From tiny to huge! Pet Portraits ...

From this tiny well loved degu, captured in black and white ...

To a colourful calico, who I have created in exchange for some fabulous hand knitted gloves ...

And via this special horse, who I had to keep off line until the birthday when he was presented. I will probably go back to working on my book now ..

Pegasus ...

Mary's toy horse did not have any wings. But Daisy's did have some golden, curved wings. I used one of them to help me fix Mary's horse. 

I made small semi-stiff wings using red sheet foam and some purple cotton. 

UHU glued them into place. Mary is happy. 

Horsing around...

Here is Lily, horses are more challenging to draw as they are usually wearing head gear!

But I think I did ok with this commission. Contact me for information about pet portraits ....

But then some one breaks a leg!

Following the making of Spirit II, there's a casualty. Too much galloping. So out comes the Araldite, my old Dad's favourite, and the little foal spends an over night wearing blue-tac hooves!



Then Mary, who would like to remind us that she is nearly four, learns to climb on the rocking horse all by herself! And is pleased. If still slightly nervous of the thing!



I was drowning in chores, so I got Daisy to fill in a few forms for me - that ought to do just nicely!



And I completed a couple of Rat Bags, and made a nice cup of tea!


Hmmm, shall I give that chair a paint job, perhaps? xxx

Today I made ...

A Movie ... And so did my girls!



Some of their birthday presents were the stars!

Horsey, horsey ...

About a year ago we adopted this old horse from a nearby freecycler ... His mane and tail were knotted and dread-locked, and random attempts to brush them, or stick the mane back onto his head all failed! In this picture the tail looks quite well brushed, but then it would rub as it was rocked and all mess up again!



So I made a lovely new tactile, non-snagging tail, from some rather nice packaging rope. It swings beautifully when our horse gallops!



carefully removing tacks, glue and nylon hair revealed a rather elegant neck, and the rainbow hat, which is too itchy for Mary, keep him warm too!


I need to find him some kind eyes next, he has been painted here, and rather resembles a goat!

Spirit filled!

Today after a busy morning out, I settled the children down to watch Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron which is a huge favourite of theirs at the Moment! Here is Spirit running from the fire, drawn by daisy afterwoods. The fire did not scan well, being a lovely day-glo orange pen!



While they were watching, I enjoyed the sound track and got to work story-boarding a children's book I am writing ... watch this space to see how far I get with that one!



and then, during the teaching hour on UCB, I gave these Guinea pigs their feet and ears, so they could listen too!

Performing Pony needs your vote ...

please vote for her here, and enjoy all the other Plush-team challenge pieces too ... Bring on the clowns ...

Riding on Jay ...

We went horse riding, on a pony called Jay - we had ridden her before, but not for some time!



We fitted our lesson in just around lunch time, so while matty went first, Mary and Daisy had some sandwiches.



Then it was Daisy's turn, but Jay felt like she had done enough and would rather get back to the juicy fields ...



But off they went, and Matty ate her lunch. That's Bailey, keeping watch for crumbs at the girls' feet!



"nice day for it!"



Then Mary has a go ... she took a while to get used to the movement, and then she was quite happy and went four times round the school!

horse riding, again!

trotting makes matty laugh!



it's all good fun!



daisy gives me a grin before she heads off!



Daisy thinks trotting is funny too ...



and little mary has a little ride ...

What a Beauty ...

we went pony riding today, and yes, we did miss all the rain!



here is matty at the end of her ride ...



and here is daisy, ready for her turn ...



Thank you to Jenny and Beauty, we had a lovely time, and just look at that lovely Dorset landscape ...

A Merry Christmas!

little rainbow-sparkle horse will also be unwrapped today ... clip, clop!

pink pony - another christmas present ready in time!

now all i want is for my three littlest poorly girls to feel better ...

new local farm shop ...

we often walk past this way, or the girls ride their bikes, and buy some eggs, or maybe icecream ...