What a year its been !!

 Oh my word, what a roller coaster year its been, full of all sorts of rather depressing stuff.

I dont think its been easy for any one of us and it has left us all rather low and basically its stolen our year from us.

So, heres to 2021, may it be everyones year, a happy one, filled with promise and sunshine.

Heres my little Waldo, hes helped me get through this year, by making myself and everyone who sees him on instagram smile, no matter what.

Thank you Waldo and thank you to all my online friends and customers, I wouldnt be here without you,

lots of love to you all and wishing everyone a much better 2021 than this year .

xxx

Somebody new is at Darling HQ

 Im sorry I havent been blogging but I have a new person at Darling Hq, whos needing lots of attention,

can you guess what he is ???

My latest Puppet Commission

I thought you might like to see my latest puppet creation.

Hes a very large hand puppet, using hand sculpted and stitched techniques.

My client asked that I make her husband a Topov , from Pipkins inspired puppet. Obviously I didnt want to make one the same, but to capture the essence of him, in my style.

She was very happy with him and so was I.

 It was very sad to see him go, but hes very happy in his new home.

It took me quite a while to design the pattern and get it how I wanted it, but now I have the pattern, I can make more when required.

Wishing everyone a really lovely weekend

xxx

Lots of new cruelty free products

I have quite a range now, in my Etsy shop. Of organic cruelty free products with free postage in the uk and cheap postage worldwide.

The first image below is of my lovely tea tree and nettle shampoo bar. Its kind to your hair and can also be used on your dogs and horses ! A 2oz bar, that is priced to sell at 2.95

Here we have one of my favourite soaps, its the lavender cleansing bar. Very kind on your skin and organic and cruelty free.

Also priced at 2.95, with free postage again.

The Artisans hand balm is very popular and is good for any dry skin patches. Organic and cruelty free and priced at 5.95, in a handy metal re useable tin. With free postage to the uk again .

My best seller has been the organic, antibacterial soap. It does the job, but is kind to your skin.

Also 2.95 with free postage.

And finally is the lip balm made with organic vitamin E  oil, also in a reusable tin , free postage, at 3.95

I have really enjoyed making these during lockdown and the range is continually growing and evolving, its been a real pleasure and has kept me busy.

I hope you like them xxx

New Dolls

 Firstly I hope everyone is happy and well, I have been super busy with orders and my beeswax range has also taken off. For which I am all very grateful , but I found time to make three dolls for the etsy shop.

 I hope you like them. They are a joy to make and fun, but they do go quickly. There are a lot of new items in the online shop, so do check them out when you get time.

Sending you lots of love and light during these unusual times xxx

Working through the lockdown....

Im still busy working with my son on the youtube account with free workshops, but that should be available to you all very soon.

But Ive also managed to come up with some new bits for the etsy shop and have started adding downloadable patterns.

 Theres a very easy rabbit pattern which people are really enjoying making.

I hope you are all coping and staying well xxx

Black Beeswax.....

Ive really enjoyed working with beeswax this spring and especially the black beeswax and cinnamon ornaments.
Heres a selection of what Ive come up with so far, but a few more in the pipeline coming this week.

I hope youre all busy creating. Ive had amazing weather here in Wales so far, its really helped during lockdown. I hope you've had it too .

Recipe = Orange and Raspberry Madeleines.

Ingredients
--------------

• 3 free-range eggs 
• 130g/4½oz caster sugar
• 200g/7oz plain organic flour
• 10g/¼oz baking powder
• 1 unwaxed orange, finely grated zest only
• 20g/¾oz runny honey
• 4 tbsp milk or water. I like goats milk
• 200g/7oz organic butter, melted and cooled ( I use goats butter }
• raspberries ( I have frozen from last year ) and raspberry jam.
• icing sugar, for dusting

PLEASE NOTE:

This makes two batches, and will make 12 madeleines on each occasion, the unused batter will sit happily in the fridge till you fancy making them again.

Method
----------

The first thing I do is pop the oven on to 190C/375F/Gas 5.

Whilst that is getting going I melt all the butter in a pan and allow it to cool, as you cant add it hot, else you will get scrambled eggs :)

I then put the flour, eggs, caster sugar, baking powder, orange zest and mix together, I then pour on the butter and honey and beat it together, adding a splash of milk or water if you prefer.

Afterwards I oil my madeleine tray, these trays have like a shell shaped pattern on the base. Please do not panic if you don't own one. You can use a normal cake tray or a flat baking tray. I use a brush and wipe out the pan I melted the butter in and use that for oiling my madeleine tray.

Now take two desert spoons and fill one generously with your batter mixture, pop one spoon into each compartment or to form an oval dome on a baking sheet if you do not possess a madeleine or cake tray.

For the next bit, I add one raspberry in each, then its off to the oven for about 15 minutes , until golden. Then whilst the tray is hot you need to add a tea spoon of raspberry jam into the hole of the raspberry. You can pipe it in, or make a split and spoon it in, but it must be done whilst hot, for it to be absorbed a little. Then quickly sprinkle with icing sugar. remove and serve on tea plates.

Must be eaten warm, to fully enjoy and shared :)

Bon Apetite ! 

Free online workshops...

Hello folks, I know lots of you are worrying about being stuck at home and even more people worrying about how to teach their children at home.

As some of you know I have been teaching for over 30 years now and have home educated all my children, so I thought I would, as from next week, offer free online workshops.

I will be running them from my youtube channel.

The first one will start next week and I aim to do at least one a week and offer full online support.

Link to follow soon if you want to subscribe and first workshop will be uploaded next week,

much love to all

Deb

xxx

Mothers Day....

Ive designed alot of these thread holders, they are wooden, made from sustainable wood. All come with free postage anywhere .

There are a few different designs to choose from and if you want to send one to your mum , remember , it can be gift wrapped and sent to her direct.

Just click on my etsy banner to you right on here to see the full range.

Keep safe, keep calm, and carry on stitching !!

xxxxxxx

Artists Survival during this difficult times....

As I sit here working on this private commission, I  watch all my forthcoming shows get cancelled. Also seeing people holding back and not spending, its scarey. Ive been dollmaking now and a working artist , for 33 years and this is the first time I have ever thought,  " I wonder if I can survive this ??"

Once I click onto my social media, I see all my friends are thinking the same, this has brought the whole art community, artists , theatres, performers to their knees, a whole year of events have been cancelled, till next year. Most of us are self employed and are worried.

All I can say is that we try our best to support one another, with buying from each other and promoting each others work. Liking, favouriting on etsy and sharing on facebook.

Ive decided that twenty percent of my sales will go to another artist to help them.

I myself will be putting together some online workshops, releasing patterns, craft packs and doing my best to tread water till this mania is over.

Im hoping things will be much easier once we get to June.

For the first time in my life I have added a donate button to my blogg, if anyone wishes to donate to me via that, twenty percent will go to other artists too.

I think of everyone, during these trying times. I  hope mankind can be less selfish and think of others, and above all stay calm.

Any of my friends who live near me, please drop in for hens eggs if you need them.

Lots of love to you all and thanks for your support. Ive added free postage to anywhere in my etsy shop and further reductions, I will also giftwrap for free and add a card, if you wish items to go direct to someone, just message me on etsy or facebook.

Take care, be safe and stay calm xxxx

Rabbits,rabbits rabbits.....

Spring is finally in the air, so Ive added some new large sitting woollen bunnies to my Etsy shop.

I hope everyone is managing to get out into the garden and enjoy this sunnier weather.

Happy Days 

xxx 

on the worktable .......

New items are on the go at the worktable today

Wooden Things...

Ive been working on more bread and butter items, so more wooden laser cut things. some jewellery and some embroidery thread holders, these are the first two Ive designed in the series , let me know what you think.

The bunnies are photos of a sculpture I made, Ive used silver findings on these 925.

Let me know your thoughts, hopefully you will like them.

mixedmedia art works......

Heres three new mixed media art pieces.

I really enjoyed making them and experimenting with colour and texture.

Keeping Wales in the theme and heart of all.

These are available in my affordable art series and are in my Etsy shop now.

Doggie Doll.....

Hello there,

Well Ive just finished making this little sweetie ,  standing at 16 inches in height and can be found in my etsy shop ( just click on the etsy banner on my blogg for more details )

As usual its free postage to anywhere on the planet.

Its been dark here today so taking photos has been hard, but the first photo is an accurate colouring of the Doggie Doll.

Thanks for looking , it really does help,

Happy Friday everyone xxx

Mixed Media Art journal...

  Ive been working on this art journal, its taken over 200 hours to make, but has been a real pleasure.

There are a lot more pages than the ones I have featured and some have moveable paper automata parts.

It has 26 pages in total with extra pages that open out. Its made using an old damaged antique book.

Its listed in my etsy shop now with more photos and you can see it on a  few videos on my instagram account.

Im running some retreats, that last for a week, where you can learn to make an art journal yourself, if you want details of these , please email me on pookashop@yahoo.com

Happy Monday Folks , and as always thanks for looking xxx

A little bit of Wales...

I love Wales.

Its the longest place Ive ever stayed, lived in. It inspires me greatly and threads its way into my work.

I have created a new range of printed lavender bags, and instead of using the black and white, I thought it would be a joy to include that wonderful red. So here you have the first in the series, and Ive listed them in etsy now.

We get a lot of grey in winter here in Wales, but it is also very beautiful, Im always on the look out for beautiful welsh cottages on my walks and I try my best to capture them on canvas, heres the latest in my welsh cottage series, also listed on Etsy.

Ive been working on some more doggy dolls, so I will be adding more photos of those soon,

warmest wishes,

Debs 

xxx

Happy 2020 and monkies......

Happy New Year everyone, heres to surviving 2020. I think its a year for great changes and a lot of monkies. So watch this space for more news about them.

Thanks to everyone for all their support last year in everyway, not just for purchasing, but for sharing, liking, recommending and all the love, Thank You  X X X