Simply cosie

Can you see in this picture what 'Simply H' as sent for the goodie bags? The sweetest little beach hut key rings! I am really excited about Helen's stall at the 'do'- especially the mermaids! (although if there are more cute beach huts I may be torn!) Unfortunately Leaf Trading Post heard about the do when all the tables had already been taken, I would have loved to have them along and hope that if there is another 'Makey' event they can make it. They have sent some fliers for the goodie bags which will hopefully whet the appetite for any future appearances.

I posted a while back about the knitted stunt cakes that Search Press had lent me for a display I am planning. Well along with the cakes they also sent these amazing tea cosies! They are the models from a book by Loani Prior called 'Wild Tea Cosies'. I have just bought a pretty pink tea pot and so have been able to get some decent pics to show you. These will look so ace all displayed nicely on a table, directing people to the real tea and cake.

Yet more packages have arrived today and I have spent the evening making up the bags with a couple of pals. They are fantastic and I have a felling there maybe even more bits and bobs to go in before the day itself. Pictures of my stacked breakfast bar to follow!

Let them eat cake

I don't know if I mentioned it here or on my personal blog but Search Press were good enough to send me the book '20 to make- knitted cakes' so that I could knit some stunt cakes to promote the 'd0' and to display on the day with a sign directing people to the real cake. I made a Swiss roll and realised that getting a decent display made might take a while. Search Press came to the rescue once again offering that I could borrow the sample cakes that were made for the photographs in the book. They arrived along with some mad and brilliant tea cosies, 60 brochures for the goodie bags complete with vouchers for money off the first order.

I just know this is all going to look ace on the day, and Paulines real cakes they taste just as good as these look!

I spent some time last week visiting Sandwich businesses. I handed out posters for display and asked if people wanted fliers in the bags. It was really good to chat about the 'do' and people were really excited. We have an amazing house and garden in Sandwich in the 'Salutation'. I have leaflets from them to go in the goodie bags and they have agreed to hand out our fliers to everyone from their ticket booth. If it is a nice day (fingers crossed) I think a visit to the 'do' and the gardens would make a brilliant day out and well worth a little drive!

I am waiting to hear whether we will be able to put stalls on the guildhall forecourt if we can this adds a whole new dimension to the do and would give a very visible presence in the town. I have no more fingers left to cross!

Lovely Leonie- what a pro!!

Do you remember that I said that Search Press were being all amazingly helpful with the do? They've sent prizes, brochures and they also put the word out amongst their authors and asked if any of them wanted to come along. Leonie said 'yes!' and I am really looking forward to meeting Leonie as I get the impression that apart from being very talented she might just be a bit cheeky-silly!

1) If you were a cake, what kind of cake would you be? Well, I’d like to think I’d be a little fruity number, but I’d probably end up being a massive chocolate fudge cake, with the fudge bits missing.

2) What will you be doing at “A Makey ‘do’”? I will be signing my book and demonstrating some card making and stamping techniques (probably talking to much and eating cake)

3) Fish and Chips or Curry? Chips n curry please, on a bap!

4) Where else can your wares usually be found? My book can be found in good book shops and crafty venue’s, and I can be found demonstrating on QVC from time to time (or hiding in the background every Tuesday when I’m in helping my boss Dawn Bibby, set up her weekly craft shows)

5) Do you usually hang out in Sandwich, or are you a visitor? I love Sandwich. We have recently moved to Canterbury, so it’s now somewhere we like to nip for a visit.

6) Who is your all-time hero? I think Joy Adams, Born Free lady. There are lots of people who are truly amazing though, so it’d be a long list

7) Who got you started on your crafty journey? When I was a wee one I always crafted with my parents, so they were my inspiration. My journey became my occupation when I left my “proper” job for a life of beans on toast and craft fairs!

8) What colour draws you most? Blue, brown, purple, green…….It’s mood dependant.

9) Where do you go for inspiration? On a day to day basis I get craft kits to work on, so get inspired from them. I’ve also started an Art and Design course so that’s helping keeping new idea’s flowing. I think my main inspirational time is when I’m walking the dogs – it must be their happy faces and the fresh air.

10) Do you dunk? Absolutely and generally plop then fish.

Thanks so much Leonie for doing the interview. I hve had even more stunning loveliness for the goodie bags so photos will be here in a couple of days. I have also placed a very pricey newspaper ad to go in the KM What's on the week before the event. This insert goes out all over Kent and apart from posters and fliers will be my main advertising. I still have some budget left so lots of opportunity to spread the word.

Search no more- for a brilliant craft publisher!

So, as you know I have been working on the goodie bags for the do, trying to get a really good mixture of relevant items I haven't phoned loads of big companies, I wasn't sure I'd have any joy and the ethos for the event is very much local and handmade. I did however contact Search Press. Their brochure dropped out of a magazine and whilst I was flicking through it getting all excited I remembered that they are a Kent company. Anyway I bit the bullet and picked up the phone; Would they like to send me 60 brochures- Yes, would I like a coupon in them-Yes please! Would I like to send them more details of the event?-Sure thing. Would I like some books to have as maybe a raffle prize?-Ummmm YES!!! Would I like them to put the word out amongst their authors and see if anyone wants to do a demo/book signing-Ummm Yes please, thank you very much, that would be lovely, gush, gush, giggle, gush!

Honestly they have been amazing and just look at what we now have prizes for our colouring competition; I will be printing off sheets with an outline of the Makey 'do' logo for adults and children to colour, decorate, draw a background for, generally go wild all over. The best from each category will then be the logo for the next Makey 'do' summer event. The colouring competition will be free to enter and I would encourage anyone in the area to drop in and have a go. If you have time on your hands I really would highly recommend a visit to the Search Press website. The books are excellent and the site also has a forum, competition and free monthly projects and printable designs. I think it's a fantastic resource. This months printable is from a book of Aboriginal designs so anyone doing school projects (groan!!!) might want to keep an eye on this page!