If you go down to the woods today...

Well, if you you went down to the woods yesterday... Or the beach, or the park, or just stayed at home and enjoyed a sunny back garden, you might have indulged in the wonderful Bank Holiday pursuit of a great British picnic.

There is something special about eating out of doors - maybe it's the novelty for us Brits (we don't often get the weather, after all), or the freedom from constraints, or just the sheer loveliness of it. But when it comes to outdoor dining, you can't beat a good picnic. From a humble sandwich on a park bench just across from the office, to the full works - blankets, baskets, ball games and a good book - it somehow adds another dimension to lunch... it becomes an event, rather than just a necessity.

If you want to make your next picnic just a little bit special, then I highly recommend all of these lovely handmade items that I have Found on Folksy...

First of all, park your behind on this fantastic blanket:

Pink Patchwork Squares Blanket
by *rAiNbOw*fAiRy*dUsT*

And grab some gorgeous napkins for
those sticky fingers:

Red Dotty Napkins
by Ticketty Boo

Your cutlery will be easily

transported in this gorgeous cutlery roll...

Camping Cutlery Roll
by Married to the House

You may wish to hang bunting

from a nearby tree:

Spring Green Bunting
by Bluebell and Rosie

Having prepared your perfect spot, a nice cold drink

is in order - this jug cover will keep the bugs out!

Beaded Jug Cover
by Silky Prudence

If the sun gets too strong, you can

always sport a fabulous straw hat...

Raffia Traditional Style Sun Hat
by Pickled Pumpkins

But let's hope you won't be needing

any of these!

Sterling Silver Umbrella Earrings
by Contemporary Designer Jewellery

Save your delicious apples from a bruising

with these ingenious wee jackets:

Cute Apple Jacket
by Three Magic Sheep

And if you fancy a proper cuppa then how
could you be without this...

Flower Meadow Teapot
by Heather Richards

And of course no picnic is complete

without the perfect picnic companion!

Teddy
by The Hunny Bunny Company


After all, teddies DO love picnics!!

A little bit of Grace!

It's no secret I have a bit of a soft spot (OK a HUGE big soft spot) for retired greyhounds! So, just this once, please indulge me as I share with you some of the fab greyhound-y things that other artists are making & selling on Folksy. There's something about their long sweeping curves & graceful (& at times not-so-graceful!) stance... or maybe I'm just a little biased ;-)

The Greyhound Dog by Indira Albert

DREAMING GREYHOUND LURCHER Dog Silhouette Plate Handmade Kiln Fused Glass by Animal Glass

Greyhound Lurcher black dog hand painted jute bag by Queen of Persia

Gelert by Gelert Design

Hunt with the hounds tea cosy by A VERY BRITISH AFFAIR

Greyhound Brooch by Silk Purse, Sow's Ear

Sleeping Greyhound trivet by Dach Crafts

Roaching Greyhound Original Pen & Ink by MUDBUS

hand screen printed and stitched grey hound/whippet cushion by HELKATDESIGN

Have a greYt day!! - Jane.x

Granny Chic

I'm not always given to socialising in the MORNINGS, given my tendency to stay up late and be quite groggy the next day, but last Friday morning I did find the time to go to a local coffee morning, held every other week, so that villagers, especially the older ones, can meet, chat, drink coffee and eat biscuits. All very nice, but the most alluring draw for me is the charity stall, where I invariably spend a few pounds and come away with another treasured horde of books, old trinkets and random bits and pieces. My latest prize acquisition is a set of small, strange, randomly coloured knitted mats. I was staring at them again today, wondering which of the old ladies made them and feeling glad that I rescued them. So this was on my mind when I started to think about today's post and I wondered what clever Folksians are up to, granny chic-wise....And here's what I found.

Behold this super sweet knitted tea cosy by Cherry Tree Handmades, decorated with five big knitted roses. Tea cosies don't come much prettier than this.Doilies are given a modern spin by Hand Made by Fausta! These are a trendy shade of mint green. Elsewhere in her shop you'll find all kinds of bright shades; red, orange, purple, bright blue...Fabulous!Don't spill your tea! But if you do, this pretty, vintage style apron will protect your clothes and make you look like the perfect hostess. By BakeandSew
Learn to sew as expertly as your Granny and start by getting your retro kit in order. This crochet pincushion by Very Berry Handmade uses a traditional craft, but feels fresh and totally modern.
There are many things I like about this blue retro cushion by Crafty Bird Collective. The fabric is stunning, of course, but the maker has also used vintage buttons inherited from her Grandma's collection. A little story behind an already special item makes it even more endearing.But don't get too cosy with images of your sweet old Gran. Sianuska Original Art & Screenprints has created this letterpress screenprint called 'Old Lady Swearwords', a list inspired by her Grandmas. Go grannies!
Soywax candles are great, giving off none of that nasty black smoke. They also last longer. Give your Granny this one, scented with Rose Geranium essential oil, by Aromasue Design. And she can use the teacup afterwards.
I can't say anything about this crochet clock that isn't perfectly obvious. Funny, clever, colourful, retro, kitsch....It's glorious! By the very clever croche TimeSpeaking of clever makers, Emma Lamb has a Folksy store with amazing crocheted homewares; cushions, potholders, mobiles and garlands. I'm especially in awe of this complex, pretty 'Delilah' mobile. You surely have to have one!

Well, Folksy Folk. I hope you've enjoyed these modern finds, inspired by grannies everywhere and the grannies we ourselves might one day become. I'd love to stay up and write more, but it's almost nine-thirty and you know what that means? A warm cocoa and time for bed!

New Beginnings

A few days ago, I was incredibly lucky to be able to hold a newborn meerkat pup in my hands. At only 11 days old, his eyes were still closed, and he was wriggly and fragile and simply adorable. I felt so privileged to witness the early strugglings and squeakings of a new life. And so today's Folksy picks are an homage to that wonderful wee creature and to all new beginnings - enjoy!

'Just the Beginning' Framed Collage by 100percentdelicate

'Misty Morning', A4 Fine Art Print by Genevieve Cseh Art

baby hat - 'precious flower' newborn by rocketclothing

"Pink Florentine" handbound notebook by Kate Bowles

Seedling flower phone sleeve by supercutetilly

Pink fabric book - alphabet by Lilac Elephant

Little Nose by Selinabeena

Sunny Yellow Felt Rose Bud Brooch by Granny Ruth's Gift Emporium

Taking Flight Print by Lavender George

You're freeeeeeeeeee by The Doll House

Calling all Number Geeks - Can YOU Find The Code??

I was feeling all smug last Wednesday as I sat down to watch The Code on BBC2... I have always been a bit of a number geek (I love number patterns and sequences, and number puzzles, and have a strangely unexplained aversion to prime numbers) so I thought I might enjoy this short series of programmes, with the added bonus of maybe finding the meaning to life, the universe and everything...

What can I say, after half an hour I was back in my second year of A-Level Mathematics (I never did understand i numbers, what a waste of a year of my life that was!) and soon that smug intellectual mask had slipped from my face and I was thoroughly bewildered - albeit kind of strangely hooked! The best bit was learning that a certain sea snail builds new "rooms" in to his shell, each exactly 1.08 times larger than the previous one... Hmmm, perhaps I need to get out more!

Anyway, for those of you who missed this academic extravaganza, or like me spent most of the time trying desperately not to shout "42!" at your telly, I thought we could start the search for our own Code - and I'm beginning to think it might be here on Folksy...

Firstly, you could arrange your own code with these

rather fun Forty Felt Numbers by Sweet Cute Mandmade

Or maybe you can practise your binary number system

to unravel the message in this Binary Code Greeting Card

by Jane Cameron

There might be a few clues in (or on) this lovely quirky 

Box of Numbers by Zuzu's Petals Altered Art'n'Stuff

Maybe this is just the code you are looking for with this

charming Domino Bracelet by SP Jewellery

Or you could try your "luck" with this fabulous

Damask Number Eight print from ialbert

Now we're getting closer, this looks like a very geeky

contender: Euler's Identity original framed artwork by wall envy art

But if Bingo is more your thing, what could be better than this

fab Red Bingo Card Necklace from Purple Shmurple

Of course, you may need to make lots of notes and calculations

so this Notebook, Calculator and Pen Kit by Scruffy Stuff

could prove very useful.

This formula looks a whole lot easier to comprehend,

Love Formula Card by The Doll House

However, once you unroll this Brown Leather Numbers Belt

by Stabo, you might find that The Code is right there under your nose!

Happy hunting... don't forget to tune in
tomorrow for the next programme...

...and if you work it all out - please, please, please pass it on!!!!!!!