A Turning Point

Summer of Contentment

Well its been a little while since my last post. I have been working hard on custom items and samples for possibly wholesale orders. The end of the summer does bring with it both a return to the day job (I really haven't minded this time) and the start of my favourite season, autumn! Its lovely and warm still and I am still hopeful that my lovely green tomatoes will turn red and yellow after all.  There has been long walks, garden pottering, blackberry picking, jam and jelly and cake production and little time for blogging. So there's my excuse folks and I am sticking with it.

I am also at a bit of a crossroads with my critters. I am taking a break from making them for the time being and potentially there will not be any more. Many of the ones in my shop are dramatically reduced as I could do with the space and a clean sheet with whatever direction I decide to take. Will keep you posted on that.  One thing is for certain. I shall  not be disappearing, just altering course potentially.

So, I find it damn near impossible to sit of an evening (or a Sunday afternoon for that matter) and just look at that box in the corner. I do have to do something. So as I was catching up on my favourite blogs on Tuesday, I found this delectable post. Well, eureka moment for me!  I love this blanket and knew right away I had to make one. I only learned to crochet last year but I absolutely love it!  I have been through the 'stash' and have the intention to try and use up all the acrylic I have accrued over the bunny knitting years. There is probably enough for at least three!  As it is autumn, I have picked out some lovely rusts, yellows, greys and browns.

So, this was my first Tuesday Tallie when I went to bed at smidgeon into Wednesday, but that's allowed isn't it? I have done more since but will pop that on next Tuesdays tally. I do hope my enthusiasm doesn't wane like autumn inevitably will as I have some lovely brights I want to do next. Not to mention the nautical cotton which I anticipate being nicer to crochet than it was to knit.  Hurt my hands as it didn't give a piggin inch!

First Kitty Cat Critter

I know, I know, you may think `but, Joy, haven't you said that before?` and the answer would be yes. However, Tabitha is still my first feline Cutey Critter. She had different clothes before (see last picture), but a very nice customer asked if she could buy them as an alternative wardrobe for a bunny she was purchasing. You know me, always eager to please, so Tabitha has been nakey for a month or so.  Here she is sporting new clothes and ready for adoption in the shop.  She is modelled, if a bit loosely, on our own sweet kitty Mango

More New items to show off

I have been busy making stock for the shop. I have just put these 2 in the etsy shop for now. I have opened a shop on folksy to cater for the UK market a bit more and am gradually adding things to that. Pretty much everything is one of one, so, if you see it in one and then in the other, there is still only one. I dont envisage it being a problem at this stage, but there are one or two things which you will only find in the one place.



Tabitha is my first cat design. More to follow



Rufus is a gorgeous raspberry red. He has a sister on the way shhhhh dont tell him yet he will get too excited!

Happy Birthday Mango!

Today Miss Mango my beloved kitty turns 1 year old!  By lovely co-incidence, my son also turns 14 on the same day.  There shall be cake and kitty treats

Swap Time

Recently, I took part in a swap on one of my etsy teams.  This time it was the British Sellers on Etsy team.  If you sell on etsy, I cant recommend joining a team or two enough.  Lots of help and promotions to get things moving.  Well the theme for this swap was actually `summer`.  My partner and I agreed it was a tough one and neither of us were bothered about sticking to that part.  Mind you, as one of the items I made for my partner Kelly was a draught excluder, it could be argued it is actually quite in keeping with a British summer!!!!! 
So anyway, here are a couple of shots of the items I sent her. 

Sorry, that last pic is a bit blurry but some reason, blogger does not like my better picture. Cruel critic the internet sometimes.



Pull up a Chair and grab a Slice of Cake

I am so pleased to have been chosen as Lola`s blog of the week over at one of my fave blogs Mary Jane's Tearoom.  Huge thanks to Susan for that.  Regular readers of my blog will know that I have approved seller status from Susan to sell finished MJT designs and that a lot of mine that are different actually are derivatives of her patterns.  So if you don't knit or don't have time, why not drop me a line and I will be happy to help you. I have a shop on etsy where you can find toys, both knitted and sewn, quilts and even a teacosy.

Those that don't know me.  Welcome to my little blog.  A little about me.  I am Joy.  I am a Mum to 2 wonderful children 21 and 14. I cook for a living, but still love to bake and have to stick to a gluten free diet  which is often fun. This goes quite nicely with a passion for vintage china. Bit of a charity shopper if you know what I mean, and ebay does get more visits that it really should.

 I am a self confessed craftaholic.  I have always made something ever since I can remember.  I love to knit as you can probably tell.  I learned to quilt a few years ago and love to make rag dolls and  have a deep rooted love of sewing  - I blame my mother, she was a professional seamstress all her working life, so I guess its in the blood.  I like to dabble in cardmaking from time to time.

  Have a huge love of gardening if not a huge garden!  Really love tropicals such as palms, gingers and of course bananas.  Last but definitely not least.  I am a bit potty about cats.  I used to have 3 boys, 1 we lost a few years on now and the other 2 fellas Turbo , we did not name him and really always called him Tubby, and Mr. Pip both sadly had to go the cattery in the sky last year.  We will always remember them fondly as they really were a huge part of our lives.
Just 5 weeks ago we took into our home a new little rascal going by the name of Mango.  She has been re-homed from her old home as she did not jog along with her own Mum very well.  She is 10 months now and both an angel and a devil at times, but it feels like we have had her forever, and we love her to bits already. Even when she is play biting our feet!

So folks, new and old, take a slice of yummy cake and have a bit of a read if you have time.  xx

Meet Roxy!!

Well the good news is that knitting is not completely off limits with  a young cat in the house. She is really quite good as long as I pick my knitting times carefully. ie, not when she is wide eyed and racing around the house at breakneck speed.  These moments are ideal.

Well, Miss Roxy was all knitted up before little Mango came to live with us, but I dared not try to finish her.  Plus, I felt Mango deserved my attention to help her settle.

So, Roxy can be found in the shop.  Go check her out.  I think she is a cutie patootie.

Did you guess Right?

I hinted at something special happening in the household in my last post, which i hasten to add was far too long ago.  Well there has been absolutely no knitting!  In fact I had to hastily sort out a plastic lidded box to put my knitting wares in.  This is something I have been meaning to do for ages.  It only held fabric which can go anywhere. I have managed a little sewing and a third rag doll is on her way once I sort her hair out. It is being as recalcitrant, (I so love that word) as my own hair can be.

Right!  On to the reason I have been quiet..........

This little lovely is called Mango.  She is 8 months old and we have re-homed her from a lovely lady who`s cat is her Mum.  Sadly Mango and her Mum do not really get on, so she has come to live here with us.  She is mostly very good, all toilet where it should be and happy to let me sleep all night barring night one.  Obviously, still being a kitten she has her very mad moments but on the whole after a week is settling in just perfectly.
  It has been 13 months since my beloved Mr. Pip had to be put to sleep, and around 8 months since we lost little Tubby to suspected brain tumour.  These little fellas, along with their brother Felix (cant find a pic of hime but will update when i do) who has been gone a while, left a huge hole in our lives and I am sure little Mango is going to go a very long way to, not replace them, but certainly fill the holes.  BTW she came with her name and I was going to change it, but I think it has finally rolled off my tongue enough to stick.

Look What Grows in My Garden

I have been clearing up the garden a bit this week as well as getting those horses ready for Cutey Critters and you would think now I am going to show you marvelous plants, beautiful lawns and freshly swept paths topped off with a table set for afternoon tea. The fact of the matter is, I am still not done and have to return to work tomorrow. All I have to show for my work is 3 bin bags in the boot to go to recycling centre.

I could not resist though, a shot of this unusual pot plant. Hope you like :D

Update on Sad Day for us

Just over a week has passed since we said goodbye to dear Mr. Pip. Since then I have planted a lovely flowering cherry tree where he rests and some alchemilla mollis and pink chrysanthemums in a back breaking round bed in the front garden. The tree will flower at around the right time every year and I think I will order a little plaque. We have, part tongue in cheek, and part seriously, named it Pips memorial garden.
The other thing I have done is booked a tattoo in Pips image. I have one tattoo already and have wanted another ever since the last was done. What better thing than my faithful friend. I cant wait, but as my preferred artist is very busy, it will not be until August.
I am a true believer of doing something positive in adversity, it helps with the healing.
I also want to thank you all both here and on twitter for all your kind messages.
My daughter has lots more photos of the little guy on her blog if you are interested.
Meanwhile, my remaining cat Tubby is getting away with murder and getting loads of fuss.

A Very Sad day for us

I do not make a habit of sharing too personal things on my blog but on this occasion I make the exception. Tears are rolling down my face as I type this post.
Yesterday I had to make the hardest decision I have ever made. My darling kitty companion of 17yrs had developed some health probelms which were somewhat insurmountable. So with a very heavy heart I had to make the decision to have him put to sleep . I cannot tell you the hole he has left in my life and that of my family. Even I am surprised by the impact. This gorgeous little fella had such character and always comforted me when I was poorly or down. Infact if he were here now he would be sat on my lap purring to make it better. So he is now buried in the front garden on the sunny side of the house which he most enjoyed and we are going to buy a flowering cherry tree to plant there as it should flower at the right time every year and give us memories of lovely Mr.Pip. Sleep well my lovely.

More Kitty Humour

Ok, my friend sent me this and I think it worthy of sharing.

For anyone who's ever been owned by a cat, I'm sure you can relate!

Job Description for Cats

Bathrooms – Always accompany guest to the bathroom. It is not necessary to do anything. Just sit & stare.

Doors – Do not allow any closed doors……in any room. To get the door opened, stand on hind legs & hammer with forepaws. Once door is opened, it's not necessary to use it. After you have ordered an outside door opened, stand halfway in & out & think about several things. This is particularly important during very cold weather, rain, snow, or mosquito season.

Chairs and Rugs – If you have to throw up, get to a chair quickly. If you cannot manage one in time, get to an Oriental rug. If there is no Oriental rug, shag is good. When throwing up on the carpet, make sure you back up so it's as long as a human's bare foot.

Hampering – If one of your humans is engaged in any activity and the other on is idle, stay with the busy one. This is called helping, otherwise known as hampering. Following are the rules for hampering.

When supervising cooking, sit behind the left heel of the cook. You cannot be seen and thereby stand a better chance of being stepped on and then picked up and comforted. For book readers, get in close under the chin, between the eyes and book – unless you can lie across the book itself.

If a human is working at a computer, jump up on desk, walk across keyboard, bat at mouse pointer on screen, and then lay in human's lap across arms hampering typing in progress.

Walking – As often as possible, dart quickly & as close as possible in front of the human….especially on stairs, when they have something in their arms, in the dark, and when they first get up in the morning. This will help their coordination skills.

Bedtime - Always sleep on the human at night so he/she cannot move around. Litter Box – When using the litter box, be sure to kick as much litter out of the box as possible. Humans love the feel of kitty litter between their toes.

Hiding – Every now and then, hide in a place where the humans cannot find you and…do NOT come out for three or four hours under any circumstances. This will cause the humans to panic (which they love) thinking that you have run away or are lost. Once you do come out…the humans will cover you with love and kisses, and you probably will get a treat.

One Last Thought – Whenever possible, get close to humans, especially their face, then turn around and present your butt to them. Humans love this, so do it often



more animals

Not Such an Angel

Well I have shared my others cats` antics in the litter tray.

This little angel has been a naughty boy.

I have a breakfast ritual of fruit salad , followed by toast and tea.

Yesterday I settled down to breakfast in front of the telly (well you have to start the day right don't you). Halfway through the lovely fruit I think `what`s that noise?`. When I look at the table next to me the little devil is happily licking the jam from the toast which I must point out was the last slice of my gluten free bread. What the heck kind of cat likes jam anyway?

To say I was angry may be an understatement. I went to work hungry and `Tubby` spent an hour or two in the doghouse.

If you are a fellow cat owner you will relate to this. Even if you are not, its still amusing ( I think)
Apologies if you have seen it before, but I never tire of it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0ffwDYo00Q&feature=channel

My Cat Has Lost the Plot

Okay so my lovely cat has always been a bit on the quirky side. He sleeps on boxes, paper,the laundry, my lap the warmest part of the floor near the airing cupboard. No big surprises there.
We bought them all nice cat beds 2 years ago and I could still return them - not been anywhere near them, only to look and laugh at what daft humans we are. They even tease us by looking in and we sit on the edge of our seat going `he is going in the cat bed at last!` Then they turn around and give you `the look` and hoss off to find a tv guide to settle down on.
Now this particular kitty is rather old and does not like the great outdoors anymore. We put him out at night in the summer but now it is chilly I sorted out the litter tray and filled it with the paper type litter from last year. You will deduce why I had it left over from the pic. I have now purchased catsan! £££££££££