New Arrivals!

Look what arrived in my in-box recently...

I want one! Isn't that just the cutest thing? I feel some hedgehog related art coming on...

Speaking of new arrivals, I'm very proud because I have finally, finally got round to creating a new animal for Nat's Nest, introducing: Russell, the Fox Bandit...

When I lived in London I saw a lot of urban foxes prowling around at night, so Russell is based on them. He is actually a Vegetarian Fox though, because otherwise the little mice would be all eaten up by now! I'm not sure if I'm going to create any more foxes just yet. Squirrels are next on the list, then Easter Bunnies (I've got some yellow velvet and beautiful printed cotton just for them) . And some painting , and , and...

Sometimes I feel I have so many ideas I just don't know which one to start on first - I'm sure you feel the same way sometimes too (but of couse this is preferable to those days when you feel so uninspired and want to lie in bed watching TV and eating cereal). Heres to all the creative days to come - lets hope they are good ones!

Folksy Friday : Eggs!

Okay, now I know its not Easter yet but recently I've been reading Bill Oddies 'Little Black Bird Book' (I'm not a birdwatcher - I just found it in a charity store and loved the little illustrations) Its quite a funny read - even if you don't understand the bird terminology (which I don't) , but Bill talks about how he used to collect eggs as a child and of course this is very rightly illegal now.

So I thought it would be good to celebrate the beauty of eggs in this collection of work from some very talented Folksy sellers.... (and not a sticky chocolate in sight!)

Egg Box Frame by Amanda Mercer

This sweet house decoration reminds me of Joseph Cornell's boxes, I like to think the little bird has just flown away (but will be on her way back) - and don't worry the egg is not a real one!

Bird Nest Ring by All Beauteous Things

This unusal ring can be customised to include an 'egg' for each of the recipients children, awww!

The Secret Language of Eggs - Love Silkscreen Print - Champignons

I'm convinced eggs do have a secret language and chat away between themselves when our backs are turned...

Chunky Knitted Egg Cosy - Handmaid

For a stylish dippy egg and soldiers....

Three Eggs Print - Miss Eliot Books

These two birds are rightly protective of their special blue eggs.

Nest Egg Necklace - All Those Threes

Simply stunning recycled silver necklace. Each one handcrafted and slightly different...

You may also like these other selections....

Fairly Girly - Blue       Niche - Birds & Bees

Pipistrelle Crochet - Tartan     Folksy Weddings - Bits & Pieces        

Behind the Scenes....

''Hope is like a bird that senses the dawn and carefully starts to sing while it is still dark''
Author Unknown


I'm a nosy person...I love a little peek at other peoples studios now and then! I love Etsy's Open Studio Tours and Handmade Video Portraits because you get to see behind the scenes of other artist's creations. Very often I get studio envy as my studio is little more than a desk! *sigh* If you have never watched them before I advise you to check them out, but I warn you in advance - it is entirely possible to become addicted and waste many, many hours!

So anyway here is a little peek at my desk studio!

It is a little messy but I have to say that is about as organised as I get ! The lovely knitted blanket in the foreground is for my cousin's (soon to be born) baby and I may just do another blog post on how I made it. I'm so excited about the baby - I haven't had a little person to cuddle since my sister was born 9 years ago!

Here is my lovely inspiration wall ....

And some sketchbook pages...

Hope you enjoyed that - and liked the little quote at the top - I'm a big collector of quotes as they all get written down in my diary and I thought it would be nice to share some in my blog posts!

I just wanted to say a big thankyou to my followers as I've had a few new ones lately... and especially those of you who comment, its reassuring to know I'm not chatting away to myself :)

Folksy Friday : Lost in the Forest!

When Fion and little John the archer mice came to the Nest, they brought tales of the forest, of unicorns and wolves, tree spirits and little creatures that live inside trees and bubbling streams...

Little John was feeling a little sad as he missed home today, and found a picture that reminded him of his forest. On some other crafty blogs we have seen a Folksy Friday feature; of some fantastic arty and crafty work by Folksy sellers, so little John decided to make his own feature up today, all based around the forest theme...

'In the Forest of Deep Sleep' by Ed Boxall

John loves this picture, it reminds him of home. The colours are so dreamy.

'Old Entish Wisdom' Bracelet by Chain of Daisies

This bracelet is stunning. Nat added this because she wants it!

'The Woods' by Marmalime

John said that the white forest ponies are quite shy. The artist was lucky this one chose to pose for so long.

'Butterfly Meadows' Soy Wax Melts by Sweet Scented Soy

These pretty little melts have the scent of summer dandelion, lily of the valley, weeping willows and sweet pea blossoms among others, they sound amazing and the mice have been pestering me to buy them!

'

'Woodland Pearl' Necklace by Rose and Raven.

John loved this. He said woodland pearls were particully rare and valuble.

'Mysterious Night Owl' Coaster by Superfumi

John is a little scared of owls. (Only a little, he is generally a very brave mouse) But he thinks this one looks very wise and friendly. I think that if you are going to drink tea (and I do, lots and lots of tea!) you may as well drink tea in style on some pretty coasters. And I love owls!

Hope you all like the Forest Picks!

You may also like some other Folksy Featured work :

Fairly Girly - Green             Handcrafted - Gifts for Men

Beady Pool - Brooches               Haptree -Watches

Ellie's Treasures - Round         Pipistrelle Crochet -Foxes

Top Floor Treasures - Kawaii          Niche - Print & Pattern 

Linziloop - Light           Minifelts - Buttons
Cinnamon Jewellery - Amigurumi
Cake Knits & Cosies - Furry Friends

Magic Animations

Over Christmas I was chatting on Folksy to Lilyvanilli (who has a fantastic Folksy store - check it out!) who gave me an idea to create some mice stop - motion animations. I have some ideas for this and I’m very excited about it as I’m a very big fan of animation… I’m not entirely sure when I will get round to it though as I have so many ideas buzzing around in my head right now!

Sometimes I feel like movies can be too close to reality, and depressing, like movies about illness or missing children, which is why I love children’s films or animations…

Animation gives us a chance to escape reality, to go back to childhood, to imagine and to dream. I love all the bright colours and detail….


Recently I saw ‘Up’ , which my friends mum brought back from the US (its not released on DVD here yet). And I loved it , its sweet and sad and funny and is very pretty visually. Oh and it has cute taking dogs :)

Anyway, after taking to Lily I was looking around on you tube for cute animations. I found this one called ‘Draw with me’ that I want to share … its very sweet and sad. I love the drawings and the starlights around them. Its by the very talented Mike Inel and you can see more of his work on deviantART here.
 





Oh and the Valentines mice are having some finishing touches sewn onto them... due to be unveiled soon!

Whats New Pussycat...

A new year should be the start of some new things! Like the new banner I designed recently for my Folksy Store ...

The old one was looking a bit dark I felt, so I wanted to lighten it up a little. I also liked the idea of little cut out silhouettes of the animals. I may play around with it a bit more and change it again when I have the time. I also want to pretty up this blog a little too, with maybe a new banner and new colours, hmmm....

I'm not so sure about resolutions, but possibly I have made one ...1. Have an Adventure.

I want to explore somewhere, and now I've written it down I'm more likely to make it happen!

Also I wanted to show you lovely people the gorgous fabric I bought from Ebay recently...its for Valentine Mice which should be ready by the weekend...

I've also got a lovely bird - heart fabric which I may use! (Slight addiction to fabric buying!)

And I want to attempt to make some Squirrels and Foxes : )

Watch this space....

When it Snows my Toes get Cold...

‘’Welcome back winter once again
Put on your warm fuzzy sweater
Cause you’ll feel much better when


The snowflakes fall gently to the ground
The temperature drops and your shivers
Freeze all the rivers around
But I keep you warm’’

Owl City - The Tip of the Iceberg

I was snowed in this morning, again, big, thick flurries greeted through the window as I put the kettle on for morning tea. (I’m sluggish and find it very hard to move without morning tea)


The view from my attic window looked like this… the sky all moody with the light trying to break through…

Why does everything look so much better when it snows? Its like fairy dust over the earth.

I slipped  slid walked to the supermarket to get supplies but finding the queues huge decided against food for the moment. I think there are tins of random things in the cupboards… must investigate (also I think its possible to survive on Christmas chocolate) !


The boiler has broken in the house at the moment so its freezing and I think the hamster has gone into hibernation along with the mice…

Still, the snow is ever so pretty…