Thursday 29 July 2010

The CLA Game Fair - Part 2

The delivery of materials arrived on Tuesday afternoon, so the two of us manhandled parcels weighing anything up to 50 kilos into the store - it was worth it though, our stocks are back to normal at last.

Back to the Game Fair....Opposite the craft area was an outdoor adventure zone for the children. There were all sorts of challenging things for them to do like "zorbing". This was part of our view over the scene.


There was a "paratower", bungee star and a climbing wall too. The children loved it. Alongside this were the mountain boarders putting on a show about three times a day. They were doing acrobatics from a vertical drop and ramps over a Land Rover - too much energy!!

Here are some more photos of our friends in the craft row:


Neil and his lovely shapely seats!!


Paul with his elegant signs.


And the fascinating craft of engraving.

Well we have a month now before our last but one show of the season - where does all the time go.....

Monday 26 July 2010

The CLA Game Fair - Part 1

It was a long weekend but thoroughly enjoyable. Bernard scooted along nicely covering the 140 mile journey in about three and a half hours with only the occasional pop and bang backfire! Ragley Hall near Alcester and Stratford in Warwickshire is a beautiful stately home with a perfect setting, just look at the view we had from our area, (we're on the right!).......


The view over the main arena was even better at night.....


As ever, it was great to meet up with crafty friends, some of whom we haven't seen since the Game Fair last year. Peter Tree is one person we only meet there, he makes fantastic Windsor chairs and was demonstrating how he creates the shaped seat bases using an adze. Here are some of his creations.


In the background of this picture you can see Bill's handmade trugs. He was demonstrating his trug making skills all day to an interested audience.

We had to move our stand around a bit at the end of the first day as sadly the bushcraft exhibitor couldn't make it because a family member had had an accident, so everyone helped us to move Bernard, all of our exhibits and the gazebo across to fill the void left by his absence. Thanks everyone!!

We're feeling the pain today - although we were in one of the quieter areas of the show, we were still on our feet all day working as usual, it plays havoc with your feet and back. You also realise just how little you talk when you are at home as compared with being at an event, both of us have got croaky voices today - partly due to the dust on site and partly through talking to customers and friends so much!! Tomorrow we will be receiving a one tonne delivery of materials, so we've both got to be fully recovered by then.

Loads more news and photos to post this week in the Game Fair report, instalment number two.......

Tuesday 20 July 2010

Hall chairs and a pheasant

They're finished. The two sweet little oak hall chairs that have been in a state of neglect for so long are looking good, just in time to take to the show.


I haven't had much time to mess about with other weaving, but for a bit of fun, I did make this little paper pheasant.


One more day of preparation to go, but tomorrow will be disturbed as we have a large order of materials due to arrive!

Sunday 18 July 2010

One week to the Game Fair.

Less than one week really, the show starts next Friday. Are we ready? Sort of I suppose, it has been difficult to work at all with the demolition going on around us, but that is now coming to an end. Here is this weekends full skip!



The hall porter's chairs are going back together, just waiting for the glue to go off, the fourteen footstools are refinished waiting for new seats to be woven on them at the show. We've also restored a very pretty balloon back cane chair and a high back inlaid rush chair to work on as part of the demonstration. But best of all, I have made some baskets, (light relief)!!



I also finished making the film of Bernards restoration in May, so will be posting that on YouTube soon and the film of us using the soda blaster on small furniture is also finished - if you want to have a look, this is the link here

Monday 12 July 2010

Noses to the grindstone

Saturday was spent concrete breaking! The foundations of the old garage workshop are now three quarters dug out, but the skip was already full so we will have to wait for the next one to arrive before we can get rid of the remaining waste. It was a mucky, noisy job, but hopefully that's the worst over with now.

Meanwhile back in our "bijou" little studio, we are fighting for space! Fourteen footstool frames are in various stages of restoration, along with six chairs and other projects. Two of the chairs used to belong to my Mother in Law, a sweet pair of Hall Porters chairs dating from the mid 19th century. She bought them back in the 70's from an elderly gentleman who had fallen on hard times - she didn't need the chairs, but felt sorry for the poor old man!. As time has passed the old glue has dried out and as a result, they need total restoration.



I think it might be a little while yet before anyone will be sitting on them again!

Monday 5 July 2010

So....what did you do at the weekend?

The garage/workshop is down........ I'll say no more than that! Please watch the film, I think you'll understand why you need to be kind to us today.......

Friday 2 July 2010

It's raining....

"Anyone who says sunshine brings happiness has never danced in the rain"

I read this today and it made me smile, it's exactly what we are going to have to do if it continues to rain - the garage/workshop is coming down this weekend regardless! I'm going to keep out of the way, the big boys will be playing with their big toys and it will bring out the "protective mother" side of me, so best if I do some gardening, (and listen out for any screams!!) Ive got the first aid kit ready just in case.

The skip arrives today, so do the cutters and various other tools. It's promising to be a damp and noisy weekend.