Happily Crumpled
November 26th, 2009 § 18 Comments
I can’t believe it. It’s finished. My first teensy quilt is done and dusted; crossing the finish line before the littlest poppet’s birthday. Oh so chuffed with that! If I’m dreaming please don’t pinch me.
I can’t stop staring at it’s rumply, crumply surface amazed that we, my walking foot and I, actually created something that looks like the real deal. Imagine that?!
I’m happy to report there were no tears to speak of thanks to Denyse’s book, Liesl’s sanity saving info, and Fii’s fab binding tutorial. And the freeform approach inspired by this clever gal and this yummy book worked like a dream. In fact I found that playing with the colours and patterns was hugely enlightening and great fun. 
But at the end of the day it’s a doll’s quilt for a doll, so I needed a test subject. There were a few nail biting moments… But what-do-ya-know, Foxy, who can be surprisingly hard to please, loves it. Who’s the Mummy!
Head over to Kirsty’s to peek into lots more creative spaces. You’ll be glad you did.
Visions of Sugar Plums
November 17th, 2009 § 9 Comments
Aren’t these images beautiful. They’re from Noa Noa Miniature’s Christmas collection, and have such a sweet vintage storybook quality to them, they make me wriggle in anticipation. Look at those jewel colours.
Christmas is going to be huge at ours this year; I can’t wait! We are already examining every single Christmas decoration on route to everywhere. As well as having many animated discussions about how Santa could possibly get inside when you don’t have a chimney. And trying to work out how ‘good’ does one need to be to make it onto Santa’s List.
When you have a three and four year old to share Christmas with, it can only be completely magical.
Images | The Noa Noa Christmas Collection was shot by Signe Vilstrup. All images used with kind permission of Noa Noa
Making Hay
November 5th, 2009 § 16 Comments
The whole family is well and happy so I’m nudging projects forward. And trying, but failing, to resist starting a new one… or two.
These freud-esque ink blots were a happy accident made whilst testing some new inks. Shortly followed by happy accident number two: stumbling across a village bakery just as a fresh batch of pies were being pulled from the oven. And the third has to be the cunning plan that hatched in my head whilst staring at blots and guzzling said pie. Note to self: Eat pie more often!
It truly is ‘christmas on a stick’ when all your books arrive from Amazon in record time. I’m sure I heard a choir of angels when I busted open the parcel. Where do I start? Today the sun’s shining!
For lots more crafty peeps check out Kirsty’s creative space.
Oh Constance!
November 4th, 2009 § 11 Comments
The first time I laid eyes on ‘Constance’ it was love at first sight. What a babe! I admit I’ve fallen hard for the whole vintage caravan thing. But I ask you, what red-blooded woman wouldn’t want to run away with her beau for a romantic escape. Letting the road take you wherever it will; stopping wherever you please.
Only I wouldn’t want to take ‘Constance’ anywhere. I’d tuck her at the bottom of my beautiful wild garden and have her all to myself. Sorry beau! Just look at her, she’d make the perfect retreat and a fab creative space. I’d be in fine company too; Roald Dahl had a ‘writers hut’ at the bottom of his garden, as did George Bernard Shaw.
I could see myself happily scribbling away at this table, hearing birds flit in and out of the branches just outside my window and enjoying freshly brewed coffee and home made cookies from the sweet kitchenette.
A picnic blanket could be thrown onto the grass outside when the day sparkles and beckons, or when the poppets are home. And when fortune smiles, there is even a spot to have an indulgent nap. There’d be so many lovely places to photograph that I’d be in blogger heaven. And even though I am a city slicker, a wild garden would help make believe ‘Constance’ and I were nestled in the country. But best of all, when I wanted a change of pace, I could be back in the bustle in an instant. Oh, where do I sign!!
‘Constance’ is a 1957 Sprite caravan, owned by Lucy and Steven Lord of Snail Trail Campervans. Sadly she doesn’t do the holiday scene anymore, but she loves photo shoots. For a retro holiday, Snail Trail have a family of shiny VW Campers in mint condition. Beautifully furnished with retro fabrics and accessories and with names like Betty, Pearl and Gracie what’s not to love!
Images | Mini tarts, QuintanaRoo | Flowers and sunshine, Darin | All other shots courtesy of snailtrail.co.uk campervan hire | Blankets made by Helen Fisher.
