Random makes

These are a few of the projects that retirement has allowed me the time to to indulge in. I enjoyed painting the pumpkin and was sad to see it mush. The flamingos were made from a pattern I purchased and were a request from my grandaughter . They were simple and resonably quick to make.

The cactus  was one of those I can make that moments when I had seen several in gift shops. My daughter requested one for the nursery. I just need to sit it in a more colourful but childproof container. 

I love hats and decided to make a hatstand in the style of some vintage ones that i came across on ebay. I enjoyed the process and was able to source a forties dolls face and trimmings to use. Tge candle stick was quite expensiv , which was suprising as they had been easy to find in charity shops until recently.  

 

 

Trying a new craft

I have made a few dolls with a view to making some for the dolls house renovation. I had a few pipecleaner dolls in my house as a child, which probably came with the old dolls house that we had. I havent been able to find any dolls that I like and so this seemed to be a good option. I bought a verity hope pattern and I have experimented with it. My goal is to reduce the doll by 50 percent .
I have ordered some large wooden beads to use for heads and intend to use vintage fabric instead of felt.

What I've been up to

Had a hectic run up to Christmas punctuated by flu and other winter bugs. Although I haven't been keeping up the blog I have been busy on the craft front.

In a bid to have a handmade Christmas there has been alot of knitting.

This proved to be my nemesis. This is a pic of the jumper
 being blocked

Hats galore 

A puffin for one of my grandchildren who loves birds 

chunky jumper for a trendy boy 

mittens for every outfit 

Under Parr

I have been hit with a horrible virus and haven't bee able to focus on much. I now have a dental issue which hopefully will be resolved next week as I am getting fed up of feeling rough.

I have managed to paint more rocks which are quick projects and don't require alot of concentration.
I have also finished my circus entry in my journal.
When I visit my grandaughter she always wants to revisit a "made up out of my head" story as she calls it about an intrepid tightrope walker. She acts out the performance wearing a tutu and using the parasol I bought her to balance on a ribbon , which is carefully arranged on the floor.
I introduce her with a string of adjectives describing her prowess.  This has been a feature of my visits for two years. This summer she has made some modifications to the piece. I have been instructed that I am Simon Cowell and have to ask her a series of questions - I prefer the older version.

When I returned from a holiday I caught sight of a group , well three mature ladies returning from a protest that they were holding about a visiting circus , which has animals as part of the entertainment.
Having reached sixty I feel that I should be attending demos as this is something that I haven't done for no good reason really. Sadly I wasn't able to join this demo as the circus left town that day.
I will have to fight another cause when I have won this battle against the bug I have been afflicted with.

This is the "tipin " of two of the ladies with their placards. The llama and zebra I believe were part of this circus. 

I have used acrylics to portray my grandaughter and a couple of other circus girls. lots of writing to explain the pictures.  

Evie went on a trip to the local Arboretum and met the Gruffolo as there is a trail there.
She was very excited and talked about it quite clearly. It was in the day time and the weather was warm and so I have taken some licence with my interpretation of it. 

More rocks to hide when I venture out. They are all discovered but only a couple have resurfaced on the Mesingham Rocks site. Someone has a collection , which is fine. 

Joined a rock group

Not a band sadly! The rocks I painted have been found but not appeared on the local group which is ok as someone must have decided to keep them. I have painted a few more and have varnished them ready to hide.

I have been reading some negative press about this new trend but feel that as I am not taking rocks from the environment, using harmful paints and not adding collage which could could cause wildlife injury and I am leaving them in urban places and not littering the country side that I am being responsible.

My health has been compromised by use of solvents and so have substituted all nasty products and so hopefully I wont encounter any further health hazards whilst painting.
I have chosen to paint a few characters from my childhood which has offered me the opportunity to revisit the stories of my youth . Ive just reread Emil and the detective as well as the family from one end street and just william.

You can see the cardigan that I have been knitting for one of the younger members of our family in the background. 

This rabbit took only a short time to complete 

Milly Molly Mandy -yes I'm that old !

A few sketches before I committed to the rock painting 

Progress with journal entry - still not finished this page 

Rocks!

I have been busy playing with paints and other mediums but alot that I have made has gone into the "to be used as background paper" pile. I still have lots of ideas and a list of sewing projects to make before xmas.

I have been working on my journal and inspired by a journaling book I purchased I have been using mixed media to get my ideas down. I will add the book to my book list as it is an interesting book full of inspiration.

Mixed media lady with alot on her mind. Will post further pics when I have finished her

I have made a whimsical lady and have started to use her to express my latest project. I have included a photo of the journal page under construction.

On a morning walk to take photographs after the rain, I found a painted rock , which had clearly been painted by a child. I have read that this is a new craze that originated in the states and has caught on here.
Bascally you paint rocks and hide them around the locality or further afield and who ever finds it can keep it or relocate it. There is a fb page to upload pictures of the treasure and share ideas for painting.
I have made three and plan to make a few more.

Afox, a mermaid and a beatrix potter inspired mouse. I painted them in acrylics and mod podged for protection.

A busy few weeks

I have been to stay with family to look after my grandchildren whilst mum goes to work.
I had a long journey by coach and was met with "Is this your holiday Grandma, we went to Greece?"

I had prepared for the trip and had taken activities to do with my granddaughters, which included journaling and making a fairy house.

We had a lovely time painting and collaging but I was too exhausted to work on the projects I took with me.

We ended the week with trip to Odds Farm where all the children and grandchildren got together for a fun afternoon and general catch up. Mr Forever joined us laden with gifts for the children which we had bought whilst on holiday.

A mermaid and lots of words about swimming , which figured large in the holiday she had just enjoyed. 

The fairy house and garden which was used for several days small world play.

I have been catching up on all the boring chores but have managed some knitting and transferred journaling pages to the large sturdy book I have decided to use as my journal. The cardigan is for my granddaughter who is a redhead and looks divine in raspberry colours