Swapsies...

Cleggy has been working away loads recently - and we don't like it one bit!  Neither does he. Anyway, to check that he doesn't have a second family save him some driving, we decided to spend the weekend where he was working - in beautiful Hampshire.           It's a new area to us - and what we saw we liked very much.

So, we rented this house:

Just kidding - we only hired the little castley bit on the left hand side. It was a stunning old listed building - an old mill, steeped in fascinating history. The owners were really friendly - and, thankfully, not precious about their lovely gardens.
                             Inside made for the best games of hide and seek - and I grew more than a little attached to the aga!

I've decided I too need a folly!

We had a great day exploring all the beaches one by one...

At Emsworth I told GB the drop was too steep (it was a much bigger drop than it looks here) - and not to climb over. He did it anyway. I decided to let him hang for a while - you know, teach him a lesson. But was mortified when a stranger RAN over and asked if I needed help pulling him up! (I did...) Cleggy was more perturbed that I'd found time to take a photo...!

The evening light was lovely - it felt like spring had sprung.

The following day reminded us that Spring had NOT in fact sprung - it was bleak. We decided to visit Portsmouth Historical Docks - a great hang out for a wintry day. We particularly loved getting on board the old ships and learning about life on deck. No photos - too grim!

As I had lots of time alone I managed to use the book of crocheted flowers granny got me for Christmas and made my first brooches. I love a blanket but have discovered I don't have the patience - a brooch is right up my street!

The rest of the week has been full of lovely commissions (some need to stay under wraps until the recipient receives) but these I can show and tell:

Blocks for very special Mummys

Some Mr & Mrs Blocks for an old friend Lisa

Possibly my all time favourite thing to make - blocks using vintage ladybird books. I'm still considering the proposal ladybird have asked for (before Christmas - yikes!) with regards a licence - but in the meantime I'm happily making them on request from original books. Yes - they get cut up - but they are then a new mini work of pure joy to look at on a daily basis!!! (it's still hard to take the sccissors to them...)

These ones are for Catherine and are a mixture of School and Party. As always they are such a delight to work with. 

Lastly - I recently made some Vintage Nursery Blocks for Helen, to help display her beautiful creations. This week we decided to do a swap - one of her gorgeous hearts (plus some fab paper and buttons) for 2 bunny blocks. I love a swap.

Here are the blocks 

And here is my heart.

How lovely?

(psst Helen is having a giveaway, Greengate tin, buttons, pin cushion.... here's the link )

 fee x