Weekend round up

Good morning, and a happy new week to you all!

So what did you get up to over the weekend? Did you have sunshine?

Ha, that is such a British thing to ask, isn't it?

It was a bit patchy round our neck of the woods, with lots of rain and some sunshine...our plants are very happy about it though.

colour me happy

I lost myself in painting on Saturday - it was utter bliss!

This week is my last in my current job, as I am being made redundant on Thursday, and it's my first time. Hey ho, I'm not the first, and I certainly won't be the last...and frankly, I think I've done well lasting 18 years in a company where I've seen so many people go over the course of that time.

beautiful church and churchyard in Kirkby Lonsdale

I'm quite alright with the no longer working there part, it's just the actual leaving bit - this last week - it's all a bit toe curlingly cringy. I just want to be gone. I hate being the focus of attention, and actively avoid awkward situations, so it's going to be two days that will be spent firmly outside of my comfort zone.

My plan is to act bright and breezy, and eliminate any potential uncomfortable moments...cunning plan, huh?!?!

how's about that for a messy desk...fun times!

So back to the painting - I just slapped colour on various wooden objects, and continued on, for some very happy hours. Colour happy!

Most are nearly finished, and will soon be ready for the wonderful inking process. Hurrah, my favourite part.

And the cherry on the cake? A damned tasty, takeaway curry in the evening. Perfect.

how fab is this building, with all those windows & a roof like a bushy monobrow?

Sunday involved a lie-in, late breakfast, and a lovely mooch around Kirkby Lonsdale - it is such a pretty town, with little boutique style gift shops, loads of pubs and cafes, and a fabulous gallery. There are some gorgeous riverside walks to be had too, but we were in mooching mode yesterday.

odd place to put a clock, don't you think?

I finally got my hands on some gorgeous oil cloth for our kitchen table...it's still packed away until work has finished in the house, and we're straight again, with everything back where it should be, and lots of stuff hidden away in the soon-to-be boarded loft.

Ooh storage, how I've missed you!

feeling the house love with this beauty, and that completely lush garden

Sunday evening consisted of a Paul cooked chilli prawn linguini; a mini manicure & pedicure, from me to me; and catching up on a couple of episodes of Penny Dreadful. I love it, but it creeps me out big time, so I won't watch it alone. 

And now it's on with a new week, full of potential, and a little more rain for good measure.

Have a good one,
Sarah
x

stockist! & a place to visit

hello there!

I have good news, oh yes! I have a new stockist :)

my tin of goodies on a beautiful dresser in the gift shop

Thanks to a stall at Threshfield School Summer Fair, my wares were spotted by the lovely Amy of Kilnsey Park who then asked if I fancied stocking my Ditsy delights in their gift shop. "Oh yes, I would!", thought I, but hopefully I was outwardly more controlled and professional than I was feeling inwardly. I mean, what a compliment...being approached by a potential stockist not only shows that they like your products but, that they like them enough to share with their customers. A fair compliment indeed, in my book.

view of the shop towards the entrance

So, up I ventured with my bag full of goodies and a very patient boy (we had to go straight from school on Friday without giving George prior warning). Whilst I chatted with Amy, George was lucky enough to wander the grounds, feed the fish and fall in love with some ducklings (who very nearly adopted George & he them).

Even when a shop/gallery owner declares an interest in your designs, there is still that "will they/won't they?" apprehension when you finally meet. I'm happy to say that they did and thanks to Amy being thoroughly lovely and oh so calm, the visit was an entirely pleasant one.

the fresh food counter..fish pie, smoked salmon to name but two delights

It just so happens that when George was born, we actually lived in Kilnsey, in a cottage backing on to the park and the trout lakes...it is such a beautiful area with the magnificent Kilnsey Crag dominating the scenery. I had forgotten how lovely it is up there and especially at the park - there have been a lot of changes (all good!) since I last visited and it is now on our "to do during the Summer hols" list! (for me, mainly because the cakes looked scrumptious and the cappuccino that I had was, indeed, delicious...more sampling required, I feel!

fresh food, ice cream, homemade cakes, fresh coffee & a tummy rumblingly good restaurant menu

The park itself is a working trout farm as well as offering other activities for visitors, such as:
fly fishing; fun fishing; adventure playground; nature trails; gift shop; restaurant; red squirrel conservation programme; and the rare and beautiful Lady's Slipper Orchid.

my Ditsy Bird Designs rainbow trout brooch exclusive to Kilnsey Park

Whilst I was there, the park was preparing for a Herbs & Potions weekend as part of National Herbal Medicine Week...I only wish I'd known in advance as I would have loved walking through the grounds, looking for herbs, and then making up herbal vinegars and oils! Their next event is The Mad Professor's Bug Weekend (6th & 7th July) which sounds like great fun for bug fanatics, and then it's their 35th birthday weekend (10th & 11th August) celebrating 35 years for this family run business.

So, if you should find yourself in Upper Wharfedale, do pay them a visit and perhaps have a look in the shop for the tin of Ditsy Bird goodies.

Sarah
x

My week in pics

Hello!

So we've reached Friday again and we have the extra treat of a bank holiday to look forward to...the weather forecast is actually looking hopeful, too, which makes a refreshing change! It has been positively chilly and blustery up North today...roll on sofa, fire & movie time tonight so I can hunker down under my blanket and get warm for the first time today.

It's been a funny week...Paul has had his second week in his new job after a (shocking) three month gap between contracts. This is a major deal for the chap who has worked (& worked away) for the best part of 28 years. Trust me when I say that, the three months were a trying time all round...but also a lesson in appreciating in what you have & the strength you have within you - to adapt, persevere & prevail.

So, not having Paul around is still relatively new, and then we add in to the mix the fact that George had his first residential trip with school! Two nights in York sans parentals...a fab time was had by all judging by this afternoon's presentation in assembly :) Monday morning, 9:05 and I was totally alone and it would stay that way until 3:40pm on Wednesday. I was a little lost to say the least. Answer? Kidnap Mum for a tearoom visit to sup, scoff and peruse the artworks and products they stock there. Cracking answer, that one.

As my son departed for the train, it became apparent that he'd packed my arty mojo in his case too! I was unable to doodle! Oh the horror.
{I can confirm that said mojo returned with child...thank goodness}

So, yeah funny week.

But both chaps are back in the Birdhouse tonight so all is right with the world - it's an evening of tasty food, cuddles and watching The Hobbit again for us. And doodling. Obviously ;)

Here are a few pics from the week that was...

Have a lovely weekend!
Sarah
x

draw, draw and draw some more

Good morning!

how are you today and what are you up to?
I am finally listing some new brooch designs I've been working on over the past couple of months! As mentioned in my previous post, I have been drawing (a lot) in order to perfect my style and technique. I'm getting there and am really chuffed with the results...and even more chuffed with the response they've been getting on my Facebook page and on my Instagram account.

click here to view it in my Etsy shop

I had already listed my new wooden pendants - I really love how these have turned out...the rustic feel to the slices of windfall branches as well as the beautifully smooth birch rounds. I have a black and white rustic version on at the moment and it is my current 'go to' accessory as it happily sits on most of my tops and dresses. It is also wonderfully light to wear...I have lots of pendants (magpie!) but find some of them aren't suited to everyday wear due to their weight and the pull on my neck. Thankfully, this is no longer a problem and I can accessorise at will ;)

click here to view it in my Etsy shop

Today is all about word brooches and heart garden brooches - little birch hearts, decorated with paint and then hand drawn on with ink using my dad's old dip pens. My dad was a talented artist and I'm delighted that I am able to use some of his tools in my endeavours...I love the feeling of continuity. I also love that George often wanders in to ask if he can play with my pens whilst I'm working.

So that's me!
I hope you like the new designs and rest assured, more will be on their way in to shop as I beaver away with my inks.

For now, I'll leave you with some images of my drawing practice and the brooches & pendants.
Have a great day!
x

a natural progression

morning!

Having signed up for a Valentine's themed mail circle swap type affair on Instagram, I was probing my brain the other day for ideas. I'd seen a wonderful photo on IG of two framed hearts ~ one filled with badges and I think the other with buttons. This then reminded me of the wonderful stamped heart project in Geninne Zlatkis' book Making An Impression and prompted the following series of ideas...

I initially sketched out my rough plan on the Paper by 53 app on Paul's iPad ~

I then raided my stash with the intention of using up some of it along with some bits of w-i-p that having been loitering for a while ~

In all honesty, this wasn't really doing it for me and then I realised it was because there wasn't really any sign of me or my style in it. A quick faff and play and then this ~

Ahh much better! A bit of doodling and an actual theme to the composition and my heart was happy again! Then it was on with my favourite bit - the inking of the design...oh, the calm contemplation this brings me is priceless.

Inked up and now for a sit back and look...a few tweaks later and it is almost done~

...though I'm still undecided about the wording (let love bloom).

That hasn't stopped me ploughing on with Heart Garden II though ~

inking up the design

close up of the detail

and here is the second finished Heart Garden ~

I'd love to know what you think!

One of them is ear-marked as a gift, but I was thinking about doing a few more and putting them in my shop. I'd probably leave them on the full sheet of paper and then it's up to the recipient to decide whether to cut it to frame it, or to simply tack it to their wall with a bit of washi tape :)

Plotting and planning, and working through an idea can be so rewarding.

Sarah

x

Tuesday

it's been a funny old day here in the nest...it started off with a head massage* followed by a long natter with Mum -who had an appointment straight after me - and another stonking headache (result of the massage).

*due to years of abuse of my neck and shoulders...bad posture people, bad posture...I'm in a painful, stiff and creaky way at the moment. A month long headache (and muchly interupted sleep) led me to book a neck & shoulder massage with my friend Sue, which I then spoke about to another friend, Anna, who happens to a truly excellent osteopath. Cue appointment with Anna, an assessment and some 'deep tissue' manipulation and I have much improved movement...I can probably turn out of a junction in my motor now, without moving bodily to see in both directions. Today's massage was to keep on top of the situation and not let my muscles stiffen up too much...I will get this sorted!

Basically, I'm (you too perhaps?) terrible at looking after myself in that way. I'll happily fork out for good, healthy food, with happy chickens and organic produce here and there...I'll make sure my walk to school and back is a good old stomp to get my heart going...I'll have regular hair appointments etc but when it comes to something as simple as bad posture...tut tut tut. I sit at a keyboard and screen two days a week when in Management Accountant mode, and at a desk hunched over a drawing/some sewing etc when in Ditsy Bird mode, a slob on the sofa at the end of the night, or lounge against pillows when reading in bed = I rarely sit up straight = sooooo not good for me. I mean, Anna had to massage my front neck muscles - I didn't even know that was possible! I thought I'd got sore glands but no, sore (oh so sore) neck muscles. I know. Or rather, I didn't know.

For years I've been joking about how I could do with a full body MOT but had never actually thought about how I could go about that. You see, I've always seen massages as a bit of a luxury...more of a treat than a treatment. I now know better of course and will be having regular, preventative, ones going forward.

Hmm this wasn't intended to be a 'look after yourselves people, sit up straight, stretch and give those muscles a rub once in a while' post. But hey diddly ho ;)

Anyhoo...headache under control and finances addressed, I realised that the funds I'd hoped I'd be able to buy myself a beautiful, shiny, brand new DSLR no longer existed. Hmph.

But last night, whilst twitting on Twitter, I remembered some amazing photos a pal had posted using a special lense for his iPhone, no less! A quick chat later, and a bit of web browsing this aft on Photojojo's store, and I have ordered these and this in the hope, that they + the camera on my iPhone 4s will suffice for some fairly decent product shots...

I was sorely tempted by this but will have to see how the lenses go and perhaps invest at a later date. There are so many very cool things on the site, but I had to resist my 'by them all!!!!' urge - I will report back on how I fair with my lenses and tripod attacher doobery wotsit. Hurry post people...hurry!

That's it then really, we're right up to date and now I have to go get my delicious wee chap from Dodge Ball club.

here's a piccie of a card I made for a friends birthday...the Indian Leaf is a magnet :)

TTFN
x

lately

So what have I been up to lately?

 making Christmassy delights

 using psychedelic vintage fabric for hair clips

 painting up orders for two very cute boys

 celebrating 9 years of being Mummy

 enjoying the occasional glass of chilled white

 loving my boy

 buying delicious looking threads

 painting wooden puds

 dreaming up new ideas

 reading new books

 having fun at Otley Designer Fair

 playing with pattern pieces

having fun with shrink plastic

 feeling festive in London Town

 working on party season designs

messing about with new iPhone apps

and supping hot toddies whilst blogging

what have you been up to lately?

x