Evening Bloggers,

Well what to write about today? I was going to show you todays handbag, but starting to bore myself with that now, so If you wish to see the new 'horses' handbag its in my folksy shop.

I have spent today doing some more networking, finally found the forum on folksy so introduced myself on there, created a Flickr account - not that I actually understand how that works, but searched around the groups and joined one called 'Dog Art' that had a lot on and some great stuff on a blog there I have joined, hope she returns the favour, she is in the USA but has some wonderful doggie items on sale. Hubby got my counter working on the website so I can now see at least it has some views.

So, as I have spent time in the virtual dog world today I thought I would share today's photo with you of my late Greyhound Dave, we lost him last September very suddenly he was ok when we went to bed but not in the morning, he had suffered a stroke, nothing could be done. A huge loss to us, Dave was a lovley boy we adopted him after 3 homes who simply didnt understand the boy, once understood he was fabulous, there was no malice in Dave he was just a bit on the brainless side - no really he was! We were lucky enough to share 8 years with him, and like our others lost we miss him every day.

It seems very quite out there in blog land today, hope you are all busy enjoying your crafting. At a loss again today what to waffle on about, spent the morning on the 'cycle path' challenge (see yesterday's blog) collecting signatures and spreading the word, so the dogs got a long walk and to play with an awful lot of dogs whilst we chatted, its very quiet in here tonight with 3 very tired dogs.

This afternoon I managed to get quite a bit done on the latest bag, which is to feature horses for a change from the usual, after that I am planning another patchwork design so that will keep me busy for the week, takes me quite a while to do the patchwork ones.

For today's photo I thought I would share my lurcher Jaja, this was his pose for the first calendar we produced for "Woof Beginnings" that one we featured the dogs all dressed up, so might treat you to a few more of them, as I think they do have the smile factor. He is seen here on a warm summer's day (remember those?) with his shades and hubby's Woof Beginnings shirt.

Hello Bloggers

Busy day today, but not so much on the sewing front. Busy doing battle with the local council, planning permission is going through this week to construct a cycle path through the sand dunes were I walk my dogs, there are people have walked their dogs there for 40 years its about the only place we can walk in peace away from the whiners and dog haters. It is also (supposidly) a protected area for wildlife, were we have Natterjack Toads and sand lizards who will be disturbed by this, but it seems they are now out of the equation after years of being protected. I just posted on my local town forum, only to cop a ton of abuse about dog mess for which you would think I personally responsible for the level of abuse I just took. Looking like a battle we are not going to win.

Anyway, that aside - I managed to finish the Golden Retriever Satchel/Handbag which seems to have come out well, will add that to the Folksy shop later on, here is your sneak preview. My next project is with horses by way of a change. Also had a card to design, something else I used to do but still have customers who return every now and again, usually at short notice ie last night, wanting one posting out today! So that was my first job of the afternoon. This morning was hair cut, I hate hair not had it cut since December and was well over due, much shorter and less hassle now, life is far too short to spend on hair.

Nice dog walk around lunchtime, beautiful day - warmer than of late and sunny sets one up for a nice afternoon after a nice walk and fresh air.

Hope everyone has a nice productive weekend x

Oh dear, struggling today on what on earth to write about, even 'Spellbound Charms' sock monsters have not inspired me today. In desperation on what to do I had a look through my photo's and thought I would treat you to my photo of the Robin I took last winter, one of my better efforts and a very friendly soul he was too.

Been at the 'day job' today which doesnt help, never liked it anyway but it did pay the bills he is definatly folding this year, so just clutching at the last few months really and hoping I will get 3 months pay as redundancy to tide me over. That or I may have to take on another dog for walking which will mean spliting the walks into two and less time for creating. I did manage to appeal to his better nature today (bossman that is) that or his lazy nature and managed to come away with 3 bags of Mrs Boss clothing to use in the handbags, not all suitable as I dont like dark colours so I have dutifully bagged up all the black and navy designer jackets to take to the charity shop next week, I do like to put something back there when I can. Shame I have long since seen a size 10 could have had some new finery to wear, but still have some nice quality fabric now.

Manged to find time to do some sewing too, still working on the Golden Retriever Handbag. Also put another bag in the Folksy shop, this one with Flatcoat Retriever, fingers crossed.

Oooh, I must thank Linda at 'Setters Delight' for nominating me for a Sunshine Award - if I ever get one of these you can have a really good laugh at my trying to work out how to get it here, and then how to nominate another 12 people, all looks very confusing to us thickos.

After today's walk I realised I had not introduced you to one of the other dogs I walk as yet. Please meet 'Tigger' the Kelpie.

I realised this, as not much work done today after having spent most of the walk trying to retrieve said dog from the golf course. The club have finally fixed the fence as its the 'Ladies Golf Tournament' this year, so another excuse to stop us walkers using our regular spot soon too, and posh things up a bit. So, Tigger managed to find what must be the ONLY hole in it, heaven knows were and get himself stuck on the course, we had to walk him by the fence to try find a way out - this involved us having to battle our way through all the undergrowth to stay as close as we could so he could see us, the other dogs thought it was great fun with the exception of the lurcher who did not do so well with the thorns and bushes we had to wade through. Anyway, we did eventually get to the gate at the end and retrieve the little darling.

I did have quite a productive evening last night though, I went shopping in the USA (on-line of course) and found some very nice fabrics to highlight the handbags, still using my own recycled lines but some nice topics to go with them, so a new range will be around once they arrive. Also touched into Canada and Australia, quite the globe trotter I was.

Also, after having withdrawal symptoms from the charity shop I snook there for 5 mins today too, and obtained some lovely new lining fabric and a pair of Cotton Trader jeans.

As for the current handbag, not much done really - a wee bit of embroidery, not done that for a while, that was about it really, might take me a bit longer now that one, see what tomorrow brings - lets hope for a shorter walk, just a couple of hours would do thank you this time.

First of all thank you to my fellow bloggers without whom I was at a loss of what on earth to witter on about today. (I had to read yours first).

I managed to finish the handmade gundog handbag today, again I am not sure about it now? Anyone else suffer from looking at something so long you cant really tell if its any good or not by the time you are finished? Anyway, thats today's picture - later on I will add some bags to the Folksy shop I really must get that done. I have cut out the next handbag, its going to be a 'Golden Retriever' one (hopefully).

I am having withdrawal symptoms from the charity shop, not been for days - very short on time this week, hope to get there on Friday though a friend of mine has picked up some bits for me so need to get to her at some point to see what goodies she has for me. I also am lucky enough to have a friend in the Midlands who manages a charity shop and sends me lots of bits and pieces, I love her parcels. If you are reading this Liz, please hurry up with your pictures so I can get that bag done with your dogs on as a thank you.

Also, if any doggie folk out there can send some healing thoughts to the Goldie I walk 'Bailey' (seen in pictures below) he has been very poorly, been to see the vet today but was a very sick dog earlier if he is no better by Thursday could be looking at xrays and or surgery, his 'dire rear' has gone on far too long now and is a bit worrying. He is only 4 years old so hopefully is nothing to sinister and will clear up soon. Get Well Soon gorgeous boy.

Hi All

Today's entry, despite the acute embarrassment of the photo, is an important event.

Each year I produce a calendar for the dog walkers containing many of the dogs who walk on the sandhills each day. We have raised funds for a few charities over the years usually dog related. But last year, due to our loosing one of our walkers my friend Jessie to Cancer on 28th February 2009, we decided to raise funds for the local hospice 'Queenscourt' who looked after Jessie during her last few weeks.

Jessie's son Paul was responsible for many of the sales with his dog Bailey who I now walk each day, my friend Julie and I walked Bailey for Jessie whilst she was ill and now as Paul works full time with his own business we carry this on.

We managed to raise £570 in loving memory of Jessie. Seen in the photograph is Paul, Bailey, me and Brian from the hospice accepting the cheque.