Fish, leaves and better times ahead

Well, I have had quite a month and so apologies again for being so quiet. My problems have all been work related and as I want this blog to remain a calm, happy oasis for me (and hopefully for you), I don't really want to go in to too much detail here. For anyone who is at all interested, take a look over at our new website for an explanation. For everyone else, just rest assured that things are very much improved in my life now and Jonathan and I are feeling very positive about the future.

Now on to some crafty stuff!

I first made these wee scrappy fish last Summer. I made a whole bunch of them and sold them in the shop in strings of four. I had almost forgotten about them until a customer came in and begged me to make some more.

They are a little fiddly (especially the stuffing!), but use up quite small scraps and are really lovely to look at in a big pile!

And it was about a year ago now that I first made these Leaf Keyrings. I had been making a batch of Leaf Needlecases and just couldn't stop making leaves.
I have a huge stash of lovely furnishing fabrics which aren't really suitable for quilts. I love the rich colours and textures and this is a lovely way of utilising them.

Again, they have sold well in the shop so I made a new batch for Christmas last week. They are backed with felt and sewn on the machine, then I just add a few veins with perle 8 cotton.

Here they are hanging from one of our Scot's Pine in the Autumn sunshine. 

It has been very therapeutic working on these small, but beautiful objects.

I just wanted to mention a couple more things. The wonderful Laughing Hens website, where I bought all my Rooster wool before I started stocking it in my own shop (bwahaha!), has started selling fabrics. They have a really nice selection of Tanya Whelan, Kaffe and Amy Butler fabrics, amongst others. I have been particularly lusting after the Blue Hill Fabrics 'Feedsack' range. Nicki Trench, one of the owners and the author of some of my favourite crochet books, is working on a quilt book which will be published next year - exciting!

And one more thing, Sarah, my erstwhile partner in crime at the shop, has started her own blog. Called Bexydress, Sarah has been busy making pillowcase dresses and lovely ribbon brooches that she wants to share with the world. Pop over and say hello if you get a moment.

 
And I will see you very soon, I promise.
Linking in today with the fabby Our Creative Space - so much inspiration here!