Snoopers Paradise.

Jumble and Pearls is getting closer so we thought we'd expose some of the traders!

We've not been before but the idea of this fayre makes me think of my all time favourite shop, Snoopers Paradise in Brighton, and to days before I had the responsibility of 3 little people, ergo; the ability to wander around shops in a carefree manner without constantly panicking every time a small child disappeared from my view.
The shop is huge and you can find hundreds (and thousands) of things you'd not find anywhere else.  Old and older toys, jewellery, furniture, clothes, bags, cutlery, crockery, paintings, embroideries, records, beautiful old ashtrays, you name it.  It is my favourite shop ever and eckers, I can't have been there for about 8 years… dreadful!  (Must remedy that this year.)

Jumble and Pearls may not be as large or dusty but it will certainly be just as eclectic and we can't wait to snoop around.

So what has got us so excited?  Have a look…

Eleni Edipidi & Levantes Dance Theatre - wonderful flowery jewellery and a selection of colourful and sparkly garments inspired by previous theatre productions.

Maiden Found Millinery & Crafts - affordable bespoke head wear pieces, and crafts perfect for gifts, all made using traditional methods and vintage materials.

Brake Bikes is a distinctive brand of unique single speed bikes.  Limited to 100 bikes in the three specific colour combinations, influencing fans of street art.

Isabella Salamone, Surface Textile designer, a vintage fabric collector and a maker.  She has recently started creating unique and very limited ranges of products by recycling original vintage fabric.  From stationery to fashion accessories and home decor objects, expect colourful bright pattern!

Hannah Knight will be selling her hand selected vintage pieces in fabrics sourced from Paris, Milan and and London as well as designer pieces including Burberry, Max Mars and Valentino.

Philip Ignatious Salacious Stein, London's premier underground art dealer will be selling some of his private collection.

These are just a few of the inspiring purveyors that will be there selling their wares.  Most will be bringing unique items which are limited, vintage or handmade and one off's.  

The Jumble & Pearls event is a chance to find something you just have to have and that you will really be hard pushed to find anything like, anywhere else. 

Upstairs there is free wifi, table tennis, a bar and an all day restaurant, this will be a perfect day out… if you're in or near London, why ever would you not make it a date?

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Valentine's Craft for Kids - WIN handmade felt heart pocket

Maybe I am feeling a little guilty about my weekend of crafting without the little foxes.  Also, February is Birthday Month for us at Mrs Fox's Hertfordshire HQ, and while I've been thinking about all the family birthday's I've not really bothered too much with Valentine's Day.  Mr Fox is such a great husband and father that I really should do something to let him know just how much we appreciate him.

So, Monday after school, as I felt I needed to give the children a bit of undivided attention I though maybe we could do some Valentine's crafts for daddy.

Felt Heart Pockets 
Little Una Fox received various sewing kits for Christmas and has been itching to use them.  I thought that a simple sewing project would be a great way to give her a bit of practise.

You will need:
pencil & paper to make template
felt
coloured thread, wool or embroidery silks
needle
scissors

• First we drew our heart template onto paper and cut it out, they were about 10cm across at the widest point.  Next we pinned the template to the red felt and cut round it.  
• Then we took two pieces of felt overlapping them by about 2cm, we pinned them to our template and cut out our heart shape again.  Before unpinning them from the template we pinned these 2 pieces of felt together at a central point,  This is where the opening of the pocket will be.
• Placing the two felt heart shapes together we used a simple running stitch in a contrasting colour to sew them together.  We started sewing at one side of the opening, following the outside edge of the heart until we were back to this starting point.  We then sewed across the opening flap of the pocket. 

We've filled our little heart pocket with LoveHeart candies for daddy.  This craft could also be used to make a little coin purse, or with a loop of ribbon can be hung. 

I made two of these little hearts alongside Una.  I've found that if I sit next to Una showing her a new skill by doing it myself she catches on pretty quickly and I can better explain how to do it, if I am doing it myself.

To celebrate the launch of Mrs Fox's Crafty Boxes we are having a bit of a give-away week or so on our blog.  

WIN! - The hearts that I made, along with a set of 3 heart crayons (from the lovely BeeBee's Quirky Crayons) and a pack of mini LoveHeart candies are yours if you go across to our Facebook page, 'like' us and then pop a comment on this post telling me what you would like to see come through your letterbox this Valentine's Day. Una will pick the winner on Friday 9th February - so you are aiming to impress a 6 year old judge ; ) 

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