Frida and Freya - tiny peg dolls

I thought I would just share these little dainties with you, I have been working on them over my quiet part of this winter season, all the orders went out on time, even last minute requests and I can start anew in January.  For some time I wanted to make a peg doll kit for grown ups - with lots of little beads and buttons and ribbon.  I tried these out on a few people and the over whelming request was for a doll that they could copy or just get ideas from.  So I had so much fun designing these little cuties.  They are made from tiny little pieces of Tilda Fabric with a tiny net underskirt and a double top skirt.  They have a fitted blouse and button jointed arms all finished off with a big ribbon bow, silver charm and a button.  I topped these off with a nifty button hat.   Each kit comes with a painted peg with stand and a plain peg with stand to give people a choice of their own creation or a little help along the way. I am writing a set of instructions to clarify the way I have worked them and boy is that harder than it looks.  Since making the actual little girls I have been asked to make the dolls to sell alongside the kits and I am going to give it a go because they are so pretty and such fun to make.  I hope you like them and I would be interested in any comments you have, this is still a work in progess and would love any hint or ideas you might have.  Well best wishes and have a great day.

Friday Folksy Finds - Winter Trees

I want to wish everyone warmest thoughts for the season and thinking on the season, for how long have we brought greenery into the house in winter.  It is such an ancient tradition that I decided to look at trees in winter, not greenery just trees.  The bare winter trees are so evocative of the season and on a cold crisp morning with frost on them they are truly beautiful.

By Twiggd

 I am a big fan of Twiggd's shop and all the wooden badges and brooches.  This is another lovely brooch of winter twigs, they are beautifully made and robust,making a nice addition to your winter wardrobe.  The rugged wood looks good on your winter fleece.

By Lily Apples Art

 What a magnificent tree, caught on a frosty morning in the sun - so winter wonderful.  This print is by Lily Apples and says so much about winter for me.

By Nina Rethalia

 I thought these tiny silver winter twig earings were just grand.  I have never seen this done before and think they would make a great statement about the celebration of the wintertide festival.  I think they are better than the usual firt trees and holly, sophisticated and shabby chic.

By Perfectly Glass

 Get this elegant piece of landscape glass in front of a window in winter sun and I think it will glow.  Its haunting and captivating all at the same time.  Perfectly Glass makes some interesting pieces and are worth having a peek at - this was my favourite though.

By The Way to Blue

I like these cyanotype prints and imagine they look even better lit.  I am not sure how they have done it but the pattern of branches and twigs seems without a repeat and would add to a winter room.  Again they do a range of scenes, all in monochrome blue that really capture the heart of the season.

Well these are my finds for this drizzly Boxing Day, I hope you all enjoy the rest of the holiday and have a great and happy New Year.

Friday Folksy Finds - Winter Flowers

A gift of winter daffodils has inspired this week's selection, we have tips of snowdrops showing and that always gives me a warm feeling.  The year is about to be reborn and nature is stirring even on these cold, dark days. 

By Jane Crick

 I have recently bought my Christmas wrapping and tags from this lady and they were a pleasure to receive, so I can heartily recommend her products and I love this winter allium card.  The crisp blues of the seed head as so winter.

By Fat Cat Silver

 This is a sterling and fine silver mistletoe leaf necklace with gems, the the 'gems' look so like mistletoe and the silver leaf is an actual cast of a mistletoe leaf making this a wonderfully seasonal and beautiful necklace.

Down to Earth

These are naturally rusted, textured metal balls and rods made to look like the flower heads of alliums just before they open.  The would be a welcome addition to a winter border, giving support to other plants and a strong line against grasses and winter seed heads.

By Fizz Studio

 This giclee print by Fizz Studio is so winter, you can feel the snow on those hardy little blooms.  I am very fond of snowdrops having many different ones in the garden and it always amazes me how something so delicate can be so tough.  Fizz Studio have some lovely prints, all inspired by nature, they even one that shows the return of the swallows in summer, well worth having a look.


By Kisten Moore Contemporary Jewellery

This is a twisted Ophelia snowdrop necklace, there are matching ear studs and all are inspired by the Secret Garden by Francis Hodgson Burnett.  This pretty little necklace comes on an 18 inch chain and is hall marked silver.  A gorgeous winter gift.

Well these are my finds for this week and I did enjoy choosing them.  This afternoon we are off to Oxheys Mill in Preston to attend a Ceremony for Bringing in the New Year by a Native American Shaman.  Becca has been invited and we are going to have a new experience! Keep warm and well and my best wishes.

Another Lovely Afternoon - Treat and Be Treated

Just had a wonderful afternoon in Clitheroe with my darling daughter Rebecca and my dear friend Isobel.  We went to see the winter exhibition at the Platform Gallery - Treat and Be Treated. Since the change to gallery/ tourist information office some of the exhibitions have been a bit ropey but not this one.  It is on from now until the 10th of January 2015 and its well worth a visit.  There is something for every budget and taste.  They have a wide range of interesting & unusual decorations and cards but the strength of the exhibition is the craft items themselves.  We followed the exhibitions entreaty to
Treat and Be Treated, finding small pieces for ourselves and some timely last minute gifts.  There is some lovely glass by Collette Halstead and even a large piece by Halima Cassell, with some tiny framed pieces from her as well. 

By Timea Sido Ceramics

There was a range of delightful ceramics from the delicate pieces from Timea Sido to sculptural pieces and animal forms. I particularly liked these little resin pieces by Leigh Shephard, they were different and beautifully made, including tiny little tins for a few precious things.  I fell in love with these scarves by Annie Neill, they were such vibrant colours and so soft, really special.  So if you have an hour or so to spare and are looking for something different for someone close try this exhibition it will be worth your while.  A scrumptious lunch, as always, at Cheesy Tchaikovsky tucked away down a little side street - bread to die for!



By Leigh Shephard

By Annie Neill

Friday Folksy Finds - Robins

As we get closer and closer to the longest day I am all things winter and robins in winter are one of my favourites.  Our lovable but voracious birder, Pusspuss (terrible name!) keeps many birds at bay but the stalwart robins are regularly seen in and out of the garden.  I have a bird hanger just with robin food and it is well used by the die hard robins and one or two other brave passerines.  Our other regular visitors include a resident family of magpies that eat Pusspuss's dinner and a gang of long tailed tits who arrive in a noisy bundle, raid the garden of spiders and leave.  But the robins are always around and their stroppy, strutty selves are a pleasure to see.  There are, as you would expect, alot of Christmas robins in all their glory but I wanted to find winter robins or all year round robins that appealed to me.  So here goes. 

By Elizabeth S Murray

 I think this is stunning, worked in silver and enamel, the form and the colours sit so well together to make such an elegant piece of work.  Her other pieces are many bird forms, bird eggs and flowers, all just as subtle and as delicate.  Very lovely.

By Kate Broughton

 This card by Kate Broughton is such fun and so practical.  The robin print is well done and it looks good on the recycled brown card stock but the twist of a parcel of bird seed just makes it that bit more quirky and special.  I have seen this done before but I think Kate does it best.

By fiona t

 All of fiona t 's zombie embroideries are great, she makes tiny zombie foxes and zombie panda figures and a whole host of sketchbooks and journals with zombie animals but I find her zombie robin just so cute.  He sits well on journal covers and particularly well on this book mark, not all Fiona's robins are zombies, there are some cute robins that are not undead but I like this one.

By The Cotton Potter

 This fiesty fellow is by the Cotton Potter and her work is just stunning.  I have bought work by her and it arrives in a tiny bird sized box, with nesting material, two feathers and a chocolate egg, all of which just adds to the excitment of the gift.  Her work is robust and beautifully made, this cheeky little chap on the spade is so perfect, the tweed fabric lending itself so well to the form of the bird.  Check her out, she does lovely work.


By Witty Dawn

Witty Dawn was also Audrey's Cat, until spring this year when she rebranded her shop.  Witty Dawn is all things vintage, her creations are wonderful and whimsical but are made extra special by her use of vintage fabrics.  Her robin is quite unlike any robin I have seen but he is so attractive and robiny that he becomes appealing, I think he make a brilliant hanging.

Well these are my finds for this week, there are so many non christmas robins on Folksy that I could have had ten easily.  The Way to Blue make gorgeous cyanotype lamp shades and The Linen Cat has really quirky hanging robins but you have to stop somewhere.  I have now posted out my last Christmas doll, never got any on Folksy as they all sold before I could paste them on the shop, but I'm glad they sold.  Next year I think I must start Lancashire Witches in June ready for October and Christmas Dolls around August to have enough for the shop as well.  I am so grateful that it has been such a good year.  I am off now to make a final batch of Christmas Cards for a stall my friend is having over the weekend and then I'm done for this year.  Really, really happy and looking forward to next year and all those lovely dollies.  Warmest winter wishes and keep well.

A Lovely Afternoon at the Little Northern Contemporary Craft Fair

By Beverley Holmes-Wright

Well, what a lovely afternoon, have always enjoyed the big one back in October but the LNCCF is so intimate and the artists are different.  Lots and lots of jewellery and Becca fell in love with Chris Boland's designs using bold geometry and interesting semi precious stones.  I, however, really enjoyed the textiles.  No dolls sadly but some very good work.  Beverley Holmes-Wright, you can find her at 'stitchingforthesoul.co.uk', makes such pretty wall pieces using differing machine techniques to create floral motifs.  Also Liz Cooksey, at 'LizCooksy.com', again embroidery but using wire in a very interesting ways.  She has leaping animals vaulting floral wire and embroidery frameworks, sounds odd but works very well.  Not an embroidery but working with natural materials, wood, shell and feathers, Jane Bevan's work is well worth a look.  All my life I have wanted to successfully make work using natural materials, the closest I came was wild flower pictures back in the 80's courtesty of Penny Black's books but Jane Bevan does it effortlessly.  Her free standing pieces and her collages are a delight to behold.  Next year, around the beginning of December look out for details of this event, there's always a pop up tea room and plenty of parking.  Its well worth an afternoon for inspiration and last minute Christmas presents!





By Liz Cooksey



By Jane Bevan





Friday Folksy Finds - Winter Hare

We never see hares at home because we live near the woods but my dear Aunty Irene lives on the moss at Farington and on winter walks you do see the hares.  Becca and I went for a quick wander about last night and under the moonlight we saw a couple of hares crossing one of the fields.  It was magical.  They were off in the distance but you could tell they were hares by the loping gate and I think any rabbits would have been in bed as it was just going dark.  This inspired my choices for this week and I love what I found.

By ChasingtheCrayon

This is lovely print.  The illustration is beautifully detailed with the style lending itself so readily to a winter scene.  I would love to see this design made up into a fully size doll, the patterning on the dress would be so good to work with as a fabric design.

By ArtyEmily

This is stunning, the embroidery is so well done.  I love embroidery and still manage to do a fair bit myself, but the detail she has achieved to capture the fur of the hare show consumate skill.  It works so well being only partially completed.  Emily has just got that stare when you surprise a hare, really good.

By The Ruby Range

I have enjoyed The Ruby Range for some time, being another doll maker I greatly enjoy seeing Andria's creations.  This little Winter Hare is chock full of whimsy and would make a delightful addition to a child's bedroom.  I just love the nose and the knitted sweater.


By Them Silver Seas Jewellery

Them Silver Seas have some wonderful hare jewellery and it was hard to chose just one hare but this one had everything.  The moon and the hare caught is such a great idea and I enjoy all the detail around the main subject.  I never wear jewellery but I do appreciate good pieces and this is very sweet and powerfully totemic at the same time.

By Louise Jenkins Illustration

This illustration by Louise Jenkins is a piece of three dimentional wall art, made up of several layers of watercolour paper to give the effect.  It is unframed and to be wall mounted.  I think the hare and the moon surrounded by winter flowers and tiny details is just very pretty.  The piece is really engaging and has so much to look at you see new details every time you glance at it.  Check out her other illustrations they a very good and well worth a view.

 

When I started to look I was surprised at how many wonderful hare related pieces there are.  If you have enjoyed these exampes or like me are a fan of the humble hare, check our Sophie Ryder's website for some monumental Lady Hare sculptures.  They are fantastic, the sheer scale when you see one in the flesh is a knock out.  My warmest wishes to you all.

A Truly Grand Day Out - Bath Christmas Market

Well, what a great day out.  We have just come back from a long weekend in Georgian Bath and considering I felt grotty, we had a truly great time.  Bath is a lovely city at any time of year but the Christmas Market makes it even more special.  With the magnificent Bath Abbey as a backdrop, the market is made up of one hundred and fifty odd little sheds.  All lit up and decorated, selling a wide range of handmade and interesting gifts.  Lots of cheese, chutney and cider, and plenty of foodie stalls serving delicious treats, the pancakes were particularly good.  Also artisan crafts, great glass and jewellery but also wreaths, boxes, iron ware, bags, quirky clothing and soaps & balms plus lots and lots of other ideas.  It was cold but crisp and there was a great atmosphere, bear is mind that many sheds cannot take cards so you need plenty of cash - many of the cash machines around the market ran out of money, so go prepared.  We have a great Christmas Market quite close in Manchester City Centre but Bath was different and very enjoyable.  The festival is on until 14th December and I would heartily recommend it. 

It was a truly great day out, we had genuine Italian ice cream, even though it was freezing and a scrumptious meal at Raphael Bistro.  David had booked theatre tickets as a surprise, so we finished the day with Jeeves and Wooster at the Theatre Royal.  John Gordan Sinclair played Jeeves and he was so funny, very silly but so enjoyable. So that was my great day out, if you want a charming christmas experience, the Bath Christmas Market is a must.  If you can make it to the festival, give it a go its worth it.