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!! 

Black & Ivory Wedding

I absolutely loved being involved in this wedding and also met a lady called Lindsey who did all the beautiful stationery - we've decided to work together on future weddings as our styles sit nicely together...

We have pooled our resources and can now offer you...

 

Wishing Tree hire - a lovely idea, instead of a guest book. Originated in Holland, and very big in the States now. All of your guests get to write their wishes for the bride and groom and tie their wish tags to the tree.

 

Or how about hiring an aluminium post box, colour co-ordinated with ribbons to match your colours? Your guest can have fun "posting" their cards to you.

 

We also offer a full range of table decorations, again decorated to your wedding colours - candelabra, vases, fresh or artificial flowers, feathers, or frou frou!

... you decide.

 

Classically styled stationery, invitations, table planning, place names, menus, etc - all handcrafted using good quality materials and fabulous attention to detail.

 

 

Also available and made from feathers, buttons, vintage jewellery, Victorian lace/trim etc are bouquets, matching buttonholes, corsages, handbag decoration and hair accessories...

 

This bridal bouquet contained vintage jewellery and Victorian beaded lace trim alongside foam roses - a posy that will last long after the special day.

 

 

We also make bunting, button balls and chair decorations -

 In fact, we can help with most wedding requests - and we'd love to hear from you with your special themed ideas or traditional ways - we offer a friendly and reliable service - just ask!

 

Visit us at facebook at:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Anniefloribunda/107524221727?ref=hl#!/pages/Anniefloribunda/107524221727

 

https://www.facebook.com/anniefloribunda#!/DesignsbyLindsey?fref=ts

 

 

 

 

FREE Training for Small Businesses!!!

Hi Everyone!

Those of you who know me, know that I wear several caps in my working life... So with my trainer/tutor cap on...

 

Several of you have taken advantage of the free courses I've been organising. If you missed the first round of funding to train small businesses, you can now reapply for this lot.
Must be a small business (sole trader up to 250 employees)

in the North Kesteven Area, over 19 years of age.

Fully funded training available in the following: 

 HABC Level II Award in Safe Moving and Handling (QCF)
HABC Level II Award in Health and Safety in the Workplace (QCF)
HABC Level II Award in Food Safety in Catering (QCF)
EDI Level II Award in Conflict management and personal Safety in the workplace.

 

All of them are FREE (funded by European Social Fund and Lincolnshire County Council). All are one day courses. Once you have completed any of the above courses you will also be entitled to a FREE First Aid Course and certificate. 

 

Please email me on anniefloribunda@yahoo.com (or comment on here)your name, name of business and course you are interested in - I will then send you more information and check you are eligible for funding.

Any questions - just ask.

Many thanks Annie

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!

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.

Mmmmmm...Time for Cherry pie!

Sitting in the garden today was just great. The cherry trees are in full bloom in the flats communal garden next door. They tower above the flats and are the biggest cherry trees I have ever seen and must be ages old. At the end of the month my garden will be covered in a layer of blossom "snow!"

Each year there is an abundance of cherries, which sadly are left on the tree to decay and eaten mainly by the birds. I sometimes go off on a daydream about making these beautiful trees more of a landmark of Sleaford town and imagine "Cherry Pie Day".
Everyone in the flats (and their neighbours - so I am included!) would have a giant picnic under the cherry tree. Then the cherry picking would begin...Everyone would get involved and bring baskets, ladders etc... There would be music playing in the background, (It would, of course, be a lovely hot day)... Rugs and blankets would be set beneath the trees and people would laze... and talk... and read. Oh, and there would be wine flowing and daisy chain making too.
Then some people would pop home to make a cherry pie or two... and maybe some sort of cherry liqueur to put by for next years cherry pie day.
Later, in the afternoon, all the pies would be set out on the gingham clad tables and tasted and judged.
There would be lots of eating, relaxing and chatting and then, when the evening started to draw in we would all retire to our homes with full bellies, having given the cherry trees our full attention for the day and the respect they deserve...

Or maybe strawberries are more your thing?

I just adore the Cath Kidstons retro strawberry fabric these buttons are covered in - I put them with some of my (many!)vintage buttons - and hey presto! A pretty Spring necklace. It's in my Folksy shop if you can't live without it!

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.