elfie & Me

Happy days in fluffy land

Despite his diminutive size, Tiny is an adventurer . . .

3 little sausages . . .

Cute but check out those claws . . .

They are changing every day, the colours on their "points' are developing. It is like watching a very slow polaroid developing. All the kittens are strong and healthy but we had a quick trip to the vets this week as Fatty's (aka One Eye Jack) eye was gummed shut and he needed some drops. 

I bundled the whole fluffy family into the car and off we went to the vets.

The protective paw was ever present.

We were treated like celebrities . . .Queenie and kits much admired . . .

One eye Jack (Fatty) and Tiny are boys and Fats is a girl. They will get their proper names in due course. When they go to their forever homes. 

I don't know how I am going to bear this.

Tiny and the fatties

Tiny, at 5 days old, just 3.5 oz. I have been making sure he gets his share at feeding time by making a barricade with my hand to keep the fatties off his preferred teat.

The fatties are huge by comparision and lie bloated with their tummies in the air whilst Tiny feeds.

This morning Tiny weighs in at a plumper 5.1oz and he was the first to open his eyes.  They look kind of weird with their eyes half open but their little ears are starting to prick up and they are starting to look more like little cats. Queenie is a great mum. Happy, purring and relaxed.

And her protective paw is always near.

Unsurprisingly, not a lot of work done in Pixieland this last week.

We have kittens!

It started on Friday teatime with a loud mieow and a lot of pacing around the living room.

Then nothing for another hour or so and then another loud mieow. Queenie was determined to be right by my side and as I was in the living room, that was where she was going to have her kittens.

So kittening box(es) in place, the space behind the TV barricaded with cushions, we sat down to wait.

By 11 pm Alexei had gone to bed (No, I don't want to see the birth Mum, it will be too yucky) and Roland soon after (You don't want me, this is women's work). I sat and tried to provide a reassuring presence for Queenie as she intermittently paced and yowled.  

The first and smallest kitten arrived tail first at 1am. Queenie decided to take an active birth decision and walked around with the kitten hanging from it's head. There was a scary moment when I thought it was dead but thankfully all was well.

And can I also say a special thank you to whoever invented puppy training mats as the floor was a patchwork quilt of these for several hours and thus saved the carpets.

Next kitten arrived half an hour later and the last half an hour after that. although the birth seemed quite easy, I didn't find it easy. I was scared. Scared that if things went wrong, it would be my fault, scared for Queenie, scared for the kittens. And white kittens do look quite gruesome at first.

She soon settled down to feed her family of three . . . and I dozed fitfully on the sofa. 

Tiny is the noisiest and smallest but a very determined squirmer.

When the kitten on the top gets cold, (s)he burrows under the others to get warm, so you have a constantly moving bundle of kittens.

But things are cosy and happy inside the kittening box. Queenie loves this peach wool blanket, it really shows off  the cream colours in her coat.

And Percy?

He is fine, as long as he isn't missing out on any extra food or his special spot between us on the bed, he is happy.

And us? We are besotted. They are terrible timewasters already. 

Return to blogland

 . . . hello, hello, is anybody out there? 

I have been away for far too long. Sort of lost my blogging mojo in a big way. And the longer I thought about it, the harder it was to get started again and I can't really be bothered to think of any more excuses as it was a big case of lazyitus mainly.

Anyway, a few changes around here. First thing, we have MOVED TO THE COUNTRY and we love it, love it, love it! It's been a long term dream of mine and now it's come true! We still have to find a permanent residence as we are renting at the moment but it's bliss looking out on fields. 

Do you remember this little girlie?

Not so little now is she?

We are very excited to announce that Queenie is expecting kittens this week. 

She won't be pleased when she sees this unflattering photo.

She's very hormonal, hanging around me all day but won't let me feel her bump which is a shame as it's deliciously soft and plump.

Anyway, enough about cats for now although I hope to lure you in with the promise of cute kitten pictures.

To celebrate my long absense from Elfie & Me, I am giving away 5 copies of one of my new prints: "My best friend" to the first five people who leave a message.

I will be back very soon, hopefuly with cute pix of the new arrivals . . .

 

More catty stuff

Our catty craziness continues here in Pixieland. this is just a quick post to share with you the new "Herding Cats" Ikea ad. Apologies if this is old news . . . 

We spotted at least one Queenie look alike in it.

and this is brilliant - how they made it . . .

Alexei and I did wonder if any little "presents" were left behind the furniture. Hee, hee!

return to the mother ship

I still haven't got over the excitement of seeing mission control and the Saturn V rocket. I was also pleased that in our mission picture, I am the Commander (naturally) and Roland is the Pilot as these are reflect our real life roles..Of course, I am commander of the mother ship.

We also went to California again. The Long Beach flea market was amazing. Look at this atomic style sofa and stool . . perfect to make your space station homely.

And this stall holder had a wonderful collection of spooky cats. 

 

I did lots of vintage shopping as I am doing lots of fairs this autumn and winter. The first one is Seaside Brocante at Whitstable on 16th October and of course the wonderful Vintage and Handmade in November and a new one for me . . . the Country Living Spring Fair in March so I need lots of stock.
 

But we got back to the news that my sis has broken her back .. .it seems like no permanent damage has been done but much pain and a nasty fright for her plus a few months wearing a very futuristic back brace. (Apparently, pulling your knickers up is a bit tricky). So ladies (and gents), a warning . . . no climbing in and out of lofts please . . .

And we have a new addition to the house.

 Meet Queenie . . .soft and fluffy as a snowball, purring as soon as you pick her up. We are all besotted.

(Alexei is wearing a very gormless TV watching face, the jet leg just about killed us).

 

Her full title is Queen Boudicca and she is aptly named . .  a feisty warrior queen, standing up to Percy, hissing and arching her tiny back. . Percy, despite his impressive size and foul language,  doesn't know quite what to think. 

 

Perhaps if I hide under the covers, she will go away.

I'm giving Percy lots of extra cuddles and treats as I feel a bit guilty about her arrival. But- they touched noses this morning and are now eating their meals together. I think she has twigged that Percy is all mouth and no trousers.

I spent an afternoon making some happy birthday versions of a new design called "Tiny Dancer" 

 

I left them standing to dry on the kitchen table. . . Then I went out for half an hour leaving Queenie sleeping peacefully on a cushion. When I returned, she was still in the same position on the same cushion but some of the cards had been embellished with perforations of minute kitten teeth.

I think she is going to be trouble . . . back soon with some better pics of the tiny terror.

now there is one...

See the little brown cat in the arms of his master? My heart is breaking when I look at his sweet face. Our dearest Oskar has lost his battle with liver disease despite putting up an incredible fight right until the end. 

We have the scars to prove it - administering pills to Oskar had always been challenging.

Actually the 13 years we spent with Oskar was often a challenge. The yowling in the middle of the night, just to remind you he was there. 

The nonchalant puke over the side of the kitchen chair on to the floor and going back to sleep afterwards as if nothing had happened. 

The chicken carcasses regularly dragged through the cat flap as a special, if greasy, gift. (We have no idea where he got these from.)

The tiny, but deadly, squirt of cat wee up against the skirting board which would have us armed with various potions to vanquish the smell.

But all was forgiven as he curled into your arms at the end of the day, warm, purring and ever loving.

So there it is, Oskar joins darling Bluebell in the next place. There's got to be a next place, right?

I can't believe we have lost two cats in less than one year. We have had these three for what seems like forever . . now we have only one. Poor Percy. and poor, poor Alexei, whose heart has been broken twice this year. It doesn't get easier.

But I have some cheery pictures to share too. The lovely Mr and Mrs Cupcakes on their big day.

I think this was the nicest wedding celebration I have ever been too. Relaxed and so, so pretty in every way.

Many, many congratulations to Catherine and Ben. May you have a long and totally fabulous life together.

 

And a new drawing always makes me happy (when it turns out alright).

I am fascinated by the moon and we all like to watch the night sky at Pixieland. I wrote a note to Alexei's teacher to explain why he was late to school last Tuesday. . .we stood in the garden on a balmy, honeysuckle scented night to watch the international space station fly over us. 

And space might come a little bit nearer this weekend as now Roland is whisking us off for the trip of a lifetime to the Space Center in Houston. I daydream quite a lot about being an astronaut but I suspect would be totally useless as I would spend my whole time gazing out of the window rather than flicking switches and recording data.

We are off this Saturday. There is still much to look forward to despite the sadness.

Sleep well sweet Oskar. We will be thinking of you as we look at the stars.

  

vintage loveliness

Some pictures to break the silence.

The mantlepiece as seen through a vintage lens . . .

These are from the amazing Hipstamatic iphone app . . .(yes, I've finally got an iphone and it is a love that is gonna last a long time.) I think this app is perfect for all lovers of vintage but it makes me realise how much I hate our big and complicated camera.

 

But of course the big camera does come in handy for quality shots of the new pixie teatowels, available from my shop. I'm really pleased with the quality of these, such a fab printing service from these people and I was pleased to sell quite a few at the Vintage and Handmade fair earlier this month.

Ah! Vintage and Handmade- what a fabulous day! Such fun to see old friends and some new ones too! Roland came to help me set up and he took lots of photos with the big horrible camera, but he's done something complicated with them so I can't get them on my PC. Gah! 

Of course it was hard not to spend all the pixie's profits on treasure but I did sneak home with a cushion from Daniella at Acorn and Will and Roland splashed out on Sid from Nikki at the Vintage Magpie. Oh joy! Our own fabulous Mr Fox. I'm sure you will agree, he is a handsome beast.

 

The sea, the sea

Here in Pixieland, we are feeling a need for some sea air and we have been visited by some beautiful creatures of the deep. I've been loving creating these, they just flowed in a watery fashion from the end of my pencil with what seems like no effort at all. Usually the floor behind my desk is littered with angrily screwed up pieces of paper until I get it right. 

Firstly we have another book shaped keepsake box. These will be on sale in the shop for £11.50.

 

And also a tiny box frame including an even tinier message in a bottle. Price £20.

 

If you are wondering what the message in the bottle says, it is the lyrics to this song which I've loved from the moment I heard it back at Art school many years ago...

I will be plunging my white* and wintery body into the warm waters of the Arabian gulf for the next week . . . so the pixie shop will be closed until after the Easter weekend. Have a very happy Easter everyone.

:: The massively talented Jayne was the winner of the "name this picture" competition from the last post. So this print has been finally named "Oceans of Friendship" Thank you so much Jayne, your print was sent out to you today. And indeed thank you to EVERYONE who came up with some great titles and very many heartfelt thanks to for all your kind words regarding my brother in law. So many messages from so many kind people.

*actually as I write I am turning a lovely golden colour thanks to a spray tan done by my beautician friend. Now I am over the embarrassment of standing in my knickers being sprayed with what looks like Cuprinol, all I have to worry about is the peculiar smell . . .

D is for Deep water

January brought our family much sadness as my brother in law, Alan's brain disease has progressed much further. It is so very painful to see this cruel disease unpick what was once a brilliant mind in a young and healthy body. If you are used to a rather absent minded family member who happens to be a scientist, strangely, they just seem more like themselves rather than less . . . 

Up until now, I have been in denial that he has been getting worse and I don't like to use the word dementia, it sounds so, quite frankly, . . . scary. And it only happens to old people, right? 

Unfortunately not, although it is rare in younger people. Every week I make a trip up to Greenwich to do my one day of caring and every week I see what more has been taken away. . .  

Last week we planted lily of the valley bulbs  and we went on a blustery walk on Blackheath, there are still moments of happiness . . . picture a tall man listing at an odd angle, striding out at great speed over a steep hill in Greenwich Park with me scuttling behind, trying to keep up. We both enjoyed that. Dementia means you have no choice but to live in the moment and there is a kind of freedom in that. Days when you can think like this are the good days. The days when you can't help but worry about the future can be really, really bad.

Recently, I have had a bit of a guilt trip that drawing and creating is totally trivial. Especially when the world of the carer shifts more sharply into focus. The role of the carer, for a lot of the time, is a hidden world but it is a path that many of us will tread in one form or another. I am full of anger that caring is so often undervalued and my head has been spinning with the world we have found ourselves suddenly flung into. It is a hard terrain for me to navigate, me who muddles through each day putting off deadly stuff such as form filling, financial affairs and phone calls. Perhaps not so hard for my sister who is made of much sterner stuff than me, she is strong and will fight tooth and nail for Alan to have the very best care and treatment. I think if I ever had to choose someone to fight my corner, it would be her. She is awesome.

Of course, other world I inhabit is a far easier one: the drawing, collecting and fripperies that take my fancy. I'm steadily bringing more creatures into Pixieland: unicorns, fauns and mermaids will all have their place. 

Above is a piece I've finally finished but I'm at a loss to think of a title. Any ideas? The one I choose will win the first print off the pixie press so get those thinking caps on. 

In anticipation

Claire xx