Happy Halloween!

Only in October

Only in October does the colour orange suddenly become so important to me. I'd put it up there with some of my favourite colours but in October all the others go out the window. In October, there is nothing more pleasing to me than a cluster, a box or a barn full of beautifully orange pumpkins. 

It has become a tradition for us to visit this local pumpkin barn in October. The big ones are tempting but for the past couple of years I've opted for two small ones. Adorable and very quick to carve for tonight - Halloween!

I hope you have a spook-free night!

Katie 

Everything Autumn

There is nothing quite like Autumn. It is almost as if I forget every year how much I love it and cling onto Summer with everything I've got. I only remember when I witness my first misty morning - when the sun shines out through the haze over the hill of trees that I can see from my kitchen window. 

It is then that I remember the colours, the refreshing chill, the dewy grass and this year I've been embracing it as much as I can. With work and life to get along with I've still tried to take some time, even minutes, to soak up some of what I love about the outside in Autumn. Some days I have made a coffee and gone outside to drink it, armed with a fleece and a thick pair of socks!

Last Saturday I took a chance to enjoy it even more. We bundled ourselves into the car in the morning. At a time when the sky was still a little grey and it was cold enough to question whether three layers was really enough. It was plenty. 

There is nothing quite like Autumn when you are greeted at your destination by boxes of apples in all sorts of brilliant colours and then, as you wander around, the sun slowly emerges and you have to shed a layer. 

 

Remember those days of scouring the ground for conkers? For me they will never be gone and on Saturday I swapped conkers for sweet chestnuts. There was something satisfying about the noise they mad as they clinked together in my hand.

As we walked around we were accompanied by a handful of woodland animals - plenty of squirrels and a few robins. It was only at the end of the morning that I finally managed to capture a half decent picture of this little guy before he flitted away! 

This October is a good one!

Katie 

Denver, Colorado

In June I went on a road trip of Mid West America. We spanned seven states and six or seven state parks and took in so many different kinds of scenery, cultures and stories it is hard to believe. We spent the first day of our trip exploring Denver, Colorado. We toured Lower Downtown on foot, soaking up the sun and everything there was to see. 

Part of the attraction of this part of Denver is the pedestrianised 16th Street Mall. The street is lined with shops and places to eat but they weren't really our focus. Instead we took in lush green leaved trees, planters filled with flowers and cacti, painted pianos that were free to play and chess sets. There was even a herd of buffalo! (The first of our trip although the real thing is even more spectacular.) 

 

Tattered Cover Bookstore. This is a bookstore that I knew about before we'd even been away. I think I'd seen a picture of its sign floating around the internet and had learnt a little more about it as I poured over travel guides for the area. It is a large brick building but, stepping inside, it is lined completely with wood. There is a whole host of shelves bursting with books as well as a wide range of magazines for creatives, scientists, home decorators and any kind of knowledge seeker.

Just down the road from the Tattered Cover Bookstore you reach the Millennium Bridge with its striking white mast. It gives you a little bit of height to look down the road that you've just walked. 

After pausing to take shade from the sun, we made a loop in the city, crossing back over the bridge and making our way along Cherry Creek Bike Path past a view of the Pepsi Center, home of the Denver Nuggets Basketball Team.  

From the relative quiet of the bike path we stumbled across Denver Chalk Festival. A buzzing event with live music, food carts and beautiful chalk drawings on the street. It was a colourful and vibrant surprise. 

After eating lunch at Backstage Coffee, an independent gallery cafe near the Denver Center for Performing Arts, we wandered through the complex and out to stand at the base of 'The Dancers', a permanent installation in the grounds. From here, we looked out to see the mountains, looming in the distance. We continued on to 'I See What You Mean,' aka a giant blue bear peering into the lobby of the city's convention center. (This was the first bear sighting of our holiday too. The real thing wandered along the side of the road in Yellowstone National Park.)

We finished our exploration of Denver where you really should in a city that is called Mile High -  on the steps of The Colorado State Capitol. It is a striking building in the skyline of the city and is adorned with a golden dome. The 13th step is marked as being 'One Mile Above Sea Level.' 

The day was hot with clear blue skies and we wandered back to our hotel with flushed cheeks and cameras full of photos.

The next day we moved to the mountains -  my home away from home. The trip only got better.

Katie

World's End Christmas Craft Fair

What a gorgeous afternoon it is. It is my favourite kind of day. It is sunny with a bit of a chill in the air. A chill which reminds us that Christmas is now not too many months away. Weak link? Okay maybe it is but I just wanted to let you know that I have booked another day World's End Christmas Craft Fair.

A little hut will now be home to Katie Sarah on Thursday 24th November. I will be there from 9am until 8pm if you're interested in a spot of late night shopping.

The full list of times and dates that I will be at World's End is now as follows:

Sunday 13th November 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 16th November 9am - 4.30pm
Thursday 24th November 9am - 8pm
Sunday 27th November 10am - 4pm

Have a lovely afternoon and a great weekend!

Katie

Christmas is Coming!

My life is Christmas at the moment! If you're interested in a card for someone special this festive season, get in touch! I'd be happy to make up any of my designs for you or I do custom orders too. :)

You can reach me on Facebook or you can email me at katiesarah.makes@hotmail.co.uk.

Have a good evening!

Katie 

Ladybug Love

When I was at school, there used to be a tree that was home to a good handful of ladybirds. It was known, mindbogglingly, as 'The Ladybird Tree.'

I don't know a lot about creepy crawlies but if I had to choose a favourite (if choosing my favourite  was ever actually necessary) the ladybird would definitely be up there in the top three! I am talking about the striking scarlet and black, spotted kind; the sort that despite their tiny size, stand out from any foliage.

This card is actually one of my most popular when it comes to craft fairs. It has been bought for birthdays, thank you letters and just 'thinking of you' notes. It has one I rarely stop making!

Legend has it that if a ladybird lands on you, your wish will come true! Where are you when I need you little ladybug?!

I hope you have a good day!

Katie

Happy Hedgehog

I don't think I've ever actually seen a hedgehog up close but I think they are really sweet. I'd love to have one of those hedgehog homes in the garden! 

This birthday card was a commission from a couple of years and was really quite fun to make. I make all my cards by hand with a pair of scissors so it involved cutting out a lot of pointy triangles - quite repetitive but also relaxing! These layered prickles together with the hedgehog's head and feet cast shadows and give some depth to the design which I think is quite appealing. 

I hope you have something nice to look forward to this weekend! Have a good one. 

Katie

Up, Up and Away

I love coming up with new card designs and this rocket was one of my favourites. I like when I can customise a card for a special occasion and that certainly applies for 5th birthdays!

If you're interested in getting a card for a notable birthday or perhaps an invitation, do get in touch at katiesarah,makes@hotmail.co.uk

Have a lovely day!

Katie 

Lollipop Lollipop

Last week I shared my sweet treats greeting card which was inspired by a visit to a local sweet shop. This lollipop, a larger version of the one on that card, is just as colourful with summery pastels and glittery white sprinkles. This lollipop comes wrapped in thin, clear plastic too!

It can be customised in any colour and is just as perfect for a party invitation as it is as a greetings card. If you're interested, please do get in touch.

Happy Monday!

Katie

Sweet Treats

I created this greetings card having visited a sweet shop in a local town. It had the feel of an old fashioned store with rows of jars filled with colourful sweets but there were plenty of more recent and American treats around too.

The swirly lollipop, in a similar style to my sparkly birthday range, and the jelly beans reminds me of Honeydukes in Harry Potter!

Each part of this design is cut from textured, coloured paper, with some parts standing forward from the card and others wrapped in thin, clear plastic and ribbon for the full sweet shop effect!

I hope you had a good weekend!

Katie