2025 Has Arrived

Well okay almost a month and a half since New Years Day. Better late than never. One resolution for me is to post on my blog more regularly, have let it slide over the years, mainly as no longer part of any blog hop. Is this still such a thing? Will have to do a bit of investigative work. 

On the investigative work part have just finished a Detective Flip Flop folio, full of pockets, tags, journalling cards and a removable journal with aged page edges, after the lady detective to whom it belongs has been working hard at her craft, well worn but still plenty of room for you to enter your own notes. https://folksy.com/items/8467739-Folio-Detective-Flip-Folio-2025-37-PB12

Video on You Tube to give a clearer picture:

https://youtu.be/nwFebMWRZU8?si=lVT8pGOopM5VrzYn

Keep meaning to also get back to my embroidery machine, do promise to start a project every day but then get distracted. Keeps looking at me accusingly every time I walk in the room.

Readers may have noticed I have gone back to my original love of vintage/shabby chic style. I love adding lace to items and hopefully you will be seeing a lot of more of this styling in the future. 

Talking of lace, my trims were in a mess and made a pretty box drawer, knew the wrapping paper bought just in case would come in handy.

Finishing on some sad news we lost are beautiful Golden Retriever on the 12th October, he battled to the end but went down rapidly over 5 days. We had to make the decision, still miss him, the loss is getting easier now. Let the lady we bought him from know and she now has a new dog who she hopes to mate in April, all being well you may see another little bundle of fluff arrive. We have said if does not happen not mean to be.

Hew was a beautiful gentle dog very, very large but never growled in all his 13 years and 4 months. Just full of love and always enjoyed a cuddle. 

Thank you for reading, please leave a comment if you would like to. I do read all comments and appreciate your time.

Caroline x

August 2024 and a sort of Long, Hot, Summer.

After all the rain in spring, ruining bulbs and the frost killing off other plants. Summer has arrived but due to the unpredictably of our weather some of the leaves on the shrubs and trees are turning already! Will soon be buying violas and pansies to fill the pots with winter colour.

After 2 bad falls, both really self inflicted. The first my foot went to sleep, instead of waiting for the feeling to come back, loud crack, bruised and swollen for about 10 days, had to resort to a walking stick. Second fall. Locked ourselves out of the house, borrowed next doors ladder. Before Lee had a chance I shot up the ladder, through the window. The promptly fell of the window sill into the room. Foot hurt again, bruised knee and arm plus ended up with a black eye and squished glasses as hit the waste bin! Not going near a ladder ever again!

Onto creating have a lot of new items in my Folksy shop. The mist recent are in the Newly Listed section. A montage for your perusal.

Happy Summer

Caroline 

June 2024 Where did the year go?

 Just checked and been an over year since I last posted a blog. What have I been doing? Most of last year and this have been decluttering the house. My craft studio in particular has masses of stuff, do not know why I bought in the first place and not likely to be used. I am trying to have a no buy year but not happening atm, always run out of glue and other necessities. Cannot create without glue or thread!

Been using up paper pads, which let’s face it we all buy because! Then they sit there looking at you accusingly every time you open the box, use me, use me. Making a lot of ephemera packs, recently listed fingers crossed they sell. 

Our 2011 iMac is on its last legs and doing weird things, had to bite the bullet and order another from John Lewis along with a new printer. Not long had the one we have got but does not do back to back printing automatically and as DH is technically challenged thought would change for a better one at the same time. Should be here by Friday, then the set up begins. 

For the month of June have been doing a Creep on June challenge, started by Tracie Fox Designs. Loads of videos to watch on You Tube each day along with brilliant printables to enable one to take part. Along with a journal, loads of tags and pockets plus a box to store everything inside. All now listed in my Folksy shop.

Off for a rest after all the creating, have fun and I will be back

Caroline xx

April and should be Spring

 Looking out the window on the 1st April and all I can see is rain, however the tete a tete's happy faces are there. Cheering what would otherwise be a dreary day.

Not posted in a while and admit have let my blog go but instead of a New Year resolution a spring one to start with posts of what I hope the coming month will bring.

Today sorting my accounts for the year end. See what has sold and what has not, then decisions to make. In the meantime I have got an ongoing sale of a lot of stock, check out the image below:

On My Machine

Hooped ready to go is a cream organza, the plan to stitch a pretty design and make into bridal wrist decoration tied with cream ribbon.

Other creations planned for April

Some more needle keepers but this time trying with fabric, these sold out last time and are so handy when needle working.

Ephemera packs. Love vintage style ephemera and the plan to make some more of these, have proved very popular in the past.

Now this will take sometime but a fabric journal with lots of dainty rose embroideries, lace, tuck spots, pockets and places to write your thoughts. This is something that will be created page by page in between lots of new paper creations.

Easter to look forward to and DH's Birthday about 2 weeks later. 

We have started a new project in the garden. After trying to regrow the grass under the trees for the last few years to no avail, have given up and ordered some recycled flexiborder edging. Should be here by Monday and weather permitting will get that in place. On the 10th going to the farm shop to order some shingle, this area will have stepping stones for pots and Campanula planted in amongst the stones I love this little plant, a burst of colour and spreads so well. The ones we have on the garden have doubled in a year.

Still looking for a solar water feature but struggling to find the right one. There is one out there that will appear just when we need it.

Okay that is it from me will post again on the 1st May and see what I have or not! achieved the past month.

Happy Spring

Caroline

New creations for September 2022

 Well looking a lot like Autumn, the trees are turning and not the end of August yet! Still Autumn is one of my favourite times of year, along with Spring. The colours of the leaves are stunning when in full swing and all part of life's process.

Been working on a collection for September, not finished yet but time has got away from me and the new month arrives tomorrow.

Starting with a Jane Austen themed print in pink and black, depicting Roslings, Pemberley, Netherfield and Longbourn manor houses. Silhouettes of Regency people. Pink pom poms to embellish. 

Marie Antoinette lavender sachet decorated with oodles of lace and rose trim.

Mini desk calendars ready for 2023.

Sewing themed tags in blue or pink.

First of 6 cotton printed lavender sachets of a Queen Bee, including a matching tag.

Second set of lavender sachets as before.

Not sure will manage another 19 items for the Folksy Daily Challenge but will see how I go.

Have also been working on Birthday and Christmas gifts, almost finished just waiting for a delivery from Amazon today. While waiting may make a start on the Christmas cards to go with the gifts.

On a personal front flu jabs booked for a Saturday in September, expect to get the Covid booster reminder soon as well.

Thank you for reading, now off to my craft room to start creating. Until next time.....

New creations for August 2022

 Just looked and have not posted for ages. What have I been doing? Well lockdown for one, started off okay but then got very restrictive but did as we were told. A dreadful couple of years and still not out the woods yet.

Used some of my time to combine my workroom which was too cold in the winter and my sewing room into one. Oh boy why did I have so much stuff! Loads went to charity may regret at some point but honestly had enough to open a shop! Took the adage if not looked at or used would go. The local charity shop in the next village were very happy with my donations, they had had some real rubbish landed on their doorstep. So unfair to offload pure junk to them to have to dispose of.

Once the room was tidy found my mojo came back and started to creat, now have approx 850 items in my Folksy shop.

Today (Sunday 7th August) it is beautiful outside, clear blue sky and not a cloud in site, gentle breeze and not too hot. All that changes on Wednesday through to Saturday and the heat returns in the ‘90’s. will be sitting with fans and loads of iced water to drink.

Okay back to creating a sample of my August creations, Marie Antoinette has appeared again.  Vintage styling my favourite and as per normal found myself gravitating towards this genre again. 

I do hope you have enjoyed my journey over the past two years.

Stay safe and cool

Caroline

By the Sea

 Finally finished my latest collection this week, been in the pipeline for a while but those Mermaids finally came out of the deep blue sea to help with the stitching.

I love the sea, gentle waves lapping on the shore line, chiming of the rigging on the boats in a harbour, seagulls soaring overhead. Children laughing and playing happy to be out and about. Ice Cream vendors streaming their happy tunes.

My new collection is in colours of turquoise, blue and sand including gifts and cards.

All in stock in my Folksy Store click here to view

Next project something yellow and happy.