Linda's got candy ;)

Thanks Linda http://www.acraftingjourney.blogspot.com/

Apron swap

At I've been hosting an apron swap as part of a drive to get more people sewing. I asked for a craft apron with lots of pockets and have just received this beauty:

The carroty fabric underneath is my skirt, not more of the apron!
Isn't it lovely? Thank you to my swappee - I know who you are!

More hoodies.....

These are a couple more of the hoodies I've been making:


Looking at the pics now, it is interesting to see the effect of having an appropriate mannequin to demonstrate clothes on. This mannequin is age 4 size. The chocolate dress is age 2 and consequently fits snugly, stretchy at the chest and shortening the drape. The candy pink dress is age 6 so hangs loosely, appearing elongated.
i wonder if I have space for a bigger child mannequin.......

Nurture a songbird

I had to alter a CD as part of a swap on UKStampers. Here is my entry and customary poor pic:

I cut an oval, representing an egg, from the CD using my Bigshot and then coloured it using Ranger alcohol inks in stream and meadow. It was stamped in StazOn with a Klimt image of mother and child from Cherry Pie Art stamps. The Tim Holtz grungeboard bird shape was inked in the same colours and the repeated image stamped, edges of both were then inked in blue. A piece of hand dyed bamboo velour was added at the bottom to add texture and depth and lastly a tiny gem became the bird's eye.
I'm not sure if this should be a brooch or magnet so I've left the fastenings off the back.

Pretty in Pink

Here is a sample of a hoody dress adapted from the Olivia pattern. I've made it in a gorgeous deep candy pink needlecord and accented it with berry quilting cotton.


I've been making several of these in the last week, they are always popular with customers, though I have to admit it is not my favourite pattern to work with, hence my need to adapt it. The finished product is lovely though.

Face pads and bracelets

I try to make something every day, it keeps my creative processes going. This week I have been doing some dyeing of organic bamboo velour using the low water immersion technique and procion mx dyes. The resulting fabric was used to make facial cleansing pads for a wholesale customer:

Pretty aren't they?

I've also been meaning to make some leather and sheet metal bracelets for a while, and once again an article from Belle Armoire gave me a good kick to go and do it. Here's the result (apologies for poor pic):

Firstly I bonded my brass sheet with craft foam and then ran it through my sizzix to cut a rectangular shape. This was then put through again inside a cuttlebug embossing folder. The resultant image was then randomly inked with Ranger alcohol inks. Leather was cut to create the bracelet, 2 holes punched in the brass and the brass sewn to the leather. Bird images were then stamped in StazOn on the brown one (not on the green, the suede on this is much darker than shown in the photo and I might add some beads to it). Ribbons were attached and threaded through further holes as fastenings. The brown bracelet is for the monthly art raffle swap, the green is for me (and I'm wearing it at this moment).
I loved the end effect but find the ribbon fiddly to tie. I will probably try making them with resin poppers to fasten next time.

My fabric CJ returns home

I took part in a fabric circle journal on UKScrappers and it has now returned home. The quality and artistry is stunning! I provided the base pages, made from random vintage fabrics and calico and gave the participants free rein to do as they please. Here is the result:






Descriptions in a clockwise direction:
1)I love the sign in page, like a collage of different styles.
2)First is mine, beading on a camouflaged bird.
Quinnan's has a pretty, intricate little fairy charm which is so sweet.
Wisher's is pretty and has my favourite - lace.
Rainbowjoy's - oh my! The embroidery and the jewel-like colours!
3)Love Sarah's very cute bird which can be hidden in the pocket. I will be using this idea in my next piece of work.
Efemera's has a gorgeous flower, lovely choice of colours and great stitching.
Flo's alien is one of my favourites - so cool and very original.
Irboo's piece is so pretty and textural.
4)Lou's is striking and her stitching is so neat!
Magpie did a very beautiful rose with fabulous stitching. A lovely piece I could frame.
new2this' piece has lovely beading and stitching work.
MandyNio included amazing beads and embellishments, a very beautiful piece in my favourite colours. And I've photographed it upside down!
Thank you all so much, they are all stunning and will make a fabulous wall hanging.