Sunday 26 April 2015

Shopping trips and Ice Cream

Went on a shopping trip for Vintage Goodies and on the way back passed through the Village of Henley in Arden 
near that Famous place of Stratford upon Avon, Shakespeare country. 
Hmm wonder why we stopped!! 
Morello Cherry and Pralines and Cream 
A stop at Henley IceCream is a must. 
Picking just 2 flavours was pretty hard 
The Dairy has been here for years and my parents have been coming here since they were children 
Its a Beautiful building,as is the whole Village 
This is the old Village school now houses 
Spooky looking old side lanes 
Each building has its own unique Character and identity 
The only shame is the town has lost its old farmers Market. When I was a child you could buy livestockand  boxes of Chicks, my friend ended up with a cockerel in with her chickens, her neighbors weren't happy when it started crowing!! 
And many of the pubs have gone or been changed into Houses 
There was the Famous Henley Mile Pub Crawl to make through the village not sure if anyone every did it?! 
Talking about it makes me want to go back, more Morello Cherry I think!! 

Friday 24 April 2015

Mushroom Mania

Well Mushroom Mania has well and truly set in at the Workshop
Although not the natural time to see mushrooms, They are sprouting up all over the place!!

 A work in progress, These Basic Shapes where each covered in Vintage Lace
Fluufy and Frilled Piece Panels and Placed and Stitched into Place


 Big and little they're all over the shelfs and ledges...
 Even sprouting from Frames!
 A mini collection of Lace Detailed  Pretties, Each Mushroom becomes its own little art work with its own character
 These are a Mixture of Specimens Some of Good Magical Mushrooms and Some of  Black Magic Dark Toadstools
 The Lesser spotted Black, A Dark Magic Toadstool

The Large Domed Blue Good Magic Mushroom
The Mottled Flat top, Dark Magic Toadstool
The  Small Stout White, Very Good Magic Mushroom
 The Long Oval Shabby, Good Magic Mushroom
The  Black Lace, Deadly Dark Magic Toadstool

 The Deceptively Pretty  Blushing Veiled Rust Cap, Dark Magic Toadstool
 Fluted Pink Top (with immature Specimens) Good Magic Mushroom

The Purple Stocking Web Cap, Dark Magic Mushroom
 The Pointed Shabby Cream, Good Magic Mushroom

Each little Dark  Toadstool or Magical Mushroom comes numbered with its own Label Name, Description and Story
Each one is One of a Kind Soft Sculpture!!

This is only the Beginning, My Current Obsession isn't going away anytime soon
More Mushroom Mania to Come ;-))

All The Above available over the Next Few Days in the Shop here
 www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ChocolateBoxCottages
Grab them While you can !!

Tuesday 21 April 2015

The Fluffy Photo Bomber

 As an online shop seller I have to take hundreds of photos Well my Fluffy Friend has a Tendency to Photo Bomb alot of these Below is a small selection of her work of being in the spotlight
 Hi There what are you Doing?
 She Likes to Walk into shot and then have a good wash

 or Play with whatever happens to be there that time!!
 or just sit, watching me
 I'm Ready for my Close up!!



 What am I in the way?
 Just Passing Through Here.
 Perfect Spot to have a wash..
 Just Here Next to these Glasses !!


 She is a Mini Pleasure Breaking up a Monotony of Photos on some days she'll just pop by have a wash and move on and give aloook of total innocence
Other days she is feeling Mischevious and The Devil in Her comes out!!

 Her  Look Of innocence Before the Carnage.......
 I'm just washing Promise!
Mmmmm??? Whats under here ...........
 Get Out It's my Den..
 I'll Bite
Awww!! Ruin all My fun

Her Job is done she has succeded in getting my attention, food or treats are Needed just to stop her Destruction!