Happy New Year

Well Christmas is done for another year, it all seems such an anti climax somehow, maybe that’s because we live on a farm and life carries on as normal. But this New Year (1st Jan) is my birthday, not just any birthday but my BIG 50 birthday. I can’t actually say I’m looking forward to being 50, I’m just not ready in my mind to be 50 so I’m actually going to be 25 x 2 if that’s all OK with you folks?

Anyway, in between watching soppy/children’s/cartoon films I have been doing a bit of sewing. I’ve made myself a little bedside table runner and I’ve started a little project for somebody special from a book I’ve had for quite a long time but have never actually used. I have drooled over its pages many times but just never felt inspired enough to use it. So now I’m having a go. They aren’t hard designs but fiddly but I’m sure it’ll be fab when it’s done.

Here’s a picture of the book I’m using. Cute isn’t it?

After a Hard Day

This is what happens after “The Boys” have had a hard day. Nuf said!

Winter Wonderland

As most of you know us here in the UK are having lovely WINTERY weather, hardly surprising really as it’s winter. Now I love the snow, I love the way it transforms even the most boring landscape into something stunning. I love to be the first to walk through newly fallen snow, I love the way it glistens in the sunshine and crunches underfoot. I love snowmen and snowball fights, sledges and warm woolly mittens.

Just in case you don’t know I LOVE SNOW

had the most incredible hoar frosts. Today has been beautiful with lovely blue skies and WHITE, WHITE trees etc.

Here are a few pictures I took earlier.

ENJOY!

My New Fridge Magnet

I really must think of more exciting titles for my posts but I really can’t think of anything very exciting to call this post. It’s only a very tiny post just to show you my new fridge magnet really that I made for myself.

Technorati Tags: Fridge magnet

More Creations from the Playpen

As my car has been off the road now for nearly 5 weeks I haven’t been able to go anywhere so I’ve spent plenty of time in my ‘Playpen’ creating and making and sewing.

A few years ago I machine embroidered some Autumn outlines I bought but had never gotten round to doing anything with so I designed a quilt especially just so I could use them. Well, as the designs are autumnal I used mostly fabrics  from The Crayon Forest range from Moda adding other bits from my stash.

Hope you like it!

It doesn’t look as nice in the photo as it does in real life but trust me, it’s lovely.

Technorati Tags: Quilting,patchwork,quilt

Finished Items from the “Playpen.”

Well, as you may well remember a few days ago gave you a few sneaky teasy shots of a cushion I was working on. Well, I have finished it and another cushion in a different design. I think I prefer the second cushion myself but I have had some very pleasing comments about both of them from different peeps. I just hope Anne and Robert like them. :-)

This picture of the cushion is taken before I sewed the binding down so in reality you can only see about 1/4” of red on the outside. The colours aren’t totally accurate on here either.

Technorati Tags: Patchwork,quilting

New Soaps for Shropshire Council

Recently I have been commissioned by Shropshire Council to produce a range of soaps for them for their retail outlets like Rowley's House, Acton Scott Historic Working Farm and other places. The label has been designed by Mathew Lloyd from Think Graphic in Ludlow. The fern design was inspired by a herbarium specimen collected near Much Wenlock by William Penny Brookes, founding father of the modern Olympian movement, courtesy of Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery.

I hope you like them.

Technorati Tags: Soap,Shropshire Council

New Soap Labels

I have been very lucky to have some new soap labels designed for me. Here’s a sneaky peek at them.

I have just had the finished labels delivered and will post some photos of the boxed and labelled soap soon.

A Hunting We Will Go!

Well, it’s the start of the hunting season again and this morning I went to see the North Shropshire Hunt meet for the first time at Sansaw Hall which is just across the road from me. It was an incredible experience and here are a few photos of the morning. Enjoy! I even managed a small glass of port and ginger and a small piece of rich fruit cake. Moss, my collie, was an absolute star, he wasn’t fazed by all the horses or the fox hounds, who I must say are sooooo friendly and love doggy snogs and cuddles.

Please click on the link to view the full album. And just in case you are wondering about the guy in a kilt on his horse, he is Scottish and was wearing it to raise money for MacMillan nurses – a very worthy cause. I wonder if he was wearing anything underneath it??????? Could be rather painful methinks. :-/

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The Hunt Master and hounds in our yard.

Playpen Creations

As I mentioned in my last post I’ve started making a few Chrimbo pressies and am enjoying every moment of fabric choppy, sew it back togetherness.

I have made 2 place mats for my dad and stepmom. They lay the breakfast table everyday so they are for the festive breakfast table.

I’m making a series/set of cushions for my eldest son and daughter in law using cream and blacks with pinky,peachy, salmony fabric. Very graphic and modern.

Here’s a few sneaky teasy pictures for you to look at.

The fabric is by Moda and is designed by a designer called Sweetwater.

Depending on how this turns out I may or may not post a finished picture but I think it’s going to work out OK, it’s a cross between graphic funky and feminine. Oops poor Robert. :-)

More Musings from a Wannabee Hippy

I can’t believe it’s been over 2 months since I last updated my blog. Doesn’t time just fly by? I can’t believe in just over two months I shall be …. well let’s just say if anybody gets me a subscription to the SAGA magazine they’ll get thumped big time :-)

My little grand daughter is now smiling and cooing and blowing baby bubbles as they do.

My son absolutely adores his “Little Princess” as does her mom, Anne. She’s growing really quickly as babies are want to do and this grandma is currently plotting what Santa is going to be bringing her for Christmas.

Talking of Christmas I have been making a few Chrimbo pressies as I just love to make things for my friends and family.

Robert and Anne have a gorgeous bright salmon pink leather suite and wanted some cushions to go with it so I have been making some using black, cream and pinky peachy salmony coloured fabric. I am rather pleased with how it’s looking at the moment.

New baby grand daughter

At long last my eldest son Robert and his fabulous and lovely girlfriend Anne have finally made their lives complete by having a beautiful baby girl, Rhiannon Maria. She looks like she’s going to have the family's reddish hair bless her.

Just seconds old in this photo.

  

Shrewsbury Flower Show

This year I went to the Shrewsbury Flower Show with my mom. I haven’t been for about 3 years and then that was as a steward for them.

Nothing in particular to report but here are some fab photos from the day.

 

 

 

Tina and her very special dog Chandi were there, they are such a fabulous act to watch. Chandi is so devoted to Tina.

The Hairy Bikers did a few demos in the food hall which were extremely popular. All I can say is “thank goodness for a camera with a zoom.”