That's been a rather busy November - four workshops, two patterns and lots of work related stuff in-between. Back to dear Oxford again, where I attended a concert at the beautiful Victorian church of St John the Evangelist on the Iffley Road. I once had a student bedsit up there, when I was a hungry art student.  Odd to go back again, but the concert was very enjoyable, performed by the talented and energetic members of the Magdalen College School orchestras.

The church was packed with proud parents snapping away, so I wasn't able to get many photos myself, but I did love the painted ceiling.

 

The next day there was another workshop at the lovely Fibreworks Oxford.

So pleased that someone returned for more and brought some 'homework' she had done since the last session.

 It was a Christmas theme and everyone made trees.

Well, nearly everyone - there was a robin, a Christmas cottage and a sweet toadstool house as well.

My final workshop of the year was my first Shropshire one. Held in such a nice venue, at Rustic and White in Wyle Cop, filled with vintage treasures and with parts of the shop dating back to Tudor times.

Pleasantly surprised to find that we'd filled all twelve spots and were actually oversubscribed. 

This was an all day session and also Christmas themed. There were one or two people there who read this blog, so if they are reading this, it was great to meet you. 

As well as bringing two suitcases of wools, as usual I did my best to supply as many beads, findings and decorative bits as possible, which does result in a  bit of a crafty mess at the end of the day!

 

After several hours of industry, fuelled by hot drinks and cake, there was a simply gorgeous batch of trees. I started everyone off with the same measurement guidelines, showed them the basic method and let them loose. Despite starting with more or less the same amount of wool, a wide variety of trees appeared, each bearing the maker's personality.

 

So that's it for the year and I am already booked to do more next year. I'll be posting some dates soon.

Mice and more mice!

They are everywhere! I was commissioned to make a copy of Mrs Mouse, from my book 'Mrs Mouse's Cupcakes'. I made the first one about four years ago and it was intriguing to see how the second one was so much better than the first. Can you tell which is the old one and which the new? I will put the answer at the end of this post.

And now for the gentlemen. Another pattern, this time for 'Crafty Magazine', of the Town Mouse and the Country Mouse. Or Hugo and Joe, as they are now known.

It was a bit of a challenge to come up with a simple pattern, incorporating several elements and two similar but slightly varied designs to fit into a reasonable amount of steps, but challenges are goods and after some pencil chewing and hair pulling, I think I managed it.

There are a limited amount of 'Crafty' to buy from their site here. Or, for digital users, you can buy the download here. Otherwise, it will be in most WHSmiths, supermarket sections or good newsagents. Have fun! 

(The new Mrs Mouse is on the left hand side of the picture).

Needle felt news

 

 

I've never done a tea cup before, but when the 'Mollie Makes' team asks, I do my very best for them. If you have an iPad or iPhone, this pattern can be found in issue 55 of 'Gathered' the digital sister magazine at only £1.49 for the whole magazine. (All content to 'Gathered' is different to the paper version of 'Mollie Makes').

These snow geese are a new design too, and were bought before I could offer them here.

As have three of these owl decorations - I have just one brown owl left to sell.

And after missing a year, due to life chaos, I've managed to get a limited number of 2014 desk calendars out. Nothing fancy or expensive, but with twelve months of my latest designs throughout.

 2014 'Needle Felt Friends Calender on sale here

This has also been a  month for workshops and my final one of the year, on November 30th, is my first Shropshire one at the lovely vintage chic shop 'Rustic and White'. There are only two places left as I write - and it even made it into the Shrewsbury Chronicle. Fame at last. More details on my website.

Bodge Cottage heroes

 

When we bought the cottage a year ago, we hadn't anticipated a renovation job. but once we uncovered all kinds of nasties, that is what it turned into. Losing Andy in January made the prospect of turning it into a liveable (and sadly, maybe saleable)  condition seemed overwhelming. The last thing I could think about was DIY.  But in this, the most terrible year of my life, I have been blessed with the support of so many good friends and this month I had two batches of visitors to help me wrestle little Bodge Cottage into something habitable. First, Adam and Helen, old and dear work colleagues of Andy's (and mine, too). We stripped, sanded and heat blasted my bedroom until it was down the the bare bones. Now I just have to try my hand at plastering the walls.

After the weekend, two more friends arrived and the Bodge Cottage torch was handed on, over a cup of tea. Jackelien and Herbert, all the way from Holland and taking time out of their Shropshire holiday to help me out. Jackelien and I met last year when she had a one-to-one needle felt workshop with me and from the start, we clicked, as if we'd been waiting for each other. Funny how that can happen sometimes.

  

The biggest structural job, something I could not do alone and certainly could not afford to hire anyone else to do, was removing the stud wall from under the stairs, to open up the room and provide space for a book case. Or something. But probably a book case.   Herbert assessed the situation and whether he could remove most of the stud wall without bringing the house down.

Work commenced, peeling back the add-ons from the last several decades.  Jackelien discovered the original tongue and groove partition underneath layers of wallpaper. It has a weathered, distressed surface which I am going to smooth down and wax. It's too beautiful to cover up.

 

 

The old plaster and lathe under the stairs was damp and rotten. I had a hand in taking it down, which was strangely satisfying. (The cottage isn't listed or even 'that' old, so this was legal).

 

Then a new piece of plaster board was cut to size and once Herbert had reinforced the struts under the stairs, it was put into place.

 

On another wall, an original oak beam was uncovered, which is going to stay exposed, even when the room is eventually re-plastered.

There were the remains of an old mouse nest in the little gap to the right and I think I'll leave that open too. Put a little 'bibelot' in it as a point of interest. 

 

It was amazing to see the space just as I'd imagined it - and where there were gaps, some of the discarded boards were used to neaten it up, to keep the original character.

Even down to the trimmings on the edge. It's just perfect.

  

And as if that wasn't enough, they tackled the grotty old dog kennels, removing the grim caging and opening up the garden by taking down the trellis. (I was not totally lazy in this operation, but a creamy chicken casserole had to be made...)

So I was able to stack my winter logs, safe from the rain. I don't know how I would have survived this heart breaking year without my many wonderful friends around the world to help and support me in so many ways. Actually, I don't think I would have done.  Thank God for friendship.

 

When Janet came to stay

 

Janet and I have been friends for quite a few years now. We met through blogging, me here and her over at 'The Empty Nest'. Recently I've watched with admiring wonder as she has branched out and built up a thriving boutique business based around Annie Sloan chalk® paints. 

When I found she was visiting England, we both were determined to meet up. And so she made the long train journey from Brighton to Shrewsbury, to stay at my decrepit little cottage for a couple of nights. Brave lady! From the start, it was like meeting an old and dear friend and we were completely comfortable in each other's company. I toured her round the lovely town of Shrewsbury, to the library, where we inspected the old school room graffiti - some of it dating back to the early 1700's. 

 

Naturally I had to take her to a second hand furniture place - I swear if she'd had access to a shipping container, half of that shop would now be back in the USA, in her beautiful Warrenton  shop, awaiting the paint treatment. It was so interesting to watch and listen as she explained how a dated and tired old chest could be transformed into something fresh and beautiful.

 

And (as she did all day) she made friends with one of the shop assistants as she bought one tiny little snippet of tapestry to take home.

Then there was browsing through vintage china in the Market Hall...

  
...fish and chips for lunch. I don't think Janet was persuaded by mushy peas.

 

Naturally, we had to pop into the vintage shop in town who also stock Annie Sloan paint. Janet had just been to the Brighton Anne Sloan convention and was keen to see a UK shop. There was much inspection of paint and wares.

 

We visited another splendid vintage chic shop nearby, 'Rustic and White', where we made friends with Jo, the owner. I did a bit of networking and it seems possible that I'll finally be able to do a Shrewsbury needle felting workshop, having found the right venue. (Contact me if interested).

Janet also bought over a plethora of lovely gifts for me, including a sweet dog that she had needle felted herself, my first 'Annie Sloan' wax brush (which I have a project in mind for), real cotton buds, book plates, a vintage card of Poughkeepsie (which I can now almost pronounce properly), a hand made 'Empty Nest' bag and best of all, a gorgeous old edition of Mother Goose. Better than Christmas. Oh, and of course, the backdrop - a sumptuously heavy vintage linen table cloth, from an old mill. 

And after our long day enjoying ourselves, we had a little relaxing wine and needle felting session, making chickens by the fire, with the TV on and chatting about everything under the sun. It was wonderful to finally meet meet such a gracious, kind friend who is just as super in real life as she has been for so many years in our online friendship. Your place next time Janet!

Squirrels at the Queen's Head

My second workshop last month was a smaller all day session at the Queen's Head, Eynsham - one of my previous students returned, which was very nice. And rather wonderfully, a blog friend, Vikki Rose, whom I have never met but have *known* for several years. She reminded me that she had  bought 'Minxie', my devilish little cat from my first year of needle felting (2008). Anyhow, settled down with home made shortbread (thanks Vikki!) and tea, they got started and worked hard all morning, earning a delicious lunch made, as usual, by Jackie the landlady.

Salmon en Croute, pesto mange tout and new potatoes. Followed by sticky toffee pudding and caramel ice cream. Or melon for the virtuous.

 

Then, somewhat stuffed, we returned to needle felting. It was a big ask, to get them to attempt an entire squirrel in five hours.

Another tea break was needed, with Jackie's home made scones, clotted cream and jam.

Despite all this feasting, by the end of the day, they had made amazing progress and two squirrels were even finished. Three of my students had never tried needle felting before, which makes the results even more impressive.

And Vikki Rose made the day even more special by bringing me some of her 'girls' eggs and one of her sweet care-chickens. She also wrote a super write up of the day on her blog, 'Back to the Castle' which includes a photo of me on a bad hair day and showing most of my tattoos. Irresistible!

If you'd like to be participate in the next workshop at the Queen's Head, sample Jackie's lovely food and see my tattoos,  drop me an email and I'll contact you when the date is confirmed. Next one is scheduled for some time in February or March 2014. Price for the whole day, including all food, is £55. Bit of a bargain, really.