Puppy love and lollipops

This will come as quite a surprise to those of you who know me.... I have made two new gorgeous bags with dogs on!!!! I'm really sorry but I am not at all a 'doggy' person, however, I absolutely fell in love with this new print from Clarke and Clarke ......

Here is bag number one, made from a vintage blanket and this lovely print..... (note to self... must try to find more of this yummy fabric)!

Scottie applique made from some dyed vintage blanket... ahhhh!

Button detail....

Stripy pocket for your mobile or lippy etc......

Puppy love bag number two... Made using a dyed vintage blanket with ribbon and button detail...

I think this one is my favourite of the two... what do you think?

Button detail with puppy applique

Stripy, patchy pocket....

Ta Dah... just showing off now!

Remember the pink lollipop bag that I showed you here? Well, that bag has sold and so I have made another one but in purple now.... I simply adore this design!

Swirly, , buttony goodness....

Ok, not a lollipop or puppy bag, but still scrummy all the same.....

Button and ribbon detail....

Patchy pocket goodness....

The colours of this bag remind me of those gorgeous heathers that grow over Dartmoor all year round... beautiful...

Large lollipop bag..... Just right for shopping and everyday use...

Round and round we go.....

Spotty pocket.......

Just to let you know that if you would like one of these bags for your very own self, they will be available to buy on etsy very soon... or you can email me NOW and I will reserve it for you..... go on, don't leave it too late, they are flying out!

***************************************************

On another note.... I had a daunting task to do today.... remember the old rule... measure and check 101 times, cut once?? Well, I have measured and checked 1001 times and have now cut the very expensive fabric..... I hope my customer likes it....

More to come as the dress progresses.

*********************************************

On April 17th I am going to be running an all day jewellery making workshop. You will have the opportunity to make several pieces of jewellery, learn lots of new skills as well as having a homemade lunch, endless tea and coffee and scrumptious homemade biscuits to much on during the day.... what more could you ask?

Interested?? Email me for more information.. it would be lovely to see you and have some fun together!

The sun has just started peeking through here.... it's beautiful... I love to see Spring springing... yellow daffy-down-dillys nodding their heads, bright primroses and the promise of more to come as my tulips are at long last beginning to dare to peek through the soil.

Have a lovely evening

Lots of love xxxx

Touched....

What a lovely, lovely day it has been today... the sun has shone it's socks off and it's been beautiful.... made me very glad to be alive!

A couple of weeks ago I had an email from a lady who had seen this on my blog post .....

... and asked me if I could make her one but in shades of pale pink..... Well, of course I said 'Yes, I'd love to" and this is what I made her....

I packed it up in pink tissue and a little organza bag and sent it off to it's eager recipient.... well, you could have knocked me down with a feather when, on Saturday afternoon, the post arrived and there was a parcel for me.... had I ordered something I had forgotten about???? (It does happen)... no, not this time. I carefully opened the parcel to find this gorgeous bag inside.... (Note the shadows on the table... yay, sunshine)

... and inside this fabulous fairy bag was a beautiful fairy card with some very touching words inside and this stunning rose quartz angel all wrapped in gold tissue paper.....! How amazing is that? I was so touched... thank you so so much.. you know who you are xxxx

********************************************************

Yesterday I gave you a sneek peek at some bags I have been making... here they are in all their finished glory!!

They are made from recycled, dyed wool blankets and some of my fabric stash..

... finished off with yummy buttons and ribbon...

What do you think of this funky lining??? Stripey or what?

Bag number two.....

Front view...

Snazzy colours, textures and shapes....

.. more buttons

I obviously had a stripey lining day....

Back view....

Spotty pocket...

I have also been busy making some new designs for my jewellery collection, and , as the sun was shining today, I was able to get some photos of it.... This blue, grey and silver one above is one of my new favourites... It is made from pale blue waxed cotton, silver beads and ceramic flowers

I have recently ordered lots of new toggle clasps... some are so pretty that I have decided to use them at the front of my designs instead of the back... what do you think?

The long pink beads are stunning... they have gold and pink flowers swirling around them and gold flecks along the barrel...

Matching bracelet.

Don't forget, all of these design are for sale.. If you see something you like I would love to hear from you.... please email me and I will let you have more details.

I hope you've had a sunny sunny day today too... what have you been doing?

Oh... more good news.. PEAS passed her MOT... yay... she must love the sun too!!!

Lots of love xxxxx

Abel Tasman National Park

January 26th 2009 was an amazing, stunning, hot, adventurous day for me....

It all started with being brought tea in bed.... thanks Pam.... a real treat and very lazy! It was then time to pack a picnic and head out to The Abel Tasman National Park... this is another beautiful area at the top of the South Island of New Zealand... I knew that I was in for a real treat and I wasn't disappointed! We drove to Marahau where we parked up and booked a water taxi to Akerston beach. Although I say 'water taxi', the first part of the journey was in the boat, but being pulled along the road by tractor!

Once in the water we were OFF!!!! The driver was obviously a thrill seeker and was just out to get us all as wet as possible... not really too much of a problem though as it was a stifling hot day....

The first stop off was to take a look at 'Split Apple Rock'..... need I say more....

We were the first of the passengers to be dropped off at Akerston beach... the boat backed in, we jumped out, the boat roared away....

.......and we were left on our own little piece of deserted paradise....

The sea was warm, the beach deserted... apart from a curious bumble bee... and the cicadas sang in the trees as the sea gently lapped at the shore... cue island music!

We enjoyed a quiet contemplation on the beach before embarking on the walk back to the car....

... enticing views were around every corner.....

There were several of these wigwams, made from driftwood, along the coast line... isn't it beautiful.... I certainly found it truely inspirational... don't be surprised if you see the wigwam influence on some of my work soon!... The colours are so clear and pure too...

This was the beach that we stopped and had a swim from... just amazing..

This was one of my favourite days of the holiday... I was so inspired and just in awe of the beauty of creation and it's Creator.

The final adventure of the day was driving Steve and Pam's jeep around Nelson... a dummy run for tomorrow when I was to be left to my own devices for the day and was allowed to drive the jeep into town... driving there is very similar to here except for a few silly rules... once you've mastered those it's easy peasy.... still, I was very nervous! You will be pleased to know I left no dents and returned home in one piece!

**********************************************************

As promised, I said I would show you some of the things that I have been sewing over the last week... my poor sewing machine has steam coming from it again and the kitchen, where I sew, is unrecognisable!

Anyway.... Ta Dah.........

Journal covers made from recycled blankets that I have dyed and felted....

This has to be my favourite design... scruffy flower motifs...

... lots of swirly whirly goodness... around and round we go... wheeeeeee...

Obviously, I had Valentines day in mind for this one, but it would make a great gift for any occasion....

Ooooh look.... more swirly whirly scrumptiousness....

I'm always surprised at how well this turquoise blue and red go together.. it's a great combination, sort of clashy, but not at the same time!!! If you know what I mean!!

These are slightly larger journals ... this time covered with a variety of beautiful cotton prints..

Sweet....

It's so satisfying to see piles finished product...

I have also made some gorgeous, scrummy... even though I say it myself... bags. I was hoping to photograph those today but the light was just terrible and also I just had no idea how to set the photos up... any ideas gratefully received. I will endeavour to solve the problem over the next few days and have them ready and waiting to show them to you along with some exciting news about the other changes that will be happening with my work situation...

..... watch this space......

xxxxx