Losing my marbles!

Not really, but it has been busy around here lately!
The subject for our latest 12 x 9 challenge was Toys. I Googled toys to look for some ideas and found an image I really liked. Turned out to be an Australian woman in Sydney designing her own fabric! So I purchased two colour ways of the marble fabric and asked Susie if I could use her image. (You can visit her blog here. She has another fabric design with Lego on it.)

I can't ever remember actually playing the game of marbles (not even sure how it's played) but I do remember enjoying looking at all the lovely colours, the feel and sound of the marbles in their bag, and just the fact of owning them.
My daughter now uses marbles as a reward system for her children. When they have a certain number (for being good or doing jobs or not fighting) they can have a coveted object. There is often talk in their house about 'losing all your marbles'!

Beach finds and stones

It's amazing what you find on the beach! 
The day before yesterday we found a mobile phone by the waters edge and after waiting for it to ring, and some amusing conversations, we were able to return it to a very grateful owner.

Yesterday I found roses tangled up with the seaweed. Where had they drifted from? A memorial service, ashes scattered at sea or perhaps a wedding?

I have stitched some stones to send to Jude for her Magic Feather project. You can read about it on her blog. The beach I walk on has big banks of stones above high tide mark. People used to come with trailers and cart them home to use in their gardens. That is now forbidden but I must admit to bringing the odd one home with me. I have a collection of heart shaped ones.

Paper dolls

Inspired by the amazing exhibiton of maquettes on Clive Hicks-Jenkins blog and Chloe Redfern's horses on her blog I found a pattern on the internet for a jointed paper doll. (The pattern I used was from here. I printed it onto some sturdy watercolour paper.)  On the weekend the granddaughters and I had a lovely time colouring the dolls and giving them some hair. They did the colouring, I did the cutting out and they managed the little brass split pins after I made the holes with a big needle. We had a lot of fun! I think we'll try these again, perhaps with paints next time to get darker colours, and some paper clothes.

I have added more letters to my alphabet over on ALaW blog. There are some amazing artworks being made. Do go and have a look. I have really enjoyed making these little stitched pieces. Now I have to work out how to put them all together!