Photo A Day....so Far...the Past Year and the Coming Year

Well I shall be posting Photo 133 later on today, nearly half the way through - I am proud that I have got this far and look forwards to completing the challenge, and am already considering creating a photo book at the end documenting my journey (will have to start saving).


I am also doing another photo a day over on blipfoto (I dont do things by half).


I started the challenge on Saturday 20th August 2011.


I have unfortunately miss a few days - but I have always picked up from where I left the reasons for missing days have been down to house move and ill health. There have also been occasions where I have had to do catch ups - where I have taken the photo on the day but have had to blog them latter due to technical issues or again illness.


I hope you have enjoyed the journey so far.


I 'secured' my blog name long before starting, it took me a while to finally pluck up the courage and write that first post. I started with the intention of showcasing makes and passions and well at bit of me and what makes me tick - the whole package including ME. I hope that is what I am doing.


It also took me a while to finally pluck up the courage and put my makes 'out there', let loose onto an unsuspecting world and well I am really proud of what I have achieved so far and hope that it will continue to grow - My first Etsy listing was on 8th October 2011, with my first Etsy sale coming along on the 17th November. Here are my sales of 2011 (a combination of etsy, comission, and desk pop up shop)


I think that my Mum would also be very proud of me - she was the inspiration behind me finally taking the plunge. I know that there are things that she regretted never giving a try so I didn't want to say 'what if' or 'I wonder'.


Moving into 2012


I have some custom orders that I am working on now and am launching new things on etsy. While I am mainly about the fabric and sewing, I do love gemstones and jewellery (and of course the steampunk) and wondering how I can combine some of the elements at the moment. 


So there will be more cuddle cushions and jewellery and linked in with occasions stationary and bits. I am working hard on Valentines at the moment and have an all wrapped up package to launch, I have mentioned this a few times on facebook and twitter but I am now almost ready to showcase it.


I am also hoping to at least try some fairs and am considering setting up a Folksy shop, but still not sure as some of jewellery makes are 'illegal' in Folksy terms - yes its 'assembled' from charms that I have brought but I still have to design the piece and consider what will work together! 


I always want feedback on my makes, please don't be shy tell me what you think - the positives along with the negatives (designs, pricing and everything). 


What are my aims for 2012

• Well for LittlemouseLilly to grow
• To give needle felting a go
• To learn Crochet (finally)
• Continue to support my amazingly talented artist husband - can be found in these places portfolio, blog, zazzle, twitter and this year I will get him onto etsy and/or Folksy (prints, original art and maybe with the aid of the wonderful printed fabrics some textiles) :)

Hope that you all have had positives that you have been able to pick out from 2011 and will have an amazing year to come

With love to everyone

x

The Day That We Have Been Waiting For...

Mr Mouse and I have been somehow managing without broadband since we moved.

When I say managing I mean we were just getting by using his iPhone and my HTC

Mr Mouse works from home and needs the internet for 'stuff' like research (his two bookcases of reference books apparently don't cut it), and its pretty important for keeping in touch with clients.

And me well I am the first one to admit that I am a little bit of a social media junkie. I am also in the process setting up an esty shop - makes ready, photos done just one bit missing......

.....BROADBAND.

Well today was the day and yes it works (yes we are making up for lost time)

Photo A Day - Day 32

Todays theme was 'what sums up home for you'


I thought about postponing todays entry until I have moved properly into my new house. But while I was thinking about its not the house that makes it home.


So home to me is:

My wonderful husband, my dog and the rest of the tribe that didn't make the shot - Queen Zara, Captain Kirk (Rabbits), Ceasar, Lady Dru, Luna and Ulysses (cats). 

Gamma Dog

Well I was prepping a blog about stitching but that will be for another time.

I have decided to introduce another little bit of creativity and a member of my family:

Archduke Ferdinand the First (Ferd for short)

He is a lovely Sprocker Spaniel (springer x cocker) and at 18 month is still a puppy :)

Why have I decided to deviate (slightly) off topic?

Well this morning we had to rush outside (again) as next doors dog was having ago and as she has already put her head through the fence once – we get worried for the safety of our little boy. And he is a very special little dog and the inspiration behind something but I will get to that...

Why the worry? A while ago he had to have veterinary treatment (torn flesh cut away and then stitched back up around his jaw – we were lucky that it wasn’t his throat), he was hurt by next doors dog after an altercation over the fence in the back garden. We got the Dog Warden to talk to them – but since all we have had is barbed comments thrown over that they know their dog is not to blame, how our dog starts it all and is the aggressive one (umph not sure how they work that one out, I won’t say anymore other than they had another dog who had to be put to sleep due to injuries caused by their other ‘loving wouldn’t hurt a fly’ dog – make your own conclusions).

I was worried about my boy after the ‘incident’ he was nervous and took him a while to feel confident about going out in his own back garden – that’s when I decided that I would look into dog training, to get him around other dogs and to help rebuild his confidence and that’s how I found Jane. She reassured me and said that he would be welcome to come along to dog school – and well he is doing wonderfully.

Jane is very patient and teaches reward based training (non of the hitting, shouting, pulling or choke chains that some people use) and has been appointed the first Victoria Stilwell (best known for the hit TV show ‘It’s Me or the Dog’) Positively Dog Trainer (VSPDT) in the South of England.

Classes are never boring we do everything from lead work to doggie dancing. It doesn’t end at obedience training – there is also agility, rally, gun dog training, heelwork, puppy classes, doggie parties and of course dog walks.

A bit about Jane from her website http://www.athenae.co.uk/

“I have had a life-long interest in animals, their behaviour and well-being. I also have an M.A in Education and have been involved in teaching and training for many years. In 1981 I gained an Honours degree in Zoology from Nottingham University. Much of my work is with dogs, but I can also help with cats and other small animals”

If you are in Essex and have been looking for a dog trainer then look no further than Jane (for full contact info see website http://www.athenae.co.uk/ or email info@athenae.co.uk )

Ok well I am guessing that you are still wondering about the title of this blog... Gamma Dog... and how that relates to Ferdinand?

Well ...drum roll please.....

............

......................

Ferdinand is Gamma Dog and features on a t-shirt designed by freelance artist and illustrator Robin Carey (www.robincarey.co.uk)

This and other designs can be found here - http://www.zazzle.co.uk/moobian

And well soon he just may have his own story...

.... A little preview (still in draft) I hope that you like it

Agent Mouse and Gamma Dog Ferd are in combat training when they get the call from the intergalactic space agency command centre.

“Agent Mouse here” he says as he connects to the space communicator

“Ah good, Agent Mouse we have an urgent situation that we need your immediate help with” says Commander Bob

“What’s the situation Commander?”

“There is an Ogre terrorising the village on Moon Base designation Mars Luna 543 in the Nexiam System. I need you to go there at once and help the villagers.”

“On our way Commander.”

Ferd sets about putting their training equipment away as Mouse puts Mars Luna 543 into the spaceships navigation device.

“Woof, woof, grr”

“I know Gamma Dog an Ogre does sound big and frightening. Good job that we have been training”

“Woof”

“Destination set. You better buckle in Gamma Dog it looks like it might be a bumpy ride as we travel to the Nexiam System. We will have to go round the belt of Ulysses”

“Woof, woof”

“I know that we need to hurry but we can’t risk running into any space spiders”

“Yip”

Their space ship whooshes into action speeding them on their way to help.