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This banner is for the craft shows that I'm doing. It's not quite finished yet as I have to punch some grommets in and back it but you get the gist. You may have been wondering about the delay in posting and I would love to say that I've been super busy and productive but in fact I had an accident and badly sprained my wrist. (Spent 4 hours in A&E for an x-ray just to be sure) and have been in a splint since. It's a lot better now, I can use scissors and a mouse ! I have been very grumpy though, as I had a lot of plans and they had to be abandoned and the accident could have been easily avoided. Such is life. Coming soon more lettering inspired projects.

Hug a Tree

My goal is to create a big forest of trees, but there are only four at the moment. The wool has been felted so they are very soft. It took ages to finish the big tree as I couldn't get the bird to look the way I wanted it to, I did in the end and thus the forest began.

Papa Massimo and the Penguinos

Behold the Penguino Family. Here are some photos from the family album. As you can see there is a striking resemblance between the babies and their parents. I am reluctant to put them up for sale at the weekend as I have grown rather attached. Leave a comment if you like them. Thanks.

Non Painting Chronicles - Noisy Men

Am I a bad person because I want the workman next door to stop singing. He's clearly enjoying himself although he's clearly no Pavorotti, but he's giving me a headache. They are making some sort of medical suite in the building and between the banging, drilling, shouting and now singing I'm ready to go to war. I think I've answered my own question, Yes I am. Mind you in my defense I've only eaten a couple of pistachio nuts and half a cup of coffee hardly a balanced breakfast. It sounds like they are trying to saw through the ceiling now. GIVE ME STRENGTH.

Onto brighter news, the Penguino family is expanding rapidly. The tote pattern is almost complete and its nearly the weekend. Although I have to work on Sunday, so its slightly less exciting. Debating whether to go to Ikea this evening before heading out to the husband's gig. So much to do before the shows in November and December. I had a supremely strange dream last night, I was in Politics, assisting John Kerry and then I can't remember much more but it was dark. That's what you get for watching Criminal Minds before going to bed. John Kerry must have been on the news is my only explanation, I barely know who he is. OK, singing and drilling. This is TOO much.

Here's One I made Earlier - Tote

I think I may have not posted a HOIME last week, so you get two this week as I am so proud of this last one that I can't wait. It's a tote as you can see, in this eco conscious world we live in it makes a stylish statement and packs a lot of groceries. I hope you like it.

Here's one I made Earlier - Owletto

Owletto is the newest of the animal series that I'm currently producing very slowly. Owletto is made from wool felt and embellished with machine embroidery and vintage buttons. He will be going on sale shortly in my Etsy shop. At last some inventory!!

Non Painting Chronicles - Lost and Found

The weekend started inauspiciously. After a late night on Friday, the early morning surf trip was delayed by trying to find my waterproof watch. Parking is metered so the watch is an essential part of kit, those traffic wardens just swoop. After the watch was located, I couldn't locate my wallet that was fine though I had quarters I could get by. I stopped off at work to check I hadn't left it there but no luck. The surf was the biggest its been for a while and the crowds were out, you have to wait till its really cold for the numbers to die down. There was a lot of fog which created this strange atmosphere. I caught one big wave but was content to crouch, the drops are quite intimidating when the waves are big. No injuries though and an exhausting session. They say that bad luck comes in threes I beg to differ.
Here's my top three for Saturday. 1. Looking for lost wallet, everywhere, checking bank activity etc.
2. Stepping in dog poo in my birkenstocks and having to clean it off with an old toothbrush. Those grooves in the sole are a nightmare.
3. Breaking my sewing machine.
I could go on but I'll leave it at that. On the plus side I had some great finds at the thrift store and also went to The seed peoples market where I saw a lot of very groovy handmade stuff and had a nice cup of Spicy Apple Cider. The perks of winter.

Sunday, so much better. A nice chat on Skype with the family is always nice, I love the fact that you can get up and grab something to show them so much easier than describing it. Following a chat with my neighbour who suggested the thread might be the problem with the sewing machine, I had already changed the bobbin twice so I gave it a shot. I changed the main thread and it seemed to work, but then no it was still all loopy at the back. I racked my brains, the needle had broken and I had put a new one in so I took it out again and turned it curvy side forward and like Moses parting the Red Sea the machine started chugging out perfect stitch after perfect stitch. I had visited Jo-Anns and looked at the new computerised machines and to be honest was seriously thinking about trading the old one in. Self threading needles, drop in bobbin, auto start I could go on... Maybe the old tank got wind of it and decided to behave but it works and whilst it does I can't really justify the expense even if the new one does Letters and eighty three stitches !! I produced my second tote ever on Sunday lined and everything. I was very proud and promptly went round my neighbours who are used to me flinging new craft projects in their direction. Feedback was very positive. Whilst I was looking for a CD for my neighbour what should pop up, none other than the missing Louis Vuitton wallet. Oh, the joy. I hadn't cancelled any cards. How did it get in the draw in the first place I've no idea. I have my suspicions. I lost a bag of cheese earlier this week which I later found in the freezer. It's been a spacy couple of days.