Sweet Pea Sunday

Don't you just love the scent of sweet peas, I know I do. These are a lovely old-fashioned mix, as beautiful as they are fragrant and now adorning my kitchen windowsill.

Remember how I was struggling to get a photo of Billy when it was his birthday, well I managed to get this shot a couple of days ago. He's grown into a fine looking little chap I think you'll agree. Here was a similar shot when I first got him, click here.

The bunting I made recently had a quick outing on my dresser before being wrapped up and given as a birthday pressie. I think I'm going to make some more.

I've got some leave now for a couple of weeks so hoping to be creative, make some bread, do some decorating, blog more as been very remiss in that department recently and generally have a good time. Enjoy your Sundays wherever you are!

Journal Revealed

This journal started out as a blank journal in my head but then I just couldn't help myself. A little lace here, a button or two there....


out came the stamps, the Paperchase papers etc and the idea for creating a journal where my friend can keep her pre-raphaelite postcards (or not) was born.

I've created alot of pockets and ledges for things to be tucked into the journal.

I've also left alot of blank space for personalisation of the journal, and plenty of writings.

I've tucked in some postcards to indicate the way.

I had to pop in another fabric collage along the way, coupled with my favourite napkins




I'm now working on a couple of journal commissions, one with the theme of Peonies and the other, Hemingway.

Billyboy Turns 2

And as usual the birthday boy was not keen on staying still to have his picture taken. These are the best I could get, he is just a total livewire, on the go all day. But then...

he comes in for his tea, (well okay I have to go down to the riverside and get him, because it's just too much fun down there for him to think about coming home) and then he crashes out, totally shattered. Happy Birthday Billyboy!

Sneaky peek

of my latest journal. Sorry no time to upload photos of the inside but I couldn't resist popping it up here. I so wanted to keep it, lol!

WIP My first attempt at Bunting

I'm currently working on this bunting as a birthday present for someone. Birthday's a week today so fairly on top of it, which is not like me, I'm a 'work right up to the deadline' kind of a lass.
It's for adorning a dresser so only 5 pennants needed.

I've used vintage book paper on a recycled pizza box base, with stamps and then I just can't stay away from the little fabric collages, lol.

Just got to figure out what to string them with, ribbon, scrap fabric, crocheted chain, phew, this crafting makes you think!
A big hello to my latest followers, tonight I could see you as Blogger has been playing up again recently. Hope you enjoy my little blog :)

Indian Journal

I've finished my Indian journal and it is winging it's way to Anne of Nana Go Go fame, in bonnie Scotland as I type. She's going to give it to her sister who is going out to India to teach this summer.

The outer fabric was a remnant and the inner pink fabric was from an indian dress.

I used bridal rose petals from a florists to enhance this first page, the illustration came from a gujarati book.

I ripped the blue trim with pearl buttons from a second hand sari


An ornate napkin was used on this page together with a tea bag packet, and the trim came from a sari.

Here I've used a piece of handmade paper and an illustration from a book. I randomly stamped the paper with indian style stamps, paisleys etc.

All the pages were sprayed with acrylics and glimmer mists. The water lily image was printed onto fabric and made into a little collage with indian ribbon and a piece of lace.

Again handmade paper from Paperchase was used to trim these pages and provide a pocket for a postcard from the British Museum.

Here pieces of an indian book were cut out and sewn on, adorning the bigger image with green sparkly stickles. I had great fun making this journal and it won't be the last :)

All the pages can be viewed on my Flickr account - see side bar to the right.

Shabby Fabric Journal

I've finally finished my first journal from the class I'm taking with Carole in New Zealand - see side bar. It's ended up a kind of shabby chic meets pre-raphaelite affair.

It's fairly thick so I used ties to keep it in order


The outer fabric is from a Laura Ashley remnant squirreled away many years ago and the inner fabric has raised velveteen on it, sorry don't know the technical term, and I bought that as a curtain sample.

I had fun with napkins, I love using them as they don't add any bulk to the journal and I've had some great ones given to me in a swap.


Out came my Tim Holtz stamps as well. The pages still smell vaguely of coffee which I used to stain them.


The pages were sewn in the brown waxed linen thread.

I edged the pages with distress ink, I like the effect but for some reason it took days, and I do mean days to dry. No idea why.


I've left plenty of room to journal in my journal, the first thing will be about the exhibition I went to in London on Friday which featured a lot of pre-raphelites.

I'm now working on my second journal which has an indian theme and as I've got a very messy desk I think it's fair to say I'm enjoying myself, lol.

Day Trip to the Big Smoke Part Two the V&A and Harrods

From the cemetery, see earlier post, we walked to the Victoria and Albert Museum. If you can, do walk and not get the tube as you see some great buildings and get more of a feel of the place. This is one of the facades facing the inner courtyard.

Wherever I go I have to get postcards and this is the haul this time. I was disappointed that there were only 3 I liked from the Cult of Beauty exhibition I'd gone to see, they are the ones at the bottom of the photo, a Lord Leighton, a Rossetti and a Millais. The exhibition was fabulous and well worth a visit, it's on for a couple more weeks, here's the link. One of my favourite Burne-Jones paintings was there - The Beguiling of Merlin which I saw at the Lady Lever Art Gallery in Port Sunlight, it was lovely to see it again. I wasn't allowed to take photos in there but again here's a link.

I loved some of the smaller architectural stone carvings in there.

I always love finding cat imagery


And angels of course :)

Here's his mate on the other side of the piece, I think he looks more thoughtful.

Then it was off to Harrods on our weary legs but I'd not seen the Food Courts before.


Wonderful tiles and statues, but soooo crowded, I was glad to see it but glad to get out.


The fish purveyor was a sport, posing in front of the big fish tank, yes, there are real fish in there, giving you an idea of the scale of the decorations.

A very enjoyable day. I think my next visit will be for an exhibition at the British Museum - Treasures of Heaven, it's sacred artifacts from medieval europe and looks stunning. Wonder if I can pull in a cemetery on the same visit, legs permitting, lol.