Sneaky Peaks ...

I'm well on my way to finishing my current wip's and already sketching out my new pieces. My enthusiasm is so much improved and I am really enjoying being creative again. Long may it last is all I say ...


Here are a few sneaky peaky snippets of each of my wip's. It's been great fun choosing and mixing fabrics, you ought to see the floor of my workroom, I think I have pulled out every stitch of fabric I have and I haven't put any of it back yet. Ooh, how very naughty of me eh?


I think the detail of these last two are my favourite. I'm just going to have to use them again and again and again and again and again ...


I love working with the 100% wool felt I got from here, it's so soft and easy to work with and really fabulous quality. Me thinks I will just have to buy lots more in every colour available. But, sshhh ... don't tell the 'Usband' !

What a lovely weekend we have had ...

My brother and his family have been with us from Cornwall this weekend and it's been really lovely to have them here as we don't get together as often as we'd like.
We've crammed in so much, it's been very hectic.
I've even managed to squeeze in 4 more wip's - two of which are here. More dog lead hanging hooks on their way ...


Auntie Sara, Charlie, Boo, myself and my friend and her little girl all went for a tromp in the woods this morning while 'The boys' went clay pigeon shooting.
We also had three Springer Spaniels between us. Archie, Quest (Archie's sister) and Murphy.


Boo taking the easy route through the woods - the gate was just too much trouble obviously !!!!
Can you see the small figure in the top left corner ? Yep, that's one of many who were partaking in a spot of orienteering.
I had no idea that they wore such dodgy outfits. Blimey we saw some corkers this morning - would put Mr Motivator in the shade. And they were all running around like headless chickens frantically checking their maps and compasses, dashing this way and that. Quite hilarious.

The three dogs thoroughly enjoyed themselves galloping (or in Murphy's case, trotting. Well, he is thirteen bless him) around the forest. They had a swim in a mud pond and boy does Archie stink tonight ... and that's not just the cabbage leftovers from Sunday lunch.

The children loved jumping in all the mud and puddles too. Boo is a total mud monster.


The three little munchies having a break. Boo is trying not to sit on 'the stingers'. Can you tell ?



Preparing to jump into the muddy stream ...



I love to see the kids outside rather than stuck in front of the tele or a computer. It's brilliant that we can get them out in the fresh air and that they actually enjoy themselves. It's what memories are made of. I still have very fond and special memories of playing in my Nan & Grandad's orchard as a little girl. Collecting cow parsley (isn't that the plant that smells of wee ?), fishing with jam jars, throwing those pointy grass heads at each other, oh and throwing handfuls of that plant that had those sticky little green balls that would stick to everything, including your hair !
It all seemed so magical in those days and funnily enough it still does even though those days are a very, very long time ago. Happy Days ...

Hello Mr Mojo and "Is that a guilty look or what" ?

My WIP's are finished and I am really pleased with them. They have been a sort of therapy for me having been in the creative wilderness for quite some time. That's not to say I might revisit said wilderness again but for now I am enjoying sitting at my sewing machine again.
There are a few tweaks that I want to make but for a sort of prototype - they'll do very nicely for now thank you very much ...

What are they you may ask ? Well, they are sort of dog lead/ whistle hooks. They are padded and filled with a sprinkle of lavender and hang on a wall or door handle for you to loop over your lead or lanyard and whistle.

I love this greeny grey Amy Butler fabric - it's another version of the fabric I used for my sisters 'Dancing Queen' pouch. Scrummy isn't it ?


And a blue one ..
I'll be making some more so if anyone is interested, just drop me an email.

"Oh my, look at this shredded and chewed mess. Who on earth could have done it ? I just came in to find it all over the floor "

Whilst I was stitching away, young Archibald was supposed to be having a snooze after his exertions in the forest in the morning. I though he was too quiet so I peeped round the lounge door to be faced with this mess. Just look at him ... the little sod !

" Who Me ? No, not me Mum. I bet it was that cat from next door. Yes, that was it, I saw him slink in through the back door and he made this mess. Yes, honest. Look at my face, do I look like I am fibbing? "


" Tut, tut. It's disgraceful. People should teach their animals some manners. I can't believe the mess that cat has made. Shall I get the broom Mum ? "


" OK, I'll help you clear it up shall I ? I'll just have a quick nibble on my way out " ...

Woof & Wag WIP ...

I'm slowly, but very slowly, getting my enthusiasm and motivation back on the crafting front. It's been a long slow old road with lots of tumbleweed on route, but I quite like what I am doing at the moment so thought I'd share the progress to see what others think ?
Dogs are very much in my thoughts at the moment - all because of Sir Archibald and our imminent Beginners Gundog Training (pass the clean pants please ...) and so I thought I'd jump on these thoughts quick and make something, well, 'Doggy'.


I am not too sure what they will end up as but I wanted to make two at the same time - a very small conveyor belt if you like. And look ! Not a hint of a cuddly toy, Brucie cardboard cut out or a set of saucepans.
OK, for those of you who have never ever seen an episode of Bruce Forsyths classic 'Generation Game' the last comment is wasted on you I'm afraid.
Hmm ... one thought so far is to make them into a couple of little padded (possibly lavander filled) hanging. The other thoughts are :

1. Um ... ?
2. Ahh ... ?
3. Er ... ?

Not great planning eh ? But I wanted to take advantage of the desire to make something whilst it was there. All suggestions would be gratefully and very humbly received.

I still look gorgeous even when I am feeling poorly ...

My poor little Boo has another ear infection - t'other ear this time so she's been at home today. She had her swimming lesson last night and within 10 minutes we were out of that pool, dressed and on our way to the doctors. She cried all the way to the surgery and all the time we were waiting for the duty doctor to see us.
Apparantly Mr Boo suffered with his ears when he was a little boy so it's his genes we have to thank. She's had a nice quiet day at home with Alice the camel (classroom toy that is probably covered in germs and bugs!) and 'Bear' but judging by her cheekiness this evening I think she'll be OK for school tomorrow.

Dancing Queen exposed ...

This is my 'older' sis in full Disco flow. She's giving it some welly at her daughter's 16th Birthday in a club in town. She can certainly give the youngsters a run for the money and kept going longer than they did. Myself and my friend sat watching whilst scoffing cups of coffee at the bar - how cool are we ?
I think 'H' sat down just the once or twice during the evening - and that was only to empty her glass of Vodka !
I'm sure when she pops her disco shoes, the headstone will say 'Here lies the Dancing Queen', forever dancing ...
Anyhow, I found enough mojo to finish her Mothers Day gift form her two girls. It may be a bit too pink but I am always trying to get her to add a splash of colour to her customary black.

Here's the back, showing some scrumptious Amy Butler fabric.


Not so long ago 'H' had very, very dark hair but has gone back to her natural fairness - albeit with a little extra help. It suits her so much better but the little pouch depicts her with dark hair as I only had bright yellow felt as an alternative hair colour ...


Mr Postie left me some goodies on the doorstep this morning. Nope, not fabric or buttons or ribbons but my training books, dummy & whistle in readiness for young Archie and I's venture into Beginners Gundog training in April.
I've got plenty of time to read the books and get the little man used to his dummy. He's already showing a natural hunting and retrieving ability and I think he's going to have lots of fun on the course. We can progress through the different stages and I'm excited to see how he progresses.


Archie with his new growd up dummy. He looks like he's been doing it for ages ...



However, this is what he loves playing with in the garden. I don't think there's a call for old playdough buckets in the world of Gundog Training do you ?


Especially if this is involved !
You gotta love him eh ?

Water and Mud Galore ...

Today was a beautiful Spring day and so we toddled off for a walk in Bramshill Forest. The first photo has nothing whatsoever to do with the walk but I thought it was such an hilarious photo that I'd just include it in this post. Boo loves what she calls a 'bits n' pieces' lunch which basically consists of, well, bits and pieces. Cheese, carrot, stawberries, sandwiches etc.
I was sewing in my room and she called me into the lounge to where I faced this scene. The little monkey had made a cheese mask and thought it was just hilarious and so insisted I took a photo. So here it is ...

We are sure Boo is part 'Springer Spaniel' as she just loves water and mud. The little man hasn't been too partial to water so far but that all changed today. There is a lovely lake within the forest which looked really inviting. And so it proved to be true.
Boo was jumping into the shallow part of the lake from a mud mound - hence a sopping wet pair of pants, trousers, socks and wellies. Even though the photo looks quite scary in that she looks like she's jumping into VERY deep water, it was in fact just inches deep and I was right next to her.


As you can see ...


Ooh look, can you see the level of the water ? Yep, it's over the top of her wellies !

If it's not the lake, it was a puddle !


And a muddy one at that. Mud, mud, glorious mud ...


Dry land ... pah, a bit boring.


My bootiful Boo ...


And, here is the little man himself. What a star. Only 6 months old and he's a brave boy swimming out after his stick. I was terrified at first but he's a pretty strong swimmer for a littlun and my fears soon subsided. I'd have been straight in there if I thought he was in trouble. Believe me, the wellies would have flown off and I'd have been out there in a flash.

For a dog who hasn't shown any desire to get into or near water he suddenly decided today that 'today was the day'. We were just bumbling along the edge of the lake when Boo threw a pebble in and 'Whoosh' he was straight in there. We all stood there with our mouths open - totally astonished !
We were like a pair of proud parents and it was like watching Boo take her first steps all over again.
Archie loved it and wanted to keep going in so we'll have to get him a training dummy designed for water retrieval. I don't allow sticks to be thrown for him on dry land, DANGEROUS, DANGEROUS, DANGEROUS ....

" I like this Mum, more, more, more more please ... "


" Yay, I love it " ....

A bit bedraggled and cold ... but VERY HAPPY !

We are off to beginner Gundog training in a few weeks time and I'm really looking forward to it as he's a cracking little dog.
Springers are full of energy and spirit, they are tireless little dogs who love nothing better than to work all day. They are prone to mischief if their enthusiasm is not properly channelled and so the training courses will hopefully harness his natural instincts and give us lots of fun and reward.

I'll let you know how we get on. I've never done anything like it before but I am really, really scared but looking forward to it and I'm sure Archie will love it too.

For the Dancing Queen ...

I've been giving things a lot of thought lately, having decided I needed a new direction and my niece gave me (albeit indirectly) a new idea. My sister (her mum) will always be a teenager and she just loves dancing. She calls herself the Dancing Queen and is the first up there to give it some 'Large' ....

She's not your traditional mumsy mum, Oh No ! She likes to wear stonking great big black boots with lots of chrome and buckles, and she likes to dance, dance and dance. She has a selection of tattoos, one of which is a whopping great phoenix on her back plus numerous piercings, including her tongue.
We could not be more different. I tell you, if I didn't know better I'd say we weren't related. Anyhow, my niece wanted something for her mum for Mothers Day and I tentatively suggested that I could make something. I've had a few new ideas running around my head but I have tweaked them to suit something for my sis.

She's been a punk, a goth, a new romantic, a mod, ummmmm what else ? Dunno, lost track. Her hair has been every colour under the sun but is a nice blonde colour at the moment - it was black a few weeks ago. She's quite normal now but does have an edge. I just wish she'd be a tincey wincey bit more feminine, wear more feminine colours maybe.

So .... here's the beginnings of something for her.


Not sure what dance this could be described as yet .... Funky eh ?


How did that get in here ?
Me watch the Cheltenham Festival when I am supposed to be working ? Never ...
Hang on , they are on the final turn ................

Ooh, it's getting exciting, 2nd last ......
The crowd is going bonkers ...
Ooh, what a finish ...
Brilliant last fence jump ...
'Imperial Commander' - 6-1 beat Voy Por Ustedes 4-5f

Right then, onto the next race, I mean, where are my scissors ?

I think I found my Mojo ...

It's in here somewhere, I know it ... God knows where though, look at the flippin state of my work room. Ashamed ? Yes,most definitely. BUT, in my defense because my mojo did a runner, the room has been trashed by Miss Boo as I haven't spent any time in there at all lately.

We share the space and at one end Miss Boo is supposed to keep her boxes of toys, art desk, dressing up basket and a cupboard full of puzzles, books and games. I think I need a GREAT BIG gate !

The other end is my space. If you look very carefully you can see that Miss Boo has pulled out some of my fabric stash and boxes full of bits and pieces and has had a good old rummage. She decided she wanted to wear her hair in two plaits yesterday to visit Granny and Grandpa and just had to have ribbons in her hair. Q the contents of the ribbon box being strewn all over the floor !


Close Up Mess ...

More Close Up Mess ...
It took me ages to clear it all up today but it looks very respectable now. I filled a bin liner of 'stuff' I didn't want anymore. It's amazing just how much 'rubbish'' you accumulate in such a short period of time.

And d'you know what, I'm sure I saw my Mojo peeping out from behind my sewing machine. I'm going back in there tomorrow, fully armed with my sketch book, pencil and a nice cup of coffee. I may be some time ... but I shan't come out until I've done some work.


I've had a very constructive & a very nice day walking Archie and cracking on with the gardening - no wonder I am feeling a tad pooped !
These wild primroses are very special to me as they came from my Nan's orchard. They mingle with my Periwinkle and make a lovely higgledy piggledy mess.

It was a lovely sunny cold morning so Sir Archibald & I went to the woods and had a lovely long walk in the sunshine. I met a lovely old(er) gentleman who had a mature black Labrador called Milly and we had a chat about the dogs. He was very complimentary about my little man and ask if he ever stopped wagging his tail. 'No' I replied swiftly. The differences between a Labrador and a Springer Spaniel are very marked and I just love this quote ...

" A Labrador is born half trained but a Springer Spaniel dies half trained "

Tidying up Miss Boo's front garden. This photo really does highlight the need to give her playhouse a lick of something. Hmm ... may go for a colour this year. What do you think ? Blue ? Cream ? Chalky Green ? or ..........

Pink ? Yay, pink would be fab !!