Sales and such like

Just a quick update to say we are in the Park again on Sunday, that is:

The Coach House

next to Cafe Ambio
in Astley Park
Chorley

4 December 2011, 10am – 4pm (indoors, free entry)

2 floors full of lovely handmade gifts from Chorley Contemporary Crafters just waiting for you.  Anything you order from us (Paint Pots & Petals) is guaranteed to be ready in time for Christmas.

I think I’ve mentioned everything, please come along and see us.  Xxxxx

The following weekend the Petals are going to stay with Mummy Cupcake for the weekend –

Mummy Cupcake and Friends Christmas Shop can be found in the studio opposite the park cafe within Worden Park, Leyland.   She will be flinging open her door on Saturday 10^th and Sunday 11^th December, 10am - 3pm.  You will also be able to find one or two other members of Chorley Contemporary Crafters displaying and selling their work. 

So get you park going pumps on and come and have a look around and perhaps purchase a few unique Xmas gifts whilst there.

Nik x

Life -

It's all about the spin you put on it. I'm not trying to be profound, honest, but it's 1pm on a Saturday and I've only just stepped out of the shower. There's that nagging voice telling me I've wasted the morning (not Mr Petal). My sister tells me this voice is our 'achiever' speaking which pushes us too hard...unless we rebel.

So, here is my list of achievements this morning:-

ü  Had a lie in and a cuddle with my boy who woke feeling sick this morning.
ü  Made children brekkie, then took mine back to bed and updated PP&P accounts log (not a big undertaking).
ü  Had another little snooze
ü  Searched for my keys (a daily activity)
ü  Walked the dog (she’ll need another now of course)
ü  Had a second cup of tea and a biscuit (ok 3 biscuits)
ü  Had a quick chat with a friend on facebook and uploaded a few more PP&P pics
ü  Rang local bus interchange manager about advertising
ü  Debated with my daughter about the benefits of grapes over sweets (she ate both in the end so that’s 2 achievement ticks to her)
ü  Decided I needed new PJ’s especially if I plan to walk the dog in them
ü  Switched the washing machine on – must hang it all out soon I suppose.

And now I’m going to nurse my teensy hangover (more a lack of stamina than an excess of wine) with a lovely bowl of tomato soup and squishy bread.

All in all not a bad mornings work!

XxNikxX

A few of our new additions to get me motivated

and in case you want a nosey and don't wish to access facebook

Tablecloths and Tiaras....

Or rather hats. We went on a crafty day out with Chorley Contemporary Crafters (www.chorleycontemporarycrafters.blogspot.com ).  We visited the Great Northern Contemporary Craft Fair http://www.greatnorthernevents.co.uk/ and I met a Milliner for the very first time in my life, an actual real life Milliner I suppose they do exist but you never see them when browsing the hat section at Debenhams. She was a lovely lady wearing one of her own fabulous creations and selling for herself.  www.hatelier.co.uk

She was keen to have us try on several of her creations including one very reminiscent of SJP in the first SATC film with the ‘actual’ bird on her head. Though I never did check if it was a real of fake bird. K and I of course suited every single one we tried. Down to skill of the hats?....probably.

There was a lovely girl who made ribbon necklaces, of which our group bought several (link to follow), a stall filled with stunningly lovely teasets with an Alice in Wonderland inspired design, my favourite www.denisemoloney.co.uk . 

Plus another gorgeous stall of ceramics/pottery run by two girls who had arrived that morning with a full welsh dresser in tow. www.theartsalon.co.uk

click on pic and you can read the text

And a fabulously funny set of canvases displaying wire worker bees with a corporate twist, both K and I had visited this room separately but apparently fixed upon all the same things.

Making these ceramic boats and huts is apparently a dangerous sport,
including burning sawdust and molten copper.

Lastly the ladies who knit, beautiful modern scarves and shawls, K tried a few which looked great but unintentionally insulted them by likening one particular scarf to a tablecloth her gran owned....oops.  Of course she meant it as a compliment, it had a timeless vintage look, with lacy pattern knitted in a gorgeous delicate pale green wool and was the one that actually suited K the best.  They were still kind enough to pose for a picture, unfortunately we didn’t get one of the scarf due to our acute embarrassment. www.debbiebryan.co.uk

Next we visited Manchester Craft and Design Centre (http://www.craftanddesign.com/)

There is a gorgeous cafe slap bang in the middle of the action, a really calm comfortable atmosphere, tonnes of light flooding in from the glass roof above, varying style shops/studios over two floors all packed with handmade loveliness and  it is just the most green eyed monster inducing place ever.  Being a lover of quirky facades dating back to a youthful visit to Port Meirion (from which I now own a lovely set of cups and saucers) and cute crafty shops, I felt this place ticked every box on my ‘to be coveted’ list.  It was a cross between the crafty  atmosphere of Heskin Hall in Eccleston Lancashire http://www.heskinfarmersmarket.co.uk/ and the lovely facade style of the New Orleans link to the food court in the Trafford Centre.  

Oops everyone sat waiting for us to move onto Fred Aldous
(if I'd had any cash with me I'd have happily stayed here all afternoon,
perhaps I'll return next month or in December when it will be all decked out with baubles etc.)

Right off to dream my dreams.