Just in case you were wondering ...

I'm still alive. 

I've been busy busy for the last six months and a bit neglectful of my shop blog. That's my first Open University course finished now, which is a shame because I was having so much fun. So much fun, that I have registered for the advanced course and will be starting again with my studies in October. 

In the meantime I need to get cracking on some new products for this year's Perthshire Open Studios which takes place in September.

I'll try not to leave it so long before my next post.

Fiona x

It's that time again.

Time to get started with plans and patterns and lists of things to do this year.

I just wish sometimes that the weather wasn't so miserable in January because it's hard to get-a-going to it's so blooming miserable outside. I'm fed up with winter woollies and welly boots and could do with a bit of sunshine to get me going again.

On the plus side, I have a lovely new framed certificate as my reward for coming second in the Christmas window competition... yay.. go me...

My next competitive challenge is come up with something wonderful for a Valentine's window display. I'm thinking of perhaps not crocheting my display this time, but you never know. 

I'm currently waiting for marks for my latest OU assignment. I submitted it during the Christmas holiday, which now feels like ages ago and I'm feeling a wee bit anxious. Hopefully all will be well but it's a bit distracting and seem to have lost the ability to think of much else. The funny thing is that I really only signed up for the course for fun.... Who thought I was going to take it all so seriously ? I'm loving the fact that I'm learning new things and really challenging myself in a whole new direction. It's definitely good to try new things. It would all be a bit boring if we didn't.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

I hope everyone has a great start to 2012.

It's been a busy year here in many different and wonderful ways.

I'm taking a wee break from work till 5th January and I'm enjoying a bit of family time.

Will be back soon.

Fiona x

Then one foggy Christmas Eve...

So... after major surgery to realign his little legs Rudy stood up for the first time.

Still not quite as stable as he might be, he used Andy's lovely wine table for a bit of additional support.

Then headed off to take up his position in the window.

Mrs Claus is keeping an eye on him, so hopefully he will be ready to fly in time for the big night.

( I think I might need to get out more.... keep telling myself he's just a toy...)

Windows are going to be judged this week.... ooh exciting..

My Creative Space

I learned two very valuable lessons today.

No.1 Stitchmarkers are awesome little things which help you to make less mistakes, and save you from having to count to 124 sixteen times a day. (slight exaggeration there on the actual numbers but you get the idea)

Lesson No.2 Never rush a reindeer.

Poor wee Rudy here had two front legs at the back and two back legs on the front. It was all a bit wobbly and not a good look for one of Santa's little helpers. Hopefully we're on the right track now but he's just going to have to lie down till tomorrow. It's been a bit of a day...

Time now to link up with more effective creative spaces

And there are only 24 sleeps to go.

Fiona x

My Creative Space

Mrs Claus is a wee bit fed up and could do with a bit of advice.

The question is.. How old is too old to be wearing matching outfits with your husband?

'It's all very well for these young ones,' she says but she really would like a bit of a change.

She's been wearing red all her married life and quite fancies a nice blue dress that she saw on the internet, but Santa says No Ho Ho..

She even thought a new hair style might be nice. Santa wants her to keep it white like his and wouldn't let her dye it brown, so she tried something a bit more extreme.

Shaved her head and got her nose pierced..

Not really a good look but it was worth it to see Santa's face.

It's all grown back again now, which is probably just as well.

The one thing she does like though, is her new red knickers.

I'm running  a wee bit late this week but hopefully there's still enough time to join ourcreativespaces

New Look

Just a quick 'thanks guys'.

It's nice to know I was missed and I thought I might just have a wee play with typefaces since I was here anyway. Some blogs look really nice with lovely typefaces. I think mine looked a bit boring.

Time to click and see how it looks.
Nothing changed
Oh now it has 

And now it's back the way it was.