Sappho, A Work in Progress

 

.A few shots of whats on my worktable this Work in Progress Wednesday.

Sappho is a tiny goldfinch, inspired by my constant visitors to the garden. They are one of the most numerous birds we get, which is so lovely.
Her plumage is heavily embroidered with fly or feather stitch and random cross stitch in three colours, which is so satisfying. I try to reflect the birds' plumage as accurately as I can and they are a joy to make.
Sappho has citrine to her heart with lots of chamomile and she is dressed in Donna Leigh by Liberty. This is an organic tana lawn and has a wonderful feel. A little heavier than regular tana lawn but super soft.
The patter Donna Leigh is an old original from the late 1700's by William Kilburn. Kilburn was a prolific pattern maker usually for muslin. His signature was floral abundance on a dark ground. But the butter yellow is just right here.
I will finish her today and as soon as Reuban works his magic she will be in the shop.
The absolutely joy I get from making these little birds knows no bounds and I am at my happiest embroidering their wings, their bodies and all the tiny embroidered details that goes with them.

Floss, An Autumn Wren

 

Floss is a tiny autumn wren, dressed in a lovely autumn Liberty tana lawn fabric called Naiad for A/W2023. Her underskirts are cinnamon woven gingham and cream tulle lace and she has the new birdy feet. Finished with tiny buttons, organza ribbon and an embroidered sampler sachet with a tiny wren hoop brooch that you can wear yourself should you want to!
As always no paint is used to delineate her plumage on her head, wings and tiny tail, they are all hand embroidered. She has citrine to her heart with rosemary in her stuffing for a gentle fragrance and for autumn.
I can express the joy I have in making these tiny birds, I so love their embroidery. Over the years they have become smaller and more delicate until they are now less than 20cm and just sit in your hand.
I tend to make birds that I find in my garden and i am going to expand my range to include Robins, Siskins and Long Tailed Tits. We have resident Nuthatches but I would need to work out their head as although a passerine they have a definate shape to heir head. At some point there will be Grey Wagtails and Greenfinches. All welcome visitors to our garden.

Witch Sybilla, The Botanist

 

This is tiny Witch Sybilla, named for Maria Sybilla Merion the noted botanist and botanical illustrator from the 17th centuary. She is the botanist and the herbarium keeper of the Guardian Witchs' Hedge.
Dressed in a beautiful Tim Holtz print in a rich botanical floral with pistachio green ginham underskirts and white tulle lace. Her wool felt hat is brown with a tiny button and she carries both a sampler sachet and a tiny broom for quick trips around the hedgerow.
Stuffed with chamomile to her stuffing and citrine to her heart she is a gentle and knowing soul with good intentions to all. Finished with organza ribbon, tiny buttons and detachable hoop brooch with an orange gingham rose, her tiny leather boots allow her to stomp around the hedgerow when not flying. If you peep you can see she has a tiny brass witch's hat charm to her sampler!
These Witch Guardians have been a joy to make and the fabrics where from a bring and buy event find at my local village hall a couple of years ago. Odd tiny pieces that are not much use to any but for tiny dolls. I do love a find!
Have a wonderful weekend and my warmest wishes to you all xx

Witch Pomme, A Mabon Wren

 

This is Witch Pomme, a little Mabon Apple Witch. She sports a tiny burundy wool felt witch's hat and carries a tiny broom. Dressed in Acufactum's Apple Harvest Print she is a tiny little character celebrating Mabon or the Autumnal Equinox Second Harvest - The Fruit Harvest. The first harvest is the grain harvest in Summer but the Fruit Harvest happens in September. So think apples, pears, plums and blackberries with acorns and beech mast thrown in.
This tiny little witchy wren has an apple embroidered onto her pistachio green underskirt, supported with cream tulle lace and cream broderie anglais drawers. Carrying her tiny broom she also has a hand embroidered wren hoop as a charm with buttons and a little acorn. She has citrine to her heart with rosemary and applewood to her stuffing.
Mabon is a realtively new expression of the Harvest Home of old or Alban Elfed. You can celebrate this festival of the harvest with hearty apple and blackberry puddings, rich root vegetable stews with dumplings and the odd glass of cider! We have been enjoying a Mabon festival meal for several years now. Just celebrating the turning of the cycles of the year and enjoying the fecunditiy of the garden. We have apple trees in huge pots and two at the woodland margin in the woods themselves. They don't give a huge amount of fruit but are there with their blossom for the bees and the bullfinches in spring. Mabon traditionally falls on the Equinox itself, so 21/22 of September or you can wait as we do for the nearest full moon which this year falls on Saturuday 26th of September. We will have a walk through the woods at Rivington and then Reuban cooks and I make traditional custard with eggs and cream. Yum! xx

A Grand Day Out, Missies and Nippers by Annie Montgomerie at YSP

 

Annie Montgomerie 'Missies and Nippers' YSP until 1 November 2026
What a great day out! Reuban, David and I went to Yorkshire Sculpture Park to see Annie Montgomerie's new collection of thirty amazing dolls. If you are around West Bretton any time before 1 November it is really worth a visit.
Each character is unique and hand crafted. They are built onto vintage doll bodies with vintage accessories and beautiful individual costumes with original details like all their shoes and tights.
I absolutely loved this show and as always I covet the lamb! Annie's first dolls where lambs and they have changed over the last twenty or so years but each is SO lamb! Some are a little sad and some a little vulnerable but each is a delight.
There is never an exhibition catalogue to Annie's shows but this time around there is a little calender which features all the dolls as well as lots of postcards, tote bags, lunch boxes and stickers to remember the exhibition by. Should you be flush all the dolls are for sale in the exhibition but most are sold and for those with slightly smaller pockets a vinyl doll is available to take home in a limited number edition.
We worth a visith and we really enjoyed the day. If you are not familiar with YSP it is a full day, with so many sculptures to see over a vast acreage so bring your wellies or your walking boots. There is a great tea room with delightful cakes and hot food too. We always take a picnic with Reuban's MCAS you can never be sure he would be OK eating out but David and I have one of their lovely cakes which was scrummy.
Just £10 to get in with free parking, YSP is a great day out without breaking the bank and Anniie Montgomerie's exhibition was worth braving the truly terrifying M62!