mixedmediablooms

Sock Doll

2012-02-05T23:35:00.006Z

Do you like my sock doll she has go to bed eyes and hot lips well sort off. She is made from a sock cut up the middle from the toe to almost the heel sewn from one side of the cut around to the other making a horseshoe shape this forms the legs.Turned the right way and stuffed gather the top of the sock after cutting of the elastic top and that is the head. A scalf or ribbon can be tied around the neck area mine has a jumper cut from a leg warmer that has an elastic top this forms the neck. Next from another sock cut from the top of the sock down to about the heel for the arms sew up and stuff sew arm to body before dressed or after the jacket is made. There are better instructions on the internet with pictures if you search for sock doll. The eyes and lips are made from felt. She is now asking me for a boyfriend. I was inspired to make this doll having looked at the blog Doll Stories by Netamir. Her dolls are made from old jumpers and socks they are really good. As I dont have a supply of of old jumpers and I dont knit I made the clothes from my supply of old teashirts and fabric stash. If you click on the title it will take you to Doll Stories.

Winter Handmade Paper and Fabric Book

2012-01-13T23:06:00.004Z

This book which includes white embroidery handmade paper and painted sewn paper didnt start out as Winter it just seemed to come about. I really like the cover its collaged with different paper and I rubbed in some paint and sparkles.
After taking apart a water colour book I hand stitched it up again I think this makes it your own
My friend Jacki took it to show her class they liked it very much so she is taking it back again
It didnt photograph very well there isnt any pink

Embroidery Guild Christmas Tree

2011-12-07T16:55:00.003Z

This is our Christmas tree in the local church all the decorations were made by members of the guild it was in aid of local charities

Christmas Tree Ornaments

2011-11-24T14:07:00.003Z

My Embroidery Guild decorates a tree in a Christmas Festival at a church in town this is all for charity. This year mine were machine embroidered and mounted on white felt.

Jill Flower Workshop

2011-11-24T13:52:00.003Z

Jill has been running an Embroidery Guild workshop making these brooches. We all had a good time it was good fun. They are made from coloured magazine pages cut into strips and applied with machining to aqua soluble fabric then washed to dissolve. When gathered we hand sewed beads and sequins on. I shall wear them over Christmas and then probably use on a book cover

Celebration

2011-11-24T13:34:00.003Z

I have had a big 000000 birthday so to celebrate my old age I painted a canvas. The photo was touched up but having lightened it I now have white hair I really dont have hair that colour. The background is mostly Sherrill Kahns sorbets I have had a set hanging about for sometime. I purchased a set of small bottles not wanting to use them all I have hardly touched them daft isnt it. This was all done on photo canvas it came out well apart from it didnt take stamping very well. I will pin it up on the wall in my craft room.

Fabric Book of Roses

2011-10-26T22:32:00.007+01:00

I love making fabric books I like to see how I can make each page different. This one has embroidery stamping printed images and fabric collage and its a good way to use up all the supplies I have stashed away. In between the pages I have placed compressed wadding but I wont be using it again I found it quite hard to machine on. When the pages were machined together I hand sewed them into a cover. I shall soon be able to open a library of handmade books I feel one about Autumn colours coming on.

Art Journal Pages

2011-10-26T17:32:00.003+01:00

Three of my latest pages from my art journal.
When I have time I like to make a few pages usually about some event or time of the year.
The journal man I found on an old poster this is the second time he has appeared I like to think he get better each time he appears

Paper Bag Book

2011-10-26T17:18:00.005+01:00

Just a few images of a paper bag book I made the brown paper bag from Primark. Its not great art but thats why I enjoyed doing it very relaxing. Paint stamping and collage

Bertha and Doris Again

2011-10-26T16:50:00.005+01:00

Bertha and Doris have been to a BBQ in my garden during the summer they dont often come out of the shed only when the sun shines. Bertha's Mum who was visiting was not very pleased to see them misbehaving one to many glasses I expect wouldnt you think they would behave when Mum and Grandmother were on a visit. They had been flirting with Russell when I wasnt there so he asked them would they do his washing and were they any good at cooking but no they told him they would never do any ones washing and cooking so that was that.

Quilt Festival Birmingham

2011-08-13T16:49:00.006+01:00

Just a few photos I took at the Quilt Festival the first time I have been as I dont do very much patchwork and quilting to precise for me getting all the points and corners lined up I prefer free style and if you do make a mistake it can always be how it was planned anyway
It was very crowded and most of the ladies seemed to have money to spend although like myself they probably saved up to go
The photos here were not the prize winners which were just out of this world they were just works that caught my fancy and were within my scope. Sorry ladies I didnt get your names.

Leaves Post Card Swap

2011-08-13T16:38:00.004+01:00

A set of post cards I have just made for a swap with mixedmedia uk, Patchwork cut out shapes and hand embroidery.

English Country Style Garden

2011-08-13T16:28:00.002+01:00

My garden is looking very good this year must be the rain and sunshine although we havent had as much rain here in the south east'ish as the north and west of England

Altered Book

2011-07-21T15:09:00.003+01:00

The Lady and the Garden was my choice of theme for the altered book at yahoo mixedmedia uk. We started the book last year I already have some photos on how it was altered it took some time to arrive back but the book is now finished.
I had to resew the first three sections back in the book as they had come loose and eventually fallen completely out. I had to think about this first but sewed them back with a coptic stitch onto calico and then into the book but with a touch of paint and new front pages everything fell into place very well. One of the reasons they came out was the way I had divided the pages not making sure there was an overlap that didn't show the stitching between each decorated page.
The book now looks very good and there is some really good art in it. I am going to show this in the autumn at a local hobby exhibition. I have now lent the book to a friend who is going to show it to her local group to encourage them to make a book.

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Coptic Stitch Book

2011-06-21T23:05:00.003+01:00

A book I have made from covers received in a swap . I have used coptic stitch as a binding it came out more or less right it works so thats ok
Coptic stitch always looks complicated I followed it one stitch at a time although some instructions are clearer than others. The signature covers are papers I used to stamp out some home made stamps that I will improve on as I use the book. I intend to use it as a doodle book.

Bog Baby

2011-06-01T23:08:00.004+01:00

Th

This is the Bog Baby I made from my own pattern from the book of the same name by Jeanne Willis. I made it for my granddaughter who is a teacher to take and show her class. Its a great book about a little bog baby found in a pond its a picture book with a story for the younger school child.
I drew the pattern out on paper not hard to do the feet and eyes were felt the wings lutrudor the tail plastic bag all bits found in my left over bag its only about six inches tall and fits in a margarine tub

Fabric Book

2011-05-08T22:00:00.002+01:00

At last Iv'e made a fabric book. I kept saying I would but never seemed to get around to it. There are quite a few out in blogging land this is my version. It includes hand and machine embroidery with some of my own hand dyed lace. The finished size is 10x8" I cut the pages out of cotton materials and machined the embellishments on then sandwiched thin wadding in between each set of pages and sewed it up like a bag turning it out the right way and hand sewing the open edges. I was going to stitch it together with a fancy stitch like Coptic but didn't exactly figure out how to do it so I just back stitched down the center of the stack of pages. I did find this the easiest way to line up the page edges. I will put it on my craft stall but dont expect to sell it customers wont like my asking price so I will probably keep it myself or give it away as a gift. I think I will have to make a paper book and practice Copic stitch I have seen some very nice versions about

2011-05-08T21:53:00.002+01:00

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Kate and William

2011-04-29T21:48:00.003+01:00

What a great day a beautiful dress beautiful elegant lady handsome royal prince lovely service lovely music. People from all around the world gathered to celebrate a royal wedding this is what love is all about. God bless their marriage.
My family gathered in the afternoon in the garden to celebrate and raise our glasses to the happy couple.

Craft Fair

2011-04-07T23:30:00.003+01:00

A few brooches I have made mostly circles of material fastened together with a few bits. The top circle was made from various fabrics machined together and then cut out. They look good on a black top.

Next are some owls I drew a simple pattern before sewing them together. The little green things are caterpillars for the boys just a strip of material sewn up and turned then I gathered the stuffed body up round and round
I made a big banner for the craft fair from an old sheet with felt letters but it wasn't as busy as we had hoped. I expect in these times people don't have the money to spend on non essential things
Now the craft fair is over and several other things I have been involved with are over I shall have more time to blog.

2011-04-07T23:25:00.001+01:00

Ciaran and Emily have made owls. Emily made most of her owl by herself Ciaran had some help.

2011-03-03T17:34:00.002Z

Would you like a postcard sent to you in the post
I will send anywhere
Please scroll down

2011-02-21T17:55:00.002Z

I havent posted for sometime as Ive been under the weather not ill but coughs colds and then in bed with the flue serves me right for not having my flue jab why because I dont get flue but needless to say I will be having one next winter.
I have been busy since feeling better I hope you enjoy my softies and please look at the postcards I made I could be sending you one.

Funny Things Softies

2011-02-21T17:44:00.003Z

I liked making these haven't named them yet they come from the magazine Stuffed by Denise Litchfield. I love this Magazine but its so expensive to buy in the UK its cheaper to buy a book its around £18 to order online unless anyone knows where I can get it cheaper the same with Art Journaling.

Henny Penny Softie

2011-02-21T17:28:00.003Z

Henny Penny already for my Easter Craft Stall
These were fun to make again the idea came from the same mag made by Christy Silacci mine are not quite so random as hers. I always start off with the intention of doing the frayed thing but it always ends up neat. I made the pattern myself and went from there with the embelishments.
I will do a black and red one if I have time

Printing on Fabric and Card

2011-02-21T16:17:00.002Z

This was an old white but not so white now pillow case before I started on it. I have used arcylic paints spread on with an old credit card and then stamped with shop or homemade stamps still using acrylic paint the butterflys were stencilled
I like to make a few stamps myself by cutting up fun foam and sticking the foam onto thick cardboard or mounting board whatever you have with carpet tape. I think this makes it very much your own design.
I then cut it into strips doodled on it and machined it onto card for a postcard swap.
The picture below the postcards was done in the same way on card but I used Brusho watercolour paint for the background. I love this paint the colours are so vivid
it comes in powder form and can be painted or sprayed on I also have a thickener so I can make patterns in it or it can be used with stamps or stencils but its not very precise used this way. I used this card for the cover of a note book the picture in the middle is a photo of leaves that I played around with it in Zoner studio I downloaded this free on the internet. I don't really know how to use it properly it takes so much time to follow instructions and I cant always understand them.

2011-02-21T16:15:00.002Z

If you would like me to send you one of these postcards please leave a comment or send me an email I will send one overseas

2011-02-21T16:09:00.002Z

Christmas Art Journal

2011-01-04T15:30:00.002Z

A few pictures of my first Christmas Art Journal I didn't know if I would finish it but found after Christmas I did have time to sit by myself and work in it I can only watch so much television. Christmas seemed to go on for ever this year especially as we had two extra bank holidays Russell was off from Christmas Eve till the Tuesday after New Year. I think even he was glad to get back to work Ive had the cold and cough going around so haven't felt too good for the last few days but I did manage to get to a garden centre and Stamp Addicts where they were having an art and craft sale no I'm not saying how much I spent it was tooo much I'm not buying anything else for months ha ha. My journal has 14 pages and measures 8.5"x 8" I took apart a large sketch book re sized the pages and sewed it up with what is probably called pamphlet stitch I now have one more journal to work in I might make an Easter Journal. I'm getting obsessed now with journaling as its something I'm doing for myself and I dont have to show it around.

2011-01-04T15:16:00.008Z

Remember Summer

2010-12-22T12:25:00.004Z

When Christmas is over I will be looking forward to summer. I do not like the snow and cold of winter. I love the sun and the garden. It would be great to think next year could be the year when we see a lot of sun it does happen every ten years so they say we are long overdue. Pictures of my town

2010-12-22T12:22:00.002Z

Art Journal of My Holiday in the States

2010-12-21T23:27:00.005Z

I have at last found time to take photos of my holiday art journal and post them. Its the first journal Ive done I started it at home with some painting and collaging then did the jounaling when resting in the hotels we stayed at along the way. I finished it off when I returned. The book I used was about 3.5" x 5" the paper was handmade which meant I had to watch the pens I used as some bled through to the next page. I mostly used gel pens with watercolour paint. I did enjoy doing this a record of a great time

I am now making a Christmas Journal

2010-12-21T23:21:00.003Z

Near to Lafayette. We stayed at Bayou Cabins delightful place to stay.

2010-12-21T23:17:00.002Z

The Swamp or Bayou St Martins Lake Breaux Bridge I did quite a few pages from here

2010-12-21T23:06:00.008Z

These pages are all from New Orleans

Our Trip to America

2010-11-19T17:15:00.003Z

We have been back now for over nine weeks it has taken all this time to sort out all the photos Russell took. We or I should say Russell drove at least 3000 miles from Washington to New Orleans we took around 1500 photos. Something I have always wanted to do is visit America to see the way of life speak to the American people hear the music and maybe have a dance not to mention all the tourist places to visit. We couldnt stay long in each place as we had just two weeks to do the drive but we did get a flavour of America and driving ourselves we could go where we wanted drive down the backroads and stop whenever we decided. We had a great adventure and we enjoyed every moment even when the police stopped us for speeding - they did let us off. I enjoyed the heat up to 98f at times but of course with the air conditioning it made it comfortable but being very English we had to turn it off in the middle of the night I was getting cold and the noise was keeping me awake.
If you ever get the opportunity to take a trip like this do it was great fun and with the sat nav and the American roads no roundabouts its great.
I hope you will read some of this I know its a bit long and I dont blog about travel but couldnt help myself. I did do an art journal so might take one or two pics to show you later.

2010-11-19T16:51:00.003Z

Washington we have arrived at last a long flight booked into the hotel and straight out it was Labour day here in the States a holiday. Lots of people about and its hot. We walked and walked saw all the tourists sights we missed the White House the first time around. We walked and walked again we had bottles of drink and it was hot and we were so tired being hit with jet lag I was in bed by 8.0pm and was out like a light. We found our way about on the metro and the buses. We had three great days here then we were off to pick up the car and then on the way to see America her people and hear the music.

2010-11-19T16:33:00.002Z

The Blue Ridge Highway very
beautiful we didnt drive as far as we had planned as it took so much time to drive the twisting turning road. We stopped of at Buena Vista for the night and visited a local pub called the Stone Grey we were made very welcome and had a good meal. Next day we visited Bedford the same name town I come from we browsed in Bell Treasures the Antique shop had a chat with Rick and Amy Phillips I could have stayed all morning. Around the corner we visited the art and craft cafe we had a meal and a look around all the crafts. A nice little town to visit everyone we spoke to was pleased we had stopped off to visit. Anyone from around there have a look at my photos from Bedford UK

2010-11-19T15:58:00.003Z

Nashville thats me and Russell outside the Crazy Horse Saloon we returned there in the evening for a meal and a dance had a great time we saw some line dancing the only time we saw this dance in the States we like to ballroom dance as well as jive and just muck about. We did visit the Country Music Hall of Fame but Russell forgot to bring his camera so no photos.
The next day we were off to Memphis and Beale Street lots of music had a dance for our wedding anniversary and mentioning dancing I was enticed up to dance along the bar cant remember if it was Memphis or Nashville it was early evening not a lot of people about yet otherwise I wouldnt have done it. It was the bar with all the bras hanging up no they didnt get mine. Yes Russell did take a photo I might put it up sometime
On the Sunday we went to the First Baptist Church Nashville we were going to sneak in the back but Shirley and Howard welcomed us and we sat with them right up the front. We did enjoy the service very much like the C of E service I attend in the UK we even sung two hymns I knew. Thank you to all the people who spoke to us and made us welcome

2010-11-19T15:37:00.005Z

Gracelands the home of Elvis was a modest
home for a big star it felt friendly and homely we couldnt go upstairs which of course we wanted to see. The photo is of the peacock room and there were a lot of exhibitions to see including his collection of cars. Over the road is the commercial part where you can have your photo taken and spend a lot of money including an Elvis outfit which if I remember rightly was around $2000. My impressions of Elvis were he liked to dress up have fun and be surrounded by his friends he gave generously to local charities having been very poor as a child. Glad we went.

2010-11-18T22:49:00.003Z

This is Breaux Bridge near Lafeyette we stayed two nights here in the Bayou Cabins run by Rocky and Lisa Sonnier who made us feel at home. We stayed in one of the Arcadian Cabins. If you ever visit near here do visit its a very friendly place. Rocky and Lisa will remember me as the English lady who didnt like cajun spice in her scrambled eggs. The town has some interesting shops with a few antique shops we spent sometime browsing. We also visited the famous Mulate's restaurant to eat listen to the jazz band and yes we had to dance. The Arcadian Village is also worth a visit

2010-11-18T22:40:00.002Z

As we walking around early evening we came across this yard art enclosure there were all sorts of stuff from new to arty things recycled from old signs and rusty old throwouts. As it was closed we didnt get to walk around I didnt think I would get anything in the case to take home but would have loved too. Click on the picture to have a good look.

2010-11-18T17:06:00.003Z

The Swamp at St Martins Lake Lafeyette Butch was our guide great bloke new everything anyone would need to know about the bayou. This was the most fascinating place I have ever visited we set out in a small boat with six other people the trip lasted for over two hours and as we moved around it went from twilight to sunset absolutely magical. We saw alligators herons turtles alligators flights of herons and egrets killer bees well thats what they looked like great big spiders and two brown owls calling to each other. The
colours of the sunset were out of this world one of the few times I have said if only I could paint. I was quite surprised I didnt get bitten by an insect not even once. Insects like me. What a wonderful trip something I will always remember.

2010-11-18T16:53:00.003Z

The Laura Plantation that still grows sugar cane along the River Road is a country style house not a fancy house as in Gone With The Wind I have read that book three times but the guide said life just wasnt like that. The first photo is a slave cabin but I shouldnt think it was green as it looks two families lived to a cabin. Records show there were 175 slaves on the plantation in 1804 and records their names ages and the money they were worth. Laura who wrote a dairy about the place didnt die till 1963. A very historical place to visit

2010-11-18T16:44:00.002Z

The Natchez paddle steamer had to have a journey up the Mississippi. There was a jazz band on board so we had to have a dance we met a group of people whose small son was born in the UK. It was lovely and cool on a very hot day. Looked for Clarke Gable and a Southern Belle but didnt see them

2010-11-18T16:28:00.003Z

Photos Jackson Square with the art work a lot of mixed media, French Quarter and Bourbon Street. New Orleans Queen of Bling Bars Noise Music.
We had a ball danced again in Bourbon Street listened to the jazz walked and walked had a meal and a few drinks. Next bed and ready to fly home

Mixed Media the Next Page

2010-11-02T22:57:00.003Z

This page is a collage its as near as I'm likely to get to a photo taken at Scalea Southern Italy of old houses going up a hill. The roof tops are made from corrugated card and the tree from other papers.
I have been making my daughter a scrapbook of most of her baby pictures up until she left home. She is now 40 so it took me sometime
three weeks in fact. I felt I had been doing it day and night. Some days I started at nine and went on till four in the afternoon. Oldish photos are not the easiest to deal with I think the camera used at the time was a Kodak and some of the colour is not very good I didn't have the time or the skill to update them in photoshop.

I'm Back

2010-10-08T22:49:00.003+01:00

Havent posted for a few weeks as Ive been on holiday. Ive achieved an ambition Ive had for some time now. We have toured USA my husband was driving and we drove from Washington DC down through the Blue Ridge Mountains to Nashville Memphis and of course Gracelands down south to Layfette we stayed in Br Bridge right down to New Orleans. We had a wonderful time with a few adventures on the way Russell was stopped by the police for speeding and we got lost a few times even though we had a sat nav. We met some lovely people everyone was very friendly. We both had awful jet lag when we got home and it took ages to recover also due to rushing about and living out of suitcases. We suffered from lack of sunlight the temperature in the States was 98 at one time lowest 86. I loved the hot weather all that lovely sun but of course we were on holiday and could rest for the hottest part of the day. Some of the Brits I know start complaining when it gets to 25c. I started an art journal haven't attempted one before I wanted to make notes along the way to record the things we saw. I don't usually write a diary so to make it interesting to do I collaged and painted the pages. I'm still doodling in it I'm not good at drawing I will put up some pics when its done and some photos we took 1800 and did 3000 miles pheeeew.

Lucky Black Cat

2010-09-01T22:52:00.002+01:00

Lucky black cat again a little larger this time made from the calico cat pattern.
He might land up on my craft stall

Postcards

2010-09-01T22:43:00.003+01:00

Postcards I am taking to The States with me to post thought I might try posting without an envelope cant remember the term for doing that. I might call them plastic lace as they made from carrier bags strips woven with strips of material and lace then ironed to hold it altogether I then hand and machine embroidered them They came out quite well.

STAR Little Monster

2010-09-01T22:23:00.007+01:00

This is Star Ive made him for my granddaughter who is just starting her first teaching job straight from college this must be quite scary but she is in a small village school. She wanted me to make her something to give one of the children to take home for the weekend if they had been specially good. I wanted to make something the children would really like to take home. I came up with this baby monster but I was inspired by Denise at grrl+dog click on the title Star. He or maybe she I did find making one that the boys would like too was a bit restrictive but it was fun to make. I would like to make one that is a bit more wild like the ones Denise has made. I do find it hard to let go and do wild and frayed

2010-09-01T22:05:00.006+01:00

Another Altered Book Page

2010-08-14T16:24:00.004+01:00

The title for this book is Beautiful Creatures.
I thought the ballet is very lovely and chose Swan Lake for the beautiful swan. The pages are collaged with paint papers and finished with the pictures and oil pastels. I like collage messing with paint and papers the only thing is its time consuming getting all your stuff out sorting and then getting more out putting it all away and then clearing up the mess.
This spread has turned out very well it all hangs together.

Altered Book Page

2010-08-09T23:22:00.002+01:00

Altered book for Becky the theme was along the lines of sending a letter from yourself when young and then from older self. I thought this was a bit scary when I first saw the theme but it was quite a fun one to do. My thoughts went back to when I was 16 I left school at 15. Remember my grandmother telling me she left school at 14 and thinking she was still a child. My granddaughter has just finished college to start teaching and she is almost 23.I collaged about what was big in my life then I headed the page Return to Sender Address Unknown that let me out of writing a letter much to busy having fun at that age.If you look there is a picture of me at 16 on the little book we even looked innocent in those days. The second half you can see is not so busy but life is good and the heading is One More Step Along the World I Go with a book of quotes that have helped me through difficult times.

Boy Embroidery

2010-07-29T23:11:00.003+01:00

My grandson Ciaran has been visiting me for the day it was too hot to go further than the local swings and while he was watching TV I was sewing I could see him watching me and eventually he asked if he could sew as well. He drew a picture and I traced it on to the material and with a bit of help from me he spent quite some time sewing. He had already sewn a ghost with me a few weeks ago and seems to get very involved in the process. He made a very good job of it considering hes only six. His sister who is ten wasn't interested and stayed inside to read her book Emily isnt very interested in sewing but will take part in any other craft.

Bedford River Festival

2010-07-23T22:58:00.004+01:00

This is the River Festival in my home town said to be the second biggest festival in the UK after Nottinghill Carnival. I think this year there were more people than ever maybe because of the weather. The parade was great and there was a great crush down by the river with all the stalls and events. My family had a get together in the evening there were about 20 of us we had a good evening. My brother and his wife came to stay for the weekend and we made a great collection for the bottle bank. On Sunday we visited a cousin I hadn't seen for about 40 years when I was her bridesmaid. What a weekend I'm still recovering.

Bead Swap

2010-07-20T22:36:00.003+01:00

These beads are made from fabric painted or inked stamped embossed and bejewelled. The green bead I embossed with no bother then I changed to a new embossing ink pad and how ever hard I tried it wouldnt emboss very well. I spent some time doing this until I checked the pad it was a white coloured ink pad so no wonder it wouldnt work dah dah.

The Journal of Bertha and Doris

2010-07-11T22:22:00.004+01:00

Bertha and Doris
are going to have an adventure keep reading to find out what happens.
If you click on the side bar you will find their story

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Bertha and Doris have an Outing

2010-07-11T21:22:00.003+01:00

If you have read the story of Bertha and Doris who live in my shed you will be interested to know they have been for a trip out. The day was very hot they both like this weather but they were not impressed with their mode of travel. Both of them were stuffed into the car in a not very lady like way. When they arrived they were delighted to meet some new friends they were at the scarecrow festival held at St Marys Church. Bertha did her lady act and told everybody she was not a scarecrow she was a life size doll. Bertha was overjoyed as she even met some men scarecrows and whatismore she won a prize
We all had a lovely day and yes a very English day at the church fete with lunch and cream cakes my craft stall and lots of lovely sun. They said it would be good to go out again

Fish

2010-07-09T16:20:00.003+01:00

These fish I made for a Mixed Media UK swap. The background is painted lutrador and the fish made with glitter materials.
I see from the date of the posting before this its been sometime. What have I been doing I'm not quite sure but I ha vent been idle just bits and pieces. We went to Camden Lock Market in London a couple of weeks ago and saw all the fashion and did a lot of people watching. We were sitting outside a pub on the very busy Camden High Street and I couldn't believe my eyes a bloke on roller wheels or whatever you call them came skating down very fast in and out of the traffic I had to look away in case he fell. We sat there for some time and three other people came skating by so it wasn't unusual. Also there were more people on bikes than in the much quieter town where I live. I have a bike but haven't used it very much the excuses are its too cold its too windy its raining and now of course its toooo hot. These fish seem to be swimming around very confusing they started off together. I expect I will get the hang of this posting one day

Altered Book Page

2010-06-18T11:11:00.004+01:00

A page for Iris the theme for her book is Wales. Ive only been to Wales once many years ago we went with the children when they were small. We stayed near Caenarfon camping so that immediately came to mind and of course the castle. Ive mixed up some history of Wales along with the Prince of Wales. I did some research on the net to come up with the names and dates I do hope I have spelt them right. I was going to do something about battles with the English but there were quite a lot of them and I got confused with all the Welsh names and places. I decided to simplify the story in case I got in wrong thats why its turned into the Prince of Wales. I hope you don't mind Iris that I have brought the English in.

Postcard in Stitch

2010-06-10T21:56:00.001+01:00

I have just found out someone had to tell me my postcard for the swap in Stitch
has been published in the magazine I had to buy it didn't I. I had forgotten all about it and
wasn't quite sure when I was told what it was. I'm going to shout about it as its probable the
first and last time I will have anything printed. I had picked up the magazine a week ago but
put it back as it didn't contain anything I particularly wanted to make. Click on the title and it will take you to my blog page with the card. I did a swap with Amelia she has the second
postcard I made.

Altered Book

2010-06-01T23:53:00.004+01:00

I have been quiet on my blog lately I have joined an altered book swap with mixedmediauk- see links. I have never made one before I always thought it was a mystical operation I wouldn't be able to do. Becky on the group explained all to the new ones and yes I have done it. There are eight of us in the swap and we post the book off to a new person every month so it wont be back to me

until next year. We all chose our own themes mine is The Lady and the Garden I like anything to do with flowers and gardens. Some of the themes are a bit more difficult than mine I will tell you about them as they come to me. I hope you will be able to follow my instruction for making the book and please leave me a comment I would love to know what you think.

2010-06-01T23:48:00.006+01:00

Cutting a lot of the pages out with a sharp knife to reduce the thickness of the book to allow for any embellishments used and also to reduce the weight when posted. I cut the pages out about half to one inch away from the inside of the page. The cut out pages I kept and used the text for my spreads if you click on the photos you will be able to read them

2010-06-01T23:44:00.003+01:00

The title page this was printed out on one of the pages I cut from the book the other page is the sign in page

2010-06-01T23:41:00.003+01:00

pages sorted for each swap and clipped together. I will only glue my spreads together leaving others to glue and cut as they want

2010-06-01T23:30:00.004+01:00

The pages are now glued together and painted with gesso. I used Elmers pva which worked well. I did try using acrylic medium but couldn't tell the difference so as pva is much cheaper have used that although I used the acrylic to stick the collage with. I have found that if you get glue on the page it cant be painted over something that I hadn't thought of before. This was the first page I did and with practice it came out smoother. I used an old credit card and a roller to get the wrinkles out.

2010-06-01T23:14:00.005+01:00

My first spread is a collage of photos taken in my garden. Behind the door you will find me in the garden with Bertha the lady scarecrow I made and I greet you on a lovely summers day with a glass of wine. Looking through the photos of myself and husband in the garden we always seem to have a glass in our hands. Just as well it isnt always sunny and warm here in the UK

2010-06-01T23:01:00.006+01:00

The second spread is a Victorian Garden. I have hand embroidered the lady and some of the flowers onto a cotton that doesn't fray very much before I cut the embroidery out I lightly glued around the figures and let it dry. I have also dyed some lace.

2010-06-01T22:44:00.004+01:00

This is the last spread I did. Its painted stamped collaged with paper napkin poppys and worked into with paintstik and other crayons. The lady was put into photo editing and turned into an oil painting this sounds as though Im good at photos but Im not I just played around with this its just a matter of clicking and using a slider. I havent yet worked out how to do layering its probably quite simple if someone shows you how to do it

I use a free programme called paint.net just enter this into search and its a free download. I have

now posted my book onto the next person.

atc from Jackie

2010-05-16T22:29:00.003+01:00

This is the atc from Jackie for the hand embroidery net swap. This is the first atc Jackie has made I think she has done very well and finished of the edges very neatly with ribbon.

ATC Spring

2010-05-11T23:31:00.002+01:00

Just one atc I have made for the Hand Embroidery Net the theme is spring. The daffodil has been taken from an old transfer-no-I cant call it old the popular word is now vintage. I have used double knot stitch buttonhole stem satin and chain stitch. Quit a lot of different stitches for this small embroidery but it looks quite good. I have a lovely card from Jackie that I have just realised I haven't taken a photo of but I will. See my link to the group on the side panel

Tulips on the Embankment

2010-05-02T22:03:00.004+01:00

This weekend is our May Day holiday today Sunday has been grey windy and not very warm so just the day to go out in the car to visit the Embankment alongside the River Ouse that runs through the town. The colours of the tulips were wonderful eye candy every year the council plants the beds with a lovely display of spring tulips I only wish I could paint. One year I will try an embroidery of some kind. I hope tomorrow our bank holiday Monday the sun will come out.

Postcard Swap

2010-04-21T14:34:00.004+01:00

Would anyone like to swap postcards. I have made these three cards from lutradur

dyes and salt then machined and hand embroidered. I have called them citrus which could be the theme for yours. Please leave a comment or contact me by email

Dolls from Sew Me Love Me

2010-04-21T13:50:00.002+01:00

Do you like these dolls I have named them Freddie Fox and Harriet Hound. They are great character dolls from the book Sew Me Love Me by Hsiu-Lan Kuei. I will make one or two more when I find time. One thing I liked was some of the dolls could be made from old jumpers without having to felt them although I havent tested these yet. I don't have very many all wool jumpers and the one I did try in the washing machine just wouldn't I even boiled it in a saucepan apart from the fact it stretched a bit it didn't felt. I must be doing something wrong. I bet if I put a new jumper in a hot wash by mistake it wouldn't be wearable well that's life.

Rag Dolls from Sew Hip

2010-03-23T23:25:00.003Z

These dolls are very cute not a word I use very often. The pattern comes from Sew Hip it was quite an easy one I love their little faces and the rag hair I will try this on other dolls it was just small strips of fabric sewn onto the head in the middle and a knot tied with the ends. It was a good pattern the only alteration I made was attaching the arms properly through the body the doll maker in me wanted to do it the usual way.

Mothers Day

2010-03-14T17:04:00.003Z

Today in UK is Mothers Day or Mothering Sunday coming from the time when servants were given the day off to go home and visit their Mothers. Happy Mothers day to you all

King Penguin Workshop

2010-03-14T16:45:00.003Z

I attended BQS on Saturday which is a local group meeting about four times a year this was my first time but I did know a lot of people there from my Embroidery Guild and Church. There were several workshops to choose from I made a penguin that I turned into a king with his crown as he had a hole in his head but the end he sat on was of course perfect. We had several sale tables and enjoyed our lunch together with a lot of chat. In the afternoon we had a talk by Ferret and her partner showing us some beautiful quilts the art quilts of naked ladies were wonderful almost like photos. Her nick name Ferret comes from biting someone as a baby. A good time was had by all and I look forward to going again.

Papier Mache Fun

2010-03-08T17:33:00.003Z

Emily my grandaughter has been to visit for the day and we have been playing with papier mache. We started with a kitchen paper tube cut down to a small size which we filled with scruched up paper rolled in paste and pushed inside the tube to form a head this had to dry. Then it was just tearing newspaper into smallish strips and pasting around the head and tube to form the body. This also had to dry didnt take too long on top of the radiators. Then came the part we like best dressing it up Emily decided to use material to make a dress and cloak which meant a trip to my fabric cupboard which took quite a long time to decide on the colours. A face was painted and then wool stuck on for hair
My dolls were similar with lace painted for the hair.The paste was made from white glue and wallpaper paste Emily isnt allergic to this mix otherwise a flour and water paste could be made

Fabric Birthday Card

2010-03-01T22:59:00.008Z

A card with a difference for Sandra on her 50th Birthday I expect she will tell me off for putting her age here but I did have a lot of photographs of a part of her she wouldn't like to see. I haven't made any paper cards for sometime and have got out of the habit. It was mostly made of felt with some glazed cotton and fabric flowers. I couldn't draw very well on the felt that is why there is a very wobbly glass didn't think it through properly. A lot of sad quotes about getting old were stamped onto tags and the beads are papier mache. We all had a good time at the party and the food was great all made by Sandra's husband John.

Card

2010-02-16T10:49:00.002Z

I made this card at my local craft group the mask was stamped on acetate and glittered on the back. I haven't made many cards lately I have been sewing. We shall be trying lace making next I will let you know how I get on.

First Snowdrops

2010-02-14T23:43:00.002Z

Here they are found in my garden today but the weather is still cold and grey with rain forecast for the rest of the week.

Remembering Summer

2010-02-04T16:59:00.003Z

I can almost smell the perfume from the rose and sweet peas picked from my garden last summer.

I am fed up with all this cold today is damp drizzly and cold. I do not like to think how much my heating bill will be for this winter. I seem to feel the cold more than most people I often have three or four layers on and I'm wearing a vest which I haven't done since a child, it must be old age.

I have been reading on the blogs that USA have also been having a lot of snow and cold.

The only good thing is that there is plenty of time for sewing and being arty.

I am keeping my eye on the snowdrops, only the shoots so far.

2010-02-02T17:11:00.002Z

Stuffed Striped Cats

2010-02-02T16:39:00.004Z

I have been looking at Becky's Blog artofzinkibaru she has a delightful book she has painted with the story of two cats going on holiday to France and wait for it the cats are gay. I was so taken by Becky's painting of the cats I had to start making them.

This is how they came to life.

I first made a pattern cut it out in a course calico sewed up and stuffed them forgot to take that photo.

The first one I taped up and painted the blue and red stripes but when I took the tape off they didn't always come together. I dont seem to be able to think things through from the start but learn as I go along.

2010-02-02T16:38:00.002Z

By the time I came to paint the next cat I had realised the better way would be to paint the cat all over first and then tape and paint the second colour for the stripes.

mixedmediablooms

Sock Doll

Winter Handmade Paper and Fabric Book

Embroidery Guild Christmas Tree

Christmas Tree Ornaments

Jill Flower Workshop

Celebration

Fabric Book of Roses

Art Journal Pages

Paper Bag Book

Bertha and Doris Again

Quilt Festival Birmingham

Leaves Post Card Swap

English Country Style Garden

Altered Book

Coptic Stitch Book

Bog Baby

Fabric Book

Kate and William

Craft Fair

Funny Things Softies

Henny Penny Softie

Printing on Fabric and Card

Christmas Art Journal

Remember Summer

Art Journal of My Holiday in the States

Our Trip to America

Mixed Media the Next Page

I'm Back

Lucky Black Cat

Postcards

STAR Little Monster

Another Altered Book Page

Altered Book Page

Boy Embroidery

Bedford River Festival

Bead Swap

The Journal of Bertha and Doris

Bertha and Doris have an Outing

Fish

Altered Book Page

Postcard in Stitch

Altered Book

atc from Jackie

ATC Spring

Tulips on the Embankment

Postcard Swap

Dolls from Sew Me Love Me

Tags

Rag Dolls from Sew Hip

Mothers Day

King Penguin Workshop

Papier Mache Fun

Fabric Birthday Card

Tags

Card

First Snowdrops

Remembering Summer

Stuffed Striped Cats