Bank accounts

Ben opened his first bank account today and what a fiasco that was. It used to be, that when you wanted to open an account, you went down to your local branch, cash in fist and they exchanged that for a little book with the total paid in. Each time you paid in a little more, they added that in and totalled it up..........and if you were really lucky, they added a little extra in interest, and you got a free piggy bank for your extra pennies. Now, you have to go armed with birth certificates, council tax bills, marriage certificates (because my name is different from the one on his birth certificate) and all you get in return for your cash, is a receipt! Personally, I think they've taken all the fun out of banking - I used to love my litte red book.

So sad

A wonderful lady called Beverley, who I 'met' through MISI passed away on Christmas day. She was only 40 years old (four years younger than me) and left a very young family behind. I'm sure they're absolutely devastated. It saddens me when a young person passes on - I feel they still have so much to give and learn, but I'm sure everything happens for a reason - cold comfort for the family I'm sure, but it's how I cope with news like this. My heart goes out to her family and friends

Christmas 2008

Well Christmas is finally over for another year. We had the family over on Christmas day - 12 of us sat down to a HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE turkey. As per usual, I made too much food and I had to send everyone home with doggie bags just to get rid of it, and we've spent the last three days living off leftovers. My house is still chaos, but I'm sure the order and organisation is in there somewhere. Very strangely, I lost a bag of potatoes! What's that all about? I've hunted high and low and can't find them anywhere.

Thankfully, Ben recovered enough on Christmas day to enjoy himself. Poor soul woke up feeling really poorly and ended up going back to bed for a couple of hours after opening his presents. Kat was over the moon with her pressie from us (a sewing machine)........now she just needs to learn how to sew! I got a craft workstation and both Paul and I got nice cheques from both sets of parents so I can finally afford my Craft Robo which will allow me to make more intricate cards.............so excited!!! So, now all we have to do is wait until the bank clears them. I got a couple of cardmaking books too with some really good ideas in them. Once I find all my craft stuff again........I can get to work.

Balerno Craft Fair

Did my last craft fair of the year yesterday and had a surprisingly good day. Made a nice profit and bought a beautiful wooden bowl made by another stall-holder. It's strange because you think you can tell who is going to buy and who is going to walk away - most of the time you're wrong! I like the Balerno Craft Fair - it's a very friendly atmousphere and most of the traders are regulars so you get to know each other. Carol, the organiser is really nice and friendly (and absolutely mad to be organising such a thing). I have a great deal of respect for people who take on this challenge........the ones who do it properly that is. Some fairs I've been to, the organisers take your money and sit on their backsides expecting the crafters to do all the advertising. I understand that we crafters have to advertise the fact we'll be attending a fair............but the organisers have the responsibility to make sure people know about the fair in the first place.......that's partly what we're paying them for.

I also got some good news this week - I was invited to join the Dunfermline Wedding Co-operative so hopefully my wedding stationery line will soon take off. I do love making wedding stationery, more so than any other type of card, but I think I'll have to expand my range a bit and bring in a few more themes. I have a few more ideas in mind but they'll have to wait until after Christmas. I have so much to organise........starting with dinner for 12 this year! I must be out of my mind!!! Never mind, it'll be fun............I'm sure of it.

Elie Craft Fair - again

Well, I did the Elie Craft Fair today, sponsored by the Sue Ryder Organisation. It was very quiet, hardly any customers ..........but hardly any people out on the street either - I kept looking for the tumbleweed! It was a real shame because there was some lovely stuff out for sale. All in all there were only six stalls, so nice and small and personal. However, the lack of customers meant we stall holders could get together, chat and get to know each other. I met some lovely people today, especially Carol (who I'd 'met' through the UK Crafts Forum) who I sat and gabbed to all day. I took Ben, my son, with me and he charmed the socks off everyone in there. We took some pics of the hall and my stall.

Elie Craft Fair

Took my last annual leave day today to get ready for tomorrow's craft fair in Elie. I'm really looking forward to it - been a while since I've done a fair. I've been very busy making stuff, mostly gift boxes, which makes a nice change from cards.

Boxes, boxes and more boxes

It's Chrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrristmas!!!!

It's official, it's the Christmas season - I've seen the Coca Cola advert!!! So today I broke down and put the Christmas decorations up. The house looks and smells gorgeous.......loads of Yankee candles all over the place making the house smell of cinnamon and mistletoe. We had to go to Dobies today to get a tree stand though because one of the dogs broke the one we had. I could've spent a fortune in there. Funniest thing they had in there was a singing Santa band - the kids loved it........there were crowds of them standing around the display, singing and dancing along. There were also lots of owl decorations around - what's that all about? You don't naturally connect Christmas with owls!! Personally, I thought they were a bit too realistic for me. Saw a black Christmas tree in there too and was sooooooo tempted, but I resisted. Have to say, it reminded me of one of my friends when I saw it........you know who you are!!

Craft Fairs

I have decided that Craft Fairs in the Fife area are like buses. None for ages then two turn up at the same time! My last fair was in August, none in September, October and November.......well I was booked in for one in November but unfortunately it had to be cancelled by the organiser, but I have TWO in December........the 6th and the 13th.

No idea how I will do on the 6th - the organiser asked me if I was going to be selling Christmas Cards because the organisers were hoping to sell their own. Hmmmm, funny that, a cardmaker selling Christmas cards at a fair in December........let me think about that one. However, since the organisers are the Sue Ryder organisation, I had to say I would keep them to a minimum - a sucker for a good cause me. So, I had to do a quick re-think. Came up with these - a tiebox with six handmade cards for different occasions inside - hopefully people will buy them as Christmas pressies instead.

So, if any of you are in the Elie area on Saturday 6th December or in Balerno on Saturday 13th December - pop in and say hello.

Well, where to begin. I've finally succumbed to the pressure and started this blog, although what I'll write I have no idea. I've looked around at other people's blogs and have been so impressed by how interesting they are...........unfortunately I have a singularly uninteresting life lol.

So, about me, I'm 44 years old and have FINALLY decided what I want to be when I grow up! Two years ago I married my (now) husband and decided that I wanted to make my own wedding stationery. I have to say, they weren't that good lol, but it brought back my love of art and design - I studied Art & Design at college. I started making my own line of greetings cards, improving my techniques and designs and then this year decided to break into the Wedding Stationery line. I have a feeling this blog will have a lot of comments on the trials and tribulations of starting a new business!