Barefoot Sandals

I ordered a pair of barefoot sandals from Etsy to try and beautify my horrible Hobbit feet... brace yourself - frog toe photo incoming!

Then I thought, why the hell did I buy these when I can make some..kind of! Well, I can't crochet but the design is straightforward - a figure of 8 with a tiny loop for the toe and a large loop to fit around the back of the ankle so I've started playing around with some simple designs. The first pair are made from seed beads threaded onto elastic thread (which took FOREVER!)

And a pair made using chain and some enamelled flowers from a broken necklace. It attaches at the back with a small loop and lobster claw clasp. 

I'm under no illusion that they in anyway improve the appearance of my feet and in hindsight perhaps drawing attention to them is counterproductive but this is an attempt to reconcile myself to the fact that I have my fathers feet and to make the best of  them!

Sitting and Thinking

I've made some important decisions sat on this bench but this spot also gives me a chance to appreciate my surroundings. London rises up on the horizon and you can see The Shard on a clear day.

Custom Clutch

Just a little clutch that I customised. The bag was originally from Coast but I bought it from eBay for £4. It had a few small marks which I removed with a bit of Vanish soap. The swan was a brass stamping from Etsy and I added a subtle verdigris effect with paint scrubbed on then rubbed off with dry cotton wool. I settled on attaching it by it wings with a few loops of thread as I thought that just gluing it on may not last the duration. The embroidery was a sample supplied by the very talented Vikki Lafford - the pattern is machine embroidered onto organza and I added a little more colour with silk paint then tacked it onto the front of the bag. Et Voila!

Glorious Mud

I still feel like the old boys down on the allotment are watching me and tutting every time I attempt a little horticulture on our plot but IN YOUR FACE, ELDERS! as look at these babys

Ok, I suspect that corn flowers must be one of the easiest plants to grow from seed but I'm still proud of their progress and am looking forward to seeing them covered in bees.

My lilies may not look as majestic as the ones on the packet but seeing as I just planted the bulbs and ignored them I'm pretty happy.

Delphiniums may not feature next year, the seedlings took forever to develop and I only managed to grow 5 out of the 20 seeds sown. I don't have high hopes for these little fellas but we'll see.

Thought I'd better add a photo of part of Himself's Patch - just some boring old vegetables! 

Update on the Cucamelon/Electric Daisies/Wild White Strawberries debacle to follow.

Down With The Kids

...that's not me, I wasn't too cool for school and I have even less idea of what kids are in to these days so imagine my delight when I was asked to produce something for a 12 year old who is having her bedroom decorated. My brief was 'something to tie in with the curtains' which are cerise and covered in swirls and butterflies. I remember being 12 (just) and the incredibly fine line between cool ('skill' in my day!) and embarrassingly old fashioned and cred crushing. With that in mind I have agonised over these rather mediocre pieces, the afore mentioned fear rather curtailing my natural instincts and I'll be bloody glad when they're delivered tomorrow and I don't have to scrutinise them ANYMORE!

Harry Potter Mug

I am definitely going to DIY one of these mugs. I already have a black ceramic marker and Wilkinsons do a nice plain porcelain mug. Simples!

'The Clearing'

I have finally got round to putting up a painting done by my very talented friend Ms Forrest. My dad commissioned this picture as a present and it now hangs proudly in the kitchen.

Depicting me, Himself, and Elf walking in the woods complete with bluebells and fiddlehead ferns it reminds me of happy times well spent.

Brooch Boquet

 IN LOVING MEMORY

The brooch bouquet I made to remember departed loved ones has now been dismantled and the brooches returned to their respective owners. Unfortunately I remembered after I had taken it to pieces that this is the only photograph I have of it. Having seen the idea on various blogs I decided to create one myself. I couldn't find any information on construction but decided it should be relatively straight forward. It wasn't. My first thought was to wire wrap each brooch back and gather the wire 'stems' together to form the bouquet but it was nearly impossible to keep the brooches rigid and they flopped all over the place. A couple more attempts at wiring the structure together in various ways were equally unsuccessful so I finally struck upon the idea of pinning them directly to a shower pouf (technical!) and hiding the exposed underside with some handmade paper. Once it was finished I was glad that it didn't need to be used in the traditional manner as the bloomin' thing weighed a tonne and while I would normally welcome the opportunity to tone up my bingo wings you have to draw the line somewhere! What you can't see is the lovely brooch which secured the paper wrap and paper heart to the stem.

Found by a clever friend, the edelweiss has particular significance for me as it reminds me of my lovely grandma who was Austrian. I miss her every day.

Watts Chapel

The Watts chapel just up the road from the Watts Gallery in Compton is such a little gem and I enjoy visiting it as much as the gallery itself.

Each time I walk up the slope to the carved door I feel a little bit excited because I know that on the other side is the most incredibly decorative interior.

A mix of Celtic and Byzantine styles creates an atmosphere which is somehow both overwhelming and comforting

Each time I visit I see a new detail that I hadn't noticed before like this little Arum Lily. Simply wonderful.

A Few More Bluebells

We walked on the other side of the woods today and found a whole new wonderland of bluebells

Getting lost 'on purpose' sometimes has it's advantages

You've Got A Friend In Me

It's easy to assume that the people you love know how much they mean to you without every saying as much so this little post dedicated to Jenni. Funny, honest, intelligent and caring. A loving mother and one of my oldest friends.

A Happy Place

I DECLARE, AN ENTERTAINMENT!

So many historical properties seem strangely devoid of atmosphere to me, despite the rich furnishings and best efforts of well meaning guides. The Assembly Rooms at Bath are devoid of furnishings but strangely rich in atmosphere. Something about stepping into the Ball Room with it's grand chandeliers, high ceilings and expanse of wooden floor gave my heart a little lift and I couldn't help but dance a few steps - along with thousands of others down the generations. You don't have to listen hard for echoes of the past, the laughter, music and chatter practically ring out in this room. Being such a lover of nature I always try to envisage a tranquil outdoor space when attempting relaxation exercises but without great success. Perhaps I should try the Assebly Rooms as my new 'happy place' ?

Apocalypse Now

DEM BONES DEM BONES

I feel terrible. I should have realised that leaving the telly on for Elf when I go out and allowing him unsupervised viewing would result in an unhealthy influence on his behaviour. He has clearly been taken in by reports of the impending zombie apocolypse and started to stockpile his Bonios as a precaution. He's been asking for treats in the kitchen then unbeknownst to us, obviously scuttled off to bed and buried them - this little cache was found under his duvets this morning. Anyway, I've told him not to be silly and that there's is no need to worry about zombies - it's the vampires that'll get him.

Decorating

YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG!

Lots of people opt to do their own decorating rather than pay for a professional. Armed with some basic knowledge I tackled the kitchen today.

Rule 1;
Use good quality paint and once opened stir well in a figure of 8 motion until thoroughly mixed, or in my case, find a grotty old tin in the back of the garage, ignore the lumps and crusts lining the inside, give it a quick swizzle with the end of a pencil and get cracking.

Rule 2;
Decant a small amount into a paint kettle with a handle to make it easy to carry with you as you move around the room...or, pour into a cereal bowl and hope you don't drop it.

Rule 3;
Use a good quality brush to cut in around the edges then use a roller to cover the large areas quickly and evenly or if you prefer my method, just use a rickety brush for the whole lot - it'll part ways with the handle half way through and you'll have to finish the job by clutching the metal ferrule and swiping at the wall with the bristles. This method also results in the added bonus of leaving you with a hand that has stiffened into a permanent crabs claw.

Rule 4;
Always apply 2 coats, or in my case, stop there, hope you haven't set off an old back injury too seriously, hobble to the bath like Quasimodo, run near scalding water and crack open the Voltarol Extra Srength.

Daddy would be so proud!

Tangled Webs

HAND EMBROIDERED BAG

I'm always finding incomplete and abandoned projects stuffed into dark corners. I had forgotten about this attempt at a bag and dug out the notes on it in an old sketchbook back in the day when I was disciplined enough to think through projects before beginning them! Looking at it now I can see where I've cut corners or got impatient. The spider isn't finished or the text and as your eye travels up the bag you can almost feel the enthusiasm waning! Anyway, the upshot is that it has reminded me how valuable it is to scribble down ideas when they come - even if you don't act on them straight away, it's nice to have inspiration to draw on in a dry spell!

Inspired by the verse by Walter Scott 'Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive'

Terrarium Place Setting

IT'S A SMALL WORLD

I lifted this idea straight from the Martha Stewart website and if you take a look there you'll see just how far from the original my attempt is! I love the idea of mini terrariums and this little place setting really appealed. I found the pots on eBay, collected the moss and twigs on the afore mentioned Wild Garlic Walk, used a bit of marbled paper to make the banner and plonked a glass over it. The pots are only available in plain terracotta so to mimic the patina like those shown on the website I stippled on a bit of white emulsion. Unfortunately I only remembered to do the patina about 2 minutes before we were due to sit down so this was applied in haste and it shows! 

Bluebells & Wild Orchid Walk

BLUEBELLS ARE GO!

Although we were too early for the wild garlic we timed our bluebell walk perfectly. We are lucky enough to be able to walk to this secluded spot from our home and I think that this time of year is one of the highlights of the woodland calendar not just because of the arrival of bluebells and orchids but also for the fresh green canopy formed by the new Beech leaves. The bluebells were really spectacular this year and the wild orchids seemed especially prolific. I love the faint hyacinth scent that you catch on the breeze now and then and the peace and quiet of the woods in springtime is hard to beat.

The Beech tree that marks the way to the bluebells 

Bluebells and orchids stand side by side

Early Purple Orchid

You're Terrible, Mural!

BIRD & BRANCHES MURAL

This is an (no doubt ineffectual) attempt to motivate myself into finishing the mural I started on the cupboard doors in our hallway. The logic being that if I post photos now, I have a date as testament to just how long they've been left and it may shame me into completing the job. The idea was to create a a bit of interest in an area that is rather stark. As it's a very small hallway I plan on keeping the palette muted so the space isn't overwhelmed. I've sketched out some birds on layout paper then used a type of carbon paper to transfer the images onto the doors. As I forgot to take note of their true colours I'll have to make that part up as I go along.

I'm kidding myself that one very thin layer of paint constitutes progress. 

Tibetan Fox & Friends

WEIRD AND WONDERFUL

I am especially interested in the natural world and love to learn about new species. There are obviously big gaps in my knowledge as I discovered the existence of these 3 amazing creatures this year. The fact that they all look stranger than fiction is an added bonus and leading the parade is the Tibetan Fox. What a face! They pair for life and who can blame them, they're flipping adorable!

Next up is the Sloth Bear. They use their claws to dig up ant and termite nests and apparently they can be heard slurping up their meal from miles away - sounds like me at Wagamama.

Finally, the Maned wolf. Nicknamed the 'Stilt-Legged fox' - can't think why! Those crazy looking limbs have evolved to enable the wolf to see over the high grass that constitutes their habitat. Forget the pony, I want me a wolf!

Whiter Than White

THE INEPT LAUNDRESS

I'm not especially interested in nail varnish but I love the the title of this collection 'The Inept Laundress' by STRANGEBEAUTIFUL just because it's rather clever...or perhaps it's because I relate to the palette - My white wash has definately emerged from the machine looking close to most of these colours over the years. Anyway, at £65 for the set it's a little bit too clever for it's own good.

Destash

DESTASH...attempt!

Well, technically I haven't destashed (an Americanism meaning to get rid of collected supplies - you probably knew this but I had to look it up!) but I have made a resolution to start actually creating things from the bits and pieces I hoard - beads, fabric and ribbon being some of the main offenders. I have a thing about not wanting to waste a precious find on a project that ends up looking rubbish and this has resulted in some supplies that are over 10 years old. I also really need to bin left over bits of projects. Erik the reindeer is a classic example - I actually kept a tiny bit of plaited thread left over from his headcollar. When. The. Hell. Am. I. Ever. Going. To. Need. That!!! The only good thing about having so much 'stuff' is that invariably there is always the right coloured bead to go with the right coloured ribbon etc and I'm looking forward to making more sets like the one above because man alive I've got a lorra lorra beads. From left; Hand painted flower charms and silk ribbon bracelet. Middle; Single flower earrings with gold filled findings, seed beads and Swarovski crystal. Right; Single drop chalcedony earrings with gold filled findings and Swarovski crystal.

Ramsons

WILD GARLIC WALK

One of my favourite walks has to be by the river Mole. At the moment one side of the path is carpeted with wild garlic, bluebells and lady's smock while the river runs quietly by on the other. These photos really don't do it justice but I am going to try and get back and take more as the garlic is late this year and not quite all out yet - imagine how it will look in a weeks time. The icing on the cake had to be seeing a flash of kingfisher as we stood by the bend in the river. Pretty darn perfect.