365 Journal and Easter Eggs

March completed

Not much to say about these.  If you want to join in or see more pop over to Kate's

My daughter asked me if I wanted a large Lindt egg or some small bits like a bag of mini eggs and a bag of mini creme eggs, I said I'd have the small ones.  This is what she bought:

haha.  I have to say I've only eaten a creme egg (which I ate before I took this), one layer of the M&S chocs and 1 layer of the M&S 'Operetta' chocs [and as you can see they're not huge boxes :-)] - these are like Ferrero Rocher only taste much better; they are yummy whereas FR are the most boring chocs I've ever tasted!

I've been using my phone to take photos for months as my camera broke.  I wasn't going to bother getting a new one as I felt the phone was sufficient for my needs but there have been occasions when I've wanted to zoom in on something which I can't do with my phone - you can zoom into the pic once you've taken it.  Anyway I discovered Asda had a sale on and decided to buy this.  It was only £42.14 plus postage - bargain!  This is the Powershot A2300 my previous one was Powershot SD1000 and cost just under £100 I think (can't remember exactly).

Snow, snow, thick thick snow

We've had a lot of snow here - it may not seem a lot compared with other countries or even other parts of the UK but it's a lot for us.  It started last Thursday night, continued all day Friday and part of Saturday.  We ended up with about 6".  It did stop for a few days but we had a bit yesterday and it's snowing now.  I hope it doesn't carry on as I go line dancing Wednesday evenings but if it snows too heavily I won't be going in case I can't get out of the car park :-/

The picture on the left was taken Friday evening, the one on the right taken Saturday morning (don't take notice of the snow on the chair as it has a cushion on so looks more).

I made this vase from a liquid detergent bottle :-D  I roughed the surface up then glued on crumpled tissue paper and a bit of scrim using Mod Podge gloss (I just found the gloss first, but matte would work as well).  This was then coloured with paint and rubbed over with Metallic Rub-Ons.  The little squares are done using gel medium through a stencil, I added a little bit of metallic paint to some of the squares.  I added more Mod Podge over the whole surface to seal it.  The vase measures 7.5"x5".

I'm trying to clear some items waiting for repair/completion.  This cardi had a large ladder next to the seam on the sleeve, there was no way to just sew it up as the ladder was quite wide but I didn't want to throw the cardi out.  I bought some lace to cover it but had to over-stitch the ladder by putting a piece of thin wool (from another cardigan I bought from a charity shop to felt) underneath and stitching over, then added the lace.  I've added some lace to the other sleeve to tie it in. Sorry the pic's a bit blurred.

I also completed a skirt I started a few years ago for one of my granddaughters but it got stuck in a box and forgotten about - out of sight out of mind describes me very well haha.  It only needed the top turning over and some elastic putting in.  Of course it won't fit my either of my youngest granddaughters now so I've passed it on to another family member.

A pair of collared doves that have been visiting my garden for a couple of years at least.  This was taken through the kitchen window.  I do have a couple of hanging bird feeders but rigged this up so I can watch the birds from the kitchen.  It's a plant pot with an ice-cream tub, with holes in the bottom, wedged in.

366 Journal

Still in it and up-to-date!  If  you want to know more about this challenge pop over to Kate's blog.  Not much to say.  After colouring Oct pages; I can't remember what with as I did them some time ago; I added white paint through 2 stencils and used up an old sheet of 12x12 paper for the daily squares.

I was asked to make another of the Woodland Nymph dolls with a pink/cream colour scheme.  I've promised my youngest granddaughter one for her birthday, which is this month, too and I think I'll have had enough of making them!!

NOT DUE TO FLOODS read below

I went to see '42nd Street' at the Alhambra Theatre in Bradford with a couple of other ladies from the tap dance class, it was a fantastic production - lots of tap dancing; if you don't know the show.  It was the Curry Festival that weekend so I took a pic.  The fountains were on (are they fountains if they are spurts of water coming out of holes in the ground)?  There's a dip in the ground to contain the water but no wall round.  There were quite a few kids having great fun getting wet.  You can see some of the stalls in the background where you could buy curry dishes.  Bradford was crowned the Curry Capital of Great Britain in 2011.

366 Journal, doll and cakes

Firstly my completed pages for August.  If you're new to the 365 Journal (366 for this leap year) challenge pop over to Kate's to see more.

Next up my prepared pages for September - a little blurred.  I had to take all these pics with my Nokia phone as my camera isn't working.  For some reason the Sept pages have turned out blurred, I did take the picture twice and both times it was blurred so I'm leaving it as is.



It was my birthday in July and I went for lunch with a couple of friends, this is the huge meringue I had for dessert - it measured approx 6" high; now that's what I call a dessert :-D

Then we have some cupcakes I made for my granddaughter's birthday, the butter icing's a bit wonky on some but they all go down the same hehe.  Some have glittery pink sugar on which doesn't show up very well.

It was another of my granddaughter's birthday in August and I made her this Wood Nymph - pattern by Julie McCullough.  Her face isn't brilliant but is actually better IRL than it looks here.
In case you're wondering why the writing on my table cover is back to front it's because the colours are reversed on this side and I like to have a change.   My son bought this for me when he lived in California for some years.  Not sure what it's purpose actually is but I like to see it so use it on my table.  The design; of cats; is by Laurel Burch for those who may be interested.

366 Journal July. No Olympic Torch!

Nice and early with my 366 Journal :-) I'm not too happy with the colour scheme for July but decided to leave it.  I used Ecoline inks and salt (if you want more info about these and how best to use them check out this blog http://stampingmathilda.blogspot.co.uk/2007/02/ecoline-and-stamping.html; while you're there have a look round her blog, she does fantastic stuff) For more about the 366 challenge pop over to Kate's and find out.

On Monday I watched the Olympic Torch passing from Dewsbury on it's way to Wakefield.  I managed to get quite close to the carrier (sorry don't know who it was even though I've looked online as several people carry it through each town) I had to stoop and squeeze between people and got a really good close-up.

This is the picture, no, really! - it's just that she happens to be behind this lady who walked past just as the shutter on my phone camera went off unfortunately it's a slow shutter speed
 :-(

Then I tried again and got the policeman.

Some of the crowd lining the street.

EDITED: Oops the eagle-eyed amongst you may notice I've got the dates wrong :-/ I have amended them now.

366 Journal

March's pages complete and April's started :-) Not much to say about them. For more about this challenge pop over to Kate's.

 I've been making other things but can't show them as they're for a challenge for the 'craftydollybirds' formerly the Dolly Birds but as we do so much more than make dolls these days someone came up with the name of craftydollybirds for our blog.  I made a Kindle cover but then turned it into a journal cover.  The journal has been passed on with the head I made for the challenge.  I can show a couple of Easter cards I made as they've been received now.

Also been doing a spot of DIY.  I've put together a vanity unit for the bathroom but had to cut a hole in the base and shelf to fit it round the sink pedestal.  As you can see the cut in the base is very wonky.  I really needed some clamps to hold it firmly and also had to use the jigsaw upside down - that's my excuse anyway and I'm sticking with it.  The hole in the shelf is much better.  Just have to cut the top now to fit round the sink :-/  That may fall to DD's partner.  I'll take a pic of the unit once the top is in place.

365 Journal and other stuff

I tried to be early with my posting but for some reason I couldn't upload the pics from my camera on Thursday.  Luckily it worked ok today.  November's completed.  December's pages are a bit messy looking but I like them.  Check out Kate's blog for more info.

I made a fabric house a couple of weeks ago; I used mountboard as the base.  I added some wadding under the fabric, and the inside is lined with felt.

The birds aren't finished yet, they won't be having legs, but I'll most likely put ribbon on to hang them up.  The threads you can see on the face mark the position for the eyes (had to put some masking tape underneath to help them stand.

Yesterday was our monthly playday in Sheffield.  Most of us made a wreath and they all turned out really well thanks to Jill's tutoring (no blog for Jill).  Mine's changed slightly as it had a red raffia bow on yesterday but DD didn't like it so I made one out of hessian.  I've had to hang it on the wall as I don't see any easy way to hang it on a UPVC door. 

Here's a link to the rest of them Ann

My 15 minutes of fame may be imminent!

I'm not saying any more just now, you'll have to wait till the first week in September haha!  Just one thing though, it's not craft related!

I bought some dance trainers a couple of weeks ago for linedancing.  I only had my ankle boots which had started making my feet ache plus they are on their last legs, well in fact they are past it - new boots this winter (I do have some Uggs though)  The dance trainers are very similar in style to some other trainers but are made specifically for dancing and are very flexible as  you can see here.  I was extrememly lucky as they are £40 or more and I got these for £20 (plus £3 postage) and they're pink too :-)  I know black ones would go with anything but how boring LOL

This and That

I'm finally going to show the swaps I got in for the PIF I took part in a few months ago.  I got 3 wonderful items; from Ann I received a large hanging, which had foamboard as the base, from Kayc I received a little book, and from Kay another piece of hanging art.  I'm absolutely delighted with them all.  The 2 hanging pieces are just hanging from cupboards in the kitchen till I find a home for them.  I've finally finished a configuration box that several of us did some months ago - mine just needed one more thing but I was stuck as to what till Pat gave me a fairy template.  So I cut one out of shrink plastic and she fits the bill just fine :-) 

 

I've been using some airdrying clay with some face molds I have but thought I'd have a go at doing my own face - well not MY OWN face but you know what I mean LOL.  It's 11/2"x11/4"

If you'd like to see some of the things we do at the doll group I'm a member of, click this link craftydollybirds.  The papier mache doll I was making is on there (she doesn't have any hands and who knows, she may never get any!!!)

Happy Saturday :-) Thought I'd share ......

...what I was doing about 4am - couldn't sleep so got up after laying in bed for 21/2 hours.  I desperately want to be able to draw wonderful faces like Doone but can't really commit financially to doing an online class.  I would welcome constructive criticism as to how to make it more 3 dimensional and interesting . I know the theory of shading and have done a little but it doesn't show up here.  (The scribble beside her neck is some blue ink that was on the paper).  I realise that painting it would help; well in theory anyway but painting is another skill I haven't mastered LOL
I need to do some sewing today.
Looks like it's gonna rain big time here.
:-)