Don't ....

Stand in the new compost ! Too late ....
The new patio, pathway and pergola is now finished and Boo has been trying out the brickwork and new planting pockets.
Just look at that face, guilty as charged me thinks !


Sir Archibald & Boo have spent all afternoon in the garden today and finally came in only to zonk out. He's still on his bed now at 10pm. All that leaf chasing is hard work y'know.

And this was Boo after her exploits. "Mummy, I'm cold", "Mummy, I'm hungry" ...
The fleecey blanket pacified until the Sunday Roast was ready. Mr. Boo dishes up a yummy dinner and his roasties are just the best !!!!

This week has been very uneventful in terms of making anything & so I'm looking forward to having a day of sewing tomorrow. Schools back, Mr Boo is not working at home and so it's going to be just me, the little man & Henry. 'Henry' being Henry Kelly of Radio Berkshire. Sad I know but I love his accent :)

Welly Boots and A Mothers Heart ...

In our household they go hand-in-hand. We love our wellies, always have done. In fact when I got married I'd love to have had some photo's of me in my lovely Medievel wedding dress wearing a pair of my beloved wellies ...
Amongst our collection of boots and wellies we have Dubarry's, Croc Boots, Barbour wellies, floral wellies, Joules wellies, Costco wellies (bargain) and Gumbies. The latter being especially fab !
A girl can never have too many pairs y'know ... and when you have a nearly 5 year old daughter who insists on jumping in puddles which culminates in having to wring the socks out by the end of the walk, well, you need a few pairs to give plenty of drying out time for the soggy pairs.


Mr Boo & I have always reckoned on Miss Boo being part Springer Spaniel - she has this need to jump and splosh in each and every single pool, puddle or hole which contains mud and water. Brown mud, orange mud, stinky mud, slimy mud, black mud, runny mud, lumpy mud .... she's not fussy, as long as it's wet & it's mud !

May as well join in I suppose.

My poor old Croc boots had a good old twirl in the washing machine together with Miss Boo's Gumbies when we got home. Together with two pairs of jeans, a pair of socks, a pair of tights and a coat.

But not before they all had a good hosing down in the garden mind you.


My handsome boy. Sir Archibald is growing fast. He's just over 5 months old now. He won't be a big Springer, more the lean mean, mud magnet machine type.


He's a very good boy, although we have a bit of a jumping up issue. He see's people and sometimes tanks toward them to say hello but jumps up - not good when it's a small child or someone out for a romantic walk in the woods with their nice clean jeans on. He doesn't mean any harm, he's just excited and happy to see people but it's something we are working on.

Just before our expedition into Wellington Country Park. All nice and clean ... didn't last long though. Not a bad picture considering Miss Boo took it.


These hearts are what I have been working on recently. I've made them specifically for Mothers Day but will be making more for Weddings. They have been made from a lovely felted vintage Witney woolen blanket.


I've used some of my new scrummy cotton tape and embroidered some Lazy Daisies and French Knots for decoration around free motion text.
They are nice and chunky as the blanket was quite thick, I'm quite pleased with them. Nice and simple.

WIP ...Easter is on it's way

"Who will buy this wonderful morning. Such a sight, you never did see. Who will tie it up with a ribbon and put it in a box for me."

Wonderful morning it was not (not after the rainfall and flooded garden last night !). But, I'll take the ribbons please, thank-you very much ...

Lovely aren't they ? I've been on the hunt for some nice cotton ribbon tape for ages and was pleased to be able to find these little beauties.


I've been wanting to make some more bunny doorstops but wanted a more subtle approach. I was a bit reluctant to move away from my normally bright and breezy designs but having found the ribbons and seeing the 'almost' finished results, I'm quite pleased.


A few 'Lazy Daisies' add a bit of interest together with a handmade ceramic flower button.

Three in a row .. just need to fill and stitch them and they're done. They all look so serene don't they ?
They obviously can't here my dog !!!!

He is driving me nuts today. The slightest bit of wind outside and he goes banana's waiting for leaves and debris to blow around so that he can chase them. The trouble is, he wants to go out in the garden, decides he's lonely, comes in for 10 minutes, starts yapping at the leaves again through the patio doors, I let him out again and the whole process starts again.

I've had to shut the curtains !

Scary Faces & Caught You !....

Red Handed Mr Archibald ...
Mr Boo came into the lounge only to catch him engaging in one of those social networking sites. Do you think he looks guilty ?


You betcha !!!!!!


Boo is almost 5 but here she is practicing being a teenager. God Help us ....

1. Ah, look at the lovely little face, complete with purple eye show and a gappy grin.


2. Hmm ... The gappy grin has gone ...


3. Only to be replaced by the 'Whatever' look ...


4. And finally the 'Teenager' look ...

It didn't last long, Ooh, I'd say about 10 secs to be exact. She's not normally a moody mare but what with this past week being so higglepiggledy with school being so on and off it's been a very weird week and boredom has kicked in a little bit.

We wanted to go racing to Newbury yesterday but the weather put paid to that and the meeting was abandoned. Shame I was sooooo looking forward to seeing the 'Tank' in action again.
The 'Tank' in question' is this mighty beautiful horse called 'Denman' (click for link)

He is the most awesome horse. Huge, powerful, proud, amazingly talented ... a truly wonderful racehorse. The first time I saw him in the flesh I got goosebumps - but then I do get very emotional about my horses. He ran at Kempton instead and got beat by a long, long way. Not to worry he was coming back from a long lay off and he's had problems with his heart. Hopefully by the time the Cheltenham Gold Cup comes round next month he'll be really firing.

I just hope his heart problems don't resurface and that he is kept safe ... he doesn't owe anybody anything.

Blimey, that was a bit of a waffle wasn't it. Can you tell I get very emotional about my racing and horses ?

Snow good, I've just had to do some work today ...

A little glimpse of what I am working on. Being a huge wuss and not wanting to drive in this wintery weather ...
Oh My God ! Sorry, I've just got to move for a bit. I have never known a dog to ommit such evil and I mean EVIL farts !!!!! Help, I'm suffocating, hang on, snowing or not I have just got to open the window to blow the offending fragrance (and I mean that in the loosest possible term) away.



The culprit ... does eating snow = evil farts ? Hmm ... answers on a postcard please.
Anyway, where was I ? Oh yes, because I haven't ventured out in the car - and there is only so much 'This Morning' 'Cash in the Attic', 'Homes Under the Hammer' and 'Dickinsons Real Deal' a girl can stomach, I've been spending time in my little studio room dreaming up new items.


We've had some fun in the garden though. Boo has made the most of it and enjoyed bumbling about in the snow. Of course the cold weather did give cause to get the 'Winnie The Witch' hat out again.


Must k e e e ee e p Wa aa a a a aa r m I nn n T h is C c c Col d


Sir Archibald Stinky Bum and me before setting out this morning. My Croc boots are sooooo unbelievably warm, they are just fab. No cold tootsies for me today. Ok, I couldn't feel my chin after an hour and a half but hey, I could still walk !

Blooming Cold and Windy ... Oh & a bit of help needed

Draught excluders seem to be flavour of the month and I made this 'Gale Stopper' to match a doorstop I made for one of my lovely customers last year. My local post mistress looked a bit bemused when I took it to the PO and asked what it was ...
When I told her she chuckled and asked if I could make one that fits around the whole house !

I hope she was joking :)

OK, well I now have a little request please, please ...

I am looking for a (UK) supplier of some pretty cotton tape/ ribbon that I can use as decorative embelishments. Preferably I'd like cream or other pastel colours with printed designs on them. Any suggestions ?
I have some ideas for some new things that I'd like to make & these ribbons would add a nice touch.

It's just started snowing here in Brrrrrrrrr'ing Berkshire. Todd Carty to win 'Dancing On Ice'. Bless his dodgy skates !