Man creche and dog hats! Must be Christmas!

Christmas is now officially on it's way in the Harrison household! 

On Sunday we decided to take a walk down to the local Christmas Market, and were pleasantly surprised. 

First stop was the Christmas Tree Festival at The Methodist Church, Sleaford. This is the 13th year of the festival and it has become a real Christmas tradition for us and a lot of others to visit it each year. There were 85 trees in total - all made by schools, groups, business's and individuals - anyone can enter a tree and it's completely free!!! 

Anniefloribunda's tree

I always enter one for Anniefloribunda now, but this year I entered one for Mr H too (who is a butcher, for those of you who don't know us). 

His tree was The Great British Breakfast Tree 
and made lots of people smile that day! 

There were some really great entries this year. 

Katy Katezart entered a tree made from a wooden pallet and there were gorgeous little miniatures from the local miniaturist club too.

Next stop was the craft fayre at St Denys Church Hall. I'd promised friends I would pop by and support them. Picked up a beautiful glass Christmas bauble from Beatty Mae Vintage and also got a pressie for baby Flo' who is due to arrive on December 10th!

Coming out onto the Market Square, we stopped to listen to the children from Alvey school singing a funny song about the stresses of Christmas shopping - wish I'd videoed it now :-( 

Standing watching the entertainment I got a bit chilly - so popped into The Greek Taverna and warmed up with a scrummy, hot chocolate (with brandy & squirty cream!) - well it is (almost) Christmas!

We missed the Morris Dancers this year much to Steve's disapointment but Loved the Round Table's novel idea of raising money with their "Man Creche" - one of these is needed on every high street!!! 

We walked the whole route of the Christmas Market and popped into EDS on Southgate for a gorgeous glass of Gluwein and hand made Stilton cookies where Arlo modelled his Christmas hat for us! 

Hope you are having as much fun in your run up to Christmas! 

Merry Christmas!! 

Hidden treasures!!!

Nothing much planned for tomorrow...

wonder if I can persuade Mr H that he wants to go rummaging at the old co-op in Horncastle - not only can you find hidden treasures here 

they also have a talking parrot in the shop! 

Pleeeeeeeeeeeease can we go Mr H???

Most popular wedding decorator!!!!

Wahoo!!!!! It's official - we won!!! 

Thank you 

so much to each and every one of you who voted for me in 

The Wedding Industry Award results: 

1st place - Lincoln's most popular wedding venue decorator

1st Place - Lincolnshires most popular wedding venue decorator

4th Place - UK's most popular wedding venue decorator

Thank you so much - absolutely delighted with the result -

now I just have to pick one of my techie friends brains on how to download and open the award stickers!!!!! LOl!

http://facebook.com/anniefloribunda

Blingtastic!

Thought you might like to see our most recent wedding that we dressed 

- lot's of sparkles! 

The starlight backdrop and matching top table cover sparkled all day and night

 I sprayed two tall vases pale gold and topped with a ball of gypsophelia and ivory roses for the top table

Pale gold pewter teapots, vintage gold cups and saucers, pearls and pale blue petals 

for the centrepieces on each table 

Our "Cherish" sign had centre stage on the top table 

Personalised keep sake box made by my friend Christine for the newlyweds

Dressed by https;//www.facebook.com/anniefloribunda

Table Plans don't need to be sensible!

Want something unique for your wedding? 

Anniefloribunda hires out props - 

This is our latest table plan idea : 

The Tree Table Plan...

 The tree stands about 9ft tall

The frames can be painted in any colour to match your theme...

 

Love birds, crystals and pearls also available to dress the tree...

Available to hire fully decorated and with table plan frames as pictured 

for £45 from http://www.facebook.com/Anniefloribunda 

Bird of Paradise Candelabra

Had to share this pic with you of the latest candelabra I've prettied up for hire at weddings/events!

 

I used beautiful hackle feathers (which I bought by the meter from

The Embellishment Emporium - an online shop just full of gorgeous feather, bead and applique trims).

 

 

Centre of attention!

 

Latest table centrepieces just completed...

Check back next week all you DIY brides to learn how to make one of these yourself...

 



 

Or take a look at our facebook page to hire, from just £5!!! 

 

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151351965711728.1073741825.107524221727&type=1#!/pages/Anniefloribunda/107524221727



WOW factor Wedding Flowers!!!

I have completed the brides heirloom posy, corsages, buttonholes and babys headband...

Now at the start of creating wedding flowers with a real WOW factor!

Today the postman arrived with these beautiful ostrich feathers in rich cadburys purple...

The flowers to the side of the vase are actually going to be duplicated the other side and (don't tell) but they will become the mother of the bride and mother of the grooms bouquets...

something they can keep forever!

Happily having a play around...

will let you know what the finished product looks like!

Purple Bride

The colour of Cadburys Purple seems to be very popular amongst brides at the moment. I remember my freind had it many years ago - with huge purple anemomes stitched under the toille of her dress and I hand painted her wedding shoes to match!

This is the latest purple posy I've made...

 Features, roses, poppies and peony...

 vintage costume jewellery in the shape of a shooting star, flowers and butterflies...

 Vintage glass buttons, fluffy fur and handmade ribbon roses

 ... and matching wrist corsage for bridesmaid/mother of the bride...

If you can't live without them you can buy them from my website at

www.anniefloribunda.com

Latest make at Anniefloribunda.

Wrist corsage of large Ivory Gerbera, with vintage brooch at its centre.

Pearl spray and shades of green ribbon.

Perfect for prom, wedding or St Patricks Day!!

All sits on top of a gold bead elastic bracelet.

One size fits all.

£15.00

from

www.anniefloribunda.com

or

http://folksy.com/shops/bloominglovely

Cool Britannia!

I've been thiking about the Queens Diamond Jubilee

and what I should do to mark this special year.

I've decided that I am going to make a limited edition of

60

Jubilee Corsages

Each one will be unique, a one of a kind design,

they will all be red, white and blue

and will use materials, ribbons, buttons and beads from the last 60 years

in all of them!

Some will have a vintage feel, others will be contemporary,

Some will be for everyday wear (to the Olympics maybe to spur on our team?)

and some for very special occassions (Jubilee Ball or Night at the Proms).

I've also decied to give 10% of all sales on these corsages

to a charity.
If you want to nominate a charity then please
leave a comment underneath this post).

You can buy them from my Folksy shop

http://folksy.com/shops/MaterialGirl

 

Cadburys Purple

Cadburys colour puple organza ribbons and tiny rose on top of a stretch pearl ivory braclet with ivory leaves, petals, pearl spray and satin ribbon, make up this fairy like wrist corsage.
Perfect for wedding, prom or special occassion.

have a look at this and my other wedding/prom accessories at
http://www.anniefloribunda.com/bridal--prom.html



Lollycocks, River Walk, Sleaford, Lincolnshire.             Saturday 11/02/12                                    Lunch at Cogglesford Mill.

"Go"..."Create!"

Feeling quite sad that next week is my last week with Hartsholme Community Contact Centre in Lincoln...   won't see them again for a while...until the jewellery making sessions in January  :-)

Janet, Pam, Andrea and Caz have shared cups of tea and stories with me over the last couple of weeks and I will miss peering over the rim my teacup, watching their delight at creating their own unique style.

Thought I'd share with you, the fab' Christmas table decorations they made today...

They took their usual  seats, (funny how people nearly always return to the same seat week after week), and  were faced with a mountain(!) of (recycled and new), baubles, ribbons, buttons, beads, foliage, embellshments(!), indulgences(!) etc...   

"Take a plate and have a play" I told them. 

I love the way this group just "dive in" to the  materials - they seem to love them (almost) as much as I do! And time goes soooooo fast! We have a cuppa, put the world to rights and create something beautiful too!!!

Anyway, I showed them an example of one I'd made earlier,(just like Val) and said "Go! Create!" and this is what they came up with... 

Janet

 Pam

 Andrea

Caz

The following session we made these lovely boxes from wallpaper scraps and trim, buttons etc...

... I got the wallpaper from my local Interior Design Shop - they gave me an old sample book.

Looking forward to hearing how the two above were received from Pam and Janet's family and freinds.

Tea, Cake & Crafts - my idea of heaven!

As discussed on a "Folksy" forum, I have decided to open up my home (in Sleaford Lincolnshire) for a day on March 22nd, for tea, cake and crafts.
You can drop in anytime between 10am and 4pm - bring what you are making at the moment too as it will be a good time to exchange craft ideas - I will also be swapping/selling small packets of buttons/fabrics/etc so if you have anything to add to the sale/swap table bring that too. Should be a good fun, informal day, for everyone interested in crafts (doesn't have to be sewing). I know that five people are interested in coming already so if you are going to come along too and join us then please leave a comment and I will email you directions etc.