A Birthday Owl

It's Mrs Swirl's birthday today and I thought it was about time I cabled her some owls. She (rather cheekily) emailed me this link before Christmas but I just didn't get around to doing anything with it, until now that is........


I knitted this owl with the intention of mounting it on a card for her.

It kind of grew out of all proportion so I ended up mounting it on a box frame (about 30cm x 30cm).

It's on a machine embroidered (I use the term very loosely) tree, with some hand embroidered text and a couple of felt leaves.

I finished it with this amazing 1970s braid.

And knitted three owls and mounted them onto a felt back with a brooch pin so she can bung it on her coat.

Happy Birthday Lynsey!!

Daisie xxx

Tomorrow

I will be appearing at Piccadilly Garden Scotforth, Lancaster LA1 5AA (just incase you want to put it in the ol' SATNAV). It will be a fun family day with lots of craft and fund raising stalls, refreshemnts are available and there will be live music too. The bestest bit though is that they are giving away a free sunflower to every visitor, there are five of us, am wondering if we'll get one each and then I can have a vase full?!

Am having a lazy afternoon, another late night last night, must stop this burning candle at both ends, haven't got up and gone to sleep in the same day for quite some time now, am starting to look like a pumkin with huge bags under my eyes :-(

Just a chilli to make for tonight's meal and the table cloth to iron for my stall and then that's it, am sitting down with a cup of tea, my book and a boy to snuggle!

I spent hours yesterday ironing all the stock and putting on price tags. I have little standie up prices for things like cards and hair clips and stuff that will be on the table but with having the clothes hanging around in different places and the bags being different prices depending on style, size and the fabric I used I thought it best to tag each of these items, I spent ages stamping them so they would match the paper bags I use to pack purchases and tie in with the whole daisy theme;



They look really rather professional (even if I do say so myself) and not too girlie on the boy stuff.

If you're that way tomorrow come and say hi, Swirly will be there too!!

Daisie xxx

Just Call Me The Smocking Queen!

Here is Elizabeth in her finished smocked top;

It is slightly longer than I had planned as she was in bed when I finished it last night and I just guessed the length! She loves it though and came upstairs wearing it over her pyjamas to show me while I was showering at half six this morning!!

I have two more cut out and ready to go, one for Elizabeth's friend Myah (bit of an advertising exercise) and one for Nathaniel's friend Erin (as a small thank you for the buttons and an advertising exercise)!

Today has been wonderful. The made to measure custom pine blinds we ordered for our bedroom arived, I managed to put two more coats of varnish on our new skirting boards (hopefully get them all fitted tomorrow), I played with my boy at tumble tots, helped a lovely lady out with her ribbon crisis and went shopping with Swirly!

We both got some lovely bargains and it was great to just catch up. Since my small girl and her big girl started school we really don't see enough of each other. I bought some wool (£1 for 4 50g balls) and some fabby chunky wooden needles (50p) and a few books for Elizabeth and some pink sparkly treasures for Francesca and some amazing froggy trousers for Nathaniel (a whole pound!) and a smashing new cardigan for myself! No pics of my finds tonight as I thought you'd have enough with the super model Elizabeth above!!

A weekend of bedroom sorting planned; touching up paint work, fitting skirting, varnishing arcitrave and generally lugging stuff from A to B and seeing whether or not our new bed arrives (long story). Hope so as I had set my heart on being in a bed on Sunday night............ maybe next week..........

Daisie xxx

Chick Chick Chick Chick Chicken!

Just a quickie to show you the sewing project of the other day;




I have delivered the bag (a bit late) full of birthday goodies to Swirly so can now reveal all. It's a very simple bucket shaped shopping bag but I embellished the sides with squares of aged denim (from an old pair of jeans) and added some felt scraps in the shape of, well, what else, chickens!

I also made this die cut flower from handmade paper and finished it with an antique mother-of-pearl button for her card;

My house smells yummy, just made some lovely leek and potato soup and fresh handmade bread rolls for tea.

Daisie xxx

Just Call Me The Bag Lady!

Been busy mad sewing like a mad bag lady.

Here is half the bag order for the shop;




The picture is terrible and the bags are actually really yummy!

And we need to pop on over and wish Swirly a very happy birthday!

Daisie xxx

Felt Lovelies

A quick one this morning as I didn't get around to doing a post last night. I have many planned in my head. Last night was a toss up between a recipe for cheap and yummy chilli (we had it for tea last night) or a post I have about the free things I have in my life, inspired by Swirly as she is having a giveaway, all you have to do is tell her what your best ever freebie was! Easy peasy, as they say, pop on over and have a look.

Anyway, to get back to the point (I have a habit of wondering at the mo) I didn't post because I took a well earned sit down in front of the television and made these;

Christmas preparation is in full swing here at Daisie Towers!

Daisie xxx

New Project......

Firstly a quick update on Swirly; nothing to report unfortunately. She has had an x-ray and an ultra sound scan and they haven't yet decided what is wrong or what they are going to do about it. They are going to keep her until tomorrow and observe her (that sounds scary). At least she can eat now!! Mr. Swirl has been and delivered some crafting for her to do so she doesn't get too bored!

Now here is a pic of the start of my next project for a birthday present.


Francesca has been invited to Cara's party on the 19th and I hope that the lack of crafting time this week doesn't continue or it'll never get done! There is something really yummy about pink gingham for a summer birthday. Am really excited about this project. I have seen similar things done by other people and want to put the Daisie Davies stamp on it.

Here are some felt teds with tiny buttons and bows on their chests. I admired them when visiting KaeKae's Mum yesterday. They were attached to a paper gift bag. She dropped by with them today for me, how nice is that! I have earmarked one for a new baby card that needs making soon and have thought of how to incorporate one into the birthday project. One ted in need of a use, any suggestions?!

And finally before I go and get the sewing machine out is a pic of Elizabeth's new hair;

Daisie xxx

A Bit Of Excitement On A Wednesday Night!

Blimey, there I was cooking pie for tea, Nathaniel at my feet not being helpful, Francesca soaking in a tub filled with raspberry flavoured bubbles, Elizabeth practicing her spellings when the phone rang. OMG who the bloody hell is ringing a mother of three at this time in the evening!? T'was Swirly! Oh my, she is poorly, poor pumpkin. Could I take her to the hospital? Of course I could!!

An hour later after shovelling tea down three small people and clearing away the dishes and after much yelling of "brush your teeth!" "have you had a wee?" "Get in here NOW if you want a story!" all the babies were tucked up in bed. Simon came through the door, I pointed him in the direction of his tea and went to the car (the car that I am trying not to use this week, that's friendship for you!). Off to get the patient. Then off to Blackburn to find the hospital, it's all got terribly complicated since they closed most of Burnley's Hospital. We were so used to having it all on the doorstep :-(

I collected her and her bag and off we drove into the sunset (well sort of) with no children in the car!! That never happens! Out at night time with no off spring! Not quite the jolly jaunt one would hope for but probably the best either of us are going to get for the foreseeable future! Ha ha!

Didn't get lost, hurrah! We found her room and were greeted not too warmly by a grumpy staff nurse who was about to go off shift. Maybe she'd had a hard day? I felt very sad leaving her, she can't have anything to eat or drink until they have decided what it is she's got and what they're going to do about it. I gave her a big hug before I left and am sure you all are sending big cyber hugs too. I will keep you all posted!

The crafting I had planned (and walked a long way to get fabric for) for tonight will have to wait until tomorrow now but nevermind!

Daisie xxx

What a Lovely Day!

Blimey, it's a picture of me! Don't get many of those, I'm usually behind the camera!!




We've been at Wycoller Country Park today. We had a lovely walk, fed some ducks, paddled in a (very cold) stream, had a picnic, walked over a prehistoric bridge;



Saw some beautiful mini waterfalls;

Worried that we might be turned into moss (well Elizabeth did) which is why Simon had to sit down first before she parked her bottom to remove a stone from her shoe, much laughter was had by all except Elizabeth;

We spotted a white baby cow having boobie milk from his Mummy cow;

and some very lovely little lambs;

We also had a three mile walk, which was great fun, we saw lots more cows and sheep and lambs close to and they were quite friendly. The only downside of this trip was when we got to a slightly damp bit of the field, we decided to carry on anyway and got lots of mud and cow poo in our crocs, not great I can tell you!! The girls opted to carry on bare foot which was fine until we got back to the stony car park and then Elizabeth wore my crocs (which had dried nicely by then) and Francesca had a ride on Simon's shoulders.

We got in to find an invitation for tea so we hopped in the bath, (didn't imagine for one moment we would be welcomed with dried cow poo between our toes!!), threw on some clean clothes and set off to Lynsey's for a barbecue. It was a very lovely evening, thanks, Lyns!

Babies all tucked up and asleep so am of to bed soon with my new book 'The Friday Night Knitting Club' by Kate Jacobs, a gift from my Mum, thanks, am looking forward to it!

Night, Daisie xxx

Lovely Things....

Two thank yous, one for Jenny for sending me a lovely parcel and one for Royal Mail for not losing it!! Inside was this brilliant card which is actually very funny for those that know me in real life (not just in blog-land);

There was this beautiful little bundle;

Inside which was some lovely little chocolates;

There was also an amazing ATC, titled 'Summer Daisies';

A beautiful blue dangly thing for my bedroom;

Three wonderful button rings, mine is red and black, Francesca wanted the pink sparkles and Elizabeth wanted the purple one;

After a morning opening lovely goodies Francesca, Nathaniel and I went to lunch at Lynsey's and after lots of lovely food Lynsey and I sat and crafted while the children played contentedly. I took along my Knit-Wit and created this rather fancy bracelet. I have layered orange and yellow flowers with a vintage button centre onto a braided wristband with button closure. Not sure about the colour but quite impressed, expect to see more soon;

Daisie xxx

Daisy And Her Needles

What a good day I had yesterday, Nathnaiel and I set off to playgroup via the post office (which wasn't great but that's a story for another day) and had a lovely time, he clapped his hands at singing time, such a proud Mummy I was!!! While we were there I got a text from Lynsey to say that she'd bought me a present, oooh the excitement could be felt in the air!

So after we collected Elizabeth from school we went on over to get my prezzie, no we were going anyway (honest!!!) as I'd boguht a present for her too (spooky). Am sure if you visit her blog she may have mentioned it. My present was a book called 'Daisy And Her Needles' by Keith Balding. The pictures are fab and what have I just learned to do...knit!!!!

It goes like this....

'When Daisy got out her needles the world began to change,
She knitted a fire,
She knitted her tea,
She knitted her husband



And she knitted me.

When Daisy got out her needles the world became woolly.
She knitted some books,
she knitted a view,
she knitted a crossing,
She knitted a Ewe.

As Daisy worked hard at her needles the world began to soften.
She knitted a garden,
She knitted a gnome,
She knitted a prize,
She knitted a home.

She knitted a scene from an avant-garde ballet,




She knitted a clock in the shape of a chalet,
She knitted a plate with a birthday cake on it,
She knitted a cat with a bonnet upon it,
She knitted a tree with apples all rosy,
And just for a change another tea cosy,



Daisy has knitted and this book is full, so she's busily knitting some new balls of wool.'

Wish I could show you all the pictures but I'd be here all week, may put some in later posts because they are just sooooo cool!! Thanks Lyns!!

Daisie xxx