If you see a crocodile....

 ....don't forget to scream!!!

 Ha ha! I found this great piece of wood a while back and though it was perfect for a croc's nose - the nostril and eye are in just the right place! I found a rusty old saw blade in the shed and used them for the bottom teeth, and added a few nails for the top ones. Say cheese!

Ye Olde Water Mill

I was given a couple of old model railway wheels, so I thought I would make a water wheel. The base part has some lovely touches of turquoise paint suggesting water.

 Safe Passage

The piece of wood above was a bit special. I knew I wanted to use it as a wave, but as it dried out, it separated to form fingers and a thumb! A helping hand!

Reflections

This is only a small piece, but the driftwood I have used as the water was too beautiful not to utilise! I made a few houses to match the reflections and also added a street light.

In all my days "wrecking" on our beaches, I have normally turned my nose up at plywood! But no more!

I have started painting it to add as a backdrop to some pieces - and I am liking the extra colour!

Believe it or not, I am still getting orders for snowy, Christmassy scenes!

Brrrrrrr! I hope you are keeping warm. Stay safe! xxx

Summer break

Is 6 weeks really over already?! Hard to believe....I feel like I could do with another week with my boys at least! Maybe it was the holiday to Lacanau, France slap bang in the middle made it all go so quickly! I won't bore you with all my holiday snaps: here are just a few. It was most relaxing, very hot and the company was great. I didn't want to come home, and that isn't like me at all!

Having said that, it was good to get in the shed after the time away and have some fun!

Meet Margot. She is designed to stand in the garden

(Her copper "legs" simply push into the soil)

And Gilbert, who is suitable to display inside or out...

 This little anglerfish is fun. His new owner has named him Elvis!

In a moment of madness I have signed up to do 3 fairs in November/ Dec!

So I am saving even the tiniest little bits of wood to make Christmas tree decorations!

Sorry the "C" word just slipped out then, I do apologise! It is a bit early to be talking about it already....but I do try to be organised (it just never seems to work out for me!)

Anyway, I hope you all had as good a summer as I did. The sun has reappeared in these parts recently, so we will make it last as long as we can!

Little commissions and other work

 Goodness me, it has been such a long time since I last blogged: it only dawned on me when I realised how many photos I was uploading on to this post (though I have been busy too!)

I've undertaken a couple of lovely special orders recently. This first one was for a friend who requested a cottage with a birdhouse and washing line....and a heart if possible.

 

So I stitched a little one on to the laundry. Subtle but sweet I thought!

This next one is really quite exciting! I had the pleasure of meeting a customer recently who has gutted her newly purchased delapidated cottage, and done much of the renovations herself. I found her utterly inspiring! Anyway, she asked me to make a little driftwood copy of her house. The slate roof is part of the original roof (now replaced) and she gave me a little tester pot of the exterior paint, so that the colour is perfect!

Recycling at its best!

Here are some other recent pieces...

These cottages, complete with post box. I love the red and green together.

I found this amazing piece of driftwood and knew immediately I was going to use it for crashing waves!

 Little seaside houses in co-ordinating and a lighthouse complete the scene.

Lots more cottages: townhouses and country houses.

Quirky miniature vehicles of one kind...

....and another...

A dwelling that looks like it should sit on a Loch somewhere...

This little oak barn is only a few centimetres high!

Something a little bit different. The windmill sails are made from nails and offcuts from an old wire basket.

So, the summer holidays are here again. I don't like the last week of term because it makes me realise how fast time is flying by, and that my boys are getting older! They were both extremely fortunate to have brilliant teachers this year, so I made a few small gifts as tokens of my appreciation!

Well that's all folks!! I hope you are all enjoying the glorious weather we are having at the moment!

NB If you are in Cornwall on Sunday 5th August, why not visit Homespun Fair in Portscatho? I'll be there selling my wares along with lots of other lovely ladies....and there will be cake! Nuff said!

Camper Vans, Caravans and a Street Party

I had a special request this week for a birthday card featuring a camper van: not something I had considered doing before, but I remembered a small piece of driftwood in my stash with orange peeling paint on it....sometimes when I find odd bits on the beach I know immediately what they will become: others may hang around for years waiting to be used. The orange piece fell into the latter category - and now I had the perfect chance to use it!

I was pretty pleased with the way it turned out - and my friend, who liked it too, proceeded to order a dozen more for her gallery! Couldn't help but think I had been tricked!

After sharing the images on my Facebook page, I was then asked to make a vintage caravan card...

....and following that one, several more orders ensued!

Trade mark washers and a bit of bunting mean that they compliment my other driftwood cards nicely, so I am selling them on my website!

And finally, here is my latest piece I made today: a rather jolly work called "Street Party"

All the above make me think of summer....or is it the abnormally gorgeous weather we are experiencing at the moment?
I hope you are enjoying the sunshine - wherever you are!

New driftwood work: a week in pictures

The wood here comes from the washed-up boat we discovered last week. I utilised the original copper nails to create a "functional" piece of art!

"Farmhouse with washing line"

The vibrant colours of "Cottages On The Beach" would look great hanging in someone's bathroom

I love the roof on this one: all those layers of peeling paint in gorgeous colours!

"Village On The Green"

The blue piece is a little bit special: one of those finds that have been waiting in my woodpile for the "right moment"!

Our House, in the middle of our street....

Quite a prolific week! I am enjoying myself thoroughly at the moment!

Breathing new life into an old boat

Steve had a couple of days holiday to take this week, so after we had dropped the boys at school, we headed for the beach to do some serious "wrecking". Don't get me wrong, I love going to the coast as a family, but there is only so far you can walk with a reluctant 4 year old!
At first, it appeared as though our trip was unfruitful....not much driftwood about. Then we started to find loads of pieces which were obviously all from the same boat. And then we stumbled across this....


Such a shame, really, when you see the workmanship that has gone into such a vessel.
But my mind was already planning what I could make with some of these finds...

See here, this large section of the boat? Well that diagonal stripe spoke "slipway" to me!

And from the ashes, something new was born!

You can see the lovely crackle-glazed effect still. I wanted to keep the piece almost as I had found it, so I only trimmed off the rough edges. I am chuffed with the result: I will be looking for other bits like this from now on!

We also found this long piece of quadrant painted in brilliant blue, which made a vibrant roof for this terrace of cottages!
And much more besides, but I had to put the driftwood side on hold as another collage commission was calling me!

Anyone recognise it? Clue: its on the North Cornwall coast

with a tidal pool?

Its is Bude. Only a small piece, it measures 30cm x 24cm.
Well, I feel as though I have been quite prolific this week!
Have a fab weekend folks!

Holiday (Phase 2)

Back to work this morning after a lovely fortnight off - and as promised, here are a few snaps from the second part of our camping trip - this time in beautiful Herefordshire.
Steve and I did some canoeing here about 12 years ago - and wanted to return to do it with the boys.
We arrived early at Symonds Yat, and were greeted with this fantastic view...

Even Herbie seemed impressed!

We went during the week- as it gets pretty busy at weekends.

We took a lovely stroll in the Forest of Dean...

And (a highlight for me) as we were so close to Ross on Wye, we had to pay a visit to Baileys Home and Garden! What an inspiration! Unfortunately photography was prohibited which is such a shame: the website is nice, but it doesn't compare to seeing everything together in one amazing place!

I found time to do a bit of work at the weekend. This driftwood and slate piece - as yet unfinished, as I think it will look better in a box frame.

Another beach hut picture...ever popular!

And a primitive driftwood boat - the two bits of wood were already nailed together when I found it, so I just needed to add a few decorative touches!!

And finally, we had a freelance photographer here for the day on Friday! He took lots of pictures of the house, some of my work, and some of us - including some shots down the beach collecting driftwood! Hoping that we might get a bit of press! We had a good tidy-up in preparation - and re-arranged the shelves in the lounge. The old sewing machine had been hidden away in the loft, but we decided it was handsome enough to display: what do you think? (This is one of my photos - his were much better. I promise to share them once we get copies!!)

Have a great week folks!