Another Felted Wrap, piles of pink...

Just finished this piece - its Merino wool and silk and its large and soft, soft soft.  Took around 7 hours to complete and I am soooo tempted to keep this, but no, it will go in the pile for the website.   I adore the colours - can't quite decide - is it pink? peach? blue? yellow? ochre?   A wrap of many colours, then.  The feel of these pieces is beautiful - I can't get over how tactile the wool is.    One thing I didn't expect as a result of working with so much water and soap (albeit olive oil soap) is how soft my hands are after felting - and wow, my nails grow like mad too - must be something good in it then!

Foaling Around...

You have to love this this little chap, who was born on my stableyard less than a week ago - he's all legs and cuteness.   He was a big surprise as his Mama, Velvet arrived on the yard already expecting him but no-one knew until two months or so ago (a horse pregnancy is around 11 months).
He's fascinating to all the other horses on the stableyard - my Merlin can't stop staring - the first time he saw him he shook all over for several minutes which is weird because my boy is King of the Herd - maybe he thought someone would try and pin it on him and come after him for child maintenance! 
This little baby hasn't got a name yet (I suggested calling him 'BOGOF' - Buy One, Get One Free), but he is already loved to bits. 

Tessa Heirloom Tiara

This is a piece I've made for the site - its been sitting on my desk waiting for me to finish - I made a comfortable wired band, then used a 'sieve' type fitting to wire in some good stuff - I've had this English bone china cornflower brooch for ages, and used lucite flowers and leaves, Czech glass flowers and leaves, Swarovski crystal , Swarovski crystal pearls, goldtone wire, seed beads, freshwater pearls, and some old and collected beads, fittings and findings from my bead boxes - the asymmetric style is very popular with brides who don't want a full-on tiara and this one makes me think of Engish summers.

The World's Smallest Horse...

This is Einstein - possibly the smallest horse in the world. Born in New Hampshire, USA, this tiny coloured stallion measures 14 inches tall and weighed only 6lbs when he was born. That's smaller and lighter than an average human newborn baby.
Einstein was so tiny that his owner thought initially he was dead "I've been at this for 20 years plus but I've never seen one this tiny or even close to it,".
Unlike many miniature horses Einstein shows no sign of dwarfism – as does the current claimant of the world's smallest horse title, Thumbelina.
Einstein's co-owner Dr Rachel Wagner said  "Most of the horses that are really tiny are what we call dwarves and they have some sort of dysmorphic features, or features that aren't really normal or healthy. This little guy is like all horses - he's almost all leg.'  The Guinness Book of Records lists the smallest newborn horse as weighing just 9lbs.

Freya Orchid Combs and Pins

Here's a recent commission finished for a bride who is getting married in the Carribbean in July....the design will be up on Tiaraonline soon; it was lovely working with these summery colours and imagining the bride wearing a beautiful dress, looking radiant and happy on a sunlit beach....

Freya Comb and Pins; 'Silk' Orchids, silvertone wire, silk covered wire, Swarovski crystal and Swarovski crystal pearls, Freshwater pearls, satin ribbon.

St. George's Day...

Its our National Day today, the day that St. George slew the dragon (or didn't, as the case may be!) - here's a quick picture celebration of England...

All these pictures are of the lovely Derbyshire countryside which I love more than any other part of the country - top is a photo of one of the dams, middle is Wynnatt's Pass near Castleton and bottom is Chatsworth House - if you've ever seen the film 'The Duchess' then this is where Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire, lived.