Etsy update

I know it's been a while, but I've finally got round to putting a few more items for sale on my Etsy shop. I've been so busy making things that I haven't put aside time to take photos of everything to get them in the shop. There's just a few extra things at the moment, but I'm hoping to get a few more items on over the next few weeks. 

I've also booked yet another craft fair - this time for December which will probably be the last one before Christmas - so it's all go to get gifty things together to sell. It's hard to believe that this time last year I was worried about opening an Etsy shop! 

So after crafting on Sunday and Monday, I was back at the day job yesterday. And it feels like a long week already and we're only half way through! But I've managed to get quite a bit done so far this week (I just need to remember to sleep aswell or else I won't make it to the weekend .....!) 

Here's a few of my latest makes ......

I hope you like them ....

www.facebook.com/catztayl
www.etsy.com/uk/shop/catztaylcrafts

Over and done with already

Well, that's it. The holiday is over. Just like that. Gone. For another year. It's been a fabulous five days in the sun with DD (well, mostly sun). 

Wednesday was spent with yet more sunbathing after a morning swim. 

It was lovely just to chill and read a book. Then we wandered down to the harbour for tea, catching the sunset on the way down. 

We didn't do the coast walk down to the harbour this time as it was getting dark. But this is what we saw on Monday when we went in daylight .......

.....and look what we saw in the path!!

How cool is that?!!

It's lovely to sit and eat on the front and people watch, whether it's daytime or evening. But it's also nice to see the castle lit up at night and wander round. 

 

Such a lovely place. And because the weather was lovely I'm afraid to say we did more sunbathing on Thursday too. 

Thursday night was a bit different though. After quite a humid day a storm broke out and we had some spectacular lightening and thunder for a couple of hours, just as everyone was going to the snack bar for their evening meal! Everyone was rushing inside as the heavens opened, and the evenings entertainment had to be done inside rather than outside. Quite an eventful night! 

And then yesterday. Our last day. We were within walking distance of the Tombs of the Kings, so we went there first thing. 

Some of the tombs were a little waterlogged after the previous nights downpour. 

It's a fabulous site which we went to last year, so we didn't spend a great deal of time there, but enough to see a different bit to last year. 

And then back to the hotel for lunch before heading out for mini golf. 

It was good fun with DD, and a close battle! But the final score showed me the winner by just 3 points! 

We just had time to fit in a bit of shopping before getting back to finish packing our cases ready for our late flight back to the UK. 

So that's it. All over with. Again. Time to get back in to a routine at home. And the cold. And the dark. As the clocks change tonight. 

I think I'd better start holiday hunting again.....

www.facebook.com/catztayl

Holiday Mode

With just a bit of signal I thought I'd better do a quick update. No photos yet though - I'll have to wait til we get home for those, or wait until I have a better signal. 

But back to Saturday, and my third craft fair. And a busier one too! DH came and helped me set up, then went off shopping, leaving me to chat with other stall holders and potential customers. My mum came too, with her friend, which was lovely. I'd spent the night before making some little owls out of Fimo clay which I thought were quite cute. And mums friend bought one! Yay! (photo to follow).  It was a good day on Saturday all round, with more sales for me and a bit more of a confidence boost for me. 

Then an early start on Sunday as DH took me and DD to the airport for our flight to Cyprus. The flight itself was ok, taking just over 4 1/2 hours, with us getting to our hotel about 5.30pm. They're 2 hours ahead, so it was nearly dark not long after we'd got to the room and unpacked. Then we headed out for some food before staying up chatting in our room til late. 

Yesterday we went along the coastal walk from our hotel to the harbour at Paphos. A lovely walk with fabulous views. If it hadn't been so hot I'm sure DD would have enjoyed it more.  But we got there, had lunch, mooched round the craft fair and shops, and then headed to the shopping mall so DD could have her fix of shopping. And then back to the hotel for tea - the restaurant outside the hotel, overlooking the beach (I know it was dark but it was still nice), followed by bingo! 

And then today has been a chill day. We slept in a bit late, found a couple of sunbeds, I went swimming in the indoor pool for a short while, had lunch at the snack bar at the hotel, more sunbathing, followed by a mooch up to the shopping mall for the supermarket, and tea out at a lovely little restaurant we found, then back to the hotel for bingo. 

Not quite sure what we'll do tomorrow .....

Half a day....

Just half a day at the office comes between me and 11 days off. Probably about 5 hours. But I think it will probably be the longest 5 hours of the week! And I suspect the following 11 days will fly go in a flash. Isn't that always the case? 

It was my last line dancing for 3 weeks on Monday too. With being on holiday next week, and the class being cancelled the following week because of half term for schools, I don't go back until 2 November, and that sounds months away! 

Last night I managed to find some time to fit in a bit of crafting - cards this time. I couldn't take any with me to the craft fair last weekend, but I can this weekend. So I thought I'd make a few more......mainly Christmas ones.....

....but some birthday ones too...

I'm also on with painting another wooden cat, one that's been ongoing for a while but just hasn't quite got there yet....

I still have my packing to do before Sunday, although I'm hoping I'll get organised at the weekend. DD needs to pack too, but she's been so busy working - last night I went to say goodnight to her at 10pm and she was already fast asleep!! She'd been to Blackpool to visit a friend, so I blame the sea air for tiring her out...

And now it's time for me to read some of my latest book - 'One Step Too Far by Tina Seskis. I've only just started it so I can't really comment on it. But I'll let you know what I think. 

Another weekend ....

I met up with one of my many cousins on Friday morning.  Although I have quite a few cousins, through one thing and another, and busy lives, I don't see them very much at all. So when I got an email asking for advice about a University I went to, it seemed a good opportunity to suggest meeting up. 

And how lovely to chat to somebody I haven't seen for ages, and have it feel like it was only weeks, not months/years since we last talked! Before we knew it, it was time to go our separate ways! But we had a lovely chat - talking about what happened in the past that resulted in us all not seeing each other, family fall-outs, and University options for his daughter. 

I know that family fall-outs are bound to happen over time, but it was good to know that some of my family at least think the same as me, that older members of the family perhaps could have behaved differently in the past, and then maybe we'd all get along a lot better now if they had. 

Families! Nothing better when you all get on - nothing worse when you fall out. 

Friday afternoon I had a bit of a trial set up for my second craft fair yesterday......

..... with all the new stuff I've been making, and knowing I couldn't take my cards, I wanted to see how it all looked. I don't think it looked too bad. 

Unfortunately the craft fair was pretty quiet on the day, so I didn't sell a lot. But I had quite a few lovely comments about what was on my stall, so I was quite pleased with the day overall. My mum came too, which was lovely. She hasn't really seen much of what I make, so it was nice for her to see it all set out. 

And then today I went with DH to see his mum. At 86 she's doing ok - still in her own flat and still managing on her own, just. 

And tomorrow sees the start of my last week before going on holiday with DD. 

But not before I fit in another craft fair next Saturday .........

And I'm trying to book another one before Christmas ......

I don't think I'll have much free time over the next few weeks ....

Missed mid-week

I can't believe I've missed a mid-week post again! This is what happens when I get so distracted with catching up with things that it gets so late I fall asleep without blogging. 

This week has been a bit of a blur, and that's putting it mildly. DH left on Monday this week for an extra night away. DD started on her new skincare/makeup counter on Tuesday. I met some friends for lunch yesterday so finished work early. And today's been my long day at work, followed by fitting in some painting while waiting for both DD and DH to get home.

I've been spending a lot of time crafting this week, making sure I have enough variety for the two craft fairs I've got coming up over the next couple of weeks.  

I know I'm running out of time for getting Christmas  things made, daft as it sounds. But there's only so long you can carry on making Christmas things before it gets too late to get them posted out to people. Hopefully I'll get my Etsy shop updated soon - fingers crossed. 

I also checked in online for the flights for myself and DD when we go on holiday in just over a weeks time. I thought I'd better get it done and get the seats sorted for the flights. Cyprus here we come!! I think DD will be ready for this holiday after the last couple of weeks of training, travelling, and long days. 

Roll on 18th October! 

Walking and crafting

Another busy weekend comes to a close. Sunday night again, ready for a very busy week ahead. 

After calling in to my hairdressers on Friday to drop off some jewellery for them to sell, it was time for another Ladies Lunch - just three of us this time. It was a lovely lunch and good to catch up again. 

Yesterday we took advantage of yet another dry day and headed up to Grasmere to go walking, to do the walk I did on my own last year on Christmas Eve. It was a lovely day even though it was quite cloudy and misty for some of it. 

Heading out of Grasmere, off to Far Easedale, the sun came through and it was lovely and warm for a while. 

The walk itself is quite straightforward, but there's quite a bit of climbing. 

It's worth it though. Every climb is always worth it. That sense of achievement and the views - there's nothing like it.  

And although the views weren't as good as they could've been, it was still wonderful to see. 

And then backdown to Grasmere in time for this ...........

Fabulous! Makes the walk even better!

And today has mainly been a painting day for me. Painting hanging clay shapes. 

These are all extra bits for my next craft fair - an extra one I've booked at the last minute for this Saturday coming. Eek!! Wish me luck!