Walkie Talkie dolls were all the rage in the 1960’s. My one special present was a gift from my parents. Adorned in meticulously stitched garments made by my mother she had something for every occasion. She was my cherished companion and I still have her. She is in great condition after 60+ years, just a few tiny cracks and stiffer joints than she used to have. (Sounds like me.) When I had my long hair cut, my doll received a new hairdo, a lasting reminder of the colour of my hair. I could brush it and style it. She can still walk and sleep but sadly has lost her voice. She serves as a reminder ..read more

I embarked on a journey of embroidering on spheres with flowers. The process involved felting, stitching and sewing. The daisy is a universal symbol of happiness, as well as a symbol of life, and that has been my beginning. As a visual artist and florist I love the intricate beauty of flowers and the profound connection they offer to the cycle of life. There is more to create, a sanctuary where happiness can bloom ..read more

My heartfelt journey to bridge the gap between generations, leaving an indelible mark on the pages of family history. Through these unique handmade books, I have embarked on a quest - 12 books in total so far. These volumes tell a story of love, dedication, and an unyielding commitment to family. In a world where distance and circumstance can keep families apart, these books serve as a living testament to the strength of family bonds. They are more than just collections of pages; they are portals to the past, gateways to the future. I want my grandson to know that he is part of something spe ..read more

In 2022 I took up the challenge of hand stitching an icon a day for a year. That's 365 icons, many more threading the tiny eye of a needle. It's been a lot of fun and along the way I have learnt a few things. I decided it would be full of happiness, things I had done, people who interacted, my garden and of course my cat Bizzel is there too. When I look at it now it is colourful, cheerful and full of memories. I used a 10inch hoop.  Would use a 12 inch if I did it again as small icons are hard to get detail. The wedges for each month are small so detail is difficult. Keeping a drawin ..read more

Do you have leftover pieces of paper and fabric? They can be made into something unique and special to you. Start saving the offcuts of anything you use. Its a rather nice way of remembering snippets of what you have made, sold or given away. Recently I tutored a group to teach them how. It was a fun day of ripping, glueing and of course chat. The finished collage can be photocopied and used for pages or book covers many times over ..read more

What is a lucky dip? The Keirunga Book Arts group had brief instructions. A game in which small prizes are concealed in a container and chosen at random by participants. Now my ‘prize,' was the words peach and light blue. Some small black safety pins and an adjective ‘Colourful,’ to be used somewhere in 3 books of 6 pages. That got me thinking. Colourful was no problem as I have often had that label. Safety pins I could accomodate but the thing that was missing was a theme. It made me realise that the work I create starts with a title and things just follow along as I create with no plan at al ..read more

Your spine is your bodies central support structure. At some stage in life everyone needs support. The spine that helps you get through. Determination, character and courage. Having a backbone in life needs willpower to achieve and accomplish. Book spines are a bit like people. They can be supportive, all shapes and sizes or limp. Some of my handmade books ..read more

Buttons have a special place in my world.  My mother was a milliner and a great sewer too, so any garment needed just the right button. She had the best button box. Sometimes we were allowed to play with it. It was a heavy wooden box housed down in the tall, hall cupboard.  To me it was magic. Brass, leather, fabric, shell and even handmade ones. You could sort by colour, style or just count.  One day she had a clean out and it went to the dump. She regretted it for the rest of her life.  When I got married I decided to make one. Mine was a rectangular handcrafted and ..read more

“The love of gardening is a seed once sown that never dies.” Gertrude Jekyll Spring in my garden is over and has it displayed some beautiful flowers. Later rain than usual has fed their feet and brought many happen moments enjoying the scene. The bees have been busy and I love that they fly in and fertilise my tomatoes, cucumbers, beans. The blue sage flowers have been humming with activity.  Sometimes my garden is very unruly. The birds feed and bring seeds of all sorts. Some useful some not. I believe if a plant seeds, it can grow.  I have a different view on weeds. There is n ..read more

The digital world is a constant but Brooklyn Art Library has both. You can create a book and it will be digitised for others to see anywhere in the world. It also has a physical form where people can touch and read the books creatives have made. It was a fun process to fill the 27 pages. I rebound the book and gave it a spine as it started yawning. I’m not against yawning books. I have made a few myself as they get fatter with collage additions. “Wearing Out” is available to view online. https://www.sketchbookproject.com/library/S2628949 Flip through the pages and leave a comment if you can or ..read more