New work and a new Bag

Hello

It's very wet and thundery here in Monty today, every now and then the sun tries to break through between the downpours, but it's not succeeding.

I've been tucked away in my studio all week working on pieces for my exhibition "Nothing but a House", i've managed to finish quite a lot of projects, which is good because we have visitors mid week and i won't get much done for the next two weeks or so.  

 Mixed Media Stitched Collages

 Detail

 Detail

 Detail

XOX

I was lucky to find some more vintage tins recently 

for my "house vignettes"...

(gorgeously worn)

 ...So i started work furnishing them

Wallpaper

 the upstairs floor

stairs

I still have a lot of work to do on these, next is the furniture i.e. tables, chairs, beds etc.  

XOX

 I'm quite excited about this:

 My very first attempt at making myself a bag

 This is an across the body small bag, just big enough to keep a purse/wallet in and a lipstick maybe.  Great for a summer day.  The design is my own and quite complicated for me, but i wanted something a bit different from just a square or a rectangle.

 It's made from vintage fabric, even the strap and i used vintage thread (which i have an abundance of), a nightmare to use on modern sewing machines, but i'm glad i persevered.  The button is new(ish), i just thought it suited.

Fully lined an usable, I'm very proud of myself.  I'm working on some other designs and will try and make a few more.

Thank you to all of you who have purchased my work over the last few weeks, i am doing my best to update my Etsy shop more regularly, but please contact me if you see anything not yet on there.

Tara for now, have a great weekend

XOX

Playing

Playing with houses again.  

I have quite a  collection of little dolls house furniture and quirky little bits and bobs i've both bought and made.  I was thinking i'd like a showcase for them, little spaces around my home where i could see them.

I got this idea from one of my favourite artists Cathy Cullis.  This was an old wine box, painted and a wonky shelf put in and embellished, it makes a great showcase for the odd quirky bits and pieces and as things aren't fixed in it can be changed.  

The little figures above are from a vintage childs pull-along toy i got from an antiques fair, the table and chairs came from the same fair.   I love old toys that have been played with and show the test of time, some collectors prefer to have the toys in immaculate condition, but it makes me sad to see toys that have never been played with.  

The miniature flowerpot was a beautiful thoughtful gift from my sister, Cathy

This little house is made from small pieces of wood, that were originally samples of the wood finishes of kitchen cupboards, it was like building a house of cards!!  

I'm going to make a few of these.

Storage...maybe

teeny tiny slippers (a gift from a very dear friend)

These chairs i picked up from Bunners, the ironmongers here in Monty, they have a really nice selection of dolls house furniture, i buy a little bit of new but am always on the lookout for old and or hand made.

I love the colour of this chair and the seat covering, it would be perfect with a little curled up cat on it!

This little Dala horse was a valentine gift from hubby last year (this year i had a set of old and worn lead farm animals)!

This tin cupboard was also a present from my gorgeous man, it's adorable with doors and drawers that open.  I can't wait to fill it with little quirky bits as i find them.  This will hang on the wall somewhere perfectly.

It's a beautiful day here in Monty, the sun is shining, although it's still fairly cold and the birds are singing. There are more and more tourists around each week now as we venture into Spring.

Gav has been away for a few days filming Uriah Heep in London (last night), so Lizzie and I have been having a couple of girly days on our own.  My gorgeous girl and her boyfriend turned up last night (very late, after finishing their shift at the restaurant) to make pancakes, they were deliciious and we washed them down with a bottle of Prosecco.  

This morning Lizzie and i went for a long walk, i'm so proud of my little baby (puppy) she's learnt how to walk across the cattle grids, it's much nicer not having to open those big heavy farm gates.

I feel refreshed and ready to tackle the day. My jewellery delivery arrived yesterday so i'll be deciding where it's going in the shop.  Have a lovely day everyone.

XOXO