Tilda Doll

I am delighted to have finished my first ever Tilda Doll.  I think she is really lovely and it has started me on the road to doll-making.  I made her a blonde, as the hair in the kit was brunette.

Flower Garden Tilda

Back crafting and creating

There's nothing as satisfying as sewing and crafting.  Here are a few items that got me back at the sewing machine and creating again.

Liberty Cushion from Alice Carolyn's lovely book

Applique Cushion 

Some friends asked me to make them a pouch to hold a mobile phone allowing them to walk hands free.  Here are a few examples I made:

André Rieu

I have just watched Andre Rieu being interviewed by Gay Byrne on the Sunday evening television programme "The Meaning of Life".  It was terrific and what a lovely man he is.  I have been a fan of Andre Rieu for years and he did not disappoint this evening. He was warm, personable, honest and incredibly happy and contented. He and his orchestra enjoy the concerts as much as the audience and his purpose and aim is for all who play, sing and attend to feel joy and happiness during his concerts.  He certainly does that. Everyone attending any of his concerts can feel the love and joy he imparts to his audience.  People are often moved to tears, I know I am every time.  His concerts leaves you full of his music long after you leave the concert. He said that he likes his colleagues and performers to stay behind after each concert to reflect and come down from the heady experience, instead of rushing off home, a wise and considerate man indeed.  

Here is one of my favourite pieces from Andre Rieu and Mirusia, The beautiful "In mir klingt ein Lied".

Here are a few interesting items I found on Pinterest.

I love this!

My first three in order are : Health, Love, Intelligence.

Interesting.

Summer Crafting :

Summer Crafting has begun with crafts from Debbie Shore.  Debbie's clear instructions are a pleasure to follow and her designs are so inspiring and a delight to make.  Her book Half Yard Heaven has a wonderful selection of crafts for the home or sale.

Make-up bag made from Debbie Shore pattern

An Owl doorstop from Debbie Shore's lovely book Half Yard Heaven

A little handbag made from a Japanese charm pack,

The otherside

A second  Handbag I made from lovely French Olivides Fabric

Happy New Year

It's a new year 2016:  Ring out the old and Ring in the new.  A fresh new, clean start. Another chance to set goals and plan things you want to do and achieve.  I have a new list of things I want to do, work I need to get done around the house, decisions to be made about our kitchen. Classes to register for.  Friends to catch up with, friends I didn't get around to meeting last year, despite our best efforts.

Projects to finish, quilts and crafts to make.  A few new recipes to try out and some new skills I'd like to master.

All in all a good plan, for now. Let's hope I see it through.

I came across The Desiderata recently, I used to have this on my office wall and I think it is always worth a read: