This time it's personal ...

I am rather partial to a spot of hand embroidery on a Saturday afternoon ...



and i made these 2 very special lables, and some thank you cards to go with them ...



special button-jointed rats for a special thank you ... for working hard to save abandoned pet rats and help them find new homes!

Edward Tulane rides a pony!

he is enjoying out recently freecycled rocking horse - we were lucky with him, don't you think?



Edward also likes my kitchen chair, as he can see the whole table, not just the cloth!

Russian Christmas swap goodies ....

i love secret santa - look at these lovely Tyler Poncho Toys we received here in raggy rat land ...



my children also wanted to hold and meet the new friends ...



pose with them - awesome colour!



and of course, talk them up too - we love our Tyler Poncho Toys! Thanks Tyler xxx

What's in the tent?

one of my goals (never mind new-years resolutions!) was to get to grips with video, and be able to do something with my footage, and so after a few VIMEO tutorials, I have become a much better woman ...



Wasn't that a pip?

Something Big Went Up ....

...in the garden ...



And Mr Raggy Rat was a very happy man ...

blog a dog ...

Here is a pretty dog, a little scruffy in the fur department, but then so am I!



she is made from some lovely vintage faux fur, lovely to work with as it has a woven back and such a nice colour too ...



I embroidered her nose and mouth and added a sweet-heart cotton bandanna, left over from all my miniature plush heart sewing ... It matches her ear lining. There are no wires in her ears, I shaped them with thread!



and you can see her at the Valentine's Fayre, Dorchester, February 13th for any last minute gifts and tea and music ...



look out for pretty hearts hanging around Dorchester to advertise the event!

tarts again!

i made another batch of oinion tarts, i am so happy to have found a fun way to use up lots of onions, and feed the children an interesting lunch at the same time ...

first fry your onions gently, not to brown them, in a nice oil, and after about half an hour cover with water and simmer till is disappears. This brings out the sweet taste of the onions ...



i read a lot of recipes on line, before deciding on a method, but I tend to cook by feel! The pasty is a short crust, I don't bother to sieve or rest in the fridge (the pastry, not me!)but this is a batch using 4oz flour and 2oz fat ...

here is a try of tarts ready for the hot oven ...



and baked, the hot steamy tarts, now I feel hungry all over again!