Moth Circus

Alone at night, but for the moths, who cascade through my open bedroom windows. I welcome them in and watch them for a while, as they flutter around like a crazy miniature circus.

Eventually, they settle on the glowing, bare plaster walls. Some cast disfigured shadows, like tiny monsters. A hooded vampire with twitching tentacles.

Some are masters of disguise and blend in where they can.

Others cluster round my lamp, a single artificial light in the dense country darkness.

 Raggedy dancers, spreading their dresses.

The large, ungainly  Elephant Moth, whirring and thumping on my pillow. So clumsy on foot, so elegant when air borne.

Skinny, gallumphing daddy long legs, careering about like out of control trick ponies.

The sweet plume moth, who's prettier common name is 'Angel Moth', dressed in downy feathers and stretching her elegant legs.

Sometimes, they come to me.

I leave the windows open and turn off the lamp. By morning, they are all gone and the walls are bare.

New Kit Old Order

So this month I have managed to bring out my third needle felt kit - my yellow dog Custard, who so many people love. Designing a kit takes a while, but is so worth it once it's all finished. And now available with my other kits in my Etsy shop.

And finally finished a long languishing order, for a copy of 'Kitty Blue' from my book 'Mrs Mouses' Cupcakes'. This is the newer version -

The first Kitty who appears in the book, was made five years ago, so there are a few minor differences. Such as the flower buttons, as I couldn't source the same ones.

 

 But they are not a million miles apart.

Made in Felt interview

Amazing to think that it is summer already - and I have a lovely big interview and feature in this year's Mollie Makes 'Made in Felt 2' magazine.

I also got to mention my two favourite needle felt artists, Victor Dubrovsky and Malachai Beesley, always nice to plug other needle felters, especially if you admire their work.

There is also a pattern from my book 'Little Needle Felt Animals' - the very easy but sweet 'Rainbow Mice'.

Lady Winifred Weasel, my latest design, is looking for a copy now. She advises finding more details over on the Mollie Makes page. but if you're in the UK, it can be found in the usual major outlets, WHSmith and various supermarkets.

At Venus Pool

Since getting out and about, I have found a new, nearby refuge. Venus Pool is a 20 minute cycle away, a bird watching reserve with hides dotted about and rich in all kinds of wildlife. It is here that I go when I need that 'thing' which I can only get from tramping about in the green.

There is a new area of woodland opened up - it has been well over a year since I was in woods and I had almost forgotten how deeply they touch me. These woods are cultivated; a far cry from my old woods in the Cotswolds, which nursed remnants of the ancient Wychwoods in their heart. These are more Rivendell that Mirkwood, but to a thirsty soul they were bliss.  

Returning, down a long, straight track leading towards an oak tree.

 Buttercup fields glisten in the sun.

  

There are blowsy, overladen hawthorn trees lifted straight from a Samuel Palmer painting.

 There are strategically placed seats, just where you want them. With views.

 Naturally, the Wrekin overlooks it all. It is never far from the background.

 On the way home, I see the potato crops are starting to show through.

Little Woolies & workshops

Two Oxfordshire workshops this month, the first at a new venue in Bampton, Folly Fabrics - a vibrant, cleanly laid out shop in the heart of Bampton - which Downton Abbey fans may know is where many of the Downton village scenes are shot. (And yes, they were filming for a new show when I was there, but I was working!)

Folly Fabrics are my third supplies and kits stockists and it was lovely to walk in and see everything displayed beautifully alongside my book.

Sharon had made specially themed cakes and biscuits with pink bunnies adorning them. There is always cake at Folly Fabrics and Sharon is a fabulous baker. Too adorable to eat? They were scoffed, anyway!

 Everyone seemed to have a good time.

The next day I was back in my old stamping ground at Fibreworks Oxford, with a smaller class - only three, but it was nice and cosy. Birds were made.

And here's a few things I managed to make inbetween everything. The cat is sold, the fox was a gift, but I still have a couple of the little stump hares in my Etsy shop.

My next workshops are in July - at Chipping Norton Fibreworks on Friday the 18th making Candy Buns and back to Oxford Fibreworks on Saturday the 19th July, making this wee house on a hill, which can double up as a sweet pin cushion. Both shops are also stockists of my kits.

I'm always on the look out for nice shops to stock my wools and kits, so if you know of any, please let me - or them - know. I aim for nothing less than world wide domination.

Getting back in the saddle

 

It's taken me a long time to get my lovely push bike (Marjorie) out and about. The day Andy surprised me with her was one of the happiest days of my life, to know that he loved me so much - as I loved him.

Since he died, even though she is my only form of transport  - and the nearest shop being two miles away - I haven't been able to face riding her, a unbearable reminder of what precious thing I have lost.

 

But this spring I felt able to get her out of the shed and dust her off. Brian-next-door pumped her tyres up for me and we have been having little adventures, finally exploring the gorgeous landscape around us.

We're never far from a view of the Shropshire Hills.

We even found an egg honesty box a few miles away. 

It's hard sometimes, to allow myself to enjoy all of this, knowing that Andy never got the chance to see that we made the right choice after all. How he would have loved it.

 

Shropshire is proving to be more uppy and downy than the Cotswolds, but Marjorie and I are learning to tackle the hills.

 

 It's nice to see my little cottage with its cream chimney stack, nestling in the landscape as we return home.