Little Peek..

Well thats the bank holiday weekend nearly over! Ok, I have been a bit of a hermit, I did the big food shop Friday, and had no need go anywhere...so I didn't!

I have been busy working on some childrens book double page spread samples..and this weekend I have managed to do 3 spreads and a cover bookjacket idea. The Lil Mouse is just a tini tiny element on one of them. I'm hoping to do a couple more ideas this coming weekend..so when they are all done I will post them up here!

Bag update..

I have nearly bought an Alexa Style Bag, that is my new obsession. I posted a want it now post on ebay, and a very nice lady has emailed me a picture of one that is in my budget, and I have emailed her back to say ..YES yes please can I buy it?

Still waiting for her email...

I can't wait!

Happy Monday

Love Sam xx

PS I watched an amazing film called The Illusionist, with the delicious Edward Norton..it was beautiful, like an adult fairy tail...so if you haven't seen it..you must!!

Byee!

Thankyou Jo Jo!

Just a quicky...looked on my blog today and there was a chinese comment advertising some yucky things....so apologies if anyone translated it...I only just noticed todayxxx

Thankyou Jo Jo for messaging me xx

Sam :0)

Ps ...nothing to show for today so far...its 8.40 am here..so I thought I would put up a picture of the lady who invented the Moomins..bit random, but I love this photo!!

x

Bank Holiday Saturday

Well here we are, the Bank Holiday weekend here in the UK! and no surprise its raining! I have to admit that I was secretly quite pleased, and between you and me...(Now this is going to sound a tad mad) I lit one of my last Christmas candles...

As much as I like still having daylight to come home to, especially after a long day at work, my favourite time of year is between September and December, literally on September 1st, the Halloween films come out, and anything slightly spooky.

I'm not one for photographing myself, and loading them on the WWW, for one, I don't think I'm that confident, and secondly, I am one of the most unphotogenic people ...EVER... But here I am , at this moment, beavering about on the computer, working up some childrens book spreads. Mr M was a little horrified that I took a photograph of my Yucky Argos 'office' desk..I have tried to make it look as nice as I can, but I can't bring my self to get rid of it, as Silkie has a cozy 'panic room' in the corner just behind it that she uses when we have visitors..and the radiator is next to it too!

and this is only a small section of the Christmas Inspirations Boards I have been getting together at work..last count I think there may be 8..as guess what I will be working on Christmas Cards 2011 as of next week!

Heres a Lil peek of what I have been up to...all I will say for now is that it involves alot of woodland animals! I also gave the toy blog a bit of a makeover too...no more toys at the mo though, as I'm glued to the computer!!

Have a great weekend!

Love Sam x

Little Teds New Home in South Africa

Little Ted has moved abroad, all the way to South Africa to live with a little girl called Valusha,

and her Mum Natalia, (Hi Valusha, hope Little Ted behaves himself...he can be a little cheeky sometimes!)

I love this picture, they look so cute together!

Happy Tuesday!

Love Sam x

A New Little Friend!

Well today started early...5 am early, even with an eye mask on to sleep with..(very alluring I know!) The light even then was really bright, and I was wide awake. So up I got, washed up, mopped the kitchen floor, put the washing on...

I had no desire to go anywhere today, I just wanted to pootle about my little house.. then I spotted something...

Oh 'Hello' I said..who are you?

and a small little voice said as it sat back down on the watering can under the Tulip tree..

"Percy...Percy Bear"

Percy seemed to like sitting under the tree in the shade...best place I said, to get out of the sun!

What a sweet little bear your are!

"You think?" said Percy, so I left him alone, but I expect to see him in the house a bit later..

So I thought I would do a bit of drawing in the garden, but guess who had other ideas..

SUe KiTTon!! I said!

Yes I do realise that you are very pretty...and I love you very much, but I'm trying to draw!!

Silkie!

Then she fell asleep all over my books and sketches!!

Hope you have had a lovely Saturday too!

Love Sam x

PS Don't tell Percy, but he is made from Mohair, fully jointed, stuffed with woodwool and little glass beads for weight, and he has been 'aged and shaded' by me to give him that really old fashioned lost toy look... and is 9.5 inches tall. I will post him up in my Gingerwine lost toys shop too xx

Lets make a Bear!

well it was only a matter of time til the new machine came out to play...and..

if Miss Sue Kitton will let me have my lap back..

But isn't it the loveliest thing, if you share your home with a pussy cat, that they like to spend time with you?

My next bear is going to be a little bear..and I'm going to have a go at 'shading'...it seems to be the thing in the bear world at the mo...

I'll keep you posted...

Sam xx

In between things..

I feel like I am in a bit of a no - where land at the mo. I threw myself into toy making...and want to keep doing that but its an expensive hobby...then I went completely to town with learning a bit of photoshop...but what to do now?

Here is where I tuck myself away...Silkie likes to nose out of the window too!

I'm also a bit obsessed with the new 'it' bag ...the Mulberry Alexa bag...isn't it lovely....I can dream can't I?

What shall I do?

Happy Monday!

Love Sam x

More Pictures...

Well there hasn't been much crafting...Mr M has been working all weekend on some freelance work, and I have been inspired too to carry on. Its handy as well having a pussy cat as an alarm sometimes...(moooing at 6am) to make you get up, do the washing up, tidy around and get back into bed, with your laptop, for more snoozingzzzz

I don't have anything really exciting to report sadly...no sewing, no thrifty purchases, nothing new about the house...hopefully next week will be more exciting!

Sam xx

We could all do with some Golden Eggs...

from time to time don't you think? ;0)

Phew at least the week is nearly over...one more day of school left. Maybe the new little sewing machine will come out to play.. I have a rather large piece of mohair dying to be turned into something!

Trouble is I'm a bit computer/hammer horror obsessed at the moment...I particularly love Peter Cushing...oh and a bit of Christopher Lee too...

Well my eyes are failing me now dear bloggers...off to bed for mexx

Sam xx

Little Sue at the bottom of the garden...

yes, a lil cat who I've named Little Sue came a visiting last night at 4am...but my 'Big' Sue wasn't impressed. I was woken up with the noise of a possessed cow echoing from the conservatory, and I soon realised that it was Silkie Sue inflated and puffed up to twice her size...who seemed to forget there were glass windows in her way...when she headbutted the glass.

Little Sue soon scarpered...

I did feel bad for her, but Miss Silkie Sue only seems to like me and Mr M...

Lets hope no little moles move into the garden either...even if they have a hole!!

Nighty Night

Sam xx

Back to School tomorrow..

Well my 3 days have flown by, but I have been busy...glued to my new computer...and I have really enjoyed myself...colouring in and watching spooky old films on You Tube!

I had a little play with my new sewing machine...panicked to start with as I thought it didn't work...but I think its ok after all...mental note...read the instructions...SLOWLY

Happy Sunday!

Love Sam xx

Glued to the Mac again...

I will take a pic to show you my new desk set up in the 'box room' I have been so engrossed today that I haven't even opened up my new sewing machine!

I'm really enjoying myself...I have a good spot to sit at, plus a good 'twitching' post...(Nosing at the neighbours!) and I can watch old films too on You Tube, thanks to the second monitor I have been given...



Mr M is working very hard, on proper work, so I find it really inspiring to work on my own stuff too.

Now I'm off for a bath...oh and a little drinki too!

Cheers!

Sam xx

My Muse..

Yes it sounds corny, but my cat Miss Sue is ...and here are some new Illustrations to show you..

I'm fairly new to using Photoshop...I used to not 'get' it at all, preferring the old fashioned way to do things..

But I'm really enjoying using it...no mess, nothing to tidy up, no paint brushes to clean...

Yes I'm Loving Technology...its soo...Tidy!!

Happy Friday...

Sam xx

PS I expect I will be back again tomorrow... xx

A New Post...

I had to delete my last post, as I realised that the illustration I had posted was too light!

That serves me right for doing it far too quickly late at night...

and apologies for the blogger who left me a message....The good news is that I have 3 days off as of tomorrow..theres gonna be a spot of crafting and colouring in...so pop by if you have a chance...

Its lovely to hear from you xx

Sam xx

PS I blame you lot for my increased creative urges ...:0)

Happy Thursday xx

I Love Vintage Toys...

Yes I do I do...can't get enough of them! So do you still have your old thread bear toys you loved when you were little?

I do, though they are completely worn away, and my most loved resemble 2 balls of wool...(Not really worthy of a photograph!) But I still treasure them, and they live in a little cloth bag, with some other thread bear softies...

This isn't my chicaboo...but I did have one once...and regret throwing him away!

I also loved Pippa, and Sindy..

And I was desperate for a girls world 'head'...but my mum bought me a sensible Sindy styling head instead!! (Is it just me, or was Girls World a bit...well tarty? :0)

So I think thats why I love making old vintage style toys....

They just take me back to a bygone time....

Oh and I bought a new sewing machine....and its not vintage, or a brand name, but It did have lots of good reviews on the Web..so I will keep my fingers and toes crossed that it works ok!

I have another long weekend this week, so I'm planning on some more sewing projects..

I wonder what to sew?

More Lost Toys...?

Probably:0)

So night night from me and Mouse.......

Love Sam xx

Drum roll please.....

with a little help from Little Sue (and not forgetting Little Ted)

...oh and a R2D2...after much shaking of the tin Mr M picked a winner...

http://taleobears.blogspot.com/

Congratulations Nataly! and thankyou for all the messages...Little Ted was rather touched he was so popular!

See you all later in the week!

Nighty Night

Sam xx

The Colouring Kitton..

Well I would like to introduce you to Little Sue...inspired by my bengal cat, Miss Silkiesue, and also by my love of all things vintage, especially vintage children's illustration.

Little Sue is made from donkey grey mohair, she has a felt body (weighted with little glass beads), which has been embellished with stitching and buttons.

She has a hand knitted scarf, a hand painted tag, and a little bag that is made from some old fabric...where she keeps her drawings..



Yes Little Sue, like me, loves to 'Colour in'


and just like 'Big Sue' and I , enjoys an afternoon nap.zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Um...Little Sue..Little Sue...I really wouldn't stare at Big Sue when she is Cat napping...:0)

Oh and I promised to show you Little Sue's drawings that she has in her bag...



Its funny, I think my toys lately look like a cross between a Flump and an Ewok :0)

Little Sue is looking for a new home, she is very well behaved as long as she can doodle from time to time...oh and the odd prawn would go down very well. So if you are interested please pop over to my vintage toy blog www.gingerwineslosttoys.blogspot.com

Now on to my new obsession..

A sewing Machine...I just can't make my mind up, although I am looking for a bargin..

They are either too small, too big, TOO expensive...

I am such a typical Libran, I dither about endlessly.

Thankyou for all of your messages about dear Little Ted, I didn't realise he would be so popular! He is very excited and wanted me to say thankyou for your messages, and because I am away til Monday you have until midday then GMT to enter the raffle.

So I will be back Monday evening to tell you who has won!!

Happy Weekend Dear bloggers!

Love Sam, Big and Little Sue and Little Ted too !

xx