clootielugs

Summer's been a lot of fun...and very productive! I've had very good results from craft fairs and festivals. Sold lots and made great contacts too! School holidays are now over here so I've more time to browse as well as make. What to theme this weeks Folksy Friday? Well, we had an unexpected visitor to the garden last week...it looked like a huge wasp so at first we supposed it was a hornet.


Here's a picture of the thing, although not the actual one we saw as I didn't have my camera to hand (too busy running!).
Apparently however this is wood wasp and not harmful despite appearances! What looks like a huge stinger is infact an egg tract which it uses to inject its eggs deep into the wood of tree trunks. It lives amongst conifer trees, which makes sense as there are many of those around us. The one we had in the garden measured about one and half inches long, not including the pointy-egg-sting. A fascinating but quite alarming creature. Anyhow, this gave me the idea for my theme for this weeks Folksy Friday, - 'Stingers' or 'All things stingy!' Here's my favourites of what I found after a quick browse on Folksy today;

A stingy nipper but isn't it cute neverthless? One of the lovely makes from Mirribeads. http://www.folksy.com/shops/Mirribeads





http://www.folksy.com/shops/JacobJames
This titfer is made from blending 30% stinging nettles with 70% pure wool! Who'd have guessed?






I love this mobile, it's colours so pretty and fresh and even the jellyfish looks a friendly sort! Its the last one for sale apparently at Kirsty Elsons shop http://www.folksy.com/shops/kirstyelson




This striking cushion is made by Alice Cullen from vintage fabric handprinted with her own design. It makes wasps seem rather charming after all! http://www.folksy.com/shops/alicecullen




Isn't he a honey? (sorry!) He's got the cutest puffy wings too! Made by Socklings have a look at him and his friends at http://www.folksy.com/shops/Socklings