Open Water Swimming

I’ve started sea swimming again, it was a regular occurrence when I was a child and living near to the sea has always been a privilege to me.

Now the North Sea is far from the temperatures that you get when holidaying in the Mediterranean but if you manage to get in to the North Sea you will find it invigorating.

Safety first, never do it alone, don’t stay in too long, build it up, take a warm set of dry clothes, a hot drink and a snack if you want it.

My partner in crime is my daughter Lauren, as soon as she said she would like to do it I was buying all the gear, shorty wetsuits, shoes, waterproof bags for our phones, changing gowns etc…

This was our first try.

It was gorgeous.

We take a big bucket with us to put or wet gear into for travelling home.

I wont lie, changing into dry clothes was challenging to say the least. I may have flashed once or twice getting changed haha!

I have since invested in a front zipped wetsuit jacket and shorts, much easier to get out of as I have a frozen shoulder. No more flashy me haha!

Our Yorkshire Farm visit.

Those of you that have enjoyed watching Our Yorkshire Farm or read and of the Yorkshire Shepherdess Books will appreciate the excitement I had to visit Ravenseat farm high up in the Yorkshire Dales.

The trip is not for the faint hearted and for most of our journey I gripped the seat of the car and braked several times despite Chris being an exceptional driver it was hairy to say the very least.

Although we weren’t allowed past the gate for obvious reasons one of them being that they were filming that day, we were lucky to see and chat with Amanda and 2 of her girls Clemmy and Annie.

Before I took any photos I asked as I think some can take this for granted.

Clemmy didn’t disappoint us and was as charming off camera as she was on it.

Now what you aren’t seeing here is that I fell over, I was on my crouching to have the photo taken with Clemmy and I wobbled and landed all my weight onto my my fingers and knuckles so decided to sit put and have photos whilst sitting and holding on to my bloody hand.

Thankfully you could get refreshments and there was picnic tables and public loos if you are thinking of visiting.

Annie was such a lovely young lady and we chatted a while with her as her filming was done of the day.

She was helping with the refreshments.

It was lovely so see all of the layout of the buildings that you see on the program and I can see just why Amanda and Clive fell in love with the farm.

Make your Own Chocolate Santa Sleigh

I made these chocolate Santa sleighs many years ago when my Grandson was very young and as he couldn't remember them I thought I would do it all again for this year, I think everyone would agree we have had a very weird Covid year and could do with something to cheer us up.

 

I filmed making these so that you can see how easy they are to construct.

I will place them at each setting for the Christmas dinner but they would be equally fun as a gift for someone.

Happy sleigh making.

Toadstool houses

This is the last of my Toadstool and Mushrooms mould samples for now.

I think you can tell how much I love this mould

Just creating the scene on the top of the vintage teacup set was easy to make with this mould, on the saucer I created realistic mushrooms, so much so that my Grandson thought they were real.

I was thinking that it could be sprayed with a scent or drops of essential oils dropped on to create a wonderful room fresh inner gift. 

All Moulds can be found here https://katysuedesigns.com/collections/flower-pro 

Flower Pro Toadstools and Mushroom Mould

I just couldn’t wait to show you the new addition of the KatySue Designs Flower Pro mould, this is the Mushroom/Toadstool silicone mould which is simply amazing. I love that is has a separate veiner mould with all of the texture needed for the underside of the mushroom.

I mad this using the Mushrrom mould the log slice impression mould, the fern mould and veiner and the tree bark mould, I also used Heartysoft air dry clay.

There are so many different fungi, mushroom and toadstools you can make and the new moulds with give you the perfect design.

My whole design started with an empty Pringles tube and cutting it down in size and covering it with the clay.

Rolling parts of the bark back to make the log realistic and using paints for detail and shading.

The link to all the moulds used is https://katysuedesigns.com/products/flower-pro-toadstools-and-mushrooms-mould-and-veiner

Toadstools and Mushroom Mould at its Best

I have to say as mushrooms go this mould ticks all the boxes for me, I can go from realistic to fantasy and it looks amazing, so easy to use too. The Flower Pro range is simply the best.

The texture on the mushrooms are fantastic

I also used the bark mould around the steampunk top hat and my husband came to the rescue to make me the hat stand.

Of course the scene wouldn't be complete without a fern mould as ferns are notorious for thriving in the damp ground.

I finished the top of the hat with the Log Slice impression mould.

All of the moulds can be found here, this is a brand new launch so you could be one of the first to get your hands on them

They release on Tuesday 27th October 2020

The link is https://katysuedesigns.com/products/flower-pro-toadstools-and-mushrooms-mould-and-veiner

Flower Pro Poppy Mould by KatySue Designs

The Poppy Mould by KatySue designs I used to create a Remembrance Day model last year is still one of my favourite silicone moulds, It was designed by the fabulous Chef Nicholas Lodge along with the Flower Pro Fern mould. 

When you buy from the Flower Pro collection you are buying into a whole educational program that leads you buy the hand to create amazing realistic flowers with step by step videos, isn't that just fantastic?

So I used a fabric hardener (Powertex) to create this model and if I was to put it in the garden I would spray it with a weatherproof varnish.

The Poppy Mould can be purchased here  https://katysuedesigns.com/collections/flower-pro-moulds-and-veiners/Cake-Decorating 

and the educational video can be watched here How to make the Flower Pro Poppy

KatySue Designs Rainbow Teddy Mould

Such a cute Mould with loads of possibilities and it launches on Create and Craft Friday 16th October at 9am and 1:30pm with Debbie Reybould

It is such a lovely character then can be made for either boys or girls and it even has a miniature blossom that you can use for decorating your bear.

Although I have used this for home decor I can just imagine how many cakes this character will be on to celebrate children’s birthday’s.

With this one I added it onto one the MDF caddy’s turning it into art storage for a little one, keeping all art  stuff safe in one place.

As you can see I modelled a little cap for my teddy.

You can catch the shows

• 
  

• Sky 683
 
• Freeview 95
 
• Virgin 748
 
• Freesat 813
 
• Apple TV
 
• Amazon Fire

• Or watch live here

• https://www.createandcraft.com/gb/show

Needle Felt Gardening Mouse

This little beauty was made as a gift for my Mams Birthday in June, both my mam and Dad are and were avid gardeners, my Dad grew all of our vegetables in an allotment so when he wasn't at work he could be found working in the garden.

I knew a felted mouse would delight my Mam. 

I wasn't wrong, she loves him.

I had so much fun making the miniatures to feature with the mouse and even found a dolls house miniature newspaper that I could print and make up.

The delight of watching this felted creation build up and all the pain of some finger stabs was worth every hour it took when I saw the joy it gave to my Mam

Isn't it fabulous. I'm proud of this one.

From his flat cap to his waistcoat I loved making him.

Fairy Paper Pad Collection

It's been a busy month at Katy Sue Designs lots of new products and the Fairy Paper Pad is sure to delight, the artwork is by Teresa Goodridge and has the most cutest detail.

Here is a few of my cards made from this collection

The paper pad is designed so that you can use your own dies to cut out the images as toppers.

Of course you could equally use a paper trimmer and just cut them out too

I love that they have remembered the little boys in this collection.

Just look at this little angel riding the snail.

within this collection you are getting backgrounds, toppers in two sizes, insets, sentiment ad embellishments.All in a pad so you would loose part of the collection and it will stack perfect on those crafty shelves.

I think it is one of the prettiest collections that I have seen in a long time

Making 90 toppers all you need is a base card and some glue and you are all set to make cards.

Here is the link to the collection you can buy it direct from Katy Sue Designs https://katysuedesigns.com/collections/card-making/products/the-fairy-collection-paper-craft-pad-not-die-cut

Fairytale Needle Felting Pincushion

Once upon a time in a land of fluff and colour lived a princess who sewed, she had lots of bits and pieces that needed organizing and one of the things that was problematic was where to keep her pins and needles without the mountain dragon collecting them to use for his weapons.

I know my head is in fairy land but hey, in this unpredictable world it is good to escape into a better one now and again.

Needle Felting does that for me, a bit of escapism from this weird world that we live in.

Again using a vintage tea trio as my base as they are so pretty I created a fairy-tale of my own which I think any sewing princess out there would love.

I'm thinking of selling these sewing pincushion with a difference for around £25 plus postage I have 3 different ones made up so far.