EDITED 365 Journal and Happy New Year ;-D

Happy New Year to all.  Hope 2013 is good to you.
Something's amiss with Blogger since I was last here :-/ the font is really tiny and I can't figure out how to upload photos from my computer!  It only gives the options to upload from:
This blog; Picasa Web Albums; Phone; Webcam or URL.  HELP!
EDITED 6th Dec
I've installed Google Chrome now and hey presto when I want to upload pics from my computer I get the option to 'Choose Files' which wasn't there before.  Previously it gave the option to 'Browse' but this had disappeared since 'they' have made changes to Blogger.  I know it's an ongoing thing; when changes are made they work ok for some but not others - the changes will be compatible with some browsers and not others and also may be battling against other 'stuff' on your computer.  I'm just glad I didn't have to resort to downloading Picasa as I'd used it briefly once before but wasn't really happy with it.  The other alternative was to upload pictures from my phone but though I could crop pictures before uploading I may want to edit them in some other way which I wouldn't be able to do. Kate is still hosting the '365 Journal' so pop over if you haven't already done so :-D

I made my sister a bracelet for Christmas but remembered she can't wear metal next to her skin (the fastener) so had to make a quick bracelet using stretch cord; I didn't photograph that but here's the original.

I used Chinese crystals - not as good as Swarovski - the bicones are Swarovski however.  I realise now I should have made sure all the crystals were facing the same way as they are coated on one side so don't gleam so much on that side. (I may yet redo it)  It is quite simple to do and if you'd like to have a go check this out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFbOyFaD9wk&playnext=1&list=PLC29345357827E2E2&feature=results_main [:-/ having another look at this it's so much neater than mine, still it is a first attempt ;-)]

I need to change the fastening as this one is difficult to fasten on your own.

I also made my son a paracord bracelet if you fancy having a go you'll find lots of tutorials on YouTube.



At the doll group I belong to our last project was based on 'I know an old lady who swallowed a fly' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tojKdGW7TBA those taking part had to make a head for the character they chose (mine was a 'cute troll') this was then passed on to another person to make the body, the next person made the fly and spider, the next the bird and cat, then dog and goat; after that when it was passed on we just made one animal.  We never got our 'head' back at all so had no idea what our finished project ' would look like.  There was a stipulation that we had to follow whatever theme the first creatures, for example if they were knitted we had to knit the next creature etc. Some didn't have a specific or obvious  theme (for example after the spider and fly in one collection the next person took colour as the theme) (At the same time there was another project on the go which was to make a house and embellish internally and externally and also make a figure to live in the house.  Unfortunately there aren't any photos of those on the blog).  Pop over to have a look http://craftydollybirds.blogspot.co.uk/

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.

Doll Making Playday

I've previously mentioned several of us like-minded crafters get together once a month to play.  Ann really wanted to have a go at making a cloth doll and I found one in my collection that I thought would be suitable for beginners.  Why is that things that look simple very rarely are!  Her arms and hands are incorporated into the body and as Margaret said, she looks as though she needs the loo LOL.  The hands are supposed to be painted but we decided not to bother.  Everyone did splendidly and Jill, our hostess for the day; Friday; had almost completed hers before we left.  I completed mine over the weekend.  Pat's is done now and is fabulous and funky.  As Pat has mentioned on her blog that this is a Tsunami Butterfly Doll, I thought I'd explain.  The designer; Patti Lavalley; designed it a few years ago so people could sell it with the proviso they gave some of the money in aid of the Tsunami in Asia a few years ago.

This fabric paper box is one we started at the last playday.  It originally had 5 sides and closed at the top, but I decided to change the shape and leave it open.  I've gone for 'less is more' with this just adding some machine stitching and beads.  The fabric paper was made with muslin, PVA and tissue paper, then painted when dry.  The box is approx 53/4"x21/2".  The skeletonised hydrangea head is off my hydrangea; I found it in the garden some weeks ago, I think it's lovely.



Sunday Stampers plus Grungepaper books

Phew, just in under the wire for Sunday Stampers ;-)  Well I have had a busy week.  The theme over at Hels this week is Brown.  I've made a little canvas doll.  Her shoes are brown too but they look black here.  Actually Hels uses the titles of her fave songs to inpire the theme and the song this week was Brown Eyed Girl, well my girl has one blue eye and one brown eye haha.  As is required I have done a little bit of stamping - just the 'circles' stamp.

I can also show 2 books I've made as gifts using grungepaper for the cover.  I used brusho to colour the pages of both books.  They've been left mostly blank inside with a bit of stitching and a few pockets with quotes in.  The heart on Pat's book is made from Tyvek and the flowers on Tracey's is made from fabric paper.

It had to happen sooner or later! Plus, sneak peeks revealed.

Oh no, it just had to happen sooner or later - I bet many of you have done the same - paintbrush in the teacup!

I can reveal 2 of my recent sneak peeks 'cso they've been received now.  First up is the doll!  This was for a swap born out of the PIF project and went to my friend Ann The 2nd one, an embroidered box, was part of the PIF and went to Kathleen  The box is made from fabric paper - muslin with tissue paper glued on, - which I painted and embellished with free machine embroidery.  I'd already received a lovely book from Kathleen :-) but forgot to blog it, I will do that at a later date.  I'll be receiving my swap from Ann on Friday and can't wait ;-)

I don't show many cards these days 'cos they're usually gone before I've thought to take a pic, but here's one I made for my friend Pat She's an avid Stampotique fan. I did some machine stitching on the card; I've been meaning to do more of that for a long time after seeing it used to great effect on other blogs.

Fabric tags; plus pic of Phillipa

I've made some fabric tags today; well they're not quite complete and they're not really tag-shaped!  Thought I'd tell you how to do them and indeed how to print other stuff onto fabric.  I coloured some calico with Koh-I-Noor waterbased dyes which are in a little palette like watercolour paints.  I got mine from Art Van Go.  I wet the fabric first then just 'painted' the dyes on.  When the fabric was dry I trimmed it so there were no loose threads then ironed it onto a piece of freezer paper; cut the freezer paper a little bit larger than the fabric.  The freezer paper enables it to be put through your printer - simples :-)  You need to iron the fabric onto the shiny side of the paper.  You'd think you'd be able to buy freezer paper in the supermarket!! but I've never seen any; if anybody knows of any supermarkets/food stores where it can be purchased, please let me know as I'm sure it would be cheaper than buying it from textile craft suppliers!  I believe you can buy it in supermarkets in the USA.  I'm going to glue the 'tags' onto tissue paper to stiffen them.  I printed some quotes onto the tags.  Now if you see the one attributed to Einstein you may think 'that's just not cricket'! but I think he was being jocular :-)

I've also received my saltdough dolly from the wonderfully talented Donna of Doings of Doone.  Her name is Phillipa, isn't she fabulous? I love her ;-)  This was for playing along with Pay It Forward  If you want to see how Donna makes these dolls check out the videos on her blog.

Margie's Doll

I usually make something for my 2 sisters for Christmas but I couldn't decide what to make last Christmas and then ran out of time.  Eventually I decided on a doll for my younger sister.  I usually use other people's patterns for making dolls but want to be able to do my own.  The limbs were no problem 'cos they can just be a kind of sausage shape, but I had great difficulty sorting out the head.  It took about 6 goes to get a reasonable one (and even now I think she needs a thinner jawline)  I'm rubbish at doing eyelashes, she looks like she's used cheap mascara which has made the eyelashes clumpy.  Is that an enigmatic smile? LOL Not happy with the mouth but am not going to make a new head!  Just realised she needs some blusher :-)

Happy New Year :-) / Pat's doll revealed

Happy New Year!  Thank you for the good wishes that have been left.  If I don't pop round for a visit today I will in the next few days :-)

The doll has been long made, but the recipient, Pat, was away for Christmas. So here she is in all her glory.

Not my usual type of doll, but Pat is soooo into grunge and loves the Stampotique stamps by Jill Penney & Daniel Torrente, so I made the doll in a similar style.  And though it's not my usual style I do like her myself :-)  the fabric is some that I had mono-printed some time ago at the doll group I go to in York.

Sneaky peek revealed and film review!

I can now reveal the 'sneaky peek'; shown 1st Dec; in full, as it has arrived safely.  Tada! it's a mermaid,

which I made for the wonderfully talented and very amusing Donna aka Doings of Doone


I've also been busy making a Unicorn for a very poorly friend, the Unicorn had been promised for quite some time so I'm glad I finally got it done.
The mermaid is completely my own work - need to work on heads though as I think she has 'Hammy Hamster' cheeks - whereas the Unicorn is a pattern by Laurilee Taylor at The Magic Doll.

I went to see 'The Tourist' (Johnny Depp + Angelina Jolie) with a friend yesterday.  It's rubbish so if you're thinking of going, save your money; even if you love Johhny Depp!  It's supposed to be a romantic thriller but it's not thrilling and in parts tries for humour but it's not funny either.  It takes an awfully long time to get going and sooooo boring to begin with and even when it does get going there's not enough action or enough anything really.  Didn't care for Angelina Jolie in her role at all, if you like to look at dolls then she's fine, she just pouts and poses.
Edited to include: My friend who is a huge Johnny Depp fan didn't enjoy it either and we heard a few negative comments about how boring it was as we were leaving.

The doll is done!

Well! nearly 2 weeks since I posted anything.  I decided to try not spending so much time on the PC for a week 'cos once I get on I spend an awful lot of time here and that's great if I have the time; which I do; and I'm enjoying it, but you know sometimes you just feel that you should be being more productive.  I've finished a doll I was working on.  As I was going to the doll group yesterday I wanted to get it done.  Speaking of the doll group I'm in the process of setting up a blog as we did originally have a website but as it's now lapsed we thought it would be easier to set up a blog.  I offered to do it as Chris who runs the group is very busy.  It was a bit of a faff though but eventually it seems the only way to do it is using another name so I invented one :-/  I didn't want to use my own account to set up another blog.  The other thing is if I log into the other blog on my PC I can't log into my own - does anyone know differently?  Not that it really matters but I wanted to become a follower of the new blog but it seems I'll have to do that through DD's PC and if I want to post anything in both blogs I'll have to login to one then out to login to the other???
 Anyway here's dolly ;-)  She has a wire armature which I've wrapped wadding then fabric strips round.  Her nose is a bit odd, but adds to the character - at least that's what I'm telling myself LOL  If you have any questions about it please ask.
She's based on dolls in Ray Slater's 'Dolls for Textile Artists' though I didn't follow the book to make her.