Aaahhhh! It's Christmas!

Hi everyone ... can't believe how busy we've been for the last couple of weeks! We managed to make plenty of Christmas goodies for the two fairs we were attending Friday and Saturday and also unwrapped loads of gorgeous vintage china, glass and trinkets from Amanda's garage. We certainly won't run out of vintage stock for the next few months!
Friday evening's Christmas Fair at Nether Stowey Village Hall was disappointing from the point of view of what we sold, but we did meet some lovely people selling very pretty things and caught up with one or two stall-holders who were booked into our fair the next day too!
Saturday dawned grey and wet and Amanda and I were away from home promptly at 8am! Steve and Matt followed a few minutes later and were absolute stars putting up the bunting and unloading the cars, as well as laying out the kitchen area ready for teas and coffees!
Steve dapped off to Taunton to drop Matt to work and we got busy putting up signage, laying out the tables and generally preparing everything. Our own two tables looked lovely by the time we'd finished, especially with the new battery-operated fairy lights!
From the time the doors opened at 12.00 we had a lovely steady stream of customers who were very kind in their comments and we sold lots of our Christmas goodies and absolute tons of our vintage wares! Lots of people will be enjoying afternoon tea from proper china cups & saucers now!
Steve and Steph were kept busy all afternoon serving tea, coffee and cakes - we simply couldn't have managed without them!
As the afternoon wound down we packed away and cleared up the hall feeling warm and happy after such a busy, busy time and looking forward to the next one in the Spring!
Time to chill with a nice glass of white now!
Look after each other!
Tina xx

We wish you a merry Christmas .... !!

Hi everyone! Thought I'd take a moment to update you on everything that's been happening in Bella and the Moo-land! We're off to our first Christmas Fair tomorrow evening at Nether Stowey Village Hall from 6.00 - 9.00pm so if you're in the area why not pop in and say hello!
Then Saturday sees the next of B&TM's Craft & Vintage Fairs with a very festive feel! Amanda and I will be over in Spaxton most of the day setting up and making the hall look and sound lovely (I've been singing along to Glenn Miller all week and think that will be a fab sound to shop along to!). We've made lots and lots of gorgeous Christmassy items from tree decorations, mini-bunting and cards, as well as some great gift ideas - children's aprons and baking bags, lavender scented tea-cup candles and gorgeous bags! And as well as our lovely things there will be almost 20 other stalls selling everything from jewellery to beautiful carved wood, as well as vintage fabric and clothing!
And if all that wasn't enough the very lovely Steve will be serving tea and cakes along with his beautiful daughter Steph! Do come along and say hello!
Must dash - bells to sew onto tree decorations before tomorrow!!
Hope to see you all over the weekend!
Lots of love
Tina xxx

Hello ,it's been too long!

Hello Folks,
Hope you are all well and happy and starting to get into the swing of winter. We've been on some pretty stunning walks up on the Quantocks, kicking through the leaves and hunting for fungi's. A few crisp walks on bright starry nights have also been enjoyed, even nicer to come home to mugs of steaming hot chocolate- yummy.
The Moo and I have been so busy sewing, sewing, sewing! We've fitted in a few jumble sales and have been out and about advertising our next Fair this Saturday. Very busy and getting exciting.
I now have a few new visitors to my home, a little family of mice with good taste. They have nibbled their way through some of our vintage lace! A quick text message to friends to ask for humane traps has proved fruitful, 3 down, 2 to go- I think!
So back to the sewing ......

To accomplish great things we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.

Take amazingly good care of each other,

With Love Bella xx

Oooh! Aaahh!

Hello lovelies - sorry it's been a while since we've chatted! Amanda and I have been SO.O.O.ooo busy! Amanda has been going heart-mad at her house and has made dozens and dozens of really cute felt heart decorations, as well as some of our lovely squishy hearts! She's busy making aprons too! I don't know where she finds the time to fit everything in!
I've been busy making Christmas cards ready for our first craft fair of the season on 19 November at Nether Stowey Village Hall. Hopefully we'll see some of you there!
Oh and yes - wow! We sold one of our lovely cushions to the USA! How cool is that ... Bella and the Moo go global! Yay!
We're off to meet with a craft gallery owner in Taunton on Thursday to arrange a space for us to permanently sell our lovely things, which is so exciting!
We have to keep pinching ourselves that so much has happened in less than a year!
Steve and I went to fabulous firework display on Thursday to launch the Bridgwater Carnival - such a shame that there was a technical hitch just before the finale and it had to be abandoned, but it was very, very good! I love fireworks - they bring out my inner child (never far from the surface!).
Christmas will pull her out completely I think! Yay! Can't wait!!
Mistletoe, mulled wine and mince pies, gifts and lots of love with all the family and friends! Oh and everything covered in glitter!
Keep warm everyone and enjoy the season!
Tina xx

Trick or treat!

Hello lovely people! Amanda and I are having a very busy few weeks and we're sorry for not blogging for a while! Yesterday was lovely as we spent the morning driving through gorgeous Somerset villages putting up posters advertising our next Christmas Craft & Vintage Fair which is on 20 November, then we went to a nearby garden centre where Christmas had well and truly arrived - so much sparkle and festive loveliness!!

We topped off the afternoon with a jumble sale where we managed to find some lovely vintage china for Bella and the Moo and some fab jewellery for us!! And of course we couldn't leave the village hall without sampling the tea and coffee & walnut cake!

I've had a very productive afternoon today making two bags and a very pretty cushion cover, which will be on sale on our folksy shop in the next few days!

We're off to the village quiz in a bit ... hope we don't win the curly wurly for coming last!!

Have a lovely week!
Tina xxx

Christmas is coming!

No really - it is! And Amanda and I are now having a frantic push to get lots of lovely Christmassy things ready for the four craft fairs we have coming up! Lots of red fabrics and spotty ribbons are flying about, as well as Amanda's lovely gift tags and the many, many Christmas cards I have been making too!
I've also finally sorted out the web domain (check me out!) and we now have a coming-along-nicely website - www.bellaandthemoo.co.uk - have a look and let us have any suggestions for it's improvement / future!
Steve and I had a lovely few days down in Cornwall this week and the weather was absolutely glorious! I can't believe I actually got a sun tan in October!! I have come back feeling very refreshed and chilled out.
I've also been busy making some more girly pink baby bunting, as this seems to be popular with lots of people! The fabric is lovely Laura Ashley and it looks heavenly!
Must dash - hearts to sew, cards to embellish and sparkle to add!
Tina xx

These boots were made for walking ....

Hello lovelies!
Amanda and I have had a gorgeous day out today for some retail therapy, and of course tea and munchies!! Amanda got some fabulous new shoes and I treated myself to not one but two pairs of boots, which should keep me snuggly warm this winter and stop my feet from hurting so much! I have come to realise I am getting too old for killer heels! (at least for walking any further than the car to the bar!).
We also stocked up on lots of Christmassy bits n pieces to make some wonderful cards and gift tags - I'm really looking forward to seeing a lovely pile of festive things appear on my table! Especially as we have now booked to attend 3 Christmas Fairs on top of our own Craft & Vintage Fair next month! We will be busy, busy, busy!! But it's so much fun ... like being a child all year round, as I get to do the things I love all the time!!
It's wonderful to see the shops now starting to fill up with all things sparkly, glittery and festive! I must admit Christmas is one of my favourite times of year - sends a lovely warm glow through me!
That's all for now and remember, life is a gift - unwrap it and enjoy!
Tina xxx