ATCs, homemade pickles and even a few cards

After a holiday in Devon (since when did a holiday in this country become a 'staycation' we always had holidays in this country as kids, we couldnt afford anything else, it was just known as a holiday, surely a 'staycation' is when you stay at home, in your home town or do day trips? ). Anyway, back home and I had a nice surpise, I forgot that the CB Forum ATC swap was due on the theme of 'No White', and I received 3 great ATC's from 2Belle, Cleene and Catherine Harper, thanks ladies they are lovely.

My return home saw lots of chilli's on my plants, so I have now pickled them! Lovely, sweet pickled chillis-blow your head off but great with cheese.

We had some good news when we were away, my brother-in-law and his wife completed on their first home! Congratulations to you both. To celebrate I made a selection of homemade goodies: Elderflower cordial, pickled chillis, pickled nasturtium, spicy rhubarb chutney and spiced sugar to welcome them to their new home.

I also managed to get some time card making, a leaving card for a Nightmare Before Christmas fan:

I also made a couple of girly cards and a shaker card.

I also finally took out a subscription to Craft Stamper magazine. I have been waiting until they had a subscription gift i liked-this time some goodies from Paper Artsy, a great company with a full angel policy-so I am off to buy some U-mount and get stamping with my new stamps-watch this space!

Happy Crafting

Li'l Pidge

Rhubarb...ooh, its spicy

Some of you may know we get our veggies delivered from an organic box scheme, so we need to be pretty inventive with our meals some weeks! The last 2 boxes had rhubarb included. Now, I love and grow this myself, so really dont need even more! But, my dad had a great recipe for a spicy rhubarb chutney. So, I decided to give it a go, but soon realised I had no cayenne pepper so as this is a hot spice decided dried whole chillies would be a good substitute-but how many? Well I can tell you -5 is possibly one too many!!!!but boy it's god with some sharp cheddar and oat cakes! Yum! The idea was to make lots and put it away to form the contents of Food Hampers for Christmas pressies, but there is NO way there is going to be any of this left after August, let alone December!

Now, nourished by the chutney I finally managed to make another skirt. This time from some wonderful Amy Butler fabric I bought a few weeks ago. The first skirt took 15 hours to make, but this only took about 6 hours (mainly as I had a bit more of a clue what to do-though zips are a pain) and I was so pleased I wore it out for my best buds, Julie, birthday Karaoke afternoon (OMG, what a scream!).

Amongst a few other bits and bobs, I also made Julie one of my gel collage art pendant necklaces, but decided to have a go at my first exploding box-I hope you like it.
In the words of Bob Marley "the sun is shining and the weather is sweet yeah" so I need to go and top up my Vit. D levels for a bit before hitting the cutting mat to make a leaving card for someone at work.

I have also found a great blog with blogcandy giveaway over at little pricess cards (link is on the righthanbd panel)-check it out, some great stuff.
Happy crafting

Li'l Pidge x

A few days away, lots of galleries and in print!

After the UK had wet weather predicted for our weeks summer holiday (bleeding typical) we decided to head for the capital and enjoy a few days in London seeing the galleries and museums (if your going to be indoors because of the weather you might as well get a bit of culture). So after a bit of research on Trip Advisor we booked a B&B and headed off. What a great find, the B&B was spotless, friendly staff and a great breakfast (so much so, we changed our original plans and stayed on longer than we first anticipated!). We saw the Chapman Brothers exhibition (they guys that depicted Hell that sadly was burnt when the Satchii colelction went up in smoke a few years ago) at the Tate, the new Telling tales at the V&A (the cross-over between art and craft) and saw Mick Jones' new band (him who used to be in the Clash) supporting Billy Bragg at a local pub. They were supporting his charity where Billy raises funds for instruments/musical tuition in prison (called JailGuitarDoors). What a great few days! (and I found a few bead shops along the way!).

So, returned and refreshed (apart from sick hubby, not swine flu I am pleased to say, but a rotten headcold) I pounced into the craft room with renewed vigor...This is a background I made, by applying distressed inks all over then spraying with a gold mica powder mixed with water, it gives a lovely sheen. I then used this as a basis to create this card:

I am loving these new inchie stamps by inkadoo, they are so cute. I even used them to make this necklace by stamping over a coloured background, layering it into a heavy metal pendant blank, using 3D Gel by Judikins to add a resin effect, with some glitter and mico beads. It takes about a week to make, layering it overtime and waiting for the resin to set (it gets harder over time, so its worth putting it to one side for a couple of days, before adding ther final layer).
Then I embarked on a massive card making session, using some of the fabulous holographic card I bought
Then a couple of golden wedding cards:



and some more general cards:
Then I decided to 'alter' a jigsaw piece, double embossing and attaching it to the front of a blue/white pearlescent card:
Then, just for change I decided to make a small felt stuffed heart brooch:


and a brooch made from a large button I bought in Liberty (wow, that shop has the most amazing haberdashery department, with all the lovely Amy Butler fabrics.

Then, finally I have had a chance to do a couple more scrap pages:

I bought Crafts Beautiful magazine agains this month, and there are some more great paper toppers (always great value for money), so I made this soccer card. I also noticed that my Secret Garden card I made a few weeks ago with the Peter Rabbit toppers was pulished in this months magazine, wow! I'm in print, so a big thank-you to the CB team for publishing my picture!

Off to craft, so happy crafting,

Li'l Pidge

Inspired, but thwarted!

Inspired by last weeks make, I went to John Lewis (what a great fabric department) and bought some Amy Butler fabric. This morning, I set up the table, sewing machine and bits and bobs ready to make another skirt.

But, totally forgot I needed to pre-wash the fabric so it doesnt shrink after spending many hours making it! Boo! So, have just washed it, so cant really make it today, so off to finish a few more UFO's that I have hanging around.

Have fun and happy crafting
Li'l Pidge

A story of the struggle between bird and machine

As some of you know, the 'sewing machine killer' aka me doesnt have a particularly great relationship with these machines from hell. That was, until I paid a bit more and bought a 2nd hand Jamone XC 33 and now, slowly, I am gaining a bit more respect for them! So, having bought the Amy Butler Barcelona skirt pattern I thought I would give it a go.

So, I laid out all the bit on the table (o dear, I seen to have now spread to the dining room with my stash!!)Cut and pinned the pattern, then made my first cut-no going back now!
Now it was time to tackle my first zip. I read the machines instructions, changed to the zipper foot, lined it all up.....then...ping! Oh b*gger, forgot to change the stitch so down came the needle and promptly snapped in two! Luckily, the machine came with a couple of spares (I think I will need a few of these!) so, back out with the instruction book on how to change the needle, then, 2nd time around-hurrah! Not,perfect, but I am well chuffed, my first ever zip.
Now, it was fast becoming a long day and I was seriously considering not doing a lining, especially the muslin lining as it wasnt cutting even and was a bit of a mare all round, but then I thought, I had come this far so best push on...Then, as the sun was over the yard arm, I finally finish! Hurrah, my very own proper, shaped skirt.I also managed to complete another UFO, my first knitted hat (displayed on my up-turned scrumpy flagon!)
And a few more cards, including a commission for twin girls.
The card on the left used a few more of the Crafts Beautiful Beatrix Potter toppers, which is not my usualy style, but they bring back so many memories of my childhood that I am loving using them.

Well, I am off to look at my lovely new skirt again, which including the pattern, thread etc only cost £20, so when I make the next one, it will be cheaper as I already have the pattern!

Have fun playing outside before the drudgery of Monday is on us all too quick!

Li'l Pidge

UFO's galore

Is it a bird?
Is it a plane?
No - it's a UFO! An Un Finished Object!

Having cleaned up the craft room (or 'the tip' as we have started referring to it!) I discovered many UFO's, so I decided to finish some off.

This is one of the vast collection of Christmas choccy tins that friends collected for me way back in January!!I had already sprayed it white and decided to stick black and white patterened paper around the tin, adding ribbon around the rim and a piece of embossed card on the lid. The idea is that I can use it as posh and useable wrapping for birthday cakes or cookies that I intend to make at some point (another UFO?). Now, only 6 other tins to decorate!!

Next, I have had some paper roses for a couple of months and haven't used them for anything, so I decided to make a romatic styled card using torn vellum, card and some gold threaded purple fibre paper.I also bought some wired ribbon, so made this corsage and box-I have no idea what to do with it, I may try to sell it for charity, its really pretty and I think it would look great also on a bag or at the waist on a prom dress
Next up, some beads I bought with the sole purpose of making some ear-rings as a gift for my nan who lives in New Zealand (I don't think she is online often, so am probably safe putting a picture on here-but Nan, if you are, you go girl-silver surfers rule!)Then next up, a re-purposed hardwood pencil box I bought to put a necklace and earing set in. I lined it with velevt paper and made the necklace with a large glass pendant strung with leather cording and organza ribbon. The ear-rings are a new thing, as I haven't tried hooped ones before, but I am please with the results, so will definately try these again.And finally, a piece for me. The pendant I bought at a craft show, collaged a butterfly, glitter and micro beads and covered it with Judikins 3D gel. Expensive (much more than diamond glaze) but a great result. I wouldlove to have a go at resin pieces, but too many H&S issues etc, so this is the next best thing for me. Now I need to scour the net for some more pendants I can mount things in!
Also, I noticed (blushing) that on the latest Crafts Beautiful e-newsletter they kindly chose my secret garden/peter rabbit card for one of the members projects! Wow, how nice, thats 2 items now on the e-newsletter and one actually in print! Such a buzz-thanks.

Well, thats it for now, happy crafting

Li'l Pidge

Ramblings from a shop weary bird

Well, after a fab weekend in the sun with my family (and a bit of craft shopping...well, when I say a bit.... obviously the definition is a little foggy!

Some of these were from a couple of craft shops. but then in the local flea market I found a mantle clock for 30p!! So I prised off the glass dome (any ideas what I can use this for, please email me, it was just to good to get rid of) and the face and handles. I will use the face as a stencil to create my own backing papers, then this just left an old wooden box, not really good enough to alter, but I got chatting to a lady on the bench I was sat on whilst dismantling the clock and asked if she could use it, and YES, she could use it as a nesting box for wild birs in her garden, not bad, all that for 30p!
I also took the plunge and bought a couple of Amy Butler patterns....

so now I am on the look out for fabric (and to learn how to use the zipper foot on my new machine)!

Once I got home, the house smelt of elderflower, so it was time to bottle up the elderflower cordial I have been making

the elderflower season is not very long, so I have to work quickly to make enough to last the year (and possibly as Christmas pressies also).

Finally, I had 5 minutes to myself and managed to make 4 cards.


The card on the top right (not a very good shot as its taken on my mobile phone as my camera battery is dead) is actually a fishing fly embedding into a pice of leather, similar to the keyring I made my father for Fathers day.

Happy Crafting

Li'l Pidge