A Very Happy Un-Birthday To Me

Finally, for the first time in 13 years, Mike and I have worked out how to enjoy our birthdays (we share the same day). I've decided to have mine tomorrow. He's had his today. It's loads nicer than trying to do them both on the same day, when they effectively cancel each other out ("who's making the tea then?")

I did have to open a couple of presents today though, as the giver was staying with us and leaving before tomorrow. Look!


Currently, I don't think there is another book I love more than Over and Over by Mike Perry. I have looked at it over and over, and so have the girls. Difficult to choose a favourite artist (there are so many insanely talented people crammed into it), but i think Yoko Furusho's work is breathtaking in its detail.


(Isla liked Andreas Samuelsson a lot.)


Please note also the zippy new oilcloth on the kitchen table.

I shall very much enjoy my un-birthday all to myself tomorrow.

Sunday the 14th

A day spent at one of my most favourite places, with my 3 most favourite people, 2 of them wearing my most favourite cardigans. I tried to get a photograph of the cardies together. It was not easy.





Got them in the end though.


This was the latest bird I made to order - a bluetit version. I do like those three colours together. Calming somehow.


And I finished the cottage. Still not sure about it though.

Things I need in my life

A cleaner. Well, first of all, I need a clearer-upper, then a cleaner.

The patience to finish painting our lovely new shower room.

Grandparents who say "We'd love to have the kids for the weekend".

Sunshine (without the icy-north-wind-side order).

A 2 year old who does not throw the mother of all tantrums every time I try to get her dressed/undressed.

This Moomin fabric (found via My Paper Crane, and available from Shannon Scandinavian Furniture and Lighting, amongst other places)

(Image courtesy of My Paper Crane)

A sweet note

I'm still here...just a little busier than usual filling orders from Folksy. The response has been great and I'm off out to the workshop after this to finish off two more birds to be sent to their new homes.

I had a wonderful card the other day from the new owners of one of my singing lovebirds. It was bought for them by their daughter. The card had a really beautiful linocut by Robert Gillmor on it (not actually pictured - sorry, no time for scanning tonight!).







I am a big fan of his work (and would love to do a course in linocutting myself in the future when time and money are a bit more plentiful). As you can imagine, I was even more delighted when I opened the card, to see that it was in fact from Robert Gillmor, and along with some very kind words, he had very sweetly drawn a picture of his kitchen window with my bird in-situe .

And there's more

I'm a featured seller over at Folksy! If only I'd known, I might have got some stock ready and bought in some more packaging materials! It's great though and the shop is emptying fast, so MUST get busy in the workshop and leave the bathroom painting for another time (shame, she says, it's such fun painting bare plaster).