Handmade Mothers Day xxx

Hope all you mums out there had a lovely day yesterday and had plenty of goodies & treats and were treated like a princess all day.

I had a really nice day and was spoilt rotten with "handmade goodies". Not a Clintons Card or Boots Smellies Set in sight !

My 6 and 3 yrs old have had a busy week making me 2 cards each at school, Rainbows, playgroup and nursery. They are just the best you cant beat a kids handmade card with dollops of PVA and colourful tissue paper.

I had a gorgeous hand felted heart and a funky tissue pouch. Both of these are made by my friend Jane, Plain Jane Handmade Textiles. I have had my eyes on her new green corduroy stuff and am so pleased with my daughters colour choice. I also had 2 boxes of bath melts made by Heavenly Soaps, Sadie makes lovely smellies and her website is well worth a visit.

My 3 year old also made me some pink heart sweets at nursery, when I opened them I got a nostalgic feeling and could taste peppermint creams. However when I took a bite they clearly wern't mint flavored and all I could taste was almond. I asked him if he had used marzipan and he replied no "play dough" bless ! My daughter ate them anyway despite not knowing their contents as they were pink !!!

Abstract Mural Painting

I have been roped into helping out in my daughters school again, this time painting a rather large

mural on the hall wall. I may sound like I am moaning but I really enjoy working with kids and they love leaving lessons to get creative ! I have the 16 year 6 pupils that are leaving this year as my victims. I am wanting them to think about the environment they have learnt in for the last 7 years and together we will come up with an abstract mural. Its a very small rural village school (85 pupils) and the old building is beautiful. I was busy with my camera yesterday snapping away and the lines, shapes and patterns I came across were amazing. I have put together these 2 photo collages and left them to come up with a desig ? Watch this space for the next stage ...

Help ! What do you Make for Royalty ?

Hi all, I'm in a bit of a do today, with the kids at nursery and school its my making day but I cant get going........what can I make to give a Royal and her children ?

The charity that own the craft shop I run are having a royal visit next week from HRH The Countess of Wessex (sophie) and I am on the list of people to meet her. She is coming to the charirtys childrens centre (H.O.P.E Family Centre) to meet and find out more about what they do.

The HOPE Emporium shop I run will be on the list of things to tell her about and I have been asked along with another maker to produce a small gift for her and her children Princess Louise (7) & Prince James (3).

I am thinking a brooch, a trinket box or pretty pegs for her ? what do you think, cant exactly give her somthing for the home can I like fridge magnets or a quirky plaque !

My daughter is 6 and has one of my necklaces and so do her friends, so I'm thinking this for Princess Louise. Will make it a little less funky and more pale and pretty I think. I think of princesses in pinks whites and blues not like my colourful daughter in spots, stripes and clashing colours !

My son is also 3 and loves his little wooden hairbrush. I originally made them for girls but he insisted on me making a boy version or letting him brush his hair everyday with a flower one ! I have this boys one left in the shop and am thinking Prince James its also in very apt union jack colours ?

Oh I do love to be beside the Seaside !

I know its only march but I am getting that sunny seaside feeling today, firstly I have booked my summer holiday to Spain today and am very excited! I can almost smell the sea air and hear those waves then tonight I have come across sixty one A. Kirsty who's blog this is has started following me and her seaside inspired work is beautiful. Thanks Kirsty for following me, I am so jealous I dont live by the sea. I grew up in Somerset so the beaches of Devon were never too far away, how I miss it being here in Herefordshire, I'd swap landscape for sea anyday !

an example of Kirsty's work, love it !

the view from my sunbed this August !!

Painted pegs Prove Popular !

For some time now I have been paining pegs in all colours with various coloured dots. I sell them individually for £1 or 6 for £5. They are great for using around the home in the kitchen on food packets, in the office for jazzing up documents, for kids homework or for pegging bills together etc.

Since getting stuck into decoupage I have done some pegs and combined them with dotty ones to create a really nice product in 4 colourways to suit all tastes. I have also been working on my packaging and am really pleased with the result. Packaged like this they now make the deal gift. It seems by hard work has paid off because I only put them in the shop on Thursday and sold 2 packets on Saturday and got some great compliments.

"Funky Flowers"

"Shabby Chic"

"Rose Garden"

"Pretty Pastels"

Hi I'm Back !!!

Hi there, has it really been nearly 3 months, where does the time go ? Not wanting to make excuses but I have either been too busy, too tired or too de motivated to post. I cant quite believe its been that long...................

December was really busy and a juggling game for me making orders, re stocking the shop, working in the shop, nativity plays, christmas shopping, family stuff etc . Then came January which didn't really happen for me. I had all these great plans to make new stock and try out new ideas but I couldn't get motivated. Having all the snow and the kids being around with the school closures left me all over the place and I just didn't get going.

I've made up for it this month and I've had smoke coming off my paint brush. I've been trying out new ideas and been really enjoying it. I've combined decoupage with my painted polka dots and am really pleased with the effects. I've mainly been doing boxes which always get a good reaction and sell well in the shop. I put them in the shop yesterday just in time for mothers day so we'll see what happens ?

Check this blog out !

Came across this blog last night, do check it out for instant colour pallete inspiration !

color-stripes.blogspot.com/

Here's a taster of Kris's Color Stripes its got me hooked !