Silk Ribbon Delight

Such a lovely way to spend a couple of hours :O)  I need more silk ribbons to make up the kits for the Christmas ornaments so I pulled out the dyes and started to play :o)  Pretty pretty.  Next up are a few purples and maybe some greens.  I don't know why but it doesn't matter how many green ribbons or threads you may have - it is never enough or never exactly the right one ......
These pinks and yellows are set and rinsed, just need pressing to smooth them out and then they will be ready to pop into the packs.
Can you see the picture of a sewing machine at the back?  That's a new one called George - due here in the next week or so, ready for demo to customers ........ I'll let you know how I get on .......... :o)

Meeting Up

You know - the BEST thing about doing an Open Studio event such as the South Hams Art Trail - is that you get to meet so many lovely people!  I'm tucked away in my little village, on a headland and off the beaten track, and yet visitors have still come along to see how it all works :O)  And I get to stay in my Studio ALL week - which can't be bad!
The weather has changed now, damp and foggy today so I'm expecting it to be rather quiet.  I doubt if I will be able to hang quilts outside any more this year either, which is a shame because they look lovely blowing gently in the sunshine.  Just have to hang more inside!  Not quite sure where  though!  hehe  I do have a little extra room in the Studio now, as Martin and Ian have put up a hanging rail in the rafters so I'm going to spend some time today filling that :O)
If you're a craft maker - check out your local events and join in - its great fun!

Art Trail Starts

Another busy week ahead :o)  South Hams Art Trail started yesterday and luckily it was a lovely day so I was able to hang a couple of quilts outside in the garden.  A few visitors braved our Devon country lanes and called in and I get such a kick when they open the Studio door and are amazed to find my Aladdin's Quilter Version Cave inside - hehehe   I have a few things to catch up with this week - mainly customer quilts and preparing the kits for the little Tree Ornaments.  Once they are done I can play a little on the longarm machine so - watch this space!

Dreary day ......

It was a rather dreary day yesterday, very misty but not cold anyway :o)  This is my garden, looking out from the back door yesterday morning - still plenty of flowers out as you can see!  The sweetpeas have finally finished though - they were SO late starting this year and I've never been able to keep them this long! The pale pink you can see to the left are roses - that's just one bush and its been an absolute mass of blooms throughout the summer.  Really pretty :O)

I worked on two more Christmas designs, getting ready for the Craft Fair at Ashburton next month.

A great way to spend a damp dreary day :O)

I LOVE Christmas!

Yes yes I know!  It's only October.  But ......... I LOVE Christmas!  hehehe
I love the anticipation, the colours, the sparkles, the spicy smells, the candles, the lights - everything!  I love visiting the garden centres and seeing all the new grottoes with all the different twinkly lights and decorations.  They can't put those up early enough for me!
I leave our strings of lights up all year :O)  They are wonderful night lights, especially when you're up really early and can't face the full glare of the top light in the kitchen.  Or now that the nights are drawing in earlier and earlier - they are very cheery to come home to.  I have them strung along the outside of my Studio and inside along the back hall.  Which reminds me - my husband needs to check out the electrickery candle array I have on the shelf, as I think the fuse has blown again ...... ;o)

 I bought more tinsel on Friday.  I found some lovely bright peridot and  dark green stuff at the garden centre.  I confess - I debated about getting it - but not for long.  I learnt my lesson last year - I'd found some really pretty garlands but was talked out of buying them as it was *too early to get that stuff* ....... of course - when I went back - they'd all gone :O(  Sooooo ...... this year - I bought it when I saw it!!
Any guesses about the colour theme for my decorating for 2012?  hehe

As you can see - I've been working on a few more of the little tree ornaments.  I'm making those into kits to sell - bells, stockings, Tree, little birdie, an angel .......  I have a table at the Ashburton Christmas Fayre on 24 November so I want to get a few things ready to sell there.  Watch this space ....... :O)

Fun Fun FUN ..... :O)