Happy Days :)

Yesterday I received my utterly gorgeous Winter Comforts ATC from Rachel and I couldn't be happier. Organised by Ali, I always love participating in these swaps. 

On a very wet and windy day, getting such a treat in the post is guaranteed to put a smile on my face. Look what I've got...

There are so many details in such a teeny tiny space - these ATCs measure only 2.5" x 3.5"!

I love all the layering and different textures that have been packed into it. 

As I've said many times before - I love taking part in these swaps. There is a real pleasure in creating a little piece of textile art for someone who doesn't know what they're going to get. There is immense joy when receiving one and knowing that it has been specially stitched for you!

It really is a cosy rectangle of happiness :) Thank you so much Rachel xx

Roll on the next swap!

Hope your week is going well :)

Sherry - one happy bunny xx

Finishing a few things with a smile..

The last couple of weeks have seen a few things finished. Cue big smile...

My ATC swap card went off in the post at the beginning of last week. 

Ali over at VeryBerryHandmade was as wonderful as ever organising another Artist Trading Card Swap - this time the theme was Winter Comforts. Taking part in these swaps are always such a pleasure - the planning and creation of a textile treat for someone else.

So what springs to mind? As ever I start with a mind map. It was pretty clear that hot chocolate, log fires, warm Winter woolies and snoozing hounds were high on my list. I sat in my favourite spot (another Winter comfort!) looking out of my window one afternoon thinking about the theme. 

This is my view...

Through the window I could see lots of these little guys feeding on the various treats we put out for them. Blue Tits are just the most relaxing and entertaining creatures - they squabble, chatter, feed and flutter non stop. They land on the window frame and peck on the window to get attention and we sit looking at each other. In the middle of a gloomy day, they make me smile. Ta- dah! ATC planned.

Using photos that my hubby takes of them clutching to the feeder, I sketched out the card... and stitched...

It's bit wonky - the finishing off always takes me for ever and sorry about the lighting - it's been so overcast and rainy here lately.

Ready to go :)

I hope my swap partner likes it. The birds truly are our Winter Comfort and the food we put out for them is their Winter warmer. Thank you Ali for another great swap! I can't wait to receive mine  and I'll post it here when it arrives!

I've finished reading Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. Oh my word. What an emotional page turner! The film has since been watched. 'Read it!' I'm telling everyone - most people already have. I'm a bit slow off the mark like that. 

Archie might give it a whirl...

...although he's already dozed off before the good bit...

I've sent off an embroidered thank you card and personalised glasses case to some special people - forgot to photograph.. grrrrr

I'm sneaking in here, the fact that I've almost finished the blanket I've been working on (the one that was supposed to be ready for Christmas), but with only another few rows and the edging to go - hey, nearly there...

I've finished clearing out some of my wardrobe space that has definitely made me smile, although I just know I'll want to wear it once it's gone or wish I'd kept the fabric...

Hello February - here's to some more finishings this month!

Sherry xx

Swapping little stitches..

I recently took part in the ATC swap organised by Ali over at Very Berry Handmade.

My first thoughts on the theme of My Favourite... were organised into a mind map, which I then plainly disregarded and went off on another tangent!

Sitting out in the back garden on a fairly rare, warm and sunny afternoon a couple of weeks ago, I realised just how very much I love Summer. Ahhh, now there's an idea - my favourite time of the year!

I love all the seasons - and a list of my favourite things about each of the seasons showed this. But it's the warmth of a Summer's day, the carefree days of holidays, swimming in the sea, seeing the garden in full bloom and events like Wimbledon that seem to epitomise the few weeks that make up Summer. 

Selecting the things that represent Summer was easy, it was just the stitching of them that was a little tricky! Anyway, here's the finished card...

Strawberries, Wimbledon, harvesting lavender, and swimming in the sea - all represented under some cheery bunting. 

It went to Jo who loved the itsy bitsy teeny weeny bikini the most! I stitched it all on a pale green linen and thoroughly enjoyed making it.

Today, through the post I received my ATC from Simi. Look at this....

I just love it - the textures, the colour and the obvious fun my swap partner had in stitching it. It will make me smile every day as I look at it sitting on my desk. Such a clever lady. 

ATC swap- it's that time again!

I've signed up to take part in another ATC swap organised by Ali from veryberryhandmade 

I love being involved in these swaps and have received two gorgeous ATCs in the past that I treasure. The theme this time is My Favourite.... Where to begin?!

I start my thought process with my trusty mind map..

I need to do this for two reasons - to rein in my over active imagination (I could spend hours thinking about this and this narrows down my thought process) and because writing things down helps me to rationalise. Animals is an obvious choice for me but as you can maybe see, the list for animals would go on for ever and I'd never make my mind up!

So - first thoughts - stage 2 - some (ahem) rather basic sketches..

I don't know if you can recognise where one of my sketches might be?

Having done this - I'm swinging in another direction that wasn't even on my mind map - get it together Sherry!

I need to think colours too. Some swappers have very particular colour preferences - some don't :)

Last time I incorporated a little bit of crochet too - anything goes! Oh - did I mention that this mini art work can only measure a maximum of 6.4cm x 8.9cm? That's quite teeny tiny :)

Home Sweet Home!

Excited to be taking part in the Very Berry ATC Swap 6 with the theme of Home Sweet Home. 

I've taken part in one before and thoroughly enjoyed it. The theme for the last one I took part in, was called Getting Away From It All and my package went to a lovely lady called Annie in Queensland, Australia. 

I received this gorgeous card from Paula of Mud, Pies and Pins. 

It was delivered by a soaking wet post lady and was literally like a ray of sunshine through the post. It's absolutely beautiful and I look at it every day as I have it perched next to my desk. 

It was the first such swap I had taken part in and it took me by surprise just how important it became to me. One thing I learnt from last time - is to start early! Here are my first thoughts...

Isn't it interesting what it is that makes our homes so special? A cup of tea by a roaring fire or under the shade of a favourite tree? The animals who share your life? A Sunday roast cooking on a lazy weekend? A place where you can be yourself? A place of laughter, safety and happy memories? 

When I asked one of my sons what it was that made for home sweet home - what, for example, did he look forward to when coming home from university ? Food came back the swift reply. Hmmm.