Moments of Serendipity

2010-02-01T06:47:00.000-08:00

I'm back again, It seems ages since I last updated but again all I seem to have been doing is making stuff I can't show you because it's for magazines ...I'm in Craft Stamper again this month with a new 'treasure box' project involving distress inks, Metal art & shrink plastic. I've done a Layout for another Scrapbook magazine & an item for a 'Handmade' magazine (these are both relatively new magazines in the UK) I've also done another project for Craft stamper so all in all a busy month, plus we've had 2 more workshops :o)
Then of course there was the Chinese dragon head mask I was asked to make for the school for one of their special assembly's
It's nice now that it's all quietened down this week, I've actually had time to make Mum her birthday card (Happy birthday Mum ..Love you xxx)
& I'm hoping that I've actually got some time to play ! (& blog about it !)
We've got new products due to come into the shop anytime so we will be able to add some new workshops to the list ..got some cool ideas so keep an eye out here : http://www.artisttradingpost.com/workshops-69-c.asp
There's a few pics I'm going to upload to share, I am loving the Ranger colour washes at the moment & I made a few tags the other night with them, there is also a picture of the 'dragon' !

2008-04-14T10:24:00.000-07:00

Well today I've started (but not quite finished) a Tin Album ... have done most of the inside but need to just finish off & do the actual tin itself ... I have been using the New Laura Ashley Traditional papers & I have to say that I do think they're lovely :D When I finish it I will post a picture ... I will add some more pics of the Jigsaw swap I have taken part in ...

2008-03-25T04:04:00.000-07:00

I have finally got around to starting my first altered book, Something I've been meaning to do for a while .. & now wish I'd started sooner ...
You know all those 'bits' that you save thinking they just might come in, well finally at last they do ! you can use anything, do anything & it only has to please you :D
It's very relaxing & addictive & if you've ever thought about starting one then I encourage you to do just that :D
I am also embarking on an altered jigsaw swap over on UKS, it took a bit of starting as it is all themed to everyones taste & i found some quite hard to come up with something a little original .. but they are underway now.

2008-02-15T14:05:00.000-08:00

Well I've managed to get 4 12x12" Lo's done since I last posted (that's quite good for me lol :D even though I did 3 of them in just one evening ;)
I also managed to complete a mini book for my mums birthday too !
Still got lot's of ideas of things i want to do .. but haven't yet found the way to do them or the time to do them .. you never know maybe soon ?

2008-01-16T02:11:00.000-08:00

January already, well actually 1/2 way through Jan if we're going to be precise !
I want to get back to some 'proper' scrapbooking this year but there are also a hundred & one ideas flitting about but not quite actually gelling into something I can make (iykwim ?) not quite sure where to start so I keep 'not starting'. Must do something infact I will challenge myself today to do a Layout ... watch this space I will upload it if i get one done !
I have accquired through treating myself & christmas, some moonshadow inks & some metallic watercolour paints & I have been playing with them. I have joined a decorated envelope swap & have done 3 of the 5 nescessary, But may go back to them & do 'a bit more' yet .. can't decide !
Think i might go & look for a photograph or two to scrap, catch you later x

2007-09-04T06:36:00.000-07:00

Blimey into September already ! ..kids have all gone back to school or pre-school today (hurrah :) )
We went to see a Doctor Who exhibition yesterday .. tooks loads of photographs But now I'm wondering if I can make a Tardis shaped album for my Son, whose birthday treat it was to go !
Will have to play with some design ideas ...quite like the thought of two opening doors on the front, though the idea of an exploding box is quite good Because like the Tradis there's much more in it than you expect .. perhaps I can make a lot's of secret pockets etc in the album ....
will post pictures if I get something sorted out !

2007-08-21T10:27:00.000-07:00

Good ... managed to get the three miniature book charms finished today :) must get them posted off over the next couple of days.
I have got a pile of old tins waiting to made-over & a gardening File that is just crying out for some tlc .. But what to do with it ?
I will have to get my thinking cap on or hope for inspiration to strike !

2007-08-19T08:05:00.000-07:00

These are the charms I got back from the altered charm swap ... they are lovely, But I still haven't quite decided what to do with them yet :)

2007-08-19T08:02:00.000-07:00

Spent the afternoon having a go at a mini charm book for a swap that I have asked to join on UKS. The book can be no larger than 1.5" x 1.25" Plus it must have a charm attached. the pictures you see are the results so far ...
I will need to make 3 for the swap in total, though it has to be said they are very cuuute & I may need to make more !

2007-08-14T04:03:00.000-07:00

Well it's now the middle of August. All my swaps have now been returned home & they're gorgeous ! Very pleased with them.
I have managed to get about 5 12x12" LO's done over the last couple of weeks & there are a couple of family birthday's looming so there could be another opportunity or two to do something crafty.
Got a couple of nice canvas's that are waiting for some paint .. perhaps try & get those done !
Got a few new ideas for some jewellery too, so as long as I can find the time there's plenty for me to be having a go at.

2007-07-16T10:09:00.000-07:00

Well .what a bad blogger I am ..it's nearly a month since I last posted But I have to say it has been an exceedingly busy few weeks, and quite productive at that !
Cats came & went like all good shows do, ATC & Tag swaps have been completed and sent off, Business is good one way and another so all in all lifes pretty hectic right now.
Have just completed 'On angels wings' ATC swap via UKS, & also a vintage lingerie Tag swap so looking forward to those all coming back !
Jewellery making has been quiet recently with very little time to get on with any projects, But with my holiday looming I have packed up jewellery making supplies, scrapping stuff etc ... perfect time to catch up on some of these things I feel !

2007-06-25T07:03:00.000-07:00

WEll the scenery is about completed, it is in situe & looks ok (i think) ...
Still got the odd fish bone thingy to make & the moon for the night sky .. other than that it;s job done (i hope)
The performances are next week, & I'm helping with the face painting, am busy making sketches of the different character cats & we're having a dress rehearsal run through on Monday next week (2nd July) so we can have a practise & then there are 3 performances later on in the week.

Got quite a few jobs on the go, managed to finish the mini book for my daughter & the design team plus a couple of 12 x 12 LO's .. will post pictures when I get time.
Still need to do a couple more design team items .. must get my thinking cap on for those

2007-06-19T11:36:00.000-07:00

Been too busy to play much this week, had to help in school making 63 Cat Headresses for the up & coming production (guess what it is !)
Today I spent 3 hours sewing up two complete costumes for my oldest two kids ... I'm now covered in Fur & am doing a good impression of a cat myself (Purrrrr) :)
Have still got all the scenery to do for the show ... should get on with it this week, but work has been very busy & we have also just spent a lovely weekend in the Cotswolds So got even less done than I should have ! .... oh well :)
Am going to a crop on Thursday night so will endeavour to finish the mini book I am making for my daughter with my latest Ribbon Oasis Design Team Kit .. something else that needs to be done to !
Unsure what tomorrow holds as of yet .... know I'm seeing my best friend in the sfternoon though .. Oh dear even more time taken up doing not alot ! .. ah well friends are more important than scenery (hope school understand that :) )

2007-06-02T00:21:00.000-07:00

Blimey we're into June & what a gorgeous day it is here today :)
Been busy with work and 1/2 term, plus the plotting and planning of two of my childrens birthdays and subsequent parties.
My daughter is having a make-over/sleepover party so have bought some nail art varnishes & have been playing with designs .. it's great except only my left hand is painted at the moment ... not sure I can do my own right hand with the same designs on lol :)
Have recieved my charm swaps back ... some very interesting work (& lovely I might add) some of them I'm not sure just 'how' they have done it , very clever ! Am going to put them together to make a bag charm or something similar, I will post a picture when I've sorted them out :)

I need to buy some utee ! having recently seen some fantastic work by a fellow uks I NEED some .... must go out & get some asap !

I also am in need of MORE shrink plastic .. this really is addictive :)

2007-05-13T05:48:00.000-07:00

I need more ...'Shrink-plastic' that is ! I bought some yesterday off the previously mentioned Market stall & it is such fabulous stuff !!!
If you've never tried it you need to ..it's like magic ! ..stamp an image on using stazon ink ..& then trim to the shape you want & heat it with the heat gun (or you can put it in the oven ... & voila a 'shrunk' image on a little chunky piece of plastic .. But it's not just the end result that's sooo nice, it's the way it shrinks too ! ..my kids think it's amazing :) (so do I) ..it literally melts & all curls up on itself & you can't for one minute imagine it turning out ok .. but then a few seconds later it rights itself & it goes flat & 'is cooked' :)
I shall post a picture in a few minutes of the Charms that I have just made for the swap. (hope they're ok ..never done anything like this before !)

2007-05-10T07:11:00.000-07:00

Called in at WHS today and discovered a fairly new Bead magazine ..called 'Bead' (oddly enough) .. I have to say I really like it ..there's some fab new techniques I NEED to have a go at & I daresay I will proabably have to go buy more beads and bits to do them ..what a shame ;)
Did get the ironing done yesterday & even more impressively tea is in the oven already today ! ..so now I need to clear my desk off so I can PLAY ! :)

2007-05-09T02:55:00.000-07:00

Hmmmm ... The housework is finally catching up with me ..just about to embark on an hour or so's ironing & then really my office/craft space shoukd be tidied again ..it still hasn't recovered from the cyber crop of a couple of weeks ago !
So we shall see later ..what I achieve today or whether i deviate completely & go make something instead :)

2007-05-06T12:17:00.000-07:00

Ok so I've got no housework done at all today .. never mind my bracelet is now fully charmed & ready to wear ! (priorities & all that :) )

2007-05-06T09:32:00.000-07:00

Having spent most of yesterday finishing off the bracelet previously mentioned .. I then spent another hour today taking it to pieces and re-assembling it but this time on to a chain link ..it now has better movement when worn But does not (at the moment) have as many beaded charms on it ..(still there is time yet !)

2007-05-05T08:00:00.001-07:00

2007-05-05T02:36:00.000-07:00

This morning I have opted for the Leather to attach the bead charms to .. so far so good (i think) .. must nip off to town in a while ..need some more beads & Findings & we have a fantastic stall at our local market who does just about something of everything .. i never walk away empty handed, even when I just pop by to say hello :)
Oh well !

2007-05-04T14:17:00.001-07:00

2007-05-04T13:19:00.000-07:00

I have tried, & love making ATC's, I have recently tried Altered Postcards for a swap & then even more recently I have made a few 'inchies' .. these could be seriously addictive !
I wondered if I could make even smaller & glaze & use within the confines of the charm swap ? will need to work on this idea !

2007-05-04T13:17:00.000-07:00

I have joined an 'altered art charm swap' .. it's a little daunting but have been trying out a couple of ideas .. there are some fantastic blogs with some tremendous inspiration on them ... these blogs also have this miraculous ability to make your time just disapear !

2007-05-04T13:14:00.000-07:00

Today I have been putting together a selection of beaded charms to make a bracelet.
I haven't quite decided what I am going to attach them to .. whether to make a link bracelet for them ..or use some leather thonging that I have in a perfect colour .. oh the decisions are endless !
I could combine the leather with looser ribbons threaded through, oh dear it's probably going to take another day to choose !
I will endeavour to post a picture of the finished article as soon as I get a moment.