Tuesday 31 January 2012

Tag Tuesday- Lace.

 It will be interesting to see how this weeks theme is interpreted.  I started off thinking about using some of my own home made lace and one of my vintage bobbins.  Not wanting to cut up the lace, I needed another idea.  It was only when I was going through my trinket box and came across this old brooch of mine that I had that 'light bulb' moment.
As Elizabeth 1 was famous for her lace ruffs, I made my 'ruff' by gathering a length of lace down the middle and then joining it into a circle.  Velvet ribbon and  pearl beads, ( ala Laura Kemshall)  were added to the tag made from calico with lace bonded onto it.  Her motto, ( which means Ever the same) was printed on my computer and then stuck behind a velum tag which I aged with distress ink.
I couldn't make up my mind what to do with my tags, contemplated making a zigzag book for them, but in the end decided to use this book which I hope will allow enough space for all the embellishments.

Saturday 28 January 2012

F.E.T.

We had our first meeting of the New Year today.  Lots of news to catch up on and then onto making items for our sales table that we are having at T.I.F. next month.
I finished making these embellishments last night for our stall.

Tuesday 24 January 2012

Tag Tuesday-vintage

For this weeks tag, I used mulberry paper for the tag covered in a piece of vintage dress making pattern, this I then over stamped with a Paper Artsy rubber stamp.  The rosette is made from a piece of scrap book paper  with old sewing adverts from my stash .
The photo is of my grandmother who was a tailoress, so I have used some of her bits that I have had for nearly 40 years. The ivory button  is monogrammed with the initial of her maiden name.  The black bead is made of Jet, the silver thimble had been  so well used by her that there were a few holes in the top allowing me to be able to sew it onto my tag.  The vintage darning wool, was given to me by a very old friend, remaining odds and ends came from my stash.

Friday 20 January 2012

And yet another book

This is the final book for the time being.  I am demoing at T.I.F next month, but this book wont be going with me, as it is a present for a little girl.
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Craft vilene  painted with acrylic paint,  images adhered with mat medium,then hand stitching and embellishing.
The pages inside have been painted ala Frances Pickering.
Bound into a book on my Bind-It-All.  Shrink plastic butterfly for  further embellishment.  Just needs to be flattened with a few books before I can give it away.

Wednesday 18 January 2012

Afternoon tea.

I had a lovely afternoon at Craft Arena with Denise and Diane, chatting, drinking coffee and eating Christmas cake-yum!!  Last year I bought a  flower stitcher for a project I was working on, but in the end never got to even take it out of the box.  Diane is now thinking of buying one, so Denise gave us a demo on how it works.  I will have to try my one now!
After, I went to collect Kezzy's trousers from where they were being repaired.  As the shop was empty, the owner had time to talk to me and show me some of her beautiful trimmings, beautiful fabrics and the piece 'de resistance' 40 year old hand beaded lace!!!   It was stunning!!!  A lovely end to my afternoon.  :0)

Tuesday 17 January 2012

Tag Tuesday-White

This is my third tag for Carolyns challenge.  Having great fun making them.

Books

Margaret and I were asked to show members how we made our books.  So, the last week I have been making a few.  I have used paper napkins for the covers apart from the long thin one which is the decoupage paper stocked at Hobbycraft.  I also used different methods for binding the books together.
I wanted to make the inside interesting as well, so on this frosty book, I stamped a snowflake stamp painted with bleach onto the Brusho coloured pages.
 On the daisy book, I coloured the pages with cold tea.  I then embosed the edges of the book on my Big Shot and coloured the raised motif with Treasure Gold.

Members night.

A different time of evening was organised last night for our members.  Different activities wee set up in the hall, one of which was Lynda Monk doing demonstrations of various techniques.  A lady who is very willing to share her techniques and methods.
Denise from Craft Arena was doing metal embossing.
 Margaret and I were talking about the books we make using paper napkins.
Libby from EAST was helping members make a stunning beaded star.

 And a members night isn't complete without a slice of home made cake........
and a nice cup of tea and chat.

Thursday 12 January 2012

Yet more knitting!

                                          I  can now reveal the third and final shrug (as the shop cant get anymore of this wool and although I have tried other wool, it doesn't look as nice as when I have used the correct wool).  This one is for my friend Nickie for her birthday.

Tag Tuesday.

This is my tag for week 2.

I painted my tag with paint and when dry embossed it with my Big Shot. Applied silver ink to the raised surface. Stamped and heat embossed snowman, coloured in details with gel pens. I used 2 brads for the eyes.

Wednesday 11 January 2012

Catch up!!

I have joined the Tag Tuesday Challenge set up by Carolyn. which started last week.  I now need to think about this weeks theme.

Monday 9 January 2012

366 challenge

I just popped over to look a few more journals on Kates blog and there is now 92 journals to view!!  I cant believe how many people are taking part in this challenge this year. It's going to take some time to visit them all. 

Thursday 5 January 2012

366 Challenge.

I cant believe how many of us are taking part in Kate Cranes challenge this year.  72!!!!!  It's going to take me some time to visit all those journals!!!

Tuesday 3 January 2012

Another scarf.

Over the Christmas holidays, I have been busy knitting.  I really enjoyed knitting this scarf of many colours.  I have never made bobbles this way before.  I got the pattern from the Revelry web site, the wool I bought at the N.E.C., Festival of Quilts in August, I knew it would come in handy one day!
I have made another shrug but cant post a photo of it yet as it is a present.  And yet another scarf on the needles now, at least I will be nice and warm when doing playground duty.

A bit late this month.

I have had my mother staying with me the last few days of December, so I was late finishing off my December page.  When I started this challenge last year, I wasn't sure that I would be able to keep it up for the whole year.  I have, and its been fun seeing everyone's  work too! 
I have tried journalling on different shapes but as I like to do little drawings  at time, I have found the shapes inhibit this, so this month its back to plain old squares. Inspiration came for this page while sitting at mums yesterday and her comment on it being a north wind blowing.  This bought to mind the rhyme 'The North wind doth blow, and we will have snow'.   I shall be adding this to the page when I am using the house computer/printer next time.
Pages coloured with brusho for a change.  Letters we painted with white acrylic before having puffpaint applied and heated to create 'snow'.  Quite a plain page this month after all the Christmas bling!
The 366 challenge has been set up by Kate Crane.  Click here to see more journals from everyone participating.