The English Romantic

I hope you have all had a great Christmas and here's to a fun 2011. I'm going to start as I mean to go on and keep my creative side in full swing.  I am putting some Hydraengea flower heads in my Etsy shop, they are made of velvet and come in gorgeous vintage colours. Just to give you an idea, this is something I made yesterday. I started with a piece of dyed and felted wool blanket, some merino wool tops and a piece of embellished net fabric.                               The first piece of blanket was a shade of grey but I forgot to take the picture, you know how it is,too much on the go. I used my embellisher to felt the merino wool on to the fabric, I didn't overwork it so it stayed nice and soft. You could also do this with a hand held felter the results are the same. Next I used the embellisher to attach a strip of the net fabric, I love how it leaves a frill around the edges.  Here you can see I've free machined a design over the felted fabric and add

To all my followers and friends out in blogland, have an amazing time this Christmas and here's to lots of happy blogging in 2011. Please read todays post on http://www.mousehousetales.blogspot.com/  It makes you think! xox Angela.

                            This is the story that accompanies Morveren the Cornish Mermaid.                             It is based on a Cornish Folktale, I've simplified it for a little girl.                     Here's the front cover, a pretty picture with plenty of hand dyed lace.                              The inside tells the story                                and this is the back cover.                                                                  It's gone off to that special little girl now courtesy of Royal Mail, I hope she likes it. Here's a little look at my Christmas Tree, if you want a tour of my home pop over to my other blog  and take a look. I've lots more ideas for creating in the New Year keep watching. XoX Angela.

I hope you can keep a secret out there in blogland. It's about a mermaid called  Morveren. I've made her for a very special little girl. I haven't much experience making mermaids but what the heck I've had a go. Her face was the hardest, I think I need to practice drawing faces it looks so easy but it's not. I enjoyed stitching on all the embellishments, pearls and shells and threads. I'm afraid this mermaid eats a little too much and needs a little less (don't we all), so her waist is not as narrow as it should be. Moveren was a mermaid who lived of the coast off the little village Zennor in Cornwall. I am starting work on a book to accompany her and will tell her story. I'll show you on my next post' Meanwhile I have very sore fingers from stitching so I am having a day off and indulging in a long walk. Keep well all my friends and don't forget that I love your comments they make my day! xox Angela.

I'm back from three fabulous days at Cowslip. I'm tired for all the right reasons, busy fair, lots of good food, and a great bunch of people to chat with. Who could ask for more? I'll show you around, I got these pics on the first morning when all was calm and quiet.                                                       Car park empty, not for long! Seasonal arrangments in the porch.                                The cafe all dressed up and ready to serve their scrumptious food. Stalls in the workshop, doesn't it look great! Heres my table in the house, cosy and warm next to the kitchen.  Next to me Jan and her sensational little bears and Morwenna with her lovely wood and fabric decorations.  Finally Linda and Lizzie with their amazing collection all things vintage many of them sourced from France.                                                                                                                            Thank you girls for a fab

I'm going to take a break this weekend and going to London for a couple of days visiting my family. I'm ready for a break! I finished this Treasured Memory Keepsake book and Memory Box  today. These are just the thing to hold all those special memories. I love this little verse so included it on the first page. I heres the box with its pretty heart inside. These are packed away now. Only nine days to go before the Cowslip Country Christmas Fair. Keep smiling, xox Angela.

I was so lucky to win Marilyns  beautiful giveaway. It was a real surprise to win and I felt truly honoured to receive my gift. We had a few hiccups as Marilyns computer got sick and I moved house so change of address then the vagaries of the US and UK postal systems. My parcel arrived yesterday and I couldn't wait to unpack it. Look at the pretty wrapping and  inside a delight, I wish you could smell this gorgeous lavender bag. It's scented the whole parcel. Next was this fabulous prayer shawl, just the thing for these chilly autumn evenings, I've got it on my sofa ready to snuggle up in later. At the bottom of the box more lovely things a handmade card  and a stunning rosary.    I can't tell you how lucky I am   to receive such a beautiful gift. Thank you so much Marilyn.                                                                                                                                                      

This is my busiest time of year. Every year I say I will start earlier working on things for my Christmas Fairs and every year I leave it until the last minute, then it's PANIC!!! I've finished a couple more Keepsake Journals, these are for those Lady Gardeners.                                                                                   I just love making these, I like to imagine this lady keeping her gardening secrets in this little book ready to hand down to future keepers of her garden.   I haven't made a Tussie Mussie before but I've seen them on so many blogs and thought they were just the sort of thing that I would like to take to my fairs.  Well today I made TEN!! yes you heard me right I made ten. Here are some of them hanging on my willow tree. I just need to fill them with some special bits and pieces.  All in a days work and now I'm off for dinner and feet up! Have a great evening. xox Angela.                                             

I've been really busy making for my Chrismas Fairs, more of Lillas banners which I love! Loads of little French themed purses, but most of all I am loving these Quilters keepsakes. This one has lots of faded blue florals                                                      and this one is in faded coffee and pink. I like to imagine that it has been passed down from mother to daughter, there are layers of fabrics and lace that hold special memories and all stitched in many layers to represent years of repairs.                                  On the first page is a needle holder, then a pocket and a quote.                                  The next page has a tape measure and a pocket for bits of fabric.                                  These two pages have pockets for ribbons, lace and  quilt labels.                                   This is the back cover, I love the fabric, it was my last little bit.                                    The next pictures are the inside of