The spirit of.......

I was trying (very hard) not to think about Christmas at the moment, but as I've had requests for these......

........ it's hard not to. But now they are made, and some are in my Folksy shop, I can get on with the things at hand.
I am currently working on some new knitted projects, they are special requests so I won't be showing them until they are completed and in their new homes.
The chair I was painting for my little room is still white. This is because I can't yet make my mind up as to which of the fabrics I'm going to use for the seat cushion. I wouldn't have thought it would proove to be so difficult, but it is! Anyway, I have fabric and paints.....

....on hand ready, for when the decision has been made. In the meantime I am still stilling on my old wicker chair!
As a collector (hoarder some would say) of all things crafty, I have come up with an idea for using some of this gorgeous fabric

.....I do have quite a collection of the Christmas designs.....

.......but this one, I think....

....could be used all the year round.

Maybe I'll be using these too!
I've been given some beautiful wallpapers samples, flocks, animal and reptile prints and some really traditional patterned ones. In my effort not to waste a scrap, I've been cutting just a few squares out and trying out some ideas...

...this is just a sneak preview, (all will be revealed shortly) and I shan't be throwing anything away as the small leftover bits are going to be used in a mosaic, I have some cigar boxes to "work" on. I've also been trying out distress inks, embossing and mica powders on some cream wallpaper with a beautiful ornate raised design on it. (I have a full roll of this one). The results so far are wonderful, especially with the Cosmic Shimmer powders.
But I have to stop playing, for now. Lunch is beckoning, roasted butternut squash and red pepper soup with a crusty roll. After that, well it's housework which has to be done.
Happy days!

All kinds of everything!

Everyone who knows me would tell you that I love being busy. I can't just sit, whether it's in front of the tv or sitting in the garden, I have to be doing something. So, this is what I've been doing this last week or so.
After finishing some knitted orders...

..savoury and sweet....

....bright and pastel....

...sugary.......

...and fruity....

....I've also squeezed in some of my own personal projects. This is what I've been up to. First on the list was sorting out my colours.....

...I can (sort of) see what I have, (or need) for my next orders. It looks neater than it did, so I'm pleased I managed to get it into some sort of order...

....I managed to get all my paints/glues etc finally on the shelves...

...I can now see at a glance what I have and just take it off the shelf.
(I still have to sort my fabrics cupboard out though, next job!)
I've been printing some of my photographs for the family album and also playing with my Serif Craft software.....

....these are for some atc's which I shall be working on. I took some great pictures of birds of prey recently.
I've also been using some old cigarette cards...

...these are part of my late fathers' collection, which consists of stamps, cigarette cards, postcards, matchbox and cheese labels. I am hoping to trade some (in the near future)when they're sorted.
I've also been doing some transforming.
Take one chair (bought from Ikea for £6 in their bargain dept as it had a few dirty marks on it)....

....give it a couple of coats of white paint....

....and then.... well, I haven't got that far. I have to decide which finish to put on it and then make a seatpad for it. This is where sorting my fabrics comes in, there's a wardrobe full to go through. Here's just s sneak peak....

.... the picture was taken quickly as you can see!
So that's what I shall be (hopefully) working on at some point this week.
I shall still be knitting, that's always ongoing.
My neighbour popped in this morning and presented me with a huge bag of apples. So somewhere in this mix of things to do, I shall be making apple and apricot preserve, with some left over for an apple and blackcurrant pie.
All this and we're expecting the birth of our 5th grandchild, any day now.
Happy, happy days!