Gisela Graham circus

We aren't decorating this year, so I will inundate my blog with images of the toy circus decorations I designed for the Gisela Graham company a couple of years ago. I've not been to any shops, so would love to know if anyone in the UK has seen them - or even has bought some.

A peaceful Christmas to everyone from Bodge Cottage.

Horses & unicorns

'Horse Girl wants to be a Unicorn'

The past week has seen a cosmic collision of my computer going mad and a wonderful new opportunity arriving with a very short deadline, which equals a black hole down which most of my time has been sucked. Very much cheered by selling one of my last paintings - rather poignant, as it was one of the last personal pieces I did before needle felting took over my life and soul.

I've been creating versions of these little Germanic toys for many years now, and they are a big feature in the collection I designed for Gisela Graham, which should be in the shops next autumn.

The toy unicorn painting is now on its way to America, the last one in a trio - they live on as a card set, in the shop here.

(Computer is fixed after several days of stress and fiddling. Once I've beaten this deadline, things can go back to some kind of normal. Hooray!)

Little dogs

If you follow my Facebook page, you will know why my Santa dog is sat with these two little resin dogs, looking very similar but made by the Gisela Graham Company. If you don't...I'll fill you in next week. It's been a long day at the coalface.

Cotswolds shopping

Blogging very little at the moment, as the deadline for final Disney artworks is looming and I am up to my neck. But today was reserved for a day out. Winter has stamped his authority on the land and we wake to thick frost.

The woodburner is kept going 24 hours now. There was another powercut today - so our breakfast was gently warmed through on the stovetop. A true Scot would scorn my porridge recipe, which includes milk, flaked almonds, sultanas and cinnamon. Oh, and dark brown sugar to top.







First a quick trip to Burford Garden Center, who always have a splendid range of Christmas decorations, including my favourite Gisela Graham collection. If I had a dream job - apart from working for Disney - it would be designing baubles and gee-gaws.

On to nearby Foxbury Farmshop. Foxbury Farm produces and butchers its own meat - so you know exactly where your Gloucestershire Old Spot sausages came from and how the 'ingredients' were reared. They also sell a great range of fresh baked bread, local vegetables, regional cheeses and in season game meats. It's a valuable local employer and a small 'refusnik' against the encroaching dreary might of the supermarkets. And value for money too.

Finally, with the week's groceries sorted out, a quick half at The Fox at Barrington, before heading for home and the warmth of the fire. I managed a couple of scenic mini-movies but the good folks at Google are still approving them before publication...