Hummingbird gift

My sister Vicky recently did a illustration project on Hummingbirds, she has now become quite obsessed with the curious little things, delving through odd facts and sketching from cabinets of taxidermy at The National History Musuem.  According to my own brief research on the birds, they have no sense of smell, are the smallest bird, and their twig like feet are quite ornamental; mainly used for delicate perching on branches. I decided to turn my embroidered bird into a festive decoration for her. I first had stitched it on a vintage offcut when left alone and bored with toppling suitcases and camping bags at a train station in Ipswich last summer. I used ribbon rosette stitch for the flowers and running stitch for the outline, the beak is plumply filled with an orange fill in stitch.
Victoria's presents were mostly hummingbird bird related; an old Ladybird book with a child's pencil sketches on the back pages, the hummingbird bakery cookbook, a hummingbird decoration, minature kitsch diary and dolly print cupcake cases all wrapped in liberty fabric and fastened with lace that I found on a piano. I hope we can make some of the delicious cakes in the Hummingbird bakery cookbook soon, veganising them of course.

Christmas evening craft

This Christmas I wanted to make as many home-made presents as possible.My first creations were rocking horse stamps later attached to cards. Very Art Brut. I also made a lot of biscuits that I wrapped in cellophane and gave to my friends and Grampy. My finest creation was Mr Fox for my little sister Lily.

Transformed into rocking horse stamp cards for my friends.

Vegan spiced biscuits-marvellous. Later wrapped in cellophane and fastened with a jolly coloured ribbon for edible Christmas presents.

Merry Christmas from a visit to Grampy in Chester. I visited a book shop on the wall and picked up a picnic basket for mother's home-made hamper.

Mr Fox for Lily handmade Christmas gift

Introducing MR FOX- An absurdly formal name for such a wondorous creature. (He shall be thus renamed by Lily...)

Embroidered tail- rather flimsy I would say.

Bold orange button completes amber colour coordination to a T.

Christmas Eve impatience, sigh.

BRILLIANT! Thanks Rebecca.

Delcious vegan mince pies

On Christmas Eve I prepared the ingredients for vegan mince pies.

Pastry shaped stars trap chunky dates, ground almonds and amber coloured sultanas cradled in their pastry beds, and glued together with melted margarine. Sprinkled with bitter sweet icing sugar, that sticks to your teeth.

Monday Evening craft

Monday's Winter Craft

 Clown Mouse burrows for juggling balls stitched out of felt that he finds in holes in walls and unlocked suitcases. He was most pleased at acquiring three matching coloured balls which brought him a delight so great his button nose turned a fantastic bright red and crooked an extra spring in his tail.

Ingredients for gluten free, vegan shortbread.

Sunday evening card making and sleeping fabric owl.

 

  Ebony painted rocking horses

 

Mustard coloured shortbread with brown sugar sprinkles and buttons of raw cacao.

Winter blister

The white stuff has returned, which I think is quite a bother. I'm not a fan of the cold and my hands now need regular oiling to stop from flaking away. Hopefully travelling down south (If I make it in the ghastly sludge) will be warmer.

Today I have been researching the traditional European circus as one of the stories for my creative writing dissertation. My protagonist is named Bernard, he lives in an Oddity shop but rarely leaves his castle of dirty teacups that frame his slouched body. He repeatedely twiddles his fingers as they are used to repititive movement due to his past clown profession. He was the finest juggler in the land.
In my evening I slid down the treacherous ice glazing the streets of Manchester to The Thirsty Scholar for The Vegan Girl's Guide to Life book signing by author Melisser Elliot. 'A cross-stitching, protesting, vegan baking fairy Godmother', the words of author of Vegan with a Vengence, Isa Chandra Moscovitz. The book did look interesting, there were guides to what to feed the non vegans in your life,(no vegan cheese, please) setting up an eco enterprise and where to get the vegan tattoos which apparantly are compulsory for the non animal eating ladies. I did not purchase a book as I had £9 and the book was £12. Melissa seemed to enjoy the cupcake I brought her (left over from my housemate's birthday party). A pumpkin and carob chip delight. The rest have been distributed to my Sunday running club and my writing workshop companions. I am off to London on Thursday to see Alice in Wonderland at The Little Angel Theatre and attend a Christmas Craft fair run by Selvedge magazine.
The snow would have melted on my megabus return.

On Monday please attend sandbar for a fine night of poetry and storytelling at Sandbar, Oxford Road. Feauturing Joseph Dobson, Belinda Johnston and myself.

Threads and Letters

My new fanzine is coming together- A self publication about literature and textiles . I thought you would like to have a sneak peek at what it will most likely include:

Secret Button archive artcile and photos
Ecological sewing
Embroidered poetry
Paper windmills

I'll keep you posted.