Getting on with just one or two interruptions

I write about these two masks further on in this blog I seem unable to put photos in the right place

                                 Florrie joined me as I was trying to work out the final colour for the border
                                 I made the quilt with crazy patches as I wanted to use up some of my odd
                                 bits of material.I have another one in progress, not quite the same but it is
                                 again  fairly simply made and will be the same size.

I have managed to make a journal page every day.It really pleases me that I can't wait to make a page first thing in the morning,and it is getting easier to draw ,paint or whatever my thoughts dictate at that moment. I then began a search for some purple material to put the edges on one of my quilts. While doing this I came across a bag of several swallow masks. I'd had them a long time and alawys thought one day I would use one of them at a fancy dress party. That day hasn't arrived yet. I showed them to Tony who immediately said "if you don't want them I will put them on my auction site" I suddenly became very possesive about them,but in the end conceeded he could have 4 and I would keep the two in the photo.I bought them over here in Paris long before we lived here. I also have a huge bag of brooches made in a similar way,smaller and with out the black swallow mask of course.I have no idea what I will do with them.

I've finished my latest cloth doll

I am relieved I have finished this doll as I want to get on and definately finish my two quilts.I started them last year and often intend to work on them ,get them out ,think about them, then spot something else ,or suddenly have another idea I want to start. This time I must do them as Tony promises to repaint the bedroom and I want roses and cream colours,the colours of both quilts.
I also have forbidden myself to make another doll until I can get myself to a workshop in England and learn some new things. I know books should help but I need hands on and be in a situation where I can't give up even if I am frustrated.

A new cloth doll almost finished .

Tony left woke me today at what seemed to me to be the middle of the night.I didn't know we had changed to british summer time and 6:30 was now 7:30.I declined his request that I went with him to a brocante and stayed home . I decided to make a pork pie with hot water crust pastry and then finish my doll. The pie took me far longer than I had thought and I had far too much filling so had to make a secong . Still they are both safely in the oven and a good smell is filling the house. When I have finished this writing I will try and finish the doll.I am going to add lots of pearls to the skirt and want to make a lacy bodice.              

   A friend called round on friday evening and lent me this

   magazine and when I had looked through it I wanted to change my

   entire house.Sadly I think I would need tons and tons of money. But

   it did make me want to make lots of similar things myself  and change

   a   few   things around the house.

                                                   

A walk in our wood

Yesterday as the sun was shining I went over into the wood to see what flowers were out. It all looked so pretty I took the photograph I have used as the header at the top of this blog.We bought the wood just a few years ago and it was in an awful state as it had been used as a rubbish dump by local people for years and years. I was hard work to clear it,not only getting rid of rusting cars ,tractors and just about everything else you could think of but the trees were so overgrown and of course masses of brambles. It is tiny, just over one acre, and at the far end was a very delapadated . It had been used for a long time as a cow shed. Tony restored it and it is now a large ,light studio.\it has no water or electricity
so we use it mostly in the spring and summer months

Tony built a small bridge opposite the house and another at the far side so the cats can cross over into the fields behind .I forgot to say it is almost an island as there is water all round the edges where we have kingfishers , moorhens, tiny fish,frogs and newts.At night time there are bats and owls.
We have a party every summer over there and I am busy making some more bunting for this summer

What a Week!

The week passed by so fast I had little time to my self. I did manage to finish the doll but have to admit I rushed. Something it was silly to do as I used some very vintage material that was fragile and full of splits, darns and holes.It started out as quite long, if narrow,length,but it was difficult to get two pieces for the skirt,and avoid the holes and darns. I think I lost sight of the colours I used as well, grabbing a length or brown lace to add to the skirt to hide a dingy mark. She has become rather dingy altogether,I wish I had used brighter colours for the drees top and her hair.I still haven't done her shoes,but I found some pretty blue felt to day so will use that

I went to the yoga??? class again and wonder of wonders it was pure joy. Not so long and a form of Tai Chi which I did many, many years ago. He ended with a lovely meditative relaxation .I was very relieved and asked about this week,he told me it would be more yoga,then he will ask us all what we preferred doing and that will be what we do.