Sunday 19 January 2014

Whilst the Fairies are Sleeping ...



All quiet here at the cottage at the moment as many fairies are hibernating ( and if not fully asleep then getting up much later these grey mornings.)
 Despite the murkiness and general lack of light it never ceases to amaze me just how much wonderful colour there is to absorb even in January , in fact the combinations are often even more inspiring in their subtlety and so I  have been gathering bits and pieces together for new year inspiration with drabness in mind. From top left to right I was really pleased to find this old bundle of tarnished gilt thread ( which makes great fairy hair ) and some mouse and chocolate coloured ribbon.

Below is some beloved hydrangea that had been naturally dried by the wind and some some nice copper sparkly braid ...


Also recently purchased , velvet ribbons ...
 Some spools  ... softly dyed blue linen, sludgy taffetta ribbon and some pleated furnishing edging.

I found these nice and knobbly twigs on a walk and  this tiny flowered Lace Cap hydrangea sprig which will look really magical with a sprinkle of fairy dust.

 First embroidery of the year is this little garden ( not quite finished ) but it does illustrate how these colours seep into one's subconscious ... I can't imagine diving into a bright pink palette until at least May comes around !

 Another winter pastime is to sort out my crochet projects and these granny squares have been in need of blocking for sometime , so with a good play on the radio I set out with gritted teeth to spray and pin each 3.5 inch square into place - some doing when there are over 100 of them but well worth the effort
for the finished look of a blanket. I use an old cotton mat , folded over a few times to get a good depth to pin into. Next step to sew them all together...


 Now I shall just tip toe away from these sleeping fairies I found under under this 2 inch granny square cushion I am making but which I am due to unpick as I didn't bother to block it - perhaps some fairy fingers will help me when they wake up !


Saturday 4 January 2014

Fairies In Crisis !


 A happy News Year to ALL ! We have all had a very happy Christmas and I hope you did too - the only blot on the landscape has been that one of my e mail accounts and my web site has been down all over the holiday and is in the process of being built as I write, so apologies to anybody who has tried to make contact or has not been able to get onto bettybibdolls.com - all should be well again by the middle of next week. it has also meant that I cannot send pictures from my I Pad to my lap top to furnish this blog and I have had to revert to my digital camera which doesn't produce such good images and i have been unable to take the usual shots of my fairy Christmas tree. Looking on the bright side I am hoping the situation will enable me to take a fresh look at my website for 2014 and refresh it as the year goes on.

You may recall that I took a photo of Araminta here posing in the apple tree just before Christmas - I thought she had gone missing over my main selling period and I assumed she was in hiding , not wanting to leave us - well only a few days ago I was raking some leaves only to find her muddy and bedraggled as I had forgotten to bring her in ! The poor dear has been given a wash but she is now due for a complete overhaul ( although I do rather like her distressed look ) I hasten to add that she herself is not at all distressed , only pleased to think that she will be getting a new dress.



 Other news here at Betty's cottage is that  Gloriana , our fairy from the top of the tree ( so Top Dog in fairy terms ) has been having a last fly about until she is put away in the decoration box for another year , it being 12th Night tomorrow ... here she is in the  Vibernum and decorative cabbages ...


 and glowing rather from all the exertion on the kitchen windowsill ...


 ... saying goodbye for another year !


And now as I promised in a recent post here are some of my domed pieces - I want to continue with these in 2014 and build on the idea of describing a narrative with a hint of the Fairy Tale in them.

GRASSY KNOLL



CLOUDBERRY


THE FAREWELL


THE KINDRED


I am hoping to make lots more magical things in the following months - thanks to you all for calling by