stuff and nonsense

Hi peeps. How are you? I've been a bad girl, I know. But I thought I'd pop by with another update of what I've been up to.

1) Last weekend was spent at one of my dearest friends' hen do in Oxfordshire. I ate a whole, and rather large, sea bass all by myself at The Swan at Southrop. It was delicious and indulgent. We went to beautiful Burford, where we had lots of scones and pottered around the little shops. I came home with a set of vintage butter knives, I couldn't help myself. It was a wonderful, snowy, cosy weekend full of laughter and great company. It's so good for me to get out and see friends. It reminds me that I'm not just an illustrating/baby-making machine.

2) I've been considering making a necklace like this one, from old brooches and bits of jewellery. I want something kooky, blingy and totally over the top to wear to a wedding in March, because I'll probably be wearing a plain black jersey dress over my burgeoning belly that will need some serious pepping up. I'll let you know how it goes. I'm currently stalking several job lots of vintage brooches on eBay and hoping for a bargain. Image from Lovejune on Etsy.

3) I'm currently working with some nice people at Oxford University on an animation. I don't know how much I can disclose, but it's been a fun challenge so far. The hard bit starts next week, when I start animating to a tight schedule.

4) It's that time of year when I should be thinking about what I should be growing in the garden. I've been lacking energy recently, and the cold snap has made spring seem like it's ages away yet, but it will be March before I know it and little seeds will have to be started. It's so exciting. I just need the husband to do any heavy work for me this year. We may even get chickens, but I think this is a fantasy.

5) I started baby and nursery pinboards on Pinterest. But have I bought anything yet? Uh. No. I'm kind of more interested in growing vegetables. Just kidding.

Hope you are all well.
xx

i'm here!

Well, I'm here for a few days and then we are off to vegetate for a week in Tuscany. We will be staying at Fattoria San Paolo, an agriturismo with a bio-pool, which is like swimming in a pond, only a bit less murky. I am beyond excited and definitely ready for some lazy days in the heat and a lot of good food.

Everything here has got a bit out of hand - the house is a mess, my studio roof has sprung a leak, and the garden needs attention rather badly. Progress on the house has come to a standstill.

What else has been going on? We went to an absolutely delightful wedding at the weekend where I saw some old school friends. If you happen to be in Llangollen this week for the music Eisteddfod, check out some of my work at the Helfa Gelf stand. Work is easing off at last. I will be back with some more nonsense later this week.

Gift dilemmas

We are going to a wedding in a couple of weeks' time and it's time to think about wonderful things like gifts (Helen or Dave, if you're reading, look away NOW!) and hats and dresses. My gift to the happy couple was to design and print their wedding stationery, but I would of course still like to get them something quirky and sweet for their wedding. They don't have a list, so I've just started looking around for something suitable. I've never seen their home so I don't know what their taste in decor is - so shall I just impose my own design tastes on them? Probably :-) It's a dangerous game to play, not having a list. We did the same for our wedding and ended up with 24 crystal glasses and some leopard-print side-plates. I know. I nearly wept.

So what to do? I am a big fan of buying only useful or edible gifts. I could compile a great food hamper (I did this for the husband at Christmas) but I don't know what they will or won't eat. Or maybe I'll just get something for the kitchen.


I wanted one of these for my wedding but no-one took the hint - I'd have the yellow butter dish from Yoyo Ceramics. Even if they don't eat butter it can be a nice little container for something.


If I dare go vintage, how about this cute little Cornishware-style jug from The Oxford Tea Party? I am a firm believer that one can never have too many jugs, bowls, plates, chairs, butter dishes and anything blue-and-white.


Speaking of which, how about these little bowls, also from The Oxford Tea Party? This might be a bit much. Blue and white is a love or hate kind of thing and therefore a bit risky.

Anyhoo, that's as far as I've got. Still, there's time left for shopping. Right now I need to do some proper work!