Category Archives: Crafts

Tricky

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As W. C. Fields used to say “Never work with children or animals”. Well, he was right.

Today’s breakfast was tricky.

Monster was absolutely no help at all and I failed dismally on the Connections puzzle (Wordle 6).

But Pepper had an eating-day, so that was encouraging.

The sunshine was also most welcome by everyone. Animals sprawled everywhere inside and out.

The sheep are coming along well. I just need someone to buy one, two, three….. have a whole flock.

And the real thing were hanging around too.

After their supper, I tried to get Monster to pose nicely with Pepper.

She tried her best.

It just wasn’t a very good best.

And Monster quickly left.

Oh well, Pepper is still cute (and still eating) – oof, that little face ❤️

I’ve Done Too Much

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I think I’ve done too much today. My fault, of course. I never learn so now I am resting on my bed with a heat pad hoping tomorrow will be better.

In other news, Pepper’s bloods came back normal (one slightly elevated something, but nothing worthy of note), so that rules out any nasties going on and I am relieved. I think we will stick to a dietary intolerance diagnosis. Luckily Pepperlikes her Royal Canin diet and I am trying hard not to let her trawl any other outside food, like bird grain, duck poo, spilled sheep feed, anything she can find really.

I am having to be tough on Pepper, which I find extremely difficult.

I have never been tough with her, which may have been the problem – but that little face……. I always give in but have to think, no, this is hurting her little tummy despite what she says.

Skippy has been diagnosed now – apparently it is the throttle switch and cable so I need to find someone who speaks/reads German and order a new one.

I did my daily put-something-on-Ebay/Etsy listing – I can’t decide which is the better platform so am dividing the jewellery between both of them to see which one has the greater range. Ebay is winning so far just in views and interest.

I made the chap on the left today too.

Maybe there’s a potential untapped market for Muscovy Duck photography.

Back in my shed

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I haven’t been inside my little craft shed since before Christmas and in my absence it has managed to fall to pieces. The roof is leaking and the rain has done damage. I am very upset, well, more cross with myself and well aware I should’ve checked it more regularly.

So, feeling rather like a neglectful parent, I took all the pictures off the wall and put them to dry, did some tidying up, proper polished (beeswax and two clothes-type) the nice furniture and then dug out a dehumidifier and my little greenhouse heater, knowing full well they should’ve been in there working all along in my absence.

The dead plants probably don’t help much either. I even managed to kill the most unkillable plant ever – wood sorrel, now totally dead and growing mould.

Later this afternoon, I decided I would have a stab (see what I did there, geddit?) at making one of my hand-felted sheep out of Shetland wool.

But first I had to finish my Christmas Lego model. Ta da!

Pepper came too and made the heater her own, as per usual.

Two hours’ later, one finished sheep. Ready to be sold. Does my back/arm/leg/neck hurt afterwards? A bit, but I think I’ve just got to get back on with things otherwise everything else will fall to bits around me.

To Infinity And Beyond…..

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I know that my sheep are living in far-flung places, like Australia, Japan, America, etc but I have one very special sheep who lives on my friend’s desk at NASA, Houston. How cool is that? Seriously cool.

Alan McDougal and his wonderful wife, Steph, are excellent friends who visit us in Shetland – they’ve been twice.

Alan works as EHP S&MA Associate Manager for NASA.

“The long version is, get ready for it: extra-vehicular activity and human surface mobility program, safety and mission assurance associate manager. Mostly I run the Safety reviews for our new moon jeep and moon RV.”

But, anyway, Alan and Steph bought many of my felted Shetland sheep to give away as presents from their holidays, keeping one special one for themselves.

And my little sheep goes with Alan to some very exciting locations like….

“The Apollo pad itself’

“This plaque is mounted on the Apollo pad.”

“The picture with the launch tower in the background is also taken at the Apollo 1 site just looking off into the distance where another launch tower is.”

“The one with Orion was at the KSC facility where they assemble Orion. The capsule for Artemis 2 that we’re trying to launch (just rolled the back due to rocket issues) was being assembled just behind the walls there.”

And then there are the important space meetings too because you should have always have a sheep there (it’s probably mandatory) .

So I am very proud of my little NASA sheepie and every time I see another superb photo from Alan of his travels I say quietly to myself “to infinity and beyond”.

(not gonna lie, I’m sure it is all just playing with Lego reallly!)

To the Clickimin Craft Fair 2025

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My Saturday afternoon is usually spent playing flute duets with Mandy so we went to the Clickimin Craft Fair instead, which is another of our annual traditions. We both like a good craft fair, we do.

Although nicely busy, we wandered easily around looking at all stalls. I did some Christmas shopping, took photographs, saw old friends and generally had a very good time. I had to keep reminding myself I was buying for friends and family and not myself.

I am a bit craft fair’ed out now, read exhausted, so I think I will just leave all these photos here and you can enjoy the craft fair too.

And what I take away from going today, apart from buying Lovely Things, is that the amount of creative talent in Shetland is absolutely outstanding. For such a small place, there is a wealth of innovation and artistry.

Buy local is my Christmas motto (and also I need a cup of tea, please!)