Cupcakes for Clara

Money Boxes

Four money boxes have just been shipped off to Mahar Drygoods. There is a robin, kitten, pig and panda. All in seperate boxes because the silly post office refused to send them in a big box.

'Oh no,' said the cashier, 'boxes of that size cannot possibly be posted to America.'
'But,' I said, 'you just sold it to me minutes earlier.'
'Ah well,' she replied.

So if you come across a small square box containing a precious handmade money box somewhere between England and America, please send it on the Mahar Drygoods. Thanks!

Anyway here they are...

... soon to be on sale at Mahar Drygoods (if they ever make it!).

A game of twos

Quite an appropriate title for the start of Wimbledon I think. Plus I have two sets of two to show off. But firstly, a big YEAY because I don't have disgusting House style tape worms! In fact they didn't find anything. And the endoscopy was bearable (well, the sedative helped a smidge!). So next I'm onto an ultrasound scan in case of gallstones! It's a ruling things out game. So, Wimbledon! I'm excited at watching it even though I am absolutely hopeless at tennis - and I'm keeping all things crossed that Tim Henman does well. Especially now Andrew Murray's out. I'm thinking a scenario like in Wimbledon (the film) would be perfectly fine!

So, the two's... we have aprons and robins. Children's aprons are now up in the shop - cute little cupcakes ones.

With of course, cupcakes.

And here's a bit of detail...

And then there are robins...

...just waiting for their wings. It's a custom order.

And big exciting news for this week... actually it's a secret but in a few days time this website is going to be tranformed. Something AMAZING is coming. Just you wait and see!

Happy Friday!

A big happy Friday to you all! I hope you're having a good one. Just a quick post to say thank you to Angi for this lovely post all about Clara on her blog. I find myself literally bursting with happiness whenever I see any little snipets of praise for Clara and Macy. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

And just to let you know, if anyone is interested in purchasing my wares you can find them...

here...

...OR e-mail me for anything you may like that isn't in the shop. I know a few people are interested in Clara and Macy dolls which aren't in the shop yet, but until they are send me a mail if you want any more info. Thank you!

And on a final Friday note, did anyone see House last night? Eek! It gave me worm nightmares - now I'm really scared about my endoscopy. What if they find a 25 foot long worm?! Aaah!!!

Have a good weekend!

why is it...

... that Clara has to be the boss of everything? I'm not sure really but I don't think Macy likes it all that much! So now Clara isn't content with sending tags with a picture of herself out with toys...

she has forced me to create these...

Old fashioned calling cards to send out with orders. I told you she's really bossy!

diary

Happy Monday all! Hope everyone had as cosy a weeekend as I did. It was swell - watching films, reading books, hiding out from the rain, eating pizza, and being secretly addicted to Britain's Got Talent. Tom and I were just outraged that the gorgeous little uber-talented six year old didn't win. Poor little dot. She was just so cute!

And I worked on my diary entry for this wonderfully inspired project.

I was thinking a Clara and Macy page that would be simple and eye-catching. What do you think?

And by the way, thank you to those lovely lovely people who suggested bubble jet set to me for using on Clara decorations. As soon as I can get my hands on some over here in little old England, decorations will be up in the shop.

And on a personal note, has anyone ever had an endoscopy? I'm having one on Friday feel the need to be a little reassured that it's not hideous. Thanks x

Bare faced bear!

Sorry I haven't posted in a while - the sickness has gotten to me. Oops, that made it sound like I have the plague. I don't, thankfully! But I have been pretty much confined to my bed with a pretty painful stomach ulcer. So I took my mind off it and made cute things. Yeay! And photographed the making of so I could post about it today!

It all started with a ball...

To which I began to add a few appendages...

And then some more...

And I made sure he had feet...

And then I thought, he really needs a cupcake label...

But he seemed a little, well you know, faceless! So I gave him a cute smile and some eyes, and I suppose I had to give him a nose. And this is what I got...

But then he was lonely, so I had to borrow his big brother back from my mum to keep him company!

Thinking of lonliness, I met up with a very good friend of mine this weekend. A friend who I am lonely without. Lisa was my closest friend in school and we haven't seen each other for about 3 years. It was lovely. We met up with some other old school friends (only 7 years since leaving but it seems so long ago!), and went for a great meal. It was fabulous. And then Lisa and I went for a girly shopping day to find her a bridesmaid dress - she is going to be my maid of honour. I'm so glad! And we found a beautiful dress. What a wonderful weekend.

I've also been working on aprons for my little sis's.

Cupcakes of course!

Here's a bit of detail; the good bit before my sewing machine had a big old strop!

Well, that's all for now. I'm back off to curl up in bed. Sniff sniff!

Did you know...

... that Clara has a twin sister? Yep. She does. Her name is Macy. Clara doesn't especially like her but Macy doesn't seem to mind to much.

They are VERY different. Macy is much quieter than Clara, even when Clara does annoying things like tie her to a totem pole and dance around like a crazy beetle!

But I have a special place in my heart for Macy - she's kind of sad and I love her. (Clara I love you too!)

Even when she's shy.

There'll be bluebirds over

I've just finished this little cutie...

He's my baby bluebird. Tom thinks he looks like a Laura Ashley toy. That made me feel really proud because I love love love Laura Ashley. When we have children I can't wait to decorate their rooms in Laura Ashley style, with lots of little fat round handmade toys of course!

He even has sweet feet!

He's going in the shop right... now!

And I've been tagged! Yay! But I'm not sure if I have anything interesting anough about myself to entertain you all! Well...here goes!

1. Tom and I lived in Australia for 6 months last year. We travelled the east coast soaking in the beauty. And we even learnt to surf! I still have a big bruise on my knee to prove it.

I bought this t-shirt over there... Tom is not my friend! But I don't mean it Tom I promise!

2. Another Tom one. Even though we've been together for six and a half years, we've never spent Christmas together. We go to our own families every Christmas Eve and meet up again for New Years. Kind of strange but our own family Christmasses are so magical.

3. I made Jess the catt from Postman Pat from scratch. The real one you see on Tv. And Pat himself, and Bob the Builder, and Fifi, Bumble and the other Flowertots! I make puppets for animation working for a wonderful company. A couple of years ago we worked on The Corpse Bride and typically the day Tim Burton came to visit, I was off sick!

4. When I was 14 I was in a film with Olympia Dukakis!

5. When I was 7 I made and sold my own magazine about creatures I invented called Quimby's. They were little and round too!

6. I have four younger brothers and sisters. My youngest sister is only 9 and we call each other' big scum' and 'baby scum'! Meant in the kindest possible sense!

7. I'm addicted to that car advert on TV at the moment where they make a car out of cake. I love it - except for the fact it's advertising a car!

And now I'm going to tag...

Alice,
Sarah,
Michelle,
Meg,
Amy,
Stephanie,
and prairie mouse

You've probably all been tagged already but ah well, it's all in good spirits!

And just before I go, here's a photo of my new BIG packaging bags!

Hope everyone has a nice evening, I know I will. It's House tonight! Yay! Hugh Laurie! I love him. A LOT!

Flying things

I hope you all had a lovely weekend. The sun has finally peeked it's shy little face out over here - we're very happy about it after three weeks of nothing but rain! So I sat in the garden and did a bit of suprise suprise, sewing! Maybe I was inspired by the outdoors because I found myself making winged creatures. Actually, the first one was made a while ago but he's still got wings!

A fuzzy little bee! He was a custom order for a lovely lady who bakes cookies and cakes in America. And by the way, I can make custom orders for anyone so if anyone's interested just holler.

It was a challenge getting the stripes right let me tell you, but he worked out quite well and so I'm going to put another one in the shop. Don't worry Kerri - yours is safe!

So my actual weekend work, apart from Clara Cards and working on my toys for the book, I made this little guy...

I was so excited by what I made next, I jumped around the house screeching until Tom told me to calm down! I printed Clara illustrations onto fabric, and it worked perfectly. The only thing is, I don't know how to make it washable. I think all of the ink will just run away if it gets wet. Does anyone know of anything that can be applied to fabric to make it washable?

I wasn't put off by this minor problem though, and I made this...

It's a Clara hanger! A decoration that you can hang almost anywhere to cheer things up a bit.

If I can get it not to run if it gets wet, I'd like to sell them. And make festive ones for Christmas. Would anyone be interested? Any thoughts are much appreciated!

And now...

It was a lucky dip...

... and paper-and-string won!

They'll be heading your way very soon.

Thank you so much to everyone who entered the competition. I'm overwhelmed at the response - thank you. You've all made me feel so good this week and as a special treat, anyone who purchases a set of Clara Cards from the shop today will receive a free handmade finger puppet of their choice. Just take a peek at the puppets in the shop and let me know which one you would like when you buy your cards.

Cards are up in the shop NOW!