Sunday 31 March 2013

Handmade Monday 110

Happy Easter and Happy Handmade Monday, too!  Find out more about Handmade Monday here.

Has your Easter been filled with chocolate eggs and good food with family and friends, or with chickens and bunnies?  Mine has been about chickens...

how is it I can see those mealworms but not eat them?

We decided to add to our brood (of chickens, not children!!) and bought three young hens from a local farm on Thursday.  Only now am I beginning to relax - the poor new girls have been mercilessly bullied by three of our four older chickens (Sally, currently at the bottom of the pecking order, has decided her position is not worth fighting over).

the two at the front are youngsters 
the white one (Mary Jane) is the biggest bully of all 
(looks like she's getting ready for a hen-pecking session in this picture!)

They are all now beginning to eat side by side (albeit at a slight distance) but I still have to supervise bedtimes as the newbies get thrown out (rather loudly) if the coop door's still open.  They aren't yet fighting back, although they ganged up on one of the local cats today, so it looks like their confidence is increasing.

Meanwhile, you may remember I told you about the sofa clock being published again?  It's now featured in a rather lovely magazine called Handmade.


It's quite expensive (£7.99 - it always shocks me a little bit when a magazine costs more than a fiver!) but it is packed with projects which would probably justify the price if plenty of projects is what you are looking for (it has far more projects than many books I've seen).  It's jam-packed with ideas for the home - this is the home issue - and it's beautifully presented.  In fact, it's so gorgeous, I'm quite proud of my clock being a little part of it!


The little fabric-style borders you can see on the edge of the page (above) are featured throughout the magazine, but vary according to what "room" you are in.  This is the living room (above) - the kitchen pages have a cheery red gingham border!  I love it.

Regulars of Handmade Monday will know Sarah from Tilly Mint Boutique, who has set up an online fabric shop with her friend Maeri Howard from The Make and Do Studio.  They're both very lovely ladies (I'm privileged to have met them both in real life) and they tell us a bit about their new fabric shop here, over some virtual tea (and maybe there was some cake involved, too!) - do pop over for a read.

In between sorting out chicken squabbles and doing even more drawings and paintings...

line drawing and marker pen illustrations 
(these ones are earmarked for digital cardmaking printables)

... I'm hoping to put my feet up and enjoy some lovely inspiration from some gorgeous blogs.  You know what to do, so please ...

19 comments:

Unknown said...

Happy Easter Wendy! That Magazine looks fab - think I will charge the price of it as a business expense! Love the new pictures and the chickens look happy in their new home! Have a lovely weekend, Simmi x

Wendy said...

Well, if you can charge it as a business expense it suddenly seems a lot better value! I guess you could justify it as a resource for patterns! I wouldn't go so far as to say they are happy - yet - but we are getting there! Thanks!

Planet Penny said...

A very seasonal post! 'The Pecking Order' is a very apt description of what goes on in the hen house! Enjoy the rest of your Easter weekend x

The Patchwork Fairy said...

Lovely chickens! Best Easter present - hope they all settle down and live together peacefully! X

Unknown said...

Congratulations on the publication, Wendy. It looks like a good magazine.

Stephen @ Soy of the North said...

Happy Easter. Love your illustrations. I think the one with the many bags could make a good fabric pattern too.

Free Spirit Designs said...

Well done for having a project selected for such a lovely looking magazine!

Your card making digital printable drawings look amazing! I can't wait to see how this new creative avenue progresses...

Happy Easter to you too :) I'm glad your new chickens are settling in! x

Jan said...

Hopefully the chooks won't take too long to settle. Congratulations on the magazine exposure.
Enjoy the rest of your Easter :)

Jan x

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the mention :-) love the clock design, might try and find a copy of the magazine! x

Pickle Lily said...

I shall look for the magazine Wendy. Your chickens look lovely, I just wish I had the room! Happy Easter, Jo x

Unknown said...

Looks like a great magazine! Really like your Sofa Clock :)

Adaliza said...

Lovely to see your hens - Flora just loves mealworms too! She taps persistently at our back door until I put some into her little dish - greedy duck! Hope we get some Spring warmth soon.

Martha said...

Above all: Happy Easter to you!
Hope you're enjoy your holidays and having a nice time both the the family and chickens.

ha ha ha!, the pic of a hen looking puzzled over that tin of worms made me laugh. did she work it out in the end? :)
well done on expanding your brood. I've never known chickens can be so feisty. hope the newbies will settle down easily soon and they will be accepted the chicken gang.

handmade mag - oh yes! I'm very curious about it, what it looks like and all...
spotted it on the web and was wondering if its worth its price. I'll def have a closer look at it in a store. well done on your publication, you seem to storming up your crafty career ladder :)

Little Harriet said...

Aww I would love to have some chickens-I'm very jealous!

Well done for being featured in the magazine, it looks a really good one too.

Janice Gill said...

Congrats on getting your clock published. Shame about the price, but will give one issue a look :)

stylesofcooking said...

How lovely to join back in with handmade monday and see your work in the magazine. The clock looks great and, despite the price, the mag looks like it could be a good purchase. Hope you had a lovely easter, the sun is definately starting to shine!

Lilly's Mom said...

Hi Wendy, those little chicks are so cute. It must be so much fun to take care of them! Congrats on your publication. Hope you have a great week.

Christmas Pie Crafts said...

Welcome to the new chicks - hope they are settled in well. Well done on the sofa clock being published in the new mag. I know what you mean about them being pricey, but if they are good definitely well worth the money. hope you have a good week.

Bev Newman said...

Hope the chickens continue to settle in well. I love the drawings, they're lovely as always. Congrats on the magazine, it looks amazing, will have a look when I go to Hobbycraft for Knit and Natter on Thursday and see if I can see it x