ooh get me new plates

Hello peeps.  I have to admit that for quite a while I have not been too well, nothing major, but the RA and immune system combined with far too long hours at work taking its toll-but I don't do "ill" so I am not a great patient!

When I feel this ill I struggle to craft etc but I do tend to sit in the craft room and listen to the radio and sometimes I do a bit of sorting or de-stashing and I decided to 'treat' myself!!

Last year I saw some Big Shot acrylic plates on sale so I bought them and I decided this was the week to swap them over!!  Get me, new product being used within 12 months!!!

Now, I admit in this fevered rush to my senses I did manage to rein myself back in-needless to say neither the lovely packaging (nice thick clear plastic that die cuts brilliantly and takes alcohol inks) or the old messy plates (NO idea what to do with them as don't think they can be recycled) have NOT been thrown away!!!

Are there ANY crafters that are NOT hoarders?

Happy crafting

Kyla

WOYWW

 Hello peeps, it has been a busy few days.  Work, a friends wedding and two days at the NEC in Birmingham for the Art, Cake and Craft show.

Having been off work for a few days I am having to schedule this as I am super busy trying to catch up. Here are my spoils from the show.  I was really surprised how little I bought.

I bought a couple of magazines (that came with dies, stamps and a sewing pattern I liked the look of).  Two magazines and all their freebies were £6.  I bought some robot fabric for a Christmas present I am thinking of making, some stencils (£1) and a couple of small dies at £2 each (a sugar skull and a birthday cake).  An archival ink in violet (I don't have archival in pinks or purples so this will be perfect) and I bought 10 posca paint pens for £10 which is a bargain as I usually pay over £2 each for them.

I also bought some easy to use secateurs as we broke ours this summer so they needed replacing and it seemed like a good deal.

On the left is also a small canvass where we did a powertex session on the Thursday (£5) and we also did a pyrography session (£3) which is something I have been wanting to have a go at for a long time (I did it once many years ago with my dad but not for the best part of 15 odd years).

For £3 (which I thought was really good value) you chose a stamped item (I chose a coaster) and then you had some instruction and a practice on a plain piece before embarking on your final coaster.

It took a little while and the shading wasn't as easy but I was really pleased with the end result.

My 'Man Bites Dog' cards this week....well you will probably know the result by now...but my cards said...."Angry Thousands Lost Prez".....the world is watching.

So, do you have a desk (or floor) to share?  

Why not pop over to Julia's blog here and join us.

Happy crafting

Kyla

New stash with a local vibe

 Hi, just a quick update of 3 lovely craft items I picked up locally.

The fancy fibres was from http://www.thread58.com/ and I thought the green and heather colours would be perfect for a moorland scene. They are currently based in Old Market but is due to move to Fishponds where she will be able to hold courses too. They have lovely fabric and some amazing African fabric and vintage lace.

The stencil (A4 size) has a lovely typeface and at £2.99 I really could not resist! This is from http://craftandmore.flavors.me/#facebook which is a 3 storey (yep, you read that right) craft shop in the centre of Bristol!  Not much in the way of stamping but some great paints for street art, mixed media, jewellery, general art stash, floristry and wedding favours.

 Finally in the middle is a roll of washi tape. Which I bought in a pop up shop in the Harbour that was advertising our European Green City 2015 status.

This one is Bristol based and features the clifton suspension bridge and of course hot air balloons, two items synonymous with Bristol.

I wasn't expecting to buy anything as I have my eye on some paints but these 3 things were screaming my name so loudly people were starting to stare (and they were all from local shops so it would be rude not to).

Happy crafting

Kyla

Craft Show catch up

Just a quick catch up.  A few of us from The Coven went to the Shepton Mallet craft show on Friday (much better than a day at the office).

The last few shows I have been to have been a bit of a let down and I have come away with very little.  This show is a nice size though it did seem like there were quite a few of non stitch/craft stalls.  I don't know if this is because of the cost of stalls or some other reason but I did struggle to find many of the items on my list!  For example, there was lots of cross stitch but no tapestry.

Luckily Siesta were there so I was able to get my tapestry frame, leather needles and quilting ruler (I find their stall has lots of goodies and their team are really knowledgeable about the products too).

I also bought a text embossing folder, some cork camera embellishments (I intend to paint these) and a large roll of washi tape.  There was also a fabulous company that sold food grade silicon moulds.  I have been trying to find a decent wine bottle stamp for some years (still no luck) so when I saw these little wine bottle moulds (there is even a mateus rose bottle complete with the raffia bottle!!  Oh that takes me back) I couldn't resist.

The only other thing I bought was some fat quarters.  I did promise myself I wouldn't buy any fabric but these were lovely so I relented!

So not too big a haul, no papercrafting bargains but still a lovely day out.

Happy crafting
Kyla
 

NEC haul

Back from the NEC...a great couple of days with the girls from the Crafting Coven (our weekly craft group).  So, does this photo of my stash represent my shopping list?  Well......yes, its not far off....there may be one or two additional items that MAY have crept into my basket!

Obviously, the 3 large MDF bird house money boxes at the back were not on my list, nor the paperartsy pen nibs or their mini glass bottles!  But the stamps were on my list (but not the wooden ones...but they were 6 for £5 so such a bargain!) as were the colour wash sprays (going to try them on fabric) and the stains (for paper obviously). 

I met some lovely people, especially the Artful Splodger team....I ended up going back 3 times and buying Dyan Reaveley  stamps and Octopode stamps ( and I met the lovely Octopode designer...such fab stamps).

So, I had the joy last night, sat in front of the TV with a double of The Big Bang Theory (I love that show) and then NCSI mounting all my new stamps onto kling-on....it takes ages but it does give a really good impression when stamping.

Now I just have the problem of where to store it all...

Happy crafting
Li'l Pidge

Knit one, pearl one...

Oops, forgot to mention that at the Craft Fare I found a stand that was willing to teach people to knit for free. Well, I am one for a challenge, and after many years of both my mother and grandmother unsuccessfully trying to teach this left handed clumsy fool to knit I thought I would give it another go! After about 30 mins I had managed to cast on, knit, pearl and do some ribbing and cast off! They very kindly gave me the big ball of green wool and some stumpy learner needles that I was using, complete with some instructions on how to make a scarf from the ball of wool-so that is what I am doing, making a scarf, though it is looking more like a green dishcloth. I started with 40 stitches and have somehow ended up with 45! Well, I am learning, but when I am finished I will post a photo of my make (but no laughing-or at least, not where I can hear it!!).

This reminded me of my recent trip to the Bristol Organic Festival where we saw the worlds biggest knitting! Just look at the size of it!

Inspired by the craft fare I spent all day today in my tidy craft room, with my new sewing machine! Now, for those that know me well, this will come of a bit of a surprise. Actually, that's an understatement-I have been known as the "sewing machine killer"! I borrowed my mothers, broke it, then my mother-in-law's, broke that also! But, the £25 bargain in Tesco's proved too much for me....I thought this would be perfect for crafting, adding a bit of stitching to my cards and scrap layouts...instead I decided its first make will be an apron (a bit more complicated than a couple of inches up and down on a card!). As all crafters will know, any clothes you wear when crafting tend to get covered in glitter, glue, flocking and embossing powders-nude crafting is not an option, my craft room is at pavement level! So, I bought some black material with red skull and crossbones over it and "ran up" an apron. I am SO proud, my needlework is pants, but this actually looks OK, and the finish isn't too shabby either, what d'you reckon?

Now I have protection(!) I thought I'd better crack on, its my bother-in-laws wedding next week, and I have so much to do. I managed to alter my headpiece, adding some green sequins to match me dress and my satin bag looked a bit boring, so I painted an earring with green glass paint and used this to embellish the bag.

I also managed to make their wedding pressie wrapping and card, but I'll post that later.

Off to watch Harry Potter on TV with a large glass of white wine (just to ring the changes!).


ooh, shame on me, almost forgot, Happy Anniversary to my wonderful hubby (yesterday), we had a lovely day and a fantastic meal at La Barrique in Bristol. Thanks hun, I love you x (especially after you bought me all this craft stash!)

Happy Crafting

Li'l Pidge