Something smelly...

Thought you might like to see our spotty pots in action! 

They're very simple to make, just stick some paper dots onto a terracotta plant pot, then add two coats of matt emulsion paint in a  nice colour.

Leave to dry, then peel off the dots. Seal with two coats of acrylic-based, clear varnish. Pop in some lovely herbs, and voila!

And here's another...

Well, I seem to be deep in pouch mode at the moment - so much quicker to make then cosies or bags! Here's a little birdy pouch I've just finished, with handy split ring for keys etc.

I'm going to give it a whirl on Etsy and Folksy

http://vintagetown.etsy.com and http://vintagetown.folksy.com

Now, must dash off to make another, so toodle-oo!

Here we go again...

Well way-hay, I'm BACK after two weeks school hols very pleasantly spent whizzing round the country doing stuff. 

Not feeling very inspired today, but am trying to create a delightful new range of something other than tea cosies, so I present to you a small purse for make-up etc made from scraps of fabric lying all over my work room floor. I will post further gorgeous items if I ever produce any.

Happy Easter Everyone!

With Easter Sunday in mind, here's the Easter Tree me and my gal made (plus some steps for good measure) Happy Easter!

An early Easter chick

Because the weather's so lovely, here's a little paper chicken to get you in the mood for the Easter holidays.

On a clear day...

Here's a view to the big house from the parish graveyard, look at that stunning blue sky!

Spring has sprung etc...

Well, what a glorious day! Here's a snap of our Sunday afternoon, spent over at a friend's house. They were building an earth ship from tyres, we were watching and nodding knowledgeably.

We went for a lovely walk on a nearby estate (landed gentry, not cul-de-sacs) and built a dam across the stream with our three excited girlies.

Sesationally Spring-y Etsy Treasury

Hello all, I'm very excited to find that one of my bags has been featured in an Etsy Treasury (that's it, bright pink, bottom right) courtesy of dear Cheese at Fourpence, a Nifty Northern Knitter http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=48460

Y'all can find her marvellous shop here:
cheeseatfourpence.etsy.com

Country Living

Now I don't like to show off, being English and all that, but I was rather chuffed to see my "Little Pink Birdy" bag featured in April's Country Living Magazine. Thought you might like a quick flick too, so here it is...

There's a new cup in town...

I've been fiddling around with tiny scraps of paper for a few weeks now, trying out different colourways for paper tea cups. Didn't get very far, because I'm pathologically drawn to pink. Oh well...

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Imagine my surprise...

...when I switched on my computer the other morning to find a message telling me I'd been chosen as one of four featured sellers to appear on the front page of Folksy. Me! Who up to this point has failed to win every raffle, tombola and sweepstake I've ever entered (though I did once win 90 quid on the dogs at Walthamstow - beginner's luck).

I am thrilled and would like to say a v large thank you to Milomade for choosing me, bless you, dear heart...

Fancy a cuppa?

Here's my response to new research from UCLA, where scientists have discovered that drinking three or more cups of tea every day will cut the chances of stroke by one fifth! That's me protected, then...

Getting organised

I love to collect little bits and pieces of printed ephemera, buttons, ribbons and postcards, and occasionally I do something with them!

Here's a Mother's day scrapbook I started recently. I know it's a bit early to be showing it, but I want to make sure everyone's got enough time to get to the chocolate shop...

How fab is Amy Butler?

I found some lovely Amy Butler fabric the other day (not an easy feat where I live) and thought it would do rather nicely as a trimming for a mini-cosy. Do like that girl's stuff...

Handbags and gladrags

In between running up tea cosies and foraging for more fabric, I do like to mess around with paper. Here's a little handbag I made from a lot of left over scraps. It's not really functional, alas, unless you live in a very dry climate, but it's fun, ne c'est pas?

A whole new world...

With the tinies all tucked up, thought I might muse upon my brand new acquisition, a pair of specs. I've always prided myself upon my magnificent 20/20 vision, but alas it was all a myth as was proved by a trip to the opticians. Years of night sewing have rendered me blind as a bat (could be reason for my 'unusual' colour sense) so have succumbed to lenses, and by jove, what a difference they do make! Its a miracle, I can see! The only downside thus far is the near perfect rendering of High School Musical 3 on deeveedee, which has always passed me by in a blissful blur thus far...still, at least I know who Troy is now.

Here begins my first ever blog. I thought I'd start it by showing a few pictures from my forthcoming book, Paper Sculpt Sensations, to be published in the UK and USA by David and Charles in the Spring. I've been making things out of paper for a  years, including lots of papier-mache,  which I sold through Liberty in London and Bergdorf Goodman in New York. This is my first foray into paper sculpture (a lot harder than you think to work out!) But you, gentle reader, will find it very easy because all the templates are in my book...