Stomp!

This is what holidays are for - washing quilts barefoot with your daughter in a bathtub!!!!

Kiss Me, Not So Quick!

I'm still plugging away at the old kiss tapestry......I wonder how Maria's getting on?

Here's Looking at You Doll!

Went to a great place called Compton Verney today it has an amazing art collection including a fantastic folk art section where I found this little doll.

Rockin Robins

Saw loads of lovely tapestry kneelers at Blanchland Abbey including this Christmas 1986 special.

Operation Christmas Child

My daughter Maria asked if I'd like to contribute to her works shoebox collection for 'Operation Christmas Child'. Each box is filled with items such as sweets, crayons, a small toy, and a toothbrush for a boy or a girl. I knitted these hats. Maria and her sister used to enjoy choosing things to fill a shoebox when they were at primary school, it's good to know that the scheme is still going strong.

Let's Get To The Bottom Of It!

I saw this great bit of DIY saddle protecting on the way to Sloane Square tube this morning.

Hello and Sorry!

It's been pretty poor on the blogging front, due to various reasons including: the Other Half's two shows, working on secret projects that I can't show you just yet, work, life..... I did make this little pouch though one morning for my specs when I got fed up with picking up and putting down my glasses every five mins (maybe it's time for bi-focals!)

The Long Goodbye!

What a handsome couple!

Spot On!

We have a new charity shop on Bethnal Green Road, the Spitalfields Crypt Trust. On my last visit I picked up the above items - a knitting dolly to add to my tiny collection, some sticky stickers and a lovely ladies cotton print top.

Knitting Knews

Here's another one of my machines, this one is a Brother manual knitting machine. It's a little bit younger than me, but still keeps on going with words of encouragement and drops of lubrication every now and then - a bit like me !!! I'm working on a project that I will tell you about another time.....

Another Bear In A Bag

I said goodbye to a miniature bear today, I made a little bag for him out of a pair of pockets - take care little one!

Finished Foxes

I've finally managed to make a few sleeping foxes and one of them has already made a friend!

I've put a couple on etsy and will add others later.

Hooray For Henley!

We visited Henley this weekend on the way to sunny Swindon. I bought this new addition for my sewing and craft book collection from a great second hand book shop. The other half bought me the gorgeous little plate that is next to the book.

Gotta Hand It To her!

Barbara bought me this fantastic sewing book. We were a bit horrified though when we had a closer look at the model's hand and noticed her scissors finger - ahhhhhgg!!! No wonder she looks surprised!

Follow that Fox!

I have been working on another fox design. This time I wanted to make a sleepy fox that could tuck his tired head under its tail when necessary. It has taken a few attempts as usual ( check out the comical duck blob on the left!). I'm nearly there, the top photo is getting near to how I'd like it to look. Big thanks to Sarah for finding and washing the lovely jumbo corduroy that I'm using to create sleeping fox.

What a waist!

I quite like this display of jeans that we found in a second hand shop in Notts.

Hot hot hot stuff

Looks like hot pants are still in fashion up in ye olde Nottingham. Found these great labelled up shorts in a great place called Vintage Warehouse. I didn't buy them but got some other great bits and pieces for re - making.

August Bank Holiday Finds Part 2

Here's the trimming I promised to show you.....

August Bank Holiday Finds

No new work to show as yet, have been busy at Ryantown HQ. We had a day trip down to the coast a while back on the way there we popped in to a car boot sale, I found this great jigsaw puzzle that me and the other half are working on at the minute, this little plate and a roll of Norwegian trimming (will add trimming picture later). We had the girls and their boyfriends in tow - check out Maria and Gus's pebble collection gathered from the beach at Bexhill.

Don't Label Me!

I came across these old embroidered pieces that I did years ago whilst sorting out my studio today. I went to loads of jumble sales collecting fabrics for patchwork projects and always held onto the labels.......

Sold!

I am so excited! I went past my local sewing machine shop and saw this lovely industrial Bernina sewing machine - just what I've been after for yonks! I've put a deposit down and the guys in the shop said they'd deliver it to my studio next week (even after I warned them that my studio was up on the third floor with no lift!)- coolio!

Cyprus Holiday Snaps

Foxy Friends

Get Stuffed!

I've done a little bit more on the old fox samples, these ones haven't been filled yet - watch out for my stuffing stick guys!

On the way to the studio

On my way to the studio this morning I saw my favourite rose bush in bloom, the colours are gorgeous and not portrayed here at their best. If I had a garden this would be one of the first plants I would seek out. Until then I am more than happy to take a peek at them whenever I pass by.

Fox Pix

Those ears, those ears, I think they need to go north a bit more...

Motley Crew

I'm not quite there yet, but still trying!!!!!

My Weekend

I had a very busy weekend which included doing some tapestry and visiting Birmingham & Stafford with the other half. I found this hand knitted cover in a charity shop that will be gracing my studio hot water bottle in preparation for winter (today is the summer solstice, so the winter evenings will gradually be drawing in from now on!).

Out Foxed!

Well, here are my latest offerings, you're probably thinking - an elephant and a penguin???. Alas, I wasn't aiming for either of those wonderful creatures, no infact I've begun the slow (but rewarding) process of creating a pattern for a fox hopefully. There's probably a better way of doing this than my trial and error method, but I haven't come across it yet!I quite like urban foxes, I know they get bad press, but so do wild bears and mad dogs (and a few bothersome people for that matter!) - It hasn't stopped me from liking some of them! So this is my current project, to create a pattern I'm happy with because I've got some gorgeous fabric waiting to be used.....

It's a stick up!

48 Bus Watch

Check out these strides, spotted on the No 48 bus today. I can't even begin to imagine how you'd create those tiny denim heart scrolls - Go Lady Denim go!

Let The Stitch Off Commence!

Wool, wool, I love looking at and touching glorious wool! So you can imagine how excited I was to receive this fabulous tapestry kit from Emily Peacock. I bought the partner to the above kit for my daughter's 21st, she has a big 'Hug' to embroider and I have the big 'Kiss'. It is sooooo big that I'm working on it at home as I don't think it would be practical on the tube unless I had half a carriage to myself! We're having a friendly contest to see who will finish first. Mmmmm, I wonder how competitive that daughter of mine is! I'll keep you posted.......

Hello Sweetie!

I made this little bag for Noortje, a lovely lady from the Netherlands who has been working with us at Ryantown for the past 3 months - safe Journey home!

Another Baby Blast From The Past!

Here she is, I can't believe that she's 21 today!

It looks like she's on the beach, but it was actually taken in St James's Park when they used to have a huge sand pit with absolutely no shade anywhere near it, hence the squinting child!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARIA! From mumsie x

Applause to Applique!

I couldn't resist taking a photo of Amaia's fabulous skirt.

Inside Job

I made these bags yesterday, they weren't lined with calico like my first bag but with gingham and I managed to find magnetic fastners on a great handbag site called U-handbag, it's the first time I've ever used them hence the wonkiness! I thought it would be handy to have inner pockets too for small things - just happened to have some spare knocking around!

Sing To Me Baby!

My studio mate Clare kindly let me use her wonderful old industrial sewing machine today. It sews like a dream and unlike some machines I've been on in the past doesn't zap along at a zillion miles an hour! It's very manageable for a beginner like me, so now I'm on the look out for something similar to stitch my denim with.