Here we are in August, or it could still be March looking out of the window. This is the time of year when I start checking my Christmas stock, as it all starts in September. My Christmas shelves are fully stocked, but I have created a new 'rustic' robin and made some more pom pom draft excluders.
Thursday 1st August
Short Stories for Little Plants story no 4: The Land of the Oak King
My new book is at the printers and it's very exciting. I have written and illustrated 12 short stories (about 4 minutes long), purposely written to be read aloud to plants. I started writing it at the start of the year, but had to get a trot on just recently as there was a newspaper article about celebrities that talk to their plants. Talk about good timing! The book includes a light look at experiments done to show plants listen and react to sound vibration showing your soothing tones will help your plant to flourish.
The stories will whisk you away to beautiful, natural places of unusual things and quirky wonderings! Each story is written to boost the well-being of the reader as your mind is filled with new curiosities, a great divergence to the stressing of modern day adulting.
EDIT: Sorry if you asked about reserving a copy and the answer is yes you can. I've just upgraded my website and there has been a delay in notifications, but that is all sorted now
Saturday 3RD August
Really?
This is NOT a black and white photo. This is the non summer of '24. There's nothing more to say!
Sunday 4th August
Grey HARES going brown!
Little Stella still runs the house, she is even master over the other two bunnies! I took this close-up of her nose when she was pestering us for treats, and I noticed her nose is going from grey to brown. My friend Zoe, (hi Zoe!!) had just told me that her elderly grey cat was going brown, kind of how humans go grey in old age. She (Stella, not Zoe) is also going brown on her little legs
.
Thursday 8th August
Printer disaster!
Total nightmare as mid-print the machine broke. My printer is a vital part of most days as it is used as a scanner a lot too, so when it broke I was half way out of the door to get a replacement when my fabulous husbunny said he may be able to get the big A2 printer to print tiny things. It worked, which is great as this huge printer didn't currently have a job and now it has a purpose, producing a far superior print quality to the little printer. These summer handfasting hares look really sharp and bright.
Sunday 11th August
New rusty orange red breast!
This is my new rustic robin, with a little antique bell, rather than the red berry bell. I already had the bells, so it was a simple thing to create. I like to offer as many variations as I can and I think this is a nice little addition to my Christmasy stuff.
Tuesday 13th August
Unbounded beauty
I love nasturtiums and this is my favourite called Bloody Mary. Just look at the colours of this flower! Every one comes out in a variation of these colours, from nearly all burgundy right to virtually all yellow and it really is quite spectacular making it's way around the garden. It is my favourite garden seed to sow along with a salmon coloured nasturtium. I am collecting every seed I can find and will sow them everywhere!
Friday 16th August
Cold summer cold winter?
In anticipation for a rough winter, as we currently go through one of the worst summers I can remember, I have been stocking up on draft excluders. The ones in my Etsy and Ebay stores are all very 'blue' generally, not sad but hues of blue and so I have made some that are either neutral and punky. I LOVE making draft excluders but I can't make any more as I have no room for them. I will be doing a discount voucher for Drafties as the weather chills
Sunday 18th May
Designing Tags
One thing I am really prickly about is making sure things have tags to identify what something is or how to use it. Many of my things are gifted and so the recipient may not know the drafty is designed to bend or can be hung on the bottom of your door. I therefore make tags, but I must admit it is time to revamp them and maybe simplify them a little. My tags cost me virtually nothing to print, but make such a difference to the presentation of my stuff.
Tuesday 20th August
Dotty tile
I found this large A2 drawing after hours of searching through sketchbooks and portfolios and wanted to add it to my book. It is a very old drawing from 2009 ish and is made up entirely of dots.
I was quite shocked at how much artwork I have amassed over the years, it's ridiculous, though it wonderful to give life to old pieces.
Thursday 22nd August
Still a happy hen!
I had to share this because it was so funny. This is Samantha Carter Chicken, our ex-battery hen who is now a very old lady of 7. She's very slow so we make an effort to let her into the garden for a good wander on flat soft grass. The chicken pen is huge for our 6 chickens but the ground is uneven so we let Carter out for a mooch. Paul had been sat on the chair with the hen on his lap but she was gripping his fingers so firmly he couldn't get her to hop onto the garden rug. Paul was stuck like this for ages, and I was good for nothing because I was laughing so much. We worked out that the rug was new to Carter, she had never seen a rug before so she really wasn't sure about walking on it. I guess you had to be there, but it was really funny!
Sunday 25th August
Jingle Bells in August
As I had my Christmas box out full of jingle bells and decorative, festive string I decided to fancy up the optional robin gift bags. A lady bought several more robins this week so as I thank you for her continued support I added the jingle bell. I will take proper photos of for my Etsy shop, but it really added some festive magic to the cute calico bag I decided they will all be sent out like this.
Tuesday 27th August
New Ostara card
This card was designed ages, ago but after I had tidied it up in Photoshop I really didn't like it. Somehow the colour had distorted to be harsh and cold, lemon yellow rather than golden yellow etc, so I have re-done it and now it's warm and far more rustic. This isn't an official photo, I'll do clearer ones for my shop but it's a sweet Ostara card 'from rabbits and hares everywhere'!
Friday 30th August
?
Clouds were never like this when I was growing up!
You have just read 'A Gardeners Crafting Diary August 2024'
Loved reading your recent post and that your book is at the printers. So exciting. Amazing what you have been doing - you are a gift. Want to order 4 books and a drafty. Where do I place orders? Sending much love.
Christine xxx
I always look forward to your updated musings. I cannot wait for the publisher to finish your book and I am still giggling at Samantha Carter Chicken refusing to let go of Paul. Perhaps she was more comfortable on his lap !.