Boxed Up

Last year when I got my Hansen mini spinner it became pretty clear that it was going to become my go-to portable spinning wheel. I've since taken it all around the country in my trusty wooden box!

I can tuck everything I need inside the box, and have it set up to use as a lazy kate, and it will also act as a table for me to put the Hansen on whilst I spin.
Overtime however, my box has started to look a bit tatty, and I fancied smartening it up a little. 

On the top... a bit of inspiration, a reminder that when we sit down to spin we create wonderful things from unpromising beginnings. 

On the first side, a reminder of the first spinning wheels, the Great Wheel, which is being "helped" by a version of Viola the cat. A squirel up the tree, and a Tawny Owl watch on.

On this side there's a version of Flossy the Hilltop Cloud sheep, and some of the ducks from a local farmyard.

On this side a Welsh dragon is acting tough, but is being faced down by one of my cockerels. A stylised version of Cav is hiding in the tree roots.

Finally we've got Gwen the dog channelling her inner wolf and howling at the moon. We regularly get herons flying up the valley so I had to include one of those, and in a touch of whimsey the fish is acting as the fisherman.

I painted the box in 2 coats of the same Soft Sheen Vinyl Emulsion I used on my stair wall, and then sketched the rough design in pencil. After that I drew over it in permanent marker and went back and rubbed out the pencil where it showed through. It ended up needing a coat of varnish because permanent marker turns out not to be water resistant!

I've now got an even more Snazzy box to take my Hansen out and about in, and overtime I look at it I'll get some little reminders of home.

The box, in case you're wondering came from this Ebay shop.