Saturday 31 March 2012

Polymer Clay Workshop

Today I attended a Polymer Clay Workshop run for the British Polymer Clay Guild by Kay Vincent. I have seen the beautiful jewellery and other items Kay makes and was interested to find out how they were made. Kay gave us a great demonstration followed by us making a 'never fail flower' out of polymer clay.
I chose to make buttons but it really is such a versatile material. Suggestions from Kay include beads, brooches, tool handles (craft, not hammers etc.!), light pulls, coasters, the list is endless.
Polymer clay really is easy to work with and only needs approximately 10 mins in the oven to harden it.
Half way through the no fail flower.

Debbie's finished beads

ruby's beads

My buttons
(and week thirteen project - cheating, I know!)

Thanks for such a great morning kay, it flew by!
 I'll certainly have another go at making buttons. Hopefully they'll turn out a bit more delicate next time.
Thanks for visiting, would love to know what you've all been up to this weekend. Have you learn't anything new?

As always, thanks for visiting.
xXx


Friday 30 March 2012

Meet and Make - this week

Today we celebrated our first birthday and thanks to everyone who came along, and to those who supplied nice things to eat. Ian, our nominated photographer said it should be called 'Meet and Eat'! He's such a wit (actually, he is funny but don't tell him I said so!)
Here is a photo taken before everyone arrived, with just a small selection of goodies
Here are a couple of group photos, other people came and went and weren't in the photos
I have noted those that are hiding and you will be named and shamed - Debbie, Pat and Kerry (sort of!) 
Look at that adorable little girl in her vintage dress (and her very stylish mummy!). She was at our first meeting, and was only six weeks old!
Finally, thank you to Jane and Kerry for my lovely flowers and jug
and beautiful wicker heart, I'm going to put it in the bathroom when it's been decorated.
You are both so thoughtful, THANKYOU X
Thank you all for supporting Meet and Make and making it the success it is.
xXx


Wednesday 28 March 2012

WOYWW 147

What's on your workdesk Wednesday
Something completely different this week on my (amazingly tidy!) workdesk.
Homework from the dressmaking class I attend - basting/tacking.
If you'd like to know more about WOYWW and see more desks pop over to Julia's...
Thank you to everyone who visited and left a comment on last weeks WOYWW post.


Monday 26 March 2012

Week twelve project

This is finished and will be revealed later in the week!
Here is a pic of my craft cupboard mid project

Well, the cat was happy...
Jessica making the most of the space in the cupboard

A sneaky peak of the project

And... a nice tidy cupboard!


Thanks for visiting
xXx


Thursday 22 March 2012

For the Love of Books


I found this on Zoe's great blog, she's a fellow booklover and papercrafter (like I'm trying to be!)
Thanks for sharing Zoe

xXx


Sunbathing

No, not me..the dog!
It's a beautiful spring day here and I found Muzzy sunbathing in his favourite spot.

Fun Finds

I've not had a trip to any charity shops (so far) this week, but I've had a few fab finds on ebay.
Here goes....
A 'bits and pieces' box that I will paint, back with nice paper and hopefully, find somewhere to hang it!

Some beautiful grass green linen (my favourite shade of green) that I will use to make a dress.

A vintage school poster that will look even better framed.
My husband likes steam railways so I'll give the framed poster to him as a gift.

Thanks for visiting.
xXx



Wednesday 21 March 2012

Happy Birthday to you...,WOYWW and week eleven project

Dear Kind and Thoughtful Friend
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEBBIE X

I hope you like your pressie
(week eleven project)

And WOYWW
(What's on your Workdesk Wednesday)

A card and tag for a friend whose birthday it is TODAY!
(see above)
There's nothing like leaving things until the last minute to get the creative juices flowing I find!

Want to see other peoples workdesks? Pop over to this fab site.

Thanks for visiting



Monday 19 March 2012

Meet and Make - this (last) week and week eleven project update

(The project for week eleven will be kept under wraps until later this week. It is a present for a friend!)

Thanks to everyone who came and hello to everyone who couldn't make it.






There seemed to be a lot of yarn activity this week!
Welcome to our new member.



Monday 12 March 2012

OK, so am I the only one hoping for snow?!

My bargain Skechers waterproof thinsulate boots, new today.


Colour,colour everywhere..

Yesterday I attended a class at The Craft Barn led by the lovely Helen Chilton. Helen is well known for her love of colour and chose to use rainbow inkpads from Kaleidacolor for this class. We inked onto shiny card with a brayer using the colours of our choice. I chose the fresh greens colourway as green is my favourite colour and I thought it would go with my decor, I was tempted by the reds too.
Then we stamped onto this with black staz on, this was tricky to master and I have to admit that at this stage I really thought I wouldn't like the end result. With guidance from Helen all became clear and this is what I ended up with.
The colours are much more vibrant than they seem here.I may have a problem if I decide to hang them on the wall though. As Helen told us specifically on the day to be careful of this I didn't let on, so if you're reading this Helen I'm confessing now..

Thanks to Helen for a great class.

Whilst I was having fun at the class my husband and youngest son were collecting this, my latest win on ebay,for me.
I love it, lucky me!



Week ten project

A friend of mine has just left her family home of many years, where she brought up her children and lived with her husband before he passed away. She's moved closer to me and I'm really looking forward to seeing her more often (she's a VERY busy lady!)
I made her this card using a couple of Crafty Individuals stamps and a small set by Artemio, they're such great value and lovely stamps.

It was all going so well until this happened
The rubber had been attatched to the wood block upside down!
(This is a Cavallini set)

Not being able to face starting again I cheated by sticking a label over it
I may actually re do it as I have some new ideas and some new stamps.

I also started making her a gift
"Can you tell what it is yet?"
(said in a Rolf Harris voice!)
This may defeat me as I can't find anymore of the yellow fabric!