DIY Cake Stands

For all my saying “I hate Pinterest” I do spend a remarkable amount of time on it and have found some quite fun ideas.  One of them was cake stands made from candle holders (or glasses or terracotta pots or basically anything).  I had two candle sticks that I found in a second hand store for R1 each, obviously to good to let go and I knew that some day I would find a use for them.

Two old candle sticks - R1 each (bargain)

When I was getting ready for Little OL’s party I remembered them, as well as a post I had found from Sugarbelle via Pinterest.  All I needed was some spray paint and a little bit of time. Finding the time on a day that was not windy proved to be teh hardest part… do you know how windy it is in PE in February???

I sanded them down a bit, washed them and then sprayed each one with a different colour.  One thing I will say is that my spray painting skills are seriously lacking!  I am however happy with the end result, if I turn them around and face the drips away from me.  Instead of glueing the plate to the top I just used prestik.

Prestik around the top to hold the plates

I liked this idea better as I can now use different plates depending on the occasion, or what I plan on putting on them.

Add a plate and done!  So easy.

Completed stand

For Little OL’s party I stacked them up and put the cookies on them.  I am really happy with the way they turned out.

The stand in action

This little piggy went to market.

Better late than never …

The Christmas in the Home market went well.  I thoroughly enjoyed it, and although I did not sell out I did sell quite a bit.  I am happy (ish) with the result.  Obviously I would l have liked to see out totally but for the first time it was good.  It was quite funny, on the Friday I sold a lot of playmats, but not may toys.  And then on the Saturday I sold a lot of toys but not that many playmats.  Weird!

The feedback from customers and non-customers was positive, lets hope it translates into future sales.  Although – I am SOOOOO pleased not to HAVE to sew them anymore. The pressure kind of took away the enjoyment.  I think I will give it a bit of a break and then just start sewing and drawing them for fun again.

Here are a couple of pictures of my stand.

Whachumacallits - stand and Christmas in the Home

 

Whachumacallits - stand at Christmas in the Home

 

Thank fully I managed to get time to take a brief walk around and have a look at some of the other stands.  There are some really talented people in Port Elizabeth.  The girl with the stand next to mine was selling baby shoes that she makes.  OH MY WORD!!!! So cute.  I was worried that I would spend all my profit buying Baby OL shoes.  I managed to restrict myself to one pair.  I will take a photo and post it soon.  One woman bought two pairs – to frame – they were that cute!

I also had some feed back on the name of my toys.  Most of it VERY positive – saying that “Whachumacallits” is exactly what they should be called.  However I also had a very funny comment.  This little old lady looked at them and then leaned forward and whispered to me; 

“My late husband used to call my whatnot my whachumacallit.”  

Oh my word – I nearly died laughing.

Fabric Fascination!

OK, I think I need to admit that I have a problem.  It might even be bordering on an addiction…  Its really bad!  

I am stuck on fabrics at the moment!!!!  A fabric fascination.  

I have always had a thing for paper, even collected it when I was little, in fact I still do.  I have a cupboard full of different paper, note pads and sketch books.  This is worse though, and takes up more space!!!! 

Technology is not helping, in fact it may be hindering my recovering.  I see all these gorgeous things that people are making and ahhhh, swoon, the fabrics they are using and I want to rush to the nearest fabric shop.  Luckily or unluckily most of the fabrics are not found in PE, or if they are please don’t tell me!!!!  

At least I am putting some of the fabric I have bought on my credit card collect to good use.  I am making a patchwork playmate for Baby OL – yes, ok, it is not as if she needs another one but I just could not help myself, and anyway, I made the last one before I knew we were having a girl…..

Baby OL playing on the playmat