I Love Tracy Gallup....

Actually I've never met her...but I LOVE her work!

Cleggy once bought a little book he got for the boys when they were younger called 'Stone Crazy'

It was one of a series - all featuring Tracy's work and words - just gorgeous. 

Cleggy bought all four books in the series and we all loved the little people in them. 

I did a bit of research a couple of years ago and discovered that Tracy sells some of the figures in the illustrations. I was BEYOND excited, not least because, like most men, Cleggy is near impossible to buy presents for, and I knew he would LOVE to own one.

I contacted her - and she found the perfect one for me - this little guy looking through his heart stone. 

I had to keep him secret for a few months so he stayed wrapped up in the workshop...although I got him out now and again for a sneaky look!

Tracy also really kindly sent me some photos of the place where she found the heart stone which I had enlarged and blocked.

(on a bizarre aside, the gallivanting Granny saw the photos and said 'I've been there'. I scoffed slightly - but she named the exact place - Washington National Park! Nuff respect!)

Anyway - we treasured the little man, but thought it would be nice to have two more, to represent our three boys.

Most of the figures are within natural things like stone, bark, shell etc. I specifically wanted a boy in a box as it links perfectly with Cleggy's pedagogy. 

It was really hard to choose (I wanted them ALL!) but plumped for a shell for the third figure

We adore them - and I find myself photographing them regularly.

We don't own many 'precious' breakable things (for obvious reasons!) so these little people live on the fireplace in the lounge...where there is a strict NO WRESTLING rule!!!

(don't worry Tracy - they are all safe)

I like to wonder who will treasure them in years to come....

Here's some more beautiful examples...a feast for the eyes:

Tracy lives in Michigan and is also a wonderful 

writer and illustrator

Here's the link if you want to see more.

fee x 

ps 4 5 more followers til the big 200...nearly giveaway time!!! 

[you win some you lose some!]

Mirror Monday (for one day only!)

I've stood in front of the mirror and taken a photo of my big cheesy grin for my friend Roos, who is 'celebrating' a years worth of Mirror Monday posts! I say celebrating...she should be celebrating the fact she's still sane, and has (for the most part) retained her sense of humour!

It's actually harder than you think to take a photo of yourself  - most of mine looked like this 

where I'm trying to see if I'm 'in it' while taking the picture. Doh!

Anyway - that's it for today. 

Apart from to say:

"Roos, you are an inspiration. I hope the next 12 months are much MUCH easier and I'm sending virtual love your way today 

more than ever!"

fee x

(and to add that I'm wearing my work pinny...not some sort of pinnafore dress of of the 80's!)

The post where I realise I dress like a Clown...

So, turns out it wasn't only my family who thought the clown in the photo was me!!!

Bearing this in mind I decided to revisit my wardrobe....and this is what I found:

Current favourite dress

favourite shoes

 ...bag

favourite scarf

favourite ring

(cute isn't it? 

It has a little cut out ♥ in the back...a present from Cleggy)

Yep...I dress like a 

flamin' clown!

Anyway, inspired by clown antics I made some circus blocks this week (will get them online soon)

I love circus images!

I dressed down for a lovely day out in Knutsford with Emily B. The sun was out for a change, and so was the bunting

We talked (and ate) too much so missed the wool shop! (main reason for picking Knutsford!)

Cleggy and I have been busy writing/taking photos for another book - this time it's '50 fantastic things to do with sand and water'. The kitchen was turned into a science lab - and it made for some interesting photos

 Some of the activities are worth a go if you have young children - see Cleggy's current post for how to!

Last make for today - a sign for Mabel's room

 Finally I've just noticed I've nearly reached 200 followers (wooo hooo) which can only mean one thing...time for a giveaway celebration. As soon as I reach the golden number it's game on...fee x

Back To Basics

Thank you again for sending so much love for my brave boy.  

I was rather peturbed that more than one member of my family thought the clown in the top photo of the previous post was ME! I like to think they meant her smiley face - but fear it may have been her outfit!

Kenzie is still doing well and is loving all the attention. 

Meanwhile little brother GB is obviously lacking attention - as he came downstairs at the weekend looking like THIS:

He had even gone to the trouble of painting the inside of the cotton wool red, so that when he pulled it out it looked like it was soaked in blood! What a boy....

Anyway, enough of the hospital talk - back to my staple blog diet (boys, crochet and blocks!)

Here is the message I found on my bathroom door this morning

Not exactly the chic sign my bathroom deserves!

I'm such a crochet sheep - I lurch from blanket, to jar cosy, to scarf to... frankly,  whatever anyone else is making. 

I realised pretty quickly that anything that took patience more than one night wasn't for me, so have recently become obsessed with neck warmers (3 WIP's but nothing to show!) and more recently Amigurumi. 

Inspired by Victoria I set to, making a teeny tiny rabbit for my gorgeous neice Mabel. Except it didn't end up small - it was bloomin' massive!

Cute though.

I didn't expect (1 year old) Mabel to want to actually play with it - but got a text from Nelly saying 

"Mabes loves her rabbit - she's currently chewing the buttons....

hope your handy work holds up"

Yikes!

Anyway - undeterred I tried again - 

this time a teeny weeny mouse. 

And it worked!

Its been a busy few weeks in the chipper shop and I've had some lovely commissions to keep me even busier. These ones were for Claire, who was inspired by Annies recent giveaway!

Claire requested some coordinating blocks in duck egg blue, pale green and mulberry pink, with words that have meaning for her.

They made a lovely collection:

I also made some for Annie! In colours to match her 

beautiful blog....

 

Finally - some blog shares in case you've missed them

Over at decor8 there are some brilliantly clever ideas for ways to use your instagram images (love the stickers!)

...and at oh, hello friend Danni has a beautiful calendar screensaver on her current post:

 ...there's still time to enter 

Susan's scrumptous giveaway here:

where you can win fabric, ribbon, yarn, buttons....

 ...and lastly, in the quest to fill the picnik gap, I'm still loving picmonkey - but also ipiccy, which already has the good old collage option!

That's it. 

♥ fee ♥

Patient Update!

Thank you SOoooo much for all the supportive comments over the last couple of days - I was completely overwhelmed. And the love for Kenzie's buns made us both smile!

I'm pleased to report that his operation went well, they didn't find anything scary inside his head (!) and he is happily recovering beside me on the settee.

I realised right from the start of this journey that Cleggy would be better equipped than me to take Kenzie down to theatre (after sobbing uncontrollaby the first time - you know the real gutteral sob that you know is embarrasing even though its perfectly understandable?)

But I always insist on going to collect him - much easier.

UNTIL yesterday. It's never nice, but At least at that point it's over and everyone is telling you with confidence that he's OK.
Unfortunatly the relief, the heat and the horrible hospital smell all combined to make me woozy....and the next thing I know everything is swimming and I'm being lifted onto a flamin bed. With a cot side 'for my safety'.  

The SHAME!!!

Of course, there's always an upside. Cleggy thought this was hilarious (and promptly texted all family members to let them know...thanks). Fortunatly he arrived in recovery without his phone, so no nothing to show. I'm surprised he didn't ask to go back for it.

Anyway, after the inevitable sore few hours Kenzie was soon back in the room and enjoying a biscuit boost!

Unfortunatly his ear wasn't so happy - and he ended up having the full head bandage:

 The Giggle Doctors in the top photos are brilliant. They are paid for by a charity called Theodora Children's Trust and do their job in such a sensitive way, in children's hospitals all over the country.

They get a feel for how much a child wants to be included, and tailor their fun to suit the age and nature of the child. Far harder then they make it look!

They were very funny and we all enjoyed their company and the distraction. Cleggy enjoyed it a little too much!! (and I liked their shoes a little too much!)

So here we are...the lucky ones. We are forever grateful for our brave boy, for all the amazing doctors and nurses at our hospitals, and for our luck. It certainly stops you moaning about the weather....fee x

Full Circle

About 9 years ago our gorgeous boy Kenzie went into hospital to have a routine operation to remove a polyp from his left ear.

It turned out to be a tumour.

Our lives were turned upside down in an instant and we entered a world we never knew existed...

After investigation the doctors discovered not one but many tumours - all over his skull. 

Kenzie had 6 months of intensive chemotherapy and the following year was given the all clear. We had big party (and another baby!)

Then it came back. 

And this time the doctors discovered it was not only in his bones but also in his pituitary gland, bone marrow and possibly elsewhere. 

Kenzie then had 12 (long) months of chemotherapy and spent many (many!) weeks in and out of hospital, missing his first year of school.

9 years later, I feel able to say he is well! He's one of the kindest boys you could meet. And SO funny. We love him very much.

When he was 2 we were told his odds of survial were 50/50 and it felt like the end of the world. I now know how lucky we were. 

I know others are not so lucky, and I know some people reading this know someone who is going through the nightmare, or is living it themselves. My thoughts really are with you - and although there's nothing else I can do to help I hope that picture of our happy boy with his cherry buns makes you smile.

Tomorrow Kenzie is going into hospital for a routine operation... to patch up the hole in his left ear.

It feels like full circle.

fee x

GB is 8!

Brrrrr, it's cold here again today. Where has the sun gone?

You know how I like a random post - well here goes:

Firstly I made a purchase and have developed a new obsession...a slow cooker! 

While we were at featherdown farm we slow cooked some delicious stews on the stove. When I got back I had a comment from a new follower Sam who lives in Arkansas. I popped over to her blog say hello and found an interesting recipe for slow cooked pork. I took it as a sign (from who??!) and was on Argos online in a jiffy getting myself a crockpot! (£24 for a huge one...bargain)

 

 So, with  my little sister and G Kisby over for dinner the following day I set about throwing the bizarre ingredients (I didn't measure anything) into the pot and left it cooking for 9 hours. Yes, there was some questioning of my sanity ('pancake syrup? really?) but the consensus was that it was de-flamin'liscious!

Obviously I am now seeking out more recipes...loving the idea of putting dinner together after the morning school run - leaving me more available for the witching hour!

Last week I received 3 gorgeous packages 

(but have only photographed 2. Annie - yours has been cut up!!! see later)

The first was from Helen as part of a swap. A gorgeous monogrammed pin cushion in my favourite colours...how adorable?

Thank you Helen - it will be treasured forever.

Helen's current post is a visual feast of nautical colours...pop over and prepared to be inspired.

The second was a giveaway winning! Who doesn't LO♥E a giveaway?!

This pocket bunting is beautifully made by Jooles from sewsweetviolet blog, another of my all time favourites. It's currently hanging in my hallway - and already has treasure in the pockets!

This block is the last of the winners from Annie's giveaway. It was won by Lori from loritimesfive blog in California. Lori requested the word 'wool' on a winter white block. It was a pleasure to make.
Lori is a few days away from a massively exciting trip to Africa - which all came about through blogging! She has made some wonderful crochet pockets filled with little treasures to take with her as gifts for children in a himba village in Namibia - take a look. As if you need any more reasons to visit Lori, there's also a fab post on her knitted shawl (one for you Cuckoo!) here.

After the love shown for Mabels vintage Ladybird peg, and the gift of a duplicate book (Annie - I love them all! Thank you) I've been able to chop up the rest of my 'Puppies and Kittens' book to make some more pegs to sell here on the blog.

The first set of photos were taken before I made holes for the pegs!

 The pictures are sealed on to a block of solid birch 10x10x1cm and have a recessed hole for a screw (which I don't have!)
The wooden peg is shaker style and hammers in. I can either hammer it in before sending or send with the peg separately.

If you're interested in buying one please let me know which one you fancy - there's only one of each. Drop me an email (chippernelly@hotmail.co.uk) so I have your email address to send you a paypal invoice. They are £15 each which includes wrapping and postage (If outside the UK then I'll add on another £1 for the extra postage)

I'm happy to stamp a message on the back if you fancy - I've done an example to give you an idea of space available. The best font is old typewriter as in the example, all lower case.

And finally, our littlest boy is 8 today. 
If ever there was a boy high on life it's our Geordie. He is NEVER still, always (very) dirty, mischievous, often highly strung, always funny, loves all of our animals (take that back - he has neglected to remember his own hamster Mr Bob Boblingson) and great all round entertainment. As third child he has to fight hard for his voice to be heard - and once he gets an opening he literally talks until someone stops him.

Happy days

fee x