For Folk Sake

Just trying out a wee Folksy shop - view here.....



It's the UK version of Etsy, everything is in pounds and pence, let me know what you think.

Venturing out this weekend to Rothiemurchus - hoping for some sunshine.

Will post in length next week about Inver Cottage - suffice to say it was fab!

Have a good weekend!

Craft Fair or Not Craft Fair? - that is the question.....

I don't do a lot of craft fairs. I keep up the local one at Killearn and the rest I am beginning to be a bit choosy about. There is nothing worse than turning up to an event and not even selling enough to cover your table cost - it's soul destroying and always casts the seed of doubt - why does no one want to buy my wares - are they not good enough???! Don't you know how much effort I put into knitting a sheep!!

We (fellow makers) have deliberated numerous times as to what makes a good fair, how to get the right people through the door.

Since taking a stall at the Wee Green Market in Killearn, I have managed to strike up some solid friendships with a bunch of lovely and like minded girls. One question we have asked ourselves is what would be our ideal 'fair', and long have we pondered and wished our crafting time away on what would be our perfect day.

So we have decided to take our Craft Fair Future firmly in our hands. This Saturday sees some of us going West to Inver Cottage near Loch Fyne. I met Jasmine and Joe at the Scottish Trade Fair in January and they are now one of my stockists. I managed to persuade my husband to take a drive to Inver Cottage for a wee day out with the family a couple of months ago, and I was simply delighted with the whole experience.

Firstly the drive is spectacular, the location stunning and the food - well our clean plates said it all. Jasmine and Joe have a huge amount of enthusiasm for their business, and it shows. And as usual I came away thinking 'This would be a good place to have an event'.

As I have mentioned before - if you don't ask, you don't get, so we did and we got. We hope that Saturday will bring a slightly different experience to visitors. Only a few designers who have the time to tell you about their craft, the chance to sit back and enjoy lunch whilst looking out over the castle ruins. And if me and my friends 'happen' to enjoy ourselves into the bargain then all the better. When I think about it, it might just be an elaborate excuse for us all to have a day out...

Come along and meet myself, Caireen, Suzanne and Isobel.

Hope to see you there!

Oh Deer

My Husband caught this on his phone this morning on his walk home from work (6.45am). The deer jumped out in front of him and he managed a few seconds of footage as it bounded away - just thought I'd share!

I really like the colours, the blue sky contrasting with the grass. I also like how quiet and peaceful it is. We are lucky to live where we do :o)

I can see clearly now the rain has gone...

Finally the rain has come (and hopefully gone), the air has cleared and it's all a bit cooler inside and out . I've had a hectic couple of weeks (I seem to write that a lot) so here is a quick summary:-

Attended the Logierait Market which was a good day, very well attended by locals and visitors from further afield. I also caught up with some old school friends (from Aberfeldy). I met Judith and Karen who are readers of my blog and hail from Pitlochry. Turns out they know my in-laws, it's a small world. It was lovely to meet them, it's always interesting to find out who takes the time to read the nonsense I type.

We had the last week of nursery and I managed four nights out! This must be a record for me since becoming a parent. Now that my social life has calmed down I've managed to get a fair bit of making done. The tea cosies hanging on the line are for Homer, which I will be sending up soon along with some knitting kits and sheep. I never thought 20 years ago walking down the main street of Aberfeldy during my school lunch hour that I'd be making sheep to sell in one of the local shops! (Crikey that makes me sound a bit old)

I was also contacted by Alicia this week who I met at the Country Living Fair in November. She is opening a shop with her husband in Aberfoyle - hopefully tomorrow - called Cabin Collectives. It's located next to the Wool Centre in a cabin, hence the name. They will be stocking hand crafted items made in Scotland, including My Baboo and their own glass work. Please pop in and say hello if you are in the area.

I'll write about my impending outing to Inver Cottage over the weekend, but you can also get all the info you need from Is - July 11th, 11-5pm.

Ice Age 3 beckons tomorrow and then maybe a trip to the Botanic Gardens in Glasgow. Have a good weekend!

Oh and I almost forgot to mention, Take That on Sunday night might have just been the greatest day of my life.....

Time for Tea (and coffee)

I've finally had the time to work on some new products - coming your way soon is the new My Baboo Tea Beanie (because it looks like a beanie hat!) and Coffee Cosy in the form of knitting kits... just have to write the instructions and get the boxes sorted, hopefully within the next two weeks. (also available in blue)

The Kippen street fair was a success, even the weather pulled through. I'm annoyed with myself though as I left my knitted bunting attached to the stall, never to be seen again. I'll just have to make some more.

This weekend I'm off to the Logierait Market (10-2pm), coupled with a trip to the in-laws in Pitlcohry. Then on Sunday I'm off to Glasgow to see Take That with my sister. I don't know if my life will ever be the same again.

I met up with a few of my Wee Green Market friends this week - Is, Suzanne and Caireen - we are planning a small fair at Inver Cottage on the 11th July, a bit of an excuse for a nice day out to a fab restaurant and location.

Happy Knitting!

...and...relax

I feel like I've been off the map for the past couple of weeks. Lots of things have been happening, most importantly my boys 5th birthday this weekend. we had a great party at Briarlands Farm, just next to Blairdrummond Safari Park - a great place to take your kids during the impending summer holidays.

Work wise has been a bit odd, I'm starting to find more time to make things for myself as my shop orders are finally calming down. I've discovered I have been putting away lots of half finished items that need labels/ faces etc sewn on, so I have I bit more personal stock than I thought.

I have also been working on a small Baboo Book with all the items I have on my web page listed like a mini catalogue. Last year when visiting family in London it became apparent that the catalogue was not just for us country dwellers. I like the idea of having something lying about coffee tables that you can flick through whilst having a cup of tea. It's also very portable, not everyone has a lap top...

Unfortunately just as I was printing off copy no. 7 my printer decided to go on the blink (I get very angry when technology doesn't co-operate with me). However printing and cutting each page myself is a luxury and totally cost prohibitive so I must find a printer who would be happy to run off a few to get me started - a good lesson in not having to do everything myself.

I have four spare little Baboo Books, if you would like one drop me your name and address to info@my-baboo.co.uk. The first four e-mails will receive one. Don't get too excited - its my first attempt at publishing so no doubt the graphics/ spelling/ quality leaves a lot to be desired so any feedback will be gratefully received.

Hope the sun is still shining where you are!

Lynne

PS I have taken a last minute stall at the Kippen Street Fayre on Saturday 13th June 2009, 10am-4pm. Hope to see you there.

Video Killed the Radio Star...

Last week I attended a workshop by Step to discuss how to use the Internet

You might have noticed the video for my prise draw - using You Tube to get a wider audience was one of Colin and Jane's suggestions to promote and grow more business.



So I decided to give it a go - I've been thinking of making some 'How to Knit' videos for a while now to go hand in hand with my knitting kits. The videos I have done so far are most definitely practice runs, but good fun - even if it's just to make myself cringe when I hear my voice! I think you can see my production values are pretty low, but it's quite nice to think of different ways to show off my work. I can see how with a bit more effort I could put together some decent 'adverts'.

My new video is showing my ever increasing flock of sheep, this lot are trotting off (do sheep trot?) to the Soap Co on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh next week. I've also had a go at making some key rings - these are very tactile and good worry balls too!

I went to the Step workshop with Claudia of 4D Organising - she has just started her blog (again as a result of the workshop) so pop over and have a read - guaranteed to get you organised.

Have a good weekend.