Untitled Childrens Bookcover .......

I`ve decided to have a go at doing a small childrens themed book . Since i got a few old books with cute images inside .... This is what i came up with so far ......

Holes are punched in at the left hand side , ready for me to bind it all ..... As i am hopefully doing the rest on thick watercolour paper , where as the cover is on card board .

There is something missing ..... the title to go on the front . But i`ve not come up with anything yet ! I do know that i have " artists block " right now .... Since i had the bad news today , that i have no job to go back to .... after just being on holiday for the past 2 weeks !


Maybe i`ll get my artful mojo back soon .......

Still here ... But Decorating My New Craft Room ...

Thought i`d better do a post update on my craft room decorating .. ...


It`s nearly finished ! Yipee !
I have 3 more pieces of my bird wallpaper to put on tomorrow .. Then i`m done !

It`s been a long slog getting here .... having to wait for the roof plaster to dry out .. painting 4 coats of white emulsion on the ceiling ... Yes 4 ... you read it right ! Then totally gutting it out and renewing the skirting boards . I finally got to do the best bit of papering . .. and i could see the progress on it the past few days .... Why does it always take you longer than you think to do something like this ?

I have been taking photos of it`s progress , and i hope to post some soon when everything is in place ... before i get to go in ... and make a mess of it all .. Hmmm .... I wonder how long it will keep tidy ? !

I am going furniture shopping tomorrow as well . I`ve decided to make my own desk , as well as some storage for all my supplies .... Think i`ll need loads of that !


It will be nice to have my own room ... And not to clutter up the downstairs back room , where i am at the moment . My partner is very patient , and understanding until now . But with all my collecting and creating .. it`s getting out of hand , and things are creeping into other rooms ! So i think he`ll be glad when it`s all done !


While i`m here ....... My dear friend Renee , is trying to get a host swap started soon .....
On Marie Antoinette theme , if anyone reading this is interested ??

If so .... Please click on her blog link ... And leave her a comment please ..... It would be great if even just a few people took part ... ....


Thanks !!!

" Homing Song " ..... Bird Collage ......

Back in the swing of crafting again .......



I have finished this bird collage tonight ........



Made on a piece of cardbard , new wrapping paper and tissue paper ........

I may have to redo the finished collage picture , in natural daylight though as it`s not as bright as i`d like !!















Vintage sheet music , text and doily .... from Amy ....











And the missing card from Amy`s swap package .........

The Farmhouse At Shieldhall ........ And Castle Visits ...

Here`s the lovely farm house in Northumberland , near Kirkhale , called Shieldhall , where we stayed , set in a courtyard with out buildings made into bedrooms for people to stay ..... Very rural setting , but gorgeous scenery ........

Our room on the end with a bench to sit out .......

Three other bedrooms . .. With a workshop on the left hand side , as the owner was a carpenter .....

Our view sat on the bench ........

Our bedroom .......

This was on the lawn part outside our window ...... but i`m not sure what it`s called !! It looked like some sort of grinder machine with a handle on the side ......

Inside the farmhouse , there were vintage items everywhere ! I didn`t know where to look first ...... All totally gorgeous .....

These were on our breakfast tables both mornings ......

Old bottles , watches , chains , spoons , thimbles , wine labels ..... all in silver .......

A statue on top of an old oak dresser ........

While away ... we always try to visit places of interest , like castles .......

This is Alnwick Castle ...... The best one i have visited this year !

The walk up to the castle .........

There were some birds of prey inside ......

This is Willow ... A south African owl ... Which you could stroke ... He was so soft ... and very cute ! ....

Various views from inside the grounds of the castle .......

The Buy I Sadly Missed ........

These are some clogs , as we call them here , that i DIDN`T buy !!

I saw them in the shop window , went inside , getting all excited , as i`d never seen any of this design before ...... . only to be told , they hadn`t my size in !
Needless to say .... I was a little disappointed .......

But next post is what i did buy ......

As Promised ....... More Holiday Buys ......

Here`s some of the goodies that i came across on my travels while in Northumberland ....

Tin Things ........

A small bird watering can ........

Two bucket container with handle ..........

Small decoupage " bucket " , not big enough for a waste basket ! Just to store things in ! .....

A painted wooden hook ........

Funky floral pair of scissors !

An egg tin ......

And never am i one to pass on anything to do with bags ... whether paper , material ..... these were too good to pass on buying ! .......

The same design as the little note book i got a few weeks back ......

A large floral shopper bag .......

Paper gift bag . .. With gorgeous pearl handles .....

Amy`s Swap Package Received !!

Here`s my package ! ....... The bird collage swap i did with Amy , along with other supplies as well . I did receive it on Tuesday , but was going away for a few days ... But here are the awesome goodies i got !

Just remembered to take a photo before opening them all ! ......

LOADS of bird images , doilies , playing cards , bird stamps.......

The collage !! .... Birds of a feather blog together ! ..... I love this Amy ;o) It will be going up in my craft room ...... And it`s made on a vintage shoe box !!

Vintage German glass birds..... WOW ! ......

One for me to decorate myself ! Love the colour purple ..........

Vintage cards and an Artist Trading card as well ! .........

More cute bird cards ...... . One is missing ... as i`m on with another bird collage .....

All these were in this gorgeous bird themed tin , which Amy had altered herself ! The little bird on the house is so cute ! .....

... Yes even more birds ! ..... 2 vintage pink feathered variety ! I finally have some and in a decorated basket too ! ... Along with some egg soaps , I got them so her kids wouldn`t have a go at eating them ! .......

The side of the basket with a beaded flower on .....

Thanks to Amy for taking part in my first swap ...... I really enjoyed making the collage and collecting the goodies for her ......

We already have another one organised later in the year .......

Back From A Few Days Away ...... With cute cupcakes .....

Well here i am back from a few days away , in Northumberland . It was a nice break from the "norm " , but here i am just to give you all a peak at a few buys i`ve done ! More will follow tomorrow ......

Fancy a cup of tea with a fancy cake anyone ? ..... These were from Hexam Abbey shop . This was the gorgeous display inside the shop . I walked out before going back in and buying some of these wonderful goodies ! As i thought i`d never get to knit some myself , and would regret not buying them when i arrived home with out them ! .......

Which one will you choose ?? .....

Or how about both of them ! ......

Or just a piece of strawberry cake ? .........

All together on a cream lattice cake stand that i had to buy as well , to display them all on ....... Enjoy !! .....

Last Post For a Few Days .......

I`m on holiday now .... But i thought i`d show you my beaded birdie i got yesterday ...


Here he his ........ isn`t he cute !

He`s a gorgeous pale blue colour , and the beads really make him shimmer ... . I love him

I bought him from Beth Quinn designs , on her Etsy shop ....... Along with the other goodies below ......

I love this doily , and the tiny crochet ones too ! .......

There was also some vintage ric rac , buttons , lace ... and some pom pom fringing that i`ve been after for ages ......

Thanks to Beth for providing such great items to buy !! .....

I`m not sure how long it will be before i post again ...... It`s decorating time here ! Then off for a few days away , of which i hope to make some finds along the way ... of course !

See you all later !! .........