petal soft

it was the best of times, it was the worst of times

Hello. I know I have a lot of things to be thankful for, a loving husband, a dog who brings me lots of joy, my creativity, the support of family and friends, and now we have moved to this, wonderful and peaceful place, with nature all around us. I try to hold on to these things when life is difficult, like it is at the moment, but sometimes even the good things fade into insignificance when all you can see are the difficulties you are facing and you become fearful of what is in the future, it's not a good place to be, and it's kind of where I am now. I don't want to feel like this and I'm trying not to, somewhere inside I know that things will all work out ok, I just need a little faith. But, it makes it hard to blog, it makes it hard to read other peoples blogs. I know some people share aspects of their personal lives on their blogs, and I've seen how the blogging community are endlessly supportive, but I can't do that, it isn't me. I've always been shy and not very good at talking to strangers, and besides, it isn't just my story to tell. So why am I telling you this much? Because I can't post another pretty picture, with a perky caption at the moment - because it doesn't feel right, or true (apart from the fact that I'm not exactly crafting much at the moment). So, I'm just telling you that I'm going to bow out for a while, just so you know not to expect me here. If I create anything at all while I'm away, I'd like it to be something that has a deeper meaning for me, maybe that would be healing.

The picture above, I took standing in our back garden, which looks out onto open farmland, the welsh hills, and the sky. I know, I have a lot to be thankful for.

twinkle toes

Hello there.  Here's a bit of shoe closeup from a linen doll I've just finished.

Here's a closer look at her..

..and a full length view..

Her skirt is a vintage blanket, her shawl is knitted by me, her camisole is made from the sleeve of a vintage, hand sewn baby's nightgown - the stitching on it is beautiful, as you can see from this photo..

..her hair is made from hairy string - here's a back view..

I plan to make some more doll's like her - the possibilities for different outfits are endless! - and I want to make some more papier mache dolls like this one - but there aren't quite enough hours in the day at the moment - that's all for now!

Except to say thank you to Susan - for this bundle of loveliness...

paper pieces...and other things

Hello, I've finished this piece now, added some beads and some subtle stitching, the photo still doesn't really capture it  -you just don't get the texture of it, the feeling of wanting to touch it - I just don't think you can get that from seeing something on a computer screen as opposed to seeing it 'in person'.

Anyway, here's a bit more detail...

..and a glimpse of another paper piece I'm working on..

..and something(or someone) else that's coming to life...

 

..I always seem to have lots of different creative projects on the go at once - I find it too limiting to just focus on one thing at a time, as I've got so many ideas for things I want to make I feel like I could burst! - I just need all the time in the world to make them! It means I do end up with lots of half finished things floating around - they all get finished off at some time though! Is anyone else out there like that? or are you all really diciplined?

kindness

Hello. These are some lovely things sent to me by a lovely lady called Carla who reads my blog, sent to me all the way from Tennessee.

Carla emailed me and said she'd like to mail me 'a little happy'.  These beautiful things certainly did make me happy, but it was less the things and more the kindness and thoughtfulness of the person who sent them that generated the happiness. Thank you again Carla, I hope you're having a lovely day.

details

Hello. Here's a bit of detail of an embroidered paper collage I've nearly finished. I made the paper base ages ago, it's one of the few things I had unpacked so I decided to do some work on it.  I really struggle to photograph these kind of pieces - especially the whole piece, as the palette is pale and subtle - you can't really get the detail when I photograph the whole thing - I really need to learn to use my camera properly instead of using the auto function!  I might put this on etsy - when its framed. Does anyone out there know a good place to buy box frames (in the UK) - the last place I got some was habitat - but they are really hard to find, especially reasonably priced one - any tips would be much appreciated.

(my posts are like buses aren't they! - nothing for ages and then two come along at once!)

because I'm worth it....

Hello there. I made myself a bracelet..just because...or maybe to mark my one year blog anniversary  which was a few days ago. It's just a simple thing, a bit of lace and some vintage buttons - and I've been waiting to use this little vintage heart button for ages and didn't really want to give it away - so now I get to keep it and wear it.

The last bracelet I posted about, Susan asked to see a picture of it on my wrist, I tried to photograph it but it just looked like I had a broken arm or something! - Anyway - I photographed this one round the top of a vase - anyway, you get the idea...

..hope you all have a lovely weekend, and thanks for looking at my blog over the past year!

more treasures

Hello. Vintage trimmings, bought from the same antique fair as before and another card album..

I like to use flowers in some of my embroidered paper collage pieces so it'll be good inspiration for me (that's my excuse anyway)..

I'd also like to learn the names of some of the wild flowers I'm seeing on my walks with Sparky - I love some of the common names for them, like 'Lady's Smock' and 'Tufted Vetch' - I haven't quite got to grips with the latin names yet - for wildflowers or for the plants in my garden! Iain and I spent ages searching the garden centre for a Lilac when we should have been looking for 'Syringa'! we found it in the end, that's one name I've learnt anyway.

little things

Hello. Here's a bracelet I made - a bit like the one in this post.

Just working on little things at the moment as I don't have my workroom sorted yet. I'm pleasantly aching from digging the garden yesterday - it was warm and lovely to be outside.  The trees in our garden are finally putting out a few little leaves and now, along the hedgerows where I walk with Sparky it is lush and green and full of wild flowers....things are starting to feel hopeful....

treasures

Hello.Thought you might like to see some vintage treasures I bought recently from an antique fair.  This lovely album of 'bird' cigarette cards...

and I got another card album of wild flower pictures. I love poking round antique fairs and flea markets, it's my favourite kind of shopping, you can get a lot of pleasure from spending a few pounds..

..also bought a bunch of old photographs that will be finding their way onto my cards and artwork.They are so evocative aren't they... I think the one below is my favourite.

hello, again, hello....

Hello again, sorry for disappearing for so long (is anybody still out there?) - I just needed to be in my shell for a while. I'm struggling to come out of it at the moment - moving took more out of us than we thought it would, as have some difficulties we've been dealing with lately. But on the positive side of things, we're all moved now and getting used to being here. It is very peaceful where we are and lovely to be so near to nature. Sparky is having some nice long walks in fields and getting used to seeing so many sheep and rabbits and hearing the geese honking in the field behind us!  We have a lovely big garden, which is a bit neglected at the moment and I'm looking forward to spending some time planting and growing - I've never really done much gardening before and don't really know much about it, but I've been doing some reading and I'm excited about having a go at it - I'd love to grow some vegetables and herbs.

We've been doing a bit of decorating too - the last flat we lived in we couldn't paint the walls or even put pictures up and here we can, so I'm really looking forward to living somewhere where we can express ourselves a bit more (the trouble is I'm so impatient I just want it all done!).

My work room is still packed with boxes and all the other crap we can't find room for at the moment - so that is curtailing my creativity a bit as a lot of my materials are still packed away - but Iain's set up a work table in the living room for me for now so I'm making some small things just to keep myself going, like these tags.

Just wanted to say thanks for the comments and emails wishing me well for the move and hoping I was ok as I hadn't blogged for a while - as always, they were much appreciated.xx