Tomorrow's travels- Preston

I shall be visiting my (twin) Lauren in her home town Preston tomorrow and hopefully going to see this amazing exhibition at the Harris art gallery and throw in a few charity shop snoops, sister heckles and parched peas. http://www.harrismuseum.org.uk/current-exhibitions/393-the-house-of-fairy-tales.html

Mr Fox name is revealed....

 He shall be hereafter named Freckles the fox, although he doesn't appear to be sporting any of the orange flecks upon his pointed face, the name nonetheless complements his orange boots, sagging bow tie and furry paws. Lily informed me that the french knots holding his threaded whiskers are like freckles. Well I say it is a rather fine name for the dangly legged one, what do you think?

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.