You know you are getting old when you forget that it’s your birthday.  Up I got this morning, absorbed with the knowledge that I have 20 friends coming over this evening and was going to have to spend the day cooking and cleaning.  I struggled to the kettle for my usual pint of strong black coffee and it wasn’t until the girls came down later, with their home made cards, that I remembered why I was having everyone round tonight!

The girls have obviously picked up my poem writing skills (!?) In my card from Meg (age 9 ) was this:

Dear Mum

You are brighter than the sun

You’re so much fun……never glum

Today is your birthday

your very first day of being 42

GOOD LUCK TO YOU!

And in my card from Billie (age 13) was this:

24 today, 42 tomorrow

where does that time go we badly wish to borrow?

You look at the sun with fresh new eyes,

you look at the moon ten times more wise.

I promise sadness will come never,

if you treasure your birthdays for ever and ever!

I finally gave in to the desires of my other half and off we went to visit Graham at his 2CV workshop in Cornwall to collect our new baby! Although a bit of a rust bucket, she is very sweet and I’m sure will be the only convertible car that we can ever afford! I was rather deluded into thinking that when the sun was shining I would be able to hop in and deliver my candles and do my chores  – instead I’ve realised it’s going to take longer than I thought to master the gears!  And I must remember that she is now up the drive and stop reversing into her,  fortunately you can’t really notice a few more dents in the bumper….!

I have been testing these at home over the past few weeks as they are a new product and have been really popular.  Some of them have burned fine, with a rather large wax pool but some of them have melted the wax too quickly and after an hour and a half the wick has drowned.  I am now remaking them all with a couple of different wick sizes to try and get the burn just right.  If anyone has experienced problems with these candles, or indeed any of my candles, please let me know so I can replace them for you. You can contact me through the blog, website or in person at a craft fair.  As this is a relatively new company I would really appreciate any feedback or comments.

What glorious weather we had for this two day fair on July 1st and 2nd, it sufficiently distracted me from the fact that I had to be up at 6am – not a regular occurrence in my house!  My pal Helene made me this gorgeous money belt with an off-cut of Cabbages & Roses fabric I had left over from a chair that I’ve been working on. She’s so clever!

My daughter Billie modelling new money belt

My ever tolerant partner Paul helped me unload at the Cathedral, then went on to St Leonards to deliver the vintage flower pot candles to Bernie at the Juniper Garden Co.  who loved them so much he ordered a dozen more “Citronella” ones, to ward off the bugs at BBQ time!

Vintage flower pot candles for The Juniper Garden Co.

Five of us “Craft Hubbers” shared two pitches at Exeter and we had loads of great feedback about our stand. I had lots of repeat trade from my regulars, someone even brought me a couple of unusual jelly moulds that they had found and asked me to pour candles into them, which I’m very happy to do.  I was also asked about pouring candles into other people’s vintage crockery.  This is turning out to be quite popular so I will be adding details of my “filling” service to the website.

Stall at Cathedral Green Craft Fair in Exeter

A visit from a friend last week resulted in the delivery of a huge bag of jelly moulds. She has been collecting them for me around Buckinghamshire during the past few months – thanks Val. Then, on a girlie visit to Topsham, I found a gorgeous pale pink 1920s tea set, in pristine condition.  I can’t wait to start pouring candles into it, ready for my Christmas trade. Things should quieten down a bit now as I start to re-stock for the October Craft Hub Fair on October 9th in Topsham. I’m off to Marlow and Henley for my friend Nikki’s Hen do this weekend, then Surrey next weekend for the actual wedding.  I’m hoping to get some useful feedback as I have made vintage teacup candles for all the ladies as their table presents. I’ll have to nip in and take a photo before the guests descend on the dining room at the hotel.

The Craft Hub “Summer of love” fair in Topsham on Sunday was buzzing!  I was really busy with my candles and was approached by a few people regarding selling them in their shops and at their fairs – how exciting!

Sarah and Bernie, who own The Juniper Garden Co. in Magdalen Road Exeter,  impressed me with their passion for what they do and their flexibility.  We discussed producing a new “peagreeen” range especially for their shop, in recycled vintage terracotta plant pots.  They will all be garden scents “Freshly cut roses”, “Fresh Limes” and “Bluebells” to name a few.  It is my first shop venture and very exciting – let’s hope they sell….

I’m also working madly to get my stock up for the big Cathedral Green Craft Fair this coming Friday and Saturday and local interior designer Holly Keeling is holding a Vintage sale on July 8th & 9th at her barn in Denbury, where my vintage jelly mould candles will be available to buy.  That’s about it on the “peagreen” news front, better get back to work!

Thank God it wasn’t raining like this the weekend of  the Exeter Respect Festival (4th & 5th June 2011) I’m not sure our gorgeous Cath Kidston gazebo would have held up!  Loaned to us by my wonderful pal Helene, it was the star of the show housing all out Craft Hub goodies which were for sale…..

From left to right: Hayley, Pip, Eleanor, Lucy, Hannah and me (wine in hand as usual!).

It was great fun, can’t believe I’ve lived here for 5 years and never been!  8.30am on the Saturday morning things weren’t looking too rosy, having done my back in lifting the gazebo into the car with my partner, I was in agony all the way to Exeter.  I then had to go on the scrounge for ibuprofen and paracetamol (thanks girls) and consequently spent most of the day sitting on my backside, until Kate arrived with the wine at 4pm and Pip produced some hardcore medication from her bag. Miraculously things started to look up!

On Tuesday night a few of us “Craft Hubbers” met up in Exeter to discuss the forthcoming Cathedral Green Craft Fair on July 1st and 2nd where five of us are representing The Craft Hub and sharing a stall.  Quite daunting for me as I’ve never done it before albeit a fantastic opportunity to market “peagreen”.

At Peagreen I have been working on a more affordable range of jelly moulds, in aluminium moulds which are smaller and lighter than the glass ones, so perfect for gifts as cheaper and lighter to post.  Soon to be added to the shop.

What a fantastic place!

I met the lovely girls from The Craft Hub at the new co-operative Cafe The Real Food Store on Friday to discuss our stand at the forthcoming Respect Festival in Exeter.  Downstairs you can buy Emma’s Bread and a great range of local produce and upstairs there is a spacious seating area, extensive local menu and fairtrade teas and coffees.  Since 2009 it has taken 292 shareholders to get this community project off the ground and well done to them. It’s relaxed, comfy and light with very reasonable prices, definitely worth a visit and you get to leave with that smug feeling that you are helping local businesses rather than a multi national global corporation!

Lovely Pip from the Craft Hub

Armed with a pile of gorgeous yellow flyers and posters for the Craft Hub “Summer of Love” Fair on June 19th which I have promised to distribute around Teignmouth & Shaldon (think I’ll get Tracy to help me from My Sister Mabel) I left the meeting full of enthusiasm for the future!

Well, my little candle making business is really taking off at last! Yippee!  The April 3rd fair at Topsham was a mega success and I was approached by someone from the Exeter Steiner School who asked me if I would like to do their Fair on May 14th.  A friend of mine, whose wedding is in July, has asked me to make 40 vintage teacup candles for the ladies’ table presents and I’m doing the next Craft Hub Fair in Topsham on June 19th.

I’ve found some great new scents for Spring like Hyacinth, Bluebell and Key Lime Pie and I have a room full of exciting vintage finds that I have been picking up on Ebay and in various charity shops.  Most importantly a growing collection of 1950s Poole Pottery which I love! I have started pouring candles into unusual retro pieces which can be washed out once the candle is finished and reused. Check out these old soup bowls, what a fantastic shape!  I’m going to fill them with a double wick soya wax candle and sell each one with a pale pink vintage Poole plate………viola!

Actually, they don’t look too great wrapped in plastic but I need to keep them clean and you get my drift…yeah….?

It’s my good pal Bridget’s 40th birthday today

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRIGGERS!

Armed with coffee and croissants we shall all be assembling in Combeinteignhead village hall at 10am tomorrow to get it decked out with bunting, flowers & candles  (of course) ready for the evening party.  Everyone has to come in fancy dress, something beginning with the letter “B”  and I’m hoping one of the men has the confidence to come as “Borat” in a mankini, that would be hilarious (photographic evidence to follow……..with a bit of luck!)

Blimey………. can’t believe I haven’t blogged since November, although I have to admit, I turn into a rather large dormouse during the winter months.  Having stocked my house with essential supplies (red wine, chocolate, fresh coffee and Earl Grey tea) I light the wood burner & snuggle down in front of the TV armed with various box sets (The Inbetweeners being the best) and embrace Winter!  Having convinced my other half to do the morning school run months ago (he works from home and needs to escape the house for fresh air every morning – honestly!).  I managed a few hours work and have loaded some stuff into the shop at last. 

We had a Christmas visit from the Russians (my brother Luke and his Siberian wife)  which involved too much vino and not enough sleep!  My children, lured by the chance of some retail therapy, were keen to visit the in-laws in Birmingham, where I came across this wonderful life-size installation at The Custard Factory and an enormous vintage clothing shop – you know me…. I love a bit of recycling!

At Peagreen we are still on the hunt for some cheap storage in order to expand the business.  I am cracking on with my handmade candles (easier to store) and have a few fairs booked on April 3rd @ St Matthews Hall, Topsham, Devon, the first weekend of June @ the Respect Festival in Exeter and the first weekend of July @ the Cathedral Craft Fair, Exeter.  All these bookings have resulted from joining The Craft Hub last year. Thank you to those lovely ladies Pip, Hannah and Lucy who have been working so hard on behalf of everyone involved in this Exeter-based craft co-operative.

Problems with Paypal have prevented me getting anything into the shop. I can see our pre-Christmas sales disappearing! Oh well, it’s been over two weeks since my last blog entry so I’ll get on with it… sounds like a confession!

On November 17th there was another Cr’after Dark session at The City Gate Inn in Exeter.  “Crocheted Christmas Decorations” are obviously not my thing, and having had too much wine beforehand with my friend Nat, I have to admit that I struggled!  My poor friend George, who had driven over from Stokeinteignhead, and is a master crocheter, ended up trying to teach Nat and myself how to do it as the instructor was flat out because the place was heaving!  It’s proving to be a very popular night out. Well done to Pip and the gang for all the effort they put in. Let’s hope that the December 12th Fair in Topsham is just as busy.

Yesterday our lovely photographer friend Mike Evans spent the day here doing our website photo shoot.  A far cry from our lame attempt at photography, he was in and out with lights and gadgets and lenses creating fantastic shots. I got to utilise my massive hoard of junk shop buys to use as props, our friend Helene made up a beautiful bunch of flowers and a good time was had by all (I hope?). Watch this space for the results… should get the disc on Tuesday.

Another hectic week lies ahead, with a cupboard to finish painting that’s heading off to Tavistock on Thursday. Some craft orders to make from an evening I did at a neighbour’s on Wednesday, A Pampered Chef lunch at my house on Thursday, and my other half’s 40th birthday celebration on Friday! On Sunday Blue is having her Charity Arts & Crafts open day in Teignmouth and I still have to get some things in our online shop!  The next time I blog I will be the proud owner of gorgeous Peagreen photos….