Busy, busy, busy

Things are so busy at the moment, both at home and especially at work and things won't calm down until the end of June. So I've basically had to except that I won't get much time to make things over the next few months.


I was meant to be doing at craft fair in Beeston on the 8th May, but that's been cancelled, which is actually quite good. I am also involved in a community exhibition in June, called Sherwood Art week. So I need to make some things for that.

Yesterday I came up with a plan of what I'm making, so I'm feeling a little better about it. I'm also involved in organising one of the exhibitions, unfortunately I said yes before I knew about this big project at work and sadly they both clash so I won't actually be around for it and I would have said no had I known. But I am where I am, I think in future I just need to think more carefully about what I take on.

So I'm going to spend the next few weeks producing stuff for the exhibition and then I'll be working most evenings and weekends. So I think everything else will be on hold until to July, but I can't wait to get started again.

Swaps, baking & fabric

You can probably tell from the title that this is going to be a random post!

I've just done a swap with my Jenny for a custom made tissue holder and some strawberry plants and in return I have a very exciting selection of her homemade delights. I can't wait to try them, her Christmas Chutney was fantastic. As as someone who is in a spotty mood at the moment, I'm also very excited by her labels and lids.


For the second Sunday running I have done some baking. I'm not a natural baker, I'm much better at savoury things, but these ginger biscuits actually taste good. Its also a good opportunity to show off my gorgeous cake stand that I got for Christmas.

I arrived home of Friday to a rather exciting package, my lovely friend Emma had seen this fabric and knew I would love it, so brought me some. How nice is that. I'm very lucky to have such lovely friends.

Screen printing

Screen print on paper.

I've been wanting to do some screen printing for a while now. I brought a kit ages ago but have never quite got round to it. I decided as I don't have much spare time at the moment I would cheat slightly and get some screens made.

I used a company called Thermofax. I'm really please with them and they arrived really quickly. I have has 3 screens made and they are based on some black and white flower doodles I did a few weeks ago.

Screenprint on red fabric

I've only had a quick play , so the prints I am showing you are just tests really. But I have loads of ideas and things I want to try, so hopefully I should be able to show how I have developed these ideas over the next few weeks.

Screen print on fabric

Screen printed cards

Screen print on red fabric with machine embroidery

Quilts 1700-2010

Bishops Court quilt, Unknown, 1690-1700

On Saturday, we had a very quick trip to London to see my brother and his wife. While the boys went to the FA Cup semi final at Wembley, my lovely sister in law took me to The Quits 1700 - 2010 exhibition at The V&A. She certinaly knows what floats my boat.

Set of Chintz bed hangings (detail), 1730-50

It was fab! It was so interesting and insprining. I was amazed at some of the early pieces as they just didn't look that old and lots of the patterned fabric used, were not that disimilar to ones I use now. I really like the way applique had been used and found this really inspiring. It was also nice to see modern quits sitting next ones from the 1700's. I would certainly recomend this show. I did manage to resisit buying fat quarters from the gorgoeus selection in the shop, but I kind of wished I had.

Right to Life, Grayson Perry, 1998

I don't think I have been to the V&A since I did my degree, but I hope to go back soon and have look round the rest of it, as we spent so long looking at quilts we didn't manage to see anything else.

More Lollipop Flowers

This week I managed to complete a custom order for two personalised name pictures. Its been a while since I had made one of these and I had forgotten how much I enjoy making them. They are really relaxing, as once you have made the felt, its all sofa based tasks such as needle felting and hand embroidery. I have made lots of these now, so they don't require too much thought, which is nice sometimes as I can just concentrate on choosing colours and adding different textures.

A couple of months ago also made these, but haven't had chance to do anything with them yet, but I'll get round to mounting them soon.

Handmade Revolution

I'd like to say I'm busy preparing for my stall at Handmade Revolution on the 8th May, but haven't really had chance to start yet. I have written a list of things I want to make for it, but not actually making everything yet. I'm sure it will be fine, but I really must start soon.

Finished

Here are the finished Blue and Turquoise Stitch and burn brooches.

I actually like them a lot more now they have been cut out and finished.

Thanks for everyone who gave me positive feedback when I gave a sneeky peak earlier in the week. Its always nice to get some encouragement.

Hopefully I'll add some of these to my Folksy shop at the weekend.

Burnt blue

I'm not finding much time to craft recently, so have been sticking to small relaxing projects. For the past week of so I have been working on some blue and turquoise stitch and burn brooches. It been a good project as you can just do five minutes here and there. They are not finished yet, but are starting to get there. I wanted to move away from red or pink for a change, I'm not sure I'm that convinced by blue and turquoise but you have to try these things.

I'll be putting some in my shop soon, hopefully.

My beautiful new pinny

A couple of weeks ago I was very exciting to get this beautiful pinny through the post as a belated birthday pressie from my friend Nikki, who runs Pinnikity. I love it, I think I need a drinks trolley and a dinner party to show if off.

Nikki is doing a blog giveaway at the moment, not sure when the deadline is, so get in there quick. http://pinnikity.blogspot.com

Colouring book

Now I've always been a big fan of colouring. As a child I loved doing those big colour in posters, I remember we had one with hot fair balloons which I loved.

Even when I was at college me and my lovely house mate George had a colouring book and used to get through the odd hangover by colouring. Its a really relaxing thing to do.


Its a bit of a long story that I won't go into, but my friend at work brought me a colouring book this week. Its the most fantastic colouring book at have ever seen. It not only encourages you to colour, it also had plenty of free-style doodling moments.

Its so fab and has actually given me lots of ideas for my own work. I think I know what my friends children will be getting for their birthdays this year!

First Birthday Card

I'm still not finding much time for crafting, but I'm trying not to think about it too much and just do bits and bobs for relaxing when I can.

Last week I did manage to make Molly a first birthday card. (I'm sort of a non religious version of her god mother, there four of us and we are known as the 'Special Ones') Anyway really enjoyed making the card and was very pleased with the result. I think I may even make some more.

I have also framed a couple of pictures.