hens teeth

In the deepest ocean, The bottom of the sea....

2009-11-08T20:56:00.003+01:00

Just a little post tonight to tell you what a hard working girl I've been!!! Burning the midnight oil, making stock for the forth coming Fair.As per usual I have left everything to the last blasted moment... why didn't I get things done weeks ago? It's the 'plenty of time' syndrome, huh.
Anyway, two good solid days, head down, not too many distractions and I have managed to pull

a few items out of the hat, as they say.

~0~

(Last post was title lyrics ~ Use Somebody by Kings of Leon)

I hope you have had a relaxing weekend, have a great week and thank you for stopping by.

"Someone like you and all you know and how you speak"...

2009-11-04T16:00:00.009+01:00

Hello Lovelies...
wanted to share with you this piece I made for cat of Raggyrat. Cat sent me a letter her Father had written to her, an envelope with the year of his birth, date stamped and a couple of pics of her Dad as a child. I put together the jigsaw together! As I explained to Cat, it's quite difficult putting collage together this way, because I normally find the components as I go along. But with this, I have the piece together in the first instance. Cat seems to be happy with the result and I enjoyed making it, simples!
I did a little more embroidery today and went rather mad with the camera!

I have been mostly.... playing with textures and the mix of paper and lace.

~0~

As you probably already know, my day job is at a local College and I would also like to show you a few books that I borrowed from their Library. They date from the 30's and 50's and it is wonderful that they are still kept on the shelves to enjoy.

This is a new artist to me, Ben Shahn ~ Graphic Art by James Thrall Soby.

Below ~ I really enjoy the spare use of line and then the small architectural detail of the far right.

The next book is in French ~ I have put pics below of the title

Just stunning... gentle, muted, soft pallette....

Third and last book, dated 1930 ...

Just a few of the images from the book...

Very special books, I'm sure you can understand why I feel so happy about finding them!

~0~

Last post was entitled 'For each a road. For everyman a religion'. Ian Brown's F.E.A.R. and 'cus I love it so much, here is the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KgI1ovaYrl4, (embed disabled) just in case you fancy taking a look. I really enjoy this video because it gives a real sense of London and the early morning atmosphere.

See if you can guess the song title of today's post ;-)

Thanks so much for stopping by. x

For each a road. For everyman a religion....

2009-10-25T18:51:00.006+01:00

Hello Lovelies..
I hope all is well with you and yours.
I wanted to share some good news. I was lucky enough to be interviewed by Katie of textiletreasureseeker for Sewing World. Along with Nicky of thevintagemagpie and manda of treefalldesign. The subject being our wonderful world of blogging.
Katie has put together a smashing article. Very encouraging for anyone who has not yet entered our world.

The article also mentions the vintageandhandmade fair. Only 20 days to go. This must be very rather irrritating for anyone who cannot possibly come to the Fair, listening to me banging on about this event...I do apologise, but it really is such a special event. I need everyone to know about it, just in case they can visit Chipping Sodbury on that day and come and meet all the brilliant bloggy and non bloggy vendors and have a large slice of cake and a cup of tea!

Anyroadup, I have been making Christmas cards, for the very same event and I have enjoyed a few hours collaging 50's wrapping paper, buttons and this 'n that to make these 'one off' cards.

~0~

Speaking of buttons, just happened to be chatting to the ladies in the back room of my local Charity Shop and I thought to ask "any buttons"? Imagine my delight extreme delight when this was taken from a shelf!
Full of these (well, these are the pretty ones). I am not sure what has pleased me more, the tin or the buttons? The tin holds dear memories, if we were lucky when we were kids, we may have had a family tin of 'Quality Street' for us all to share and this would have been the tin. The illustrations are exquisite and so nostalgic to me. Simpler times????

~o~

A little while ago, I made a textile collage for my dear friend Carolyn of lovestitchingred. This beautiful piece of work was made by Carolyn for me, as a present. Thank you sweetheart. x

Now onto a much blogged subject...the exquisite Sophie Digard scarves, for sale with selvedge Magazine. You know the ones that you think, "OOOOOh, I'm going to treat myself to one of those, they are divine", that is, of course, until you see the £200 price tag. Well, I did that very same thing at the Festival of Quilts, in August. I recoiled in horror when I saw the price but they are absolutely exquisite! So thoroughly inspired, I have been looking for a pattern and wool.

So, inspired by donna's link to attic24. I am now currently half way through a Ripple Pattern scarf. Oh yes, the Ripple Pattern! The pattern is explained clearly and simply by Attic24 and I am very appreciative of the time and care taken. Wool - well Appleton's Tapestry Wool (2 ply?) itchy but lovely, subtle colours and I shall back the scarf with a cosy, soft fabric.

So theraputic to crochet, but hell for the carpul tunnel syndrome :-(

Last post title was 'Come and hold my hand' by our very own Robbie Williams. See if you can guess the title of this?

~0~

Talking of simpler times. I came across this on Twitter. If you have not already seen it....take a look, so true!

Again, thank you so much to everyone who has been kind enough to leave a comment for me. It is such a treat to read your comments of support and encourgement, thank you. x

"Come and hold my hand I want to contact the living..."

2009-10-11T18:43:00.002+02:00

Hello lovelies...
Here ... a gorgeous vintage box... containing these pristine, linen, embroidered serviettes.....

Sharp intake of breath, as this is what I have done with them today ~

Now to those of you who have not run away screaming.....and I know there are a good many of you out there that would accuse me of .... well, a travesty. I paid the money for this box of delights and I wanted to make these beautiful pieces of fabric into something that can be enjoyed and used in another form!

Although I say it myself, I think they are far more enjoyable made into something sweet and pretty, rather than sitting at the bottom of an ironing basket for months on end, and getting all stained by inconsiderate Spag Bol eaters!

Change of fabric...

The purse below, made today from a pair of curtains, (no longer in use ;-)) Sanderson's Little Chelsea. Subtley aged, with a slightly faded air of elegance to the fabric...just like me ;-) I wish.

Well, I hope I haven't offended your sensibilities and thank you all so much for leaving such great comments and taking the time to stop by. x

ps. last post entitled "you make the moon a mirror ball" by the magical 'Elbow'. The most beautiful of love songs, in my humble.

You make the moon a mirrorball...

2009-10-05T16:50:00.007+02:00

Hello Lovelies...Couldn't you just eat one of these? Yeah, me too. I did indulge just a little over the weekend, as we visited Amiens, just north of Paris for another French Flea Market.

The city of Amiens has very interesting architecture. We, unfortunately, didn't get chance to go inside the Cathedral. It was H U G E and very detailed.

We arrived in Amiens on Saturday and doesn't the weather make all the difference? It was cold and windy and instead of being able to sit outside and watch the world go by, with a glass of something alcoholic, we had to scuttle inside for warmth and shelter. Sunday, was the day of the Flea Market and the moment we started searching for bargains, the drizzle broke into a torrential downpour...

Such a shame, as an awful lot of items for sale must have been ruined with the rain.

A very large part of the centre of Amiens was taken up with Antique stalls and car booter booty. But after an hour of persistent persisting down, the current Mr. Hens Teeth had a face that matched the miserable weather :-( I did manage to find a man with a van, who was selling the contents of two large trunks of lovely old linens. So not all was lost! We left Amiens around 1.30pm and arrived home at 8.30pm.

The mannequins below were really lovely but reproduction. I wished that I had enquired about the price now, but isn't that always the way after the event???

Onto 'stuff' created in the last week or so.

I was lucky enough to be given a huge collection of paper doilies, which I have silk screen printed my drawings of birdies. They look really delicate on the lacy paper, so I have attached the printed doilies to greetings cards. They will be part of my stock for the Vintage and Handmade Fair in November, which I am getting really excited about now. If you have not sampled the delight of the V & HM, you are missing a treat. The atmosphere, goods for sale, tea room, organisation, meeting bloggy friends...every aspect of the Fair is thoroughly enjoyable and a great day out. Please see link at sidebar for more info.

More 'stuff' made....

A 1950's envelope with textile collage.

A gathering of brooches...

and a coin purse...

All of which are residing in Etsyland as we speak ;-)

My last post was entitled "I was sitting in a bar.... " thank you to all who knew "In these shoes" by the much missed Kirsty MacColl. Just incase you have forgotten what a bloody good tune it is, click the link below. Bet you can't keep still to this!

Thanks for stopping by. x

"So I'm sitting at a bar in Guadalajara"....

2009-09-30T22:45:00.007+02:00

Hello lovelies...

The current Mr Hens Teeth and I, visited Lucy (our eldest) in London today, just for a flyer! Big squeezy hug and we jumped straight onto a bus to Liberty. Is there a finer store anywhere???

Here are my poor little snaps of the day, they certainly do not do Liberty justice...

drooooooool....

Round the corner to Carnaby Street and a few shop windows....

Long, long queue to get in for a coffee here, can't imagine why ;-) centralperk We didn't, too much to do, in too little time.

Finally, I hope you don't think I'm being mean here girls, but the reality is, it's on it's way....... this was 4th floor at Liberty, verrrrrrrry pretty. Could have spent a fortune on some of the most exquisite Chr...... (oops nearly said it then) ornaments :-)

Thanks very much for stopping by. x

Every second, dripping off my fingertips...(Snow Patrol)

2009-09-13T15:32:00.004+02:00

Sarah-jane guessed correctly, Coldplay it was..."and we live in a beautiful world" and yes we certainly do. We have been enjoying blue skies and actual sunshine, the feel of Autumn in the air and morning mist, happy days.
When one visited France last weekend, as one does, one managed to buy this 1950 children's book by the great Mary Blair.

The illustration, oh the illustration!!!!...14 pages, 28 sides of iconic, wonderful retro art work.

Now reluctantly for sale on Ebay

here

Also for sale on my Ebay is this very tatty French photo album filled with no less than ninety vintage, loose photographs. No kind of theme to the photos, just random people, children, families, soldiers, dating back, I should think, to Edwardian times upto the 40's.

Very interesting and wonderful for mixed media makers.

I have added a couple of more items to my folksy shop. Lovely long, long length of French cotton trim, which is still attached to it's original paper. The paper and a small portion of the trim, is slightly decayed and rather gorgeous.
Talking of something gorgeous, I have also added a large, pillow case with four M o P buttons ...musty, worn linen and darned! Floats my boat!

Can you make out the hand darning below? Sublime.

Well, I hope I haven't gone on too much about all the 'stuff' I have for sale. I am just really excited to have such special, beautiful pieces.

I know I say this at every post, but I can't thank you all enough for your support and encouragement and good wishes. I truly do appreciate every single comment.

Thanks for stopping by.x

and we live in a beautiful world

2009-09-12T09:17:00.007+02:00

Hello!
The song lyrics of the last post ~ Bag it up by Oasis from their album Dig out your Soul, just in case you were wondering if I had lost the plot!

I wanted to tell you about last weekend we enjoyed with our bfl friends. Early morning start (2am to be precise) and by lunch time arrived at Lille, northern France for the Lille de Braderie. The largest flea market in Europe, an annual event and on taking in the wonderous site of every street in the city lined with stalls, I honestly thought I had died and gone to heaven. Street after street, lined both sides with everything French. Oh, the sights, sounds and smells..... need I say more......

A little of the booty...

Gorgeous crepe de chine bedspread...

A joyous weekend of buying french textiles. I am absolutely hopeless when it comes to speaking French. I did try though and I didn't 'S H O U T' in English ;-)

So my dear friends, I have opened an FOLKSY shop to pass on some of the beautiful French textiles and haberdashery items, I have managed to find. Here are the first items.....

Gorgeous linen tea towels...

the following need no introduction...

~0~

I had such a surprise when posty bought me an unexpected package of delights this week. A package containing everything that I adore, from my friend whose encouragement got me started on this blogging malarkey! Lynn of gigibird you are a darling! Thank you.

~0~

Here we have one of my silk screened birdies, with hand embroidery on vintage French linen, applied to a gorgeous Khadi handmade paper sketchbook. The paper and rough edges of these sketch books are divine, it's all in the texture!

Well, thank you once more for stopping by, take care. x

.......I got my heebee-jeebees in a hidden bag......

2009-09-10T13:30:00.003+02:00

Hello..... just thought I had better explain that the song lyric title of this post has nothing whatsoever to do with the content. I just like the words and I say them often inside my head, you know how some random words will repeat themselves in your mind for no particular reason! Or, is it just me????
Continuing on the bird theme of recent posts, I have been really enjoying using mono printing. I think the quality of the line created by mono drawing has such a unique quality. I then used the image and silk screen printed it onto calico and made this purse, with hand embroidery and buttons.
It's a sweet little thing, just sits nicely in the hand.

Reverse has a little Liberty Tana Lawn and silk piccy of a bird, finished with a button.

Inside more Liberty loveliness.

I mono printed the design directly onto this lovely old letter and then added Liberty pieces, embroidery and vintage buttons.

Another design silk screen printed onto cotton and made into a lavender sachet.

Directly onto old envelopes...Screen printed onto fused carrier bags...Mono prints...

All sorts of drawing done for potential projects. So much to do and so little time, usual story for us all?

Thank you so much for taking the time to drop by. x

gave me sunshine..... made me happy

2009-08-25T19:54:00.009+02:00

Goodness, what a few days it has been here in the hens teeth household.

Lucy, our eldest came home from London for a few days, to go to the 'V' music festival. We live just a couple of miles from weston park which is one of two venues that simutaneously holds this gargantuan festival. This is my girl at 'V' enjoying the music and sunshine.... Mark and I enjoyed Liam and the gang too, along with Snow Patrol, singing to us in our back garden, whilst we sipped red wine and watched flickering candles. Every now and again the collective roar of thousands lifted and carried to us on the breeze. Makes me goose pimply thinking of it. I really enjoy the festival being held in our location. You can catch the happy buzz of thousands of young (and older), carefree people for a weekend..

~0~

Lucy has a dear friend in London (not Liam!) who cares for this darling creature. 'Tickets' was bought home for us to take care of, for the weekend and what a pleasure it was......

Oh, how I love her, especially when she had a mad mo and ran round the room like a thing possessed, oh the darling creature. I whispered to Lucy, to say to her owner in London, that if ever she needed rehoming.......................

Our dogs, Rosie and Daisy weren't too fussed though!

Leaving Holly in charge of the 'baby' I dashed to the Festival of Quilts on Saturday. Inspiration and shopping heaven!

Loved this piece, mixed media made by Maria Manuel, right up my street!

Ladies, concentrating hard.

I had a great time and met up with an American bloggy friend Tracie Lyn Huskamp of The Red Door Blog who was teaching a workshop. She has a new book coming out called 'Nature Inspired' which I was lucky enough to buy from her. Brilliant to meet you Tracie.

Whilst waiting for my ride home, I played Andy Goldsworthy with the nature at my feet.....amazing what you can find at a busy roadside in Birmingham!

~0~

It's also amazing what you can find in a car park in Kilburn High Street, London! Yesterday we took Lucy back to London, parked up and dumped up the corner was a rather soggy and dejected ensemble. Dread to think! (Why only one shoe? Answers on a postcard please.)

Said 'goodbye' to Lucy and shot off to see the John William Waterhouse Exhibition at the Royal Academy.

What can I say, to see these iconic paintings that are so familiar to us, in the flesh, was an honour. The Lady of Shallot bought tears to my eyes and Hylas and the Nymphs, well.......

Next door to Burlington Arcade.

and to Laduree, oh my heart's desire.....

Mark spoilt me with a box of the delicate beauties. The box and bag alone are gloriously beautiful and the macaroons! I hooked the bag onto my little finger and ponsed upto Piccadilly Circus, pretending that I was awfully rich and shopped at Burlington Arcade frequently darrrrling!Oh my. oh my. Oh my.

~0~

Changing the subject.....I just wanted to mention too, that I can never think of a title for any of my posts, so I have decided to use song lyrics that have a tenuous link to the content of my posts. Gold star to anyone that can identify the song.

Thank you so much for stopping by. x

Our Feathered Friends

2009-08-16T19:43:00.006+02:00

Keeping to the bird theme. This is a favourite brooch of mine. It is printed tin and is made by the very talented melanietomlinson. Take a look at her fabulous work, but be warned, you will be tempted. She makes the most incredible automata too. Birds of a different nature being this pair of Budgies, found at a Charity Shop, flaked paint and all, but very sweet.

Then onto a little bit of birdy love, made by yours truly!

I have no skin again on my 'sewing' finger but as ever I suffer for my art ;-)

This is a pic of the button I was chirruping on about, in my last post...glimmering gold to silver.

Thank you for stopping by. x

Raindrops on roses...hrumph!

2009-08-12T20:20:00.004+02:00

Well raindrops may look pretty on roses but the persistent persisting down is beginning to get the most stoic of Brits down. There is a tremendous amount of mumbling and grumbling about the never ending summer rain.....

I'm just sorry that we cannot enjoy our summertime, out and about, but we Brits mustn't grumble ;-)

Onto crafty stuff.......

I managed to transfer a couple of the drawings of birds, I did in my sketch book last weekend, onto silk and have been working my little pinkies to the bone. Due to the inclement weather today and fading light at 6pm this evening!!!!!....the photos could be better, but one has to make hay whilst the sun shines, ha!

Lots and lots of layers of vintage fabric goodness here, linens and lovely rosy cotton, mixed up with muslin (how I love muslin, the loose fraying edges, really rocks my world, no I haven't been drinking). I also used some other rosy fabric and free machined the bird shapes. I added a little factoid about Carrion Crows just for hell of it too. (Should have been Seagulls really, as they were my inspiration), strange but true!

Onto my second piece which again is full of textural goodness. In fact, there may even be too much textural goodness here, I have gone a little bit billy bonkers with it. But it's so pretty (may I say myself). Lots of Liberty Lawn with lace and rose vintage stuff again, all sitting in happy cohabitation with a silk copy of a birdy drawing. I also used a very, very special old mother of pearl button...this may sound odd but it is the most stunning colour...shimmering silver and gold colours, just beautiful.

Well my dear friends, thank you for popping over and indulging me in my ramblings. x

Oh by the way, my lovely, dear friend Michele of Cowboys and Custard has opened (along with her friend) a fab new website, selling gorgeous vintage items .......... millyanddottie Pop over and say 'hello'.

Birdy doodles

2009-08-09T20:28:00.006+02:00

Here is a coin purse that I have made using vintage french fabric. Isn't it pretty? Mind you anything floral against a black background is always gorgeous and dramatic. Anyway, this lovely stuff has been turned into a long line coin purse and is now residing in Etsyland.

Visiting the likes of this beautiful place last week, has filled me with inspiration. Well, to be precise bird inspiration. Seeing or rather hearing all those huge monster Seagulls has made me want to paint and draw birds.So in my night clothes, before anyone was up this morning and what a glorious morning it was, I set myself up in my garden, in the sunshine with pencils and paints. What a peaceful, glorious hour that was! Just me, the dogs, the chickens and plenty of coffee!

I've got it in my mind to create rather naive drawings to use on fabric transfer, as a backdrop to my collage embroideries... I would just like to give my work a little bit of a new twist.

It isn't half good fun daubing paint onto a blank page and using a pencil in the soft wet paint.

Added bits of text and doily to this one....

and embroidered a little, on here

tried to get the St. Ives naive thing going on here.... Mmmm ?

More backdrops for future work...

Well that was my day in amongst sorting washing, vacuuming floors,watering garden pots etc. etc.etc.etc.etc.

Just wanted to leave you of a close up pic, of a divine spool of lace I purchased yesterday. It is so perfectly wound and still having it's label makes it a joy to have.

Thank you for stopping by. x

Home Spun Fair and Cornwall

2009-08-07T12:50:00.011+02:00

What can I say about Portscatho? What a magical place. The homespun fair which took place last Sunday was a truly lovely day. The day had a charm and vintage atmosphere which was very enjoyable. For me it was a chance to meet up with friends made at vintageandhandmade fair, co-organiser of which being Michele of cowboysandcustard, so good to see you again my friend and to meet new bloggy friends face to face. I met adorable Lesley of seablueskyabstracts, wonderful Corrine of corrinephillips and Liberty Lawn goddess Sarah Jane of sarah-janedownthelane to name but a few. We were all so pleased to see each other and the genuine warmth and friendship from every quarter just made the day very special.
Here is my stand.

Sarah Jane Stone, below, whose work was divine. A mix of appliqued/machine embroidered handbags (I was so tempted)! She also had an incredible range of silk screen printed work...tea towels, aprons etc.

Nicky of thevintagemagpie I just drool every time I look at Nicky's exceptional work, I also start to talk nonsense and mutter how wonderful they are and how much I would like one! I'm sure she's used to me by now though ;-)

A treat to meet Sue Dove, her work being inspirational, quirky and I want, I want, I want!

As you can see the Memorial Hall got quite busy and stayed that way most of the day.

Ah, my friend Jane (organiser along with Christine Nullmeyers) of janeandthehappycrow Thank you Jane, for a very happy day.

Of course, there were many more wonderful stands, but the day was so 'full on' I didn't get chance to take any more photos. Happy days!

Moving on from the Fair, a pic below of jewel like pebbles and sea weed at Marazion Beach.

This was fun, we visited Mevagissey along with the world and his wife, but were very entertained by a Diving Group sending a member of the team into the sea, dressed in an ancient diving suit (so Captian Nemo)! We could hear him talking and see the air bubbles moving along the surface. Quite surreal seeing him walk out of the sea and unscrew the plate glass on the front of his helmet! His boots looked like they belonged to Frankenstein's monster.

I did not want to leave Cornwall behind but, as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end......

~0~

Onto a few pieces that are going into my Etsy shop soon. Close up pics of three small box canvas embroidered collages.

Gorgeous textile items purchased from the amazing Sue of vintagetovictorian

I had a wonderful day in Portscatho. Happy events have happened to me because one day I decided to start my blog. It never ceases to amaze me how life enhancing this has been. The whole world of blogging, Flickr and Etsy is an exciting and inspiring place and I have met and have become firm friends with the most amazing, clever, industrious, supportive, kind and generous women. So a big thank you to you all.

Thanks for stopping by. x

A little bit of this 'n that

2009-07-26T18:43:00.007+02:00

Hello...long time no post. I have been working very hard preparing for the Home Spun Fair in Portscatho, Cornwall on 2nd August. Link at side. Not only am I attending the Fair but we are having a few days in Cornwall too, doing a little sight seeing and generally enjoying beautiful Cornwall.

Huglies, collaged embroideries,

purses,
brooches
all sorts of things handmade.

How many pieces do you make??? Have I got enough???? Too much.??? All of which will be answered next Sunday.

Hope to see lots of my Bloggy friends there. So excited!

~0~
A pic of the most perfect gift, given to me by a French Cousin. Kenzo perfume, isn't she just stunning?

~0~
I wanted to show you a perfect book too. I found it thanks to printpattern .

A really great book featuring, to name but a few, darlingclementine and mattestephens. Inspirational stuff.

Thank you once again for stopping by. x

I will never have any money!

2009-07-05T22:29:00.005+02:00

I would like you to meet the girls, well the Lavender Ladies to be precise! Hilary, Maude and Olivia. Here they are having a chat with Little Ted.

These girls like to have fun and enjoy dressing up. Floral frocks with bird detailing and button accessories, bang on trend! A mane of floral and muslin hair, so jealous! Smelling of Lavender (filled with it, they are). Wire legs and a wire hoop to hang around and chat to friends.

All three living in Etsyland at the moment, all in need of good company, someone who appreciates a girls' fine qualities!

Onto more brooches...... such a pleasure to make.

I also wanted to tell you about my trip to Ludlow yesterday and particularly a wonderful Antiques Emporium zanilady. I adore this centre, it is filled with mostly French antiques and vintage items. Every time I visit there is always something new and wonderful for the home. Well, me being me, I couldn't resist this picture, no way could I have walked away from this. Please forgive dreadful photo, but I just could not lose the reflection. Stunning black background in contrast to the sumptuous colours of the flowers and birds.

Birdies....don't you just love 'em!

And yes, there is more, the last thing I should be doing at the mo is spending money...but I will never have any and especially when I see lovely furniture like the kitchen hutch that came home too. Perfect size, perfect colour, so pleased. Holly reigned me in, as there was more I could have quite happily purchased. Glad she did really, as I would have gone on one massive guilt trip later.

So I haven't finished playing with my new 'hutch' yet, but you get the picture.

Well, after my tales of self indulgencies, I will love you and leave you and thankyou very much for stopping by.

I'm in love

2009-07-01T18:45:00.003+02:00

with Muriel. She came to live with us on Monday and we are all so happy and excited about being privileged enough to own her. She is a 1967 Morris Minor. We felt Muriel was the right name for her.
It's like driving a very ancient piece of farm machinery, in comparison to my little run around Corsa.

Rosie and Daisy like her too and look very much at home.

We are looking forward to packing a picnic basket and having great days out, driving our lovely new/old car.

Thanks for stopping by and saying 'hello'.

Summer madness

2009-06-27T17:10:00.005+02:00

I hope all is well with you. I'm enjoying these long days, good or bad weather I don't really care, it's the light, the flowers, the bird song that matters to me. But not these pesky little so and so's. In our locality (maybe UK wide?) we have a plague and I mean a plague of Greenfly. They are everywhere in massive million trillion numbers. In the air and smothering tender shoots. Living in the middle of the Uk doesn't usually present itself with too much bother in the insect department. There is the occasional house fly endlessly circling the ceiling lamp. Thunder bugs, I admit can be a nuisance. I have two of those little blighters squashed behind my lap top screen. But as I say, generally, we don't have too much to put up with living in our wonderful temperate zone....but hey, what happened here, who decided that Greenfly should all of a sudden become a biblical plague? Nasty little Greenfly with their sap sucking ways ;-)

Then, of course, being summer time, we have had a few days of sunshine and what comes with sunshine in the good old UK........let's all say it together............ A THUNDERSTORM. Which means flash flooding, over-flowing gutters and every sodding plant in the garden dashed to the ground!

But I'm not down, oh no, I still have the 'brooch making madness'!

One Brooch here for my sis, it's her birthday soon, so this will be part of her pressie.

One for destined for Etsyland..... I used some beautiful, subtle, rosy barkcloth for this one and it was so pretty, I didn't want to cover it up with other snippets.

And another for Etsyland.....

A couple of Greetings Card designs.....

A Textile Collage also residing in Etsyland.... envelope dated 1952 with the most lovely orange and blue stamps. Did my stuff on it, tying in the colour of the stamps with the fabric. Bottom right there is a silk picture......a whisper, a transparent detail, a shadow of a memory of a young girl with her best friend.

Onto my vintage finds over the last few days. On first glance, these Portugese Costume dolls look, well, like Costume dolls, but on closer inspection they are absolutely wonderful! They are kind of movable/wired and oh so skilfully made, they are a treat to behold. The shoes are leather, all hand stitched. Wired frames have been very well padded and the clothes are so detailed and beautiful. I am so pleased with them. I purchased them to hopefully sell on at the homespun fair, but ................. ;-)

I also bought this little pine box, fairly plain and ordinary on the outside, until you open it up and inside was once someone's watercolour paint box. It is gloriously marked in a hundred subtle shades. A wonderful backdrop for photos of my work and to display pieces at Fairs. Tickled pink with that one.

Five Victoria saucers, with the most delicate floral design.

Crocheting cotton and a bone tatting shuttle.

Finally, this groovy table cloth, 1950's? Love it. Oh so 'on trend' as maryportas would say!

Thank you to everyone once again for your kind comments and thank you for stopping by.x

Gratuitous Promotion

2009-06-20T18:25:00.003+02:00

I've been making brooches............

Gift boxes for the brooches. Lots of brooches.......

There is something very enjoyable about putting small fragments together. A cohesive union of small snippets of fabric, paper, imagery, buttons and embroidery.

Some have a feel of days gone by.

Some are a homage to our feathery friends.

To be found in Etsyland.

But most of all, I love makin' 'em!

Thanks for stopping by.x

English Country Gardens

2009-06-14T19:16:00.007+02:00

I wanted to tell you about our weekend. You may remember that we have a caravan over in Herefordshire. One of the highlights of the area is a village called Eardisland. It is a stunningly beautiful village and happily for me it had it's annual 'Open Gardens'.

Our chance to look around private gardens and my goodness me, what a treat! I think there were eleven private gardens to visit in all. Here are random pictures that I took yesterday and this morning.

The following garden was so stunning with it's Orangery and thatched wood store/shed/barn that I burst into tears....so overhwelmingly beautiful. My husband looked at me in horror, asking "what on earth is the matter"? I said "I didn't know"!

This is the River Arrow running through Eardisland.

One of the gardens running alongside the river.

A private house and garden too beautiful to describe below. Elegant, sophisticated. Every element, total perfection.

Another 'dream home' and garden.

This garden wasn't 'open' but the front garden was a haze of daisies. So I hastily snapped a pic as we walked by. tut tut

Driving home Mark and I were treated to an air display by the Red Arrows who were performing at cosfordairshow. Breathtaking! The pic below was the vapour trail of a heart that two of the Red Arrows had made.

You can just make them out here......... flying perfection.

You may have noticed that I will be attending the Fair organised by Jane of janeandthehappycrow and Christine, who owns the 'Sea Garden' (a shop designed and made in heaven), Portscatho, Cornwall. 2nd August next. Many of the ladies who did the handmadeandvintagefair at Chipping Sodders a few weeks ago will be attending. It would be brilliant if you could come along. Maybe, have a day or two in Cornwall too???!!!!.. You know, kill two birds with one stone. It's a good excuse to visit Cornwall anyway. I personally cannot wait, really looking forward to it. Also, please make a note of the next Vintage and Handmade Christmas Fair, 14th November next.

Finally, I know I say this at the end of most of my posts, but I never fail to be overwhelmed and thrilled by the kindness shown to me on this blog. Thank you so much, to all of my friends, for all your kindness, loyalty and support. It means so much to me x

Challenges faced

2009-06-07T18:02:00.006+02:00

This is where I work, the day job, Fine Art Technician, Print Room at the Faculty of Art at our local College. I work three days a week, very full on, long days. Since I have been based in here, I have learnt a few new printing techniques. One of which has been Screen Printing. I have always wanted to Screen Print and when I started this job, a few months ago, it seemed like a huge mountain to climb, but now I have mastered it, I wonder what I was worried about. Here are a few Screen Prints, that I have made recently.....
this was on brown paper with emulsion paint very thickly applied.

Two colour print. The blue area are actual spring flowers and a bead necklace, I placed on the light sensitive unit to burn the screen. So now I can enjoy Cow Parsley and Lily of the Valley all year!

Another butterfly, in a sketch book.

Not a screen print, just a drawing from the sketch book. I have a box of decaying pinned butterflies and bugs from the early 1900's in my studio, the family won't have it in the house (strangely enough). I think it's beautiful and have used it as the basis for work in this particular sketch book.

More texture...

The same again with the actual flowers...Buttercups and Cow Parsley screen printed onto a greetings card.

~0~

I made this today. The purse is made of vintage Ticking, with a Cornish theme! I have had Cornwall on my mind quite a bit just lately and hope to visit very soon.

Reverse...

Onto a bit of a Hen's Teeth challenge. I have never put a zip in anything...ever. So like screen printing, it had become a big deal and something I thought I would be never be able accomplish???? (What a sad so and so). Coin Purse frames are hellishly expensive and just for a change too, I thought I ought to conquer my fear of ...de de der....THE ZIP INSERTION. Thank goodness for those kind bloggers out there, that put free tutorials up. With my tongue firmly stuck out and eye brows meeting in the middle, I did manage the 'insertion' with out too much angst and felt really very pleased with myself, I must say ;-)

I have a bit of tweeking to do to the design of the purse. This is quite large nearly 9 x 6" and I think I shall try and make it flat bottomed but generally not bad for a first try. Hark at me, smug so and so!

All comes down to being able to sew in a straight line, which I find almost impossible.

Well, that's me for now. Thank you so much to everyone for stopping by and to those that have left kind comments and everyone with a noreply e mail, as I have not been able to thank you personally. x

If you like food and architecture, you may like this!

2009-06-05T19:54:00.013+02:00

Holly was 18 years old last Friday. So Tuesday of this week we all went to Brugge. We were there by 5pm, the sun was shining and I had my husband and two girls with me.

I do adore this fountain group, the mermaid is so incredible.

Pretty Brugge street...

Pretty tasty Brugge beer, with an omlette for dinner.

A walk and onto my favourite sculptures ......Set of 4 bronze sculptures, Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse by Rik Poot, in the garden of the Arentshuis.

View from same area.....

Mmmm....

Everywhere you look in Brugge (as you know) is a treat for the eyes, a picture postcard at every turn.....

Peeled and faded...

Fancy a little ratty tasty treat????? No, me neither!

I did fancy some of the following.....

Most definitely some of these.....

Meant to try this 'best hot chocolate' but unfortunately didn't have time...

A very out of context Shop door handle. Most odd, but I really like it...50's would you say?

Holly's first Cocktail, which she didn't like, so I had to drink it, it was such a chore! She will kill me for including this.

Evening drew in on the first evening, gentle walk round the town and more alcohol consumed..... we went back to our Hotel. It was really strange, as we are so used to everywhere being smoke free in Britain that it came as quite a shock when the public were allowed to smoke in the Hotel and Bar!

Next morning.....elevenses, greedy so and so, but wild horses couldn't have stopped me.

Market was in full swing. My husband was actually bodily pushed out of the way by a very elderly gentleman......Brugge is a dream to walk around. You don't have to cling to your belongings for fear of muggings, you just watch out for physical abuse in the market place by the elderly! (Maybe a lifetime of of rubber necking tourists get you down).

There is a permanent 'Dali' Exhibition just off the Market Square, which Holly and I visited. I am not very keen on Dali's work but Holly wanted to go in because she is attending Art College. She found it very difficult to know what to draw (pics and sculptures in the exhib) in her sketch book because the bloke had a one tracked mind, if you get my drift, still there were elephants on stilts!

The vaulted ceiling of the Exhibition space was painted a stunning blue and the columns gold....very beautiful. I sat and people watched.

View from front of our Hotel.

Inside our Hotel.

View from canal trip....

View from Evening Meal! Helen of cocoaandblankets recommended the 'Passage' restaurant. Very pleased she did too, as the food and ambiance were memorable.

Next morning and a coffee in the market square before leaving to drive home.

Odd that at 10am we are sitting in this fine Market Square and by 6pm we are home, I can never get my head around it.

Thanks for ploughing through this lot with me. I hope you are not too rigid with boredom looking through someone else's holiday snaps, yawn!!!!

Thanks for stopping by.x

Vintage and Handmade Fair 30th May 2009

2009-05-31T20:35:00.009+02:00

I wanted to tell you about the wonderfully happy day I had yesterday at the Vintage and Handmade Fair. If you are a regular reader you will know all about this Fair and I am so happy to have been part of it.

Impeccably organised by michele and jayne. A taste of what was on offer....

sal of sal's snippets, her stand was a feast for the eyes.....

clare of Daisy Darling, as lovely as her millinery!

and onto a diamond.....Michele,Jayne's stand...

Vintage French linens and fabrics. Penny does not have a blog. She lives in the south of France and when she bought her home (an old Laundry) she inherited a loft full of antique linens (makes you sick, doesn't it?)

nostalgiaatthestonehouse.... beautiful handmade and vintage items......

A new friend made in sue of Vintage to Victorian. An absolute joy to talk to and buy from.

Oh and then there was Christine. (No link). Who's work was sublime. Christine kindly showed me photos of her shop and studio in Portscatho, Cornwall called 'The Sea Garden'. I have never seen anything so perfect, sigh.

jane no photo of your stand for some strange reason, but it was great to see you again and see your fantastic work.

Then onto thevintagemagpie. Bears and bunnies, amongst other handmade works of art. I have dropped a hint as subtle as a house brick to the other half! Edna the bear was to die for.

Lizzie The Washerwoman. A stand packed with vintage delights.

Teas, coffee and cake looking like they were part of a Country Living photo shoot. Just beautiful.

Having Holly and my other half with me was such a bonus, as I was able to browse and buy and buy, yes I did! Here are my purchases........

1lb of French vintage Mother of Pearl buttons for £5, enough said???

This is going to sound like an Oscar acceptance speech, sorry, but here goes......I would like to thank everyone that organised and worked at the Fair. I would also like to say a big thank you to all the other fantastic stall holders. A total joy to meet up with my bloggy friends. I am feeling happy and inspired because of you all. But most of all thank you to everyone who came and said 'hello' comment leavers and lurkers (hello Kate ;-) alike. The joy of it was that everyone that came 'got it', understanding the theme behind the Fair. It wasn't one of those 'want to kill yourself' type craft or antique fairs, where the public come to waste time because it's raining and wander aimlessly licking an ice cream or just buying fudge. It was bloody brilliant!

Thanks for stopping by. x

Sunday Catch Up

2009-05-17T19:25:00.004+02:00

I collect 1950's Stocking packets. Well really the illustration that fronts the stockings. Fabulous illustrations and this is one of them that I managed to find last week. The image is a little faded but so beautiful. I have been trying to think of something that I could make with the actual stockings. Not many ideas so far.I wanted to show you where we are lucky enough to have our caravan pitched this year. Just under the Hergst Ridge in Herefordshire. Mike Oldfield recorded an album following Tubular Bells named hergestridge He retreated to the area after Tubular Bells and could see the Hergest Ridge from his home. The Farm is so pretty. These are our views.......

These pictures were taken Saturday. The sun kept popping in and out and so did the rain clouds and the wind was enough to cut you in half. So our plans to get the awning up and make ourselves a little home from home were scuppered. I'm staying optomistic for a decent summer ;-)

A few things made this week for the up and coming Vintage and Handmade Fair vintageandhandmade . Chipping Sodbury, 30th May, 2009. Jayne and Michele have organised what is going to be a fantastic Fair. Try and come along if you can.

A collage.

The ladies here are influenced by my love of American Prim dolls/art.

A purse made from vintage French fabric.

A textile collage. I do adore this photo of this sweet little girl playing Tea parties.

A commissioned purse made from lovely old french cabbagey/rosey fabric.

This is my find of the week. A stunning Ledger. I could'nt believe my eyes when I found this beauty. I don't think I will be pulling this apart just yet...it's too beautiful. Dating from 1917!

Thank you for all of your lovely comments on my last post and if I did'nt get back to you, it's because you have a noreply e mail!

Thanks for stopping by.x

Starfish surprise!

2009-05-08T20:08:00.008+02:00

My family have been away for a little while, visiting my husband's sister who lives in France. I did'nt go as I was supposed to be going away with the College that I work for but unfortunately my trip was cancelled, so my husband took our two girls away on his own. They had a great time. I thought I would enjoy the peace. The kitchen being in the same state as I had left it, upon my return. Not having to pick up towels off the bathroom floor and so on. It was a very mixed, quiet time and I got absolute buggar all done in the craft department. Could not settle to do a thing. Also the Labyrinthitis thing has reared it's ugly head again, so anyway...they are back home now and I have been given lots of lovely treats from France and also these poor dead starfish found washed up on the beach (my girl assured me they were dead when found). They need to thoroughly dry out, boy do they stink!

Lace and buttons found at a French flea market.

This lovely note book, love the cover.

A tin of buttons, from the Flea Market, oh joy!

This morning I got up, swooning all of the place with this damned vertigo and spotted that one the dogs had been sick. Brilliant! Barely opened my eyes and I'm scrubbing up dog sick. Could'nt understand though just what I was cleaning up. Usually, without going into too much detail, you can tell what the last meal was and with this little speciality I could'nt work it out. Anyway, this evening my daughter picked up the box of Starfish that are drying outside and guess what, yes, you guessed it, two are missing. Mystery solved. It seems they were a tasty suppertime treat for one greedy little doggy of ours. Ughh.

Anyway, onto a nicer topic, whilst cleaning and sorting the house, which I did alot of whilst the family were away, I came across this lovely old velvet flower that I had stuck in an old scrap book, so it now adorns a crocheted pendant.

Gorgeous 1912 Letter Head used for a 'Button Love' collage here. A celebration of buttons. Let's here it for buttons, hooray!!!Coin purse ~ front and back.Another purse ~ front and back.

A needlecase ~ front and opened.

Another Collage. This one I will be taking to the Handmade and Vintage Fair at Chipping Sodbury on 30th May. I am really looking forward to attending this Fair. vintageandhandmade There are going to be some wonderful vendors and as you know, they are all bloggers! So I will be taking plenty of cash with me, can't wait. Try and get along there if you possibly can, it will be a great day.

A 'suspendant' An old suspender used as the base for silk and embroidered pendant confection with buttons!!!

My first silk screen print, done at work and made into a greetings card.

Lastly a little photo of wonderful, wonderful spring time in the Hen's Teeth garden, how I adore this time of year. Personally it does'nt get any better than this.

Thank you for stopping by. x