Winter Ramblings.......

 

After complaining about the weather I have just been on a lovely long walk with Barnaby...... and the sunshine has been glorious and faintly warming and I feel a whole lot better for the exercise and the vitamin D!

I am very fortunate to live in a lovely part of theUK. Old Sarum is an ancient manmade fortress built 2000 years ago when the Romans were here. you can find out more here

 Salisbury Cathedral from Old Sarum

 

March is here....please let it be Spring!!

It's been a long old Winter here in Wiltshire, I'm really hoping we have turned the corner now, more daylight and more sunshine let alone warmer temperatures. and there is evidence.......

  

I've had a busy few weeks, sorry I haven't posted but I haven't made anything to show you all yet. I had two weeks away from work but as usual having been back for a week it feels like I never was away........how is that? BUT...I have much more space in my workroom, I had a coffee morning and redistributed a lot of doll making stuff and it feels good too apart from having a great time just chatting and talking dollies, wish I had remembered my camera!

  

Then we had half term week which was full on from day one, trip down to the grandparents in Devon, meeting up with old friends and day trips to the beach and the shops!

I have been doing a bit of stitchery, my lovely niece is getting married in April so I have started a crazy quilted photo album cover all in silk which is a bit tricky to photograph in poor light with out all the reflections, I'll post updates as I achieve a bit more.

  

Happy Valentines Day.........

Where does the time go??

It feels like I've been on a roller coaster for the last few weeks, the work load in the day job is huge and with the poor weather the state of our house is becoming very stressful!! But, I'm not complaining, I have two weeks off....Yay!! so to get organised now so as not to waste my time off.

And I have been doing a bit of stitchery, this is a lovely pattern by Barbara Parrish at http://www.redwork.info/. I feel another cushion cover coming on!

Playing For Change | Redemption Song

Playing For Change Redemption Song

I just love listening to 'Playing for change' this is the latest one!

New projects.....

Oh My! whare have the last two weeks gone? I don't seem to have stopped and still struggling to see my achievements!! Actually I have pretty well manged to sort my workroom out. The sad fact is that I simply have TOO MUCH STUFF! but I do have a list of projects to work through and all the necessaries ready to go.

Greenware poured and soft fired

The first one is something that has been on the back burner since the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. I bought this mould many moons ago and she is a lovely doll to make in the beginners classes, so she will be my next project class but first I do have to make a better sample than the one I made so long ago as she is on the wrong body which does alter the feel of the doll.So watch this space to see my newly created Schoenau & Hoffmeister Princess Elizabeth character doll based on the Queen when she was supposedly about 3 1/2 years old

The Antique doll

Based on this picture of the Princess Elizabeth as she was then



My reproduction version made many years ago.

And as I was cleaning the car today...yes, I did clean the car!! I noticed the very first sign of Spring here in the South even though the temperature today has hardly risen above freezing in a very bitter North Easterly wind. At least it is dry and the sun has been out.

Keep well everyone and keep making.

January Days.......

 What do you do on a wet gray day?? gather a few friends with assorted kids and dogs and stretch the legs across the Wiltshire countryside and enjoy the mud!! Good company and good fun.

  

  

  

There have been a few birthday celebrations too, this is what I made a friend just out of scraps...my work room is in dire need of a clean up and I have a huge stash of fabrics and crafty things that will have to go....or maybe a few more scrappy cushions?

Suddenly there is so much to do....and so little time.

So far so good!

The Christmas tree and the decorations are all packed away for another year. The Christmas jigsaw got finished and it's been put away for another time. It's traditional to find a new jigsaw for everyone to get involved with over the Christmas holidays. This one was a really pretty Victorian scrapbook one, but it proved to be not an easy one to do!! still, kept us all out of mischief!

started!

 What it is supposed to be....

And finished!

I did get a bit of sewing time in today, my workroom is in a terrible mess, but my mother needs a new apron.....so, the tidying up?? well the rest of the house is in a reasonable state and ready for normality to return tomorrow when we are back at work and school!

Happy New Year!

Wishing everyone a Very Happy and Healthy New Year!

I've had a very productive day planning and prioritising (where have I heard that before!!) but for now I am feeling very positive about 2011 and looking forward to plenty. My lovely niece is getting married in April..........in Malaysia! so an unplanned exotic holiday to look forward to, and plenty of excitement to contain....Alice is the bridesmaid! and wedding gifts to design and make before then.........Here's to 2011!

Imagine | Playing for Change | Performed around the world.

Wishing everyone a wonderful Christmas and the best New year.
With Love,
Susie

Good Morning!

We woke up to another covering of snow today, so all plans scuppered. But I am beginning to get into the Christmas groove and realising that I've left it all far to late to do some of the things that |I wanted to, so...what you can't do anything about don't waste energy stressing about, right??
I did finish making these little ornaments to put in with my Christmas cards and the tree is up, just the rest of the decorations to go. I am expecting friends this afternoon for mulled wine and mince pies, but at the moment I don't know if anyone can make it. So I shall just sit back and see what happens!

Barnaby really enjoyed his walk this morning, I know I've had a bit of a work out too!walking in snow stretches muscles not ususlly stretched!

 This is the beautiful lime tree at the back of our house, I love just watching this magnificent tree all year round as it is so different in all the seasons.

Winter wonderland, Old Sarum, Salisbury

Where does the time go??

I'm struggling a bit this year getting my head round the idea that it is Christmas in two weeks time!! I am more or less organised, I hope to get the tree up this weekend and at least get some of the presents wrapped while prying eyes are not around.

I've been making bunting as stocking fillers, quick and easy and easily personalised, got two more lengths to make this week and then I'm done.

 

And I had to share with you these lovely little baby gowns that my neighbour gave me, they are gorgeous. i will get them washed and pressed as soon as I have time to do the job properly.