Kirstie and Kirsty sitting in a tree

Hi folks, thought I would stop by and write a quick post while the OH cooks tea and I have a few minutes! Things are typically manic here, trying (without success) to make some stock for upcoming fairs - and other things just keep getting in the way!
I have added a few new festive lines to my Folksy and Etsy shops, including Christmas Tree Garlands...

...eight co-ordinating trees strung onto a length of bakers twine,

some Scandinavian-inspired toadstool decorations...

...and some Mistletoe robins on cinnamon sticks which were so popular last year.

Also some driftwood Christmas cards...

...in 3 quirky designs...

I have also squeezed in some custom orders including this parrot for a little boy's new pirate-themed bedroom!

And the title of this post? I was most surprised, yet thoroughly delighted to find a little photo of me in this new publication!

Here I am on page 95! The photo was taken at the Royal Cornwall Show - but there was no mention of any book! In fact, if a friend hadn't tipped me off, I may never have known!
So that's enough excitement for one week! Enjoy the rest of your weekend lovely people! xx

Festive Decorations

I know, I know, it's still ages away! But I've signed up for a couple of fairs and I'm determined to be organised for a change! This year's new design is this cute little mouse, which is designed to hang on the tree from his candy cane!


Like so!!

The cinnamon robins are back once more, this time made from linen...

and with an alternative breast colour!

Penguins have returned this year too, also in linen!

Did you notice, the penguins and the mice have the same basic shape? I used the same pattern and tweaked it a little. All decorations are available in my Etsy and Folksy shops.

Anyway I hope you like my new offerings for 2011!
A warm welcome to all new readers - have a great weekend!

Royal Cornwall Show 2011

Well, it's all over and to be honest, I'm absolutely shattered! Such a big build up over the past few weeks, then setting up, followed by 3 long days (8.30am - 6.30) - I feel like I could sleep for a week!
I really wasn't sure what to expect sales-wise and actually I would have hoped to have done better: there were ALOT of people who walked straight past my stand and that can be very disheartening! But I gave out over 200 business cards, so I suppose there may be leads from them at a later date. Plus I met some fab people - fellow stallholders, craftspeople, and some very lovely customers. Apparently Kirstie Allsopp was there on the first day with her crew, but unfortunately she didn't come to our tent - much to our disgust! (Although her photographer did take a photo of me and my stand - I keep checking my e-mails to see if Kirstie has messaged me!!) And not wishing to name-drop, but my best sale was to this well-known chap! He bought one of my collages and some other pieces!
Though I would dearly love to take a few days off, I have about 250 driftwood cards to make for shops and galleries, so I've got a bit of catching up to do!

BTW, cards and prints of my collages are now available in my Folksy shop!

Chickens

Remember these freestyle stitched studies?

I finally got them back from the framer yesterday!

He's done a smashing job - the grey mount really compliments the piece, I think!


It's for sale in my Folksy shop - just in time for Easter!

Fisherman's cottage with lighthouse

A piece I've made this afternoon. I found the striped bit of wood ages ago, and knew it would make the perfect lighthouse, it's just taken me a while to get other bits together!

I've used a washer to represent the lightbeam.

The cottage was a lovely bit of ply with flaky white paint on one side: I've scratched the paint off at the top to make the 'roof' - and added my trademark nail 'chimneys'! The piece of driftwood along the bottom had paint along one edge, so I've turned that into a sea wall - the paint then becomes the sea!
I'm planning on taking this one to Homespun Fair (Easter Monday - soon be here!), but if anyone is interested in buying it, you can always e-mail me!

There wasn't much wood to be found this weekend - seems alot of it has been used for beach barbeques/fires lately (one drawback to the beautiful weather we've had) but I did find this cute piece (above). Isn't the shape perfect? And in the prettiest shade of blue!

This one is for sale in my Folksy shop!
Hope you're enjoying the Easter holidays so far! xx

It's been a productive week...

...for us in the Sixty One A household!

I've been putting the decorative touches to some of the boats we started last weekend....

I've also been experimenting with placing some of my pieces in box frames...

The cottages are sold, but the boat is available in my Folksy shop...

My latest batch of Moo postcards arrived a couple of days ago...

...this one is my favourite!

and I picked up 2 of my collages from the framers...
The small one of St Ives is available in my shop: the Portscatho picture will be coming with me to Homespun Fair!
Steve's been busy too!

He made me a little desk caddy from a chunky piece of driftwood...


...and this cool composter (also from wood found on the beach!)

Speaking of which - I didn't show you a photo of what we came across on the beach a couple of weeks ago - the back end of a boat! We're going to transform it into a garden bench - I'll keep you posted on that one!

Another fab acquisiton which we've been storing for about 12 months - a huge cable reel!
I originally wanted the whole thing as a table in the boys room, but it was just too big, so Steve's just taken the top for now and put some legs on. Remember the upcycled pallet chairs he made a while back? Well, he's got 3 more to make now! Then hopefully this gorgeous weather will continue and we can start eating outside soon!

And finally, all this crafting seems to be rubbing off on the kids! How do you like this rather primitive dog that Buddy knocked together yesterday?!
Phew! That seemed like a long post! Have a good week, folks!

Rough Sea

The boys have spent the weekend with my parents, so Steve and I have been hard at it in the shed - working! (for any of you with smutty minds!) Plenty of driftwood to work with at the moment, I felt a bit spoilt for choice! This is one piece I finished yesterday: I love the bit of wood with blue paint on it, it really suggested a rough sea to me - that's why I decided to hoist the red flag!

The 'sea' has real movement I think - partly to do with the uneven shape of the blue paint, and because of the layers and different colours, it suggests seaspray - to me, anyway!

I had a few nice small pieces of wood like this one below - I love the shape of it, with that little natural hole in the corner. Because of their size, I was able to use long nails instead of sticks as the masts. These tie in nicely with the rusty washers I think.


It's been a while since I did any of these sculptures with the bunting above, but I couldn't resist! It would brighten up any room and is available in my Folksy shop.

Finally, I must say a HUGE 'Thank You' to everyone who bought from my shop for Comic Relief, and also to those of you who helped to spread the word about it. To be honest, I was worried that I wouldn't make any sales at all, but we raised £348! How fantastic is that? Thank you SO much - you are brilliant! x