Accidental Vix

If you read my blog you’ve probably heard this before, but for those who haven’t – I’ve had major surgery on my hip 3 times in the last 5 years so walking has been difficult at the best of times, nevermind with my crutches so the other day may not seem like a challenge to most but believe me getting out of the house and walking the mile in Ilkley (without crutches!) was quite a long way with said hip! I’m not shy of challenges though so once I’d actually got there I decided to head to a local, independent cafe called Avanti as I think I should follow my own mantra of supporting local and independent businesses. This wasn’t the next challenge as trust me watching the world go by and drinking coffee comes quite easily! The challenge was getting my sketchbook project out and a) sketching in public and b) sketching a subject matter that is not in my comfort zone – people!! However, it all paid off as the owner came over to have a chat after he’d seen my sketch and said he was potentially interested in putting some of my artwork up, which was a great confidence boost and also a reward for staying true to my support of small businesses when it would have been easier to disappear into the wifi crowd at Caffe Nero. I have also been back and done a couple more sketches for my Fill Me With… Sketchbook Project.

Xx

I’ve had a lovely week with my fab friend Jess from Jessie G visiting, so of course we both had the week off and it was time to be a tourist at home! Apart from the fact it was great not to be working for a few days, I never tire of plenty of creative chat time with Jess, and we had a cultured week whilst keeping up the natter. I grew up a mile from the Bronte Parsonage in Haworth, and like most things took it for granted as it was on my doorstep, so it was great to go round the Bronte Parsonage with Jess and be reminded of the fab Bronte sisters, which brings me to this week’s Friday Faves:

Pemberley Pond – Wuthering Heights Poster (they say never judge a book by it’s cover but I would buy Wuthering Heights 10 times over if this was the cover!)

Gardenmis - Linen ring pillow (if only I’d found this for our wedding!)

Jezebel Charms – Heathcliff and Cathy earrings (you can’t have Cathy without Heathcliff)

Thanks Jess for a great few days, and here’s to finding Heathcliff in the summer! Have a great weekend, whatever your plans and if you’re in London please pop on down to Spitalfields market and visit Jessie G Designs for some fab handmade goodies.

Xx

Do you ever have days where you just feel rubbish, isolated and cut off from the rest of the world? Well I’m having a few of those days, and part of me knows the reason why but then part of me doesn’t understand how it has escalated into an all consuming problem. So, how do you start to battle with it and get yourself back to normality? I’ve decided the only thing to do is hatch a creative plan of action! Here are my 3 creative things to do this week, in the hope that if I make them public I will be motivated to fulfil them and distract myself from the trials and tribulations of life:

1. Finish my table cloths for my craft fairs, I already have a table cloth but it’s looking a bit tired and needs a bit of brightening up and accidentalvix-ifying! Apart from getting to play and sew with pretty fabrics this will prepare me for the Handpicked Hall dates I have signed up for in Skipton. It opens on 8th March and my first day will be Saturday 9th March and then the first Saturday of the month thereafter, it would be lovely to see you there if you are local or visiting the area
2. Make some more stock for all these sales I’m hoping to have! Ok, that is a bit of a broad topic so today’s stock list is to finish my half made bibs, and hats that I have plenty of bunny ears for
3. Something creative for me, with no specific purpose other than to look good in my studio and make me smile on rainy days (this will be the difficult one but it’s on my list now so no choice but to succeed)

Right, off to put some music on and get the sewing machine out – wish me luck, and I will post pictures of this week’s achievements by Sunday. Have a great week and please share your to-do-lists below. Xx

Well, I’ve been out of action for a while as I had more surgery on my hip just a week and a half ago in London and it was a long journey back to Yorkshire to recover. I’m back now though, and supposed to be resting (never been very good at that) so I thought I’d take the time to share some things that made me smile in the past couple of weeks as I begin my recovery after what I hope is third time lucky:

Flowers – These gorgeous flowers arrived from some of my fab friends at my old work, and they are going strong and making me smile every time I stop and look up… thanks ladies!

Cute kitten – I was really pleased to have so many friends visit me in hospital, and every visit cheered me up so thanks Jane, Anja and Jess! On top of the visits I got some wonderful (and some unusual) presents including this gorgeous hand printed kitten card, so please check out Jessie G Designs on Etsy for more of her fab cards and prints

Haworth – I did a craft fair in Haworth at the weekend, well I did a short stint and my mum did the rest as my hip was too sore, and it’s a place that I have grown up with and have fond memories of so decided to do a quick sketch, which has now spurred me on to do some more places in this style

Highland cows – there are some in the fields near home and they always make me smile when walking past, I’ve named this one Boris and decided to do a quick sketch (whilst doped up on painkillers!) to keep my mind off the pain

I’m hoping that I can slowly get into the swing of things again now, and that I will be back with my weekly blogs, sketches and creativity so stay tuned.

Xx

Xx

Well the day is almost here, and time for yet another day of heavy lifting and packing boxes… we are moving back to Yorkshire this weekend! I’m not looking forward to the actual move but can’t wait to get back up North and start the next chapter, however daunting that seems at the moment. If you somehow haven’t guessed this week’s theme then here are some clues:

Kate Kelly Designs – We have moved postcard (love the little sketched house, and this definitely reminds me of home and quaint Yorkshire)

Urban Bark – New home invitation (so many things I like about this, the line work, combination of colours/pattern and modernity of it)

Sweet Potato Shop – We’re moving printable PDF (again I like the simplicity of this, and it’s appeal to a wide audience)

On with packing boxes before the rest of the helpers arrive tomorrow, and a big thanks to all our friends and family helping!!

Xx

Well it’s official – we’re finally moving home!! My heart definitely belongs to Yorkshire, and as glad as we are to have experienced London we are completely ready to be going home and although a little scary cannot wait for the next chapter, and hopefully a better year to come. So to celebrate here are  a few of my fave items that remind me of home sweet home:

Mitten Wear – Up North T-shirt (I haven’t lived in Yorkshire since I left for uni over 10 years ago, but the one phrase that always gets my accent back is ‘up north’)

Amy A Walters – Get kettle on love postcard (oh how I miss the Yorkshire accent and hospitality)

The Mucky Pup Gallery –  Felt wall hanging (you can’t beat the rolling hills and moors of Yorkshire)

Now to finish planning the big escape from London…

Xx

I’m definitely a country bumpkin at heart and often struggle with London’s pace and busy spaces but I’m going ‘home’ for the weekend, that is back to Yorkshire to see my parents. You often take things for granted when they are on your doorstep, and we certainly haven’t made the most of London in the almost 3 years we’ve been here, but it’s not until I go back to the little village where I grew up that I realise how lucky I was to have the beautiful rolling hills and Penines on my doorstep. So, once again my picks today are from fellow Yorkshire creatives from a group I am part of called Craft Soup (look out for us at local craft fairs) and have chosen today’s items that remind me of home:

Abundant glass – Pennine houses (these are so cute and definitely remind me of home)

David Nicol photography – Haworth photo (this literally is home)

Quernus Crafts – Bobby mouse (there are lots of field mice that used to sneak in at home, and this one reminds me of my dad who is a Burnley supporter)

Better get ready to head North now, have a great Friday.

Xx

It’s Friday again already, and this week has not been the most productive so I’ve spent a lot of time chatting to fellow Yorkshire craft soupers. I am choosing today’s Friday faves from more member of the group and as England are playing Sweden tonight, and whether you like football or not there’s no avoiding it, my theme today is red and white:

Storey shop – Papercut card (my hubby doesn’t really like footie but he def likes his computer games!)

Beadtopia Studio – Lampwork bead set (lampwork beads have got to be my faves)

Caroline Watts design – Union Jack artwork (I love anything textiles related and this is so pretty)

Off to do something productive now to avoid the rain, have a good Friday whether it involves football or not.

Xx

It’s been a tough week that’s for sure, but thanks to the support of not only my closest friends, but also new friends I have met through the web, I have managed to get through the week, even with the odd smile! Today I would like to say thanks to a particular group of fellow creatives from Yorkshire known as Craft Soup for allowing me to vent my frustrations and keeping me going. So, today is going to be the first of many Friday Faves to showcase the amazing talent from Yorkshire, which will always be where my heart is, and I’m going to start with the theme ‘simple and striking’:

Bec Gilray – Ampersand card (I love wood block printing but this is so simple but effective and gorgeous)

Sara Buk – Buttercup silver earrings (wish I’d known about Sara sooner as her jewellery would have been perfect as 30th pressies for some of my friends!)

Kimberley Werner – Crow greeting card (the simple outline works so well, then you notice the detail in the fact it’s handcut)

I’m off to work now, but hope I don’t get blown away getting there… have a great weekend whatever the weather.

Xx

I love going ‘home’ to the rolling Yorkshire hills, fresh air and friendly locals but my trips home are even better when they include visiting craft fairs and meeting fellow Folksy peeps. Hence, this weekend being a good one. I happened to be at home only a mile from Haworth when I heard that handmade Haworth was on, and there was no stopping me. After our usual coffee trip to a fab place called Wells in Ilkley I dragged my husband to Haworth with the promise of cake! I was very happy to have finally met Tracy from Ruby Spirit Designs selling some gorgeous jewellery, perfect for many a Christmas present or treat for yourself, and Kirsten from Quernus Crafts who makes the most adorable polymer clay animals and I definitely fell for one that involved chocolate and will be winging it’s way to a great friend of mine very soon.

Haworth and Ilkley are definitely 2 places I want to do some craft fairs in the future but for now back to reality of London life.

Xx