Purple

I put out a table to take photos of things in the sunshine earlier and a certain Mr Ziggy decided that I had put it for him to lounge on!!! Cheeky so and so.

So, working around my feline friend I would like to show you the finished and glazed vase that I painted several weeks ago at Glazy Daisy! It was kindly picked up from there for me by a friend and we hadn't had a chance to meet up since so I was really pleased to see it!!

I love the colours in this- so bright and colourful. It is actually quite textured as well because there are dribbles in the glazing, all making me very happy indeed.

It's like a slowly melting candle in appearance, I can't wait to choose some flowers to go into it.

 (By Wendy)

And I have had the returns from the Purple Postcard and Purple ATCs swap!!! They are very pretty although it appears not a lot of people joined in as I have had one of my own ATCs back again.

 (By Pat)

 (By Annie)

 (By Wendy)

I think they make a really fantastic collection together though!

It has been a really lovely day here today. The sun has shone and the last few flowers have glowed in the warmth. I have started a new project which I can't talk about too much as it is a surprise for a friend but as always I will let you know as soon as I can.

And we end the day with the most amazing moon!!! Huge and brilliant in the night's sky.

Late Night Glazy Daisy

On Wednesday night I went to one of my absolute favourite haunts- Glazy Daisy. I have painted quite a lot of things here now, several plates (my elephant plate, the first mosaic plate, the second mosaic plate, the dragonfly bowl, the seed pod plate, a spotty bowl, and my very first painting endeavour was a decorative dolphin. Added to my little collection I now have a lovely stripey vase!!

 I am very excited to see this all glazed and fired and beautiful. They always look really lovely when just painted and all pale and pastelly, but the real excitement comes in the unwrapping of the item when it is finished and seeing how the colours have turned out.

 There was a lot of concentration and tongues poking out as colours were considered and put back, sponges were examined and motif positions were drawn painstakingly on. You can actually draw on the plates or whatever you are painting with pen, which then disappears during the glazing and firing process (so the green marks on my vase won't be there when it's finished).

 There is so much choice of things to paint, it takes about half an hour just to decide what you want to do (and write the list of things you want to come back for). They have painted tiles to help you decide the colours to use and what they will look like when glazed. You do have to put on several layers for a deeper, more even coverage, although Jenny, the owner of the company, does commissions and uses the paints almost like watercolours- blending them together and layering different colours. (She's very clever and talented.)

Lots of happy faces!!! Can't wait to go back. You can also check out the Glazy Daisy Facebook page to see what they are up to on a daily basis.

Dull, Dull, Dull!!

Batten down the hatches!!! Don't venture outside or you will be blown away like Mary Poppins!!! (Especially if you attempt to keep dry with an umbrella.) This weather is bonkers, mad, horrible, disgusting, foul....I could go on but I think Kit's face says it all really...

Tee hee, such a grump. I would show you the other cat's face but he is hiding under the Christmas tree.

I have been baking once more!! Topping up the goodie tins with jam whirls and some special cupcakes for a family birthday. (You may remember I had to practice my piping on the cakes I baked last time.) I baked and swirled icing on them and The Mother titivated by adding some seasonal touches. Cute aren't they?

We have had some very interesting plants enter the house this week. The flowers (in my Glazy Daisy vase!!) were a gift to The Mother and are most unusual. It just shows how bad the light is here as I had to use the flash on my camera and now the flowers look even stranger!! I think they have been painted bright pink although I'm not sure why, I don't understand painted flowers- what's wrong with their natural colour?

And this strange plant (possibly a type of orchid?) is also a gift to The Mother and is really quite tall!! Nearly reaches my middle! The flowers are very pretty though.

I have had my first Christmas present. A huge floral bag which has been adopted by my crochet as a 'travelling crochet bag'. It fits about three layers of wool bundles as well as my blanket in it so is perfect!! Although I'm not sure about taking it out in this weather. (I have to catch a bus later-- eek!!)

For now though I can sit and ponder, crocheting down the rows of bobbles- I have to say, I am LoViNg the bobbles!! They feel amazing even if they do take forEVER to do! Currently entering a sort of sunset colour phase which is a nice change from all the blues that have been happening.

The Owl & The Cacti Plants

Evening All! August already? This summer is simply whizzing by and, so far, with fantastic weather!! I have been busy creating as you know and today my little penguin friend and two little cacti went to their new homes.

 

I also paid another trip to the lovely Glazy Daisy and got my mosaic plate back after glazing and firing, love the colours in the middle!!

Plus, we had somehow managed to book ourselves in for another painting session...not sure how that one happened...and I painted another mosaic plate to complement the first!

The concentration was as intense as the heat outside!! Although it all pays off in the end. Look how fantastic Amy's owl plate is!! Very jealous!!

Love the little ladybugs.

Mosaic Plate ♥

For my birthday party with friends, I chose to go to Glazy Daisy. I badger on about this place constantly and every year make a few more bits and bobs to add to my collection. It just has a wonderful creative atmosphere and encourages even the self advertised 'non crafty' people to have a go at craft. Excitingly, they are moving a few doors down from their current residence to a bigger shop to allow even more people to have a crack at it!!
I have been very inspired by mosaics recently and have just bought the tools necessary to make my own- for now though I thought it would make a fabulous plate pattern, and sketched a design whilst waiting for the bus- I think it's going to turn out rather well! (Fingers crossed anyway!)

The girls all got very crafty; Heather painted an oil burner, Amy painted a little penguin sign to go into her new classroom (congrats again on your new teacher-ship!!), Katie painted a lovely heart decoration for her Mum and Emma was inspired to make her own mosaic plate. The dinosaurs below were painted by Izzie- full of life and character!

I get to see my plate in all it's glory next Thursday when we are going back to GD for another go- maybe another mosaic plate too!!

Not only did I have a fab time painting my own pottery, but due to the big move, there was a sale table of previous display items painted by the very talented GD staff. I totally fell in love with this vase, the intricacy and detail in it is absolutely amazing (and it was only £7.50!!!) so it came home with me.

And when I haven't been painting and dribbling over pottery, I have been hard at work framing my stitched embroidery pieces. What do you think?