WOYWW

I can't believe its been a week since the last WOYWW! Where is this year going?

So, what's on my desk this week? Well, its the usual mess but not much crafting is being done (too busy at work again) but I am making a few Valentines cards hence some red foiled hearts...but I am at a craft show this weekend, so hopefully so new purchases to play with!

Only a quick post as its late and I have only just got back in from work.

Hope to blog soon.

Happy Crafting

Li'l Pidge x

Playing with Promarkers

So, I have been spending some time playing with promarkers. After watching members of the crafting coven colour so expertly (Trace and Becks take a bow-you know you are both colouring masters) I think I am finally starting to get some results that I am pleased with.

To this coloured image I distressed the edges, tearing and distressing some glazed and glittered paper across the card adding a little raffia for texture and some mini brads. I love layers and texture.

I think I need to practise more, but i am seeing an improvement...its just like being a kid again and colouring in!

After a crappy day at work (and today was VERY crappy) there is nothing better then a bit of crafting to ease the days stresses away, so I'm off to craft!

Happy Crafting

Li'l Pidge

WOYWW and swapping

A slightly different WOYWW this week. Saturday evening saw me go to one of the regular swap parties my friends hold no, not that sort of swap party but we take round clothes, toiletries, craft stuff, husbands stuff....basically anything. You all get a good gawp and if anything takes your fancy then its yours! No cost, you have a bit of a clear out at home and maybe take some nice new things home!

Add in some nibbles and some wine and before you know it, its a great night out! Thanks girls, I had a blast (and some great cosmic shimmer spray, a skull oyster card holder and an encyclopedia which has some great craft potential! Add to that some T shirts etc, and it's a great haul). The trick is not to take home as much as you brought!!

Then, the next day the crafting coven went for a day out (a bit fragile from out night out) to the Giant Flea Market. God it was cold and wet, I felt so sorry for the stall holders who had pitches outside.

I was very restrained-£900 Lalique vase? £50 postage stamps? No, a pack of vintage photos of Paris-30p!! A broken wooden ruler - 30P! and the large white wooden ruler, £3! Bargains.....I have SO many ideas what to do with them (all altered art ideas) I'm not sure where to start-but I am looking forward to it!

So, happy crafting and I hope you get a chance to browse through other WOYWW blogs.

Lil' Pidge x

A more productive use for a sewing machine

Those of you who either know me or read my blog regularly will now that me and sewing machines don't really see eye to eye. But, the sewing machine killer (yep, that's me) finally conquered her demons when I bought a 2nd hand Janome XC33, more expensive then my earlier models (but still a good price) and suddenly I was making things.

Now, I made a few handbags and skirts, and whilst the end result was pleasing the actual process wasn't much fun. I ended up stressed and often swearing at the material, needles, machine and if my poor hubby happened to walk past him...well, I think you can guess.

So, after a course at Urchfont manner on machine embroidery I decided to have a crack at my first proper piece.

But, what should the subject be? Well, I had no idea what to get my parents for Christmas, so I thought I would make them something.

They both love Budleigh Salterton in East Devon, so I took a photo and printed it on special paper from Ario (I love their unusual products) and started to stitch....and stitch....and stitch...

I stitched for 3 days, layering threads, silk rods (dyed from Steff Francis who does wonderful colours) and even some angelina fibres for the reflections. I decided to keep some of the sea unstitched to show that it started out life as a photo.

And this is how it turned out:

Because of the pressure on the fabric, it puckered slightly at the edges so I decided to frame it (not easy considering how thick this piece is)

As you can see, I used many, many layers, keeping some of the silk rods and more textured fibres slightly looser to add depth and texture.

When my parents opened it at Christmas their faces said it all, even my family in New Zealand recognised it as Budleigh Salterton when we showed them over skype!!

All in all, I must admit, for my first attempt I am pretty pleased with myself. If it wasn't a gift for my parents (where I can visit it often) then I don't think I could have actually given this away!!

Now I just need to get inspired for another one.

Happy crafting

Li'l Pidge x

I can't believe it's been another week! Here is a photo of my desk today ready for WOYWW. If you haven't come across this before, pop over to the blog (there is a shortcut on the right) there are loads of confessions of messy desks, and quite a few clean ones (not sure if that's the sign of a sick mind, I mean, a clean and tidy craft desk...how sick is that!!).

So, what's on my desk today?

The box is a cat food pouch box (out of my friend, Becky, recyling bin!) which I am applying a couple of layers of gesso, then I plan to decorate it and use it to sell my cards out of for charity.

On the left are some air drying clay hearts and keys I made ready to make some valentines cards, I am colouring them, distressing with coloured waxes and then plan to apply some Judikins Diamond Glaze to seal everything.

This is the Buddhist card I made for my mum's birthday this week, I bought the Kanban set at the last craft fair I went to back in the Autumn adding a gem brad and a gold rub-on sentiment.

This is the neclace I made for my sister-in-law for Christmas. The charms are purchased, but I made the dog tag with her name on with PMC silver clay, using letter stamps in the style of that great rock and roll music establishment CBGB's

and finally these are 2 of the scarfs I made for Christmas presents that I promised I would share with you (the yarn was a previous WOYWW entry)

Well, I am shattered, so I am poking off early to crash on the sofa.

Happy crafting

Li'l Pidge x

Arrgggg.....just as I thought 2010 was over, the crappy year with illness, then broken loo and Boxing Day boiler breakdown...2011 comes along! First day back to work, straight into 3 meetings (I mean, 3, seriously....when are you meant to actually get any work done?) then on the way home, sat stationary at red traffic lights when some idiots decides to drive into the back of me! Luckily we were both ok, not sure about the car as its pitch black outside, but took their details (whilst quietly snarling under my breath) and called to report it to the police and will wait and see what the insurers say.......so, came straight home and decided to craft!

So, WOYWW, well as you can see, there are a couple UFOs (UnFinished Objects) on my desk. The first is my Keri Smith Wreck This Journal book I am working through, the page on show is where you collect stamps from your mail, I luckily got a card from my friend Rachel in the states with a lovely stamp, so thought I would add it to my book.


On the right is my scrap box. This is where I dump all those scraps that are too good to chuck, and sometimes some odd flowers etc that I cant be bothered to put away in their proper home, then I set myself a challenge to make something using only stuff from the scrap box!

The sad thing is (please tell me I am not the only one who does this) I have started putting a few 'choice' pieces in the box, cheating I know, but hey, I'm only cheating myself and I still get something made!


and this is the card I made from those 'scraps'!!!!
Rant over!!

Happy Crafting
Li'l pidge x

I know, I have been rubbish

What can I say? I could say I've been ultra busy at work, working ridiculous hours. I could say I have not been feeling too great. I could say I have not had much time to craft let alone blog. I could even say I have been curled up on the sofa whilst the snow falls....wondering why the hell the boiler decided to play silly beggars on Boxing Day and stop giving us hot water.

I could say all of these....and they would all be right, basically life has been taking over, as it often does when its Christmas, you try to make your cards and presents and then the sky decides to deposit a ton of snow which lasts for a couple of weeks!! But that is no excuse for not updating my blog and taking part in the challenges I started to really enjoy back in the Autumn (which seems SO long ago now).

So, my new years resolution is to blog more.....(I'm hoping its easier than giving up alcohol!)

Starting as I mean to go on....

I didn't have as much time as I would have liked to make everyone a handcrafted gift, so to make up I tarted up shop bought goodies with homemade tags.


I spritzed and stamped some background papers, using stamps and sequin waste and then added a seasonal ribbon across the length. Next I added gold mesh material and pink organza and heated these briefly with a heat gun to shrink and distress it.

Next I ironed a sheet of multiple coloured Angelina fibres which I then tore into pieces, gluing to the tag, along with some punched green foliage and a tag backed with card coloured with alcohol inks. I finally threaded through some frilly fibres and added a button. The whole lot was secured with a hot glue gun (I get through so many glue sticks I think the local hardware shop may be thinking I have a problem!).

Hopefully the recipients liked them. I certainly did.

Happy crafting
Li'l Pidge x