This One Took a Little more Staging

This is Fenella in her cottage.  Not the best picture I know, I can never seem to manage the perspective of their big noses or the whiteness of the faces.

As well as her favourite crystal ball, cauldron and candle holder she has a few trinkets hanging around including gold blackthorn wands.

And all sorts on her shelves.  (This is why we spend months collecting 'stuff'!)

Lotions and potions and mysterious additives.

And even her own little Fae familiar.  If he looks a little red in the face it's because he's been tucking into that bottle of single malt whiskey that Elsa and Mike brought him back from Wales and he has another hidden behind his shell.  (His face is about the size of a 20 pence piece).

  

I'm really quite pleased with the whole set up.  

John also drove Elsa and I up to Ally Pally for the Knitting and Stitching show last week.  It was great to meet up with Dale and Ian again, so looking forward to next year with them!  I thought the whole show seemed a little more crammed in than previous years and didn't enjoy it as much.  In fact we totally gave up about half way around the main trading hall, we had done the first hall by then but we didn't do too much of the exhibitions, and the small hall was just too cramped and crowded.  I shot in to see Margaret Beal and shot out again. From reading other comments on line I'm not the only one who was a little uncomfortable.  

This Sunday we flew over to Dublin for a couple of days.  We are so fortunate in having Southampton Airport 45 minutes away with a great domestic airline in FlyBe.  Everything always seems to work well there and the aircraft all have enough room for John's rather long 35 inch legs.  Always a bonus! 

We had a trip up to Newgrange, the 5000 year old passage tomb.  It was bucketing down so I didn't risk the camera but you can see more about it HERE. I hope the weather is better for the solstice in December!  We also saw an exhibition by Leonora Carrington, a 1930's surrealist, at the Irish Museum of Modern Art.  We didn't think a lot of the rest of the exhibitions, a hung up piece of blue polyester fabric or a block of wood leaves me cold when it's classed as art, but each to their own. 

We also went to see the fantastic gates at Harlech House. 

Aren't they fantastic??? What an entrance.  Our guys work in metal at the factories so I'm just wondering if there's any way I can wangle something similar for our drive.... lol.

Thank you for the comments on the blog it's great reading them.  I do try to reply to you all direct but I have been a little busy lately.  I also see Diana LaFaro you are set to no reply so I can't answer you.  Thank you for your company over here though!!


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It's Good to be Back Fiddling!

One of thing's I've been wanting to do for ages is use polymer clay.  As you know I've made with bronze and silver clay and I do love my little people so when I came across Dee Schiller on Facebook through Carol Douglas who I did a workshop with a few months ago I was over the moon.  

I first bought her book and then a couple of her Oddfae creations and then joined a Yahoo workshop she has to make her Shellfae.  And this is my little chap.  

I'm over the moon with him!  I don't think his head has cooled down enough yet as he hasn't told me his name, I'm sure he will in time.   *he now tells me his name is Douglas.  Must be a reference to his origins, see above!! *

I must just confess to going into overdrive at Michaels in New England, several of them actually, and one thing I did buy was polymer clays.  I contacted Dee to ask for the best colours as I didn't have her book with me and soon managed to find the right suff, some of which I'm not sure I can't find over here anyway.  It's quite a bit cheaper because of the tax differences but I didn't think of how it would all scan going through the airport. Anyway picture a rather large selection of metal findings and Tim Holtz items and quite a few large blocks of a dense plastic type material in an x-ray.  I did have a polite slip of paper in amongst it all when we arrived home.  Luckily I had packed sensibly and, other than a few socks, underwear was not present!  

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A Whole New England

We've just spent a lovely couple of weeks over in New England with friends.  I haven't been to America before and John has only done Los Angeles and Arizona so it was something new.

We started on a bit of a back foot when there had been a fire at the fuelling depot in Logan Airport Boston.  Our flight was delayed 4 hours, a bit of a pain which meant we landed at 2am but the earlier flight had been cancelled altogether so we are grateful we flew at all.

Dawn from our hotel was pretty fabulous though.

We bought a Boston trolley pass each and did the usual touristy things.  Like the Cheers Bar...

 ...and USS Constitution.

Lunch in the Prudential Tower.  Great shopping mall underneath too. 

Another lunch in the oldest restaurant in America, the Union Oyster House.  Peter is taking a photo of the booth next to us which is known as the Kennedy Booth where JFK always insisted on eating as it gave him some privacy.  A long waiting list to sit there but there was a better view being next to it!

We then moved on the Kennebunkport for a couple of nights and then further into Lake Winnepesaukee.  Another good view to wake up to!

It was then across to Saratoga Springs and finally back to the coast and Cape Cod.

It was a great trip away but very much filled with too much food.  I don't know how they cope with so much at every meal!! lol  Back on the diet before Christmas.

Must now seriously get on with some creating!!!


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Cedric Has Arrived!!

Finally!

This Little Person has a bit of a wanderlust about him.  Well I've certainly had trouble keeping up with him any way. 

As you can see by the wear on his furry boots!

 At least he has a good leather cloak and hood to keep him warm and dry.

But most of the time he just likes to feel the wind in his beard.

*Edit*  As Cedric is a bit of a wanderer I had to find him a staff.  Of course it has a guiding crystal on the top too.

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There and Back Again. Again.

 I know were were in Scotland a couple of posts ago but John decided we had to go back up to here...

To have a play day on this...

She is the Lancashire Fusileer pulling the Jacobite Train.  This is a sort of photo of us going over the Glenfinnan Viaduct.  Unfortunately we were facing towards the back and I had to scootch around and the windows were terribly dirty. (Left hand side is the best for views Julie!!!) You can see more HERE with much better photos!! There was no sign of Ford Anglias flying overhead but plenty of young people with wands.

Our destination before re-boarding to come back again was the pretty sea town of Mallaig where we had a lovely fish and chip lunch and a wander around.

Later that evening we went for a drive around and up Glen Roy and some more lovely views.

On the Wednesday we drove up to the Isle of Skye which, unfortunately was rather wet.  Only on the island mind.  Coming back, as with going up, from Castle Eilean Donan south it was lovely sunshine!

Oh, this was our room and I can tell you I looked absolutely everywhere for Mel Gibson.  It's where he stayed when filming Braveheart.  I know it was a few years ago but he might have popped back for a bit.  John did his best but found the blue paint got everywhere and the kilt drafty.

A dawn picture of Glen Coe heading for the airport.  Another amazing trip away.

I did return to this mess though.  There is a desk under there somewhere, honest.

I'e been making these danglies from some of Chris' beach finds.  It seems a shame just to keep the piled up in a pot.  They're wonky because they were stil swinging!!

I'd foiled some of the glass and finally managed to drill others.  Some shells, stones, pottery and a few beads and they twinkle quite nicely in the window.

And I have layered up another group of silks and scrim to hand stitch with a goal in mind for this too.  

Apart from having another quite large tummy problem before we went away, we knew the signs this time so it was to the doctors straight away, I managed to go to the Stitch and Creative Craft Show at Sandown with Elsa and Jan on Friday.  We were a right three I had no energy, Jan is about have a knee replaced and Elsa with bump but I think we all had a great time nattering and ooing and ahhing.  I brought more things home to play with I just have to clear that desk a little!

I know there seemed to be a problem with one of my followers commenting last week.  I think it's because I went over to Google +.  On reading further is seems if you have a blog with Blogger and are on Google + the only people who can then comment on your blog are other Google + users. Absolutely stupid set up, but it doesn't surprise me.  Anyway I am no back to being a normal Google user but please let me know through my email or facebook if you can't comment now.  I'd hate to loose any of you.

I'm about to start another whole new round of blood tests etc in a bit and then I will clear that desk today!!! Have a great week.

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A Few Finishes

We have been gradually recovering this week.  Mind you we still managed to fit in a good trip around the more local Hampshire open studios, a rather lovely lunch out and the Stock Gaylard Oak Fair.  

I've been up for a few early mornings and in the studio.  I hope I'm not the only one that like early mornings and find more things are done better then!! 

I finished the two books with the layered silks.  Some old bits of lace I tea dyed around the edges and beaded onto a felt base.

I also added beaded fobs.  They are about A4 size.

I know it may not look like there is too much stitching as it's all in a very neutral pallet but I can assure you that there is.  I started with 33 straws from Mulberry Silks and I have 8 almost depleted ones left.  And don't you love the wrong side of MoP buttons just as much as the front?

I have also been doing a lot of baby things.  Three cardies (mostly in a larger size until we know what it will be), a sleeping bag, a couple of quilts and a few other bits.  I think that has just about worked the baby thing out of my system.  For now anyway.  It's great how they knit up so quick!  I did a complete cardie in the car on the way to Scotland and back.  (The hat to this one was made today watching the F1).

(You can tell I've got the hang of the photo shrinking can't you?!?!)

This morning I layered up some of the silks I have received from the Thread Studio Silk Club onto another piece of felt.

I have been travelling around forever with my little point and shoot taking it's chances in the bottom of my bag. It could explain why I seem to go through so many cameras! A new case has been on my todo list and today it became a todone!

And, I must include this.  John is also a little fiddler.  We have run out of space for cars for him to rebuild and so he has moved on to lawn mowers.  I must admit they are far more easy to accommodate!! This is a rather rare Kubota he found on Ebay recently.

To be honest, I tell a lie.  What he bought bears no resemblance to this mower!  It was a non working wreck.  It has now been totally stripped, de-dented, de-greased and rebuilt and it now mows like a good mower should.

Some men spend money playing golf gaining a score card and backache.  John has the satisfaction of a working item that has great resale potential!  Not sure what he will find next to tinker with but it won't be golf clubs! lol

Have a great August Bank Holiday.


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August, a Jolly, Jolly Time

Please bear with me as I try to catch up with August.  It's our fave month!  No idea why really.

My birthday was on the 2nd.  I had some rather lovely presents and a nice treat of Chris taking us out to dinner at a restaurant a friend of his has.

This is upstairs in The Library.  A very exclusive atmosphere.  Sort of place you wouldn't be surprised to find Noel Coward or Hercule Poirot lurking in a corner.   Lots of leather chairs, zoffoli globes (about 7 I think), old glass and bar memorabilia. The two fireplaces and paneling were rescued from Wales I believe. Lots and lots of attention to detail to make it feel very special.

Joel the multi award winning barman and one of Chris' oldest friend rustling up John a pre dinner Martini, stirred not shaken, he doesn't like to be too Bond about these things.

This is The Larderhouse restaurant downstairs. The main dining area is quite taverna and has a very Spanish flavoured delicious menu. It's always packed and full of life, very different feeling to upstairs.

A really lovely evening, thanks Chris!!

On Saturday the 3rd it was the Stitch N Craft bead picnic and the results of the Chatelaine Challenge I had entered.  No photos, I forgot the camera!! You can see all the entries HERE and mine is the second one in the Intermediate category.

9th August was our 6th wedding anniversary and we drove up to Scotland with Ellie for a few days.

The Waverley zooming passed the Isle of Bute.

I love seeing clouds forming above mountains.  I always think that the Dwarves have the furnaces going full blast in there somewhere.

The Princess herself bombing around having a ball.

My rather restrained haul!!

And she was so pooped when we were home she even fell asleep with her head halfway up a cupboard. You should of heard the snores.

18th was John's rather special birthday.  It was quite quiet here for him, that was until some friends took us out for a lovely spur of the moment evening and meal!

I'm still recovering catching up here so if I haven't commented on your blog for a while, please forgive me.