John Barry OBE ~ Composer

3 November 1933 – 30 January 2011

 The sound of John Barry is instantly recognisable.  Over his life time he wrote the scores for many iconic films including Born Free, Dancing with Wolves and several James Bond Classics, Out of Africa and many many others.  His music is his legacy for us all.
Here are just a few of my favourites:

One little mouse

A few days ago I discovered that a tiny field mouse had taken up residence in the garden and was sharing the rabbits hay and food (although he's made his own little burrow under the patio)  You can read all that bit HERE.

I have had a humane mouse trap set up  laced with peanut butter (apparently a favourite) and weetabix and rabbit food (as he is obviously partial to that).

Following the initial sightings of the mouse scurrying back and forth on the first day, after that he became quiet.  No sightings of him and I thought maybe a cat or owl had swooped in for tea.  I gave up worrying and so when I went out to feed the bunnies this morning I nearly leapt out of my skin when the trap had clearly done it's job and the little mouse was caught. (appologies for the poor picture quality.  I just didn't want to hang around!)

Now this would ordinarily be cause for celebration, but with my Oh out at work, it was down to me to carry the trap to the car and drive little mouse to the outskirts of the village, clamber accross the beck and let mousie go beside a tall oak tree.  At first he climbed out of the trap and sat looking at me for nearly a minute before leisurely approaching the tree and clibing up it!

So this story has a happy ending and the mouse is where he should be, in a hedgerow by a big field.

Have reset the trap just in case he had a friend!

Sock Hippo ~ Walter

Walter

is looking for a new home. He's a little bit cheeky, but desperately needs to be loved. He's a great friend, a bit of a tease and has a heart of gold. Walter is grey and blue.. His eyes are felt. Walter is a hand sewn hippo and although he has no loose bits and bobs, supervision would be required for those under 36 months. Water is approximately 10" (25cm) high. He's not afraid of water and can even go in the machine on a delicate wool cycle. He needs to be reshaped whilst wet and dried naturally.

Materials

All New: sock body: 82% Cotton, 17% Nylon, 1% Lycra Stuffing: 100% polyester (complies with 1988 Fire Safety Regulations)

  Walter is for sale HERE

Sock Hippo ~ Henrietta

 Henrietta is looking for a new home. She's an clever hippo, but desperately needs to be loved. She's a great companion, listener and longs to be your friend and she has a heart of gold. Henrietta is pink and purple with a little bit of black. Her eyes are felt. Henrietta is a hand sewn hippo and although she has no loose bits and bobs, supervision would be required for those under 36 months. Henrietta is is approx 10" (25cm) high.She's not afraid of water and can even go in the machine on a delicate wool cycle. She needs to be reshaped whilst wet and dried naturally.

Materials

All New: sock body: 82% Cotton, 17% Nylon, 1% Lycra Stuffing: 100% polyester (complies with 1988 Fire Safety Regulations)

Henrietta is for sale HERE

The Copying Issue ~ A Crafting Nightmare

Every day I dedicate time to reading blogs, looking at forums and selling sites and  marvelling at the amazing work of crafters.  Occassionally I have seen someone working in a media and decided to have a go myself.  I took up lino printing after seeing a tutorial featured on a blog somewhere.  In the past my forray in the world of polymer clay was inspired by seeing the work of other people and more recently, I took up making sock creatures when I was unable to locate a rainbow design one for my daughter, having seen some truely amazing designs.

In all these persuits though, I never once had an example or photo sittig in front of me, I never used patterns and developed the idea myself, making sure that I never took someones trademark or signature design.  Infact, I steered right away from it.  It's so sad to see a blatent copy, to recognise someone elses work an artists piece.

I have seen examples that are clearly copies.  Chickens spring to mind, and more recently the work of a designer copied and mass produced by a high street store.

A couple of years ago a designer called Eni Oaken was very popular aoround the jewellery forums. She had a wonderful way of wire wrapping and had a style very much her own.  She provided tutorials etc and it spawned a whole load of beautiful work by other designers, but as often as not it was called Eni Oaken STYLE.  This showed that the inspiration came from her. 

I myself, was once accused of coping another designer, I was lucky to be able to proove that I'd actually first made the product when I must have been about 8 or 9 years old.  The shock of being accused filled me with horror. It took some getting over and even though I knew that it had been a case of error on the accusers part, it bashed my confidence.  I think it has in the long term made me more determind to make sure that inspiration and application are two totally different things.

Birthday Monkeys

It's a lovely feeling when your child brings friend in who all go gaga over your sock monkey's.  As a result they are all being given one for their birthdays.

 The pink and grey one is called Rosie Posey. She is heading to live with Louise.

The grey and blue one is called Cyril going to live with Alex

 They are so much fun to make.

  

I only started making them as my daughter wants a rainbow one and as yet, I have still not found rainbow socks to make it.  Perhaps that's why there were none around when I looked to buy one.

These ones aren't for sale at the moment, but can be copied as I have more of the socks available.

Sock monkey ~ Sydney

Created from all new quality materials, this sock monkey is one of the range of monkeys made by Ra Ra Bazaar.

Sydney

is looking for a new home. He's a little bit cheeky, but desperately needs to be loved. He's a fun friend, a bit of a comedian and has a heart of gold. Sydney is cyan and green with a little bit of black. His eyes are felt. Sydney is a hand sewn monkey and although he has no loose bits and bobs, supervision would be required for those under 36 months. Sydneyis a Tall monkey, he is 19" high. He's not afraid of water and can even go in the machine on a delicate wool cycle. He needs to be reshaped whilst wet and dried naturally.

Materials

All New: sock body: 82% Cotton, 17% Nylon, 1% Lycra Stuffing: 100% polyester (complies with 1988 Fire Safety Regulations)

Sydney can be purchased HERE

Holocast Memorial Day

I will carry You ~ Michael W Smith

Samantha ~ Your Soldier Boy Friend wants to Marry You!

When a soldier got to make a phone call to his Girlfriend, he phoned the wrong number and laft the personal message on someone elses phone.
 Inthe call,  he tells his girlfriend, Samantha, how much he loves her and their unborn child – before finally proposing.
He begins: ‘Hi baby it’s me, I am sorry I could not call you last month, but you know what it is like out here.
‘I should be back in three months so we can be together then.
‘One of my guys has just been blown up, so I feel sad, I really feel sad.
‘I feel so sad that I did not get to speak to you just now but I will speak to you next month.’
Overcome with nerves he then says: ‘Don’t ever forget I love you, I love you so much, I love you with all my heart and I was going to ask you, don’t answer, obviously you can’t answer, but will you marry me?’
I love you with all my heart.
‘I do not know what to say babes. I can’t wait until you give birth to my baby, my little soldier. I will do everything in my heart and I will try my hardest to fight to protect you...(inaudible)
‘I’ve got to go back out here now. I love you with all my heart, don’t ever forget that, I love you, alright Samantha, I love you, bye, bye.’

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1350486/Afghanistan-soldier-rang-home-propose-called-wrong-phone-mistake.html#ixzz1C8DabhFH

The Great Mouse Challenge

Yesterday, I was sitting at the table by the patio door making journals.  Something caught my eye and looking out I was quite shocked to see a tiny little mouse being as bold as brass carrying a piece of straw from the rabbots hutch.  it carried it to the edge of the path and then disappeared underneath.  I watched to see the mouse emerge again and this time it went scurrying over to the slope of the hutch (allows the rabbits in and out of their cage all the time)the mouse then managed to get into the hutch, manouver the internal slope, grab some food and retrace it's steps.
Now if the mouse was in my house, I would probably not be as calm, but this one is firmly outside.  I went and looked up what type of mouse it was and found out that it was a field mouse.  apparently their breading period is March to October, so I have a few weeks to get rid.  I am certain there is only one, but he / she is definatley here for the long run as it's built a nest down a tunnel and is emerging and carrying straw down there.

I have a humane trap.  It allows the mouse to go in and then closes a door behind it.  It can catch more than one mouse at a time.  You then have to trust that the trap won't allow the mousie back out and you have to take it two miles away from your home and let the little chap(s) out.  I am pretty certain that there is only one.
Yesterday I enjoyed watching mousie running around, but although the trap was baited with peanut butter (supposed to be the best attracter) the mouse climbed on top, ran around it, but failed to venture inside it.

This might be a trickier challenge than I thought.  I don't want to use a conventional nasty back breaker, but how am a going to catch it.

Fabric Notebook / Journal ~ Bold Floral

This notebook journal has been created from a quality A5 notebook containing 128 pages of beautiful 110gm acid free blank cartridge paper.

The cover is a fixed cover made from furnishing fabric with a bold floral print.
The notebook / journal is wallet style and has a flap to secure any loose bits and pieces you store in the pages. The book closes and secures with a belt featuring a amber coloured floral buckle.

 

Whether you use this notebook / journal to store your personal musing, recipes, sketch, draw, plan or find another use, I'm sure you'll love using it.

 

This notebook is for sale HERE

Fabric Notebook / Journal ~ Funky Floral

 

This notebook / journal is created with a quality hardbacked A5 notebook covered in fabric that is brand new genuine 1970's polyester and cotton fabric.

The notebook has 128 pages of 110grm acid free blank cartridge paper.
The notebook features a pen pocket which will fit up to three pens / pencils in.

 

The notebook also had a wallet flap that is fastened with a matching fabric belt with a lovely amber coloured floral buckle This allows you to keep loose items with in the pages without loosing them.

You'll love keeping notes, sketching and planning in the pages.
This item is for sale HERE

Amazing Grace Cross

Beautiful carved cross created by MJWoodcraft from reclaimed wood.

The Power of the Cross

This, the power of the cross:

Christ became sin for us

Took the blame, bore the wrath -

We stand forgiven at the cross.

(Keith & Kristyn Getty)

Amazing Happy Birthday Variations

It's My Birthday!

So, what should I get up to today?  Well as my parents will be coming for cake tonight, I have to tidy up, but I  will just do the bare minimum and then I'm going to:
Finish sewing Sydney Monkey.
Play with lino and ink
Try out my new crayons
organise my fabric stash.

Does that sound like a fun birthday?  I think so!

The new blog button ~ Ra Ra Bazaar

Got the gang together for a photo shoot.

Ra Ra Bazaar, home of the sock monkey's

Sock Monkey ~ Jocasta

Meet Jocasta, she is looking for a new home. She's a funny monkey, but desperately needs to be loved. She's a great companion, listener and longs to be your friend and has a heart of gold. Jocasta is pink and navy with a little bit of black. Her eyes are felt. Jocasta is a hand sewn monkey and although she has no loose bits and bobs, supervision would be required for those under 36 months. Jocasta is a Tall monkey, she is 19" high.She's not afraid of water and can even go in the machine on a delicate wool cycle. She needs to be reshaped whilst wet and dried naturally.

Materials

All New: sock body: 82% Cotton, 17% Nylon, 1% Lycra Stuffing: 100% polyester (complies with 1988 Fire Safety Regulations)

 You can buy her HERE

Claire's Accessories ~ Shame On You!

Imagine going into a shop and finding a direct copy of the jewellery you designed and created, not only a possible copy, but an absolute direct copy.  That's exactly what happened to Laura Figiel, a graphic designer from Kingston Upon Thames.  Claires Accessories are selling a direct copy of her Hello telephone necklace.

Claires Accessories COPY!

Laura's ORIGINAL
You can purchase it HERE



You can offer Laura your support HERE.

ADDED 23/02/12:  You would think that with all the negative publicity this drummed up, that Claries would be more careful in the future, but just over a year later they are up to their old copying tricks  read my new post here

Feature ~ Finally made it

It was a lovely surprise to find a note on my folksy shop letting me know that my Hermione comb had been featured on the blog: Finally Made It.  Linda, thank you so much, it's always lovely to see my work on other peoples blogs.

All Creations Sings ~ Keith and Kristyn Getty

Sock Monkey ~Erroll

Created from all new quality materials, this sock monkey is one of the range of monkeys made by Ra Ra Bazaar.

Erroll

is looking for a new home. He's a little bit mischievious, but desperately needs to be loved. He's a fun friend and has a heart of gold. Erroll is navy and cyan with a little bit of black. His eyes are felt. Erroll is a hand sewn monkey and although he has no loose bits and bobs, supervision would be required for those under 36 months. Erroll is a Tall monkey, he is 19" high. He's not afraid of water and can even go in the machine on a delicate wool cycle. He needs to be reshaped whilst wet and dried naturally.

Materials

All New: sock body: 82% Cotton, 17% Nylon, 1% Lycra Stuffing: 100% polyester (complies with 1988 Fire Safety Regulations)
He's for sale Here

Famous Wedding Toppers

 Last Night's Holby City on BBC1 starred a very important little character.  His creator Pauline was contacted last year and asked to create the tiny groom from polymer clay.
Pauline usually creates slightly larger wedding cake toppers.   Pauline notified us that tonight was the night and I sat glued waitig for a fleeting glance of him.  It turned out that it wasn't such a fleeting glance as the scene shot below shows. Pauline must be very chuffed.
You can catch up on the episode this week here.

Click on the pictures to make them bigger!

Craft Juice Tuesday ~ Art Attack

I really love this beautiful art work.  It is actually a 50 x 60 cm canvas with plaster paper and copper and acrylic.

It's been created by Total Art Soul.

another Total Art Soul piece.  This one is the most stunning blue.

Sock Monkey ~ Jerome

 

This is Jerome.  He's a sock monkey!

 

Jerome

is looking for a new home. He's a cheeky chappy, but desperately needs to be loved. He's a great cuddler, listener and friend and has a heart of gold. Jerome is Green and purple with a little bit of black. His eyes are felt. Jerome is a hand sewn monkey and although he has no loose bits and bobs, supervision would be required for those under 36 months. Jerome is a Tall monkey, he is 19" high. He's not afraid of water and can even go in the machine on a delicate wool cycle. He needs to be reshaped whilst wet and dried naturally.

Materials

All New: sock body: 82% Cotton, 17% Nylon, 1% Lycra Stuffing: 100% polyester (complies with 1988 Fire Safety Regulations)

 He's currently watching his cousins come to life.  Will show you when they are finished.
If you would like to offer Jerome a home, you can see him here.

The Grand Unveiling

 I have been a little distracted for the last week and allowed a little dust to build up on the blog.  In my defence, I have been incredibly busy starting two ... yep two, not just one! New shops.

Crystal Velvet on Folksy is a store where I'll be selling my jewellery, tiaras and occassion jewellery.  

 and

Ra Ra Bazaar on Folksy  is a store where I'll  be selling handcrafted items like sock monkey's notebooks, jewellery (casual) decorations and gifts.

It's early days yet, but pop along, have a look and tell me what you think.

Folksy

Folksy, for those of you who don't know is an UK based online site where crafts persons and those supplying the handcraft trades sell their wares. There are some truly amazing examples of work on there.  For a while I've been looking and although I signed up, I didn't actually do anything.

Until today that is... because as from today, I have begun to list my products on there.  It's early days yet, but you can pop and have a look at what's there.

My Beautiful Hyacinths

 

Every year, my daughter plants me some hyacinth bulbs.  This years are a creamy peach colour and they smell beautiful.

Raku

 This beautiful piece of Raku pottery has been created by Mr Gittens.

 Raku pottery is first given a bisque firing and then a second firing in a special propane fueled kiln where it is heated for 30 minutes before it is put into a metal container with lots of combustable materials.  The heat from the pot causes the materials to catch fire.  A lid then goes on and oxgen removal from the pot happens.
The patterns and colours adhere to the pot from this process.  After this the pot is plunged into cooling water to seal the design.

 It is impossible to predict how a pot will turn out.