lesley's creations

Back In Blog Land!

2010-06-07T08:43:00.006+01:00

Its good to be back. My foundation degree is coming to an end. Yer! So I find myself with the time for blogging again. To celebrate the end of a three year journey I have had a couple of treats. 'Ooooo' lovely. To start with, a few Sweet Williams to brighten up the kitchen window. I can't remember the last time I bought flowers for the home.

And for those of you that remember clubbing in the 70's and 80's I went with my dear friend and sister-in-law, Wendy, to see the cool, sexy, George Benson. Can you believe he is now 67 and still sings like a young soulful hunk! And that guitar playing! WOW! As you can tell, we thought he was excellent! We had a great night. We danced ( I use the term loosely) and sang (again I use the term loosely) from start to finish, along with everyone else!

We had a lovely Chinese meal before hand. And we must thank the men in our life's for the tickets, although I said this was a treat for finishing my degree, our men actually bought the tickets back in February for Valentines day for us. 'Georgie' was worth waiting for!

So you can see what I have been up to whilst away, I have placed a snippet of my mixed media work from my foundation degree on my other blog www.lesleysmixedmediacreations.blogspot.com/ please pop a cross, take a look and let me know what you think.

I'm off now to spend my evenings catching up on what everyone has been doing in blog land. I'm so excited to be back.

Hugs Lesley. xx

Whats New On The Dresser This Month?

2009-07-16T17:34:00.011+01:00

Empty jar, purchased from our local supermarket (you'll have one in your area) for just £1.00.
I could fill it with lovely jams, chutneys or pickles but no I went for the easy quick option.....

Sweeties!!!!!!

With a little bit of detail by means of a ribbon tied in a bow.

Mini marshmallows too!!!!!!! Yummy especially on your hot chocolate, even through the summer months. Tee Hee.

And this is what they are sneakily placed between.

This is a little wooden book mark in the shape of traditional Malaysian dress, it was a present from my sister but its just too nice to use as a book mark so it sits nicely on our dresser.

My charity shop purchase of the week. Yer!!!!!! This pretty glass cake stand for the grand total of a whole £1.00.

Just got to fill it with delicious cakes now. 'Mmmmmm'.

Have a good weekend.

Hugs

xxxxxx

We Took Advantage Of The Good Weather!

2009-07-02T19:16:00.014+01:00

We've created a small wildlife pond. Mr S gets great pleasure from the little bits of wildlife that visit our garden, so to increase these visits and hopefully attract more he requested a small wildlife pond. So we set to ...........

I have to say that with NO GREAT PLANNING, we assembled the workforce, my special niece No 2 and her boyfriend Andy (an about to sneeze look Andy).

We dug out a hole. (well Andy did!!) We lined it with carpet, an old piece I had from our old summer house. Never throw anything away!!!!!!!

We covered that with a lining sheet.

And using water from our water barrels we filled it. It did take some time so as you can see my special niece had a sit down. So we all had a break to soak up the sun (sun cream provided) and hadsome lunch, a homemade quiche, salad and CHIPS, ANDY!!! (which I must say they have both successfully made at home since).

Once lunch had been digested we carried on and created this! Using some old york stone

(I think) slabs that I got from my special mans mum because she was throwing them away about 5 years back. Never throw anything away!!! Tee Hee.

Pebble's where taken from an old pebble pond and we ended up with this!! Not perfect and still a bit of work to do but looking good so far! And I must say it's already attracting many, many birds to the garden.

I thought these where nice to share too, just some pics of the garden grasses and ferns that have already established themselves in other areas of our garden.

I will recommend for this project that you have a very helpful willing niece and an 'Andy', that is definitely well organised at the drop of a hat. It was so nice, can I say sooooo very nice to have someone else help with one of those little projects that the mind is always willing to tackle but occasionally the body isn't! I'm sure you know what I mean. I'm so lucky to have such young fit nieces with strapping strong partners.

PS. Can I also thank niece No3 for the loan of her digital camera to take these snap shots. Mine is still broken. Oh dear!

Talk Soon.

Have A Good Week.

Hugs

xxxxxx

So This Is What I've Been Upto!!

2009-07-01T16:22:00.037+01:00

Well in the month of May I decided to show you where and what my feet had been up to during that month and to feature my feet on my blog each month from then on. So here goes, I'm afraid my feet during the month of June haven't been to any exotic and exciting places, but they have been busy!

Here they are early June in my wonderful hand knitted slippers that my mum made me. I love them, they are soooooo comfortable and warm. They are standing on some very bare stripped bedroom floor boards.

And here is a very bare bedroom removed of all pretties and furniture, ready for decorating.

Its been a little while since out bedroom has had a makeover and on discussions with my special man we decided on a colour scheme of black, white and silver. I didn't want the room to be too girlie because my special man has to spend the same time in it as I do. So these three colours seem to get a balance of both feminine and masculine! Well have a look anyway see what you think.

These are the new cushions I made, we use them to prop ourselves up so we can have that relaxing read ever night before we drift off to sleep. (not very long in my case, head, hits, pillow and sleep springs to mind).

All our furniture in the house is pine. However as you can see, being on a tight budget we couldn't afford to buy new so I gave our shabby, tatty, scratched pine a shabby chic white look instead. This is HIS (Mr Special Mans bedside drawers). Oh, and check out those bargain photo frames, £2.59 each just got to sort out the pic's to go in them now.

And this is HERS! Tee Hee, my bedside drawers and mirror.

Again this is HIS side (although my collection of costume jewellery has sneaked its way in a little).

And this is HERS side!!! (with a little more costume jewellery sneaking in, Tee Hee!)

And this is the shared wardrobe in between. As you can imagine all this furniture took some shabby chic distressing. I sanded all the pine down first, then washed it down with a cloth and sanded the bits that I'd missed, because I always miss a bit! Tee Hee! I then put an undercoat on and then two topcoats of the final acrylic water base paint. I then scraped and sanded off areas that I thought would get general damage with wear and tear to give it that lived in look. Ooooooo, I also made our curtains and bed throw too. So thats the tour of our newly decorated bedroom. Now because I moved our mirror from the hall to the bedroom I went in search of a new one for the hall and check out this......

Our new 'Art Deco' mirror found in a local charity shop and for the bargain price of £5. I love it, what a find!!!

And on the same day I found the mirror I bought these wonderful 'Sweet Williams' for the hall for the special price of £1.60 from our local green grocers. The colours are so pretty and go perfect in our hall.

Whilst I had the bug and had moved this mirror from the hall to our bedroom it left the hall with a gap on the wall to fill......

So the new mirror went on this side of the hall......

And yes you've guessed it, I shuffled and gave some more of our old pine furniture that shabby chic white makeover. I just need to make some nice textile pieces to put on the shelves now.

Oh and just to share with you my charity shop bargain deal again, I did I say it was just £5. Tee Hee.

Hope your having a good week.

Enjoy the rest of the sunny weather, don't forget to cream that skin up.

Take care.

Hugs

xxxxxx

PS. There's a new posting on my textile only blog. Check out, www.missbsfibrecreations.blogspot.com

Mums Memory Book.

2009-06-15T09:37:00.015+01:00

Hi Everyone! I should be finishing off making the curtains for our newly decorated bedroom but its been soooooo long since I have done any blogging I thought I would put them to one side and do a little post.

I have a dear friend that is a wonderful card maker and scrap booker (if that's the right word, tee hee) and about a year ago she gave me the inspiration to start a scrap book for my mum. Well I like to look at it as a book of my mums life that she can develop with me.

I'm sure in every household across the counties there is a box, drawer, full of family photographs and I must confess to having such a box that's bulging at the sides. My last few years of photos have been stored on disc and although I love to sit at our computer and browse through them its not quite as satisfying and fun as browsing through a pile of old family black and whites.

So wondering what to do with all these fabulous pics that where getting bent and damaged I started mums memory book. And here are the first few pages. Not in any particular order.

The decorative paper was a gift from my friend and just happened to be the same colour as the silk blouse my mum got married in. Perfect for my first page. I made an envelope for the page and tucked into it are my parents marriage lines. The text that I have put to the page is a section of the marriage vows that they said to each other. Had my dad still been alive today they would have been married 54 years.

I love this photo, an everyday occurrence my mum making a cup of tea. We still have parts of this tea service it is white porcelain with a beautiful swirl gold pattern. Although I love the wonderful papers you can purchase to make scrap books I wanted to make my mums memory book a little more personal from me so with that in mind I made little teapot templates and then decorated them using mark making techniques with inks. I used a Doyle imprint to create the design around the frame of the photograph using a sponge and diluted Procion dye. The tag that is slid into the Doyle on the left of the page is an open invitation to tea and a sticky bun at our house any time.

This is me and my mum. I love the wallpaper in the back ground of this photo. I used my water colours to paint all the little flowers on the prams and around the frame that holds the photo. In the centre is a little card I purchased from one of our local gift shops, this gave me the inspiration for the colour scheme. I have made a promise to myself to get at least another three pages completed this summer. I did so enjoy creating these three, its just with my uni' work, taking care for my special man and general household chores they isn't a great deal more time for my little personal projects. I think we should extend the hours in the day and the days in the week. There should be a compulsory set amount of hours allotted to be nothing but creative! Still I guess it makes it all the more precious when you do get those special times to yourself to have fun.

I'm afraid my camera is poorly at the mo' not sure whats wrong with it so my future postings will be of passed projects until I get it better again. If that's an option and its not too poorly that it needs to be totally replaced!!

Enjoy your week!

Take Care.

Hugs

xxxxxx

A Quick One Just to Say I'm Still Around

2009-05-29T19:38:00.011+01:00

Hi Everyone! Hope you are all well. Sorry I've not been in blog land for a couple of weeks but as usual life just took over! I've been busy with my final pieces and assignments for my part time degree but I'm pleased to say all work has been submitted and I now have 12 weeks off! Hooray!!!!!!! I have also been decorating our bedroom, making curtains and giving our very old tired pine furniture a new lease of life with that shabby chic look. Once finished I'll give you a peak.

I wanted to share this with you. A few weeks back a parcel arrived on our doorstep. I love unexpected parcels, don't you?

And inside was a gift made by my little special Mr F. A very close friends little boy who is just sooooo cute.

I must say she arrived a little squashed but with a little gentle manipulation she soon took shape. I seem to be the only person in the world that has never had the pleasures of owning a grass head dolly and I was a little unsure what to do with her. So after a text to my friend she informed me just to pop her in a small container and water her. So I did!!!!!! And Look.

She started to grow. I couldn't keep on calling her, 'she' so I asked the special man to name her and being the clever guy that he is she is now know as LAWNA! Get it! Grass, lawn. Tee Hee.

Her back view is a little sparse but still growing. Tee Hee.

And look one week later.

LAWNA is growing well..........

And not to be smug but look! Sorry about the quality of the photo but I hope you can get the idea. I must confess to giving her a trim because she was going a little wayward. Tee Hee. In all directions.

Although she is still a little challenged on top. I love her and she's extra special because she was made just for me, with earrings. Thank you very much little Mr F for my lovely present. Lets hope we can get her with a complete full head of grass over the next few weeks, watch this space.

Hope you enjoyed being introduced to LAWNA. I'll keep you updated on her green flowing locks.

Will Post Again Soon.

Have A Great Weekend

Enjoy The Weather.

And Don't Forget The Sun Cream

xxxxxx

Chin Swee Temples Genting, Malaysia

2009-05-04T19:23:00.017+01:00

I know I said I wouldn't show anymore pics from Malaysia but these are just to delightful to keep to myself. Glancing at the itinerary pinned to my nieces wall it said, 'Today we are off to the Chin Swee Cave Temples!' Oooooo exciting I thought to myself, what does my dear special niece No 1 have in store for us today. And not to be disappointed she took us here!

Our first view was of this wonderful nine story decorative pagoda. Just to explain in brief the Chin Swee Cave Temples are in a wonderful scenic area in the Genting Highlands. Its a place of wonderland myths and legends with a fabulous temple hidden in the cave side.

A little close up detail of the pagoda. I couldn't stop looking at it because each time I saw more beauty, colour and something different. It had a fabulous spiral staircase(as you would imagine) inside too.

Such gorgeous colour and decoration on all sides and on every level. My camera couldn't click quick enough.

And just take a look at these fabulous lanterns leading down to the actual temple. where everyone what ever their religion (or not) was welcome to have a prayer. A peaceful, relaxing environment removed from the hustle bustle of the rest of the world.

Beneath this very bright ornate decorated roof was the actual temple.

And the decoration wasn't just on the outside. I took many pictures of the inside of the temple but I wanted to show the highly decorative columns with such vibrant strong uplifting colours.

A close up of the ornate decorative roof corner.

I love this photo, its another small temple free to have a word with whoever you feel the need too. But just look at that natural beauty in the background. I hope you have enjoyed this little tour of my trip around the Chin Swee Cave Temples I certainly enjoyed my visit thanks to the excellent planning of my dear niece. Surrounded by Buddha's mostly joyful Buddha's wishing you luck, fortune, good health and peace was quite uplifting.

Hope the start of your week is going well.

Take Care.

Hugs

xxxxxx

'Oooooo', I forgot to say if you have an interest in weaving take a look at my textile blog here http://www.missbsfibrecreations.blogspot.com/.

Lunch Made By My Special Niece No 2!

2009-04-28T19:27:00.015+01:00

I'm afraid I haven't been very creative this week but I did have an invite to my first ever meal cooked by my special niece (No 2). So I thought I would share with you a snippet of our day. All those years of playing, drawing, cooking and baking payed off. I had my first ever meal cooked by my special niece. 'Mmmmmm', how nice it was to have someone else do all the cooking, planing and thinking! Yes you can see we had stew! Mmmmm, with steam. Piping hot stew.

With jacket potatoes on the side and here they are already to go in the oven.

You've guessed it, there going in! I must say my niece was extremely calm, composed and well organised to say she was cooking for four clucking women and one man. Not to mention the fact that I had my camera positioned over her shoulder making memories of the day.

And to top it off we had Dumplings too!! Very nice dumplings may I add. Tee Hee.

There's just one thing I have to say, "Well done little miss special niece for cooking such a lovely lunch and when are we coming again?" Tee Hee!

Time to relax after all that hard work entertaining.

And afterwards we had a showing of the new additions to her already rather large shoe collection. So as you can see I had to try them on. How lovely! Well sort of......

Not quite my size! Cinderella is not, I say not going to the ball. And I'm really not sure I would manage to stay upright in them anyway.

And these are how they should look!!! Pretty and neat!!

Did anyone else go for lunch this weekend?

Whilst out and about I've been collecting this week and I am going to share with you on my next posting the things I managed to collect for free! Some exciting, some not so exciting!

Hope your week is going well.

Take Care.

Hugs.

xxxxxx

Where Are The Feet This Month??

2009-04-17T17:36:00.014+01:00

Hi Everyone. Each month I thought I would do a little feature on where my feet have been. Tee Hee. So hopefully here is the first of many. Here we go, these are my feet photographed outside The Putra Mosque in Putra Jaya Malaysia. I must say not every month will be as exciting as this!!!!!!!!! They maybe in my garden one month dare I say in my wellies! Digging!

My mum and special niece joined me in this pic'..

This was our first viewing of the Mosque across the square. It was an exceptionally hot day but we were so keen to venture further.

You can see why it is known as The Pink Mosque. It is so beautiful with such intricate decoration and it's dome is pink. This was the front of the mosque but we were told that if you viewed the Mosque from the lake it look to be almost floating.

We couldn't stop snapping the detail, looking for inspiration for future textile projects. I'm afraid I cannot show you inside the mosque because photographs were not allowed.

And here we are ready to enter. Shoes removed at the door. We walk down this fabulous entrance and had a wonderful guide that instructed us all about The Putra Mosque itself, the Mosque way of prayer and the reasons behind where and why individuals are sited for praying in the Mosque. It was extremely interesting and we were made most welcome. You can see on the right had side of this picture the beautiful shoe racks for placing your footwear before entering. The Mosque prayer hall can accommodate 8000 people.

I must say we couldn't resist the view from the lake so we drove around to get this shot. Wasn't it worth it. How Beautiful is this and the turquoise building to the right I believe is The Palace. The inside is as beautiful if not more than the outside. PS. Promise no more pics from Malaysia. Promise! And Double Promise! Back to functioning life now!!

Hope you enjoyed this post.

Enjoy your weekend.

Take Care.

xxxxxx

Another Adventure From Malaysia

2009-04-14T18:43:00.018+01:00

Hi There. Isn't this a wonderful view? But! It's a wonderful view with a story behind it. This photo' has been taken from above the Malay jungle.

My wonderful niece suggested that we do a canopy walk over the jungle. When there was no forth coming replies from the party I said, quite stupidly, " Oh go on then I'll do it with you". I'm a crazy crazy woman. Why is it I think I still have the energy and nerve of a 21 year old!! After some considerable ramblings through jungle I discovered I then had to head upwards!

I climbed this. May I just add at this point through hot sweltering humid sun burning heat.

And then this. In the end I went straight up some 1000 metres.

Wading through this.........

And then this. Accompanied by the odd insect, snake and flying object with its own private runway.

To then reach this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!

Yes you've guessed it. I had to cross this and five more like it....... I must confess it wasn't easy. It felt as though I was on top of the world. And dare I say I had to sing, yes sing out loud just to get across it. It WOBBLED and SWAYED and moved RAPIDLY!!!!!!!!! All I need now was a swinging monkey to finish me off!!!!!!!!!!

I sang ten green bottles hanging on a wall, nine green bottles etc... at the top of my voice. I don't think the Malaysian jungle had ever heard anything quite like it before. And probably won't again.

And just to prove it here I am.. There was about five walks ways in total and I'm so proud of my wonderful niece for taking the snap shots. I couldn't even let go of the ropes. And she took all these fabulous pic's so I have them to jog my memory in later years. Hooray!!!!! I did it. Thanks dear niece for making life a little daring and fun giving me a glimpse of my fearless youth again. You wicked wicked girl you! Tee Hee. Can you see that the boards are simply tied together with little bits of string. My niece assured me it was rope but 'NO' I disagreed it was 'STRING'!! I'm not the lightest of people but fortunately for me it held together well. Boy did I have fun!!!

Hope you enjoyed the post.

Take Care.

Tune In Soon For The Next Adventure.

Tee Hee

xxxxxx

Its A Late Showing.

2009-04-14T08:30:00.002+01:00

I know Easter has passed but this is what happened in 'Just the two of us household' . This is one of our Easter trees. We have two one in the kitchen and one in our living room. I love the colours of Easter decorations they remind me of all things spring.

The decorated glass eggs are purchased from a little shop about eight miles from us. Its a great little shop that always has something new in each year, so a special trip is made. Mr S stays in the car with a cuppa and snack because he knows I enjoy a slow browse! You can just see the little bird houses that are made from card.

And beneath are...

Our Easter bunnies. The one at the back on the left is called Sarah and every time she comes out of her box for Easter she reminds me of my dear friend Mrs J across at http://mrsjscreations.blogspot.com/. I bought Sarah whilst on a weekend trip to Mrs J's and a visit to London. Mrs J helped me choose her. She's about 10 years old now. It was a lovely weekend and was my first trip after my battle with the big C. So it has special memories. Thanks Mrs J for sharing it with me.

Close up of little bird house.

I've not shown you but slightly to the right of this image there are two chocolate Easter eggs, naughty but nice. Not quite whole now! There has been a nibble or two.

This little bunny was a present from my mum last Easter. My mum even now I'm of a mature age is always looking out for little pretties she knows I will love. And the little eggs in the bowl behind are candles that we light over Easter.

I hope you have all had a special Easter, sharing with family and friends doing what ever was right for you. We had a few visitors for dinner. Well they came for dinner we didn't actually eat them!!! Tee Hee.

Have a great week.
Will post again soon.

Hugs

xxxxxx

He Missed Me.

2009-04-09T09:09:00.008+01:00

I'm afraid I was a little off time with my last post, It was published far later than it had been typed. However I am home from my hol's now and after worrying whether or not my special man had actually missed me.

Close up!

I shouldn't have given it a second thought. On Monday morning there was a knock at the door. When I opened it there stood a lady smiling with the biggest bouquet of flowers.

The card simply read, Missed you! Love always Mr S. How special is he. Thank you Mr S. They're beautiful and my favourites too lillies.

I managed to fill three vases with the contents. These delicate light soft pink roses.

And these sweet smelling soft yellow wonderful spring hyacinth's.

Mr S also got a gift whilst away. A special package from our wonderful family friends, Little Mr F. and Little Miss R, who sent him these special drawings and colourings. And he got a book too about, 'The Story Of Clan MacWee' to make sure he wasn't lonely or down whilst I was away. They are now all decorating our dresser.

And this was a lovely welcome home card from my special friend Mrs S. Its extra special because she absolutely knows how much I love my vegetable plot and have missed it whilst being away. Hope you can make out the image on the front.

I sooooo enjoyed visiting and having fun with my family, but its always great to get back home to the people you love and know well.

Hope your week is going well.

Will post again soon.

Take Care.

xxxxxx

A Visit To My Family In Malaysia

2009-03-27T09:09:00.016Z

Hi Everyone. Hope you are all well. Can you guess what this is??????Yes the clever observant ones among you will have guessed that this is a close up photo of an elephants trunk.

I must admit I shouldn't really be blogging. I'm on holiday!! Visiting my sister and family who live out in Malaysia but I couldn't resist sharing these pic's with you.

The whole family went off to visit an elephant sanctuary. Grandma too! We had such fun and the elephants were sooooo well cared for. I'm not a great fan of zoo's etc.. and believe that all animals whenever possible should be kept in their natural habitat but these poor elephants habitats have been either destroyed or damaged. So this sanctuary on many occasions is there only hope.

All these beautiful creatures have been rescued or relocated to a safe habitat. Some are minus a foot etc and would not survive in the wild so can't be released. Its free to visit only a donation is required to help fund the care of them. Did I say that they are soooooo beautiful and such gentle warm creatures. Don't you just love this pic. Does my bum look big in this?

You do get the chance to ride, swim and bathe with them and feed them too. But not everyday, great care is taken to ensure the welfare of these beautiful creatures. These are my two beautiful nieces enjoying the pleasure of these rescued animals. They confessed the elephant had a tickley hairy back and it was a little difficult getting their legs from the platform over this young ladies (71 years young) wide back.

When ever possible the elephants are left in or returned to their natural habitat, these are the ones that would not survive without the help of this sanctuary.

I hope you enjoy this posting, I will be back again in a few weeks after the most wonderful adventures and experiences I am sooooo lucky to be having whilst over here (from England) in Malaysia!!! Fabulous!!!

Have a great week.
Take care.

Hugs

xxxxxx

Sorry I've Not Posted In A Wee While

2009-03-14T14:33:00.001Z

Hi There. Sorry I have not posted for a wee while its been a little hectic and busy! I very much hope you are all well and have had a good few weeks. Yellow tulips! Pretty.

I thought I would show you some of my initial ideas in developing my designs for my weave, taking inspiration from, 'The Deep Aquarium featured in my last posting. I have been looking at layering through block shapes.

Here I have used plaster strips to create the layers of blocks. I have overlapped them randomly and then decorated them with a combination of white emulsion, procion dye and gouache paint.

I have created all my initial sample testers on cartridge paper. Sorry about the lack of detail in the photographs, there was very little natural light at the time of taking them.

Here again I was looking at layering. The above is the top layer of windows over a machine stitched textured paper.

The bottom layer.

More cut out work and layering.

And there is more.

And even more.

I'm must admit there is a lot of work to do. Nothing that I have experimented with has created that spark to think which direction to take the final piece in. I'm going to look at reverse applique and resist felting next.

It maybe a little time until I can post again.

So please stay safe and well.

Hugs. xx

Hello, A Trip Out And An Award.

2009-02-09T22:20:00.001Z

'Oooooo', I must say, "Thank You" to Fi across at http://www.marmaladerose.blogspot.com/ . for her kind gesture on giving me the Kreativ Blogger Award. Sorry I'm a little late in saying thank you, it's always soooooo lovely to receive an award. I do believe there are a few rules to this one, so I best double check so I get things right before passing it on to another wonderful creative blogger.

The Rules:

1) I must nominate three other Creative blogs for this award.
2) Put a link on my blog to them.
3) Leave a message on their blogs, to let them know they have been given the
Kreativ Blogger award.

Mmmmmm decisions decisions there are just so many beautiful blogs, here goes,

The first has to be http://mrsjscreations.blogspot.com/, If you are into card making and scrap booking you must pay a visit to Mrs J blog, she makes the most beautiful amazing cards for all occasions! Fabulous!

The second, 'mmm', well it's got to be http://countryinthetown.blogspot.com/, because shabby chick has the most wonderful blog filled with home creations and family life. I do enjoy visiting her blog.

And third, 'oooo', I can't decide! Maggie over at http://todreamtostitch.blogspot.com/ a fellow textile artist who's blog I love to visit because its always filled with wonderful creative pieces. And I admire anyone who can be so creative with photoshop. Tee hee.

That was soooooo difficult. I could go on forever nominating fabulous blogs but I must only stick to three. Shame!!!

Now I thought I would share with you my next Uni' project, it's going to be a selection of weaves based on our local river/estuary and the buildings an features that surround it. I have grown up along side this estuary and always thought it to be a little dirty and dull. But I recognise it is a functioning estuary, a working river importing and exporting. And my whole family have been involved with it at some point over time. I'm going to try and make something beautiful from it. Believe it or not I do have a special attachment to it. I must say I always know I'm home when I see it in view.

Mr S and I took a trip down to take some pic's for inspiration, however it was misty and freezing so I can't say they came out too well but they are a start.

This is, The Deep, which is an award winning aquarium. I must confess I have not been inside yet but I do really love the structure of the outside.

My new colour scheme for my weave project will be taken from the colours on the image above. What do you think? Wasn't sure whether to add a green. I will do some yarn winds to check out my colour combinations further. And I should have some creative pieces to show over the next few weeks, so I hope you will visit to check them out and leave a comment or two.

Can I just send a message to all those effected by the terrible, horrendous, Australian bush fires, mine and Mr S's thoughts are with you at this difficult time.

Big Hugs

Take Care

xxxxxxx

I Finally Got Around To Posting

2009-02-03T19:47:00.008Z

Hi Everyone. It feels like an age since I last posted. I've been busy taking time out doing nothing! Tee Hee, if that makes any sense. Having had a very busy Christmas and even busier January I was ready for some none thinking chilling time. No little creations, and no blogging, Its been hard to keep myself away but I've managed to do the simple but everyday special things that mean so much to me.

I thought I would share these with you. Tulips, they have graced our hall for a whole week and every time I've looked at them I have smiled and thought what beauty for just the bargain cost of £1.97.

Complete perfection!

I had a lovely day out with two fellow students to Textere Yarns, Bradford and purchased some wonderful threads for my next uni' project. I will show you my goodies on my next posting. On the way home we called in at Tropical World, Leeds. as one of the girls has butterflies as her next project. An extra special day was spent with my sister and lovely niece, we didn't shop, lunch or make anything, we simply chatted all day and caught up with each others lives. Wonderful!

I spent Sunday in the kitchen and made Mr S and myself homemade goats cheese and caramelised onion flan and a huge chicken stew to see us through this current cold weather spell. Loooooovely! I tidied my studio out too! Hooray, it took a whole two days but I can put my finger on everything again now! And it has a floor!!!!!!! I must confess to feeling a little back in control again, having spent the last 5 months running with everything and its soooooo nice to have that calm feeling back. I'm off now because I can't wait to catch up with all your wonderful blogs. Checking out whats been happening in your lives recently.

Take Care.

Have a great week!

Will post again soon.

xxxxxx

Relaxing, Making Handbags.

2009-01-16T21:30:00.016Z

Hi There, I've been relaxing making a few bags. A bag for my sewing projects and an everyday over the shoulder bag, its more for the spring/summer season but I have had the fabric for quite sometime so I thought I would make use of it. I love making handbags they take no thinking about and I totally relax when running them up. I did these on Wednesday this week I find it a little addictive.

I love the soft duck egg blue. The handles were from my stash, and I have lined the bag with some redundant curtain lining.

And here is the shoulder bag modelled beautifully by my mum. She is however somewhat smaller than me so Mr S' suggested that she put the bag over her head to shorten the handle length whilst modelling it.

There was some confusion over the instruction!!!!!! And she was quite unsure as to whether the mother-in-law son-in-law relationship was coming to an abrupt end! Did he actual say put the bag over your head????

I'm so lucky really my special Mr S' and my special mum get on so well and clearly understand each others sense of humour.

Still with the bug for making a functional object I made a new Uni' bag to carry all my books in. Modelled once again beautifully by mum. I know its quite and unusual shape but I do love bags with a difference. I have a red jacket that it will go with beautifully and all produced for an extremely reasonable price.

I know I have probably been a little overindulgent and you can actually only use one handbag at a time but I had so much fun making them! Thanks to Julie over at http://mixedmedia-jem.blogspot.com/ who suggested I make being creative a priority over cooking, cleaning, ironing etc... And yes I still have all those to do but 'hey' who cares!! Thanks again Julie and everyone else who left very supportive comments on a previous posting.

'OOOOOO,' and I've been out for lunch again today, that's twice in one week. I had a lovely time with good company, good food, and lots of good fun. Back to the studies next week but its not all gloom, I'm already starting to feel refreshed and ready for a new project.

Take care.

Have a great weekend

Will post again soon.

Hugs.

xxxxxx

A Visit To The Scrap Store.

2009-01-15T19:09:00.007Z

'OOOOOO', I've had a lovely day. I had arranged to call on a friend and we went out to our local scrap store. My friend Mrs L is partially sighted and is doing a textile degree course, she is amazing and is a true inspiration. She combines the most beautiful vivid bold colours and designs and is quite fearless in everything she attacks!!! Tee Hee. So off we went armed with empty bags and some pennies to stock up on bits and bobs for our creative pastimes. These are some of the goodies I got. And it only came to £3.00 in total, how amazing is that!

These beautiful red and green Velvets! There's a lovely deep aubergine colour at the back of the pile but my photography skills have taken a nose dive and I don't think you can make it out very clearly.

Some greys, blues and stone colour, hopefully for a future project based on my local river, well its an estuary but it has its own individual beauty (well you need to look closely to see it, it is in the detail)! I must admit to being a little smug with my new additions to my stock pile and did I say, all for only £3.00!!!!!!!!!! I do love a bargain.

And this fantastic paper and card that I believe are the inserts from photo and picture frames. The pink things are paper roses, I just popped them in the basket, thought I could use them to decorate the table on Valentines day. Forward thinking! Bubble wrap to for felt making. And did I say, all for only £3.00! And just to finish off Mrs L and I went for lunch to the pub around the corner. What a lovely relaxing day, just what the doctor ordered. If you have a local scrap store please be supportive and pay it a visit, you'll be amazed at what you can find and you will help the environment because most of it its recycled waste and probably destine for a landfill site! What beauty we can make from someone else's waste.

Take care

Will post again soon.

xxxxxx

The simple things in life.

2009-01-11T18:23:00.012Z

Time out!! Oh a week off. My degree has taken over my life! Or rather I have let my degree take over my life. Having deadlines straight after Christmas sort of put a damper on the whole thing, New Year too. All my work is finally in and I have a whole week off starting tomorrow. This weekend I have spent a bit of time remembering the important things in life. I'm not good with deadline dates and I put myself under pressure to produce the best I can do, like so many others I know. Now this may be a good quality too have but not at the expense of missing and neglecting all the important things that surround us!!!! My family and friends that I love dearly. And I must remember to take care of my own health too having fought off the Big 'C ' in a previous life time. It's so easy to slide back into a life of cooking, cleaning, caring, washing, polishing, gardening, working, creating, the list goes on and on!!! I look in my garden and see what needs to be done! Not what has already been achieved. I feel the need for time out. This week I'm catching up with some of my dear friends and I'm very much looking forward to it.

Mr S and I are going to take a few gentle walks/wheels. Perhaps a trip to seaside to blow away all those cobwebs. Its so true what they say that the best things in life are free. We just need to recognise them.

'OOOO' I've rather rambled on a bit on this posting. I hope you don't mind. I think I just needed to write it down to ensure that I actually take time out.

Thanks for listening.
Have a fabulous relaxing week.
And do something special for a friend.

Hugs

xxxxxx

Moving On From The Tree Images.

2009-01-08T17:00:00.013Z

Hello Again. Just thought I would show you the next stage. These two textile pieces were inspired from the images of my tree bark on the previous posting, I have tried to create the texture and appearance of layered bark.

I used a base of hand made felt (merino fleece) with incorporated yarn. I then layered silk cocoon rods on top of the felt. I dyed the rods before use and also once in position. I have machine stitch them down using both a straight and zig-zag stitch.

I tried to get the dye around the silk cocoon rods to create the appearance of the knots in the bark and the lifting layers.

Close up.

I then did exactly the same process but without any dyeing. I wanted to create a piece that used a shadow and tone definition.

I like this one better than the dyed one. It seems far more detailed.

Close up.

Well that's all for now, its a quick one today because we are off to our local art gallery to see a couple of exhibitions on at present and hopefully if everything goes to plan we'll manage lunch out too! Will let you know how we get on in the next posting.

Take Care.

Will Chat Soon.

Hugs

xxxxxx

Pattern and Texture Everywhere.

2009-01-02T21:03:00.017Z

I know I probably shouldn't but I absolutely love the wonderful patterns that stacked logs create. Mr S finds it quite strange that every time we pass a pile of logs I must stop and take a photo'! Isn't tree bark so interesting. I think its the thought of them burning on an open log fire, all warm and cosy. Not that we have one. Shame!

These two pic's I took in a pub car park up in Scotland. They stretch the full length of the car park, all down one side about 25 metres from memory.

And these where taken at the side of the road on our way up to Scotland. I think it was a felling company. The range in size makes me smile, no idea why, it just does. They are all just as unique as their neighbour, no two the same.

And these where taken whilst on a walk at Dalby Forest, North Yorkshire. They have a wonderful blue tint to them.

Patterns within patterns.

Strange to show a collection of log pic's but if you love textured textiles I'm sure you will share my love for them or even have something of your own that you take snaps of? 'OOOO' do share let me know I'm not the strangest bod' on the planet.

A little Chinese Proverb

For The Week.

'Tension is who you think you should be.'

'Relaxation is who you are.'

Have a lovely week.

Will post again soon.

xxxxxx

Can you guess what it is yet?

2008-12-30T20:56:00.010Z

Well Christmas is over for 2008. We have a tidy little bungalow again and the chocs' are stashed in the cupboard out of sight out of mind! Who am I kidding! I keep saying out loud to Mr S , "Oh I've eaten far too much" and then amazingly I find myself nibbling on a little bit more.

I have masses of homework to do before project end deadlines at uni' next week, but hey I'm chilled! Who am I kidding again! I've got five days of hard work to look forward to! I must admit to being not much of a New Years Eve person, I just like to slide into it unnoticed but ready for action. I already have a mental list of my challenges for this forth coming year. Self prescribed challenges. Why do we do this to ourselves. My list is endless. I'm positively sure I'll never reach the end of it but I'm going to have fun trying. The trouble is I will feel the need to complete all the challenges by the end of January, forgetting I have another 11 months to fit them all in. Still I'm not one for sitting back and watching the world go by, I very much want to be a part of it, making and creating, laughing and enjoying.

Can you guess what it is?????? Keep looking!!!!!!! No? Well I shall tell you, its my loom, a second hand one that I purchased earlier in 2008 and unfortunately I didn't get the time with all my degree work to get it up and running! But watch this space, I have plans to restore it and have it in full working order sometime early in the New Year.

Its an eight shaft hand loom with two beams and I love it. Having spent the last six weeks at uni' being introduced to a 16 shaft computerized loom, an eight shaft hand operated loom should be easy going! Did I just say easy going, nothings ever easy going, ignore I said that! It needs some love, care and attention, well a full new makeover if I'm honest. So watch this space.

Once up and running I'm hoping to get some interesting weaves from it exploring and experimenting with some wonderful yarns and threads. 'OOOOOO', I'm feeling a wave of excitement already. If there are any weavers out there please leave a comment or two. I would be so interested if you had any hints, tips or interesting experiences.

Big Hugs

All the very best for the New Year.

xxxxxx

Award From The Lovely Mrs J's Creations

2008-12-23T10:36:00.014Z

Hello Everyone. I'm a lucky girl again, I have received an award from the lovely Mrs J's Creations.

I must now tell the world of five addictions that I have. Only five I thought! I have a little bit of a collector mania nature so I'm must admit to having a number of addictions. Some very naughty! Well here goes......

No 1. My Number one addiction has to be my special man Mr S. Just because he is my best friend and I couldn't imagine life without him. And if I'm away from him for too long I get a craving for him!!!!!!! But don't tell him. Tee hee. He doesn't need to know!

No 2. An absolute addiction to textiles and all things creative and hand/home made. This is a close up of a felted cushion cover I made some time ago. Always happy when I'm making, creating.

No 3. Books. I love all books but especially textile based books. These are my favourite at the moment. The Art Of Embroidery. The Art Of Knitting and The Art Of Felt.

No 4. Yarns! All yarns, they are so tactile and colourful and when woven, knitted, stitched, glued, melted etc., etc.. their appearance changes soooooo much. Wonderful!!

No 5. Chocolate. Told you I have naughty addictions too. These are two Happy Santa's that will hopefully disappear within the next three days. I can't imagine where they will go. 'mmmmm'. Well I have shared with you five of my addictions! Naughty but nice.

Hope everyone has a fabulous Christmas and I can't wait to catch up with all you very talented creative people on your blogs in 2009.

Take Care, Stay Safe.

Huge Festive Hugs

xxxxxx

Apologies and Weaving

2008-12-08T12:11:00.023Z

So sorry I've not been posting. I have been a little busy. On top of the usual Christmas Festivities I have had my deadlines for my textile degree work, so this has been taking a huge chunk of my time and something had to give! Unfortunately it was the blog! But I'm back now. I may disappear again for a couple of weeks or so over the Christmas break as I have more studies and homework to complete. Please someone tell me why I embarked on this course!!!!!!

I know this is not for everyone but I absolutely love weaving, so I thought I would share with you some of my hand weaving on a frame. I find it fascinating that almost every piece of cloth is made up from some form of weaving, knitting, or felting.

This was my first introduction to weaving last year. So I decided to experiment and explore its possibilities. I have left this on the frame with a view to use the frame as an extension of the weave.

I'm fascinated with individual yarns and the change in their appearance once woven. So beautiful all neat and tidy and fitting together like a glove to a hand.

I will weave with anything I can get my hands on. These are kebab skewers. I have also used cocktail sticks and most recently I used some pure cotton wool pleats on an AVL Loom at uni'. I have also incorporated tassels on this weave adding a little more interest.

You can weave on anything. Here I have used the mounting frame within the picture frame to create a weave.

I added beads for detail and to give the piece extra interest.

And this is where I display some of my weaves. Where did I put everything before radiator covers were invented. I know weaving is a simple plain tradition but with a little imagination it comes to life. I love them all. Sorry about the dark photo's I did try and brighten them up but was unsuccessful as you can see.

Have a great weekend

Will try and post again soon.

xxxxxx

Busy Book Making!

2008-11-24T09:15:00.015Z

Hi There. I've been busy making books so I thought I would share them with you.

I have decorated the outer covers with a combination of mediums, Brusho, http://www.rainbowsilks.co.uk/ being the most prominent. Its amazing stuff and so easy to use. I wet my cartridge paper and dropped the Brusho in small amounts onto it. It spreads and explodes like a firework, creating the most beautiful patterns. I have made a decorated felt ball attached to a piece of yarn as a page marker.

You can either leave it exactly as in lands or change its appearance by adding other mediums such as bleach, stitch, emulsion etc., anything that you feel may work, just experiment! Be careful of the chemical combinations though!!!!!!! This one has Mrs J's name on it from my monthly fibre class.

I used a sponge and wooden stick to create pattern interests. And Mrs Jo's name is on one of these, only I can't remember which one! Its an age thing.

I have inserted a good quality drawing paper, so they can be used as a sketchbook to pop in your handbag, a photo album or even just an image journal.

This one has Mrs R's name on it for Christmas! She's a pink lady! The colours are a little brighter than they appear within the image. The darker pink sections are more of a cerise.

This set I made for a friend Mrs C. I sneakily asked her favourite colour combination as you do in polite conversation. As you can see she said, "pink and black". I must say I really like her choice. I made the outer cover using a fabric dye and some yarns couched and a little bit of machine straight stitch. I tied them together with a soft delicate pink ribbon to add the finishing touch. Mrs C is a yoga teacher and was going to use her books to plan her lessons. She does the most fabulous meditation sessions! I'm sure she wouldn't mind me sharing that with you.

To my great surprise and pleasure I discovered that I have a follower. Hi http://craftybitsandbobs.blogspot.com/. I am having difficulties in leaving a comment on your blog but please bare with me I will rise to the challenge!! Tee Hee. I hope!

Have a great week!

Talk Soon.

xxxxxxx

No creations again but a fun trip.

2008-11-18T19:04:00.017Z

Hi There. I'm afraid I have no textile creations to show you again this week! I've been a little too busy having fun elsewhere. I'll give you a clue?

London Tower Bridge. Yes I've been down to London just for a couple of days to do a few of my favourite things,

A bit of sight seeing ,

and of course a Westend show! A great treat that I always thoroughly enjoy. On this occasion as you can see I saw Billy Elliot at the Victoria Palace. I must confess to seeing this one before but its brilliant so I went back for a second viewing!

And you guessed it, 'The Jersey Boys', another fabulous show at the Prince Edward Theatre, its the story of Frankie Vallie & The Four Seasons and the whole audience was tapping and clapping along to the famous songs, 'Oh What A Night', 'Sherry', 'Walk Like A Man' and many more.

Oh, and this was the view from our hotel room. Spectacular! Mr S, had a couple of days in respite so he was well looked after and I could relax and enjoy myself knowing he was safe and secure. I went with an old friend and she has just embarked on a new relationship so it felt like we were teenagers again sharing all the details that new exciting relationships bring! We had a hectic but relaxing time if that makes any sense. A true girlie weekend. Great fun! Well I'm signing off for now, I promise to share something creative with you on my next post.

If you too have a love for the theatre please feel free to share your experiences by leaving a comment, recommendations for future viewings are always welcome.

Have a good weekend.

Bye for now.

xxxxxx

Favourite relaxing retreat!

2008-11-09T14:29:00.017Z

Hi there. I thought I would share with you a few photo's from one of our favourite places to visit.

Every year Mr S and I go up to this cabin in Scotland UK. We have the same cabin every time, now you may say this is boring but its an absolute must for us. I've not mentioned before but my very special, Mr S, suffers from MS (multiple sclerosis) and is in a wheelchair full time with quite limited and restricted movement. This is our disabled cabin, well not ours but you know what I mean. Its often difficult to get the right disabled accommodation to suit at the right price and in the right environment but this one is just perfect. We return to it yearly and we both love it up there. Its so peaceful relaxing and its right on the front of a loch. Loch Lubnaig.

This is the cabin, yes it is huge!! Plenty of room for Mr S's to do his pivot swivels. I must admit Mr S tends to sleep most of the time whilst we are up there it must be the change in the air! Plus there are some lovely walks/wheels around the loch that I insist we take advantage of and I believe I may tire him out! Tee Hee! This gives me the perfect opportunity to sit in silence surrounded by the most wonderful views with my needle and thread, doing a little something creative. There is no distractions, no cleaning up, no washing, no ironing etc etc... all those wonderful jobs we love to hate!! We always visit off season, I believe it makes it even more peaceful and of course not quite as expensive.

This is the view from the front windows of the cabin. How wonderful is the beauty of nature. The perfect mill pond! This snap was taken across tea time, early evening. The view of the loch changes from hour to hour!

This is slightly further round still a view from the right hand window.

And this is the same few again from a different angle in mid afternoon. Its a great inspiration for my textile work, I go out armed with camera and find the most detailed snaps of tree barks, logs, pebbles, water ripples, ferns etc., etc... need I say more. I'm afraid this year we haven't managed to get up there and its been a real shame. I have missed our relaxing retreat! Maybe a trip early next year would be possible? I say looking at Mr S with my pleading eyes and huge loving smile. Subject to a further petrol price reduction.

On one of our days out we decided to visit Crieff, however we never got there because on the way we came across yet another loch with yet more fabulous views. Maybe next time. Well I hope you have enjoyed the views, some of you may even recognise them!! If so you will understand their peaceful beauty. Signing off for now.

Have a good week.

Will post again soon.

xxxxxx

A snippet!

2008-11-06T19:41:00.022Z

This is a snippet of my current degree project. Its a pattern project and without going into too much detail I have chosen to create patterns taking inspiration from two very traditional skills, drystone walling and weaving ( the two W's ). Again we have a colour scheme restriction, maximum six colours including shades. So I have decided on winter whites and garden greens. There are three shades of white and two shades of green within my work.

These two patterns have developed from observational drawings of a weave that incorporates beads. I have developed the patterns just using the warp thread of the weave and the positives and negative shapes of the beads.

Close up of pattern. I have used a base of gouache, emulsion and glue. I then made a back ground texture using an assortment of tools to create the feeling of woven threads. I then enhanced the pattern with machine stitching. I used the sewing machine without thread to make punched holes in the design to add more texture.

I have also use couched yarns taking inspiration from the warp thread of the weave.

In this sample I wanted to use the individual shapes of the stones within the drystone walling to create a completely new pattern, I did this by rotating, flipping and turning them. I have made a base of white felt and have used a silk fabric and handmade paper to make the stone shapes. I have layered these shapes to add depth to the piece and although you can't see from the photograph they are quite raised. As you can see its still in working progress.

I'm afraid I find it difficult to describe what I have done so I do hope its makes some sense!! Will give you another little snippet in a later posting.

Take Care.

Have a good weekend.

Will post again soon.

xxxxxx

'OOOO', I have another!

2008-11-01T16:07:00.021Z

Don't awards make you feel special! That's why this one is so graciously accepted from Robin over in Australia! Isn't it amazing how we can share our weekly and daily events at the click of a button.

You can never have too many awards they're lovely, a little bit like, you can never have too many beads or too much fabric. Unfortunately I'm afraid I feel the same way about chocolate, you can never have too much. Only I wish someone would tell that to my clothes . Tee Hee!

Talking of beads here's a selection of mine. I know I'm naughty and really don't need to buy anymore but they just jump out at me whenever I pass them! No I don't believe that either, I'm just overindulgent, we're back to the chocolate again!

Thanks again to Robin http://tropicalrobin.blogspot.com/ for my award. Check out her blog, Robin makes the most wonderful trinket boxes!

Christmas Challenge

2008-11-01T14:57:00.015Z

I'm sure I have told you about our monthly challenge before, there is just the three friends spread across our green and pleasant land (well that's when its not raining constantly) who participate in the challenge. One friend sets the task and we have a month to produce something. This months challenge was set by Mrs J and it was to make a Christmas decoration from a felted jumper or handmade felt, with one rule, it must incorporate a little Christmas bell.

Well you may think it strange to be showing you a photo of my dresser but that's were my inspiration came from. I planned on making a garland to hang on my dresser. I was going to do a before an after, but I'm afraid your only going to see the before on this posting!

Doesn't it look tidy! Only cause it was having its photo' taken! Tee Hee!

The yarns you can see are for my uni' project. I have picked a colour scheme of winter white and garden greens my inspiration is dry Stone walling!!! Ooooo I digress. Sorry.

These are the raw materials I decided on. Some lovely white merino felt, some gorgeous gold threads and some pure cotton twisted yarns.

So how disappointed was I after a whole days felting and a whole day cutting and stitching I'm afraid this is all I produced!!!!!!!!!

Here is a close up. I used the cotton yarn in the felt at the processing stage. And then started with the gold thread and sequins to decorate.

I'm afraid when I started this challenge I new that I wouldn't complete it on time but I have made a start and will continue to add more designs, glitter, sequins, beads and bells! Hopefully our dresser will look a little more decorated in the festive season when I show you it again. I've not given up on this challenge because I have ideas to add. Its that same old question, "Can anyone tell me how I can create more hours in a day".

Hope you are having a good weekend.

Will post again soon.

xxxxxx

The Award Goes To

2008-10-30T18:32:00.018Z

I finally have the time to pass this Award on! Indigo Blue (who's blog I love to visit daily) kindly gave me this award about three weeks ago and I must pass it on to four regular followers of my blog and one from abroad. So here goes!

1) My first award goes to Maggie at http://todreamtostitch.blogspot.com/, who shares my love of textiles and always leaves such positive and encouraging comments on my blog. I feel as though I have know her for an age!

2) My second must go to Mrs J's http://mrsjscreations.blogspot.com/ because she too is very creative, check out her wonderful handmade cards and wicked wellies!!!!!!! They're brill'. And Mrs'J always leaves such complimentary and encouraging comments.

3) My third must be Fi' across at http://marmaladerose.blogspot.com/. I met Fi' again through our love of textiles and blogging is a wonderful way of staying in touch with each other. Fi's blog is a beautiful, homely blog that always makes me feel warm and cosy when I visit it.

4) My fourth has to be Juliab http://marmaladekiss.blogspot.com/ because Juliab was one of the first to leave me a lovely message, welcoming me to blog land on my very first posting and has continued to leave such lovely comments. Her blog is always full of something different and new! And I must get my daily fix of it!

Finally my visitor from abroad award goes to Kathryn http://kathrynintheloft.blogspot.com/, because Kathryn was my first ever visitor to leave a comment from overseas. Check her blog out, she has the most wonderful days out and you feel as though you have been along with her!!!

Using Up The Scraps

2008-10-28T15:54:00.016Z

After finishing my first year on the degree course I was left with lots and lots of scrappy bits of materials. Some felt, handmade, and batik paper. Just as I was about to throw them all away thinking I had no use for them, I remembered what Mrs R had said at my ladies monthly textile meeting about being a wasteful and throw away society. I must say normally I keep everything hence the bulging sides of our garage! And like everyone else who has experienced a good clean out, no sooner do you throw something away you need it the very next day! You may have had the item for 10 years, never used it, but no sooner has it hit the bottom of the bin or skip, you find the perfect use for it!!! Well I didn't throw my scrappy bits away I made this;

Its a wall hanging made up of lots of little heart shapes. I guess I was in a very loving, caring, dreaming gentle floaty mood at the time. They don't happen too often but occasionally they are allowed.

Normally I would have picked beautiful pinks and reds to do a heart piece but recycling my scrappy bits restricted my colour scheme it was this or nothing. Tee Hee. The colours go really well with the weaves I have in my lounge.

A close up! Not Too much detail but it wasn't something I had planned I just sat at my table armed with the scraps and my sewing machine.

Oh this dangles from the end. Its a wooden heart that I already had in. It swings like a clock pendulum some times. So as most of you already know never throw your scrappy bits away no matter how small. You can always rustle up something.

Bye for now.

Have a great week.

xxxxxx

Our Local Fair

2008-10-18T16:16:00.010+01:00

Hi Everyone. I've had a really busy and hectic timetable this week and I'm afraid I have nothing creative to show you. My degree course as usual is dictating my time! I must confess to taking a little time out to visit our once a year local fair. It is said to be the biggest travelling fair in Europe. And its great fun! I took my camera along (always thinking of the future degree projects and textile creations) to take some snaps. Sorry about the quality of some but it was really bright and vibrant with colour not to mention very noisy and extremely bustling! Fantastic really!

Well there is something for everyone. I got vertigo just taking this snap of this huge big wheel.

This thing went up, down, round, side to side and not to mention upside down. And yes there are people on it!!!!!!!!!!!!

The balloon man was there, surrounded by children, mums, dads and aunts, uncles, grandma's and granddad's trying to pick one from his vast range!! The colours are wonderful.

And of course a fair wouldn't be a fair without hook a duck but on this stall it was more magnet the duck, as your stick had a magnet on the end and the ducks head has a magnet on the top. Progress!! Tee Hee.

I forgot to mention the wonderful not soooooo gooooood for you foods and smells to die for. Chips and mushy peas, candy floss, toffee apples. nougat, coconuts, pomegranate's. The list is endless.

There was even a wonderful chocolate stand but unfortunately I couldn't get close enough to take a picture. It was surrounded by dare I say lots and lots and lots of ladies with their elbows ready to fight! I did get near enough to treat myself to some though.

Oh and my last one has to be a snap of the traditional Helter Skelter. Don't the lights look delightful. Well I hope you enjoyed my quick tour around our local fair.

Will post again soon.

Bye for now.

xxxxxx

Award and Previous Challenge

2008-10-10T19:36:00.016+01:00

WOW! My first ever award, 'Thank You' Indigo Blue Designs.

I believe I must now pass this award on to four regular followers of my blog and one from abroad! Having not been in blog land for very long I'm not really sure if I have any regular followers but I have received some lovely comments, so I will choose from my comments list, as soon as possible!

What a hectic week I've had, back into the full swing of student roll (mature student roll). So its a quick posting today, something from the past. When Mrs J and I did our very first challenge we decided together to make something simple, we chose to make a bag charm. As usual there was a rule to the challenge (not that we ever stick to any rules, Tee Hee). The charm had to contain a felted ball. This was my end result, very much into a turquoise colour scheme mood at this time!

I made felted balls and then decorated them with beads and to give extra strength to the cord I machine stitched a nylon thread through it. You can't see the top of the charm on this photo but it's attached to a clip so I can hang it from my bag.

I did however as usual get a little over excited making the felt balls. I made some more, and then another couple and then I decorated them. Oooo and made little felted flower to go with them. They became to heavy to be a bag charm so they now hang around my candle stick holder in my lounge!!

Can't show you Mrs J's but maybe she can post it on her blog, I will put in a request. Well I said it was a quick one today, got rather a lot of homework to do!!!!!!

Hope you've had a good week.

Will post again soon.

xxxxxx

The Friends Monthly Challenge

2008-09-30T19:57:00.018+01:00

I do believe I have mentioned the monthly challenge earlier in my blog, its a challenge set between my very close friend Mrs'J and Fi' my good friend I met when doing a textile course a few years back now. Each month one of us sets a challenge to make something creative. Its not compulsory because circumstances in our life's don't always allow that. So its just a bit of fun really. This month Fi' set the challenge and it was to decorate or make a shoe/s. There was one rule to the challenge it/they had to be an adult shoe.

I must confess I was completely stumped on this one. I had never ever made or decorated a shoe before! Chatting with Mrs J' and telling her how void of ideas I was, she suggested I did something with felting. So I did!

Remember the felt I got for my birthday treat a few posting back? Well, I had a fun afternoon felting all the pieces I required. Then once dried I free hand machine embroidered them. I then cut out my make shift pattern taken from my very large foot and tested it on some scrap fabric. I had to give it a few tweaks and then it was ready to cut out from my felted fleece. I made little flowers and leaves using some hand stitch and some beading. This is the result!

And it fits me. On this occasion I made the felt flat and then stitched the pattern pieces together. I would like to have a bash at felting straight onto a mould with no seam at some point.

Its not really a shoe but more of a very decorative slipper! I'm afraid as you can see I didn't manage to finish the challenge! There are pins still holding the flowers in place and I wanted to embellish the butterfly, and do a machine corded lace. However I did show what I had done so far and the great thing about a challenge between friends is there's no pressure!! My excuse was my return to my degree studies over the past two weeks made life a little hectic. At some point I will finish it and make the right slipper too! Not really the type of slippers I normally wear but I had this fairy tale garden head on when I first started it. Can you imagine the PJ's I'm going to wear with them! Tee Hee.

This ones is a close up of the detail on the flowers. Sorry the pics are a little dark I took them in the evening and light was bad! Well thats my excuse and I sticking to it!!

PS. Both Mrs J' across at http://mrsjscreations.blogspot.com/ and Fi' across at http://www.marmaladerose.blogspot.com/ did fantastic shoe challenges check out there blogs to see! I hope Mrs J' has posted hers! Brilliant wellies' and wonderful weddings!!

They are such inspiring friends!!!!!!

Well I'll post again soon.

Hope your week is going well!

xxxxxx

Autumn Workshop

2008-09-27T17:39:00.021+01:00

Whilst the special man is listening to the footie on the radio I thought I would share with you my days events. WOW, what a day I have had. I've attended one of Nicky Dillerstones textile workshops. http://www.nickydillerstone.co.uk/ The workshop was entitled 'Creative Textiles, Mixed Media'. We had huge amounts of OOOOO's and AHHHHH' s and lots of touchy feely moments!!!! You textile ladies/gents know exactly what I mean. Nobody can make the OOOOO, AHHHHH sound quite like a keen textile enthusiast. Except for the OOOOO, AHHHHH bird that laid the square egg!! Tee Hee.
These are my close up images of an A4 size piece of layered fabric. Everyone on the course had a wonderful time and we all left with a fabulous piece of mixed media textile.

We all produced something completely different, with different colour schemes and it was great to spend the day with like minded people.

Machine embroidery and a solder iron came into play, but if you really want to be inspired and can attend one of Nicky's workshops you won't be disappointed. Her days are so relaxed and her advice, patience and encouragement is wonderful. Please don't take my place though!!!

Here I have embellished a section with sequins and beads.

This is my favourite section. I love the shiny orange, it lifts the whole piece.

So if you get the chance try out her a workshop, Nicky is a wonderful teacher/facilitator! Her knowledge is vast and she is so willing to share her wonderful ideas and techniques. I would love to show you the whole groups creations but unfortunately I only have mine to share with you. If my little samples get you excited you must check out Nicky's work on her web site http://www.nickydillerstone.co.uk/ she does the most exquisite tiny shoes!!!

PS. You can also see her at the Knit and Stitch Show, Harrogate. The perfect opportunity to touch, feel and see her work for real, and guess what she doesn't mind!

PPS. They won, so the special man is HAPPY!!

Will post again soon.

Hope your having a good weekend.

xxxxxx

As promised a snippet of my degree work.

2008-09-22T16:36:00.030+01:00

As promised I have gathered some of the work I did last year on my (1st year) part time textile degree course. It was great fun, and I think during the course of the year I discovered every emotion possible. It was hectic, pressuring. frustrating. exciting, exhausting etc etc. I must be a glutton for punishment because today I have enrolled on my second year! Scary!

This is a selection of my sketch books. It is just some of the work I produced for one project/brief. I based it on the clock tower of Big Ben, which was great because it gave me the perfect excuse to visit London for some field work and research! And a theatre show of course!!!!! Billy Elliot, Brilliant!!

And there is more!

A close up of my sketch book page. Its handmade paper and machine stitch.

Another one. Cartridge paper, dye and machine stitch.

This is a weave sample. I love to weave its soooo therapeutic!

On this sample I took inspiration from the structural lines of the clock tower, I have used handmade felt but I pleated it.

This was a sample using a mixture of materials, handmade felt and silk paper, also using machine embroidery.

This sample is of handmade silk cocoon paper, I have used a batik technique and some machine embroidery. So there you have it, a selection of my degree work I hope it wasn't too boring. I was hoping to give a little inspiration! Tee Hee.

Caution though!!! There are parts of the course I'm not to keen on, all the written stuff. I didn't show the mass of folders for that. But I must admit once I applied myself it wasn't too bad. I think it was a shock to the system, I really wasn't expecting sooooooo much written research. As a mature student I'm grabbing this opportunity to fill my brain with as much information as possible, if not relevant now it may be in the future. And secretly it was quite nice to get some of my old work out, even if just to remind me of how much there is to do on my second year.

PS. You may be wondering why everything is the same combination of colours, that was a strict rule throughout the brief. To adhere to a chosen colour scheme and not deviate.

PPS. Don't you just love sketch books brimming with texture and mixed media! Can't wait to start the next.

Take Care.

Will post again soon.

xxxxxx

Its A Quick One This Week

2008-09-20T19:53:00.007+01:00

I'm afraid I haven't been too creative this week as our garden needed a little attention. I managed to harvest the last of the rhubarb, as you can see. I usually make rhubarb jam, pie or crumble. But I would greatly welcome any recipes for something new and different. Please! I must confess to being a little fed up this week, having enrolled on a textile degree course part-time last year, I'm now due to enrol for my second year on Monday, although I really enjoyed the course it was very full on and took every moment of my spare time, and having just had almost three months away from it the thought of facing all that hard work again is filling me with dread! I'm sure I'll enjoy it once I'm back in the swing of things! I hope. I must show some of the creations that I produced last year on this blog.

I know there are some fabulous bakers and bun makers out there so if you have any simple but exciting recipes I would be most grateful if you would share them with me.

One great thing this week is my mum has returned from a months hol's visiting my sister in Malaysia, its great to have her back. I have missed her, and she's brought me some lovely goodies back that I will share with you soon. Green too, my favourite colour. We will be catching up tomorrow as she is coming for sunday lunch, can't wait to see her photo's and I'm sure she will have some very amusing stories to tell. Thats if we can keep her awake long enough her (jet lag) clocks all over at the moment.

Well have a good week.

Take care, will post again soon.

xxxxxx

A Birthday Treat

2008-09-16T22:08:00.006+01:00

Hello Everyone, I have some goodies to show you! Merino Wool Fleece and Soft Spun Merino YarnOn Sunday the special man and me had a trip out to Wentworth, a pretty little spot not far from Sheffield. We visit Wingham Wools there about four times a year, its compulsory!! Its to buy wool fleece for felting and other wonderful bits and bobs. I just thought I would share with you the joys of my purchases this time. It was my birthday treat. Some girls want diamonds, fast cars, and a posh nosh. Not me give me sheep fleece any day and I'm happy! This was my perfect birthday present a stash of treats to be creative with! Loooooooovely! Watch this space, I feel a bit of felting coming on.

Results Of The Handmade Paper

2008-09-12T16:36:00.016+01:00

Following on from the making of the silk cocoon handmade paper, I decided to use one of my pieces to decorate one of my handmade books, however it looked a little boring, so I reached for my sewing machine and tried to add a bit of interest. I added some fancy random wavy lines.

I used some hand dyed yarns that I had left over from an earlier project. I have sewn them onto the handmade paper using a zig-zag and straight stitch. I do love using bits and bobs that I have left over from other projects, the only trouble with that is I stash everything and throw nothing away. As you can probably guess with this wonderful quality of mine (stashing) my cupboards and any available space is bulging at the seams! I would imagine I'm not the only one to have this quality!

Close up details. I did consider adding some beads, however I changed my mind, thinking they would possible catch on everything. Maybe that was the wrong decision they would add sparkle!

I have then used the embellished paper to make and cover a book.

Not sure what I will use the book for at the mo', but I'm sure it will come in handy at some point. I love this handmade paper its so strong and versatile. For any card makers, scrapbook's or journals it gives a great natural base look. I still have three more sheets to play with, 'ooo' what can I make next?

Very Quick Handmade Paper

2008-09-11T20:06:00.009+01:00

I love all kinds of handmade paper. This is silk cocoon paper (its cheating too because its already pre-gummed). Here's a quick demo of how I make it.

It comes in a clump and you tease pieces away from it, laying them onto a jey cloth, there is no shrinkage to it, so the size of the pieces you lay out will be your final paper size.

Its the same principle as the overlaying and teasing when felt making. At this stage you can add little details such as dried flowers, leafs, petals etc, but you must make sure they are covered both under and on top with a thin layer of the silk cocoon. This will anchor them down and keep them in place when the paper is dried. I lay my individual teased pieces quite thick because I like my paper chunky and strong. It really depends what you want to do with the end result, you can make the teased pieces light and thin creating a softer lighter paper but you must still overlap them. Otherwise your paper will have holes in it! Could be good for a specific project!

Once you are happy with the size of your piece, you spray it with water until it is completely wet through to the underside.

Once wet you then lay another jey cloth over it and iron it flat. Be careful not to catch your hot iron on the silk paper itself as it will stick to it! When you feel your paper is flat and the silk pieces have adhered to each other (even though wet) you can then pick it up and place it somewhere to dry, thoroughly.

I put mine on the radiator. This can cause a little ripple in the paper where its has been laid over the radiator but it can be ironed out gently when completely dry. Now you can experiment with it. I'm waiting for mine to dry now! In my next posting I will show you what I have done with it. I do hope you understand my instructions I have tried to keep them as simple as possible, because I can never understand over complicated detailed instructions myself. Oh, you can purchase the silk cocoon paper at specialist suppliers and craft shows (email for details if needed).

The Siting Of The Cushions

2008-09-06T17:26:00.015+01:00

When we did our cushion challenge last month, Fi across at http://www.marmaladerose.blogspot.com/ asked which room in the house I had made mine for? They were meant to be for a specific room in the home. Unfortunately the room that I produced my cushions for was the bedroom, however its not decorated yet! Therefore I have placed them in the hall! Strange place to put them I hear you say but they were too nice to hide away.

I've sneaked this one in behind our friendship balls!

I've popped a bit of lavender inside them so the hall smells nice too! Some time ago I tried to give our 15 year old pine a shabby chic look, on a budget. A pot of paint and some sandpaper! Not sure it worked but its too late to change it now! I have plans to do the bedroom furniture but I need to work on the 'special man' first! Its looking old, scratched and very dull, so the perfect reason to give it a make over. The furniture that is, not the 'special man'! Shall I go for it? As you can see I got over excited with the paint brush and did the mirror and candlesticks too! Oh and the picture frame. Its a great base canvas to add a splash of colour to through my textile creations.

Friends Request

2008-09-06T15:25:00.004+01:00

A Friends Request

Whilst having lunch with a very good friend the other day (Mrs K), she asked a favour of me, to write down a few lines on what I consider to be a treat in my life. It didn't take long for me to tell her my first choice of treat! " Why do you want to know?" I asked. "Because I'm doing a talk to my local church group on the subject of what you consider to be a treat." This is the email I sent to her of my two top treats and my special man joined in too and told her his! It was fun, try it! What do you consider to be a treat in your life? Do you know I was sooooo busy thinking about my own treat I didn't ask her hers. I must do that when we meet again!

Lesley's Treats

A Bubble Bath

This maybe a bit of a strange thing to have on your list of treats but for me its the perfect one and right at the top. A long soak in a very, yes very hot bubble bath. Although a shower is a necessary part of my daily cleansing routine, a bubble bath is a real pleasure. Sink deep, lay back, sigh and completely relax! Now how special is that? No interruptions, total peace and quiet. Time to think things through and escape from what always seems to be a very hectic and demanding daily routine! I have to admit, but don't tell anyone I occasionally take Michael Buble along with me! My own choice of music, no rock, funk, just gentle swing! So the next time you take a dip count your blessings and think of it as a journey of relaxation.

Quality Time,

Quality time with my special man, when we giggle until we are bursting and can laugh no more! My stomach aches, my heart is pounding, my bladder is weak and my eyes are streaming. Laughter between the two of us is extra special. Difficult life's and issues often create immense pressures on our daily routines but a burst of the giggles is an always welcome treat! And believe me we laugh at the most ridiculous things! So the next time you giggle, savour it and let it develop into a rip roaring rage of laughter, it makes you feel fabulous and its infections! Class it as a real treat, its free!!!!!!!

Mr S's Treats.

Raspberry Ripple Ice cream

As a little boy my treat was a slice of a block of raspberry ripple ice cream, sandwiched between two wafers! Delicious. Our once a month family tea time treat. I could make it last forever, savouring every mouth full! I can taste it now some 35 years later, when times were happy, relaxed and the only thing to concern me was how big my slice was going be!It all had to go, no fridge for storage in those days. Would there be enough for a second helping?

Relaxing In The Garden,

Sitting in our garden in the summer with the sun shining down on my face. Yes I did say sun, something a little missing from the British summer of late. Counting the flowers on the passion fruit, the bees in the lavender and frogs in our small but well loved water feature. I sound a little old and boring and unadventurous but for me these are the things that give me pleasure, I feel relaxed safe and at ease with my surroundings. I like a simple and stress free life so I fit perfect in our garden, I'm sure my better half believes I am part of the fixtures and fittings out there.

Well if you get the chance in your hectic daily schedule would you share with me what you consider to be a treat in your life? It feels really good to share them with friends!!!! Oh and mad as a hatter but Mr S would like a name for the frog?

The Red Bag

2008-09-06T14:27:00.017+01:00

Once a month I meet with a a group of ladies of all ages and from different walks of life. The one thing we have in common is a love of textiles and each time we meet we share with each other our thoughts and ideas. This is sometimes done through a demonstration of something that we feel maybe of interest to the other members in the group and sometimes we set a task for our next meeting (sometimes we just natter and drink coffee). The last task set was to make a bag! I'm afraid I failed, with only two weeks since our last meeting and other commitments I just didn't have the time to fit it in. However I was forgiven! I have previously made bags and taken them to our meeting so I could share with the group my ideas and inspire them to make there own. Here is one I made earlier! Tee hee!

The bag also extends, so I can get as much junk in it as possible. I simply untie the ribbons at the back at let this section drop down and then tie it back up again when not in use.

This is a close up of my poppy design. I have made them from silk using a fabric manipulation technique. Sorry about the quality of the photo. The centre of the flower has been decorated with black and red beads.

And here it is again just in case you missed it the first time!!!!

Well I hope you like 'The Red Bag' watch this space, another one will be coming very soon!

Cushion Creations

2008-08-30T14:33:00.029+01:00

Hello Again. My second posting. Wow! I am eager to share with you my next creation, its some scatter cushions. I hope you enjoy them and take inspiration and ideas from them. These are the planned cushion fabrics and materials, but things could change. Tee Hee.

I always feel my sewing machine is an extension of my hands and arms, I'm at my most relaxed when sewing!

The final outcome

A close up, I hope you can see the batik panel section on each cushion, another technique I enjoy using, with exception to the smell! Melted Wax!

Can I say a huge, "thank you" to the kind creative people out there for sending me messages of welcome and well wishes on my journey as a novice blogger. I must confess I was a little excited when I noticed comments at the bottom of my posting and was keen to read them! I do hope you have enjoyed my second posting and I think my next creation maybe a bag or two depending on how the week goes. I will revisit my handmade book project and explain a little more in detail about the mark making techniques in the near future.

Handmade Books

2008-08-26T19:40:00.004+01:00

Hello Everyone. I feel quite excited this is my first blog posting! And I have to confess to being a bit of a techno clot therefore to my amazement I am pleased I have got this far!! I will endeavour to post on a weekly basis and share with you my love for textiles and all things pretty! I am currently into making note books.

These have been lovingly handmade by myself, using a technique of mark making, with a stick, sponge and fabric. This technique creates these unique patterns. No two are the same and you never know quite how each design will turn out. Its great fun with an exciting element of surprise!! Its also a great opportunity to experiment with colour combinations!