Happy New Year!

May 2011 make you jump for joy!

Time To Re-Stock!

I've not been entirely idle over the Christmas break.  I have painted yet another jellyfish - I do enjoy painting these - which is now for sale in my Etsy shop.  There is a slight difference with this one - the background is a rich turquoise achieved using some cheap but very effective paints I picked up on Etsy a few weeks ago.

It is also time to begin making some more little knitted pets for sale - most of them were re-homed over the past month, so my shop is looking a bit short of woolly creatures at the moment. Numbers will be built up soon, once I've shaken the lethargy that has crept up on me since Boxing Day!

Things I Didn't Get For Christmas..........

Now I had a pretty good Christmas, got lots of good presents which I really like and can make use of.  But there are two things which I really, really, REALLY hanker after and just cannot get hold of because I live in Britain.

Don't ask me why, but I really want to drink my cold drinks out of a jam jar with a handle.  I saw it in a movie once and it took my fancy big time.  But can I find one in the UK? No, they are rarer than hen's teeth.  If  I buy one from the US, they either come in sets of 12 (I assure you, I am the only person in our house that yearns to drink out of a jar, so 12 is just silly) or the postage is astronomical.

The other thing I am after is a bit more practical, and that's a Sharpie Liquid Pencil.  I see them on American websites, they have been there for months...but here in the UK? Nope.  I have asked in every art shop I've been in over the past months and check on line every so often, but they haven't made it across the Atlantic yet.  I don't want to go to the expense of getting one sent over and then discover I hate the thing and will never use it. I just want to try one.

So like the glow-in-the-dark silly putty I hankered after for years as a child, these two items will just have to remain on my wish list.  Maybe next Christmas......

Was It Something I Said?

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and received everything you wanted.  This was one of my presents....yes, a tiny shred of ripped wrapping paper.  Who stole my present?  We searched through the massive pile of discarded paper and all around the living room, but no present that matched the label.  I was pretty sure I hadn't upset my big brother recently.

Turned out he had had a bit of an Amazon delivery disaster and had to change things around a bit - the present is somewhere in the postal system - phew!

In the meantime, I have plenty to keep me busy!

One More Sleep..........

I didn't think we'd be ready in time, but it's Christmas Eve and apart from wrapping presents, we are all ready for tomorrow at last.  What with the disruption due to the snow and the general mayhem on the roads and in the shops, it was a bit of a close call!  A big Thank You must go to the postman who delivered our three late parcels yesterday evening - that's all the gifts safe and sound.

I've even managed to knit some last minute wristwarmers for someone who came home with no gloves last week.  There's another pair on the needles but I think that's a bit ambitious unless I just don't sleep tonight!

In one of the parcels was a late birthday present for me from the lovely Sybille over at Magpie Magic.  She'd made me this beautiful mobile from some of my favourite things - shells, feathers and seaglass.  It found a home within minutes - I'm very pleased with it!

On our dog walks this week we have been interested to see the amount of rabbit footprints in the fields.  You can see where they have been, where they are going, and what they have been up to.

I think they must have had a few bunny parties judging by the state of the snow here!

Finally, I'd like to wish all of you who stop by here and all my wonderful customers who have either bought things from my Etsy shop or commissioned paintings a very Merry Christmas and a peaceful, prosperous and Happy New Year.   

Last Minute Crafting....

Just finished this as another last minute Christmas present.  I saw something similar on the internet, but this is my take on it.  If you fancy an elephant tea-cozy, do get in touch, I am open to offers!

Look at the chips on that teapot - perhaps I should ask for a new one for Christmas!

Socks and Violence.....

Here are the socks.....they are a Christmas present for someone, only just finished in time.  The violence nearly came about when I started them last week in a different yarn, worked hard for three nights and then discovered not only did I not have enough yarn left to complete them, but the shop where I bought it no longer had any more.  Luckily in my stash I had a couple of balls of this soft pink and grey and was able to start again using the first grey yarn as a contrasting heel and toe.  Note to self - always CHECK how much yarn you need before you start a large project!

Anyone need one large grey slouch sock?

I'm not doing very well with the Christmas preparations, it's all a bit skin of the teeth at the moment.  We did manage to put the tree up and decorate it yesterday.  Stacie is waiting for Santa already....I hate to tell her that he's not going to bring either Robbie Williams or Matt Cardle to put in her stocking!

A little Christmas puzzle for you - can you spot the Soggibottom bear in this picture?