The little birds...

If you watch little birds you will see they are busy and happy! Using whatever they can find they create the most gorgeous little nest.
I would be the little bird with some glittery thread in her nest!
We can be like this. Happily working away with the things that are available to us to create a beautiful and happy home.
All the while with a little song in our heart.

Banner by Free Pretty Things for You.

Monday, 15 April 2019

The Tuesday Afternoon Club, Kelsey's market stall and chickens.

Last year we saw how Kelsey had turned her crafting into a small business when she opened her Etsy store Spring Creek Loft.  I think this is good for us to see as the option of extra income from the things we make is a very good option to have.  Now Kelsey has expanded and is attending some local markets.  This was her first week...



I think you will agree she has her stall looking so pretty and appealing.  If I was there I would be drawn to it!

She made a ladies version of tool belts and hanging up they made her stall stand out also.


I said I thought these could also be adapted to be egg collecting aprons!  I have seen them with a row of little pockets for eggs! 

Kelsey grew all sorts of little plants to sell..


And made hand scrub..



Kelsey has expanded her chicken collection and is planning to sell eggs.  She has different varieties of hens so she gets pretty colour eggs such as blue, brown, green and speckled.  Oh my goodness! 


And she has chickens! 



So there is a lot of industry going on here!  It is just lovely!  I am pretty easily led  when it comes to chickens so Kelsey has really encouraged me to get more!    And now I have "hatched" my plan with Allie and I am waiting on the bantams to go broody again.  

There are quite a few Bluebirds who have made a sideline from their crafts, cooking, sewing, card making, egg sales and preserves.   Sometimes it doesn't take much to make a big impact on the weekly budget.  Pennies saved and pennies earned both help!  I think very often we have a talent or resource sitting right under our noses and we don't even realise.  In a similar way to making our own gifts it takes some confidence building sometimes to set up an online store, sell our goods at a market or just show people what we are making!   This is why looking around at the market place is a great idea as Rebecca and Alison do.  You will see things and be surprised by the prices, what is selling well right now and think "I could make that!!"   

Thank you Kelsey for sharing your photos!!  Next week we are seeing what Kelley has been up to! 


Last week I did forget someone!  I had the feeling... sorry Penny!
Penny has grown in her confidence to give her cooking as gifts and worked on presentation.   These are both issues I have been through... gaining confidence to give things I have made and good packaging has a lot to do with it.   Penny made gluten free biscuits (cookies) and the packaging is lovely.  I told her here in a store I saw a packet of 6 GF biscuits for $16!


Penny also made a Raspberry and Almond cake for a friend and a Tea cake for a Hens Party...


I think cooking is a wonderful gift.  It is a treat and often the gift of help also! 

Now I am off to post on The Tuesday Afternoon Club group.   It is very motivating to meet up every Tuesday! xxx


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23 comments:

  1. Cath Armstrong15 April 2019 at 18:55

    Congratulations Kelsey, your stall looks absolutely lovely - I'd be there for ages just looking at everything if you were closer. Penny, your gf biscuits look delicious, and the packaging is so nice I'd want to keep it for something else. I love to get homebaking or preserving as a gift, and I love to give it too. These days homemade is rare for so many folk, so it always seems special to them, especially if you've gone to a lot of trouble to make it look amazing.

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  2. patsy15 April 2019 at 19:42

    Kelsey, this is so encouraging! I want to work on expanding locally as well and you have inspired me to work harder at it. Now that our greenhouse is repaired and expanded, I see all kinds of potential in the plant area! I wish you the best of luck, you really are very talented!

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    1. Anonymous19 April 2019 at 06:07

      Dear Patsi,
      Thank you! Your greenhouse is amazing and a really great thing to have. The thing I liked about selling the plants is that I started them all from seed (very inexpensive) and I knew if they didn't sell, I could just plant them in my own garden. The ornamental plants are those I just dug up from the yard because they had multiplied. So I really had nothing to lose. Now when I am looking at plants to buy for myself I try to pick out ones that will give me some sort of increase, whether that be food, useful petals, or more plants if they are a multiplying type. That way they end up paying for themselves and hopefully give me a profit if I sell.
      Love, Kelsey

      Delete
  3. Crystal Hankey15 April 2019 at 21:29

    I just love gifts of food. I think making food for others must be one of my love languages. lol. I made some Lemon, Cherry infused Cranberry bark (using vanilla chips from the store, lemon extract, lemon zest, a bit of yellow food coloring for a pale yellow and cherry infused cran raisins) I had seen this offered at a craft fair at Christmas time for 7.99 a lb. and thought well I can make that. Packaged it up in cellophane bags with a bright yellow ribbon and took it to Church to share with some of the elderly ladies. Told them they were my taste testers. They are used to me bringing Peppermint bark that I make every year and other goodies. So they were eager to help. I think this week I will make mini Pineapple upside down cakes in oversized muffin tin for a family that is going through a rough time with a grown daughter in and out of the hospital. Take care. Love your blog!

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    1. Annabel17 April 2019 at 17:27

      Dear Crystal, I love your ideas! The ladies would have just loved this!! Such a gift of kindness. Truly this is a wonderful way to bless people. Well done! Thank you for your kind words! With love Annabel.xxx

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  4. Diana Stitching16 April 2019 at 00:05

    I've had a look at Kelsey's Etsy store, and it's so charming! I love her items. You are so right about confidence being the trick. If only I could get an extra helping from somewhere...your blog is very inspiring.

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    1. Annabel17 April 2019 at 17:25

      Dear Diatemis, Yes it takes confidence building. Start with the skills you have and slowly expand. You tube is my teacher!! Anything you wish to learn find a good teacher on there. If you need specific help I will help you let me know! With much love Annabel.xxx

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    2. Anonymous19 April 2019 at 06:15

      Dear Diartemis,
      Thank you, and thank you for taking a look at my Etsy store! It does take confidence but you will be surprised at what you can accomplish if you just take that first step. Choose something you really enjoy doing and the rest just seems to follow. I find loads of encouragement on the blog also. It was Annabel and the other Bluebirds who got me back into crafting. We have confidence in you!
      Love, Kelsey

      Delete
  5. PennyP16 April 2019 at 00:49

    Thank you so much Annabel for including my photos and thank you for the kind comments from your readers. I guess I forget that not everyone has the time to make homemade goodies so they are a welcome gift. I'm looking at other recipes apart from baking to expand my gift giving.
    I love the tool kit aprons for ladies- so useful.

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    1. Annabel17 April 2019 at 17:22

      Dear Penny, I am terribly sorry I didnt include you last week! I am not sure if you are in The Tuesday FB group but there are so many recipes and ideas. Soaps are a great gift and surprisingly easy to make. Also lip balms and beauty products. Bath bombs. I like to make little jars of wool wash, jams, relish etc. Another is syrups, vanilla essence. The gift cupboard is such a big help and to have plenty in there to lay your hands on quickly is so handy! With much love Annabel.xxx

      Delete
  6. Anonymous16 April 2019 at 01:40

    Everything is just beautiful bluebirds !
    Kelsey , you have outdone yourself ! Such a gorgeous stall and crafts ! You have worked so hard , well done and all the best as you go forward with this venture xx
    Penny , your packaging is do professional! Snd your baking looks so yummy, great work !
    Thankyou Annabel for sharing their work for us to enjoy and be encouraged to better our own work .
    With love , Maria xxx

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  7. Vickie @Vickie's Kitchen and Garden16 April 2019 at 02:38

    Presentation is everything and both of these ladies have it down just right! I love the plants for sale and the pretty aprons and the goodies look delicious in their packaging too! I love that they are not afraid to expand their horizons. Great job!

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  8. Anonymous16 April 2019 at 02:56

    Kelsey, I love your market stall. It is so warm, welcoming and it has style. I would definitely be drawn to it. You are like Annabel, you naturally present things so beautifully. I bet it was a success. I love those aprons and I love buying plants at markets. I love what you make. Penny, your packaging is just beautiful. It would cost a fortune in a shop. I love being given food. I find that being given food always helps out the budget too, not to mention allows me to relax more. GF is always expensive to buy too. Beautiful ideas! Love, Bridget

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  9. Shirley16 April 2019 at 18:57

    Your gf cookies look especially yummy, Penny, in the lovely packaging! I'm in the USA and wonder where I could buy them. Thanks so much.

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    1. Annabel17 April 2019 at 17:19

      I am not sure where Penny got her packaging but I get similar ones from the cheap stores. They have a lot now. I love them! They make things look so nice. Otherwise I use the cellophane bags with a sticker label or a tag. Also Shirley google pretty food packaging ... I think you will have lots of choices as you tend to have more choices than we have... I am always wishing we had so much nice stuff! Love Annabel.xxx

      Delete
    2. PennyP18 April 2019 at 00:18

      Hi Shirley
      I bought a craft set in Lidl ( UK) - it's a book of flat boxes that you fold and make up yourself - different colours and sizes and such good value.

      Delete
  10. Anonymous17 April 2019 at 03:44

    What a pretty market stall Kelsey. I would be drawn to this myself as I am sure DD8 would be pulling me to get to the plants.

    Penny the cookies look delicious and such gorgeous packaging.

    GF foods are so expensive to buy and when you can make your own this would be a fantastic saving for you.

    Both you ladies have done so well

    Take Care
    Aly xxx

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  11. Anonymous17 April 2019 at 04:17

    Congratulations, Kelsey. You never cease to amaze me with your creativity. You're such an inspiration. I absolutely love the ladies tool aprons. Such a creative use of odds and ends of fabrics. Wishing you continued success at the farm market and in your shop.

    Penny, your baking looks scrumptious and the presentation beautiful. Could you share our gluten free cooking recipe? Blessings, Cookie

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    1. PennyP18 April 2019 at 01:48

      Hi Cookie
      I used a recipe from allrecipes.co.uk. It's a chocolate chip gluten free cookie recipe - I don't bother with egg replacer or gluten free baking powder and they seemed fine.
      I don't need to eat gluten free but I have several friends who do so I'm trying out some different bakes for them.

      Delete
  12. Leslie McKinley17 April 2019 at 12:32

    Oh, Kelsey. Your stall is just lovely! Great job on all those plants. And your "ladies shop aprons" are inspiring.
    Thanks for sharing!

    Blessings,
    Leslie

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  13. Leslie McKinley17 April 2019 at 12:34

    Penny, your cookies look scrumptious. And a nifty box to show them off. Well done!

    Blessings,
    Leslie

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  14. Annabel17 April 2019 at 17:17

    Dear Sonia, Thank you so much! One day you will have a house I am sure of it! It is in your dreams along with a garden so I hope it happens for you! I usually post recipes as I go along. If there is a recipe you would like let me know. I have a lot in the index if you look under cooking or Crockpot posts. I will keep adding more though! Have a wonderful Easter! With love, Annabel.xxx

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  15. Anonymous19 April 2019 at 06:01

    Dear Annabel,
    Thank you so much for sharing my photos and to everyone for their kind comments! Much of my inspiration and encouragement to craft comes from fellow Bluebirds. I really appreciate all of the support!
    Penny your baking looks so good. I think baking always makes a great gift, but gluten free takes it even further as I know those who can't have gluten really appreciate the extra thought and care involved in making something especially for them. Well done on the packaging too!
    With love, Kelsey

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I really appreciate your comments thank you! The aim of my blog is the be a place of encouragement and happiness. Very rarely is anyone rude. Actually only twice so far! If you post a rude or aggressive comment I will read it but not publish it, thanks for understanding.xxx

Spam is never published... if you are advertising a product or selling website your comment wont be published. I am inundated with stuff about drugs, horses and weird things! I am not going to publish this stuff! Thank you.




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