Seafood anyone????

I decided to have ago at making my seafood market stall today. I bought the set of 3 off Ebay and they worked out about £5 each which I thought was pretty good value! The first one I had already decided would be a seafood stall after all the locals need somewhere to sell their catch!

I started by removing the fabric. I then repainted the whole thing with 2 coats of a nice duck egg blue. Then the wheels got a coat of black acrylic to make them all shiny and new! I added some new fabric for the canopy which looks much better. Then the fun part! I bought the shellfish as a job lot of Ebay which was a good way to do it as I got a really good selection for not a huge price tag! The bag of 'ice' was very cheap but really makes a difference to the whole thing. Next I added the net with a few things stuck on and some glass lifebuoys, and last but not least some signs by the talented sign writer that is my daughter, although she moans every time!!!

This is before...............

And this is after........

Here they are side by side so you can really see the difference! The next one has its wheels done just needs its new colour but I can't decide what!

Just had to show you some more mini knitting I received today form my lovely friend Deb!! Still can't believe she made these all freehand with no patterns! Shes so clever aren't they just fab and great fun think there will have to be a Halloween party in the village hall just to show them off lol!! Please visit her Ebay and buy some lol as sadly shes not getting many sales and will prob stop knitting them if they don't sell which would be such a shame so please take a look and buy buy buy lol!!!! DEBS EBAY

Meet the new residents!

Quayside has some new residents! Firstly theres Mario he works in Luigi's Bistro as Luigi is too busy in the bakery now so has had to take on some help! Seems it was a a good move though as bookings are through the roof as Mario is very smooth with the ladies!

Next are the ladies from the Quayside WI. They are being a bit naughty and having a wee sherry but what happens in the WI stays in the WI ;-)

Brenda is busy knitting shes the one everyone wants to be their granny shes always got a big smile on her face!

Margery the Mayors wife waits patiently as always as her husband Malcolm prepares himself  for the opening ceremony of the hall.

Malcolm loves all the pomp and ceremony and takes his Mayoral duties very seriously.....maybe a little too seriously!!

Love the view through Lifeboat window it looks fab all lit up!

Jim the village policeman! Hes outside the pub at the mo as there have been reports of noisy behaviour!

Next is Hamish who originally from Scotland now lives by the seaside! he still embraces his heritage and is never seen without his kilt! Hes one of Marilyns best customers!

Timmy got the job as caretaker at the new village hall and is giving the place a once over ready for the opening ceremony and party!

The new tables have just arrived. Just as well Timmy got it cleaned!!!

I went for actual folding tables as they can be packed away if needed just like a real village hall!!

And here are my set of market carts I won last week on Ebay. They are in not bad condition just need a bit of tlc. I will repaint them and add new fabric to make them look a little more seasidey!

Lifeboat cottage, beaches and gorgeous knitting!

Well Lifeboat Cottage arrived safely on Friday and I didn't have chance to take any photos as we were off to the caravan for the weekend! Not too many more to go now before we close it down for the winter so we are making the effort to go as much as we can! We were very lucky this weekend and had some gorgeous sunny weather although it was decidedly cooler at nighttime!!

 Anyway back to Lifeboat! I managed to get it all unpacked and into place before we left and its just wonderful! For some reason in my mind it was smaller, even though I knew the measurements lol so I was really pleased to see how big it was! I had been thinking of  ideas for it but was leaning towards it being a holiday let as in the photos I felt it looked like a home, but after a conversation with my friend Carol who suggested a village hall it started me thinking! I had thought about a village hall but not really considered Lifeboat for it but because of the size and its right next to the church it might just work. The more I thought about it the more I liked the idea so Carol got her way lol!! Now its here and I see how much room it has its made me totally sure it was the right way to go and now I can't wait to get started on it!! Downstairs will be the hall with all sorts of things going on! I do love the idea of things that can be changed so it can lend itself to a jumble sale or a party or even a wedding so it will be great fun having lots of events to plan!! Upstairs will be a kitchen / preparation area where the ladies of the Quayside WI will meet! There will be an official opening very soon, the villagers are just waiting on Quayside's new Mayor Malcolm and his wife Margery to arrive to cut the ribbon!

I have yet another odd chest of drawers a cheap Gumtree find! Old fashioned ones are so much better than modern ones as they have such nice big drawers and metal runners which are so much stronger! I really need to get my curtains done to hide them all lol!

Also arriving last week was the seaside beach scene. Thats also lovely and I can have lots of fun filling up the beach huts and adding things to the setting. Its on the window sill and looks great when the sun is shining which sadly it wasn't today when I took the photo! I haven't done much to it yet as luckily it all arrived in one piece courtesy of some well done packing! I have just added Melody saying hello to the donkeys! I feel this will be a summer project lol!

I also have to show you all some gorgeous little knitted things made my my good friend Deb. She really is so talented at knitting and has made me lots of wonderful stock for my knitting shop. They are all lovely even the knitting in progress for the lady I have to make!

I just adore the bunny jumper and little boat jumper they will have pride of place in the window display. And I know the doll took her ages and was super fiddly but shes just lovely and worth all the effort. She reminds me of Dorothy so fits very well into my village as I just love Wizard of Oz things!  If you love these things as much as me pop by and take a look at her Ebay shop where she has some for sale. They are so cheap for the hours of work that I know goes into them!

                                                                    DEBS EBAY

I also have to alos thank Carol for sending me this cute little blanket for my shop. Its such pretty colours! I so wish I had persevered at knitting when my Nan tried to teach me lol I am so jealous of anyone that has the skill its such a talent to have! I'm so lucky I have such nice generous friends!! :-)

Lifeboat Cottage and dolls house shop goodies!

Well its been a busy weekend as we have been up to the caravan and then just as we got home a lady was coming to collect the Woodcutter cottage she won from me on Ebay. She was really lovely and was nice to get to chat Dolls houses with a fellow enthusiast! Its always lovely to share my village with someone who's interested!

Before I left on Friday I just managed to get some pictures of my new cottage!!! This is the newest addition to the village, Lifeboat Cottage. I love it!! I really wanted something a little different to my other houses and it certainly is!! Julie had the great idea for an old converted lifeboat station. It will sit on the harbour and will look just perfect!I am not quite sure what it will be yet I am still at the thinking stage!

These are Julies photos taken in the her lovely garden. I love this cottage isn't it just fabulous!

Whilst up at the caravan we went up to Inverness for a shopping day! I had made some money on Ebay so had Bethany and while I spent mine in the Dolls house shop she updated her wardrobe in Primark!! I know its cheap but it always amazes me just how much she gets for her money in there!!

I got lots of goodies too! Lots of bigger items this time which is nice as you feel like you have lots for your money! I tried not to go too mad as we will be up at the van for a week in the October half term holidays and I will get one more trip before we close the van down for the winter. sadly its too far to go from home so the next trip I will be prob panic buying to make sure I have everything I need for the winter months!

I got lots of white wire for the flower shop and some flowers for outside some of  the little shops ......

I also spotted this wire cart which is lovely!! I just fell in love with it and thought I might make it into an icecream cart!

I got some nice wooden bits too. I love the haberdashery unit which will go in the wool shop and the DHE chesterfield sofa was in the sale box for £5! A useful shelf unit and a table. The cart I may make into a fish cart but will wait til Lifeboat arrives to see what room I have and may make a market stall if theres enough space!

Lastly a few small bits and bobs. the little romper suit was so cute and wil go in the wool shop. I also got some clear fairy lights for £3 which will go on the beach scene (oops haven't told you about that yet!!) A luggage trunk some tankards for the pub, some glue that was on offer for £2, a candle light for the witches shop and a few other things.

Back to the beach scene!!! Bethany spotted it on Ebay earlier in the week and I knew it just had to be part of Quayside, it looked like it already was!! I emailed the seller who very kindly agreed to post it to me so a big thanks to Derek for that as I know what a pain these things are to pack! I hope he doesn't mind me borrowing his photo but here it is all packed up ready for its journey up North!!

The sewing patch!

Had a little play in the village yesterday I won a sewing unit on Ebay and it didn't go where I had planned so had a move around!! My little pink shop is now a sewing/dressmakers shop. I had one of Debs fabulous patchwork quilts and decided it needed to be shown off better but sadly I don't have a spare bed lol so I made it a display piece as the backdrop of the shop and now you can see it in all its glory!! I made the sewing table and added the bits to that. Needs a few more things on the wall and more under the table and possibly a mannequin but its quite full already!

Bethany of course made my lovely  signs. Shes so clever she made it looked like stitches round the words.

Village updates and lovely purchases!

Not been on for a little while as my good friend Karen has been here for a few days. Shes very good at sitting with me discussing future plans for Quayside lol we even made her do the big Quayside quiz Bethany did for my niece and nephew and she only missed one point so she had been listening lol!

Well the good news is I sold a couple of my houses so I have enough funds to pay for the new cottage which is brilliant and Julie has almost finished it. I can't wait to see it I only have a vague idea in my mind what it looks like so I am excited to see the finished article!

I have had a bit of a spend lately I have done well on Ebay so its nice to have some unexpected extra funds for a few treats. Fist I will show you my beautiful sampler that finally arrived today from America. I was a little worried it had got lost as it was posted a while ago but it had just gone the scenic route via Miami lol!! I had seen it a few times in Caroline's wonderful Etsy shop but after I decorated my new Dollyland I decided it went perfectly with the decor so I had to buy uit!! She very kindly changed the American flag to a Union Jack for me. I have put it in a frame above my desk so I can look at it everyday as its just wonderful!

Caroline also sent this lovely little gift of a little rose picture which is so pretty and will def have pride of place in one of my cottages. I urge anyone to have a look at the lovely things she sells and shes such a nice person to deal with too :-)  Cinderella Moments

Next up is a little beach hut draught excluder I spotted in Lidl when I was out shopping with Karen. I just couldn't resist as it was only £6.99 and was the perfect theme and colours to match my room. It will keep me toasty in the winter which seems to be getting nearer by the minute!

I have made a few of my own dolls lately but I always check to see if Bernadette has any new ones I can add to my village. Last week I spotted this clown and I fell in love with him and just had to have him! She very kindly sent me some extra balloons too and he will stand outside the party shop attracting the customers!

I have been toying with the idea of having a fish shop as it seems with such and abundance of fishermen the village needed somewhere for them to sell their catches! I saw someone on Ebay selling lots of seafood and thought I might make a little cart or market stall to sit on the harbour to sell fresh fish. They arrived today and there is a really good selection which will be perfect addition to the village.

I had decided to make the little purple shop a wool shop and my lovely friend Deb is busy knitting me the most exquisite little things to put in it but browsing Ebay the other night I spotted this gorgeous sewing centre and fell in love with it!! I bid just at the last minute and quite honestly didn't think I had a hope of winning it I expected to fly past my maximum bid but was thrilled when I did win!! I can't wait for it to arrive its just fab!! So I may end up having to move to larger premises and be a wool and sewing shop or be 2 separate little shops I am not sure yet.

Lastly an not quite so exciting I found a little shop in my local town that was selling of all their craft supplies. I had never even noticed it before so popped in for a little look. They actually quite a few bits of use. Some lovely adhesive ribbon for 50p, the little easel and canvas were £1.99 and the fimo, beads and clay flowers were  all 99p each so I am glad I had a look!

A few changes to report in Dollyland. Made Bob and Rose their new garden as the old one didn't fit!

I actually managed to fit everything in apart from Bobs shed so that was ok. The green isn't quite right as I wasn't sure on the colour but Julie kindly told me the one I need to get!

I'm glad I moved it onto the end as you can now see into the little scullery on the side!

Next up I decided to make the little pink shop Sea Thrift cottage into the flower shop. I made a new stand for outside and put some stock inside. Its a little empty at the mo and the counter will change but for now Eve is so busy she hasn't had time to phone the suppliers!!!

Last but not least I found this fab little zen fishing kit in a charity shop again when I was out shopping with my friend Karen! It was only £1.50 which was a total bargain as I have been on the lookout for a good fishing rod for ages! The oars are now on Bobs boat and the little boat itself will make a great shelf unit! It even came with ready caught fish!

Harry has taken no time to get it into good use in the harbour!

Well sorry for such a long post lol I think I don't have much to tell you and then once I get going I seem to think of more and more to say ha ha!!!