That Summer Holiday Magic Moment

I know I should probably be blogging about the amazing show that I have just participated in with some incredible artists. But I'll save that for another day. Click on the image below to see more pictures.

Or I know you want to hear about my bootfair bargains and skip raiding haul but you'll have to wait for that too.

Because today I need to tell you about that summer holiday magic moment. Those of you with kids will know that these moments are rare and MUST  be acknowledged. Well, we had ours this morning (in fact it continues as I type). 

What is a SHMM you ask? It is that moment when everything in the universe is aligned and you are granted a small parcel of time when everyone is happy and content. Treasure these moments, you will get only a few over the six weeks of hols.

This is how mine unfolded today.

Child 1 has been doing a bit of under the bed clearing out -without being asked to!!!- whilst the cat plays with his toes. Child 2 has been busy building Tatooine out of Lego.

  

Child 3 is tidying her bedroom pit which I know in reality means clearing a small space to sit then becoming engrossed in her Bratz and Barbies whilst listening to her favourite 'Disco' cd.
I meanwhile have done two loads of laundry, the hoovering and the washing up so am happy  that the chore quota has been adequately filled for today so brunched on eggs on toast. I am undisturbed by arguing siblings! Nobody is bored or been thumped by another! They are positively delightful. Bliss.....if this happens to you -STOP-enjoy the moment, cherish it and hold on that vision of the wonderful summer holidays for the days when everyone is arguing and moaning and bored and you just want to disappear off somewhere and make something or read your book or do anything undisturbed!!

I know this will soon come to an end. Child 1 has joined child 2 at the Lego. A stop animation film is being made. Raised voices are drifting through in the battle for control. The word idiot is being brandished. Issues on how to write 'The End'....out of Lego or on paper.... It is sure to end in tears and probably with smashed Lego.

Never mind, I have savoured my Summer Holiday Magic Moment. I am restored, recharged and ready to face whatever is thrown at me. Make sure you savour yours too. 

Enjoy.

x

Update. Result of child 1 and 2 Lego collaboration. 

Downloading stop animation software has made me the best Mum ever and bought some studio time this afternoon. YAY!!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLu6dZCs8Tg&feature=share

Meet Betty.

I've had my eye on Betty for a while. She has stood abandoned and forlorn in the corner on the studio kitchen since I arrived. Today, her previous owner had finally shed all responsibility for her. I seized my opportunity and rescued her!!

She was in a worse state than I'd imagined...... not just superficial fabric loss but internal falling apart!!!

I rose to the challenge and gathered my tools..... super sticky sticks anything glue and picture hanging wire (!) she was going to need some Heath Robinson mending. Her bust was repaired with said picture wire. 

Some glue has done the trick with the fabric, I'll tidy up all the edges once it's dry.

She still seemed a bit glum so I gave her a jubilee coloured corsage....and named her Betty as everything is all Jubilicious at the moment.

I like to say that I adjusted her dials to my size and those are my exact curves............ alas there is no dial that says 'adjust tummy to allow for having had 3 kids and eaten too much cake'. Maybe Betty will inspire me. She is a little rough around the edges but I'm sure Betty will be very happy in my studio. I might even finish the summer dress I started last year.

x

Open Studio

I’m opening my studio so that you can all come and have a peek....YAY!! From the 1^st to the 17^th June it is South East Open Studios and although I didn’t have my studio when it was sign up time, Anne in the studio downstairs is taking part and has very kindly let me jump on her bandwagon. So now you get to visit two very different studios in one building.

Let me tell you a little about Anne Wimsett. 

  She is an incredibly prolific artist working with paint, ceramics and textiles. Her work is full of texture, character, heart and soul. Anne is not a crowd pleaser and cannot be faulted for her unapologetic approach to her art. She creates art that is true to who she is and this is evident when you see a large body of her work, which you will when you visit her studio. Do take the time to visit her Aladdin’s cave of a studio; there are some gems in there. Take the time to have a good look.

These two paintings are also the views from my studio windows.

After visiting Anne pop upstairs and say Hi to me. J There isn’t quite as much to see but you will get a peek at where I hide out every day.

 You might also get a sneak peek at some of the big projects I’m working on at the moment. You can also find out about the workshops I am running from the studio. I will have a batch of ready made colour yourself soft dolls available to buy, perfect for keeping the kids occupied during half term. They can even use my fabric pens to create their little piece of art whilst you look around the studio.

I do hope you can pop along. Check my Facebook page nearer the time to see when I will be there. I will try to open most days at some point in between juggling kids, home etc.

Right better start tidying the studio.........................


Fat Hen And Flo Studio 3
11/15 The Old High Street,
Folkestone
Opposite Georges House Gallery

Meet Franc & Stan

I thought it might be a nice idea to introduce Franc & Stan and tell you a little more about these quiet but colourful characters.

The two chaps have an intriguing back story. Franc is a retired circus lion tamer and champion disco dancer. He is reluctant to talk much about his lion taming days and I suspect there are many tales of love, won and lost, if only he would share his stories. Nobody is sure of Franc's exact age but it is suspected that he is considerably older than he looks thanks to Grecian 2000. Franc has an insatiable appetite for pork scratchings and now spends much of his time with his best mate Stan. 

Franc

Stan is an avid collector of jumpers (sweaters in the U.S). It is rumoured that he has nearly two thousand, some dating back to the 1930's. He has bequeathed the entire collection to the National Institute for Sweater and Tank Top Design in Stanton, Nebraska much to Francs relief!!! Stan is also a champion ping pong player and has travelled the globe to compete. It was on one competition tour that Franc and Stan first met. In 1991 in a soulless hotel bar, a long way from home in Chiba City, Japan, both buzzing from winning their respective heats, they sat chatting late into the night. They remain firm friends to this day.

Stan

Franc & Stan are available to buy as a kit to make yourself or as ready made softies and even as keyrings.

I hope you have enjoyed meeting Franc and Stan. We'll meet some more Fat Hen And Flo folk soon.

x

Do more of what you LOVE.

The weekend is here and it's a long one,yay!!!! well it is in the UK anyway. And true to form the weather is fairly miserable. I however think it's a perfect excuse to cosy down and do lots of what I love, which this weekend is mostly this.

I'll also being doing plenty of this with friends and family......

Print by Freshline Illustration on Etsy .com

and eating a little of this.....

What ever you do this weekend, make sure you do more of what you LOVE.

Enjoy.

x

By the way......have you seen the new items in my shop? A little bit of of London.

Available on Etsy and Folksy.

I'm off now to eat cake and drink tea........happy days.