The cats of Cyprus!

Everywhere I went in Cyprus there were cats, in car parks, on the beach, walking in the town, outside Church's, even in Church's, its seems that there's two thinking's on why there are so many feral cats

1. They were brought in to help keep the rat population down
2. or to help the snakes problem

I'm really not sure which (if either) is true but being a lifelong cat lover I didn't really care I loved it. Lex is used to me going up to make friends with animals of all sorts, but it was pretty serious this time, I had cats follow me, clime on me, sit on me, I even had a crazy dog come running up to me one day and I couldn't get rid of it!!! In the end Lex started calling me Dr Doolittle!!!!!!!!

I also couldn't resist dragging Lex off to Malcolm's Cat Sanctuary, a charity quite local to us and of course one close to my heart, they care for around 200 cats, I thought it was fantastic the work the volunteers do. Here's the website if your interested:

http://http://www.malcolmcat.org/

Here's a few of the many cat pictures I took.

"Tock"

The resident feline at the donkey sanctuary

Drinking at the sanctuary

I've never seen so many cats in one place

A cat in a swimming pool!!!!

Chilling in the grass

Church cats! You can't see but right by these little ones was a church by the sea

This little guy reminded me of my Binky Bo Bops just a slightly different colour!

Cyprus adventure

The reason I've been a bit quite of late is because Lex whisked me away to Cyprus for 10 days, isn't he a gem!

We had a real relaxing time and although the weather wasn't great we did have a few days of sunshine. Neither of us had been to Cyprus before (even though Lex has travelled much the world and been to most places) so it was a new adventure for us both.

We spent alot of time chilling in our beautiful villa, watching Soprano's season 5 and 6 (part 1, we still need to see the final episodes) and Gavin and Stacey, eating lots (so now we both have to diet) and visting local ruins and monastery's, as the Hugglets show is only 3 weeks away (eekkk!) I had to take sewing with me and have now come home with 10.5 bears/mice ready to stuff (that .5 is because I've still got a head to sew up on one little grey bear)

I'll share some photos over the next few days (and the story of us nearly missing our flight home) when I've finished unpacking and generally got myself together, meanwhile here's a couple to keep you going......

Natural bridge at Cape Greco

Kalidonia Waterfall

First mouse of 2011

Yay I've managed to get myself together this weekend and complete four mice and one bear! Lets hope that now I've got my mojo/momentum back I can sustain it!!!!!!!

I'm really happy with this little guy, I've had that paper hat and kite for a while and I think he looks well cute!

I can't share with you any of the others as they are for shops and special orders and their new Mummy's or Daddy's haven't seen them yet!!!!

Now I must get on with some sewing

TTFN

Unproductive January

On my work table, loads started, nothing finished :-(

My new year start on bear making has not really gone to plan, things seem to be getting in the way, Birthdays, parties, cake making, carpet fitting!!!! So this Sunday I had a whole day planned to work, thought I get a good 12 hours done, alas I ended up in hospital with a minor eye injury!!! Don't worry nothing major and I'm fine now but it did mean I spent Sunday on the sofa. This week I endeavour to get at least one bear finished, keep your fingers crossed.

Tick!

Here's what my to-do list looks like today:

• Update the Blog - a
• Spring Clean the Studio - a
• Do a stock check and order new supplies
• Write and send out newsletter - a
• Start new bears/mice
• Clean the bathroom - a

I guess that's not bad considering I got up so late and also spent a few hours sorting out computer files which was not on my to-do list!

Today I must finish the rest of my jobs, the studio is lovely and tidy and I can't wait to start work again.

Oh and I thought it was about time I shared a few pictures of my studio with you.

I love a bit of bunting and this also provides hanging space for little clothes waiting for owners!

This doll is nearly 100 years old, she was my Grannie's and she now sits and watches me work.

I have a lot of books from my childhood and I find them very useful as reference for my work, I also have a large number of how-to books that I love to read but never have time to make anything from!

This bed is over 50 years old, it was made by my Great Uncle Charlie for my Mum when she was a child, its was handed down to me when I was little and I spent many happy hours putting my dollies to bed. Nowadays my Little Dirt Lane Doll Abbi sits there!

My pride and joy! Its so old and keeps going wrong but I just can't get on with an electric machine.

I made this pin board, its full of lovely cards, photos and pictures people have given me.

The view of one side

The view of the other

Get organised........yeah right!!!

Hiya! I have found this week tough, having three weeks off work was brilliant however its been hard getting up early and leaving for work in the dark. I only do three days a week in my other job but since moving I've added another 10 miles and half an hour onto my already long journey, doesn't sound much but for someone who's not a morning person getting up that little bit earlier is torture. So all week I've been on a go-slow, in truth I've really not done much.

I did manage to:

• Take all the Christmas decorations down :-(


• Plan my work schedule for the year (2011 is fully packed)


• Order, receive and put away the Internet grocery shopping! (Okay so getting it delivered is cheating a bit, but it stops me and Lex having a "barney" in the middle of Sainsbury's!!!
  

So this weekend I MUST get back into gear, my plans for the day are:

• To get up early (Already failed on that one as I slept through 3 alarms and didn't wake until 11am, terrible I know!)


• Updated my blog (Almost a tick!)


• Spring clean my studio (Its a pigsty in here)


• Do a stock check and order new supplies


• Write and send out a newsletter


• Start new bears/mice!!!!


• Clean the bathroom (Most important really, but we'll see)

I can't say I'm full of enthusiasm so we'll see how far I get with my jobs!

Back to work and struggling!!!!

After such a lovely couple of weeks off (that I so desperately needed) I'm struggling to get back into work mode, there's so much to do and plan for. I'm determined to plan a better work load this year, last year was fab but I didn't have the best work/home balance so I must get organised............but I am getting nowhere fast, its only Tuesday though so I'll aim to be back firing on all cylinders by the weekend!!!

While I was off I did A LOT of baking, here's just some of my many baking session pictures!