The Hatters on Holiday

Over at Out of a Hat Creations the girls have got Postcards as the theme for their challenge this week.  Funnily enough at Victoria Stampers I issued a challenge of my own for members to make a postcard for us to swap the following month, which will be tomorrow. Not sure if we will be actually doing it as there are a lot of members on holiday but we will have to wait and see.  If not they can sit and wait for another month.  (That's the postcards, not the members) Anyhow, the Hatters spurred me on to think about my postcard (I am making it suffice for both) and here is mine.

Years ago I was really into doing Postcards for swaps and so I must have found a website that had lots of different styles for the back of them on it.  Luckily I copied them onto paper which I found a while ago and so I chose one with Asian writing on and decided to revisit my Asian stamps.  I love the one with the lanterns on, have four of the ones with the words on and always like the flying cranes so those were the three I chose - all mounted - so unlike me!

First of all I used Post-It notes to mask areas off and then proceeded to stamp the three images, then I went over them with Pan Pastels to create a background colour.  The one on the right I erased the clouds at the top to bring them back to white, then coloured the dragon and the two corner pieces in with my Caran D'Ache watercolour crayons. Did the same with the lantern image but left the cranes as they were.

I will write a little message on the reverse and probably pretend I am in Xian which was one of my favourite places when I was in China all those years ago.  One of my friends is going later in the year for her tenth (China - get it) anniversary.  Wish I was going with them but can't play gooseberry on an anniversary can I?

WOYWW

Happy 4th July to all those celebrating!

Gosh, the weeks seem to be passing quicker than ever just when you don't want them to (despite the rain).  Took some photographs yesterday whilst it was still light as I had nothing on my desk so thought I would show you my galleries instead.  I say "nothing" but there was this lovely new case which I got in the sale at Dunelm - perfect for my Distress Inks (some of them) and a few duster brushes which I use odd times with them - prefer the real things.  You don't need to "read" - just flick through the photos to make it quicker.

Below is my wall of tags, two had to be taken off as they are DT pieces done in advance and I added Von's door handle thingie which normally resides on the outside of my door.

These are postcards, mainly showing work by my stitchery friend, Mary, then, with some flowers, a Doone pc underneath.

Apart from the bleached card (with the "A" on it - which is absolutely beautiful - from my friend Cindee in America who is fantastic with bleach) and the lovely pear one (Samski) the others are mine or commercial things.

Natasha May all alone on my new cupboard with my card to keep her company.

Both of these are from Samski - think she knows I like Time and related things.

In the shot below - Top Left my first Beeswax done years ago, one done at a Kars workshop and one from Samski.
Below hanging on the wire are various bits from CHA then a Calendar card from Helen, a book we did on Katy's Corner in memory of Suze, a couple of cards I once made, a challenge piece from Von and a triple hanger from Lorraine.

My Oz corner has been changed to the top of the cupboard, there's my FP mask, a concertina card from Viv and a Tucson PC from Judy. Below is a calico bag from Samski hanging on a light and to the left a tiny baby photo from Cindee to show me her newest grandee.

That's it folks!

Now go visit some other desks and see what you can find - the Stamping Ground will lead the way for you before Julia shoots me for all these pictures.  "I did tell them not to read Ms D".

Summertime - What?

Well, I never felt less like it is summertime than I do these days. Saying that I must admit that the sun has been shining a bit (only a bit) today but the last month, June, has been terrible for rain and some days have been quite cold and windy too.  According to the weather forecast there is not much ahead for us at the moment either.

However, to try to get us all cheered up the girls over at Out of a Hat Creations have decided that "Summertime" is the theme for their challenge this week.

This little boy has been coloured in using my Caran D'Ache watercolour crayons and is a Faye Whittaker rubber stamp.  I just fell in love with her Victorian collection when they first came out.  I think I have blogged all the four that I purchased now with this last one.

This was done for a friend of mine for his birthday - and as he loves France I hope it made him  think of his favourite country.  It certainly reminded me of a holiday I once had there.

Wendy's Sewing Rooms

What was I doing with myself over the weekend?  Well, I was finishing off this little house (like the one I did 1st October last and taught - see 4th and 5th October a few days later at Vicky Stampers) for Wendy from the sewing machine shop who has been so kind and given of her time so generously to help me out with my sewing machine.  It's with her now so I can blog about it.

If anyone in the vicinity needs a new sewing machine I recommend that they go along and see her at Hobkirks in Bury - you won't be disappointed with the friendly and helpful service you get from Wendy.  She is so willing to share her expertise in sewing with customers, she is a credit to the company, and the shop is handy for visitors to Bury (go on a Wednesday when it is market day - it's quite a famous market you know - and try the wonderful Bury Black Puddings) as it is at the very top of Bolton Street just a stride from the busy town centre.

Advertising done - well, credit where credit is due, so now on to the little Sewing House I made for her

I began by painting the wooden substrate in white acrylic paint and then dry-brushed it with a blue one.  I wanted a shabby chic look to it, not that I think I have achieved it now that it is filled with all this memorabilia.

Starting at the top of the house

we have a torn bit of a Newey's press stud card, some press studs (Tim Holtz ones - I love the colours), a bobbin with some thread on, a tape measure (trimmed down to make it smaller - it was a freebie from C&A - now how long have I had that?), a sewing machine and a little name plate which I fastened on with the brads rather than relying on glue.

Working down - some bottles of sequins, a pile of fabric, a pair of scissors and the number "6" (the age of her son)

Next I made a little chest from cardstock, filled it with bits of lace, put a fastener on and sat it with two giant press studs that I had from way back when Paddy had her shop.

On now to the big room at the side and here we have a mirror (a piece of mirri card, embossed and cut with a Spellbinders die to a nice oval with a mirror tile stuck on).  Next to it is a coat hanger (Tim Holtz stuff again) with a tiny blouse hanging from it - had to make two of these as the first was so tiny I could not get the hanger inside it.  Then there is the dressmakers dummy, a Newey's hook and eye packet, a hook and an eye, a thimble and a carelessly thrown hanger. Well, it has to look a bit authentic!

On now to the bottom three.

Two tiny cotton reels with some thread wrapped around them, three tiny buttons and a "W" for Wendy fixed to the wall behind with a brad.

This pincushion took me ages to begin, I don't like making them and am sure there is an easier and quicker way than how I do them.  I love doing the metal embossing but that is about all.  First of all I put some cotton wool balls on a square of fabric then squish them about until I get a roundish shape.  Then I tie off with some cotton and chop off the surplus fabric from the base.  This is then stuck into a bottle cap with glue.  When set I wrap a piece of metal that I have embossed as a tape measure around the base.  (Anyone know how I should really do them?)  Behind the pin cushion is a card with some thread on it and there is a clock charm on the wall, again fixed with brads.

The last one has a tiny packet of Bondaweb propped across the corner, two empty cotton reels (darkened a little with touches of Distress Inks) and a number "15" plaque on the wall (again Tim Holtz) once more fixed with brads.

The final thing I did was stick some cotton lace on the horizontal edges.

I do hope you enjoyed looking at this little house and if any of you have one of these wooden houses I hope this spurs you on to get it started.  Remember to check back in my blog to the 4th and 5th October last to see what the peeps at the class got up to - not all sewing themes so may give you some ideas.

ps Wendy was not in when I delivered it to the shop so I don't know her reaction yet as I have not been back to Bury yet.

WOYWW 160

Cannot believe that I am making this a short post this week.  Need to be up for the technician to come between 8 and 1 today and then I am due at the hairdressers for a trim so there will be no afternoon snooze for me today.  A quick Welcome to my newest followers, lovely to have you on board - I hope I have reciprocated with your own blog.

As you can see from this photo my life has been taken over with sewing.  I was sewing all day yesterday - in my head - sorree!  Yes, I fully intended to get some sewing done but as per usual I kept looking at the fabric and doing nothing.  In the end I did a couple of DT pieces but obviously they are under wraps at the moment.

The fabric in front of my sewing machine is for me to make an iPad cover.  Yes, I have one of those lovely black leather ones but I quite fancy a fabric one with a couple of pockets inside.  Thought I would treat Chas to one as well and that is his fabric alongside - quite appropriate for a man who is doing a maths degree for fun!

I think mine will be more of a bag than anything, with long straps so I can sling it over my shoulder.  His is going to be a wallet type with pockets inside to put his mobile phone and other things that he tends to carry about in his pockets.  There's some batting at the side, still wrapped up just as I got it from the store.  I had no idea it was so expensive - or maybe I am just totally out of touch with sewing things.

Well hopefully I will get some sewing done when I get back - at least make a start.  In the meantime, whilst I am away being pampered by my handsome hairdresser I hope you make the most of it and visit lots of desks who have also entered into the spirit of things with Ms Julia.  There's lots to see and the list just goes bigger and bigger.

Is this Pretty? It's an Oyster Challenge!

Ever had one of those deja vue moments?  I am having one right now.  Am sure I have already blogged this but cannot find it, yet I remember exactly what the words are that I am going to use. Remember in the way that I have already used them.  Searched through my scheduled posts but there is nothing there.  Most peculiar!

Anyway, here is what I was/am going to say - My *ex-friend, Barbara, another member of the Oyster Stamps Design Team, challenged me to do a "pretty" card.  She feels I am a bit of a "grunge" person and so the last time we met up she gave me this stamp from 'Whimsy Stamps' - 'Rose and Felix' with the instructions "make a pretty card". All I can say after attempting to colour this image in and make the card up is "thank you so much Barbara!".

I was really chuffed at what I achieved at Vicky Stampers a couple of months ago when I did a class with Vix but when it came to colouring this image in I found I had forgotten most of what I had been taught. Shows that you need to practice , practice, practice when learning something,.  Did I not learn anything at my psychology classes all those years ago when I was training to be a teacher?  Is it Skinner or Pavlov I should be listening to again?

I tried to use mainly Spellbinders dies, the circles and the scalloped ones for the main image, the ticket and the photo corners from old ones but I resorted to a Cheery Lynn die for the flowers as they needed to be tiny and to a MS punch for the vertical strip down the side.  All available from Oyster Stamps which is where the card has ended up - sent to The Boss (not sure which one) and a note sent to Barbara to tell her that the card is up.

I do have another cute stamp which I am going to use to try to make a "pretty" card with but this time will do it in lighter colours as I bet Barbara thinks this is verging on the grungey side with it being dark colours.  Will have to wait and see what she has to say.

*only kidding about Barbara being an EX friend.  She is one of the nicest people you could wish to meet and I have been dem'ing with her for quite a long time now and always look forward to seeing her at the shows.  Sorry Barbara, am sure you knew the EX thing was a joke.

Using My New Stamps

I just had to make a card for my friend Jo last week so armed with Zapain (tablets) and a hot water bottle at my back I set to and began thinking about Jo's card.  As she makes the most fabulous cards herself I really wanted to make something special but couldn't honestly get my head around anything so instead she ended up with a plain and simple one but I felt sure she would like the Lynn Perrella stamp I used.

A bit quirky if you study it - it shows a lady in full sail like a regal galleon with one on her head and various other "sea" things about her. I honestly thought this was mounted very straight but looking at this scan I don't think I quite managed it did I?

First of all I made a background using my PP's, didn't do anything else to it but stamp the lady.  Then I used a tiny eraser to take out the colour on her face, hands, overskirt of her dress, shell umbrella and bag, dangling watch and the sails of the ship.  Apart from the sails on the ship I coloured the others in with various Pan Pastels and the small pointy tool and then sprayed it with Fixative.  (As what anyone says I do think you need to use something to fix the colours)

Then I sprayed a piece of card with my new Dylusions sprays, turned out rather more green than anticipated,  and stamped another LP stamp down the side.  Once the main image was affixed I coloured the circles in with gel pens and then found a piece of cardstock that matched the main image and made more circles with acrylic white paint and a couple of bottle tops.  The last thing was to put some Glossy Accents on the watch face and then when dry I assembled the whole thing and put a starfish brad on.

Thankfully Jo said she liked it and, as turns out, loves the Lynn Perrella stamps.