation Front Line. Because it is an Eco Shopper factory here, essentially. Eco Shoppers, they are coming out of my ears. There will hopefully be enough Eco Shoppers for the whole of Bakewell to carry one tucked in their handbags ready to whip out at a moment’s notice. No, I don’t need a carrier bag, thank you! they will be able to say, as one. I have my Useless Beauty Eco Shopper, made with a mix of new and retro fabrics! And I shall slot my purchased item into it carefully, like so, both saving the environment and impressing all around me with my quirky taste in fabric bags and my much-appreciated support of a one-woman business!

Honestly, the light in the sewing room is quite atrocious. It is all quite Dickensian although at least we have central heating and dinner. If I cook it

I like doing the handles best: fold, fold, centre fold, sew down one side, brrrrrrrrrrrr. Brrrrrrrrrrr. I find them strangely satisfying. It’s like popping bubble wrap, but more productive. I have run out of handles now, though, sadly, and must do ironing and pinning. I do not like ironing and pinning quite so much. There is not the same sense of mastery of heavy machinery.

African Wax Print. It got in there somehow. I've still got a lot left, you know. I might have to make provision for it in my Will

Here is a selection of Eco Shoppers, folded. I think what I might do before my next craft fair is buy a big batch of African Wax Print fabrics and make some more Eco Shoppers out of that. I think they would show off the big prints very well.

It is very possible we will have neither bags nor sufficient change at the craft fair. It is very possible that Milo the husky may eat a lavender bag at a surprising and inappropriate moment. It is very possible that all the price tickets will say the wrong things, if there are price tickets at all. But by God (swelling violins), there will be Eco Shoppers. And how can more be asked of any crafter?

If you look at the DVDs in the background you will see one called Russian Ark. Don't buy it. Just trust me on this one

And here is an experimental cushion cover which I think turned out quite well. It’s made from cotton jersey and upcycled tshirts, and you can see I am experimenting with exposed overlocking, which I think looks good. Me and that overlocker: it was a tense relationship to start with, but now we’re besties. That doesn’t happen very often, does it? That’s what makes our relationship so special. I haven’t got a tattoo or anything yet, though. I just want to make sure we love each other still a year from now.

That’s it for the moment – I shall go and sew a few handles on. Thanks to everyone who’s signed up for my card swap so far, I’m so pleased to have people taking part! Hearts, marshmallows and smooches to you all, and may your WIPS flourish. And if anyone else wants to give it a go, come, come on board the Card Swap Train. You’re more than welcome ;-).