Creating...The lovely NinaV elephant

I want to introduce the special lady that heads my blog...*drum roll*...the lovely Elly. I made Elly for a very close friend of mine, Jen, as a birthday present (grown-up toy), not only because she loves elephants but because she'd been going through a very, very crappy time in her life. I think elephants are beautiful creatures that represent strength, strong bonds & support, & a very wise dignity. And of course there is the old saying that elephants never forget, so I wanted Jen to remember that no matter how far apart we roamed I would always be her supportive & loving friend...love ya Jen xxx

The lovely Elly is based on a pattern I found in a fantastic craft book first published in 1957 :
'Toys For Your Delight' by Winsome Douglass (what a fab name she has). I was lucky enough to find this book at a local Lifeline 'Bookfest' two years ago. (Bookfest is a charity bookfair that in Ipswich runs for three days & has thousands of donated books to rummage through...absolute bliss when it's not too crowded!). I love to collect books, mostly old history & craft/decorating ones. Oh & kids books too!
Neens xxx

Creating...Unfinished Australiana

I started this Australian bird/animal interactive wall hanging four years ago & while all the components are made & sewn on to the background the backing has been used for another project so I need to buy another big piece of felt & sew it together. Note to self...FINISH WALL HANGING SOON!

Tree with kookaburra, cockatoo & koala.

Cockatoo in wattle tree on actual
wall hanging background.

Billabong with water lillies & resident crocodile &
platypus.

Rock wallaby on its rock.

And last but not least...an echidna hiding in an old stump.


I thought that unstuffed my little critters would make make great finger puppets too!