This weeks carboot loot...

I must admit to being somewhat of a carboot/charity shop/table top sale addict...I simply CANNOT drive past one without a little nosey about. I happened across a carboot sale today and found these treasures..

 Gorgeous vintage kids books from the 70/80's and my gavourite magazines...for 50p woohoo!

I also bought this dinky little box...which my daughter has (yet again) claimed. It is now her 'Cabinet of Curiousities' and is home to an eclectic selection of objects..and a new collection of dead bees! Yes...she is most definately taking after her mother!

I bought this 1950's bird cage last week and it will shortly be transformed into something magical and unexpected! I can't wait to start work on it! 

 but..yet again..it has been claimed by my daughter..I wil have to steal it back when she gets bored of it!

Well...got to run..we are attempting to have a bonfire and bbq although the wind has picked up quite a bit so I'm hoping I wont burn down the Orchard! Ive got marshmallows at the ready..

Take care and I hope you've had a fun Summer too.... Love from Lisa...the DoTtY BiRd xxxxx

Mad Hatters Tea Party!

Hello lovelies....hope you are all well!? We have had the most glorious few weeks of sunshine here in Cornwall...such a rare treat! It's been super baking hot but I've been hiding out in the shade and trying to do as little as possible! (not so easy with two little kids!!)

I had a stall with two fellow crafters at the Cowslip Studio Mad Hatters Tea Party Craft fair yesterday. I met so many fabulous artists and crafters and hopefully there will be some interesting collaborations to follow! This was the somewhat unusual hat I made!

Needless to say it drew quite a bit of attention.

The latest venture is a stall sharing crafty cooperative with two friends of mine, artist Chloe from Woolly Soup and  Ceramicist Sue Newell. We are collectively called 'Fox & Finch' and we are hoping to run a few stalls together. Unfortunately the sales yesterday were really poor, I'm not entirely sure why, but we had a fab day anyway!
Here are some snaps of our stall...

brooches by me..vases by Sue Newell

Our vintage case display

Pinch vases by Sue Newell

Bird Folk Dolls by Woolly Soup

I was also lucky enough to meet up with the lovely Kirsty Elson, Teresa of Willapark Designs, Emma Stead, Sian of Lancaster & Cornish to name but a few...so many wonderful stalls!
I was coveting this beautiful little cottage by Kirsty Elson...her little creations are just dreamy..

and I just LOVE the work of mixed media artist Teresa Dunne

 and finally I must mention the lovely folk at The Flower Mill, they kindly let me snap a few shots of my butterfly brooch in their gorgeous flowers! He looked so at home amongst them!

Phew...sorry for the photograph overload! There was just so much to see and I wanted to share it with you all! :)

Well, I'd better be off...got more nests to build! and butterfly wings to sew! (and tea to drink ...and rubbish tv to watch...ahem...and biscuit tins to raid)

Take care my lovelies xxxx

Love Dotty

Butterflies butterflies everywhere!

I have been a little butterfly obsessed lately..they are appearing on my cards, brooches and arty things all round.  As you can see.....

yikes!!

My new hand stamped packaging ♥

I've been tinkering around today with making an arty patchwork picture and I think I'll frame it in a box frame. I need to get a mount made for it..but I think it's rather pretty!

Yikes...I've got to dash...I'm off to dance...hope you are all well...so sorry I've been a terribly neglectful blogger lately..it's all busy busy busy here at dotty headquarters!

Take care my lovelies and I'll be round to visit all your lovely blogs soon xxxxx

Everything must go....!

A bit of a longshot but I thought I'd post a few pics of the things I have left after the last craft fair. I haven't had much luck finding a pitch at another fair before Christmas so thought I'd put my offerings on the web! I will get round to updating the etsy shop but that might take me a little longer!

If there is anything you are interested in, please message me through the comments or on my email: littledottybird@hotmail.co.uk

thankyou x

there are 7 left, yellow, red poka dot or floral wings £14 +p&p

Add caption

Dragonfly brooches and Butterfly brooches or hairclips are £7.50 + p&p
Hearts and Mushrooms are £4.50 + p&p
Birdhouse hairclip holders are £6.50 + p&p 

 I have a few nest hairpins and clips but I can make more if you would like a brooch!?
They vary between £8 and £12 depending on size.

 some shark fins.. they fit ages 3 - 7 approx The waistband is elastic so they do stretch qute a bit!.
£7 + p&p

and I have plenty of fox tail and ear sets (£12 +p&p)
leopards tails and ears, Dalmations tails & ears, cat tails & ears and wolf tails and ears. I also made some gold crowns to go with the wolf tails so they an be like Max from "Where the Wild Things Are". The crown, ears and tails are £15 +p&p as a set.

There is also the option of adding a little rose bud bow to the ears. I can gift wrap with a box, ribbon, and tissue paper for £2 extra.

I can combine p&p and accept paypal / bank transfer. Thanks for looking.If you want any further photos please message me. 

and check out these amazing Starlings, they were flying about like crazy early this morning at Sunrise. Gorgeous little things!

I'll be away until Sunday night so I may not be able to message back straight away although I will try to check whilst I'm away!

Take care

  Love from the Dotty one

xxx

In the midst of crafting chaos!

I've got my first craft stall next Friday, it's a lovely little one held at a lady's house and it sounds like it going to be super Christmassy  with an open fire, lots of Christmas lights and mulled wine!

I am, as usual, in a crazy last minutre crafting frenzy as the dealine approaches...here are some pics of the piles of semi made craft stuff lying around the house!!

There are plenty of nests, eggs, butterfly and dragonfly bodies mid production. I really need to get a move on! Unfortunately both kids were off ill today so the crafting has slowed up somewhat!

I still have about 50 pairs of ears to thread onto elastic. They have taken me a lot longer than I'd planned for...but we live and learn.

Finally, I've just (in a very sketchy fashion) painted a hatstand red. I'll be using it to display my tails...well thats the theory, I'm not too sure how it will all look yet!

Well gotta run now and resume mama duties...and try to sneak a little crafting in too!

Take Care

Love Dotty

xxx

and for no other reason than it made me laugh...here is a picture of my ma's daft cat Stumpy asleep! He must have over heated next to the Aga and attempted to move...but then just gave up!

 p.s aaagggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh James is destroying my craft room as I write this!! messy messy mess mess!!

Winter Butterflies

I've had this idea rattling around my brain for some time now and, as usual, I've decided on making it now because I am super busy and have lots of other things I should be doing!

The wings were made by sewing fabric onto a felt backing and then I drew the details on using freehand machine embroidery. For the body I needlefelted a fat body shape with wool then wrapped it with embroidery thread. Unfortunately some of the thread slipped off of the body so I'll have to make sure I sew in and anchor it better next time. It was originally going to be a brooch but I though it looked quite fun as a hairclip instead! I'm going to make some more for the craft fairs and maybe a few dragonflies too! 

Well, I must go and sew some more ears now...about 30 to go...waaah!

Hope you are inspired and feeling the creativity flow too !!

Love Dotty xxx

Bird brain!

It seems a bit odd to me but whenever I set out to come up with a new design, I'll get all the materials out that I want to work with and just see where it leads me...but this seems to be be just MORE BIRDS!! However, I must say I was particularly fond of these little lovelies that featured on a card made for a friends wedding anniversary.  I know it's a cliche, but hey ho, I just can't help myself! 

It's no secret......I LOVE BIRDS!

and the last time my fab friend asked me to make an anniversary card for her Mr, I came up with this dancing duo. So thankyou buddy! Your anniversaries are a good source of inspiration! x

I also made this (non bird related!!) card for a friends birthday. I'm so twee!

 and I FINALLY finished the butterfly wings...but my camera battery just died so I'll have to show you pictures on the next post! 

oh and I nearly forgot!! Theres a great GIVEAWAY for this beautiful plate with a fab bird design by Donna Wilson over at the little birdie  blog. Its a lovely and inspiring blog so go and have a peek! 

Take Care Lovelies 

Dotty

xxx

I'm link up today with the manic monday party at the Sewhappygeek blog. You can link up with anything you've created be it food, sewing, card making etc etc.. There are plenty of other inspiring bloggers to check out!.