The Raggy Rat ...

Cold day!

2012-02-02T15:03:00.000-08:00

It was a cold day today, with frozen bird-baths and chicken drinkers ...

but some of us still went outside to do fun things on our bikes that it says not to, in the instructions!

And some of us stayed inside, where it was much warmer ...

there were curved seems and there were ... even wibblier ones!

And then there was a rat named Agent, to go with toffee!

Toffee, plush of beloved pet rat ....

2012-02-01T14:33:00.000-08:00

Today i tried rag-rugging for the first time!

2012-01-31T14:16:00.000-08:00

That red and gold bit is my work!

A spot of fettling ...

2012-01-30T14:10:00.000-08:00

Back home from the pottery, I manage to find my very own 'kidney' from university days, and shape a pot while listening to children roll playing and fresh eggs boiling!

after creating this texture, I have to stop! I now need this pot fired, at once!

I can wait, especially since i scored at the charity shop, two pieces of nice woven fabric!

Nice label too - ain't that the truth? :-)

The purpose of a drawing ...

2012-01-29T11:56:00.001-08:00

This kind of drawing I create in order to know, to carry away some information to work from, to sort out my ideas. It is done very rapidly, often with notes, and I really love its freshness! I will soon create 2 'car rats' based on these well-loved pets!

That's better!

2012-01-28T13:42:00.000-08:00

OUCH!

2012-01-27T14:13:00.000-08:00

He likes his coat, but not the needle felting needle in his eye!

Edward is coming along nicely ...

2012-01-26T14:09:00.000-08:00

He wants me to do his eyes, and put buttons on his coat, tomorrow!

Eh? It's little E!

2012-01-25T13:47:00.000-08:00

While Daisy has hit the ground running in her quest to learn to read, Matty can only read a few words, and one of her blocks was that we had not helped her get the sound E makes into her head ...

But I was feeling pushy, and also brave and experimental and went all out to prove to her that E says 'Eh', jumping in from Daisy who, although sweet isn't the best teacher in the world!

I pinned THIS little 'e' onto the curtain on Matty's side of the bedroom! She has got it! Combined use of an alphabet jigsaw, a drawing board and the works HEN, TENT and NEST and she was singing EH, EH, EHHHHHH, all the way up the stairs to bed!

We made a center parcs zip wire re-inactment video!

2012-01-24T14:59:00.000-08:00

Thank you for looking after our girls!

2012-01-23T13:56:00.000-08:00

a small cotton fabric and fleece chicken brooch for an awesome chicken sitter!

Art in Church ...

2012-01-22T12:39:00.000-08:00

Sometimes, when I am listening, I draw what I 'see'...

Making faces!

2012-01-21T14:10:00.000-08:00

This week we made ... Happy Memories!

2012-01-20T12:57:00.000-08:00

Cat and some pink squirrels in the woods!

Matty riding Spirit, on 'the beach', all the girls amazed at the amazing zip wire over the lake!

Aerial Adventure? We can do that!

SQUIRREL! I feel like one of the dogs in the film 'UP', and we also saw 2 deer!

Did you do anything nice this week?

Lavender petite mouse!

2012-01-19T09:22:00.000-08:00

another cute 3inch long pocket-pet made from tactile Sassy mini bear fabric and some hand-dyed wool-felt ears and tail!

Her Beady eyes are glass, and I twisted a strip of the wool felt to make a yarn-like tail!

She would like to meet Blue mouse, so is off to find him!

Merino Wool Sleeping Bag by Disana ...Holey!

2012-01-18T09:09:00.000-08:00

This really lovely sleeping bag had a small hole so last evening I set about making a patch for it...

After backing a pretty piece of cotton with bondaweb, I pressed it onto the bag using the tip of my iron, then chose some cheerful thread to add some fun wonky stitches! i am all for patches that are proud of what they do!

Mary thinks this sleeping bag looks very smart now, and it feels lovely and soft not at all scratchy like some woollen things that mummy has felted!

Night night, Mary-baby!

Little Blue mouse ...

2012-01-17T12:46:00.000-08:00

a 3inch long pocket pet made from tactile Sassy mini bear fabric and some hand-dyed wool-felt ears and tail!

The eyes are lovely glass beads!

Blue mouse will soon be in my Etsy shop...

Horsey, horsey ...

2012-01-16T10:27:00.001-08:00

About a year ago we adopted this old horse from a nearby freecycler ... His mane and tail were knotted and dread-locked, and random attempts to brush them, or stick the mane back onto his head all failed! In this picture the tail looks quite well brushed, but then it would rub as it was rocked and all mess up again!

So I made a lovely new tactile, non-snagging tail, from some rather nice packaging rope. It swings beautifully when our horse gallops!

carefully removing tacks, glue and nylon hair revealed a rather elegant neck, and the rainbow hat, which is too itchy for Mary, keep him warm too!

I need to find him some kind eyes next, he has been painted here, and rather resembles a goat!

Remember Crabby?

2012-01-15T00:44:00.001-08:00

A certain hermit crab went on a journey to the USA, and I haven't seen him in an age!

But soon we will, and you will actually be able to make your own! This is the first time I have actually sat down and turned my self-taught methods into a pattern and instructions that others could follow!

Crabby didn't make the front cover, but he is there, nestled inside! Can you wait for spring? I can't! But kep you r eye out for more information on this fun book!

A thingummy, and a page of ideas!

2012-01-14T12:49:00.000-08:00

The lovely Daisy-D made a rather cool Thingummy-bob! We are learning about what all the K'ex parts can do, and sticking together all the wonderful bits and bobs we opened at Christmas!

And I had the privilege of sitting alone in a coffee bar with my posh coffee, and the A4 journal I use to record ideas for my book! I had a rather nice fountain pen too, and got down a couple of pages of ides for images to bring my children's book to life!

That mini book isn't the actual size of the book, but a mock up allowing me to turn pages and 'feel' my way around the story. I wrote inside with black pen and my best handwriting so Daisy, my reader, can read it too...

See-Hear!

2012-01-13T13:21:00.000-08:00

finally the new memory card for my camera arrived, and I no longer need to limp along taking only 15 pictures at a time! The old 16MB card will go back in my jewellery box for spare again! It's actually the shiniest thing in my jewellery box to be honest ...

and I fiddled with a few projects, but I made and wired some lovely big ears ... for whom, do you think?

Book Cover ...

2012-01-12T09:10:00.000-08:00

Mary Dressed up and looked pleased with herself!

As I decided that although I love the format of these WHSmith mid-year diaries, I really want one that looks more girly ...

So it was covered!

Bunting Template ...

2012-01-11T14:29:00.000-08:00

I fired up my scanner after hand drawing this pattern...

Do you like Bunting? and Cushions? How about foot-rubs and blessings? Stay tuned for a sweet little community project ...

finished Sandals ....

2012-01-10T12:55:00.000-08:00

And they are for me, says Sock-Jesus!

Aren't they lovely? Another little project I just had to get round to, they are made from felted Harris Tweed! (how naughty to felt Harris Tweed)

with his sandals, loin cloth, and white nightie, he is hardly dressed for winter, but it is amazingly mild for January, and so he didn't mind sitting in my hawthorn, and admiring my daffodils!

Is it nice where you are? xxx

Feet!

2012-01-09T12:47:00.000-08:00

I made some claws, a spot of needle felting ...

and worked on some sandals, even though it is much too cold for wearing them!

They should be finished soon and will be shared tomorrow!

Books and Bricks and Logs!

2012-01-08T01:07:00.000-08:00

I have been tackling my garden, particularly my 'patio' (cough) or the bit where the sheds used to be. The log pile was sprawling, and wet in some places after the recent stormy nights ripped the plastic cover (which was ex birthing pool carpet covering!

The chicken girls were pleased with all the woodlice I unearthed for them!

thinking of the book I am working on this year, I started to sketch daisy and Mary sharing books on the sofa ... but Mary slithered down! Then I let Daisy colour in the drawing.

And Matty coloured in this cartoon I did of me and the girls on the sofa. She has helpfully created a neck, for my floating head! I am very tempted to work back into this with pen, and see what comes up!

My book idea has come from a 'game' we play together, so its lovely that we can all work on it together. Daisy can now read my writing if I try my hardest to be neat!

a long time ago ...

2012-01-07T02:37:00.000-08:00

In the olden days (according my one of my 5 year olds) i.e. the mid 1990s, I was given an awesome wool cardigan by a friend, and I tell you, living in a cold Edinburgh flat I never had the thing off! And here is it in 2004 at ferret-bath-time!

and again in the garden on a fresh spring day in 2008, just before Mary came to join our tribe. That's her, in that amazing belly! The girls and I seem to be making a massive mud-pie!

But the cardigan got a nibble from a moth at one point, and the sleeves wore at the ends, and I did a bit of stitching and wore it some more. Once when it was looking very tired and stretched across the shoulders, it was washed at 40' instead of 30', which tightened it up again beautifully.

This Christmas though I bought a new woollen cardigan with money from my Mum, and felted old cardi in the machine at 65' with craft projects in mind. Flat-Cat was born from the sleeves, and looks great sat on my sofa. The tummy and muzzle are made from pieces of linen curtain off-cuts from a neighbour!

Yes, Old Cardigan is BACK!

First Birthday Cards of the year ...

2012-01-06T01:02:00.000-08:00

Mary has spent a lot of time as a home educated pre-schooler watching, listening, cuddling up and sucking her thumb ... She will not be 4 until May this year, but has recently begun to want to form letters, and read books too!

There is no better motivator for writing than something you really want to write, and we always make and write in our handmade cards together ...

You are in control and can decorate your card inside and out!

Stickers are fun!

I worked on a few bigger sewing projects, then I added 'music' to the house, and played my violin ...! The kids were very kind and said it was nice, I played my friend Willy's song, The Carpenter of Sollas only not very well!

The right tools ...

2012-01-05T01:38:00.000-08:00

Today I made a handmade card, for a special man ...

And did some lovely, chunky textual embroidery!

And we went out quite a bit, too!

Spirit filled!

2012-01-04T00:43:00.000-08:00

Today after a busy morning out, I settled the children down to watch Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron which is a huge favourite of theirs at the Moment! Here is Spirit running from the fire, drawn by daisy afterwoods. The fire did not scan well, being a lovely day-glo orange pen!

While they were watching, I enjoyed the sound track and got to work story-boarding a children's book I am writing ... watch this space to see how far I get with that one!

and then, during the teaching hour on UCB, I gave these Guinea pigs their feet and ears, so they could listen too!

Stormy!

2012-01-03T00:26:00.000-08:00

Such a wild night, I put on the diving belt to go and let the chickens out this morning, makes sure the shed door was hooked, and laughed to see the Wendy-house in the flower beds again!

So we kept the lamps on a bit longer this morning ... in the kitchen I have my sea glass collection and with my Nan's things I have some lovely shells ...

I made most of two cute grey creatures, and also made up one of Mary's craft kit necklaces with her!

It is a challenge to complete things sometimes, as with three young people around there is always someone wanting something ...

Often, there's a quick fix, and then its dinner time!

Of course I will finish the grey creatures today and share them with you tomorrow!

All things are new ...

2012-01-02T00:39:00.000-08:00

After digging out a 16MB smart memory card I am able to show you the last thing i made in 2011, this colourful cross for a friend, which is inspired by Mexican alter tables ...

It has an alternative side which might fit in with autumnal times which my special friend so loves :-)

I cleared the kitchen windowsill yesterday, to let in more winter light, and to help give that lovely calm feeling that only a good de-clutter can do! Here is a boat I made at pottery, where me and the girls hung out this autumn, learning about clay!

My girls made all kinds of small sculptures and vessels which the potter showed them how to make, and even though they are quite young, they achieved successfully! We even had a glazing session just before Christmas ... On the bottom shelf is a Marble-run which I made in my foundation year, many moons ago. Would you like to see it working?

Finally at tea time yesterday I dug into a black bag of clothing that we have been blessed with and tightened up some trousers for my petite 5 year olds by sewing in extra elastic, and this chunky heart was cut from a very special but old cardigan of mine to repair a jumper for daisy!

When Mary saw me take up the scissors she said, can you cut knitting? Good question for a 3-year-old! It has been partially felted :-)

a 365 - or rather a 366 ...

2012-01-01T14:02:00.000-08:00

hello and welcome to an exciting new blog thing ... a year in which I plan to make 365 things and share them with you ... only the smart-media card (for my faithful camera) died this evening, and even a format would not make it feel better ... plus it ate todays pictures!

also i was rather ill, first shivery then much too hot ... I shuffled about making hot drinks and feeling woolly headed! But after a few pain killers I cut out some grey fur!

Onwards and Upwards we say - Happy New Year! xxxxx

New Artwey Venue for 2012 !

2011-12-31T00:50:00.000-08:00

Cat's new railway station platform porch!

Somewhere to sit and sew ...

2011-12-27T23:20:00.000-08:00

We love our big sister!

2011-12-27T01:55:00.000-08:00

With wings!

2011-12-26T00:40:00.000-08:00

I asked the girls to let me take a picture of them on Christmas day, and they promptly cuddled up together!

Then I asked them to turn round and show us the winged-bags that I made for them, and they did this!

Then they quickly flew off!

Happy Christmas Blog Readers!

2011-12-25T12:39:00.000-08:00

These lovely candles left over from this years advent spiral made cast a lovely glow on the Christmas dinner table ...

so I popped the camera on the table for want of a handy tripod ... i do a lot of table top or sewing-machine top photography in winter!

wow, look at that face - can you believe that's a three-year-old with sprouts in front of her? Now its time to give thanks, and tuck in! We all hope you had a lovely Christmas day!

looking christmassy!

2011-12-22T00:46:00.000-08:00

The tree down from the loft and ready to sparkle!

Ben and Grandma-moon-bun where they can see all the action!
I was pleased to find Ben's hat again in the bag with lasts years wrapping paper!

Our cute nativity set with books ... Daisy can now read most of these this year!

and a very special garland made by my girls in Sunday school from self-hardening clay

I had to give in and use the flash on my camera to share all this with you! Hope your house is looking nice and festive too xxxx

Little Edward - swings his legs and waits for Christmas!

2011-12-20T00:43:00.000-08:00

Winter Lanterns ... Found photos!

2011-12-18T06:26:00.001-08:00

I took part in a project in Edinburgh as part of a centre for adults with learning difficulties, back in the early 90s, and as well as working along side the users, produced a lantern panel of my own ...

the images were projected onto cotton using photographs we took on each other, and then we used batik to create the colourful images ...

That's me on the right, just a wee slip of a girl back then!

Nativity time - feeling christmassy?

2011-12-15T12:58:00.000-08:00

Well it was a lovely evening when my little girls stepped out for all to see in their mummy-made costumes, so of course I took the camera along as one does at such special times!

Mary did very well despite me not giving her lessons in stairs-and-long-dresses! My favourite grown-up costume was the chicken, what did you like best?

Girls with wings!

2011-12-14T01:36:00.000-08:00

Flower faires dressed at last!

would probably look quite cute on the top of the tree too!

Really must get the tree out of the loft!

Flower Faeries for Christmas ...

2011-12-12T01:19:00.000-08:00

their dresses and wings are being finished, meanwhile, here they sit, no longer bald but still nude!

Christmas! some festive sewing ....

2011-12-10T01:11:00.000-08:00

is your sack ready for Santa? or your stocking? :-)

who is this?

2011-12-09T00:40:00.001-08:00

shadow silhouettes on a sunny day ...

proof, that my twins are not identical, although I still get told that they must be!

can you guess who is who? hope you see the sun shining today XXXX

Round up ...

2011-12-08T01:32:00.000-08:00

some woolly hamsters shuffled through the stormy weather into my shop ... they chose calmer day to sit on my garden (but they did blow over!)

It doesn't matter if its cold or wet, there will always be rainbows here, and matty has even given me a lovely mug of hot chocolate!

here I am giving an Edward a lovely cuddle, this shows you how big the full-sized version is too!

And here is what I let you peep at!

2011-12-02T01:10:00.001-08:00

Happy-Happy!

2011-11-28T00:54:00.000-08:00

In this awesome drawing, Matty has included out friend Olwen, but the thing I like best is that Mary really IS wearing pink trousers with heart-patches on the knees!

WIP - sneaky peek!

2011-11-27T11:42:00.000-08:00

cutting stencils with a very sharp blade ...

preparing to sew from the wrong side ...

Now to turn red lettering, black!

goats and gadgets!

2011-11-26T13:50:00.001-08:00

"Right, I think we are ready!" Goats-a-goggled and ready to invent, me thinks!

short-goat grabs his magical clockwork heart ...

While shaggy-goat sits down and feels the wind in his beard ...

But then short goat feels a bit odd viewing the world in orange ...

Ah, much better!

let's just hope he doesn't eat the leather straps, I have just remembered what goats are like!

Happy-Sad!

2011-11-25T00:30:00.000-08:00

I love children's drawings, they are always fresh and real!

Goats in Coats ....

2011-11-22T05:58:00.000-08:00

to be honest I only iron craft work, never actual people sized clothes!

Natty waistcoats for natty steam-punk goats, with fiddly watch-cogs sewn on with invisible thread!

I think they rather like them, i am quite fond of waistcoats myself!

Mary walks around with some of her favourite things ...

2011-11-19T13:57:00.000-08:00

...and asks me what i am doing up so high - do you know?

Old Bear, well loved, seeks carer!

2011-11-18T01:14:00.000-08:00

Here i am carefully stripping a dear old gent of a bear ... beloved companion to 2 generations, whos clothes are holding him together, and who could do with a bit of a rest!

I covered him in scrap fabric to form a pattern to create his twin, who actually might well make a nice girl friend for Andrew panda!

The same but different? I am sure they wont mind the age gap, and I hope my friends daughter enjoys unwrapping her on Christmas day! (I might sneak in to see her face!)

fleece life-saver, for sofas all-at-sea!

2011-11-12T02:33:00.000-08:00

and in progress, looking like the-cat-in-the-hat had a hand in it ...

Which is cool, Daisy loves to read from Dr Seuss books at present, in fact, child-led learning mostly consists of Daisy shadowing me through all my chores, asking, "what does this word say mummy?"

11/11/11 - the date that most resembles corduroy!

2011-11-11T04:00:00.000-08:00

Watch this american TV show clip and cheer when you see my plush numbers on screen!

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Still puzzled? Read about this amazing Plush Team Project, here!

Goats in knickers ....

2011-11-10T03:32:00.000-08:00

Three Fairies! WIP

2011-11-07T01:04:00.000-08:00

in need of hair, clothes and definitely wings!

Putting the Cute into Balaclavas!

2011-11-06T05:53:00.001-08:00

WE were recently blessed with a set of patterns for balaclavas, many of them jester style, and Daisy was very taken with them and of course then the other girls were too!

Here is Daisy, modelling the hat that Matty chose ... Mary chose the pink fabric and so we used t hat for embellishments to make each one unique!

Mary wears her own, and Matty wears Daisy's, all featuring ribbing made from a recycled T-shirts that was getting small for mary!

And we were warmer on bonfire night too!

Reinstated!

2011-11-05T02:33:00.000-07:00

Mary is getting more and more grown-up by the day, Her drawn figures even occasionally get arms now, and are nearly always executed in pink and purple! The eyes have moved on from just being simple dots too ... Spot the tiny legs!

And now she has moved on from simply covering the kitchen counter in wet and over flowing vessels, she can have a turn at the washing up, too!

And she is really enjoying it, too! Do you like washing up?

OUTLINES!

2011-11-02T12:49:00.000-07:00

i drew round the girls after dinner, and taped them to the doors - the drawings not the children - so they could set about colouring in.

they were very surpsed at the size of themselves!

The charm of Edward Tulane ...

2011-10-31T04:24:00.000-07:00

Each of my little girls wants their own Edward Tulane doll, for Christmas!

I just love to make potato cakes ...

2011-10-24T12:53:00.001-07:00

And eat potato cakes too!

For some time now I have had some willing helpers to do some mashing and mixing, and i can often leave them to it now for the most part, but not way back, when this video footage was taken, Baking with three under three I needed several pairs of hands and I can't imagine how I filmed it too!

So cute to see! And it used to be the only way my children would eat their 'tapeos', but now its a fab way to use up leftovers!

Popular People!

2011-10-24T00:43:00.001-07:00

Here we are looking at this month's issue of popular crafts magazine, where in the KID'S CRAFT section you can find the winning artwork from the last issues craft challenge - Maps by Daisy, Matty and Mary themselves!

Their work looks really great in print, and they were pleased to win a great prize too!

Also in the magazine, among the readers letters, is some good advice from yours truly about what to do with pipes! Its a tad fiddly but very effective don't you think?

And then, even more better, a double page spread all about me, making me sound very professional indeed! But don't worry, there is much more in the magazine besides me and my tribe, and there is also a special offer on the lovely book we just reviewed, too!

Have you got a copy? I love to read inspiring things over my cup of tea xxxx

If you make Bunting with rectangles ....

2011-10-21T05:55:00.000-07:00

...Instead of triangles ...

Are you Flagging?

The Key!

2011-10-18T08:42:00.000-07:00

I made a key fob for a tired key that lives at my neighbours house, just in case!

and then I made some more! I used the hem section of a lovely vintage curtain, the same one I used on my bottom!

Which do you like? xxx

Book Review - Children in the Wild garden!

2011-10-17T01:27:00.000-07:00

I was asked to take a look at this book for Popular Crafts magazine and i was pleased because it looks right up our street, or should i say, garden! We do have a 'relaxed' attitude to gardening anyway, and as some one who educates her children at home, I was looking for a few fun, wildlife friendly ideas! The book is shown in more detail in this months issue, but more about that in a later post!

My wild children and I put on our wellies and headed outdoors with the book, on what was rather a gorgeous day for the middle of October! We already have a hotel for bees to stay in, so i felt really pleased, and this ivy at the back will make the perfect place for one of the books suggestions, hiding an old tea pot for mice and birds to nest in!

The book had strong, lively diagramic illustrations and really good photos graphs showing some of the things you might find, experiments to try and children busy in their wild gardens. One of my 5 year olds kept saying, 'oh wow, oh wow!' as she turned the pages, delighted!

We decided to go on a hunt for mini-beasts, the book explained that not all little creatures are BUGS, so I have learned something straight away!

This hollow in our apple tree actually contained what looked like soil and a few happy woodlice! Plenty to try the woodlice experiment then!

We have plenty of old rotting wood, and under one log, those woodlice had chewed themselves some rather lovely bedrooms - very impressive!

Under a second log was this rather impressive earth worm!

And LOTS of his friends, too!

and under a plank by the shed door we found a rather lively lava, who would hardly keep still for his picture to be taken!

This is a book that will keep us busy all year round, as we think about new life and new growth in spring, and caring for our little wild birds in the cold wintertime!

pick-pocket!

2011-10-14T13:45:00.000-07:00

The problem - a pocket which shows too clearly where my cards are, and is also developing a hole! (i don't tend to be a handbag sort of person, really)

The solution - a nice new pocket made from pieces of vintage curtain fabric, and padded with a fleece lining to cushion my plastic money for a while!

Yesterday we went to the Library ...

2011-10-13T00:31:00.000-07:00

and you can go too if you like ...

An Artwey community project for 2012 is getting a bit of a preview, with workshops and inspiration ... So here is a portrait by Matty to inspire others!

The giant wall will be made up of textile pictures of inspiring people such as these, Daisy made this image, of her inspiring Home-Educated friend!

And even Mary too tried her hand at free-machining and hand stitching, along with the fabric pastels we used too.

You can see our work on the washing line, and find out more about The Giant Wall ...

And we also contributed to the visitors book, and chatted with clare, stewarding!

Home educating - each other!

2011-10-10T00:37:00.000-07:00

Don't be fooled by this studious looking picture, Matty and Daisy are just colouring in the margins ... Just what I did at school, I think!

'School' is a popular game at the moment, I found Mary sitting in Daisy's chair and Daisy 'teaching' her the alphabet from her own knowledge (and not bad either)

Daisy's favourite thing to do at the moment is read 'Peter And Jane' Ladybird books!

Hamsters, for life, not just for Christmas!

2011-10-09T00:49:00.001-07:00

But they DO look rather cute peeping out from the Christmas tree branches!

A little JOY in your house?

2011-10-08T04:40:00.000-07:00

I am really pleased with this, along with my new living room colours! I bought the small square canvas in a local charity shop, thinking, I am sure I can find something to do with this! I go in the shop some blessing, but i nearly always come out with something else, often a good book for the girls.

I printed out some large letters and drew them onto the back of this awesome vintage fabric, then glued them to the canvas along with 2 other fabrics from my stash. The effects were made using white and gold paint, giving a lovely aged look.

Sock Jesus!

2011-10-06T04:06:00.000-07:00

For the longest time i have wanted to make a Jesus doll, and i finally got round to it ...

I chose some tan support socks, and he turned out pretty skinny. I learned on line how to tie on a loin cloth!

My finished Sock-Saviour reminds me of the Jesus that Stanley Spencer had romping all over Cookham, in his expressive and fun paintings!

Russian Doll making - WIP II

2011-09-30T01:22:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, I like to work very small! and in our set of Russian dolls, I got the four smallest ones to paint!

My girls worked on the three biggest of course, and i had to do a face for Mary!

And here are all seven of the girls, with fabric collage, acrylic paint and some fine glitter. My nect job is to get out the Ronseal, and protect them all!

Time for a run around!

2011-09-26T12:40:00.000-07:00

It's a nice day, so off we go!

In the three-bears-house, the girls share out parts and tell each other what to say, to rein-act the story!

Then they run away to the next bridge, and wave and shout back!

Dancing, climbing and getting ready to play ring-a-roses!

and time for a snack too!

Jester for your King?

2011-09-23T13:30:00.000-07:00

It's a bit too big, mummy! This is made for a good friend of ours!

Do I look funny? I feel funny!

I feel like a fool! We do love to Dress-up!

Himmy-marked Ross-Rat ...

2011-09-22T09:53:00.000-07:00

Rather pleased with this cuddly little chap ... One of my dearest rats was a Himmy marked boy, called Rufus, and he looked just like this! He used to travel Intercity trains with me during my student days, perhaps i ought to share some of our adventures with you sometime?

WIP - goat dolls ....

2011-09-19T13:14:00.000-07:00

I decided it was time to make some more goat dolls ...

But they do feel rather undressed, and they both need their noses and mouths embroidered, and their hooves needle-sculpted!

I used my other goat doll pattern for both of these, but the longer denser fur created a much taller goat!

Famous Raggy-Goat!

2011-09-16T13:44:00.000-07:00

An american friend sent me a copy of this magazine ...

Inside, not knowing that I had submitted my work to a request for steam-punk dolls, she saw a familiar face!

And so she bought me my very own copy!

Hello!

2011-09-09T00:24:00.000-07:00

My we do love chickens! Here are two of my doorstops, one will be for the girls' bedroom...

what's in a name?

2011-09-06T01:33:00.001-07:00

really enjoyed creating this little girl's name!

What did you do this weekend?

2011-09-05T06:36:00.000-07:00

I went in the sea!

Briefly...

Fairies to Go!

2011-09-04T05:22:00.000-07:00

Flower Fairy dolls in a handmade basket they can rest in!

these are basically dressed sock dolls, and were good fun to make!

Look - No broken arm today!

2011-09-03T13:44:00.000-07:00

at least, not in the chicken coup!

Let's Pretend!

2011-09-02T01:31:00.000-07:00

I made Mary a sling, so she can have a 'broken arm'. She likes to sit about looking sad and explaining that she can't play properly! Oh poor Mary!

House Work - laundry!

2011-08-29T00:25:00.001-07:00

don't normally like laundry or ironing ... doesn't make for a great blog post, eh?

but its much more fun to wash and sort the treasure found in someone's loft, isn't it?

This one is my favourite, and reminds me of my grandma...

perhaps I will make bunting for my newly painted living room - almost done!

which one do you like best? I do wonder if I will be able to actually CUT THESE! he he!

House Work - the Window!

2011-08-24T00:32:00.001-07:00

My Downstairs toilet was put in 2 years ago, into a generously sized cloakroom by the front door. The window looks onto the back garden, and I covered it with a piece of printed net, worked well if you didn't put the light on, of course! So I got busy with some soapy water, a squeegee and some window film. I am pretty pleased with this!

Russian Doll making - WIP

2011-08-23T12:03:00.001-07:00

Recently the girls had been doing some Russian Doll colouring, and designed some of the own for some handmade cards. I decided to buy a set of blanks for us to have a go at the real thing!

I made a Flickr gallery for inspiration, and off we went, starting with some fabric collage and some acrylic paint ...

From left to right, the work of Daisy, Matty, Mary and four for Mummy - the fiddly ones!

Booja-Booja?

2011-08-22T12:56:00.000-07:00

The Raggy Rat Video stars!

This Blog in Popular Crafts Magazine!

2011-08-21T00:42:00.000-07:00

popular crafts magazine ... got my copy yesterday ... looks good!

Who is this? Someone very interesting!

2011-08-20T02:27:00.000-07:00

Meet Rainforest boy, a plush-team challenge sock doll, more about him soon, it's nearly competition time!

Mary is an Intellectual!

2011-08-19T23:04:00.000-07:00

Mary loves Edward Tulane!

2011-08-18T11:34:00.000-07:00

...and I think he quite likes sitting with Mary!

Owl My Love ... My children!

2011-08-16T11:29:00.000-07:00

Ready for take off?

Daisy made owl wings, very successfully and without any grown-ups helping. She has also worn them several times too! The girls often sit on their wendy house roof, hooting, or climb

I know this is really blurred, but it's so funny and I can hear the giggling when I look at it!

Edward's Eyes ...

2011-08-13T12:28:00.000-07:00

...are carefully needle felted, as i try and minic the idea that he is a china rabbit and would have his eyes painted on ...

therefore I paint with my needle until everything to the tiny highlight is complete, and then his character starts to really shine!

...even though his eyes are not shiny ... and his muzzle and mouth, well that's needle sculpting!

Hand it to me!

2011-08-13T03:25:00.000-07:00

I enjoy photography, and so do many of my friends. Here is one of them, who knows the value of recording our personal stories ... I think we met in 1989 or 90 ... but thats going back a bit, for me!

The other day He surprised me with this picture of my hand, taken when I was a slip of a girl, almost 20 years ago (cough).

I almost didn't recognise this smooth and slightly chubby limb as mine, so long have I been looking down at my hands of late, as a craft worker and Mummy.

These hands have seen a lot of Arts and crafts, lived in different places and nursed four daughters. They currently paint, sew, clean, carry, chop and mix and turn pages, and type - I actually like computers now! Which is handy ...

homely crafting ...

2011-08-10T03:55:00.000-07:00

I did this home-improvement craft a while ago, and just didn't get to share it ...

a friend of mine thinks this is the best treatment for pipework ever ... I saw something like it a long time ago done with socks!

Three Eggs ... home grown ...

2011-08-09T00:56:00.000-07:00

Three fresh eggs, three different sizes ... now we have had a wind-egg before, but what's this?

a dinosaur egg, me thinks!

And it really is a whopper, poor chicken, well done to my Buff Orpington!

House Work Again!

2011-08-06T11:06:00.000-07:00

and the cat was ready to roll!

and the ceiling was sealed!

Meanwhile, in the Garden, after the rain had gone ...