Merry-Go-Round

Each month, a group of craftswomen from around the world join together and give their responses to the same question...this month, our little poser is:

'What's Your Next Chapter...?'

I've been clearing out kitchen cupboards today - they really needed it - and much as it is a dull and tedious job, sometimes, it simply has to be done, doesn't it? All that stuff...clutter...dust...disorganisation...it can all get a bit too much, I think. The time has arrived for me to take stock, clear out and clear up. And I feel better for it.

This is a perfect way to describe my life at the moment, as it happens. So much is going on around me; lots of jobs keep calling to me; new skills need to be learned and I just have to bite the bullet and get on with it. But it is hard sometimes to make changes...necessary changes.


De-cluttering: throwing out the old and making way for the new.


So what does the future hold for me? What will be new, and what will be cast out? Well, the woodcutter's empire is growing. That's a good thing! A really, really good thing. Our future's looking eco-friendly, rustic and wooden.
The Log Basket is exceeding all expectations and our energies have to be channelled. I need to develop a sanders' hands and lumberjacks' muscles. I also have to don a secretary's head and get stuck-in to that lurking headache called paperwork. What do they say? A cluttered house is a cluttered mind? I'm taking steps already...

As for de-cluttering, I think really I mean 'paring down'. Stitchery is very important to me - it is something that is truly 'mine'. Stitchery gives me time to think; it provides that creative outlet that I love; it really becomes an extension of 'me'. I hope that I won't have to leave it behind. I hope that there is room in my life for logs, paperwork, taking pictures and textile explorations. I think a work timetable will evolve and some things will give whilst others take my time. And it will be okay....

Thank you for reading! Please take a few minutes now to read about what the future may hold for my fellow merry-go-rounders - just click on their links in the sidebar, but do remember that we are all in different time zones so posts will appear at differing times.

In Print...

Yes, this is quite exciting!

fancypicnic's Elven jewellery has been published - find it in the current (Autumn 09) issue of Stampington's Belle Armoire Jewelry magazine. Such a thrill to see my textile jewellery in print!

This issue (like every issue) is gorgeous - packed full of beautifully crafted, highly individual pieces from extremely talented designers...a pleasure to be featured alongside them.

Shopping List ... Sunday, Irish Style

So - it's Sunday, the sun is out...I'm feeling summery! This week, my offerings to you all come from my Etsy neighbours in Ireland. I featured the lovely TanyaMac in my list last week, and through her, I have discovered the Crafty Ireland Etsy Team and their blog, Etsy Ireland. Do have yourselves a little visit...use the shop directory on their blog to find a whole host of wonderful stores!

This is a little delve into just a few of them...enjoy!

1)Bunting and Flags Lavender Sachet/ SailmakersDaughter

2)Little Recycled Flowers in Garnet...sterling silver earrings/ madeforanangel

3)Bone China Cup/ niceartthings

4)Cuada Pink Silk Purse - with teal flowers and beading/ cuada

Do check out the links in the sidebar for more shopping lists - and if you'd like to join in with your own lists, just let me know! Happy shopping!

Shopping List Saturday

...will be coming on Sunday for me, this week.

Sorry - do pop back in and come shopping with me tomorrow! In the meantime, why not click on the links in the sidebar and take a peek at fellow Etsy sellers' and handmade supporters' lists? Lots of goodies to tempt you!

Happy Saturday x

This may not be stitchery....

...but it keeps me busy!

These are our decorative logs, installed in an alcove of a gorgeous, beautifully converted barn. I love the contrast of the wood against the chalky white walls, and the gentle colouring of the naturally occuring shaded rings at the ends of the logs (they are not stained or treated in any way) add just that little bit of rustic texture.

Today, a big batch of logs are making their way to their new home - a Zizzi's restaurant. Lucky things....

Shopping List Saturday

It's been a while..!
Today, the return of the Shopping List to my blog - I've discovered some circular beauties with a nod to Autumn about each of them. I can feel the changing of the seasons in the evenings, as a chill in the air nudges me back inside, to warmth and candlelight. Ever the romantic.

Enjoy...

1)Blackberry Wood. Set of 5 paper baubles for decorating your home this Autumn/ TanyaMac

2)Ring Ring 2/ aubeebop

3)ingrid...crotcheted heat pad/ EmmaLamb

4)Recycled paper garland/ wrenhandmade


For more Shopping Lists this Saturday, do click on the links in the sidebar and discover new delights chosen by fellow Etsy sellers and handmade supporters. Have a great weekend x

Sunshine

Today has been a day of glorious sunshine.

Eldest daughter and I armed ourselves with dishes galore and went in search of ripe fruits...what a lot we found. Now, the kitchen surfaces are laden with freshly plucked, ripe fruit.

I was filled with many good intentions earlier this evening, determined to seek out a recipe or two that would do justice to this little cache. Perhaps it will have to wait until morning...for now, it is beautiful to look at - and smells good, too x

Hello again...

Fancy meeting you here!
I thought maybe it was high time I returned to my blog, now that school has started again after its long summer holiday. But what to write about...?

So here I am...and yes, just a little bit older...and a proud owner of a rather fetching timepiece complete with forty - yes, forty (count them!) - bouncing buttons. Thank you, family of mine xx

Merry Go Round

Jump on and join a group of artists/craftswomen as they link around the world and tell you a little bit about their lives in art and craft.

Our question this month is: Summer - What Does It Mean To You?

Would you believe... a whole month since my last post...! Where does all the time go?!

Well, summertime has been and now very nearly gone - in a week, the girls will be back at school in their new year and new classroom...and in a tiny moment, the looooong summer holiday will be just a memory.

So what does summer mean to me? Mine begins the week before my daughters finish their school year, in July. I get carried away with the buzz of what lies ahead: slower, more relaxing mornings; stressless days for us all; warm, sunny afternoons sightseeing and visiting new places; a spot or two of camping in Cornwall; meeting up with friends and their families; the children running in and out of the house, delighting in the great outdoors; having lunch or afternoon tea in their wendy house cafe...a perfect summer!

On reflection, does that sum up this summertime? Actually, pretty much! There has been the odd downside - the lack of sun for most of the holiday and the camping was sidelined for this year. Last year, as this, I have purposefully switched off from blogging and stitching to spend as much time as possible with my family. I haven't touched the sewing machine for...weeks...(eek)...and I have spent a LOT less time on the computer. It has been worth it. The woodcutter has been flexible with his working day which has meant we have had lots of days out together enjoying a bit of culture here and a lot of nature there; I've seen my youngest finally learn to ride her bike; eldest has cooked for us (with just a modicum of help!) beautifully; she has mastered her own sewing machine and has gone sock monkey mad (yes, one of them is peeking out of the above mosaic); we've all crafted and beaded our way through the holiday. In a word - smashing.

Does it really have to end...? The whirrr of that stitching machine is waiting...

Thank you for taking the time to read about my summer. Please take a moment or two to read about my fellow merry-go-rounders and their musings on the subject - although we all live in different time zones right around the world, it is amazing to find how similar we often all are. Likewise, it is wonderful to be able to celebrate our differences! Happy summer's end to you all x

Merry Go Round

I'm having a bit of a blog break at the moment, to spend time with my girls whilst they are on their summer holidays - but I'm back to participate in this month's Merry Go Round...hope the sun is shining where you are - there's too much rain here at the moment!

Jump on and join a group of artists/craftswomen as they link around the world and tell you a little bit about their lives in art and craft.

Our question this month is: What inspires us? A peek into our journals, pinboards or folders...

Well, this is pretty much my inspiration board these days...

I've mentioned before that I am heavily influenced by what lies outside my front door. I live in the middle of a wondrous forest, and I love it. I love watching the changing of the seasons - I am in awe of the beauty that surrounds me. The colours that nature provides us with are limitless, and the juxtapostions that occur are inspiring beyond belief.

Back in my college days sketchbooks were an absolute must, and I diligently filled mine in...often with pen and ink drawings of flowers or vegetables, and the odd sketch of someone sitting in an armchair thrown in for good measure. Journals - or scrapbooks - were also kept, crammed full of images torn from magazines, postcards and packaging snippets pasted in until the covers would almost burst.

Nowadays, I rarely sketch. I should; I would like to draw again...but it has been a long time! I sketch now simply to work out a template for a piece that I am working on, to refine the pattern before I progress to snipping fabrics. Instead, my sketchbook and journal has been replaced by my camera. What would I do without it? In an instant, I have a record of intricate details, colour combinations and textures. I know I should sit and draw the sepals and stamens that fascinate me so much, but I thoroughly enjoy taking photographs - it feels like a huge reward to sit back and scroll through the images that I have snapped. This way, details are crystal clear and the colours pop...how could I not be inspired?!

Now that you have kindly read about my inspiration 'folder', do please pop in on my fellow merry-go-rounders (click on the links in the sidebar) - they are sharing theirs with us too, although at differing times...many of us are in different time zones!