It's Here! It's Here!

After a week of flooding rains, sodden ground and grey, drippy days, the sun has come out and it is actually WARM! The swallows are back (about two weeks earlier than usual) to check out their real estate under the studio eaves and to begin the necessary renovations and sweet things are popping up everywhere in the garden. After a fairly traditionally cold, wet winter, it is lovely to finally feel a bit of Spring in the air.

Do you remember me posting about our glasshouse that got completely destroyed by violent winds a few months ago? Well, here is the magnificent replacement that Bob (with a little help from Y.T.) has built to replace it. It's about four times bigger, so we'll be able to grow heaps more in it, and being a poly-tunnel, it should be flexible enough to withstand big winds.

"I built this!"

The "Sukeshi" dolls are in my Etsy store now and I'm working on a little "Zozie" doll like this one, which Tanya chose as her prize in my recent giveaway.

More Sukeshi Dolls!

I've been having a lot of fun making these Sukeshi dolls - half the fun is coming up with new ideas.
Here's the whole crew:

The new ones are:

P'tit Fauve - a messy artist.

Safe!

Moonchild - she has a certain glow.

Fishy Tickles!

These will be in my Etsy Store in a couple of days, so if you've taken a fancy to one, keep your eyes peeled!

A Bit Of Fun

The community orchestra that I play in is hosting a trivia/social fun night tonight. When the call went up for a few prizes, I thought I could make something appropriate. I came up with this little "Sukeshi" doll playing the violin. Her name is "Allegretto".

There is still time to enter my giveaway - I'm drawing it on the 17th. Just go to the August 3rd post and leave a comment.
Have a great weekend!

This 'n That on a Cold Wet Day

Well, it's cold and miserable here today in what I hope will almost be winter's last hurrah. Last week felt positively spring-like and things are definitely on the move in the garden, but this week is a different story: here's the view out of my studio window.

I went to a wonderful felting workshop in Deviot on Sunday conducted by Bettina Hockey - we learned how to make felted forms using the resist method. I already had a rudimentary knowledge of feting principles, but it was great to learn a new application in a convivial group! I made a doll-sized beret and a small purse/mobile phone case - forgot to take my camera, so I couldn't photograph what the others in the class made.

I've also been making a few of these "Sukeshi" dolls - I call them that because they are based on those simple Japanese skittle-shaped wooden kokeshi dolls - I added the "Su" for me.

PS: Please enter my 30 000 blog views giveaway if you haven't already - details are on the Aug 3rd post.