Its been such a long time since I blogged !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have been doing lots of artwork, quilting and embroidery just haven't had the time  to blog too :):):)

I shall just list some of my recent work so that you can have a nosy - hope you enjoy

 

My embroidered Mona Lisa

 

Fabric flowers

 

A knitting bag for my sister

 

Encaustic Art cards

May pages

Really enjoying making these pages and filling in the little sqaures etc

For this one I started by colouring my background by blending pan pastels a then dripping some water here and there

I used floral stencils to add to the background with distress inks

The Butterflies were cut with Tim Hiltz dies and my, now poorly, vagabond I inked and shadowed them with distress markers

The Faux stitching was done with WRMK roller stamps

The MAY letters were done with Tims sponge stamps and highlighted with distress markers

I finished off by stamping some birds here and there and adding a quote that I particularly like

Fabric Greeting cards

 

 

Have had a great time creating these fabric cards - even have my first Christmas card now ( the last one in the row). I had lost my mojo for card making but by trying these it has come right back again

My latest quilt

Really enjoyed doing this one - had to be so careful when setting the blocks - one wrong move and the pattern would have been lost !!!! - I enjoyed doing the applique by hand and the blocks by machine - the brown and teal are very effective, This one was done from a book that Joy bought me at Christmas

Looking for another pattern now :):)

B is for Bottle- Alphabet Challenge

 

 

 

The Alphabet challenge this weekis to create something using the theme "Bis for Bottle" luckily I had just the stamp to depict this theme. I stamped and heat embossed my image, added some colour with distress inks and then attached to my card - I love this stamp so it was great to have a reason to use it

My completed Rip and stitch journal

My pages were all created with folded envelopes I had a great time adding colour to them all

 

 

 

                                           I threaded waxed thread through each of the pages

 

I then threaded ribbon through the waxed thread

 

I threaded the ribbons through slits in the spine and tied them adding some twine and raffia

 

This is my completed book open

 

I made a garter so that I can slide anything I want to keep in there

 

 

I have really enjoyed doing this on line course hosted by Roben-Marie

Ripped and Stitched

I am having a wonderful inky, messy time creating this journal - I joined the Roben Marie Smith group Ripped and Stitched and am enjoying every minute. Roben-Marie has a fantastic way of showing and explaining how things can be done. There's also the opportunity to add your own take on things too - nothing is in stone.I  would certainly recommend this on line course to anyone who wants to do something that little bit different. Its the second course I have taken with Roben- Marie and looking forward to any moree she produces

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lots of ripping and stitching going on here

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have added to the inside of my covers before they were glued because I wanted to stitch things on

 

 

The tags will be folded and added to the "pages" to be used as tabs

I have made a start on my pages (made from envelopes) and will blog them when they are finished

A is for anything with wings / Landscape quilting

This is the first landscape quilt I have done and I'm not sure if its finished yet, I have tried small ones in the past but decide to have a go at a larger on and am pleased with the result,

I am entering this piece in the Alphabet Challenge where this week the theme is A is for Anything with wings - there are some birds in my sky if you look closely lol!!!

Quilted throw and matching cushions

A lot of hand stitching went into making this throw and cushions. I machine pieced the background and then hand stitched all the applique work - love the springlike look.

March Calendar page

I am having lots of fun creating these pages each month. For this one I did a coat of gesso then a light wash of acrylic. I then used masks and spray paint. I did some doodling and stamping and added some more paint with sequin waste. My lettering was done with Tims foam stamps and shadowed with gel pen, My squares were cut and inked before adding them

Stained Glass technique

This is my first proper piece of fabric Stained Glass - I did a little sample piece first but it was quite fiddly - seem to have the hang of it now - think I may make this piece into a cushion

more fabric collages

Have had lots of fun creating these mini collages. Had a go at fabric stained glass too Looking forward to doing a large collage

Post Card Fabric Collage

I've had a lovely afternoon creating these fabric collages. I used lots of scraps of fabric and used some of the many stitches on my sewing machine. I used, in the main, variegated threads

February pages

I started with a wash of yellow acrylic followed by adding some red acrylic with a credit card and wiping some off with a baby wipe I did some background stamping and stamped the owl, inked and added it. I made a small background piece using the peeled paint technique to which I added the hearts and quote I added a small remnant from my fabric collage stash and another quote I stamped the February with Tim Holtz stamps and highlighted them with gel pen I added the squares which had all been inked and finished off by stamping the pens with black archival - outlined the owl and added the hand The 6th day of the month is highlighted 'cos its my birthday !!!!

Journal Cover

Its ages since I used this technique and love how it turned out. I scrumpled up some dressmaking pattern tissue and added it to the cover with PVA I then coloured it with Distress Inks Rusty Hinge, Shabby Shutters and a hint of Walnut Stain I heat embossed my lettering and added them with Diamond Glaze I finished off by inking and adding my little bird and die cut branch

2013 journal

A very Happy New Year to you all. I have started off the new year with a new journal - inspired by Lesley Farrel and a facebook group hosted by Kate Crane I used white gesso first on my pages to give them a bit of tooth. I then added a wash of Wedgewood Blue acrylic followed by some cobalt teal which I scraped on with an old credit card.I added a little lemon yellow here and there, I flicked some black acrylic on with an old tooth brush ( the windows look great lol)I then used pieces of lego and a lid as stamps and added them with again black acrylic. I did a bit of satamping with one of my fav stitching stamps, did some inking through sequin waste and added some rub ons. I then added my lettering Tim Holtz foam stamps) and squares before stamping my TH pens down the side. I am looking forward to completing my journal and seeing how the other members complete theirs

Black and White Bag

Hi my friends - have just finished this bag - love all the little pockets in at along with the very deep ones which are great for things that need to be kept safe

Hello - I'm back blogging

What a bad blogger I have been over the last few months !!!!! I have had lots going on in my life and sitting at the pc has not come into play very much at all. I have continued with my crafts having made all my Christmas cards and lots of sewing projects finished Here are a few of them I covered Graemes chair for him

I made some Hangings for the church sale and gifts

My throw and cushions

I organised my fabric

The Advent I made for George

Patchwork Bag

I love the way this one has turned out - it'll be ideal for my hols and using for going to craft groups. I , again, stuck to my fav. colours. To cover where I had stitched the velcro fastener on I made the little flower with my vagabond

Cotton bag

I made this little bag for a sale that we are having in the community with the proceeds going help with funds for equipment etc