**STOP PRESS***STOP PRESS**

We have been offered a shop unit in a former museum in Newent, Glos. It is 1st floor room in a grade 2 listed building that in it's former life was dressed as a Victorian drawing room. There are several other shop units around a central courtyard and so far it looks like there will be an old fashioned sweet shop, a cake shop and a couple of other artists/crafts people there.
I haven't actually seen it yet but mother-in-law, who has always dreamed of having a little wool shop, has signed us up for it so it's go, go, go!
The aim is to get it all ready for a grand opening in time for the Newent Onion Fair in September, which usually attracts huge numbers of visitors to the town.
This means that I am not just crafting to fill a small table stall but to stock a small shop! In less than 6 weeks. Never let it be said that I don't like a challenge.

Are you scared of the Dark?

Anyone who is interested in the darker side of fantasy artwork and photography should check out this book 'Twisted Pixels' http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/715584 - it's full of stunning (if a little twisted) photographs by a very talented (creep creep) friend of mine Matt Frederick. You can also see his work in exhibition at the Summerfield Gallery, Cheltenham running from the 31st August to 18th September.

The world in tiny.

Thanks to a friend I have discovered one of the best freebie photo editing tools ever. This is a method called tiltshift photography that basically alters the focus of your picture and tricks the eye into thinking that it is seeing a 'miniature'. In the old days you needed special lenses to achieve this effect but now, thanks to the wonders of digital photography EVERYONE can have a go!
Obviously it works better with some pics than others but if you want to have a play visit tiltshiftmaker.com

Be warned though, it's addictive!

Me and the little man!

Here is a piccie of Riley and mummy that was taken at the Tewkesbury Medieval Fayre by nanny! It's so rare for there to be a: a photo with me in it and b: a photo of the two of us together (as it is usually me taking the pictures) I thought it worth posting!
Plus Riley looks as adorable as ever!! :-)

Getting down to it...

Now the initial excitement of the new fabric consignment has passed it's time to get cracking and actually make something! My plan is to get a stock of stuff ready for the Sheppard House Summer Open Day/Fete - a well attended event held every year in aid of Sheppard House and Newent Dial-a-Ride - on the 29th August. Sounds ages away but it is, in fact, only 6 weeks! (Gulp!)
I am hoping to get my website up and running at the same time so that I can get cards/banners etc printed up in time to promote it at said event. It's gonna be touch and go to get it all done but - Riley willing - the basics will be in place in time.

We had a welcome break in the rain yesterday so Riley spent a couple of hours in the garden getting wet and muddy and finished off the day by putting his dinner all over his face!

Bless!

oooooooo!

I am seeing stars (and stripes and spots and checks and paisley) - the fabrics I ordered last week have arrived so now it's time to get crafty!

I am just too excited to blog anymore...

Things to make and do...

Now that the Biker Dean financial books have all been packed off the the accountant I finally have my hour or so of me time while Riley naps back again ( I am getting better organised - hopefully it won't take nearly so long to sort out next year!). This means that - in theory - I should be able to get cracking on making things again.
I have just ordered a whole bunch of fabrics in stripes, polka dots, stars, paisley and gingham with which to make bunting and other fancy things to sell on my website - when I eventually get it up and running. Oh, I am getting all excited about doing these things again - it has been such a long time since I have a: had the time b: had the energy and c: had the inspiration. It's amazing how tiredness saps your creativity.
Riley is beginning to occupy himself for a bit now as well which leaves me a little freer to get on with stuff - although I still can't refuse when he wanders over with 'The Gruffalo' for me to read to him - he is already showing a passion for books which I want to encourage as much as possible!
So I have plenty of things to make and do and the motivation to make them and do them. And if it keeps raining like this the website could be up and running a lot sooner than you think - 'Gruffalo' breaks taken into account. Watch this space...

It's Raining...Again.

I know - it's July - this is what it does in July. Musn't grumble too much as the garden is loving it, so much so that the poor excuse for lawn that we have out the back is actually looking very lush and green...and in desperate need of a mow. I just hope it dries out fairly soon before it gets too long for the little hover mower and I have to beg/borrow/steal a strimmer.

More Pics from Tewkesbury Medieval Fayre...

A few more piccies from the day! Just click on a pic if you want to see it bigger.

All the fun of the Fayre.

We had a lovely day yesterday at the annual Tewkesbury Medieval Fayre - complete with battle of Tewkesbury re-enactment, pig roasts, ale tents, kiddies play area and lots and lots and lots of great shopping!! Riley got let off the leash for the first time, running us all ragged trying to keep up with him and obviously loving it. He particularly enjoyed the Morris dancers, taking it all in and shaking his little handmade wooden rattle along with the music.

Unfortunately we didn't get to see much of the battle itself as there were so many people turned out to watch but the noise was quite something!

Loads of artisans selling their wares; gorgeous hand blown Medieval style Glassware from Germany, little wooden drums, pipes and rattles for kids, jewellery, leatherwork, sheepskins, pottery and hand woven willow baskets from Greenwood Futures who also make gorgeous cradles and environmentally sound coffins (http://www.greenwoodfutures.moonfruit.com/). I'm afraid I splashed out and treated myself to a lovely willow washing basket. The cat hasn't discovered it yet...but it is only a matter of time!

Rain doesn't stop play!

Well it's raining again! But never one to let a little bit of water get in the way, Riley has been out in the garden getting damp while I did a quick check round the greenery for the other big fans of rain; slugs and snails! This chappy was clinging on for dear life and, as he wasn't really doing any harm I decided to leave him where he was (the ones on the veggies/fruit were not so lucky!)

The rain is getting worse though, so it looks like an afternoon indoors - I am knitting a cute little bag for the other half's sister's birthday in a couple of weeks so I will probably do a bit of that - as long as Riley doesn't have other ideas!

Summer is here...and gone again!

Love this time of year! The garden is starting to look half decent as the plants lap up the alternating sunshine and (heavy) showers.

This is the first year I have had any time to spend in the garden and it shows with the newly added border running down the side fence brimming with lavendar, sage and chamomile and smelling heavenly in the hot sunshine whenever I walk past.

I am growing tomatoes outside for the first time and so far every plant has set at least one truss of fruit. My single courgette plant is also producing like its going out of fashion. We have a couple of raspberry canes and a forgotten about strawberyy plant that has the biggest flowers I have ever seen - can't wait to see what fruit that produces!

Unfortunately the pea plant (kindly donated by a friend as a seedling) has not faired well in the strong winds that hit us over the weekend and broke clean in half - we salvaged half a dozen almost full grown pods, which were very tasty. Definately want to grow more of those next summer!

Riley is enjoying being helpful in the garden - although more mud seems to end up in his mouth than in the pots! But it is so nice sharing freshly picked raspberries on a warm, sunny morning with an appreciative person (the other half doesn't 'do' fruit!). At 14 months he is already showing signs of being a proper little outdoor bunny - when the weather is dry he is in and out the backdoor all day and when it's raining he sits by the door pointing and obviously wanting to be out there!

My own little cabbage patch kid in Grandma's bean patch