Home is where the heart is

Yesterday I'd stolen a few moments to go to the studio and take some photos for our Katryoshka Etsy shop, of course I got totally distracted and that's how this blog post was born. As I was clicking away on some prints of Emma's past work I began to see a common theme. Many featured large houses all with some resemblance to White House Farm. Emma was born in the house she now lives in and although she did spend some time living in San Francisco and other places, she has always gravitated back here. In this day and age how many people do you know who have lived almost all their lives in the same house? I can't think of many other than my grandparents in Germany. I am yet to question the Muse over whether the repeated appearance of White house style houses is intentional in her work but here are a few examples I photographed yesterday for you to enjoy, Kat x 

It was in the cards!

Strange occurrences continue at White house. For weeks now I have been reading The Empress card in the tarot readings of various house members including Camille and Alpha Male. Every time I could see pregnancy and even spent a couple of unsettling weeks thinking it might be my own. Last week it became apparent it was not so I was confused further by the continued appearance of this card which represents Mother Nature herself, creativity and fertility. The woman is full-figured, possibly pregnant, and is surrounded by lush greenery and fields of ripe wheat. In the forest behind her a river flows freely with water, the symbol of life. Her upraised hand holds a sceptre which demonstrates her power and authority over the things of this earth. Below the Empress's couch is a heart-shaped pillow with the symbol of Venus emblazoned upon it, and her flowing robe is decorated with pomegranates, a symbol of fertility.

 Well, what a surprise when yesterday our newest canine family member Shirley, gave birth to three puppies. Unfortunately we failed to resuscitate the last two but the first survived and is going strong. In December we got Shirley from a random visit to Birmingham Dogs home and as she was so underweight we didn't rush to have her spayed. After she came into season around our other border collie Floyd, she was given the doggy equivalent of the morning after pill but that's not always successful, obviously! There are already two many unwanted dogs in the world so Alpha male and I are defiantly feeling irresponsible dog owners guilt but every new life is a blessing and we will endeavour to ensure Shirley's little daughter gets the best care and new home within our power, Kat x

My Big Fat Gypsy Christening Party

What a weekend White House has seen! The much missed Muse returned from a week in San Francisco on Saturday afternoon and shortly after, the festivities began with a pre-christening Japanese buffet and drinks at Bar Specturm (The bar at White House). Sunday saw little Quin being Christened at our local church's Easter service and afterwards it was all change for My Big Fat Gypsy Christening Party in the croft. Highlights included two amazing cakes, one a delicious fruit cake from Pooty and the other a gorgeous raspberry and lemon combination, both pimped in true Big Fat Gypsy style by our Cornish Cousins. There were some amazing gypsytastic outfits especially the sleazy looking male minority. Alpha male enjoying indulging in some grabbing activities where possible, (luckily only with me mind!) and the kids had absolute riot. Thank you to everyone who was part of the celebrations, a fantastic weekend with our closest friends and family, what better way to mark a milestone. Now I am going for a lie down! Kat x

Kids hijacking the Sunshine Van for their own activities!

Me about to endure some grabbing.

The Muse and her gyspytastic son complete with homemade I love caravans tattoo.

My Big Fat Gypsy Christening Party cakes made by Camille and the Cornish Cousins, Winnie and Maisie, below in all their finery!

Quin on his big day, still obsessed with Superman!

Mum's new website

Just finished designing a website for my Mum. After raising an autistic son and then working for years as a special needs teacher, she is now using her wealth of experience to help others who are facing similar issues, good work Mum! Kat x http://managingautism.co.uk/index.html

The Sunshine Van

Here are some pictures of the finished Sunshine Van just in time for Quin's Big Fat Gypsy Christening Party next weekend. It is a super cute 1976 Sprite Caravan and has a fabulous lounging bed on one end for enjoying these mild spring days. The photos are a bit rubbish but I am yet to master my camera and have kids to bath so these will have to do for now, Kat x

Music to my ears!!

Poor Alpha Male! He returns from two weeks in New Zealand to find his wife has become obsessed by ANOTHER new project - this time its writing music. Now he defiantly can't get a minutes peace! I have spent most of his time away enthralled with recording myself and my various random instruments using a £2 microphone of ebay and free to download program audacity http://www.download-audacity.com/. Its great fun because the kids can join it too and have given me some great samples. Lets get one fact straight, my voice ain't Leona Lewis but you can keep trying until your happy with what you have. I have posted a couple of tracks onto Myspace and am now dreaming up a fab alter ego name for my new persona, watch this space!!Kat x http://www.myspace.com/katryoshka

Black Wall project

One project I had been looking forward to, while Alpha Male was in New Zealand, was painting one of the walls in the bar in black vinyl silk paint. Here it is completed although it is hard to convey its dominate effect through my photos. The sheer blackness keeps catching my eye when I'm in the room and the shiny, reflective qualities of vinyl silk and the mirrors stop it from becoming too oppressive. Love it!, Kat x

Sammy the Bear!

Just so I'm not tempted to take myself too seriously here is a picture of me at the Tamworth Samaritans Open Day as Sammy the Bear. Pictured with me is the Mayor of Tamworth, a fab kindly Gent who helped us tremendously. Making the ultimate sacrifice in my role as Samaritans volunteer I put on the rather smelly and quite frankly scary bear costume on what turned out to be one of the hottest days of the year so far, far out!! Kat x

The woman is cock mad!

Ok, I know thats acually a hen rather than a cock but still I never seen a chicken so adored and worshiped. She did disappear shortly after this picture was taken and was found safe and sound two flights of stairs up in Emma's son's bedroom. Kat x

Cushion mania

During Quin's afternoon nursery session I turned the kitchen into a workroom (not allowed when alpha male is home) and made this collection of hessian cushions. I used scraps of ribbons and fabric and worked while watching Cleopatra on YouTube, Kat x

Dogs everywhere!

Here are the six resident White house dogs captured in Emma's kitchen during a rare moment of calm before the storm. Seconds after this picture was taken all hell broke loose when someone drove past the window, (hell breaking loose involves six dogs running through the house, knocking over anything in their way and barking with great gusto, a hourly occurrence). Please allow me to introduce - Floydus Maximus, Tyskie the stiffy, Purple, Gomez, Shirley and Betsy Powers.  

New kitten!!

Made a kitten as requested by my daughter Anya this afternoon. Meanwhile, her brother Quinlan got most upset and requested I make him a pig immediately. I tried to explain I only have two hands and a sewing needle but he didn't believe that excuse. I have always loved making toys for children out of seemingly useless scraps of fabric and watching them come alive in front of your very eyes! Kat x