My Garden

What a glorious day, I decided to do a bit of gardening this morning while most of my pocket handkerchief sized garden was still in the shade and guess what? I didn't get any work done! I did take some photographs though...

 These chicks are gorgeous... 

I have been watching the parents lovingly flying back and forth with beaks full of worms and bugs. The shrubs they picked for their nestbuilding are next to each other and the nests are only about 4 feet apart.

The first picture is a robins nest with the most gorgeous chicks and the second picture is a wonderful blackbirds brood.

I really do need to get the lawnmower out but before I do I wanted to capture the lovely self cultivating flowers that are popping up in abundance all over my patch of grass.

Look what I found hiding, these 'ickle fellows have made my garden their home for many years now and I just don't know where I'll find them next. Sometimes they are in the pots and sometimes in amongst the flower beds. They have even been known to find their way up into the trees.

 This is a Lily Beetle peeking at me from between the leaves. I need to get rid of this and any more I find, they are definitely not good for the plants.

This is the only timepiece I have in my garden! Isn't it beautiful?

Some of my toadstools and ammonites.

   

This is one of the many carvings I have dotted around my garden.

And lastly a great close up of the tiny blue flowers that are covering my garden at the moment.

I hope you have enjoyed the time spent in my little patch of garden, I certainly have. I'm not going to be doing much in the way of crafting this week, (or gardening), I'm going to spend my time with my wonderful family. 

Have a great Easter everybody.

If you have enjoyed (or not), this or any other post then please feel free to leave a comment to show 

you've visited, we all appreciate comments.

Jan x

Handmade Monday

Handmade Monday has come around so quickly, I'm sure the weeks are becoming shorter as the sun gets warmer. I don't mind the warmth but I'd also love more time.

I have had 2 fairs this week, the first was on Thursday evening, it was held in a lovely hall in a local village and despite lots of local advertising the footfall was a bit disappointing, but on the up side I met lots of like minded people and hopefully with a bit more work I'm sure it can build up to a successful event.

The second event was on Saturday and was very successful. That too was local, which was great for me, no travelling, that's always a plus in my book. I don't know about you guys but I don't mind the travelling to an event but don't enjoy the travelling home.

My Beach Hut Magnets done well as did the Slate Magnets, especially the Eye of Horus            

I have a few orders for my Name Plaques and a couple for my Key Plaques

 
My Fairy Doors also done well, you can find pictures of them in my Face Book Album HERE
I was asked if I can do a door that is hinged and can be opened, I like a challenge so I'm going to give it a go......

Before I go I'd like to thank Wendy for organising Handmade Monday........... Check out her blog by following the link, I'm off  now to catch up on the other blogs.

Jan x

Beach Huts and Magnets

I've got two Craft Fairs coming up this week, one on Thursday evening organised by Natico Events Planner and a 'Magical Spring Fair' held in a local Hotel on Saturday.  I'm busy busy busy trying to get things organised. not something that comes naturally!
I've painted a few more flint fridge magnets, and made some 'ickle critter magnets to replace the ones I've managed to sell. These critters are slightly smaller than the size of a 20 pence piece and look great on the fridge.

  

I've also done some beach huts magnets. 

Last year I painted a couple of 'Beach Hut' canvases  and they were well liked, I think it's the bright colours and the thought of warm days on the beach that made them so popular. I'm hoping the magnets will be as popular. 

I thought I'd show you one of my series of 'Beach Hut' canvases that I painted last year, I'm hoping to do a few more this year.

Before I pop off to bed I'm off for a nosey at some of the blogs that feature in  Handmade Monday organised by Wendy of 1st Unique Gifts. If you don't know what that is then come along with me and have a look at what Wendy and other crafters are doing.

Jan x

Something old.... (not plaques this time)

A few days ago I was reading  Ros'   'Rosmademe' BLOG, she mentioned Cathedral Windows and it reminded me of a commission I done 10 or so years ago. So I went looking for my old photo box from the dark recesses of my 'cupboard under the stairs', (that's what we call it even though we live in a bungalow)!! OOooo crawling about in there was a bit scary, I'm sure 'ickle monster alien gremlin type thingies live in the dark corners, but, I conquered my fears and I found my old box of photo's and spent a wonderful couple of hours rifling through them all whilst trying to put them in some semblance of order.                                                                                  

I found the pic's I was looking for and here they are..........



This is approximately 5 feet in height and 2 1/2 feet wide
I had great fun painting it.

It was put on the stairwell wall opposite the top of the stairs
and a glass shelf was placed just below it.

I love doing larger pieces like this, it is a nice balance with the much smaller Name Plaques that I do.

The 'window' was personalised with the clients name and the names of her two children, the design was mine and the quote was the clients. 

 

I'm not going to put the photo box back in the scary cupboard, I've decided that over the next few weeks I'm going to sort through my old photo's and start scanning them onto the pooter. I've got so many pieces of work that I only have 'hardcopies' of and if they are lost or damaged they are lost forever. Thank goodness for digital cameras. It's so much easier now.

Ta Ta for now

Jan x

My 1st Handmade Monday

I've finally done it...... I've done this blog post in time for Wendy's Handmade Monday. I've been meaning to join in for weeks now but things keep getting in the way. For those who don't know what Wendy's Handmade Monday is, it is a simple way to share what you’re doing with others.
All you need to do is pop a link to 1st Unique Gifts in your latest blog post , then add your link onto Wendy's Blog.  We can all then have a good old time visiting each others’ blogs, it's nice to add a comment to show you’ve been.So follow the link and have a peek at a few more blogs.

 I've been painting on slate and glass and making fridge magnets this week, I have a fair coming up in a couple of weeks and need to get my table sorted. No pic's of the glass critters yet..... hopefully I'll get them done during the week. (you can see a couple of old ones in 'a bit about me').

These are a few of my 'nature' ones, I had to get a toadstool in there.
I've also done lots of  Fly Agaric pictures as they always go down well with everyone especially the youngsters.

I too had a busy Mothers Day, no lie in for me though, I was up at the crack of dawn and got ready for a ride out with a few old friends and lots of guys I had never met before.... but are now new friends.
I'm not a rider, I'm a pillion passenger, (you don't want me in charge of a bike I assure you) I leave the riding in the safe hands of others.

It was the Ride for Respect Day at Wooten Basset and as lots of  people around the country couldn't attend because of distance, number restrictions, time and a myriad of other reasons,  clubs and individuals alike organised local ride outs. We ended up at RAF Honnington where the wonderful people of the base organised a much needed cuppa and a hog roast. .  A great day was had by all and a lot of money was raised for such a good cause. 

Well done to everyone who took part across the country.