Vintage Note Cards - Creative swaps

It has been some time since I last took part in one of Leena's creative swaps. Work has mainly gotten in the way, (I first took part in 2008, click HERE to see my other contributions) but at Christmas I decided to sign up for a Vintage card swap.

A large group of us needed to create three cards and we would in turn receive three cards back. I have made an extra one for the swap host Leena.

When we signed up we were also emailed a PDF with images that we could use to actually create the cards. Not having any vintage images within my own picture collection, I decided to use the ones on the PDF. The two cards above used two images of ladies using a sepia film. The card on your left is attached to a patterned clear velum sheet and an edging of pure cotton lace has been attached down the side to link with the lace on the dress in the picture. The other card is also presented on velum which has a rose on the front, a length of light brown ribbon and more lace .

The above card is on landscape with cream flower design on craft paper. The next vintage illustration is then added in the middle. To frame it I have then added more of the light brown tape down either side.
The final card is also on landscape and has a rose velum background added. More goldy tape and the image had some music along the bottom so I re-added that to the card as well.

We were also asked to maybe add design to the envelopes. No being too sure what to do here without it looking awful, I decided to keep it really very simple and then promptly forgot to take photos of them, doh! Sorry, it has been quite a two weeks lately and I am so tired I am not really sure where I am at the moment. You know that exhausted feeling.

They have now been sent off to Leena in America and then swapped with someone else's and I hope that they are ok as they are a completely different style for me to do.

Many thanks for the visits and comments for my i-touch cosy. The fabric was a fat quarter and I am now on the look out for some more!

xx

UPDATE: My cards have now safely arrived and are now featured on the Creative Swaps blog. They have been beautifully photographed.

Waste not want not............

After having made the i-Touch case I decided to make something else with the leftovers. Whilst thinking, because I had not actually planned to make anything, I looked at the bag which I take to my sewing group and in there were these.................
A scissors case!! Along with expensive items not having cases, sharp sewing items do not seem to either. Unlike some of my hubby's tools which do come with something, even if it is only a plastic sleeve.

I use to make little drawstring bags for my scissors during my degree, but that was years ago, time to revive the usage.
So I quilted the leftovers to give thickness and stitched up the sides. Again I lined it with the same fabric. I made the case to the size of the fabric so no actual measurements were ever thought out.

I still had the buttons out and so I simply had to use one to add a little bit of detail.

I can get two pairs of scissors inside with wriggle room. The black handled set is a mid sized set of fabric shears and the other pair used to be a gold colour which has rubbed off with use but they are between shears and embroidery scissors. I take these everywhere and now with a bit more style.

I can sense some more of these being made, my needle case has just fallen apart too but I have had it for over 15 years!

xx

i-Touch Cosy

After nearly ten years of regular use, my personal CD player decided it was time to stop working two days before Christmas!

It was too late for a lovely replacement for Christmas or birthday from hubby so New Year saw the challenge to find something else.

I thought that perhaps I ought to drag myself into the 21st century and look at a Nano or i-touch player. So I treated myself to the above.

As is often the case, despite paying a tidy bit for gadgets like these you rarely get a case with it or you have to buy one separately.

Ahh, but this signals a crafty chance to raid the stash pile and make something original.

I have had the above fabric for a while. It was intended for a dairy cover commission but an alternative fabric was used.

I decided to lightly quilt it and lined it with the same fabric. I love buttons and this sparkly one just bounced up and down in the box saying "me! me! Sew me on!", so of course I did.

A simple quick fastening means that I can include the earphones and if needed the charging cable as well, plenty of room inside.
The top flaps over and the loop secures around the button. I have been able to put the i-Touch upside down and wear the headphones while it is still in the case! I did not want to mess around with holes to attach the earphones through, difficult to finish it off neatly.
I am really pleased with the way it turned out and I even had some fabric left over.
Want to know what I made with it?
Pop back to see tomorrow.
xx

CAB Team Treasury

I was lucky enough to get an email via Etsy about one of my handmade purses being included in a CABTeam Treasury.

My item is on the print screen above, top row second one in from the left.

The print screen is in two halves due to only having a notebook laptop and this just happens! Anyway, it is so nice when your items are picked out from the 1000's which can be found on Etsy.

This would make a lovely Valentines present for someone or a treat for yourself, there is a matching bag too.

I actually saw Easter Eggs in the shops at the beginning of January and thought that we have not even finished with Valentines. I do feel that the year does know get shorter.

Have a great week and keep warm, we must have been if the electricity bill that has just arrived is anything to go by!

xx

Eden Project Sketchbook Visit

A couple of weeks ago we visited the Eden Project to renew our locals visitors cards. Once we had done that we looked around the Biomes. I posted about the viewing platform that Sophie and Hubby were brave enough to go up, but not me!!

We also visited the education centre and it was very interesting and links well with Textiles.

There was also a very large sculpture called The Seed made from 170 tonnes of concrete which once sculpted now weighs 70 tonnes. There are photos with a step by step explanation of the design from start to finish and to too nearly 2 years to completed. How they got the shaping of each seed section is fascinating.

Sorry, blogger playing silly "bloggers" again as this picture has been turned on it side again.

There were also other pictures and mini exhibitions of seeds and these were ideal for my SEED sketchbook.
This page is a combination of two of my photos from The Seed sculpture and I simply weaved them together to gain another unusual picture. I like this technique and use it a lot.
If you are going to the Eden Project just go and see this exhibition, it really is quite incredible. Oh and make sure that you have camera with you!

I promise that this is the last post about making my SEED sketchbook but I did get to enjoy doing this and I so not think that it turned out too bad in the end, did it?
Now it is time to move on to something else.
Have a good week
xx

Seed Sketch Book - Final pages.

Nearly finished the SEED sketchbook.

I was given a lovely birthday card at Christmas with a dandelion image and this set off another few pages.

It is a pity that blogger just would not let me put the picture the right way round!!

Anyway, above I used watercolour paints, fine line pen and some coloured pencils.

The above picture shows the cards at the top and then my ideas underneath. I intended on having this picture t open my post but you would need to lie down to view it, well maybe you are anyway. I hope you can still see what I was trying to do. I think that I may revisit this picture too.

This section of the book shows some pictures that I took out and about last September and on the left is a picture which I printed onto photo paper and then with a fine black pen extended it out from the photo and onto the background page which has a green and yellow water colour wash background.

Close up of my drawing.

The side view of the sketchbook looks quite interesting too, don't you think?

I can now concentrate on my new sketchbook challenge and we will soon move into February where we will get a new theme. I would like to try and add another couple of pages to my "Highly Prized" pages before that if I can.

However, my SEED sketchbook is now a closed book.

Hopefully it will go on display along with everyone elses with the Embroiderers Guild branch that I try and attend during the year. I will let you know what happens with that .

More tomorrow as I want to try and do some work tonight and leave the weekend a bit clear. I think hubby is flying off somewhere else again on Sunday.

Keep warm as it is literally freezing here in Cornwall, trust me, I have just grabbed a bag of stuff out of the car and it is all jammed up already!!

xx

What is this?

I found this sculpture whilst surfing the internet. It is in the USA and was created in a park. I was at my friends house and did not get a chance to write all of the details down.

This is pretty much how I look at the end of a working week!

Any ideas?

I was astonished to find it is made out of......

.....Lots and lots of brightly coloured flip flops!!!

I can not wait for warmer weather so that I can put mine back onto my feet. I find them so much more comfortable than anything else.

xx

My New Read.

It has been really hectic since going back to work. Sewing has been on the back burner. I even had to fore go my sewing evening this week because hubby had to suddenly go on a business trip to Edinburgh.
I have managed to fit in a bit of reading before putting the light out otherwise I do not fully unwind and lay awake for hours!
So I have finished Memoirs of a Geisha and the above is next to be opened.
I was given it by my parents as part of my birthday present in December. I find this author easy to read and I have read everything written so far!
I have been playing around with my new camera and so some items will be photographed tomorrow and crafting will commence (I hope) well after taking Sophie to ballet and then food shopping!
xx

Eden Project - Aerial View

Last weekend we decided to pop down to the Eden Project and re-new our local visitor cards. We have not been for ages, months even. There is still some sorting out to do due to the flooding a couple of months ago.

However, there is now a viewing platform (see above) that you can pay to go up to and it is high, near the top of the Tropical Biome.

I do not like heights and unless there is an angry bear chasing me I will not go, so Hubby and Sophie decided that they wanted to take a look, so I stayed on the ground, (offered the use of a bench which was nice) and Hubby took my camera to take these pictures for me.

This picture is looking down on the palms in the Tropical Biome.

This picture might give you an idea of perspective. Just above the wall is the walkway to start getting up to the platform.

This is what the surface of the steps and viewing platform looks like. Lots of holes, you can see below.....all the way down......a long way down........equals in my mind as ..........................FEAR!!!! Sorry, I shall clam down a bit now.

Anyway.........

I can not bring myself to walk on something that does not look strong enough, I know, I know it is not rational etc but if the steps and the platform were filled then I would go up. Defeats the point a bit I suppose.

I think that this picture is lovely and I hope to perhaps use this at some point in my sketchbook.

The white ball in this picture is a balloon which has a seat attached for one person and this was used last year for maintainance and then for visitors to have a go. It was very popular so hence the platform was built.

Here, you can see how small the people are walking below to get an impression of how high this platform is, shiver, shiver!

It was a great couple of hours and then home to get changed and meet up with friends for an Indian Buffet.

The last few months have been filled with work, illness, rehearsals and then panto performances, plus the festive season. So it was good to get out without having to rush around. I find visitng Eden very enjoyable and a chance to use my camera. In this case, my new Christmas Camera.Still learning to get to grips with it.

We did go into the Mediterranean Biome but I shall save that for tomorrow. I have got some work to do for the day job.

One final picture, I really like this, pity I could not find out what the plant was called.

Take care

xx

Sketchbook Challenge 1 - Highly Prized

Well, here it is. My first installment for the Sketchbook Challenge theme for January which is "Highly Prized"

I decided to use digital photography for this one, partly because I could not really draw all that I wanted to include. I also wanted to create a double page spread.

I took pictures of a range of people, places, themes etc which I prize. Then I wrote a series of words around the border to link to the pictures. My hubby's solution to avoiding yet another soaked wash due to rain was hilarious, but it worked!!

Finally, I used blue watercolour over any white patches on the border to blend them in a little so that they do not look so stark. The above page features some things I have made plus my daughter making a hat and some primary students work.

I am quite pleased with my first effort and the fact that I have made the deadline.

Now to get the pictures onto Flickr.

xx

Crochet Crazy stripe blanket...............

Having completed my Granny blanket with the guidance of Attic24 I planned to have a go at something else. As you may remember I do not know anyone who can crochet so I am trying to teach myself with books, blog tutorials and Youtube.

I have been collecting this wool for several months...............

It is a £1.00 a ball, 50% cotton and is lovely to work with and called Kon-Tiki by Stylecraft.

I bought a range of the colours, no red unfortunately but I do not think that it will be problem in the end.

So on Christmas evening I got out my hook and made a start on it.

I have been writing down what I do as I do it so that I can do a mini tutorial , just the sizing may be of interest.

It has gradually grown and grown and I like to be able to pick it up and put it down without going wrong.

The high cotton content makes it so very soft and even though it is seems quite thin it is certainly warm on my knees.

It is still on going, not much has been done to it this week due to going back to work but it does not matter, does it?

We went to see Sophie in her panto this evening and I have to say it was really good. Due to dropping her off and picking her up I have seen the second half many times in rehearsal but not the first half. At one point I was laughing so much that I was crying.

At one point the dwarfs had to put on dressing gowns. So imagine, if you will, seven 8 year olds trying to get thin cotton dressing gowns on over their stage clothes quickly but with some of the sleeves having been left the wrong way round and saying some lines all at the same time!! I needed another tissue at this stage. It was one of those unplanned moments which is unlikely to even happen tomorrow, brilliant!

Mega slushy parent moment when Sophie came on as one of the Dwarfs, they had microphones which made it easy to hear them. The dance routine and singing that I had not yet seen were really good! We bought a programme with her name in it to go with the ballet show she took part in early last year.

Will she carry on with this? We will have to watch this space and see. By the way, there is a filmed DVD shot on Wednesday, yep, got it on order!!

xx

Sketchbook Chosen

After some thought I have decided to use the white spiral bound sketchbook for the challenge. What really swung it was a comment from Daisie who suggested that I leave the cover blank until I have finished or the end of the challenge arrives first, and then decorate the cover with images from the contents!!!

Brilliant idea, the more I think about it the more I like it. Bloggers are good at this sort of problem solving.

I have started my Highly Prized page and hope to finish it at the weekend.

If you like sketchbooks you might like to take a look at Alisa Burke's site, lovely use of colour. Just take a look at the Egyptian Exhibition drawings that she did.

Amazing.

I went to my sewing group today and I have some items to show you tomorrow. Today has been back to work day and a bit hectic. I have also started some crochet bits and bobs too. I have taken some pictures with my new camera, just got to figure out how to download them without losing any!

Back tomorrow, I need my beauty sleep.

xx

Final Christmas Quilt Block

Due to a range of reason, some personal some not, I have decided to stop taking part in the Christmas Quilt Bee. The main reason being that my quilt stayed for 3 months with the same person and despite prompting from the host it did not move!

However time was given to other swaps etc but clearly not to my quilt. I do not agree with naming and shameing but there was always a get out clause of if passing the quilt on without a new block would help to keep it all moving then do so and no one would think less of them. this is not happen. Due to personal reasons the host has had to drop out so I have decided to do the same. Ironically, my quilt has since moved on to the next person and I now need to try and get in touch with the new person and ask them to send it to me with or without their block.

It is a big disappointment but the first Bee took 14 months and this one was meant to be done before Christmas, we started in March/May time. I have learnt so much and if it was not for these Bee's I would not have tried the blocks that I have tried, it has taken me out of my comfort zone and for that I am grateful for taking part.

So the above block is now on its way to the USA and I hope Jane likes it.

xx

Which sketchbook to use?

Today we have been taking own the decorations and removing the tree so as yet I have not actually started my sketchbook but ideas have been rattling around in my brain.

However, which book should I use?

I have collected a selection over the years, some I have bought, some I have been given. All offer different things.

The red one above is from Italy and is leather with plain pages which are not very thick, so paint may be a problem. I have used two of these books before for my City and Guilds course. The other one is a purple velour which is nice to touch, same thickness paper. Neither have spiral spines, suitable for sticking in things etc. They could be carrid around in a bag if needed.

The black and red books above are the same thing but different sizes, they are both covered in a type of fabric, plain pages which may be a little thicker.

The white spiral bound book above I found this holiday and it has a canvas cover which you can paint on, stick things etc. The Black one is a Daler Rowney sketchbook with pages which are ideal for any media really, the pages may crinkle a little but then flatten out once closed.

Tomorrow is the last day of the holidays for me then it is back to work. I need to get this months page(s) done soon otherwise work is going to take over. Next month I could leave it until the half-term break etc.

So which one? I will need to decide quickly.

Others have already started their pages, click here to see what has been created so far.

During the Christmas break I past my 600th post barrier so once things have got bak into a routine I shall have a giveaway to celebrate. 600! That sort of snuck up on me too.

Take care

xx

Acting debut

A few weeks ago Sophie's dance teacher asked of she would like to be in a Panto as one of the seven dwarf's as she needed two more. So Sophie ans another ballet friend were added to the cast. We have been toing and froing since November to rehearsals, missed a couple due to illness, weather etc.

However, today was the first performance in front of a real audience and Sophie was buzzing when we went to pick her up.

Hubby and I have sat through some of the rehearsals which have over ran, and I have seen the second half loads of times but not yet the beginning!

Before we were due to leave to get Sophie to the theatre there was a knock at the door and our neighbours had a Good Luck card for her. Thy have also taken part in these panto's before and understand the work and practice that is involved in them. We hope it see the full performance later in the week.

Once we got her home and settled her for a couple of minutes I asked her to close her eyes and hubby and I gave her these................

Her own bunch of roses and carnations for a successful first performance.

It has done wonders for her confidence and self-esteem.

Well done Sophie

(Slushy Mummy moment, sorry can't help it!)

xx

Happy New Year 2011

Happy New Year everyone!

Goodness knows what it will bring. Lots of uncertainty for many jobs, health, family etc but hopefully some fun, laughter and enjoyment too.

Yesterday it was my Hubby's birthday and we went out for lunch and then a little shopping as Sophie has some Christmas money (and birthday money left) Sophie bought a very stylish purple tunic top. I found a lovely cardigan too.

We got home and our neighbours popped round for a drink, nibbles and a chat. They have a 2 year old who needed to go to bed, so we then went back to theirs and meet one set of their parents to see in the New Year. Whilst out hubby found some rocket fireworks and set those off much to the children's delight!

We then had a little go at playing Roulette. Now, earlier in December at my works Christmas party they had a Roulette wheel and it was all for fun. The winner with the most chips at the end of the evening won a bottle of champagne. It was easy to understand, not so easy to win anything, but a good laugh. So we found one in a toy shop and played it one evening at home and then took it with us last night. We should have started earlier, but we were chatting, but good fun none the less.

It was all low key but made a nice change to see in the New Year with different people.

I wish you all a safe and happy New Year to anyone who has visited, commented, lurked, passed through or has popped by to read a post or a tutorial. The places from which some of you visit is amazing. Someone visited from the Yemen last month!

I hope to add to my tutorial list this year, may not be brand new ideas, just my way of doing things but may be of interest.

I am now off to see what the first installment of the Sketchbook challenge is. have a great day!

xx