Footsteps A Little Closer To Home

Having been soundly reprimanded by my big sister for not being a good blogger, I really am going to try harder from now on. I don't know what happens, the days slip by and before I know it..... another month has passed me by.
I have been quite busy. Making bears, gardening, cooking and with a little reading in the mix, an all together satisfying way to pass my days.
After doing a little research I have concluded that the problem with my hands is "trigger finger" (or thumb in my case)-tendonitis basically. So I'm trying a little ice and heat treatment to see if this will help. Ideally I should give my hands a complete rest, but this isn't really an option with another workshop next month plus a show and workshops the following month in addition to filling orders! I'm hoping the problem isn't too far advanced and that this course will help relieve the pain, rather than having to resort to cortizone injections or worse still, surgery! (Fingers crossed......not really...too painful!)

This big boy came with me to Tarraleah and inspired a workshop.

So, onto next month's worshop. This one is in Kingston just South of Hobart, such a nice change to have one closer to home! This is with the lovely bunch of ladies who joined me in Tarraleah earlier in the year. I took some bears along with me, and the group were all taken with this big boy, so I offered to treat them to a special three day workshop. The first day will be trapunto leather paws, the second day we'll work on the head and on the third day we will finish the head and get everything together. It should be a great few days, I'll be able to spend some time with my big brother in the evenings and have  some lovely beary friends to pass the days with.

And we'll be making feet something like these.

I also need to find some time to do something with the apple crop before the birds get them all, some I'll juice and freeze. I have a wonderful apple chutney recipe from my sister-in-law, Irene, I'll definitely be making some of that and maybe stew and freeze some too. So I have plenty to keep my days busy. Oh, oh, oh, and I seem to remember a little something about a giveaway.......soon, soon, I promise!