January blues getting to you? Well tomorrow Wednesday 27th January is National Chocolate Cake day so go and spoil yourself whether it's home made or bought in. Fudge brownie, bun or a great big Gateaux. It's a day off from the fitness regime and a chance to indulge.

Now if you're going to have chocolate cake then you may need a stand fit for such fabulous a chocolate lovers delight and here's some of mine. But alas my baking skills are lacking so it may be a trip to the local bakers for me.

New window display at The gallery, something old, something new_  with a theme of the garden and it's visitors. If your'e ever in Barton upon Humber you must pop in for a browse. It's great for gifts for family and friends, treats for you and your home, all handmade by local designers. See a previous blog for more info, I love the hedgehog house made by another designer and I have one of the book/box clocks in my office.

I think I may have to purchase one of those robins as he looks great in the display and would finish off my displays at markets and fairs.

I've been working on a lamp custom order for the last few days and when I've finished I need to start work on a chandelier for the same customer. here's some of the pretty china I'm working with.

First we had to decide which china and how to use it, we knew we wanted the teapot set and the 3 cups for the chandelier but could we incorperate the other china too?

Once decided I had to secure the electric fitting inside the china lid, not a easy task and there's always a risk I can break the china.. Luckily I didn't then it was a case of securing each piece of china together a day apart to allow for setting. I forgot to take a pic on day two but you get the idea?

It's now finished and ready for packing for the journey to it's forever home in the USA. I'm really pleased with it, I hope the customer is too. They have sourced their own lamp shade not the one I've used so it will be even more stunning in it's new home.

Well it's cold, damp and the dark nights make January miserable. Nothing else for it but to get cosy by the fire with a nice cuppa. after all January is National Hot Tea month !

It's also an excuse to use the pretty china, it shouldn't be hidden away in a cupboard and what's this teabag in a mug thing although I'm guilty of this sometimes! 

So lets take time to share a pot of tea with friends and family whether it's Earl Grey, Yorkshire tea or like me green tea with lemon. Just remember the cake!

Well It stopped raining long enough for me to go outside and photograph my newly made bird feeders. One of the designs I have improved on as I wanted to be sure when someone buys one they can last a life time. Well unless they have a football playing son who breaks them like me, but that's another story and I share it with you later. My improved design is now drilled and uses a metal fitting, before I used a really strong china adhesive.  Here's three but I have more, the first one uses a side plate so is a little bigger than the others but it's very pretty and would make a lovely Mother's day gift.

Here are some others I photographed today, the topsy turvy design is great for a fat ball and then add seed on top. These are again bigger than my others I would struggle to drink all the tea from the blue one.

Going back to my son playing football in the garden, he knocked over my vintage glass bird bath which I was really proud of. It had survived really harsh frosts and snow but was no match for my boy. If your worried about china bird feeders surviving a frost, it's usually a sudden change in temperature that breaks china e.g. taking a cup out of the fridge/freezer and placing it in the oven/hot water or vice versa. I have teacup bird feeders in my garden for over 4 years in all weathers and they're still here and I'm sure my bird bath would be if it wasn't for my son.

Are you back to normality after the festive period and back to work? If not you lucky things. I was supposed to be working when I got distracted as you do on social media. I discovered it's national Bird day tomorrow January 5th. It's to raise awareness of the worlds birds and their fight against disease, environmental factors, illegal trade and welfare in captivity. Find out more on www.nationalbirdday.com_  As I make bird feeders and bird houses I just had to share and do my bit for our feathered friends. Here's some of my designs and I have some new ideas for 2016 and lots of new ones still in the creation process.