Lynne's Pad

Fwsq block 30 night and day‏

2011-08-10T19:56:00.000+01:00

Yes I'm definitely prefering these with white added :)

Mpre stitcheries :)

2011-08-08T20:38:00.000+01:00

I've finished another 2 of these for my grandson's quilt. I must say though that they do look better in real life!

Added to this I've resolved my issues with my Farmers' Wife colour scheme. I've seen some other blocks in the Yahoo Group and realise that the only thing I was missing was a dash of white int hte blocks. I WAS saving the white for sashing, but I've decided that I'll cross that bridge when I get to it!

This is block no. 1, attic windows,

and this is block no 77.

I think I've been going a bit mad with then, trying to catch up, which has maybe also been a bit behind me getting a bit jaded with them. So I'm going back to the '2 blocks a week', with maybe an extra one if I have the time. Having said that I managed to do both of these in about an hour this afternoon, although it must be said I did do them both on the sewing machine rather than by hand! At least I've done my 2 for this week!

A bit of a quandry

2011-08-01T19:05:00.000+01:00

I know its a bit late, but I'm not sure I like the FWSQ block colours I've chosen!! What I mean is yes, they are ok, but they aren't really me, and can't really see where I'd use the quilt except maybe to give it away!! So, do I carry on regardless, as after all I still have lots of the fabric left, and I don't actually HATE them, just not sure about them. Or do I leave off where I am, and start the next blocks in different colours, do a few and see how I feel then? Decisions decisions!
Anyway, here is the latest one, block no 58, a mothers dream.

See, I quite like it, just not sure it is me......
I did have another one finished too. I finished it while I was trying to decide whether to keep on with the colour scheme or not. Then when I went to press it all the dried up starch transferred from the iron to the block and ruined it! Maybe it was trying to tell me something!

Anyway, galloping along with Alex's quilt too, this is the next stitchery, Geronimo, and have also almost finished the next one too!

these farmers' wife blocks are addictive!!

2011-07-30T14:56:00.001+01:00

This is block 18, a century of progress. Not sure if I like it or not, , although once it's all put together I'm sure it will be fine.

And this is the next stitchery, I really like doing these (luckily, as there are 13 to do altogether!)

And here's my other stuff

2011-07-30T00:27:00.000+01:00

I think this is the 3'rd applique block for my grandson's quilt, 7more to go, I think!! Really enjoying doing it tho, and have another stitchery block to photograph.

lots of blocks

2011-07-30T00:21:00.001+01:00

Not sure if I've solved the problem with the photos not coming up big enough but here goes! Lots of pics, but thats cos the laptop has been out of action for a few days (don't ask), but anyway here goes...

this is block 4 of mine,block 79 in the book, Silver Lane. And very pretty if I do say so myself!

This is block 34, flock (yes upside down I know, but still nice!)

and this is block 46, Hill and Valley.

I know it might seem a bit random, but I have actually followed the story in the book, so the first farmers' wife letter is accompanied by block 26, cut glass dish, and so on. Loving this, so loads more to come!

Found it!

2011-07-25T11:08:00.000+01:00

Here's the second one! I knew I had it somewhere. Its called Kitchen Woodbox. I did this one with foundation piecing, and it was really quick to finish, which is why I've managed to get so many done!

Been very busy

2011-07-25T10:10:00.001+01:00

sitting sewing in the sun. This is the second applique block for Alex's quilt.

This is the second stitchery block for the same quilt, (not a great photo, I am trying to find out what the problem is as to why the photos won't open up larger in another window. Any ideas??)

And this is the third of the Farmers wife quilt blocks I've finished. What happened to the second? No idea! I seem to have mislaid the photo so I'll have to take another.

Won't get as much done today, I promised to take Adam to the cinema, goodness knows what we'll end up watching!

FWSQ my block no 1

2011-07-23T16:44:00.001+01:00

YES!! I've finished one! I decided in the end to simply go in the order of the letters in the book, so this is actually block no 26 (I think, don't have the book with me to check), but it is called 'cut glass dish', and yes I have loaded the photo the wrong way round again. The orange squares actually go diagonally down from top left to bottom right! I'm very pleased with it tho, what do you think to the nice muted colours!! lol I'm planning on using white sashing so that should give the eyes a break!
I've sewn this completely by hand. I did intend sewing the longer seams by machine, thinking it would be quicker but once I'd undone of them the third time because they were a mess I decided hand was best! I am going to try doing the next one as foundation piecing, so should be interesting! Watch this space!

Next step

2011-07-18T22:50:00.000+01:00

This is the first stitchery in the 'boys story' quilt that I'm making for my grandson's first birthday. It's designed by Anni Downs of hatched and patched and is absolutely FAB!! It is basically backstitched onto 'calico' with a dusky blue thread, and there are 13 in total to do!

What a beautiful day!

2011-07-15T22:12:00.001+01:00

Well, this morning anyway! I sat in the garden stitching, reading and drinking coffee in my bra and trousers!! (I should add that our garden isn't overlooked!!! ) By this afternoon it was raining so it was just as well I made good use of this morning!

I've finished the main stitching for the first block in my grandsons's quilt, needs to be ready by 9th december for his first birthday so should be ok!! I needed to get it done cos I'm hoping my Farmers Wife book will be here tomorrow and I know I'll want to get on with it straight away lol

Finished Filmstrip Quilt

2011-07-14T08:04:00.001+01:00

Isn't it FAB!! I can say that cos it wasn't my idea at all, but DD found it here and I love how it's turned out. I added an appliqued strip which Amanda didn't have on hers and no, that wasn't my idea either, I got it from here. Its a similar idea to the filmstrip but doesn't have the 'plain' band through it. I think the applique band works really well.

The colours look fun together and I think that those are the colours I'm going to use for my Farmers wife quilt cos I have LOADS of them!

As if I didn't have enough to do!

2011-07-13T08:56:00.000+01:00

I've discovered the Farmers Wife Quilt Along! You can read about it here on Camille's wonderful blog, (with lots of links to more info/photos etc), but be warned you could get sucked in too!!! I've ordered the book from Amazon, with the idea that it will give me lots of practice in colour choosing and piecing, although I have a feeling that it will just give me more piles of unfinished bits and pieces lol.

A happy accident

2011-07-04T19:11:00.000+01:00

I've just finished reclaiming the spare bedroom now that the twins have gone back home. Money isn't abundant (is it for anyone!) so we just used some paint left over from somewhere else (although no idea where!) and bought a cheap bed-settee, but doesn't my quilt look just the part!! You'd think it had been made with this room in mind. Looking closely I think its on upside down, but hey ho!! lol

wholecloth workshop

2011-06-25T19:56:00.002+01:00

Well I've finished the wholecloth workshop quilt and am thrilled to bits with it apart from one thing, it's impossible to photograph! No matter what the time of day or where I put the blooming thing all you can see is cream!! Still, one lady at the knitting group I go to said it was "exquisite," Thats good enough for me! lol ;)

recognise this?

2011-06-13T20:30:00.001+01:00

It is a selection of BRIGHT fabrics I bought a while ago to do a quilt-a-long quilt called jacobs coat. For some reason I never got very far with it and it has sat in the corner of my cabin making me feel very guilty! But DD Kelley stumbled across the this blog and found her film strip quilt and I was hooked!! So my beautiful fabric will be mixed with white and finally be used to its very best! The only question is where will it go? Now I do have a sister with a BIG birthday next year, and these are soooooo her colours....

And yes, I found a knitting pattern, not exactly what I wanted, but with a small modification will be fine.

I need something to knit!!

2011-06-08T10:11:00.000+01:00

Ok so I have a quilt top layered and waiting to be quilted (it'll need unpinning, re-ironing and re-layering by the time I get round to it!!), I am in the process of knitting a 'wedding ring' shawl/stole, (so called because its lacy and so fine that when its finished it will still be able to be pulled through a wedding ring), I have another quilt in the very early stages, not even started stitching the blocks yet, but they are prepared and waiting, and I am finishing off a whole-cloth silk cot quilt that was designed and started at one of Dorothy Russell's workshop, but still I need something else to knit!!
I need to finish the cot-quilt before july 3rd, no not a baby on the way but thats when I do another of Dorothy's workshops, and if it isn't finished by then there is a danger that I'll be so wrapped up in new stuff!! The unquilted quilt top doesn't need to be finished yet, I have no real idea of where its going so no rush there. The newest quilt needs to be finished by december so plenty of time, oh and I've seen a fantastic quilt with lots of curved piecing on crazymoms blog and I've ordered the plastic templates to have a go at that too!!
So why more knitting? Well I go to a knitting group and although it has been known for me to take stitiching with me it is nice to actually go along with the group and knit! As I said I am doing the lacy wrap but although it isn't difficult I do need to concentrate on it, so not an ideal 'sociable' project. I have 3 lots of wool, and 3 patterns to go with but I've gone off them all!! Ho hum, better gett googling for free knitting patterns! lol

an appeal

2011-05-07T23:34:00.000+01:00

Adam has decided to collect gift cards (used, I might add!!) so I wondered if anyone had any knocking around they didn't want? You know the ones I mean, the ones which look a bit like credit cards which have an amount of money loaded onto them. Well, he isn't interested in the money (unusual, for a child in this day and age!!!) but just in the used cards. You might have to ask the shop to give you them back once you have 'emptied ' them, but if you have any spare, especially unusual ones, please get in touch.
I could add here that he managed to con me out of 2 quid because there was a really nice monster one, and a limited edition one in WHSmiths, and of course you can't just have the card for nothing, you have to actually 'load' it!!Still, at least their minimum amount was £1 and of course I still get to spend the quid before he gets the card lol

Block of the month quilt

2011-04-26T14:52:00.000+01:00

Further close-ups of the quilt I'm making from Australian Homespun magazine

This one was the block which almost scuppered the whole thing! When I saw this one in the magazine I really hated it! Then of course because i didn't like it it put me off doing any others until I got it into my head that there were loads left to do. As it happens after this one I only had 2 more blocks to finish, although I also have to make 4 hand applqued and embroidered corner blocks and a hand-embroidered border! Still, I have almost finished one of the four border pieces and partially completed the other 3, so am well on the way. My target at the moment is to have the whole quilt top finished by the 6th may so I can take it along to quilt group so someone can help me layer it up. If not then, then by the next tuesday. You never know!!

The whole top stitched together with the first border. Waiting for the corner blocks and next border now.

For Kelley...

2011-04-26T14:41:00.000+01:00

I've finally managed to work out how to turn the photo the right way up! This is a photo of my blocks which appeared in the Australian Homespun magazine!

My beginners quilt!

2011-04-08T19:28:00.000+01:00

This is the quilt I've just finished which was made in a class run by Dorothy Russell from Anglesey. Its called 'Midas Touch' because all of the quilting, which has been done by hand, is done in a gold metallic thread. We covered lots of things starting with log cabin and courtyard steps to machine and hand applique, including the dreaded half-square triangles!! It was a great class, 12 sessions altogether complete with homework, with Dorothy on hand to help every step of the way. We had a great group too, so much so that we couldn't bear the fact that we won't be seeing each other over the summer (yes we have all signed up to come back in september to make a double-bed sized medallion quilt), so we will be emailing each other to organise something.

The first picture is the whole quilt (which measures about 40" by 50") and the other pictures are selected highlights)

A couple more photos (can you tell I'm pleased with it?)

2011-04-04T16:13:00.000+01:00

Basically I startedwith a plain white piece of fabric then added colour to it. Most of the fabrics were plain(ish) so where you can see for example the blue rectangles on the green, they were appliqued on afterwards. Also the triangles around the border were made of strips of fabric sewn together then cut to shape. Each circle and monster has also been individually padded, then attached it to yet more wadding before backing and quilting it. A lot of work but worth it in the end (although I might not have said that a few months ago!!)

IT'S FINISHED!! YAY

2011-04-02T22:20:00.000+01:00

Here it is at last, the little monster quilt, complete with the little monster it was made for!!
It isn't exactly like the pattern I bought from Kellie Wulfsohn. Apparently the pattern did come free with Australian Homespun magazine but I bought it from Kellie directly. She has some fantastic patterns on her site, and lots of helpful tips, (and the Australian Homespun magazine is pretty fab too!!)

To be honest there are lots of things I would have done differently, but I only know this because I followed her instructions first, and they can't be that bad because I have another of her designs in mind for my newest grandson! (not saying which as there is the slightest chance that his mum and dad might see this and I want it to be a surprise for them too!)

Quick update

2011-03-19T23:29:00.000Z

Just popped in to see how long ago it was since I started Adam's monsters quilt, so thought it would be a bit rude not to say hi in case anyone was lurking!
I have actually 'almost' finished it now!! It is sitting patiently 'under the needle' in my cabin in the process of being quilted to death!! There have been a few hiccups but the light is now definitely at the end of the tunnel! (and for the record I started it just before 15th August last year, as far as I can tell) photos to follow shortly hopefully!!

the other one..

2011-01-08T19:33:00.000Z

And this is the one that set it all off!! I saw the finished paperweight at the Harrogate Show in September and fell in love with it! It's an allottment complete with beehive, bees, caulies, carrots and broccoli, and bearing in mind DDand her hubby had just got an allottment it just seemed appropriate! I love it anyway, and he seemed to be pleased too (although maybe he'd learned the art of looking pleased from Kelley!! lol)

Kelley's ######

2010-12-27T20:31:00.000Z

So here it is!! Its a beautiful pincushion made from a kit by Sue Hawkins. The pansy on the top has free-standing petals and leaf, and the cute little bee has freestanding wings. It was fairly easy to do, although time-consuming, and the bits I thought would be the hardest actually wern't. I expected the flower to be really hard but matching up the squares around the dangling over leaves was by far the most complicated!! Very pleased with it tho.

girls' keyrings

2010-12-15T19:55:00.001Z

Finished! Not sure if I prefer the sequinned ones or the beady ones, although I do think I like the flower ones better than the hearts. For today anyway ;)
I just have the pyramid boxes to do now, then all sorted. I've prettied up the 'sample' bottles with some really cute metal napkin rings, they fit perfectly over the necks of the bottles and even have baby clothes pegs to hold the label. I will take a photo and post it later.

Oh and I have Kelleys ****** to finish (again photos to follow, after christmas once she's seen it!)

Then I can start on the Baltimore quilt block, can't wait!! It arrived on monday (having been posted the previous tuesday from The Stitching Post in Australia, not bad eh) and I indulged myself with a quick look and a stroke then banished it down the garden to my cabin, away from temptation. At least I have somewhere to go if I need a break over the festive period!

one lot finished!

2010-12-12T13:02:00.000Z

These are the boys keyrings, I have done 2 of each of them, most on the coach back from the Harrogate knit and stitch show in the snow!! (don't ask lol) They are really effective, and based on the icons from the iPhone. Unfortunately I can't claim the idea as my own and I can't remember where I saw them, I just 'googled' felt keyring images and these were some of the ones that popped up.

Fame at last!!

2010-11-25T18:23:00.001Z

lol well that's cut me down to size!! I've tried and tried and can't get the photo up the right way!!Basically its a photo of a page in Auatralian Homespun Magazine of my blocks!! One of the directors of the magazine saw the photos on this blog and contacted me to ask if they could include photos in their magazine!! See, famous! Of co urse would have been better the right way up lol

And I've given in and signed up for the Baltimore Christmas BOM!! Just have loads to finish before it gets here!!

Oh my!!

2010-11-24T21:22:00.001Z

Just look at this! Isn't it stunning!! I've seen it advertised in Australian Homespun Magazine too. It comes as a block of the month and is only 38 aus$ a month including pattern and fabric! Now that works out at only about £24 which is almost a bargain, not sure how much the postage would be though. Maybe I should enquire ;) (because obviously I have nothing else to be doing! )

Thats it for a while!

2010-11-23T22:39:00.000Z

Finished the girls' keyrings I wanted to get done, basically 2 lots of christmas pressies needed to be ready to give by today!! Luckily I have managed it! Still have plenty more to go though, but don't want to do them while guests are here ;) Have plenty to be getting on with, unfortunately I can't share it with you yet because a certain person might see, so have to wait till after christmas for those!!

The strange little blobs on these flowers are actually a ladybird on the purple one (yes I know it looks blue!) and a little bee on the pink one. Soooo cute!!
Now need to come up with something for the not-so-flowery girls in the family! (of which there are a few!!) Still, at least I have the blokey ones sorted!

Christmas presents

2010-11-23T13:40:00.001Z

I like to hand make gifts for those I know who will appreciate them. I don't have loads of money to spend so the idea is that the fact that I have spent time on a gift will be worth more than the actual monetary value. Well that's the theory anyway, it doesn't always seem to work like that! However those who don't appreciate don't get, simple as! Other people might not like it but it makes me feel better.

I wanted to make some of these little pyramid boxes as gifts, they will fit nicely on the christmas tree and filled with something, sweets, pot pourie and so on. (The scissors in the photo are about 3 1/2" long just to give you an idea of the size.) They are made in the same way as the square box in an earlier post, but wth shaped sides, and the tops are simply gathered together through a ribbon loop rather than being stitched together.
But they could be seen as maybe an odd present on their own so I needed something to put in them. The little bottle top pincushions would be good for the girls but not all of them stitch (I know, disgraceful isn't it lol), and of course no good at all for the 'boys'. So hunting around, as you do, I found loads of ideas for key rings.

I did have the idea of making initials, but got a bit uninspired by that after seeing some of the beautiful keyrings out there!! There are loads of ideas for girlie ones but not as many for men, but then I saw these icon based ones!! Soryy, can't remember where I actually saw them, but they are fab and I'm pleased with how mine have turned out so far. 2 down 12 to go!

found a new blog

2010-11-23T08:28:00.002Z

the blog is called Indigo Blue and she has some amazing ideas,I've added her to my blog list, but don't blame me if once you look you don't have time to do anything else!! I've been on there all morning browsing her archives instead of doing the multitude of other things I ought to be doing!!

more gifts

2010-11-22T22:37:00.000Z

Yes I know they look a bit like urine samples but they certainly don't taste like it!! Basically its vodka which has been left stewing for a while with almonds, vanilla, orange peel, spices, sugar and other christmassy stuff, for quite a while. I have just decanted it into clean sterilised bottles,decorated the bottles a little and they are now ready to give to their new owners. Unfortunately I haven't made enough for there to be any left for me!!

Look at these!!

2010-11-17T09:40:00.001Z

How cute are they!! Thanks Sue for the link to the pictures which I have added on the side bar ->

They are really simple to do too, if you want to have a go look on the link and there is a tutorial on there for 'bottle-top pincushions'. They are very quick too, maybe half an hour at most each once you have decided what to do?
These aren't quite finished yet, the ladybird needs some eyes and the crown needs some jewels, probably around the gold band. When the weather calms down a bit I'll venture down to my cabin and see what beads I have. Think I also need to go the the shop to buy some cheap fizzy for the kids so I can steal the tops lol.

Finished

2010-11-16T09:06:00.004Z

So now its done. The top actually is plain white, the strange markings are caused by shadows while I was taking the photo!
I'm reasonably happy with it, to be honest the lid could probably do with being a touch larger to make it easy to slip on and off rather than it being a bit of a wrestling match. I had the outside base of the box and the inside lid at the same size then added 1/8" for the outside lid and subtracted 1/8" for the inside base. I could have done with probably starting at 1/4" larger then adding the 1/8" for the outside. I'll know next time!

The finished box has the front hinged with a couple of strips of ribbon so you can get to the contents without too much hassle, I think they just about show up in the photo.

Right off to play with some bottle tops and felt now, see what I can come up with!

Its been ages!!

2010-11-15T12:36:00.004Z

But have been busy. Was out of action for a few weeks after hip op but back and (almost) raring to go now. I can use the pedal on the sewing machine and sit for more than 10 minutes, what more could I need!!

So, what have I been doing...

finished hickory dock quilt,

still working on monsters and spots quilt, much to Adam's disgust, as he's waiting eagerly for it!! It might be some time lol.

Finished son-in-law's christmas present and started daughters, but can't show as they'll see them.

And I'm halfway through hubby's birthday present which I started on saturday and needs to be finished before wednesday! That is what these pictures are, stages of completion of his box which I'm making.

The first stage, this is the bottom and sides of the box, cut from cardboard and then cut out in fabric leaving a border for turnings .

Turn over the edges and stretch the fabric by stitching across the back. Then slip stitch the edges together to form the bottom and sides , (or top and sides), of the box. This is the inside of the box. The green section in the photos is the inside of the lid, the outside as you can see is white. Make another in exactly the same way but very slightly larger to form the outside. I did the stuffed applique before assembling the lid.

The finished lid. It has a stuffed applique apple on the top because I've made it to store some of his Beatles cd's in.

The inside slips inside the outside (IYSWIM) then they are slipstitched together. In this one the inside was made the same height as the ouside so you will be able to see a thin stripe of the green around the bottom of the lid.

And then, as if I don't have enough to be doing I have had some ideas for simple makes for christmas for members of the family and then someone (thanks Sue ;)) sent me links to some fab pincushion sites! Of course I'll have to have a go at some of those, the little bottle cap ones are really cute and shouldn't take long to do! http://www.flickr.com/photos/verybigjen/sets/72057594091530588/?page=2

Puppies for sale

2010-09-27T11:44:00.004+01:00

SOLD

Our pedigree Staffordshire Bull Terriers have had pups!! Three dogs and two bitches, the two with the most white are the bitches (yes including the one with the spoon, getting domesticated already!)

They have been brought up with children and are all friendly and very mischievious!

If you are interested just e-mail me for more details.

Little monsters!

2010-08-15T18:32:00.006+01:00

This is the beginning of my latest project! Its another of Kellie Wulfsohn's patterns and I'm making it for 10 year old Adam (although as its his birthday in october no doubt he'll be 11 by the time its done!)

No idea why the photos have turned sideways, but you get the picture lol !

I haven't stitched anything down yet, its all just held in place with bondaweb. I'm going to do several rows of straight machine stitching round the edges of each of the shapes making up the monsters stitching them to wadding too to give them more definition, then the inside of the circles will be handstitched to the white backgrounds over the monsters, then the white background will be trimmed behind the circles and finally the outside edges of the circles will be hand stitched to the quilt top! Then the hard work starts!! There are hundreds (literally) of other circles, some double layered, to be hand stitched to the quilt top! It will be worth it, the pattern is stunning, and He'd better appreciate it, the little monster! ;)

If you want to see the pattern Kellie has it on her blog, Don't look now, which is on my blog-watching list.

Oh, and I've managed to find a quilting hoop, in Hobbycraft of all places! Its still a bit big, 8", but should work. Its exactly like the huge ones you can buy with the blocks of wood and long wing nut to close it, just smaller! Hopefully itwillfit in the machine!

The latest BOM's

2010-08-15T18:26:00.003+01:00

These are the next two blocks from the Australian Homespun magazine, not many to go now! Yet again I didn't like these much but once I had made them in these colours I think they look better. Its a bit had to see but the rattle has 'baby' written across the middle, and the writing on the other one says 'celebrate friendship all year round' (I think, its down in my cabin at the mo, and I'm not!)

True to form....

2010-08-10T14:22:00.002+01:00

...nothing for ages then 2 together!!

The other thing I'm working on, the Hickory Dickory Dock quilt. This photo shows a close-up of some of the quilting which is (going to be) in the large plain panels at the tops and sides of the quilt. I have done it in a pastel varigated thread which to be honest might not have been the best of ideas because all the mistakes show up! Well they do to me anyway, the reverse looks much nicer which is done in plain cream to match the backing fabric. I have absolutely no intention of unpicking it tho, it took hours! I can only do it for half an hour or so at a stretch too because my eyes start to fall out! I've been doing it with a hoop too, which makes it so much easier in one way, much easier to control, but I need to find a small hoop with a longer screw because the fabric with wadding etc is too bulky to stay in the hoop for long without popping out! Annoying, but still much easier than trying to do it without the hoop.

Joseph's Coat part 2

2010-08-10T14:17:00.002+01:00

I know its been a while, and this certainly isn't the only thing I've done, but it is the only thing I have a photo of! This is my very first completed Josephs Coat block, so only another 48 to go! Well I actually have now finished another 4 or 5 too so I am getting there!

Twins!

2010-07-15T20:16:00.003+01:00

Finally finished! I've been making these since January with the help of the fantastic ladies at Copperfields on Anglesey who helped with the choosing of the fabric. Basically they are 2 similar but different quilts for my twin stepsons' 16th birthday. One likes blue and the other likes red (in case you couldn't guess!!) They are essentially the same rail-fence pattern and actually the blue one uses one of the same fabrics as the red. They both have machine quilted middles, very simple and again similar but different, and the borders are hand quilted from stencils I've made out of a book. Again, both similar but different!! I am especially pleased with the red one (but then I prefer red to blue!) but actually like them both!
One thing I have had a problem with, and need to research, is that when I've traced the quilting pattern on the blue quilt the pencil marks haven't washed off, even though I've washed the quilt twice!! I've used a sewline pencil for both but the red one I've used a pink lead (which came out fine) and the blue one I've used grey, I won't be using this again!!!

Step one!!

2010-07-09T08:21:00.003+01:00

I really have made a start now! I 've cut out lots of petal shapes from double sided bondaweb which seems to have worked quite well. Then I've used my fabby new baby iron to turn the edges, (I never expected to say fabby and iron together in the same sentence!!) thanks to someone's really helpful instructions somewhere! First I turned the edges over the backing paper then peeled the paper up at the edges and ironed the edges onto the bondaweb. The first one took me about half an hour but after I'd done a few I did get it down to a few minutes each! I just need to work out a way of getting the colours next to each other and then how many of each I'll need. What I mean is that I'm hoping to do, say, an orange circle with orange/green at the edges which would lead on to a green circle with maybe green/pink at the edge and then to pink with maybe pink/green or pink /orange again. maybe I need to just sew them together as I go?

I've made a start

2010-07-05T19:35:00.009+01:00

So thats all the background squares and rectangles cut, the pattern drafted, and the template made.And the first lot of petals cut out! They don't look too even because some have had the edges ironed over and some haven't. I think I'm going to feel happier if I tack it all in place first, then take off the paper from the double-sided bondaweb and then iron and tack to the background. Yes it probably is more work but in the long run it will probably be quicker and I will certainly feel more confident about it all holding in place. The black background is the table, I am actually using the white fabric in the first photo, although to be honest the black does look pretty good too!

(sorry, tried to remove the underlining but it won't go away!!)

strange post!

2010-07-05T16:04:00.013+01:00

This is a bit of a strange post because I was actually trying to delete the whole thing but all I could do was remove the writing! It wouldn't remove the whole thing, space, time posted etc. Quite bizarre! Anyway, I didn't like the look of the empty gap so thought I'd better justify why it was there, although now it isn't of course!! ;)

Top finished :)

2010-07-05T15:10:00.003+01:00

Yes, its finished!! Well sort of anyway. I now need to sandwich it and quilt it, but I want to do a lot of handquilting in the middle so I don't want to start that till I've finished handquilting the border on the Blue Quilt I'm making. I also want to do some machine quilting with multi-coloured thread on the plain cream bits, and I haven't got the thread yet! I do have till December, although I don't suppose I'll be able to wait that long to do it!

Josephs Coat fabric

2010-07-01T18:36:00.005+01:00

Look at this lovely fabric!! I have far more than I need for this quilt but what can I say, it was cheap!! It actually looks a bit more yellowy here than it is, the flowery one in the foreground actually has a white background!!

Been fabric buying!!

2010-06-30T23:09:00.003+01:00

Well Abakhan were nice enough to e-mail me about their sale preview between 6 and 9 this evening where everything was 20% reduced!! Well it would have been rude not to! Spent a fortune, but of course it would have been so much more had it not been for the 20% off. So I keep telling myself anyway!!

I've bought lots of pink, green and orange for my Jacobs Coat quilt-along (just need a compass now so I can mark out the design!), got some lovely large pieces of nice sheeting for backing fabrics in assorted colours, and got the nicest striped fabric just right for the border on Hickory Dickory Dock! Also got some boring stuff like blades for my rotary cutters although couldn't find a new cutter, just don't seem to be able to use the ones I have like everyone else does, I've managed to nearly convince myself that its the cutters rather than me!

I have taken a photo of all the fabric together ready to post here but for some reason my computer suddenly won't recognise the memory card! I'll have to go and play with it all again tomorrow and try another card. Very yummy though!!

Kellie Wulfsohn's Joseph's coat quilt-along

2010-06-29T21:26:00.005+01:00

I've just spotted this on her blog, ("Don't look now", http://dontlooknow.typepad.com/dont_look_now/josephs-coat-quilt-along-.html ), and think its fab! Unfortunately it started last year sometime but hey, its never to late to join in, I hope. I'm going to look for some background fabric (Abakhan here I come!) probably next monday but I have lots of small pieces which I can use to make petals so maybe get started on it over the weekend (like I haven't got enough projects on the go!!) But, my excuse is that it is largely (if not completely) hand-stitched, and made block-by-block so nicely portable for sewing on the beach, in the garden or wherever, and I've almost completed the hand sewing on the Hickory Dickory Dock quilt, so have nothing to carry about with me, and we can't have that!!

half way there

2010-06-29T20:06:00.004+01:00

Its almost finished, well the top is anyway! I need to do the 2 corner blocks for the top and then add the wide cream band to match the bottom. I want to add another border round the outside, and I'd really like to make it scallop-edged because I haven't done one of those yet! Not sure if it would be too fiddly though. Not too sure what colour to do it either, I'll have to go to the fabric shop, what a hardship!! I need to check how big a single bed quilt should be, so far once the top part is added it will measure 62" x 52"

another corner for hickory dock

2010-06-23T11:46:00.004+01:00

I've finished another one of these, although they do look nicer IRL. So thats 2 more to go and then I'll have to decide exactly how I'm going to put it all together!

Today

2010-06-21T17:41:00.003+01:00

It has been a beautiful day, the sort of day to spend sat in the garden soaking up the sun! So I've been at the hospital having blood tests done!! Still, hopefully it should speed up the hip replacement so can't be all bad! Just looking at that awful photo you can see how much weight I've lost by all the saggy skin (although tbh the scar doesn't help!) I wonder if they'll do an arm lift (and thigh lift, and tummy tucks) at the same time!

Family

2010-06-19T19:37:00.003+01:00

This is the latest of the australian blocks, the girls have no eyes yet because I can't find anything the right size!! I think I'm going to have to brave my bead stash!! Of course seeing as how I'm not doing the most recent block for this quilt I'll have plenty of time to put the eyes on!

The next block.

2010-06-16T21:06:00.002+01:00

This is the first of the corner blocks I'm making for the Hickory Dickory Dock quilt. You can now see what I mean about it being a quarter of the main block, hopefully. I'm not sure yet whether to position them so that each section is near to the piece it is copying, or whether to mix them up. I'll have to wait till I've fininshed all 4 then try them out and see. I spent this afternoon cutting out loads of different 2 7/8" squares ready for making into the pinwheel blocks for the border. Watch this space lol

How cute is this!!!

2010-06-16T21:02:00.005+01:00

We went to the park a few weeks ago and Adam caught some tadpoles! We brought them home and kept them in a fish tank and this is the result!! Well ok then one of them. Altogether there are about 15 of them, and when they get big enough we will have a mass release into our garden pond. Hopefully some will survive there, assuming we manage to free them before they disappear all over the bedroom!!

This photo is of Adam's hands (hence the blue felt pen stain!!) the frog is no more than 1cm long at full stretch!

Another quilt-in the-making

2010-06-15T19:59:00.005+01:00

I started this with a pattern I found on the internet. It was supposed to be lots of different nursery rhymes but I only liked this one! So, what I'm intending to do is to use it as a centre panel. The border is actually pale green although that doesn't show too well here!

I intend to add a plain cream border then a multi-coloured border, maybe with pinwheels? Not too sure yet, I'll have to have a play with some fabrics. I am also in the process of making four corner blocks, using sections from this panel repeated, which I'm going to add on the corners with cream panels joining them which I'm going to do some fancy quilting on - well thats the plan so far!

I know I've posted this before but...

2010-06-15T08:30:00.003+01:00

I wanted to have all my patchworky stuff together.
This is the first 'proper' sized quilt I made. I made it last year for my daughter and her husband as a wedding present. The patch design is 'Bridal Path' and is mainly red as that is the colour of her bedroom. The quilting is all done by hand, the main body has random hearts scattered over it (using a cookie cutter as a template) and then I have done a border from a border stencil.

Now I have a problem! The next issue of Homespun magazine has arrived with the next block pattern for the BOM quilt in, and I don't like it!! It is nowhere near as nice as all the othrs (aplogies to the designer) so I'm not really sure what to do about it! I really don't want to make it 'just because' so I'm going to have to come up sith some other idea!

Another BOM

2010-06-13T20:21:00.004+01:00

almost caught up now!
This one represents love, and I have actually managed to use some blue!! Not my favourite colour for something that will probably end up being for me, but I like it here.

I just need to add some eyes. I have the perfect size of little black buttons but I can't find them!! They are probably hiding somewhere with the manual for my new sewing machine, which seems to have disappeared off the face of the earth!!

machine quilting

2010-06-13T20:09:00.008+01:00

I took a workshop last month with Dorothy Russell and picked up loads of tips. The best one was to use an embroidery hoop to steady the fabric under the machine needle. A simple and maybe obvious idea but one I hadn't thought of, and I can't believe how much easier it makes both free embroidery and simple straight stitching.

The centre panel of this cushion is the sample we made in the workshop, it has machine quilting and machine applique, and the butterfly has double layers so it looks more raised. I added the green border, backing and binding to turn it into a cushion cover.

and finally..

2010-06-12T16:56:00.004+01:00

for a day or two!!

This is the most recent block I have finished. Again, the orangy brown background is the carpet, the grean leafy border is the edge of this block.

The idea of the quilt is 'count our blessings'. This one is the thought of 'nature', the one with the owls is 'marriage', the first one is 'home' and the bucket with the flowers represents 'the simple things.'

I have one more ready to sew, and another which hasn't been started yet, and then I'll be up to date with my one-a-month! (just in time for the next one to arrive at the end of june!)

just like busses!

2010-06-12T16:46:00.004+01:00

Nothing for ages then loads at once!!

These are the second month's blocks from Homespun magazine. There is also a small block but as there are 4 similar ones in the corners of the quilt and because my colours are so different from those suggested in the magazine I want to wait till the whole thing is more complete to give me an idea of which of my colours to use.

hmm, so its been a while.....

2010-06-12T16:35:00.003+01:00

but I'm back and ready to post again!
I wanted to show some of the latest patchwork things I've been doing seeing as that seems to be what I spend most of my time on!

I cane across the Australian 'Homespun' magazine at the Malvern Quilting show in May and was won over by a beautiful Block of the month they were printing. Basically there is one (or sometimes 2) blocks printed each month for you to follow the pattern and make your own. I ended up buying 4 issues and then subscribing!!! I have however decided to use my own choice of autumnal fabrics rather than the baby pink/blue that the magazine suggested. This is the first block, and it is actually square, the browny orangey background is the carpet!!

At last!

2009-07-28T08:36:00.002+01:00

It seems to have taken ages, what with dodging in and out of the showers, but at last I have finished painting our sheds. His and hers, obviously!! Hubby thinks I have a thing about beach huts, no idea where he gets that from :) Still not quite sure about my one though, I can't decide whether it needs more roses or not. I've decided to sleep on it for a bit and see what I think once I've had a chance to get used to it. I can always add more later if I feel the need.

latest stuff

2009-06-16T23:53:00.005+01:00

Isn't he lovely!! Although obviously he HATES this photo!! The journalling is all about how Adam likes to cuddle up with Seal but how also he is a little embarrassed about the fact that he likes to cuddle up with Seal!! It all came to a head when we went to a party which involved staying overnight and of course the big dilemma was should Seal come, or should he be left behind!! Especially as Adam's cousin was going to be there overnight too!! Could Adam bear to be without Seal, no of course he couldn't!! But he was packed away from prying eyes in our suitcase and was only allowed out at bedtime!! Of course the best bit was that Adams cousin also had his toy, safely packed away, only to be allowed out at bedtime! lol

I love this LO! I sort of got the idea from a dutch magazine, and I think the end result is fab! The idea behind it was to sum up our two weeks in Benidorm, which I think it does nicely. There are photos on there which get us talking about the holidayl, about the stories behind the photos, and which then lead on to other reminiscences, which to me is one of the main reasons for scrapping!

Apologies for the dreadful photos etc but you can get an idea of the finished article! Not sure if the writing is legible but basically its about how Adam and Lewis were desperate to go on the biggest highest rides, until they actually went on quite a high one!! Well I say 'quite', you wouldn't have got me on it in a month of sundays!! Obviously James is far more sensible, he just hid round the corner when we were asking who wanted to go on the ride!!

long time no see!!

2009-06-14T00:12:00.004+01:00

Ok, been involved with lots of top secret projects recently! I've made a beautiful skirt (she says modestly!) for my daughters wedding, the most important part you can see here, the train!! The fabric was stunning, ivory satin with embroidered shapes studded with sequins, and between us we customised a top too, to match perfectly. Obviously she didn't want to publicise this too much in case her husband-to-be happened to stumble upon my blog!

Also I have been working on this wedding quilt. As you can imagine it has taken up a lot of my time, and it has been quite difficult at times to keep it a secret from Kelley and Chris! ( In case you were wondering, I hid it in the wardrobe while she was here having the skirt made!!)

I am particularly proud of the fact that all the stitching you can see on the bottom, white, photo, has been done entirely by hand! And I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it!! I really missed it when it was finished! In fact to be hinest I was sort of hoping she wouldn't like it......

Thank you, you know who you are!

2009-03-19T08:02:00.002Z

Or at least I hope you do because I don't! I had a lovely suprise in the post yesterday of some K&Co rub-ons, the thing is I have no idea who they are from! There was nothing else in the envelope, and by the time I thought to check the envelope for postmarks, return addresses and so on Hubby had already tidied it into the shredder! So if it was you, or you know who it was, please let me know so I can say thank you properly. It really was completely out of the blue, and was a lovely bright spot in what has recently been a pretty difficult time for me for all sorts of reasons (including a disappearing mojo!!).

Thank you again :)

xxLynne

Bad Blogger!!

2009-03-03T09:02:00.002Z

I hadn't realised just how long it was since I last posted on here, and I haven't got any new pics to share with you either. In my defence I have been working n things that I can't show here yet in case the wrong person looks! I've made DD's skirt ready for her wedding but she doesn't want her hubby to be to see it, I don't know if he pops in at all but you can guarantee that if I upload a picture then he will!

I've done a little paper crafting too but don't want to show that either until the project is finished, don't hold your breath tho, it could take some time! :) I've also rooted out an old Karen Burniston class that I want to get stuck into for a VERY interactive minibook, but first I need to make the book skeleton, based on a 7-gypsies book I think.

I've also done a little knitting, but the jumper I've started is already too small for the baby it was intended for so I'll probably scrap that one and start on a lovely raspberry pink Debbie Bliss creation I've got planned for myself.

Added to all that life does have a tendency of getting in the way of us playing too! We currently have DH's daughter staying with us for two weeks until 13th March, so have a houseful to contend with! Still, when it all gets too much I can always lock myself in my cabin! :)

Something I did want to share though is the Bo Bunny Blog. There are some beautiful things on here, I especially like the '14 things' minibook on the 7th feb entry, the ribbon house on 9th feb, the chocolate containers on 6th feb and there is an absolutely stunning card on feb 19th (although DD thinks its awful!) In fact most of the stuff on there is fabby, I'm beginning to understand molsmum's BoBunny addiction. I think between me and her Sam at CraftIsland will be soon sold out of it all!!

xxLynne

you must look at this lady!

2009-02-12T22:43:00.004Z

I found her completely by accident, and I must admit I don't understand very much of what she says as its all in French, but OMG she has some fantastic stuff on her blog! Have a look and see if you agree with me. ( but don't let it get you down, you too can produce such yumminess!! thats what I keep telling myself lol!) I can't even show you a pic here because I don't understand the french directions!

Busy today!

2009-02-10T21:31:00.002Z

Been to craft club this morning and this is what I've achieved! Its actually a 2-page entry in a circle journal, and I've had it sitting around for a few weeks with no inspiration flowing at all! This is actually the reverse of my page, with the sign in details. The central motif is a peel-off (yes, really!) which I've mounted onto red acetate before attaching it to the page with 3D pads.

This is my actual page. The theme was 'far east' so I think I've fulfilled that :)

The lady is a decoupage sheet, and although I don't normally go for these I actually quite liked the effect of this, and enjoyed doing it too!

She has several layers, although that isn't immediately obvious here. I hope the recipient likes her too :)

xxLynne

Another little note book

2009-02-10T08:30:00.004Z

As promised here is a better version of the little book. I think they are a great idea and could be used for all sorts of occasions, (yes Kelley, I did get the hint in you comment!!)

This time I've used Tempting Turquoise with pink, and the cray for cupcakes set. I just inked up the top one of the little pile of cupcakes in the set, then coloured in the case and the icing in 2 shades of pink then added glitter.

I punched out the image with a square punch and mounted it on a scalloped square. It still looked a bit lost so I mounted the whole lot on a giant blossom! The button on the end of the ribbon is one from my stash which had lovely big holes making it easy to knot the button in place

xxLynne

Mini notebook

2009-02-07T14:03:00.002Z

I was browsing round the local shops, as you do, and I found sme fantastic little notebooks. Nice to go in your handbag or pocket, and with a neat tie fastening to hold it all closed. Now, I really liked the idea, but wasn't prepared to pay a fiver or whatever it was that they cost, so I decided to experiment. This little book is what I came up with.

I cut a piece of 12x12 cardstock into 3, 4x12 strips and used just one of these for the cover. I cut strips of plain photocopy paper 3 and half inches x the width of the paper. I folded these plain paper strips in half to make the pages and made two holes down the spine for the ribbon.

Then I positioned the pages in place inside the cover and made holes for the ribbon to go through the cover too to hold it in place.

I tied the ribbon on the outside with one end of the knot close to the cover and the other end nice and long to wrap around the book.

On the long end I tied a fancy button so that once the ribbon was wrapped around the book to close it the button tucked underneath to hold it secure.

I then decorated it. I did it really simply for this one with just a stamped image or two as I was experimenting, but I like it so much I'm planning on doing it as a make and take at a workshop next week, and I'll make it a bit more fancy.

xxLynne

Valentine card #2

2009-02-05T12:49:00.006Z

This is the other valentine card I've made, and I'm really not sure which I prefer.

I've used the Loads of Love set, and I've coloured in the pile of hearts in different shades of pink, red and silver and mounted it on 3D foam pads. Then I stamped the sentiment, inked the edges with black ink, filled in the 'o' in 'love' with a red heart-shaped gem, and then also mounted it on 3D foam.

The red background has been cuttlebugged with a heart design,
and the strange darker-coloured blob was actually an attempt to
fill in one of the hearts with dimensional glaze!

Valentine card #1

2009-02-04T09:02:00.006Z

I think this is going to be the one, although I have made another too! I'll upload that one too once I've photographed it and you can help me choose!
I've made a 6x6 card blank with whisper white cardstock, turned it to make a tent-fold card (with the fold going along the top of the card), and then chopped off about 2" from the bottom. I then edged the bottom with the scallop edge punch. I doodled onto a piece of black cardstock with a Sakura glue pen and sprinkled red glitter over it, then highlighted bits with some pretty heart-shaped gems I found somewhere on my travels! I attached the piece of black and silver ribbon first then hid the sticky tape with the piece of decorated black card which I stuck into place with double sided sticky tape. I cut and embossed 2 hearts with a cutllebug cut-and-emboss folder (so pretty!) and attached the with different thicknesses of foam pads, so that the front heart is slightly higher than the back one. It was then finished with a sprinkle of white irridescent heart sequins and a simple message stamped with the tiny heart stamp from the Yummy Sale-a-bration set, which I highlighted with onother of the heart shaped gems.

So, there it is. Valentines card #1. The other one is completely
different. I'll post it asap.

Just to add that the 'Yummy' set isn't, and we have been told

never will be, available to buy. It is only available as a free set when you spend £45 on Stampin' Up products before 28th February. Please contact me if you need more details of this offer.

xxLynne

Peek-a-boo box

2009-02-04T08:19:00.003Z

Thanks for all your comments, I hope my frined has read them too!

Anne its not the 'fitting inside' of the contents thats a problem of course, its the 'making it stay there!' lol
However to give you a bit of an idea its about 2" square and 3/4" deep (5 x1.5cm ish)
Great idea to do a tutorial, they really are auick and easy to do, I managed a mock-up (without taking my lovely box to pieces!) in about 20 mins. Hmmm, with a workshop coming up next week I feel a tutorial coming on too!

This was just a flying visit, I will be back later with a valentines card, just need to wait for hubby to disappear! (Just while I upload it you understand, he isn't likely to actually be looking at my blog!)

xxLynne

crafty tuesday

2009-02-03T16:22:00.003Z

I love Tuesdays because a) I go to a craft club and play all morning, and b) we go out for chips for lunch! See, it doesn't take much does it! I have downsized my chippy dinner though, instead of a large chips with homemade pie, peas and gravy and bread and butter (!!!) I now have a childs' fishcake, chips and peas, which I work out to be about 10 WW points! And then sit and watch hubby demolish his lunch and feel very virtuous! lol

I was lucky enough to meet up with a fellow crafter today, (hiya *waves* :)) and she made me the cutest little box! I think at one point it might have had some sugared almonds in but they mysteriously all fell out ;) It is such a cute project, simple to put together but so pretty and so adaptable! I can see it with mini-eggs for easter, or shredded tissue with a small gift, or in red and white with a chocolate heart, or more wintery with those little chocolate santas, or coins...... I could go on but I'm sure you can think of plenty more for yourself.

Apparently the template is from Splitcoast Stampers, and its
official name is a peek-a-boo box, if you would like to look it up.
I love the neat bow she's made on it, I wonder if it took her as many goes as it would have taken me!!

eta..I've just looked this up and to be honest this little box is much nicer than the one I could find with this title on SCS. Hers has sides, for a start, making it more of a box, whereas their's looks more like a matchbook.

Lazy sundays

2009-02-01T19:34:00.003Z

I have done absolutely nothing today other than tidy up my cabin and make some beans on toast for tea! Luxury :)

I can't make any claim to designing these two cards, as I have shamelessly 'cased' them from Monica (as in "my many many passions" on my blog list). I have used the Paisley background stamp on the first layers, and then used the bow for the parcel in the Big Bold Birthday set to stamp the smaller layers.

ok, I'm a cheat ;)

2009-01-30T08:24:00.002Z

But I thought you'd like to see the one that started all this off! We made this in a workshop wth the lovely Jules when she was over here on holiday last year. Its really quick and easy but still very elegant and stylish. Oh yes, and pink! lol

It uses the Simply Said set, coloured with the fabulous markers. The background is stamped with flowers from the set too but you can't really see them on here.

So now you have it, my very first Stampin' Up card, care of Jules from Julies Japes. Thanks Jules, look what you got me into ;)

pink, for a change!

2009-01-28T10:09:00.008Z

I don't consciously choose pink, I think its more a case of pink
chooses me!! I just automatically reach for it for any occasion, and
in fact have to sometimes make myself NOT choose it. But hey, there's nothing wrong with pink is there :)
This card uses Big Bold Birthday, and Happy Everything. The background pink cardstock is stamped with the Paisley background stamp although I couldn't take a picture which showed that up well!
I stamped the cake image using my trusty stamp-a-ma-jig to position it all properly, then mounted it onto a piece of patterned paper (sorry, can't remember which one, but its one of the retired ones from the last catalogue!). I mounted it using the 3D pads, although again I couldn't get a decent photo!!

Again this is on an almost 6" square blank (it fits into a 6" envelope so is actually about 14cm)

I really like this design and have done it in lots of different colours and with different amounts of candles, although that was a mistake, the stamp-a-ma-jig moved while I was talking to someone and I forgot to re-position it so the first candle went in the wrong place and I had to hide the fact by adding lots more on lol.

Oh, and if you are stamping directly onto the card like I was here, its a good idea to stamp those bits first before you add any embellishments, toppers or whatever. That way you can hide the bad stamping WITH the topper if you need to! Yes, I did learn that one the hard way!!

And just for fun, have you seen this blog ? Its soooooooo funny, I haven't managed to read all of it yet, I had to stop to get my breath back from laughing, but I keep dipping in whenever I need cheering up! Go on, have a look ;)

xxLynne

Just editing to add that maybe that blog isn't to everyone's sense of humour! I found it hysterically funny, but hubby sort of shrugged, said 'stupid people,' and walked off! (which in itself was funny to me too, so maybe its just me. Have a scroll through it and tell me what you think. Take the time to read peoples' comments too, because they are often as funny as the posts themselves.

an old friend revisited

2009-01-26T12:03:00.002Z

I really couldn't get on with this set when I got it, and have probably only used it twice, but I do love the colour combination, and I think that rescues this one somewhat. What do you think?

xxLynne

Happy Sunday

2009-01-25T12:34:00.003Z

I'm not adding any photos today because I have just been back through my blog adding tags to all the previous posts! Its taken ages, that'll teach me to do it as I go along!

Anyway, I collected a load of cards back from the hairdressers that she hadn't sold for me and I realised that there are quite a few in there that I haven't shown you yet. (Thats why I was going back through my blog, to check and tag them). I'll photograph them today and start uploading some.
Instead, I'll take you back to this one in case you haven't already seen it. Its using the new Neighbourhood Wheel, and the All in the Family set. I think I'll get these out again and have another play this week with them

xxLynne

another beer please!

2009-01-23T22:53:00.003Z

I really really like this stamp set, just in case you couldn't tell!! This card hasn't photographed well, but I have punched a hole through the front of the card to reveal the mug stamped directly onto the inside of the card. I have then coloured the image of the mug in with the Stampin' markers using a blender pen (these are so fab!! No idea how they actually work but they are great!). I re-stamped the image onto a scrap piece of whisper white cardstock so I could cut it out and attach it to the main image with foam pads. On the front of this card I've stamped the 'cheers to you' image in the same colour ink as the cardstock,

and then added a fabby glittered line of Lime green glitter.

hope you like it. ( and hope DS2 doesn't read my blog till next tuesday cos I've made this as his birthday card!)

xx Lynne

blog candy

2009-01-23T10:14:00.001Z

no, not mine, but the lovely Steph's. Pop over to her blog and have a look.

xxLynne

Mens cards

2009-01-21T08:26:00.002Z

For some reason it always seems easier to make women's or children's or get well or congratulations or..... well you get the message!! I find it really difficult to make nice men's cards but I'm really pleased with this one. It is made with a 6" square card, with close to cocoa and gable green. The beer mug was stamped on to the dark brown cardstock and cut out then mounted onto whisper white, this was then covered in dimensional glaze, and the foamy

top was decoupaged afterwards. I especially like the lime green glittered stripe!

thank you ;)

2009-01-19T23:57:00.007Z

I'd just like to say a quick thank you to those of you who pop by and keep in touch but don't post. You know who you are ;) Now, today's card really relies on a neat crisp white stamped image, and I really struggle with achieving that. I ended up using the Stazon white inkpad and white embossing powder and then heat embossing the image, and although I was satisfied with the image I wasn't happy with it, if that makes sense!??

And then I ended up with several versions of the same card but with different orientations! I prefer the tent card with the black stamped panel coming down vertically! ( So thats the one on the extreme right!) What about you?

Not sure if you can tell from the pictures but there are lots of strategically placed sparklies too!

On this congratulations card I've used the Season of Joy stamp set as well as the cheers to you one. I've also used the scalloped edge punch, which I find is sooooooo versatile! The coloured cardstock is apricot appeal, and everything is available through me from stampin' up. Just get in touch if you see anything you need

xxLynne

Miserable Monday!

2009-01-19T08:38:00.003Z

Weather-wise that is! Its been slinging it down all night and its now grey, cloudy and generally january-like, surprisingly enough. So here's todays upload, a pretty summery wedding card. I've used Apricot Appeal, and another of the large blossoms from the pretties kit, I think it adds a really pretty finishing touch to this one. Again I've glittered and glazed the glasses, I did want to add some beads or something coming out of the top to represent the bubbles, but couldn't think of a practiacal way of doing it. I've embossed the apricot section with a cuttlebug folder and couldn't

resist yet another scalloped edge. How on earth did I manage before I got my hands on this fab punch!

Had a great crop yesterday, didn't get much done other than

a bit of paper shuffling, but had a good laugh and it was nice to

catch up with everyone. And if anyone gets the chance to try Tracy's carrot cake then grab it with both hands, it truly was to die for! (no idea how many WW points, but hey...... and I did choose the smallest piece, honest!)

xxLynne

I know, I'm a bit early but...

2009-01-17T23:38:00.005Z

...I might not have time to upload tomorrow as I'm off to an all-day crop!! Yay!!!

I really couldn't make up my mind between these two. I like both of them but couldn't decide whether to go for the minimalist look, or whether it looked better with the pink and green bands and ribbon! What do you think? Please post and let me know.

Actually I like both so I suppose it all depends on the occasion its intended for.

Anyway, I've used a tall slim card blank, and stamped the strawberry glass 3 times down one side. the top and bottom of these I've coloured using Stampin'Up markers and marvy glitter pens and the centre one

I've punched out with a circle punch and added a more embellished motif

inside the card to show through the hole.

I've decoupaged the strawberry on the side of the glass and would have loved to do something 3-dimensional with the straw, but couldn't manage to come up with something that didn't look daft!

I've also added a little sparkle to the bottom of the exclamation mark to add some interest.

I really like how the smooth round hole leads you into the scalloped

circle inside the card!

Anyway, off to pack for my crop now. See you Monday!

XX Lynne

Sunny saturday

2009-01-17T09:15:00.002Z

Well it is here anyway:)

I've tried and tried to get a decent photo of this card and this is the best of the bunch! Basically I have taken a card blank made from half a sheet of A4 card folded in half, trimmed 1 1/2 inches off the top of the front only, and attached a piece of Tempting Turqoise cardstock of the same dimensions to the back, so that when the card is closed this piece is visible. I then covered the turquoise card in glitter, so its sparkly, (not dirty and patchy like it appears on the photo!) I've used the same cocktail glass motif as before, mounted on a scalloped circle and attached that to the turquise too. Finally I re-stamped the coctail glass on the front of the card in Tempting Turquoise ink and added a tiny Happy Birthday rub-on underneath. Don't know where that came from though, it was in my stash, but everything else is from Stampin' Up, available from me :)

And I've picked up a great tip from somewhere, not sure where, if it was you pleasse let me know so I can credit you with it:). In each of my boxes of stamps I now keep a piece of vellum and the first time I use each stamp I stamp it on the vellum using the stamp-a-ma-jig and staz-on ink. That means that next time I come to use that stamp and need to position it I don't need to stamp it first onto the see-through part orf the stamp-a-ma-jig, I can just use my pre-stamped vellum :)

xx Lynne

Two posts in one day!!

2009-01-16T20:30:00.001Z

Yes it is still me, been faffing about and fancied a change. What do you think of the new colours? I really fancied a brand new look with all the fancy pictures and swirly bits and stuff, but not managed to work out how to do anything that advanced. Yet! lol

todays' number

2009-01-16T09:00:00.000Z

Now, I'm really not sure about this one. I love the Only Orange background, which I've embossed with cuttlebug swiss dots, and I love the peep of Old Olive scallops over the edge of it. I like the scalloped hole punched through the front of the card so you can see the image inside (note to self: punch through one layer of cs first, then re-align them to punch through the second one!), and I love the simpicity of the 'happy birthday' stamped at the top (from cheers and wishes, I think) but somehow I'm not so sure about the whole lot together! What do you think? I might have another go in a different colour, watch this space ;)

I've added detail to the glass as before, I did intend decoupaging
the olive but it was too fiddly and looked a mess no matter what I
did so I settled for adding a gem 'stuffing' instead.

todays little gems

2009-01-15T16:12:00.000Z

Aren't I doing well, this will be the third day in a row I have
updated with a new card!

I'm still using the cheers to you set from Stampin' Up, and
also using pink, as you can see!

This time its Pink Passion and I've teamed it up with green galore.

As well as the Cheers set I've also used Happy Everything to add

the greeting, and I've stamped the 'birthday' part of it onto a tab

which I've punched with the tab punch.

The cocktail glass image has been mounted onto a large blossom from the Pretties kit.

I really like this one, although I must try and get away from the pink and green!

More Cheers

2009-01-14T09:39:00.001Z

Well as you can see it is a very similar card to yesterdays, and I'll let you into a secret, I actually made 6 of the decoupaged scalloped circles in one go! It probably didn't take that much longer than just doing one or two and it meant that actually constructing the whole card afterwards was pretty quick.

This one was actually one of those 'happy accidents'. I packed all my stuff to take to my local craft club to work on but when I got there I hadn't packed any white card stock other than my card blanks! Now, being

tight I wasn't going to buy any knowing that I had loads at home so

I cut a strip off the edge of a tall slim card to use, thinking that I don't often use that size so it wouldn't be any great loss!!

But then, again being tight, I replaced the strip I had removed with a strip of scalloped pixie pink card stock, added a fab glittery line and the rest, as they say, is history!

You might have noticed the sudden occurence of those glittery lines, but now I have discovered how to do them I don't seem to be able to resist adding them to everything!

Just a quick update on the Exploding box class for those of you who are interested. The cost is £12 and the class is running on Saturday 31st january from 2.30 till 5.30 (or until the box is finsihed, if it takes longer!) If you are interested but can't make the class then I will be sending it as a kit, complete with illustrated instructions, for £15 including postage. It will be ready to go out on monday 2nd february at the latest, giving you time to complete it for valentines day. If you are interested on having a kit, or indeed coming to the workshop then please let me know as soon as possible. As those of you know who have been to one of my workshops places are limited :) Although of course if there are too many of us there is also the option of running another class.

All the products used in these cards are available from Stampin' Up through me as an independant demonstrator, except for the little red gems.

Cheers to you!

2009-01-13T17:49:00.000Z

I've given myself a new target of uploading to my blog every day. Now, I'm not sure how well I will stick to it but I'll give it a go!

Also after days of faffing around trying to get on with something I've also decided to focus on one main stamp set each week, so I am starting today with 'Cheers to You'. Its a cute and versatile set that I've had for a while and not even opened so I decided it was time to give it an airing.

Today I've gone for pixie pink on a white 5" square card. I've coloured the image using marvellous markers in pixie pink and only orange, using a blender pen to transfer the ink to the image as I felt 'neat' ink was a bit heavy. Then I punched it out with a large circle punch. I coloured the orange garnish and the cocktail umbrella, cut them out and mounted them above the original image on 3D foam pads. (tip: colour the images before you cut them out!) I added a tiny heart-shaped red gem over the cherry, glittered the 'drink' with the fabby stampin' glitter which I stuck on with Tombow adhesive. Finally I 'coloured in' the whole glass area with dimensional glaze to get the lovely glass effect, and mounted the whole thing on a scalloped circle.

The scalloped edge on the main body was cut with the scallop border punch, and I stamped teh cocktail glass image with pixie pink ink onto the pixie pink base. Finally I added a few dots of glue in between the glasses, added a ribbon knot and stuck the whole thing down.

The more I look at it the more I like it, I hope you do too :)

xxLynne

Watch this space!!

2009-01-11T17:44:00.000Z

After lots of enquiries I have decided that the monthly classes will also be offered as kits, which will include enough supplies to complete each project as well as fully illustrated written instructions, so you will be able to make as many of each as you wish using your own supplies. I expect to be able to offer these kits at around the same day as the class runs. Watch this space ;)

xxLynne

January Workshop

2009-01-09T14:57:00.001Z

Well I've finally managed to finish photographing the exploding box I plan to make with the ladies at my january workshop. Its designed especially for valentines day (in case you couldn't guess!) and is much more simple to make than it looks!

If you would like to join us at the workshop then please let me know and I'll add you to the list. The classes will run on friday evening 30th january, saturday 31st January 2.30-5.30 or sunday 1st february 2.30-5.30, and will cost just £12 each, which

will include everything you will need to be able to go home with a completed box, as well as including refreshments to keep you all going :).

Hope to see you then.

Hmm!

2009-01-07T18:47:00.000Z

Well I'd love to came and tell you that I have finished my christmas journal, but I haven't!! In fact the last entry I made was also the last page I did. Still, no-one said it had to be done this christmas, luckily.

I did make lots of christmas cards though. The first one has a snowflake made with the two tag punches from Stampin' Up, which also looks great done in different colours as a flower.

The next set all feature the cute lorry from the 'Loads of Love' set from Stampin' Up. Not sure how clear it is here but the first two both have christmas trees in the back while the last one also has a load of parcels. This is such a versatile set I love it, in fact it was the very first set I bought.

And this is an exploding box I made to contain photos of our new grandson. I had intended to fill it with photos for his parents before they took it but unfortunately they didn't stay for as long as we'd hoped so we didn't get much chance to take or print many. Never mind, always next time.

This type of box is going to be our next workshop.I am currently working on a red, black and white one all ready for valentines day and would love to share with some of you how to make it. The photos should be coming on in a day or so, and anyone who would like to come to my cabin and join us for a workshop would be more than welcome. The class will be running on the last saturday afternoon in January here in North Wales, from 3.00 till 5.00 or until we are finished, whichever takes the longest :). You will get everything you need to make one of these beautiful boxes, which of course can be adapted for any occasion. You won't even need to bring your craft tools, unless you really want to. E-mail me for any further information.

Day 3

2008-12-04T17:30:00.000Z

Yes I know its the 4th December, but I'm still catching up with myself! Here's yesterdays page for my christmas journal, the prompt was about christmas cards, in case it isn't obvious :)

Off to think about todays one now, all about my perfect christmas. Now then, how do I fit all that on to one page!

First 2 days

2008-12-03T17:09:00.000Z

Well I am caught up with my Christmas Journal after falling behind after the second day!! I still haven't decorated the front, but then I haven't yet decided how I want to do it so I'm going to hold fire with that part! I have included photos of the first 2 days, and you can see how the pages are different shapes, which means that some can be seen behind others. I added more today to the first pages too, I think thats probably going to be how it progresses, with adding bits to earlier pages as I find something appropriate or have a great idea.

well here it is....

2008-11-26T09:10:00.000Z

.... MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

well ok then, almost :)

This year I have decided to join all those talented ladies who follow Shimelle's Journal Your Christmas class, mainly with the hope that I can scraplift some of their tllent helped by Shiimelle with her inspiring prompts. Once you sign up for the class you are a member for life, so you get access to the special forums and chat, as well as daily prompts to your e-mail from Shimelle from 1st december right through to 6th January. Full details can be found here, http:// www.shimelle.com/classes/389/journal-your-christmas.

The main reason I am going to give it a go, (although I might not complete it this year) is to try and reclaim christmas. For the past few years for various reasons christmas hasn't in general been a very happy or festive time so this year I am going to try and be a bit more festive, a bit more organised, a bit more christmassy !!! If it kills me lol

Oh and another thing, if my blog is 'drawn out of the hat' on 1st december then and a lucky person of my choice will win a free pass to the class! Yay! So anyone that comments on my blog between now and then will get the chance of claiming that free pass. If I win, and if more than one person comments then I'll 'do a Shimelle' and draw a name out of a hat. (ok, a lot of 'ifs' but you never know!)

2008-11-24T18:11:00.001Z

I've also been getting ready for a Christmas Fair being held at the village hall where I go to a monthly crop. This is the stuff I have made so far. There are 8 bagelopes of christmas cards and 10 decorated candles (very similar to the ones I posted here a while back which we made in the first workshop in my Emporium)