The cookie cottage nestled in a clearing. Warm cinnamon buns lined the path to the front door. The roof was shingled with peanut butter criss cross cookies, and there was an apple pie plant too. A three layer cake spinned above the house as a weathervane. Hansel bit into a candy cane and Gretel chewed a warm bun, filled with raisins.
The badger rustled up from his den. Trouble was afoot. He could smell it~
Foxy witch peered around at the children from a frosted butter cookie flower.
Squirrel set aside his flute, and told the bluebird to warn the children. 
P.S. Thought you might like to see the amazing Brian Wildsmith's version of the witches cottage.
The animals tried to warn them. The deer stamped its hoof on the earth three times.
Rabbit whistled softly, and mouse put down her radish and let out her loudest squeek.
But Hansel was hungry. He had his mind on ginger cookies
and little tarts and hot chocolate.
Even badger tried to help when he peeked from his den and let out a low growl.
However, Gretel's stomach was growling too , for peach pie. So she didn't hear the warning.
Then , in a clearing in the woods they thought they saw a cottage, with a cookie roof and a walkway made of butterscotch drops. And they smelled woodfire and saw the smoke curling from the candycane chimney. They walked on , feeling sure someone truly wonderful lived in such a delightful house.
*Next time, Hansel and Gretel meet the witch!xxx
juliewhitmorepottery.etsy.com
One hundred yards of waxed linen thread. That is what I ordered; so when I saw the button bracelet tutorial at www.hopestudios.blogspot.com I got out my button box and made some of my own.
You double the thread and start with a loop at the front. I decided what button I would loop it over and used that for my measurement. Its important to use a long length of thread, there's lots of knotting and criss crossing you'll be doing.
From the back
I took a break yesterday and went antiquing and brought home a new village.
And We had a picnic near Morro Rock at Sandy Cove. Fish and chips with lots of vinegar
This curlew was very friendly, he followed us as we walked along the shore
Stopped for pots but came home with more plants than pots. Look at those blooms! I bet you wouldn't of been able to resist either. I will be listing what I did manage to buy tomorrow on Etsy. 
I can't wait to go back to Sandy Cove for another picnic. That place has left its footprint on my heart.
I've been trying to let my customers know what the size of things are by carefully measuring with wooden yardsticks I keep all over the house. But this way you can see how three different sizes of pots compare to eachother.
I think by holding them in my hands like this you can get a better idea of how they would feel in your hands. You don't really need more than say this porcelain beakers is five inches tall and lightweight. I'm going to be adding gold highlights to the beakers today and firing tonight to list tomorrow. The pots too, but no gold there, I'm keeping them old school
I usually put one of the animals from the farm next to something too. for good measure.
By the way, the hills are turning green around here.
And I've been birdwatching. I took this picture of a cedar wax wing in our yard this morning. They are so wild, and to see a big flock land in one of our juniper or other berry trees is enough to get your tail wagging all day.
Bird beaker with hollyhocks. I sewed some cut up hankie pieces on this linen top for spring.
My button hole stitch is my sewing claim to fame.
Here I'm being inspired by a mouse pincusion my friend Nancy gave me.(thank you Nancy, I love it.xx) Its made by Jennifer Murphy, a girl who really knows her way around a needle and thread. She has a charming blog where you can see more of her work: http://www.andothersillythings.blogspot.com/
A bouquet for you!
My camellia is in full bloom. Its ten feet tall and looks like its covered with snow there are so many blossoms . When we moved here it was a scraggley five feet , I cut the berries that were choking it, cut off the dead wood and I might even have talked to it a little bit. Does this mean I have green fingers?
I have flower fever lately. Here's the pot right by my front door, I have a habit of stuffing it like a turkey at Thanksgiving but its always blooming for me.
More painted pots just out of the kiln
I went to the nursery today just to see if the rannuclus were in. Not yet. Any day now they promised.
Blooms from a wild geranium that grows all over my garden.
Yes, more camellias, with little sprigs of lavender mixed in. I just looked at my hands and there is not a tinge of green there, I'm not a great gardener but I do treasure flowers and time spent on my plot so much . With true gardeners I think its must be like Reginald Arkell says
The mister drew this name from the hat for the hedgehog pot. Pippa's Garden, my email address is jkwhitmore@hotmail.com , I will send this off as soon as I hear from you.
Happy gardening everyone! February is the month to start your sweet peas~
xxx julie
juliewhitmorepottery.etsy.com
