Saturday 31 July 2010

Postcard from the Isle of Wight - the model village!


We used to take our children to the model village in Godshill umpteen years ago, but it's still just as wonderful as ever.

It actually *is* a model of the village...and contains a model of the model of the model.



The topiary is quite something in itself.



1:10 turns out to be perfect meerkat size!





Cricket on the village green...



Look at the dog being a nuisance! There was (of course) a soundtrack for the bandstand - and hymns issuing forth from the church!



There's a wedding at the model church - notice the cottages in the foreground?



These are the real-life cotages in front of the real-life church - if you look at the top of each roof, you can see they've even copied the detailing on the thatch!

Friday 30 July 2010

He's thread, Jim!



Want a *free* "He's thread, Jim" card?



Sign up for my newsletter here to find out more...limited stock available so be quick!

Thursday 29 July 2010

Postcard from Isle of Wight: thatching

So pleased while we were on holiday to happen across Master Thatchers at work - something we'd only seen on television previously. Enjoy!











I was amused to read on Wiki that thatching fell out of fashion as it was considered a mark of poverty - of course it's quite the opposite now!

Tuesday 27 July 2010

My local pub needs to watch Blockbusters



Can they have a "P" please Bob?




Wonder if they noticed the lack of "P" in their brand new signage?

Monday 26 July 2010

This is …Bohemian Bear


Pride and Prejudice earrings


I made a new friend on Etsy Forums recently, and when I discovered she was a trekkie I knew I had to invite her over!

Favourite colour?

Pink. Or better yet pink + black. Black kicks it up a notch. (Can there be glitter?)

Nifty ponders...Yes, I think we can allow glitter!


Trek stickers

Favourite smell?

Chocolate. Not dark chocolate though. Believe it or not, eating scads of fatty/sweet dark chocolate won’t make you healthy no matter how many articles you read about it. Oh, sorry, was that a rant? :)

Favourite place?

Home. Surrounded by MY stuff, playing by MY rules.

Nifty: That's my girl!

Favourite sound?

My daughter’s laughter. It’s cheesy, I know, but there’s nothing better in all the world than knowing my child is happy.

Nifty has spotted your daughter modelling in your shop - she certainly looks happy in her work!


bunting


I usually ask what is your favourite way to spend your time, but I’m going to assume your answer is “watching Trek!”

Favourite Star Trek episode and/or film? Why?

The Next Generation is my favorite show. I grew up with that one. Picard will always be the epitome of a good captain.



Jean Luc Meerkat by Niftyknits


My favorite episode is actually from DS9, The Ascent, where Quark and Odo are stranded on a planet together.



Nifty's favourite episode, since you ask, is Trials and Tribble-ations. I'd never seen this "how it was made" before! There are 3 other youtube episodes but I'll leave you to find them for yourselves.



Favourite character: who would you most like to meet (or be)…and why?

Melora Pazlar from a DS9 episode (Melora). Her planet has very low-gravity and they can fly. Nuf said.

Nifty: Oooh yes. I seem to recall she spent some lowG time with Bashir...wonder what they did?

Favourite trek quote?



Favourite item in your shop of all time?

-Well, I *have* to go with this one. It’s so great. You can wear it to work and only Trekkies will know what it is. “regular” people just think it’s a cool brooch.
comm badge


Nifty's favourite bit from the item description: "Please note, that no matter how hard you smack your comm badge, Scotty you won't be beaming you anywhere. But I'm working on that issue!"

And getting serious for a moment – What has been the most useful lesson you’ve learnt so far that you’d like to pass on to our readers?

Having sold on eBay for several years (several years ago) I knew it wouldn’t be easy to start out again. It takes a lot of persistence. You have to really enjoy the creating AND the business side of it or you’ll just make it into a chore. If you don’t put your heart into your shop it will show. Hopefully one day my creative persistence will also feed and clothe my family.

Good luck with that...and live long and prosper!

You can find Kristi here, she has much much more than Trek fanware for you to admire (and buy!):
www.bohemianbear.etsy.com
www.bohemianbear.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/bohobear
www.facebook.com/bohobear

Sunday 25 July 2010

Nifty goes Aussie!

My family and I watched every episode of everything Steve Irwin was in, and I still watch Bindi the Jungle Girl whenever I spot it in the schedule. I'm not entirely sure it's aimed at 50+ Brits though ;-) I didn't know there was an official Steveo day though - did you?



CROCS RULE... and so do kangaroos!



See more pics (or even buy the family) in Zibbet

Saturday 24 July 2010

home is where the heart is?



We have several collared doves visit the garden - this one has decided to set up housekeeping in the corner of my neighbour's guttering. As you can see, she only *just* fits! Goodness only knows what will happen when it rains, or if she actually manages to hatch some chicks!

Friday 23 July 2010

BNR...if you can't beat 'em...

join 'em!

If you're an Etsy Treasury addict like me, you may have heard of BNRs. It stands for "Buy aNd Replace", and the basic premise is that you start with a treasury, and anyone who wishes to be in the treasury can buy something from somebody featured - their own item then replaces the item from the shop with a sale!



Sounds simple...but I have a feeling I'm going to be exhausted keeping track of who's bought what from whom...!

Check us out here!

Thursday 22 July 2010

Free range kids *warning = controversial!*

Controversy time!

While we were on the Isle of Wight last week, we ate out most evenings in pubs.

And most evenings, I did a very good impression of a "grumpy old woman"

Why?

Free range kids.



Sometimes it was children running around, shouting, playing, in between the tables while their parents carried on eating regardless.

One time it was a harassed parent marching up and down holding a screaming baby, while his partner bolted her meal.



On one evening we gave up altogether and ate fish and chips from the takeaway sitting on the beach!

20 years ago when my children were small, we'd either have left them with a babysitter or we'd have gone to a child-focused place - and if they'd become a nuisance to other diners, we'd have left.

Now it seems the child is king, and never mind the adults.

Is this a good thing, or not? Over to you ;-)

Wednesday 21 July 2010

Another good thing about coming home from holiday

...was finding a card on the mat telling me to go pick up a parcel. The parcel was a goody bag which I'd won, all for filling in a online questionnaire for the craft shop at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester!

Here's my prizes:



a loopy corsage from seventyseventyone design

a bookmark from Moots

an Edwin print by Stuart Galligan

and a love token by Beau Jangles

(I couldn't find a link for Moots, but if anyone knows of one - please let me know and I'll edit)

My advice to anyone living near Manchester is go take a look - the website shows lots of fabulous handmade goodies, I wish I was nearer!

And my advice to everyone is "ENTER GIVEAWAYS" - it could be you next time!
Just in case these lovely people have another giveaway, why not follow the Craft shop on twitter : http.twitter.com/rxcraftshop and facebook

Tuesday 20 July 2010

good things about coming home from holiday...

Firstly, the water lily in my garden pond has bloomed!



The bud was quite near the water surface when we went away, I was quite worried that it would flower and die in the space of our week away - but it's glorious!

Monday 19 July 2010

This is...Jill

of Jillys Stuff

Rocky coastline notecard


Favourite colour?

Just 1 colour, eh? I guess it would be all shades of green.

Favourite smell?

Definitely lavender. Reminds me of my mother.


Floral embellishments


Favourite place?

My house when no one but me and the dog are here. Quiet and peaceful.

Favourite sound?

babbling brook

Dog sweater


Favourite way to spend your time?

crocheting and cross stitch

Favourite item in your shop of all time?

I really love the little bird cross stitch card.

Little bird cross stitch card


Why?

I don't know why really. It was easy to cross stitch and I think that is shows that even in drab, cold months there is still colour and beauty.

Favourite shop that isn’t yours?

any vintage shop

Why? I love vintage and antique. It was a passion of my parents and I grew to love it as well.

Cross stitch Cross bookmark


What has been the most useful lesson you’ve learnt so far that you’d like to pass on to our readers?

Pictures. They are worth a thousand words.

Nifty: Very true, Jill. I don't think any of us are ever *quite* satisfied with our photography, there is always something new to learn. Thanks for letting us get to know you a little better!

Thursday 15 July 2010

Reappearance of the foxes (yay) and sunset over Blackgang



Invisible Squirrels and Disappearing Foxes!

Our native British red squirrel has been wiped out of most of the UK by its big brash grey American cousin - but they have a stronghold on the Isle of Wight. Red squirrels are shy though, so even though we're supposed to have some in the garden here we weren't convinced - muttering away to each other as we walked down the drive "Huh, bet we'll never see one all week..Oh LOOK! There's one!"

Sure enough, there he was,scampering along a branch over our head. I took at least a dozen shots, this is the best one:



Can you see him? No? Me neither!

Better luck in the evening though. As we were walking back from the sea I grabbed MrNifty's arm and hissed "Stop, Look! There's a fox"

And sure enough a fox was reclining not toooo far from us in a field, enjoying the evening sun. As we looked, we realised there was a second..and a third...in fact, at least six! We've seen individual foxes many times at home, and even a mum and two cubs once (briefly!).

Again, I took LOADS of shots as we watched them...watching us. Came back to the cottage, put the camera's card in the laptop anxious to see our lovely foxes.

Nothing. The laptop insisted the card was unformatted and empty :-(

After the tiniest of NiftyKnit's tantrums MrNifty downloaded various freeware bits and pieces, but recovery wasn't possible without spending money, so the card is now reformatted and we'll have to go and see if they're back tonight. I hope so, but even without photos it was pretty magical!

Tuesday 13 July 2010

Postcard from the Isle of Wight!

We walked along the coastal path again today, from St Lawrence towards Niton. Although the path follows the coast it is mostly along the cliff top.









Sometimes the path was WAY too near the edge for my liking. You can see clumps of earth just begging to be allowed to fall.





Now this is a rockery - au naturel!





Lots of cinnabar moths about. I was struggling to remember their name all morning, got back, turned on the laptop to fire up google and remembered instantly!