Introducing the marvelous Mrs Marmalade

There is the most wonderful lady sewing away in Blackpool, she makes the most adorable pincushions with kitsch trinkets on top and gorgeous patchwork quilts that make you think of home, her designs are bright, cheerful and unique just like her, as a stallholder and a good friend I asked her about her crafting:

She said "The joy of homemade has always charmed me - reworking vintage loveliness into "new" and finding lost treasures appeals to the Mrs Marmalade in me. Making quilts is a pleasure I have been making baby and dolly quilts for 10 years and just can't stop :O] x!"

 Always on the look out for unusual finds she scours charity shops and boot sales looking for interesting pieces to add to her wonderful kitsch collection of trinkets .

She takes pieces of vintage and retro fabric and turns them into the most lovely fun

items for your home, she explains she was a late starter, just a decade of making and a dreadful sewing student at school she is only too happy to sew and make in place of everyday busyness, she is most happiest sewing, creating and reading blogs!

Her displays at craft fairs make you instantly smile, so cheerful and full of colour, she would love nothing more than to give up the day job and craft full time, she has got a keen eye and a natural flair for putting colours and fabrics together.

I asked her if she had three wishes what would they be?

Three wishes ........
1. Wear glasses that stay on my nose ! :o]
2. Remember to put felt tip lids back on ! :o]
3. .... and not to behave too starstruck ..... Oh My Gosh .... Dottie Angel :O] x !!
Joking aside, I really only need happy and healthy and my family and friends for my dreams to come true xxxxxxxx

When she isn't at home she spends time walking Walter the adorable family dog and being generous to her friends by finding just the right things she knows we like.

Lately she has made some gorgeous dresses for the girls at Children of Watamu, since the year 2000 the charity has been very hard working in Watamu in many ways, The Happy House opened in March 2010. It is home to children who have been orphaned, abandoned, and in some cases cruelly abused. It is a Happy home for children. When you stand outside you hear laughter and singing. When you come inside you see happy, healthy, smiling faces

Here are two of the girls wearing Mrs Marmalade's latest fashion range, she is also busy making bunting for the shelter charity shop and trying out new patterns to add to her range of crafty makes.

Her life motto is "Work hard and be nice to people :O]"

You can find her on facebook where it would make her day if you "like" her page and folksy where she sells her peg dolls and quilts x

Biggest ever vintage and handmade craft fair!!!

I have taken the plunge and gone and book one of Blackpool's greatest landmarks The winter gardens for a summer vintage and handmade craft fair!!

its going to be a two day spectacular of crafts, vintage, entertainment and music with craft workshops, a vintage tearoom and lots of handmade goodness.


There will be over a 100 stalls selling the northwest's finest gifts, clothes, toys, accessories, food, art, cards, homewares and much ...more. We are lucky enough to have two performances on the sunday from the very lovely burlesque performer Kitty Koko and I am so hounered to annouce that the amazing Kirsty Almeida will be performing too - how amazing is that.
We shall be having various bands performing over the weekend on the stage and tea and cakes served on vintage china all in the beautiful art deco surroundings of the Pavilion theatre at the Winter Gardens situated in the middle of Blackpool town centre 23rd June 10am - 5pm and 24th June 2012 10pm - 4pm Free entry.

Stalls are still available but going fast £25 for one day or £45 for the full weekend. We can set up from 8am and as it is a secure locked area you can leave your stalls set up overnight if you are doing a full weekend. You will get a table and 2 chairs with extra space around you if you want to bring rails, furniture etc, please let me know in advance of any requirements you have regarding this so I can accommodate you.

There are people coming from all over, Newcastle, Manchester, Liverpool, Cumbria, Yorkshire to name a few so if you want to have a stall but don't drive just get in touch Im trying to organise a lift share.

Any questions please feel free to ask, I know this is going to be an awesome event and can't wait to see you there. If you can will you share this link with your friends and followers, if you share it leave me a comment in the comment box on here or send me a message on facebook (Dotty D Lightful) with a link to where you have shared it and you will be entered into a prize draw to win some lovely handmade goodies x
https://www.facebook.com/events/274062292649467/

Our amazing fair

 What a brilliant day the handmade and vintage craft fair was here in Blackpool, Lancashire UK. The sun came out after a week of rain and despite issues like the cake lady dropping out the night before and the karate group not leaving the building on time it all was a great success. Lots of visitors came to look at the stalls and have cups of tea in vintage china, the stall holders were all amazing, really friendly and had a great day too. Here are some photos of the day:
Here is Fran on her vintage boutique stall, so many lovely clothes - ohh to be a smaller size so I could fit in them!

 Here's me Dotty Delightful setting up, sold all my lavender rabbits so was very happy

 beverleys vintage cake stands, all upcycled by the lovely lady herself, very reasonable prices too

 Here is Claire (Mrs Marmalade) setting up her pretty stall, she is such a lovely lady who made everyone feel welcome

 Birds on the beach's stall, loved their handmade felt rabbits with a twist and shabby chic style bunting

 All the above photos are the birds stall, royal memorabilia galore!

The happy house ladies and Rob (happy house Elizabeth's son)

 Colette makes fused glass items like pendants and coasters which can double up as tiles, she uses natural items like leaves and fuses them in her studio

 My darling friend Melodie and her amazing felted items, these tea sets are adorable she takes orders and can make them in any colour.

 More Mrs Marmalade and her peg dolls and girly bunting

 Here is handmade by Lucy, this was her first fair and she makes Japanese style brooches and head bands in liberty prints

 More upcycled vintage tea ware cake stands by Beverley

 Alice in wonderland inspired canvases by me Dotty, I really enjoyed making these, they are still for sale £35 for the pair if your interested email me

owls on my stall (Dotty)

 The very busy cafe area served homemade gluten and dairy free cakes to very pleased customers all day, in fact we needed more chairs because it was so busy!

 Here is Paula from Bellaboos attic, lovely rag dolls for sale and cute pincushions

 Here they are Birds on the beach, doing what they do best - posing with tea!

Here is another shot of Bird's stall - lovely, it was their first craft fair experience too.

More photos to follow in the next post, we really did have a great time, it was lots of hard work setting it up and I got blisters from posting flyer's but it was so worth it, can't wait to do the next one in December, ready for Christmas shopping! Hope to see you there x

Introducing Mrs marmalade, one of our stall holders.....

My name is Claire and I live and work in Blackpool. I am married to Bob and am mum to my lovely children, Sophie and Harry.

My family nickname is “Mrs Marmalade”, because I love to craft, it makes me happy!

My favourite things are preloved treasures and vintage lovelies and when time allows I make.

In the beginning my true love was patchwork, now anything goes.

I would like to add what a lovely person Claire is, I have only known her a short time but she is a true gem, her quilts really are lovely and lately she has been making fab lampshades and custom pieces for the home, check out her makes for sale at folksy

also make sure you visit her facebook page and click the like button, her stall is featured in our crafty vintage logo top left x