Crochet Gloriousness

 Earlier this month my lovely friend Annie from Nana Go Go sent me the most wonderful present, a handcrocheted bag in the most delicious swirling blues and turquoises.  It is a true delight;  she has put so much surface decoration and texture in it.

It undulates and wriths, swirls and twirls in woolly fabulousness.

 Quite simply, it is stunning and Annie is a genius!

 I think you will agree?

Happy Frederick Arbuthnot Day

It's 4 years since my Freddy passed on but he's not forgotten, I always mark the day with treats for my boys.  So Gourmet pate or Sheba tender slices, decisions, decisions..... sure the boys would say both, lol.




Hutch turned 10 this past week.  He didn't seem too impressed but soon bucked up when the cat milk came out - he's such a foodie.

As you may have noticed I'm starting to play around with my photos - and having so much fun.  Here's one of Merlin, showing off his multiple personalities

I'm hoping to actually get something creative done today as studio almost tidied.  What are you up to today?

Starting the Year with the Inspirational Deck Swap

Now the mince pies have settled and the fireworks have gone off and 'normal' life resuming I wanted to share some of the wonderful cards that I got from the Inspirational Deck Swap I participated in.  It arrived between Christmas and New Year like a belated but very welcome present and it's stunning.  So many artists have come together to make this a wonderful swap.

 Here are just some of the fabulous cards that I've pulled out of the deck to share with you today.  The above artists are Kristin Dudish, Annette R Lansing and Joann Loftus.  The cards below were made by Sandra Beligi, Mary Jane Chadbourne and Grace Mendex.

They really are a very inspirational way to start the New Year.  I've just got to decide whether to make a box, a journal or a ring to keep them all in mmmm........

And I shall be visiting the artists and their blogs/facebooks etc over the next few days, really looking forward to meeting you all.  Thank you for all your superb work.

Hope you've all had a wonderful festive time and may I wish you a Happy, Creative and Artistic 2013!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas Crafts

 I've been busy making things for some Christmas Craft Fairs I've been standing.  These trees are made from the pages of an old copy of A Christmas Carol by Dickens and I used corks for the bases.

 These jotters are made out of junk envelopes with book print and buttons

A selection of Christmas tags with vintage images, lace and buttons and a smattering of glitter

These kilt pin brooches are lovely to make, involving me getting all my beads out (and I have way too many) and sorting out different colour combinations - a delightful job :-)

with little metal charms added.  These jingle really sweetly, when you move.

And last, but not least I've made some little books, actually using some of my scrapbook paper stash instead of just looking and admiring it!

That's the last craft fair stood today, now on to christmas present making, a crafters work is never done, lol

Little Quote to Ponder for Tuesday

Another ATC from the Inspiration Card Deck Swap - Happy Tuesday!

2012 Inspiration Card Deck Swap

 I thought you might like to see my stages for creating 52 cards for this fabulous swap

 

First I chose 3 soft pastel colours and painted the old set of playing cards with them, some all one colour, some a mix, depending what I had on my palette or brush.  I then gave them a second coat, still allowing part of the original playing card to show through, adding interest.

 

 I then adhered torn pieces of book paper to the cards and again, over painted it with the soft pastel acrylics, the words still visible through the paint.

 

I then took ripped up pieces of patterned paper napkins and pasted them over the top of the words and paint, sometimes covering the whole cards, sometimes only covering a section.  I then stamped images on to the cards, adding a further layer of interest.

 

 I then printed out the quotes on computer paper and cut and pasted them onto the cards, as they came out of the pack, no sorting out just working my way through  them.  I then highlighted around the quotes, roughly in soft pencil, to make them pop off the page.

I'll share some more quotes with you over the coming weeks :-)

Catching Up

I can't believe it's been so long since my last post and I can't stay long this time.  Just to say 'Hello' and I'm still here and I hope to get you all properly caught up with my makings and doings etc in the next couple of days but here's just a quick glimpse of some of the 52 cards I've made for the 2012 Inspirational Card Deck Swap.
Back soon!!