TizDuster

Two robins sighted

More news from the bird table!

I have been trying for the past month to get a picture of the two robins that visit my bird table. As soon as they spot me picking up my camera they are off. This is the best I could manage, it was a dull day and I had to take it through the window. Nano seconds later the one on the left was airbourne.

It's unusual to see two robins on a birdtable together. As far as I can gather they might either be Continental Robins who are not so territorial or it may be too early for territorial behaviour.

Maybe one of you knows more?

Poppy challenge

I've been lucky enough to be picked out of the hat to take part in Jo Tinley's Poppy Challenge over on Daisychain Designs.

The idea is to make two of her lovely silver headpins into a decorative item, be it jewellery or something else.

I feel very honoured as I have long admired Jo's work and the tutorials she generously posts up on her blog.

I'll do my best to do the headpins justice.

 

The other people taking part in the Poppy Challenge are:

Jo Tinley                             Daisychain Designs

Marissa                                  Sea Flowers Studios

Molly Alexander                       Beautifully Broken Me

Kristi                                 Curiosities by K

Jennifer Cameron          Glass Addictions

 

Silver clay workshop

Last Saturday I got up bright and early and drove down to deepest Cambridgeshire to go to one of Silverpebble's (Emma Mitchell) silver clay workshops. I have admired Emma's work for some time now and have actually purchased some of her work at the Holt Pick and Mix Craft Market.

A last minute space came up on her workshop and it caught me at the right moment. I was just gazing disconsolately at a couple of packets of silver clay languishing on my shelf. I couldn't pluck up the courage to open the packets and get cracking.

After a morning with Emma and some very successful work I now feel inspired to get going again. I'm really pleased with this necklace and earrings I made. The button is destined to be partof a charm bracelet which I hope to finish by the next Aldborough Creative.

I can thoroughly recommend Emma's workshops, she is an excellent teacher and what's more she bakes a mean muffin!

 

Partial albino blackbird

Look at the unusual visitor we got on our bird table this morning - a partial albino blackbird.

He looks like a young bird to me and I've certainly not seen him about before.

It'll be interesting to see if he's going to be a regular.

Cat crazy

I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy of Cara's tutorial for her polymer clay sleeping cats.

So yesterday evening I made four!

They're cute aren't they? I'm not sure which is my favourite.

Christmas cake all gone

Remeber the Christmas cake I was so pleased with? Well it's all gone now and this is who polished off the remaining third while I was asleep! Maisy.

I wondered why she woke me up  to let her out in the middle of the night and why drank she about two bowls of water first thing this morning. Then on the floor under the dining room table I saw the empty cake tin. We'd forgotten to put the lid on properly.

Oh well that'll kick start me diet into operation!

She doesn't seem to be suffering from any ill effects, thank goodness. That's her Christmas pig on the floor with  her in the picutre. It grunts rather than squeaks. 

And on another note....

Thank you for all your sympathetic comments re the apple orchard. We are ringing the landowner this evening to see if we can save a part of it as a community orchard. I'll let you know how we get on.

Destruction of apple orchard

A large part of my life over the past 16 years or so has been walking our dogs in the nearby apple orchard. When we first moved here there was a pick your own apple scheme in operation every autumn which was a great activity with the kids. Then that changed and the apples were harvested for juicing. We could buy the juice locally which was a treat. 

This autumn it all changed again. Most of the apples were left to rot on the trees. Rumours went round the village as to what was happening then in December we heard machinery up there and look what's been done.

The trees are being uprooted and piled up to be burnt. Apparently, according to the landowner, there is no money in apple orchards.

It's really sad and everyone is upset to loose such a wonderful resource. But Dave and I have done our bit to try and help preserve some trees. We have rescued a couple and planted them in the garden. One tree is in the foreground below.

And another here. I have no idea whether they will thrive and I guess we won't know till the spring.

Fingers crossed. They have survived the recent high winds, so who knows?

Sky Scarf for 2012

Happy New Year to you all.

I have always wanted to keep a record of the weather each day for a year because I'm convinced it is actually better than we think it is. But I have never got round to it. So, when I found Lupin over on Bugs and Fishes talking about a Sky Scarf I knew this could be just the thing.

The idea is you knit a couple of rows each day with colours that match the sky and at the end of the year you have a scarf with random colours that recalls the weather pattern.

It's the brain child of Lea Redmond of Leafcutter Designs. I haven't had time yet to explore her site and see what other ideas she has.

 I ordered my wool from Deramores on the evening of 23rd December and it arrived just after Christmas in plently of time for me to start today. Here are the colours I chose. I have a feeling I should have got another pale blue shade, a darker grey and white. I'll order them now.

I'll post up the progress at the end of each month. Anyone want to join me?

Flying bird cards - and chickens

My friend at Bailey Hill Bookshop sent me four of these birds cards as a thank you for some Facebook work I did for her and because I admired them so much. They arrive flat and you just fold their wings and tails out.

I liked them too much to part with, so I've used them as decorations in our dining room. They gently turn around with the heat from the woodburner. I'm not sure if I'll take them down when we put the rest of the Christmas stuff away or not.

On closer inspection I found they come from a company in Norwich called Art Angels and are by Mark Hearld. Art Angels looks like a good place for those print makers among my readers as it claims to be currently considering new works and invites submissions.

....and chickens?

Well I think finally 2012 may be the year I get some chickens again. I have earmaked a shady space at the bottom of the garden that is redundant now I have moved the compost bin. So If I spend the next month or so clearing it up then I should be ready to get some feathered beauties in the spring.

It had to be done....

Along with many other people (including Miriam at 77 Belle) I got a kindle for Christmas. One of my children is ashamed of me and I just have to hope that two of my friends who own bookshops don't read this post! Sshh don't tell them.

And today I just had to make a cover for it. Luckily (or unluckily, depending how you look at it) I had a scarf that had gone wrong. 

Doesn't it look cute? A bit girly though.

I've enough scarf left to make a couple more. So lookout Folksy!