Update on fund raising

As you all may know that I have been fund raising for the British Red Cross. I am also going to be walking on the bridges of London for the Red Cross on the 17th of May along with some friends. We had pledged to raise £1000. We have raised to date £682.50. We would love to reach our target and hope we will. A big thank you to all of you who have contributed and for your support.
If you have not contributed and would like to do so please click on this link http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/thecrazyquintet
which will take you to the fundraising page or simply click on the Virgin Money Giving button on the left hand side column to take you to the page.
Thanking you all once again.

Funkins makes a new friend

One day Funkins was feeling very low and missing his friend Seraphina (read here http://sewingwithmoonbeams.blogspot.co.uk/2008/07/funkins-little-pixie-was-trying-to.html about Seraphina)

When he suddenly felt a presence near him. He turned around and saw someone sitting next to him. At first he felt a bit annoyed to see a rather grand looking person sitting on his and Seraphina's favourite toad stool, being a good natured fellow his good spirits came to the surface quickly and he squeaked out hello are you a pixie like me?

The pixie looked down to see where this funny little voice was coming from and was rather surprised to find a tiny little pixie sitting near his feet.

Funkins soon found that this pixie was a bit shy so decided to put him at his ease immediately.

He started chatting to him and told him about Seraphina who had flown away to live in a far away land. He also told him how he was almost killed in an accident and that is why his face was a bit disfigured. An accident? The pixie asked. Yes he said ' I was almost trodden over by a giant foot!

Oh no said the pixie that is aweful and got up in shock. Funkins fell off his perch with surprise when he saw how big the pixie was.

Oh my what a big pixie you are cried Funkins. The pixie became a bit sad when he heard that. He said yes I am a bit big although that is not how I am supposed to be. Someone must have put a spell on me so I became big. 

Never mind said Funkins I like you as you are. Let's become friends and you can sit on Seraphina's stool, but you have not told me your name yet. What is it? The pixie said sadly I don't have a name. Can you give me a name please?  Hmmm.. said Funkins I will have to put my thinking cap on, you know even I cannot think of a name for you at present.

Can you think of a name for him? All suggestions are welcome. Then I will put them in a hat and pull out a name. 

I was inspired to make this doll while browsing through some old magazines, I came across a pattern by Jaque Utez. So I decided to make my own sculpted face since I did not have one of jacque's molded faces. I hand stitched the cloths while I was on holiday and utilised all those little bits of silks that were left over from other projects.

I look forward to hearing some suggestions for names.

Spring!

My garden is waking up! Rhododendrons are full of buds and some of the azalea have already finished blooming and we missed it since we were away.0

I cannot remember planting this so perhaps it got pollinated and created this plant. I would like to think that rather than that my memory is not as good as it used to be. :)

Gorgeous Camellias soon they will be gone. 

I love this shrub with its graceful branches 

The honeysuckle is a bit overgrown here but I don't want to cut it down yet as I saw a bird disappearing into it the other day. Perhaps it is nesting.

Every year the magpies come in great numbers and raid the nests of the little birds, so last year in the other end of our garden, we decided to surround  this nesting box with some garden net and twigs. I think there is a bird nesting this year. I tried to take a picture but dare not go too close. I get so excited when I see little birds nesting. Last year my neighbour and I saved 5 baby blue tits from being eaten by magpies. Felt so happy.

The gold fish are as fat as ever even though we did not feed them through winter :)

It is lovely to see the garden come alive isn't it?

Doll exhibition in Newbury

Do visit if you can