Hats Off To Denim!

Check out this great denim helmet, spotted in a great retro/vintage shop in Rye....

Tweedy Pie

Double Trouble!

I enjoyed making the patchwork foxes, but boy - were they tricky to make and took soooo long! To compensate, I designed a smaller, less complicated fox/cub, they look a bit cheeky though!

Patchwork Fox

I've been working on a group of foxes, seven in all, cut out from seven different fabrics. I think this fox style works better with a mix of fabrics because the pattern shapes are easier to see, with the last set I made you can't really see how the shapes fit together so they look like mysterious blobby creatures with protruding noses and tails! Anyway here's one from the set, I'll show you the others another time....

Spring Is In The Air!

Last weekend we visited Great Dixter Gardens in East Sussex, we caught the end of the lovely snowdrops display and walked around the fabulous topiary - check out those peacocks!

I've started planting seeds as you can see above, thought I'd try them in toilet rolls (I knew they'd come in handy for something useful!). Hopefully they'll grow into nasturtiums, my other half's favourite flower - I will keep you posted!

Family of Foxes

Here's my latest offering, a tweedy family of foxes. I'm not sure which name to use for a group of foxes there are quite a few - skulk, cloud, troup, company, leash and earth.........

Finished!!!!!!!

It has taken me sooooooo long, but at last I've finished the above scarf, our youngest - Barbara, is modelling it for me (ta Babs!). It's going to be a present for a friends birthday. I hope she likes it!!!!!

The Stuff Of Life

I ordered some stuffing last week, it arrived compressed into this bundle, it weighs a ton (25kgs). I dont know how, but I managed to drag it up the stairs. It is so tightly packed that I daren't cut the string incase my whole studio becomes filled with polyester fluffiness! For now I'm pulling handfuls out from between the gaps.

Haiti Anniversary Fundraiser

My other half's latest screenprint has been produced to raise much needed cash for a very worthy cause.....

'As you all know, just over a year ago on 12th January 2010 Haiti was hit by a catastrophic earthquake and 13 months later, the country is still in need of so much help. To try and do my bit to raise some money, I’ve designed and printed a brand new limited edition screenprint which will be sold on Etsy and in my shop, Ryantown on Columbia Road. The price will be £200 and with Paypal and Etsy fees from the online sales subtracted, this leaves at least £186 going straight to the Haiti causeper print sold. If we can sell the whole edition of 200 of these, we could raise over £37,000.'

The print reads: ‘We are all part of each other and this is my promise, I won’t pass you by and I won’t ignore you and look the other way but I’ll help you build your nest again. This is my promise’

Prints will be available to buy from Etsy on Friday and Ryantown on Saturday.

Ear! Ear!

Hello, I'm back in the studio after what feels like yonks! I have been busy posting out zillions of packages for my other half's Etsy shop, a lot of you out there are sooo romantic or maybe you have been dropping heavy hints your partner's way! Anyway my work was temporarily put on hold, but now I'm back in studioville and plan to be making things on a regular basis.

Mabel

Etsy is a great site that promotes and supports makers across the world. I am a big fan of their blog and I particularly draw inspiration from their videos. Here is one of my favourites......she's 91!

Cable Able

Hello, I was in my studio today. I really wanted to make a bear, so I made this little sitting bear but he looked a bit naked and it was a bit chilly so I thought I'd knit him this little jumper. My next job is, (now I have worked through my knitting urge)is to work on all the foxes I have cut out......

Boom Boom!

Went to lovely Rye last weekend and picked up the Uhura book and storage bags, I didn't buy the Basil Brushes - I just took a sneaky photo of those cheeky fellas. All of which remind me of growing up in Birmingham in the 60's and 70's. For a young girl growing up in inner city Birmingham it was very inspiring to see an intelligent, sophisticated and seriously glamorous black woman on 'Star Trek'- great TV. Basil Brush was a nutty TV hand puppet character who was very naughty and made me and my brothers laugh.....

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.