Old Friends

What a strange, or rather 'nostalgic' few days I've just had! On Friday, we all piled round to my parents' house to meet my cousin and his wife, who we haven't seen for about nine years. They're over in the UK having a little holiday, travelling around and seeing family and old friends - they live in Germany at the moment. Lovely to see them again after all this time!
The weekend arrived, and with it saw a good friend of ours pop in for a couple of days' sojourn here - a bit of cycling through the forest in the rain (what's happened to the summer lately?) with eldest, and he would have been a helpful hand peeling some more tipi poles with ye olde woodcutter, had rain not stopped their play! *woodcutter objects to the word 'play'.....why??!
Yesterday was the strangest, and loveliest day of all - I met up with an old friend that I haven't seen for...well, we reckon it's probably about 15 years now. Fifteen years?! Crumbs. It was terrific to see him again, a great way to spend the day, and wonderful to be in touch again after all this time.

I think that explains why I'm rather lacking in any work to show you - but I did notice today that I've been featured in another treasury on etsy...thank you, snappingtwig, for including me in 'crisp' - your zingy, summery selection! Where am I? That's me...second row down from the top, on the right - my Faint Hearted Pendant, looking a bit like a bowlful of strawberries in this collection!

The Sunday Club

As a child, I didn't really like Sundays. I love 'em now! We usually have a stay-at-home day, and today was no exception. The man of the house was felling and selling a set of tipi poles, and packing up sets of the logettes (see June 26 entry) that he has sold on ebay.

Youngest kept herself busy flitting from crayons with paper to bead pictures, to paper and crayons to bead pictures...all day. Eldest was in raptures with the view from the landing - see below - and I kept myself equally occupied making some earrings. Busy, busy, busy!! These will go into my etsy shop tonight.

Quiet Time

Not a vast amount to report, today...
So, I thought I'd show you my favourite spot in the house: leaning on the kitchen windowsill, and looking outside.
Never fails to lift my spirits! Even if it's raining, or just plain murky, I love this little snapshot of our corner of the world.

This is how I see my outside, really - first, I look at my girls' wendy house that 'ye olde woodcutter' built for them (to remind myself to chivvy us - ok, him - along a bit to finally get the fascia boards on); then on down the path, where I can see (but sadly it isn't very visible on these pics) the tips of our tipi and its poles rising majestically above the hedge at the bottom; then around to the wider view of those towering trees and our monkey puzzle proudly guarding its territory.

Ahh, I love it!!

I've been working on something pink today - should be finished tomorrow, so watch this space.

Treat Night!

I'll hold my hands up and admit that this is a bit of a cheat-y pic (it's a good few months old), but needs must...
Both daughters were party-goers this evening, and husband was left to his woodcutting devices - or so I thought. We returned home to a deliciously comforting waft of something baking in the oven - he'd cooked up his favourite bakewell tart, and even an extra one for his in-laws. Ah, bless him! They'll love that tomorrow. Thanks, love.

As I type this, it's 11.30pm, and we're waiting for someone to collect a set of tipi poles. They're 'this side of Birmingham', and they've travelled all the way from Yorkshire. I don't envy them the journey back at this time of night!

We've amused ourselves with a long awaited viewing of 'The Kite Runner'. A certain close friend will remember (with fondness?) that I bored her to tears about two years ago, banging on about the novel that had, quite simply, blown me away. I loved it so much that I gave a copy to my husband for his birthday back in January, and pestered him for months to get on and flippin' well read it!! Eventually, he did - and he was as hooked as I had been. Such compelling, heart-rending reading. Four times we've tried to rent it, and tonight was finally the night! Armed with a Chinese takeaway (yep, treat night), we settled in for some quality time with the t.v...

Or was it?

Hmmn, I'm not so sure. It's beautifully shot, but it lacks something. The mistake may have been to have read the book first, rather than the other way around, but big chunks of the narrative are missing. The novel reads like a pocket of truth, of real-life, of a true story; the film is exactly that: a film. Does anyone agree with me?

My advice? Get the book - read it, devour it and let the tears flow.

Colours and Textures

A lazy-ish Sunday..eldest and I stayed at home whilst youngest and husband took our house-guest on a little excursion: canoeing on the beautiful River Wye. Despite capsizing (!), they arrived home happy. We're so lucky to have such a wonderful location on our doorstep, and it's great that we can get on out there and use it. I just hope Dave's phone survived the ordeal - although it was looking a little moist and worse for wear when he left!

Good to see you again, Dave - you are always welcome, as you know..and you don't always have to work whilst you are here, but it is appreciated! Thank you xx

The men spent the afternoon being manly (or so they tell me) woodcutters, and recovering more fir trees for our poles.


Me, on the other hand? I fought the blight that is hayfever, and used the quiet time to think about colour schemes for the next installment of my jewellery. I need to get some more items posted in my shops, but there's a busy week ahead: more strippin' bark is required, the annual school fete is upon us...but I'll find the time. Perhaps I can coax the children into going to bed as soon as they arrive home from school? (Good plan, or what?!)


I mentioned chocolate yesterday...and I'm still thinking about it, combined with blue. Sky blue, turquoise and duck egg are feeling quite good at the moment. Plenty of braiding this time, I think, with masses of beads and buttons. Perhaps tasselling? I'm liking the olive green velvet and tassel trim you can see in the pictures. Quite decadent, but I may remove the tassels and just work with the luxurious braiding. The collar, choker and wrist cuff are proving to be the most viewed items in my shops, so I'm thinking of a mini collection using those styles. We shall see!


I just love the 'Mirror Ball Dot' (by Mark Hordyszynski for Michael Miller Fabrics) brown and turquoise spot fabric. I feel a bag moment coming on....

There's a Fairy In My Garden...honest!

See?!

Slightly dodgy photo due to poor lighting, but cute!

Yet another busy day today. A very early start for us (for a Saturday) to deliver a batch of tipi poles to Herefordshire. The bonus? I was dropped off in the city with my eldest for a weeny spot of retail therapy...and the discovery of a lovely little cafe in the centre. Eggy bread with maple syrup and bacon, anyone? Actually, we decided to bypass that for a whopping piece of chocolate brownie and scrumptious hot chocolate - and we were very good. We shared the brownie!

Eldest went to a fab birthday party at an equestrian centre in Newnham-on-Severn this afternoon. Talk about excited! She admitted she was a little nervous, but she lapped up the experience. They all participated in mini races, despite many party-goers being complete novices..and even ended the event with a trot. Delightful. There has, surprisingly,been no mention of having a pony installed in our back garden.... thus far!

I also added to my etsy shop today, with a bronze multi-string beaded necklace.

Did I mention hot chocolate, earlier? Chocolate, yes...I'm thinking of some new jewellery in rich chocolate tones, perhaps some velvet, perhaps even some lace of some description - maybe mocha shades? Have found some lovely motifs in Hopsack and Linen ebay store. Something to think about!

I'm Waving!

Crumbs - this is something of a big adventure for me...I'm actually starting a blog!

I have no idea if I'll manage to keep this going, but I'm going to try, and try very hard at that. I'm aware that some people have set themselves a challenge to post something new every day. It sounds quite a simple, quick thing to achieve every day, doesn't it - but it's taken me two days to get just this far!

About a month ago, I discovered little birds handmade/Stephanie Congdon-Barnes' blog, and therefore her beautiful photos on flickr. I think both her lovely blog and fabulous photostream was my inspiration for getting myself going. Thank you, Stephanie - your work is fabulous, but I wish I'd discovered it sooner. I must go away now and work out how to set up a link for anyone who stumbles upon these ramblings to be able to check out your wonderful work.

Am I done for the day? I think so - see you tomorrow!

A-ha! Well, I thought I was done, but lo I believe I have managed to create a link for you to check out 'little birds handmade'. I hope it works for you!