Back Home to Reality

Last week was spent in a chalet on a seaside resort in West Wales: Kidwelly.  The beach was only 30 or so feet away and there was an entertainment complex with all the usual diversions that keep children happy, plus an indoor pool. The boys were in heaven.

The of course there was the obligatory show in the evening, plus a game of pool in the afternoon which followed a few hours in the pool.  Needless to say the boys were in seventh heaven.  Knowing that there was a pool etc, I made sure that I took along plenty of handsewing and roped my mother into doing some embroidery with me.

So if anyone was at the resort you would have seen me lugging a large red raffia bag about or sitting and embroidering Christmas tags in the middle of August.  I had planned to embroider the Christmas tags and then when I got home sew them together ready for the market.  Because the boys spent hours in the pool we managed to get 20+ of the linen labels embroidered and then because I obviously didn't do enough crafting over the holiday sewed them together at the weekend.  I will post some photos tomorrow when we should have some better light.

I did manage to photograph this yesterday - my gazebo.  After getting a stall at BBC Village Show, I have been thinking about the stall etc.  Plus I have to take everything myself and it isn't undercover.  Even in summer, the weather here isn't a dead cert, but the show is in September.  I have been panicking a little about whether it will rain and what to do is the weather is less than favourable.

I have to admit to being heavily influenced by this lady and her beautiful booths.  But let's just stop a moment - I know that this gazebo doesn't look anything like her booth.  But I have PLANS.  Ethan spotted it at the car boot sale yesterday after several DIY/Homestores has sold out all of them except the really expensive ones.  I bought it from an elderly couple with a caravan.  No instructions, but it came with a photograph and all the pieces were bundled in the correct piles etc.

I just couldn't wait to put it up.  So here it is, modelled with Keanan at the end of his star jump.

The plan is to keep the roof structure as that would be the most fiddly to replicate (After all I don't want to make too much extra work for myself).  I am thinking of using some vintage sheets and making three sides - probably something that can be attached with velcro so that if the weather is good, I don't have to attach them.  And maybe a patchwork edging along the front to tie in with the fabric sides which won't match as I am going to have to use what I have rather than go to the expense of buying metres of fabric.   After all I would like to make a profit from this!

Think Cath Kidston - but nowwhere near as fancy!

Comments

[Amanda]

What a fun time! Glad to hear you had a wonderful vacation, complete with lots of craft time! As for your gazebo, I'm sure you'll make something beautiful. Isn't it exciting to go through plans and possibilities, before having to actually execute anything?

[caroline]

The BBC show thing sounds like a great idea and I am loving your ideas for your stall - can't wait to see pictures of it in all its glory.

[persephone]

Your vacation sounds great. Hope you sat in the sun and got tanned while doing all of that embroidering.

[joanna]

I am sure your gazebo will look fabulous - your ideas for it sound great - I am enjoying the image of a Cath Kidston-inspired gazebo! Love your blog!

[Cricket]

Excellent ideas for your tent...I love the thought of using vintage sheets as the removable sides. Good luck on getting it set up...I'll stop back to see pictures of the finished product.