First Birthday Cards of the year ...

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 ...

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!

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!

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 ...

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 ...

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 !

Cat's new railway station platform porch!