More butterflies and journals

Over the last few months I've developed what was a one-off collage in a frame into a range of Artist journal/ sketchbooks... I knew getting the Cinch was going to cause problems!

Here are a few in the latest colours, I work each set in fours so they really are unique...

These are hearts and butterflies, I've also tried blinging a couple with little gems, what do you think?  I need to make some more now as I've just got a spot in a shop in Canterbury, which hopefully will be quite popular... watch this space!

Eac of these contain over 40 pages of mixed artist paper such as watercolour, pastel, cartridge, black and tracing paper. Perfect for mixed media artists who love using more than one medium. Each little section is separated with some gorgeous hand-made paper in coordinating colours. 

I'm also taking orders for these with a name added within the design, how special is that? Check them out on Etsy...

Needlecase sewing set, mum's birthday pressie...

I'm sure I'm not the only one with this problem- what do you give  your mum when they can buy what they want themselves, and spent many years teaching dressmaking so expects perfection?

I'm trying to get her back into sewing now she's retired, so eventually I decided to make a couple of things that might inspire her to get the machine out again- a needlecase and a wrist pincushion. I usually use bright colours and funky patterns- but that's not mum, so I had to raid my stash...

I've added a step by step tutorial over in the how-to textiles section, pop over and have a go- they're really quick and fun to make- honest!!

 

I used a remnant of sea striped canvas, some felt for the pages and a few of my crocheted flowers. Needless to say I made one of my gift bags  to present them in, and huge sighs of relief when mum really liked them, and has agreed to make my daughter a hunting jacket to christen them- hooray!! 

Having seen her old tattered pincushion I spent this morning making a replacement ball pincushion in matching fabrics... hope she likes it too.

Creative Colour Challenge

I forgot to blog my entry into this months CCC, the theme this month being MUSTARD. I created a textured spiral shell on canvas using gel medium and acrylics. I have a growing set of these now because as I get an urge, I do them in different colours, but I'd not done a yellow as it's not a colour I like too much. I like creating a 3D feel to my work using both a texture gel and careful shading- from a distance they look like padded pillows.

Folding Book Project

Well, it's January 2012 so the first prompt for The Hinges book-making adventure  was posted by Ruth and Dawna. I only saw the post this morning and thought it would be perfect for a birthday pressie for a relative who hasn't got any pics of our branch of the family. 

I'd been prepping for a batch of birthday cards and covers so had an armful of materials at the ready... so I ended up doing it straight away... naughty me, considering I hadn't finished the fabric cards yet- tch tch! I took some pics along the way, so if they come out okay I will post a tutorial for you to follow.

Here's how it's turned out so far.... I need to print out the photos before I can go any further with embellishments

 

My daughter squealed "that's so cute" when she walked in, so I can see me having to make several more!! No great hardship- so much fun.

I've now posted a tutorial in the how-tosbooks section. Have a go and enjoy!! Don't forget to send me a pic!! xx

ATC's - a new exploration, for me, at least!

Having joined the Art swaps group at Milliande's I found a whole new world of small artworks, highly intriguing having spent the last few years growing in confidence enough to make my paintings BIG!
This really appealed to my "have an idea, must do it now" streak, by being small enough to complete in a reasonable time-frame.
And so another addiction began....
Here is my first group of ATC's, specifically for a "layered" card swap

These are on canvas, stamped with pigment inks, gel transfers, embossed copper, and beads. They were great fun to make, and several of them went round the world to Australia for the swap.


.