So no one told you life was going be this way...

Hello,

Straight into a major moan here :-) You may remember that I was going to have Carpal Tunnel op on my right hand. I indeed had the op a couple of weeks ago now and I had totally underestimated how difficult life was going to be. What a miserable couple of weeks it's been...not being able to use my hand has given me a whole new perspective of just how life must be for many people. I am indeed very fortunate to have been able to have this operation and hopefully the numbness and pain will cease and I can get on with some stitching. Anyhoo, moving swiftly on.
I have some great news for anyone who is a fan of robryan and live fairly near to Stafford, UK. The shirehallgallery have organised a Rob Ryan one man show over Christmas period. (You may have visited his shop in Columbia Road, London ryantown ....wonderful) Well, he will be showcasing large scale papercuts and a new range of ceramics reflecting the history of the pottery history/industry of Staffordshire..

I will have some of my purses for sale there too in the Christmas Craft Show, so I am looking forward very much to the Exhibition 13th November - 9th January.

Finally, because it's Halloween, I thought you may enjoy seeing Billy Button Nose and I enjoying a little sing song together, or should I say a good old HOWL!!!!

Thank you so much for all of your kind comments of friendship and support. Welcome to new Followers too!

Thanks for stopping by. x

into the light of the dark black night...

Hello!
Well, it has once again been a real pleasure to receive all of the lovely comments...thank you so much.
Just a couple of 'makes' to show you today:
I know I shouldn't say this, but I am really pleased with this little book :-) The outer cover is vtg French linen, lined with Liberty. I have obviously free machined stitched the bird over a piece paper from an old recipe book. The papers inside are all from my collection of found and purchased papers i.e. card stock, tracing paper, paper doilies, map, ledger paper, handmade paper. All stitched inside this little book. It is really the same sort of design and size as my needle cases. I attached a length of old bias tape too for a book mark!

I have also made another Cuff. This one being a little wider than the last piece I made. This particular Cuff has the addition of a very special ceramic handmade/painted button, by the incredibly talented juliewhitmore I am a great admirer of Julie's beautiful and desirable work, her blog too.

Well that's me for today, thank you so much for stopping by. x

I'm all over it now and I can't say how glad I am about that...

Hello, I hope all is well with you and yours.
The chaotic mess in my work space, last week, seemed to indicate the state of my mind, it needed dealing with and sorting.

Three solid days of work and at least 12 black bin bags for the recycler later ...

and we have order. I have sorted and filtered every single thing...

the excess has been dealt with ...

For example... I had a whole bag of used envelopes, which I had saved, just because they have pretty blue patterns inside, huh???....

I have reacquainted myself with many items that I had forgotten I owned, buried deep in the clutter...

I feel like I have gained a little control and it has been extremely therapeutic. It may seem very silly in the grand scheme of things, but it has made me feel calm and much happier and relaxed.

I spend a lot of time in my work room and I am now able to gaze on things that give me pleasure...such as my collection of work from Amy

postcards from our travels....

my shell box collection...

fabric stash...

buttons... I like to keep a few ;-)

I know, I have a lot...There is a lot going on in them there little buttons....design, shape, colour, type, make, young, old, form, specific function.

Beautiful work from my very clever friend becky

So I hope you enjoyed my little tour of hens teeth HQ..... After the cathartic clear out, I did manage to make a new accessory ...a Cuff. It took a whole day to make as my hands are still a nightmare (carpal tunnel op in 2 weeks time ...ugh) but I have to do something creative with my time, otherwise I would go bonkers, that is, if I am not already :-)

Thanks everso much for all your great comments, new followers and for stopping by. x

I want to leave you with this clip. I implore you to watch, it is incredible:

Sugar, ah honey honey...

Hello!
It has been a little quiet around here just lately! It seems, I have mislaid my mojo...not sure where it has gone but I am hoping it returns soon!
Sewing and making are a little limited at the moment and because I wanted to touch base with you, I thought I would walk around our house and take a few photos of some of my 'things' that make me happy!

French linen...adore it, handwoven, slubby, imperfect, monogrammed gorgeousness. Can't get enough of it.
Buttons... I have been collecting buttons for a long time now and they don't really come anymore gorgeous than these m o p carved French beauties...

Just a few pretties...a painted powder puff box with a tiny round box sitting on top, which was a gift from a lovely lady. Hand carved doggies and a tiny nest...I adore nests, to me they are small miraculous sculptures. One pleasure of winter is to see dark nests sitting in bare branches.

A darling little teddy, at least 60 years old and a papier mache painted box given to me by a very dear friend.

More pretties...

French bowl with French mop buttons, hand carved stone and a bone tatting shuttle thingy...

Back of a picture, which is definitely more pleasing than the front A vtg Ostrich feather and a small collection of handmade vessels, made in Shropshire.

I have been collecting empty domed glass picture frames and just lying them on the mantelpiece, alongside family photographs and a vintage wax orange blossom wedding head piece.
.

Another domed picture frame and two more vintage tiaras. How I love them, they give me the greatest pleasure every time I look at them..to me they are exquisite.

and finally, on my tour of household pretties, a stunning glass slipper...the one that Cinderella lost, I believe...

and speaking of things that make me happy, have a look at these two little button noses ...

Thank you so much, once again to everyone that has followed, commented and written to me, so very much appreciated.

Thanks for stopping by. x