Tea cosies and bags

In two weeks' time it's market day again! I am trying my utmost to have new stock on the table, but with lovely spring days in between, I find it difficult to concentrate on work and not garden work. The veggie garden calls loudly every time I walk past and with all the spring bulbs flowering, the garden really looks colourful. Sweet peas are climbing up the wire structure and I cannot wait for it to start flowering. That is if the wind does not blow them to pieces before hand. I had a request for a tea cosy and am busy knitting up a few for choice. I might even do another or so extra market days to try and sell before Christmas. I gathered 3 very retro patterns and just finished them. These patterns are truly retro and came from pattern books that I bought way back in 1970. Imagine! Looking back at them just showed me that with all the changes over the years, nothing has really changed at all. People do not believe you when you tell them to knit you only need to know how to do a plain stitch and a purl stitch and with that knowledge you can knit up anything you want. Same with crochet, a few basic stitches and you are on your way and that never changes. I have a full set of Golden Hands hardcover books listing almost every craft that you can imagine and yes, those crafts are still relevant today. I was looking at bag patterns and although I will not go to the extent of using canvas work to make a bag, the pattern can be used for any of our materials today. Anyway, a few pictures of the cosies and a denim bag (my first, so not too perfect!).

Cream merino cosie with embroidered flowers (72 in fact!)

Purple and snowmoon colours for this one!

White and blue classic.

Small denim bag with flower! Now for another two cosies: both with flowers (abundantly spring)! Better start working now! Marlene xoxo

Photo props and fairy tales

After the market day, the search for new and interesting things to sell stays with me. I have been looking at all sorts of little things like pin cushions, retro tea cozies (of which I found a few patterns in old 1970 pattern books that, believe it or not, I still possess), maybe a few teddies to crochet?, but what is clear is that one must have a HUGE selection of stuff. People are savvy and just don't buy for the sake of buying. People have appreciated my knitted goods and thought that the items are colourful and well knitted, but still only a few things got sold. Now why would that be? I can tell you that I used some of the best materials and my knitting is not too bad at all and then the pricing is very well. I almost does not turn a profit on the items. It's fine to look at my stuff and how it was made, but I can assure you that you cannot make it that cheaply! I was very lucky to have had a commission from a photographer for some props. She needed a very 'fluffy' tulle tutu and a few baby beanies in the elven way. I have googled and searched and eventually came up with patterns that were mostly my own creations in the end. Some photo's to show:

The colours are lilac and purple, but somehow overall it looks quite pink!

Back view with ribbon to camo the fastening stuff!

All the elf beanies! Have a good Monday! Marl xoxo