A Lovely Surprise

Last week I was absolutely thrilled to find out I'd won a give-away on Terri's blog....'Artful Affirmations'..... a truly delightful place to visit. There's always lots of variety there; mixed-media artwork, jewellery, tutorials.....and teacups! Terri is also a great fan of England and I love to read about her visits here.
Anyway, I won her 'Altered Domino Book' workshop (on the Shabby Cottage website here...if you click on Online Workshops and scroll down you'll see Terri's class). I've already watched all nine videos and they are excellent. You should see Terri's beautiful examples.
Up to now I've prepared 8 dominoes with alcohol inks...there's loads more to do yet! I'll show you more in a week or so when they're finished ;-) I used Adirondack alcohol inks and got the detailed effect by dabbing with an old spiky paintbrush!

They are so lovely to hold ........

I also made a few tags yesterday to put in my 'sales box'. Not sure whether to sell them singly or in packs.....

My favourite one...... :-)

....I just love those Paper Whimsy flowers.

I'm off to Knaresborough again this weekend....can't wait! This will be our 5th visit; we go to visit our friends who are lucky enough to live there......

We never tire of this wonderful view from the castle.  The train to Harrogate only takes 8 mins and travels over the viaduct. There are lots of coffee shops and places to eat by the river...and secret little pathways leading up into the town.
Our dream is to retire there one day and join our friends........ :-)

Fabric and Paper.....

Just grab a selection of fabric and paper scraps.......

........choose a few and layer them.....

......then add some stitching.

My favourite pastime :-)

Close ups.....

I used my hand-made background papers (some on kitchen towel), gold lace  (thank you Jacky ;-) text (thank you 'All Saints', who wrap purchases in the best tissue ever), dyed mulberry bark, random-dyed silk fabric, silk dupion,  plus one of my favourite Paper Whimsy images which I machine stitched (very slowly ;-)
I then glued the finished collage to a piece of painted ply wood.
I have another sales outlet now...'.The Emporium' in Draycott. My daughter's shop opens in two weeks...more of that to come later.

My journals are all stitched and ready.....

The insides are decorated too....

...and I'm thinking about making paper bands for them with my sticker on the back.

Collaged postcards and tags next!

In my last post I said I'd show you Peachy's next catch.

Well this time it was a vole ...... and it was HUGE!

I came downstairs and found it cowering by the conservatory door surrounded by what I thought was a pile of black rice. Thankfully the poor thing was unharmed........and Peachy was nowhere to be seen. No doubt he was bored by this catch and back in the woods looking for something more exciting.

Of course, he tried to get round me later......

'Love you Mum..........'