Only a few weeks ago, it may even have been ten days, I was still able to pick these splendid roses from the garden. This is my favourite variety, David Austin's Jubilee Celebration. I am a Summer-loving girl so although I am getting into Autumn slowly, I am still really missing Summer. Boo hoo.
I really feel like behaving the same as Charlie Boy. There has been much lap hogging going on by the furry friends of late. They are always excellent barometers of the changing climate. No doubt they are keenly awaiting the big event: the switch on of the central heating.
We've moved into the cosy lounge for a few evenings. The fire in here has a much larger grate and the room is a little smaller than our family room so it feels much warmer and cosier.
Autumn also brings another much anticipated event in the HenHouse; yes, the Munchkin is yet another year older. He's not quite a teenager just yet and still small enough for his mum to get away with calling him by his pet name!
A few weeks ago, I was invited along to another birthday party on the other side of London. This super lady, and I think kindred spirit, I have met through Instagram and the gathering at her lovely home allowed me to meet her and some other fellow IGers. Erin put on a super spread and we had a good old knit and natter.
It gave me an excuse to have fun with needle and thread and I made her a rather large flower brooch. Erin is something of the IG brooch queen, a lady after my own heart! This flower is based on one my heroine Julie Arkell makes so it's one I'm happy to make as a gift but I wouldn't sell (in case you were thinking of asking!)
Talking of brooches, I may have mentioned a while back that I'd been having fun of the sticky, messy variety and getting back to basics with some papier mache.
I've been a bit obsessed with what I loosely term "textile art" of late, which I suppose is mixed media to those in the know. To me, it's faffing with paper, fabric, buttons, thread, beads, lace; you name it, it's all going on and boy, do I have the stashes to do it with!
It was back to brooches, using first newspaper then top, fine layers taken from damaged old books, including one from 1906 on the subject of gardening which came complete with handy little line drawings. The best tip if you are papier mache-ing on a small scale is to use really thin absorbent paper and slim hand-torn strips. Add oodles of patience and you're getting there!
When that was all dry, I could get on with the bit I love best, as it involved fabric, of course. I love fussy cutting little images from fabric, flowers being my very favourite, no surprises there. I can while away a lot of time choosing just the right ones. I also dug into my vintage lace and beads. Everything was hand made, hand cut and hand sewn with teeny tiny stitches. Restorative stuff.
Finally, my little collection was finished.
I had help, of course I did! Jacky Ginge, despite his ageing sixteen years, has learned to make a flying leap from the armchair in my Den onto my cutting table. There he settles himself right in the middle of whatever I'm doing. If you are a fellow cat owner, you will already know that this is what pussy cats do best of all. Purrrrrr.
I don't do just floral, you know! Loving this one, if I may be so bold to say so.
I never make just one, though I never make the same thing twice, really, either.
As you may have guessed, these little lovelies are waiting patiently over on Etsy to find new homes so if you fancy a little treat for yourself or you have someone special in mind (it's not long until the "Big Event" is it, yikes!) then I'd love to see you over in my little shop.
Thanks for reading today. Xxx
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