Sneaky peek,

I've been working on some brand new design ideas.  Still softies, or I suppose soft sculpture is more accurate.  It's not quite ready for the big reveal as at the moment I'm working out design, colour, scale etc, but when I'm ready, I'll be in need of second opinions.

Can you guess what it is yet...?

This is what is sat on my desk today, in progress.  An improvement on yesterday when it looked like a turquoise miniature model of the Loch Ness Monster!

Now, I need to tackle the marvelous feat of textile engineering which will result in the tail..., I hope. 

Apologies for my somewhat erratic blogging of late, there is a reason, fingers crossed!

For Lucy...

Lucy was feeling a bit blue last week, she gets a bit jealous sometimes as she knows that while she's at school, Luke is getting to spend time at home with me.  So I thought I'd tinker around a bit more with the bird pattern, and sew some softies especially for her,

So, I'd like you to meet the little birds...

The body is made from a thrifted jumper, I love the colour but it won't felt as it is 'superwash' wool, basically pure wool that has been treated so it can be machine washed.  However, I did give it a go, the thinking being, if you mistreat it enough, it may just give in (same tactic works with husbands too, I believe!).  This poor jumper has sat in our washing machine and been through every wash cycle for about a month, and has also been in my biggest pan and boiled on the stove!  It didn't fully felt, but it did go a little, enough to cut it up anyway.

(Mummy bird)

Both birds have a little bit of embroidery on their wings,

(baby bird)

I really enjoyed making these, it was one of those projects that gives you a warm fuzzy feeling while you are sewing.  I just wish I had a picture to show you, of the smile on Lucy's face when she saw them!

Retro Cat,

will be on Etsy shortly.

I haven't made a cat for a while, obviously needed some practice.  I initially photographed the cat before realising I'd forgotten to add the whiskers!

I have been tagged!, interesting fact no.1!

I have been tagged, thank you to Cupcakes for Clara. It seems I now have to come up with 7 interesting facts about myself and also tag 7 other bloggers. This is going to take some time, but for now, the first thing that springs to mind is this, I am married to a rather talented portrait painter, we have known each other for nearly 20 years and been married for 10 of those. In 2002, we had our first child, and for my first mothers day, this was my present.

It is not the most flattering of portraits, but I was 6 weeks into motherhood at the time and extremely tired. It is supposed to make anyone who has had a baby look and say 'oh, I remember feeling like that!'. His web site is here.