It’s August – Really?

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Well HELLLLOOOO!

It’s been quite a while since my last post – it’s not that I forgot about you or anything, it’s just that I got – well, side tracked really…..  Lots of inner rumination and pondering and thinking about the state of the world, not to mention my own role in it, led to a need to just be quiet and contemplative for a little bit.  I visited some of you, others I missed, but I’ve been picking up the slack for the last week or so and getting back into the swing.

I also made stuff, some successful, some not so much.  The really exciting thing for me was I picked up my paintbrushes for the first time in over 15 months.  I decided – wisely as it turns out – to work in a journal to begin with.  I’d lost all my skill, not to mention my stuff and the first weeks were a combination of starting to paint, searching, finding, organising, painting a bit more.  I use the term ‘painting’ loosely here – you’ll see why if you stick with me.  As usual my photos need work – but you’ll get the idea…….

First up, I made myself a couple or three vests.  I tend to use patterns as a suggestion if I use them at all and therefore my results are often a surprise to everybody, even me. From this latest foray at plying the hooks,  two will be wearable when blocked and finished – the third is an ill-fitting nightmare and will be undone.

crochet vest Aug 16This is crocheted, adapted from an original pattern consisting of lots of little hexagons all stitched together in long panels.  Made from Lion Brand ‘Shawl in a Ball’ I used three different colour ways all featuring my favourite colour.  The back neck requires building up a bit – I might even do that this evening.

Next up here is a Tunisian Crochet attempt at a vest – otherwise known as ‘Railway Knitting’.  This is my first time making such a big item – but I love plying the huge crochet hook and I love the texture you get from the two step process.  This still requires blocking and a bit of finishing off with a fancy plait thing I’m stitching into the back:Tunisian vest 1 Aug16Here’s a closeup of the bottom edging:Tunisian vest 2 detail Aug16So, here’s some bits from the art journal – I’ve done something every day for a bout two weeks – some pages were complete in one sitting – others took days to come to anything.  It’s all practise and remembering while playing about with colour.

This was the first pageJournal1 bAfter that first attempt I resorted to something I knew well – I’d made quirky houses for years, long before they became a staple of art journalers and I was figuring I may as well give myself some therapy while I tried to remember how to apply colour and use paint to come to form…….

Journal2

Journal3

This next nightmare became more a paper piecing exercise followd by a splendiferously gleeful wallowing in glitter and sparkles, none of which you can really see.  It reminds me of paper dolls – do you remember paper dolls?  Journal5

It’s going to take a while before I’ll feel competent with a brush in my hands again – but just having it there has made me very happy!  Who cares if I can’t paint!!

It’s been a long hard winter down here in the Riviera of Antarctica.  This morning I woke to -6 C; a world whited-out in frost.  The upside is it will be a blue-sky day and walking with Siddy, despite the obvious risk of me ending upside down in a tangled mess on some unseen slippy-slidey icy bit, will be a pleasure*.

Here’s the boys all lined up for treat time for those of you who missed themTREAT TIME NOV 20 cropped

Thanks for coming by today, I love that you did!

*I did and it was.

113 thoughts on “It’s August – Really?”

  1. Hi Pauline, was having a quick check in on your blog while here. Your work is beautiful as always xx You sound like me though, I have been looking out on the world and contemplating also – maybe it’s just a winter thing but such alot makes me sad nowadays in what I read. A little spot of sunshine here though as there always is 🙂 xx

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  2. Pauline, something I have been doing this summer is after working long hours I am trying to not visit blogs and comment. I have been reading books and relaxing.
    Your days don’t seem very relaxing but instead have been so full of activities! Your handiwork is beautiful and intricate. The colors are bright and would fit into your charming house.
    The journaling looks very productive. I really liked the pretty and sparkly pages. My favorite paper dolls were from a magazine and called Betsy McCall. I ended up selling the collection of each doll carefully cut out, saved in a plastic sleeves album. Many times I have wished I kept it. 🙂 Thanks for photograph of Siddy and Orlando’s pose waiting for their treats. ❤

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    • I think it is important Robin, that after working long hours to earn your living, you relax doing what you want to do! As a retired person all my days are filled with doing what I want to do – it is the greatest privilege! A couple of people have mentioned the paper doll from the McCalls magazine – they must have made many a little girl very happy!

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  3. OH boy do I love the colors your exploring-the purples are amazing. I love the softness of this painting, her hair is amazing. I would love that color! The colors of your vests are my favorite. My parents moved this summer to where we live. It was an adventure;-) but in the process of moving, I have many of the clothes my grandmother made me. We found them in closets tucked away.I am hoping to send them to Sweden for my little grandaughter that is only one year old. I never appreciated all the clothes she made me, but boy do I now. Looking at your stuff makes me think of what she made.
    Paper dolls, yes, I do!!! I made mine out of catalogs, do you remember those? lol..hours of fun and play and never cost a penny.
    Love your boys-adorable and it looks like they are great friends now!

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    • How wonderful to have all your handmade baby clothes to hand on to your grand baby. That must be so special! We didn’t have catalogues but we did have paper dolls that you cut out and their clothes that were tabbed to fit on….. hours of happy amusement!! It must be nice having your folk move closer Robbie, easier to keep an eye on them and make sure they stay out of trouble 🙂

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  4. Love the vest, especially the stitch on the Tunisian vest. Beautiful! And the paintings are just wonderful. You are so talented, Pauline! 🙂 We have had such hot weather this year, that I am looking forward to winter….at least until winter arrives! 🙂 So glad to see your post.

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    • Hi Annie, thanks for coming by! That Tunisian stitch looks more like a woven fabric than knitting or crochet I love it! I feel the same as you about the arrival of a new season …… Summer – longing for it – until it gets here 🙂

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      • It does look more woven! I really like the stitch. My mom use to get a magazine called McCalls and it had a paper doll in the magazine which we use to wait for every month to carefully cut it out. They’re was always a couple of outfits included with the doll. Her name was Betsy McCalls. 😄. Such fun.

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  6. Still wandering around, how peaceful and enlightened it is here. I’m not even kidding P. I don’t know if it’s because I’ve come to know you as centred and wise or if it’s some magical aura through the computer waves from the ‘Riviera of the Arctic’ (LOL, I laughed), but it’s like being on a cloud here. I’m certain I haven’t smoked anything wacky, but I feel like how Snoop-dog looks. You’ve put your time to good use! My good gosh, those vests look amazingly time consuming. Love all the beautiful colour and textures. You could lock me away in solitaire for a year and I couldn’t manage even one. You are so talented. I only wish my art journal was as complete as yours. I tend to start a lot more pages than I finish. Do you ever leave something and flip the page? Thanks too for including Siddy and O. Orlando is so dignified looking, sitting proper and straight, heals together 😀 He’s so gorgeous and I suppose he knows it. And Siddy must get every little goody he wants with those eyes. I’m so glad your spill didn’t cause injuries, it’s so easy too and always when you least expect it. Happy Days to you with giant hugs too xoxo ❤ ❤ k

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    • 😀 So funny! You feel how Snoop-Dog looks and even I know immediately what you mean 🙂 I currently have two books on the go – one is being made up as I finish a painting and they are all getting bound together so I can see the progress [or not]. They are, so far, all double page spreads and I am just taping everything together with masking tape. The idea is at the end of the year I’ll make a cover and bind it all up. The other is a big sketching journal that has random sketches and completed pencil sketches and any ideas I am playing with – I haven’t shown anything from that [yet]. I mostly play around in the evening in it while watching something. This has only been going on for the last three weeks, but because I am determined to find my way back into art I’m being quite methodical about keeping it altogether and finishing everything I start. Who knows what will happen – I have a notoriously short attention span! 😀 You are such a sweetheart and you say such nice things – I now feel quite a lot like Snoop-Dog looks too – it must be you!! Lots of love xoxo

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      • I can see into your future, it’s full of colour and your art rooms a mess…a joyful calamity of paint, brushes and probably some stray wool from an abandoned project because it’s almost summer again and no need to finish that project until the fall. xo

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  7. I’m glad you’ve found your painting mojo again, along with your crochet one. Crafting is therapy in itself, so I hope you’re feeling more positive and upbeat now. Such a great pic of Siddy and Orlando, enough to put a smile on anyone’s face.

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  8. Hi, Pauline! I so understand the need to sometime step away from our blogging worlds, whether self-imposed or made necessary by external factors. I, too, have been fairly quiet on WordPress, and so yours was a wonderful post to find in my inbox this morning 🙂

    Oh how I admire your creativity, both your visions AND your ability to bring them to fruition! Your artwork is filled with so much peace and joy (not to mention beautiful colors!) and those vests are simply lovely! I can picture you wearing them, keeping warm in that cold weather you are having. (Here in DC, we’re expecting 5 days of incredibly oppressive heat and humidity – ugh!!)

    Siddy and Orlando are adorable – I just wanted to reach out and pet them both 🙂 And as for your tumble, so thankful you are okay!!

    Welcome back! Reading your post was a wonderful start to my day 💕

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  10. Woo hoo! …. My favorite Kiwi is back to publishing. Perfect timing because every time NZ is mentioned in the Olympics, I think of you.

    Time for pondering is always good. Yes, it takes one away from the blogging community, but self comes first – well – along with those two furry guys.

    Thanks for sharing your works. My favs are the two paintings about the cottage by the sea and the one after it … colorful and playful. 🙂

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    • Hello Frank! I guess you have fallen off my feed too? Is NZ getting a few mentions then? Are we doing well? I don’t take any notice – in fact I only found out yesterday they had started. I knew the Olympics were due, but thought maybe later in the year. 🙂 I’m glad you like my happy houses – they are always fun to make 🙂

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  11. Whew. That was a long scroll to the bottom of the comments. My index finger is tired! Now I understand why you call yourself “The Contented Crafter”. Your creations are pretty and I see you like blues and purples a lot. Isn’t it wonderful how dormancy leads to this kind of flourishing of creative arts? Quiet time is never wasted but I fear being quiet and not busy is a fading thing. My kids always have their ears stuffed with music while they mindlessly scroll their phones. Heaven forfend they gaze into space! Lovely purple lady, Pauline. Do you pull these people out of your head or do you start with a real person and then improvise?

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    • When the thing is working well, the paint makes it all happen – I just hold the brush – when it’s going not so well I draw something. The purple lady is drawn. Blue is my favourite colour 🙂 Thanks for coming by to take a look ❤

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  13. Firstly, I do remember paper dolls, and ice always wanted a cottage by the sea 🙂 Your creations are beautiful, and I think your artwork is outstanding! I would be ecstatic if mine turned out half that well. I’m sure you will be back up to your own goal in no time. Great to see you posting and your adorable pets too!

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  16. Hello Pauline, Siddy and Orlando! Wonderful to have you back! I’ve been wondering about you and thought that you might be up to something big. And just as I thought, you really were. Good to hear from you and your wise words. Thank you for sharing your projects too. It was lovely to see them. As long as your heart is flying, paint away my dear Pauline! ❤

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  17. Pauline, I’ve read through twice so that I didn’t miss a thing. It’s *so* good to have you back in the blogging world. I’ve missed your wonderful posts. I’m so happy that you’ve picked up your paint brush again. Your joy is palpable. And though you’re not happy yet with the results, clearly you’re enjoying the process. I’m joining the chorus of your admirers nonetheless, but my hope for you is that you find your way to feeling good about what your create.

    I love your whimsical houses! You are full of surprises, Pauline. The houses have so much character and personality. I’m charmed.

    Your vests (waistcoats…the things you learn when blogging) look warm and comfortable and like you, I love all those colors. That’s a pretty trim, too. I admire your abilities with a hook. I never advanced past the chain though one day when life is calmer I would love to learn. Stitch work is so relaxing, whether it’s knitting, crochet, hand-sewing or needlepoint.

    Your faithful friends are so sweet. I love Orlando’s expressive eyes. Big hugs all around, dear Pauline xo

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    • Alys, I love your new avatar photo – you look perfectly beautiful! You are so right about the joy of working with colour again – it has made me really happy and I feel invigorated and excited about spending some time every day with paint in my hands and on my hands and in my hair ……. I’m getting faster and more ideas are flowing now. Today’s piece is my first ‘I’m really happy with this painting’ result and I’m attributing it to all the positive support everyone gives me here. I’ll photograph it tomorrow and put a post up. Thank you for all your support and lovely comments Alys xoxo

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  18. Pauline, it’s so good to have you back writing and painting and crocheting again! That Orlando always has the most trenchant expression on his face. (Siddy is of course his usual cute self.) I love your little houses! I also can’t imagine not thinking the paintings were good, but when we do something ourselves, we are harder task masters. Your vests are the most lovely colors. The second one appears to be different colors on one side than the other. There is a term for that and I don’t know what it is. I hope they both warm you in what’s left of your winter–and don’t be falling about on slippery spots!

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    • I had to look up ‘trenchant’ and you are exactly right!! 🙂 The second vest has a story all its own, which I might tell in a post when I get it blocked and modelled per Kerry’s request. I have no idea what the term is either. I’m glad you like the little houses – I like making them 🙂 I’ve decided to stay upright on all future walks – I can’t be doing with this upside down business!

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  19. Scrolling, scrolling, scrolling, way down to the bottom of all these many comments. You are loved and have been missed, Pauline.
    When we skyped last week, you talked of returning to painting and creating. How great to see the results of your efforts. I’m so happy that your creative juices are revving up.
    and yes, I do remember paper dolls! wonderful memories, in fact.
    Finally, that was a clever asterisk ** … you fell while walking Siddy? I’m hoping that you are fine, even if chilly in that -6 degree temp.

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      • I always feel a bit of a wimp complaining about our winter conditions when I know you have to shovel snow mounds taller than yourself 🙂 [Yes, a slight exaggeration, but hey – poetic license!] I’m so excited by the painting I completed today – I found my mojo as soon as I published a post and had all you lovely people come by and encourage me 🙂 Isn’t blogging grand!! Couple of stories about the fall in other responses further down, so I won’t repeat – but they are there if you have time to come back. Love and hugs to you too xoxo

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  20. I am delighted that you’re back, Pauline!!!
    What do you mean that you’ve lost your skills? In my eyes, you are an expert in all you do. Your vests and paintings are beautiful. Thank you for sharing your photos. I used to make maker dolls, but not the kind that I’ve seen in books or patterns. Good to see Siddy and Orlando. I hope that you continue to take your pleasurable walks despite the weather.
    About taking time to ponder on life, I think that it is a much needed activity in our lives.
    Have a great week, my friend. xoxox

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    • Hello Elaine! We have only missed one day this winter taking our walk. We go in all kinds of conditions – it does me the world of good as well as little puppy loving it too. You are very kind and generous with your comments 🙂 It’s lovely to be back! xoxo

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  21. Looks like we are coming out of our self imposed cocoons at about the same time. I promised myself I could have a healthy snack if I finished the blog. I took the day off for introspection too. I’m so glad to see you back as you always have such inspirational posts. I’m glad you are painting again. I’m ready for some creative work as well and it will come soon. It makes my heart so happy to see your boys sitting side by side. They are both so adorable. Love the colors of your vests, especially like the top one all lacy looking. The painting will start to flow quite soon. We have birthdays soon and I think the stars of creativity will align for us again. I’ve missed you. Giant squishy hugs. Hope the girls are doing well also.

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    • Hello Marlene! We are on the same schedule apparently 🙂 I’ve just completed a painting today that I’m really happy with. And I’m sure it’s down to all the positive responses and nice things all my friends tell me – it gets so I believe it and can get out of my own way! The blogging society is so supportive isn’t it! I like the thought that our stars will align nicely for us soon 🙂 Your home is looking lovely Marlene, you should be so proud! xoxo

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      • Thank you, Pauline. Yes, as a Virgo, our shining time is coming up. We are always our own worst critics. Your work is in my den where everyone can see it most often. Crystal was here and commented that she knew who had done all of it. 🙂 I may have bought this place but I always look at a home as borrowed. I keep it for awhile and try to leave it better than I found it for the next tenant. We are all just temporary. I try to listen to it’s soul and help it shine. That brings me joy. You do the same thing with your place. It’s quite lovely from what I see of your photos. You are way ahead of me. 🙂 Hugs to your whole family.

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  22. I would say “Good LORD Its Ms Pauline back from hibernation!” but that would be entirely hypocritical of me as this winter has seen me AWOL from blogging more often than not. Your work is lovely Ms Pauline and I am so glad to see that you have been reveling in it all over again. The creative process is cathartic and we get to “make” something when it feels like everything outside is falling to pieces. Big hugs for your frost and cold as I know how it can hamper even basic ideas of “going outside and reveling in nature” and how you tend to hover around the front door and then think better of it and end up reading. Serendipity Farm is a swamp. So much of a swamp it has affected our septic tank! We have had a few dry days so we should be able to get back to humping fridges up to Sanctuary but we need to dispatch some of the multitude of roosters our (awfully determined) cluckies produced a few months back and I can’t handle both tasks at once. I am determined to learn how to spin now and am working on hooky projects myself. I LOVE your tunisian especially. Glorious stuff and how did you do that amazing border?!

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    • I am impressed that you will learn how to spin – then maybe you will have to run a couple of sheep at Serendipity for supplies…… ? We have swampish conditions here too – just currently iced over – makes walking very exciting 😀

      The fridge thing is such a huge undertaking, having adverse weather conditions has to be a killer or at least a delayer of the project. I’m not surprised you are posting erratically!

      Tunisian is a quite meditative process I found – this is my first big project and I shall be looking to make more. I love it! The border is crochet, using the Bavarian stitch motif of hooking round posts instead of through loops. Really easy once you know how …. Just two rows in two colours.

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  23. Hello! Lovely to see you – and Siddy and Orlando. Welcome back. As for not being able to paint, you can not paint a lot better than I can and, as you say, who cares if you’re happy 🙂

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  24. These times of days that seemingly lie fallow are often followed by gifts of growth richer and stronger than ever….so I have found.

    Funny, and fun, how one of your readers calls a vest a waistcoat— like the old jumper vs. sweater thing. Still, your vests by any other name would be as lovely. I was particularly interested to see the Tunisian as I have only lately discovered myself trying that. i always fall back on my own brand of idiotic, idiosyncratic knitting, though, in order to find my mindlessness. I rely on the younger, more ambitious hookers (ha, ha) to create such things of useful beauty as your vests.

    I am so glad to know you have found your painting again. I love your personal iconography—including flowers, butterflies, houses, families of beautiful ladies….
    and— being somewhat of a lettering artist meself— I am particularly taken with those two pieces about “finding home.” Orlando and Siddy, in rapt adoration, are obviously thinking: wherever Pauline is (and the treats) is surely HOME….

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    • Of course you are correct about the boys and ‘home’. I find animals to be so much wiser than myself most of the time. You didn’t comment about my poetic ability in those two pieces though Cynthia – I am so disappointed! 🙂 Your beautiful lettering is currently pinned to my notice board inspiring me daily. [I kept the hand addressed envelope you see] Mine needs practise! I was wearing your beautifully knitted scarf when I went upside down on the ice. I’m happy to report no harm came to it. 🙂

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      • I hadn’t seen your footnote about taking a toss…I hope you’re none the worse for it, but egads! What does Siddy do when that happens?
        I once fell on my front steps and sprained an ankle terribly. As I crawled along the floor of my apartment, my dog slowly walked beside me, trying to lick my face. We made it all the way to the kitchen where I discovered that I could reach the ice cubes in the freezer from a kneeling position; then we lay on the floor together with a cold pack on the ankle. But I was young then. As we get older, it is , as you say…too late for that crap.

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        • I go upside down at least twice every winter, so Siddy is used to the phenomenon, He usually waits around and watches me crawl off the ice and onto the grass where I haul myself off and dust myself down and wave to the old folk watching nervously out the windows of their retirement home. They smile and wave and blow kisses at me – it feels a bit like a free show I put on for their amusement. A friend often muses on if they are placing bets for when I’ll go over and how much they are wagering…… Danella bought me some yak-traks this year to keep me right side up and they are fantastic. I just got a bit cocky and didn’t realise I was stepping onto what was once a dip in the path filled with a puddle and was now a full blown mini ice rink. I like to think Siddy would care like your dog did, but I’m not betting on THAT!!

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  25. Welcome back, you were greatly missed. I love the painting you do. You are more talented than you give yourself credit for. Love the vests and the colors. Actually you’ve been quite busy doing things. Thank you for the picture of the wee ones. As always Orlando and Siddy are adorable. I love how attentive their little faces are. Only treats can make fur babies that way.

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  26. I was so happy to open my internet this morning and find you there! It’s good to have you back. ( maybe you’ll inspire me to get busy??? ) You have been busy, haven’t you? I absolutely do love your paintings♡♡♡ honestly, your style is so unique…so cheerful whimsical ( kind of like you???) I fondly remember paper dolls. We used to play with them for so many years. … if we didn’t have a purchased set, we would cut our own clothes and dolls out of the Sears catalog. What better time to catch up on your crocheting and then winter. Just lovely. Hope your spring will arrive soon. We are busy with a long stretch of summer still before us with no sight of rain. Until next time, big hugs, Jan

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    • I had an idle period for a bit Jan, did a lot of reading but then ran out of books so I had to return to making things 🙂 Paper Dolls and women [and some men] of a certain age seem to go together. I spent hours making them when I was a kid – a whole fantasy life opened up before me 🙂  It’s lovely to be back, thank you for your welcome xo

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  27. How lovely to see what you’ve been up to. That Tunisian vest is gorgeous. Just my colours. And of course you can paint, you just feel rusty. Like one of my students said to me when he took the last chair available and left me standing – “if you snooze, you lose, Mrs P!” Ha ha!
    I think we’ve all been contemplating the state of the world. Worrying times for everyone, sadly. Good to have you back blogging xoxo

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  28. Welcome back to blog land! If I could paint half as well as you can, I would be deliriously happy… we always see your own failings even when they are not apparent to others. I love your little houses… and the sentiment resonates with your ‘grow where you are planted’ picture, which gives me joy every day. Oh, and my kitchen is currently full of rainbows thanks to you.
    Siddy is looking very perky there, with exactly the same expression on his face that Max has at the prospect of a treat.

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    • Aren’t they funny when treats are in the offing! It didn’t take Orlando long to cotton on to the fact that if he lined up too, there’d be a little something delivered his way ……. I’m pleased to hear your light catcher is doing its job for you. xo

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  30. I love your posts, Pauline–they are so cheery and upbeat (even though I wish there were more of them!) You seem happy to be back at your painting–it seems worth noting that you’re the only one who’s dissatisfied with the outcome! The Tunisian crochet is very intriguing–so different from the crochet I am used to seeing. Maybe you can get someone to take a photo of you wearing that vest, after it’s been blocked, to share here?

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    • Hello Kerry, it’s lovely to be back and I will do my best to post more often 🙂 As I just said to someone else I think the paintings for me are more about the process rather than the outcome and my process is really quite raw now, being unpractised for so long. It’s getting batter though and I’ll be happier soon – does that make sense? I am really happy though to be working with a brush once more – I did not realise how much I had missed it! I shall happily model the tops for you when they are finished 🙂

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  31. Hi Pauline, I’m so pleased you have posted again. It is wonderful to catch up on your activities. Your artwork is awesome. I am very impressed by your crocheted vests. They are also in my favourite colour, so either would be a winner for me. It is great to have something completely individual to wear. While you need warm clothing, I don’t think either of these would warm you with your -6 degrees. Brrrrr! I’m sorry to hear you slipped. I hope you didn’t do yourself any damage. I’m guessing not as you said the walk was pleasant. It is very easy to do permanent damage with innocent-seeming falls though. You do need to be careful, m’dear. I love your style of artwork and I would be happy to hang any of your pics on my wall. They are gorgeous. I recognise the style from postcards I received from you previously. And okay, yes, your boys are cute asking for your treats.
    I hope it warms up a little for you soon.
    Best wishes. xx

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    • Hello Norah – thank you for your concern re my habit of falling – there is a fuller outline of the event earlier in my response to a comment from the Eternal Traveller if you are interested. I agree though, I have to take more care!

      The tops are waiting for warmer days, but both need some finishing so now is the time to get on and do that. Thank you for your kind words about my art work. 🙂 I think for me it is all about the process rather than the outcome. The process is a tad bumpy currently, but improving 🙂

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      • Hi, Pauline, I see there’s a lot more discussion here now than when I left this comment. You have elaborated on your whoopsie-daisie event a few times since. I’d love to know about your yak-traks. I’m assuming they are some sort of shoes. Maybe you have mentioned them somewhere as well. I haven’t heard of them before. They sound interesting. I’m pleased you didn’t do yourself an injury, and that you are happy to entertain the older people in the retirement village.
        I understand process being more important than product, but you have some products you can be proud of as well. They will be great when you’ve got the bumps ironed out of your process!

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        • Yak-traks are an ingenious combination of flexible rubber bands and metal springs which you stretch and attach via toes and heels of your walking shoes or boots. The metal springs break through the ice when you walk. They are light and make no difference to how your foot feels in your shoe. I wish I’d known about them years ago – I only went over because I stepped carelessly onto a really thick piece of ice that was polished like glass ……

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          • Wow! Thanks for the explanation, Pauline. They sound amazing. And useful – though I’m pleased I don’t have any use for them here. I’d be miles ahead of your yearly slip tally! I do pretty well without the ice!
            Pity about that piece of ice. I guess one day it would be interesting to experience weather like that.

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  32. Good to see you creating, Pauline. Are the paper dolls the ones where you have different outfits you can hang on them? My late wife, Jessica, had a thing about the appearance of newsreader Trevor MacDonald. She loved to criticise his outfits, his hair, and his ties. I once made her a portrait of him with an array of different items he could wear. I liked the rasta look best 🙂

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  34. Lovely to hear from you again. Well if that is “not painting” then I want to be able to do that!! You must be a perfectionist, all I see is lovely, creative and something I’d be very proud of producing. It’s lovely to get back into a passion isn’t it. Took me a while to get back into sewing after I lost my much loved mother in law and then a year later my own mum. Frightening how quickly and easily we can let something we love doing slip by… Love the photo of the two boys waiting for their treat. The crocheting in quite impressive too. Very hooky clever :). We have moved to a new town and I have been immersed in unpacking boxes. Well and truly over it! I’m looking forward to having my sewing room set up so I can get back into it. Hope it warms up soon for you x

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    • You’ve moved Kym! That is a major undertaking. Do you have new jobs too? You’ll have to make a post and update us! It is odd when we lose contact with the things that make us happy isn’t it – I didn’t realise how much it had affected me until I started working with the brush again. Get that sewing room set up and start playing as quick as you can 🙂 xo

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  35. Hi Pauline, I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started reading about vests since they’re very different things in the UK. Vests are undergarments while you made waistcoats. They’re beautiful too. But, I have to say the artwork would grace anyone’s walls. I particularly like the first one where she would like a house by the sea.
    The boys look completely ready for their treats, concentration is at full pitch.
    xxx Sending Massive Hugs xxx

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    • We can get tangled in our different terminologies can’t we David 🙂 I’m glad I didn’t shock you too much ….. though making a knitted vest, UK style, could be a handy wardrobe staple at this time of the year! Thanks for coming by David – and for the tweet! I hope you are well ❤ xoxo

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  36. Oh no CC, I hope you didn’t do any damage slipping and sliding on the ice outside. I love that two coloured edging on your second vest. Is it two different rows or all done at the same time? And, if you think you can’t paint let me tell you I am full of admiration for your lovely work. If I tried to produce anything like that, my efforts would make you look like Renoir! (He’s my favourite)

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    • Renoir is most admirable! 🙂 And as I will never be anywhere near his league, I’d like to encourage you to pick up a brush 🙂 The bottom edging is two different rows, the second row is worked around the posts of the trebles on the first row.

      I got a bit cocky on the ice in my yak-traks and didn’t realise I’d stepped onto a hidden puddle, frozen over and ‘whoopsie-daisie!! I go over at least once every winter – though I have to admit that as I felt my feet go this time I said out loud “Geez! I’m getting too old for this crap!” I hoped the old folks looking out the window of their nice warm residential suite didn’t hear me 🙂

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      • I’m surprised that’s all you said considering the situation. Falling like that is not good at any age. Be careful. 🙂

        I can’t paint or draw to save myself, so I’ll stick to quilting and writing and just enjoy looking at your lovely work.

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  37. Aww. Look at those sweeties. You have been VERY busy and what fun to try different crochet tecniques. I am glad you have picked up the brushes. I hope your post inspires others to pick them up too. One answer to the worlds woes is more people making positive things with their hands and time. ❤

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