Bunting and Trees and Chooks and Stuff.

It was raining and our hens were very put out as they had to cancel their busy day. The picnic table was welcome shelter although there was a moment of awkwardness when the chook on the far right pecked at a patch of grass where the chook on the far left had just done her business. The middle two didn't know whether to tell her or not and the culprit pretended someone else did it.
So today, I had a little bit of time at home on my own - this meant time to get a serious move on with some paintings. It was more paper-cutting than painting as it was scissor work all day.

Cutting up tissue paper into triangles (tissue paper has suddenly become my favourite 'thing'.

And making bunting for trees. At this point I must point out that no actual books were harmed during the making of this painting. I scanned some old text into the scanner and printed it. I can't bring myself to have scissors anywhere near books.

And another glimpse of where I am heading.

This is just a little glimpse of Hugo's blanket to hook you in.
Some more - it is growing day by day... except for tonight when I was so tired I lay down in front of the telly and let my hands curl into fists below my chin while I watched yet another episode of "True Blood". The colours are such a departure for me with the whole oatmealy/grey/brown wool dominating, but I like it. I feel brave and as though I am on an adventure - can you tell I don't get to town very often?
This is really the main reason for getting your attention. The doors are beginning to get their new coats on. Previously faded red and flaking, we are now going up in the world with a dark bluey/purple gloss. Keep in mind this door isn't finished yet.

And a hyacinth still in the between stages of lilac and green.

I won't use too many words tonight as my head is turned inside out by paint fumes. Unfortunately with the exterior doors we have to use an oil based primer.... I can see why it is hardly used anymore. I feel as though my eyeballs have been taken out of head, swapped and jammed back into the wrong sockets. I might start babbling in a moment and goodness knows that would not be a good thing. Off to bed for an early night instead. See you tomorrow, xxooxx.

More Fun Things to do with Paper.

Archie was in dire need of a bouquet of flowers hanging from his ceiling (the yellow one is of his making) - keep in mind these boys feel as gardeners, flowers are not at all girly.
And Hugo needed one attached to his mobile.

There has been a lot of mysteries inciphered and revealed.

Lots of this taking up room on the kitchen table.

And a bit of this.

Playing with paper.

This week has been a busy week with incredibly important things such as staring at colour chips and drinking tea and staring at more colour chips. However, I did take some time out and visited my cousin where we were very industrious producing many, many, many tissue paper flowers for the school's bollywood ball.

Can you imagine the heady thrill knowing that by crafting I was a very helpful mother, very seriously helping the school. Let me tell you it was hard to stop. Have a good weekend!!

P.S. This is being written a little while later - I am in an absolute panic, my new room which is being painted in white, is going to have yellow trim around the bottom scotia and windows and the doors will be yellow too. The only thing is, the yellow I have chosen is called sulphur and now I am really worried. What kind of colour is sulphur? What kind of person would choose sulphur. And then... over the last few days, every time I have opened the cupboard to get a mug I have felt strange, as though something is not quite right and I don't know why, as though we don't have enough mugs.................... And I have just found out that my favourite mug has smashed (why did I not notice earlier - well sometimes it stays up on my work table for a few days). It was a friend to me and always let me drink from it and never complained about the heat. Goodbye my friend, may your rest in peace. xxooxxooxx.

The Cosiest of Things.

I am needing the cosiest of things at the moment. Things that make your heart feel as though they are nestled in comfort and light, tissue paper and down.

Beginning a new blanket for Hugo, fresh (and very much on sale) pillowcases and Daphne by my bed have all helped. Chicken soup on the hob, a lit fire and clean windows are on the list too, alongside 'Larkrise to Candleford', roast lamb and a good book. These things have all curled around my heart this morning and changed my world for the day.

Paper and Scissors.

There has been an awful lot of cutting and folding going on in our house at the moment. I received the book pictured above in the mail the other day (but I can't at present find any details to accompany it - I'll include them in another post) and have not been able to stop snipping paper even when far more pressing concerns floating around me.
The lucky stars are a new obsession that have been busily falling from my hands in an origami-stigmatery kind of way. I have no idea what I will end up doing with them but I cannot stop making them.

Archie has been busy this weekend too, making the bird feeder above. He spent a long time working out how to stop the platform from dropping down and eventually harnessed it with some flax... ingenious. I hope you are having sun and warmth either from the big sky outside or by a little and conrollable fire inside. xxooxxooxx.

Renovations.

Our old front door worked very well for a while... until it stopped working (a couple of years ago). Now we have a new one, it even opens.
And a dark, blank wall has given us a view.

Hugo's family portrait - some of us are naked (Jonno and Archie) - some of us are not (Kate and Hugo).

I am loving our renovations getting into full swing. It is hard to do anything at the moment as every time I turn around there is a new door or window or wall. The electrician is here, I had better go and pretend to put a knife in a powerpoint near him... or maybe not.