I'm going to do an Online class

I've done it---I have finally signed up for an online class at Joggles.com
I have always wanted to know the ins and outs of making journals (well not making one but using one) but was to much of a wimp to have a go--but when I saw this on Sharon Boggon's blog yesterday I thought now is the time.
After all who better to learn from than Sharon.
It commences on June 27th so if you are interested come and join me.
Here is the link to sharon's blog that will tell you all about it.

http://sharonb.wordpress.com/2008/04/29/my-new-online-course-is-available/

Cards from Pat

Yesterday I received my April Calendar Girls postcard from Pat.
The background is a base of dyed silk cocoon strippings with hilites of gold foiling scattered over it.
The paper flowers have beed dyed to match and are sewn on with buttons.
Check out the size of the buttons on the small flowers.
It is so pleasing to the eye --I love it Pat.




Also in the package was this beautiful ATC for Ebony -which was a surprise and luckily she was here when I opened it and seeing as yellow is her favourite colour (at the moment) it was an even bigger thrill.
Pat also included some laces and embellishments for Ebony but I can't show you because she has used them on some ATC's that she made last night to swap with others.




Ebony said thank you also Pat.

Recent Mail in and out.

Recently I did a swap with Maureen x and I have already shown the ATC's that she sent me and I can now show you the ones that I sent her because I know that she has received them .
The one on the left has a base of silk paper with FME stitching on it and the one on the right is wet felted with both FME and hand stitching.
Both of these ATC's were made from pieces that I had done before that were hidden away in boxes so I decided to recycle them as ATC's.




The lovely pink CQ heart was also sent to me by Maureen as a swap---------------------

And I sent her in return this tassel----------------

I also received from Domi this collaged ATC---------------

And this is the one I sent her in return.

The base of this card is a baby wipe that I was using to clean my stamps with.

I loved the colours so I decided to keep it.

When I got my embellisher I decided to lay it on some commercial felt and run it through the machine and it looked good.

I have done some hand stitching on it which is a bit difficult to see in this photo.

Thank you Maureen and Domi

TIF April Block

Finally I have finished my April block for the TIF Challenge.
Because I usually love working with these colours I thought it would be a breeze--but not so.
I really struggled with this block because everything that I chose to use looked very dull and boring.
I also changed the way I pieced the block in that the size of the different fabric pieces are larger than I normally do and I think this may have added to the problem.
I think I unearthed every bit of lace - silk ribbon - trims and buttons and beads that I owned to come up with this finished piece but I think in the end it has worked---well I like it anyway.
All the fabrics in this block are second hand--picked up at charity shops or trade tables.
In fact I think the only things on this block that I had previously purchased new before this challenge started are the silk ribbons and the butterfly motif--so the stash has reduced once more but not that much that it can be noticed.

Now to see what May brings..........

I have finally made something to show

I have just realised that I haven't updated for a week--where did those days go?
Several weeks ago Ebony had her 8th birthday and so many of you sent her birthday wishes but she also received a parcel from Paula in Queensland.
Now to say that I was envious would be an understatement.
When she opened it there were a huge pile of patchwork squares -laces-ribbons-ricrac-fibres-embroidery floss-buttons-beads and sequins all for her to make ATC's with.
When Ebony saw all those squares she decided that she wanted to make a little quilt.
She proceeded to lay the squares out on the floor--shifting them around until she had them arranged the way she wanted them -I tried to give advice but in her usual manner she knew what she was doing so I let her do it after all it was her quilt.
So I pinned them together and set the sewing machine up and away she went.
She now has 4 rows of 5 lots of 5inch squares stitched together.
Now let me tell you she wanted to finish the whole thing before she went to bed - yikes.
I allowed her to choose the fabric for the sashings and borders-again I had to keep my opinion to myself but I think it will be very nice when it is finished.
I am not going to show it to you until she does a little bit more so you will just have to wait a while----sorry.





I decided to make Paula a tassel to thank her for her generosity towards Ebony and I hope that she liked it--well I know she did because she has let me know.

Ebony and I each made an ATC to swap with Paula as well--mine is needle felted and Ebony"s is a card one that says Thank You to Paula.

You know I am truly amazed at the way the blogging community are so caring and encourage Ebony in all that she does----Thank you everyone.

Even more ATC's and some Art Dolls

Well we have been inundated with ATC's this last week.
Ebony has been trading her ATC's and I have been swinging on her coat tails.
Last month she made some ATC's and swapped them with some wonderful people and I have been lucky enough to receive one as well from some of them.

The first two are from Jacqueline--Ebony chose the one on the left.
Thank you Jacqueline.



The next two are needle felted and they are from Francoise mine is the top one.
Thank you Francoise.

These two are from Carol T and Ebony chose the one on the left--I think she liked all the beads---they are both beautiful -thank you Carol.

These two are mine and I am so lucky to have them.

I swapped one with Maureen x but when it had arrived there were two in the packet--they are gorgeous and the stitching is so beautiful.

Maureen also included Miss Prim for Ebony-she's the tall lady---and the other one is a domino doll from Jan which arrived several weeks ago and I forgot to take a photo of it.

Thanks again to all the lovely ladies we are absolutely overwhelmed.

April TIF

The April colour palette for Sharon Boggan's TIF challenge has been posted and it definitely says Autumn.



I have made my block and you won't believe it but I haven't one single dark brown piece of fabric in my stash --not one---and seeing as I am only going to use what I have in my stash I don't have brown in this block.

Here is a photo of the Ornamental Grape that grows over our pergola and it is in full Autumn colour---what more could I want for inspiration than this.

Now to get on with the best part--the embellishing.

Arte y Pico award

I have been given the Arte y Pico award by Jacqueline and Jan and I thank them both for thinking me worthy of this award.

There are 5 rules attached to this and they are :

-1. You have to pick 5 blogs that you consider deserve this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and also contributes to the blogging community, no matter what language.
2. Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his/her blog to be visited by everyone.
3. Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her/him the award itself.
4. The Award winner and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of "Arte Y Pico" blog, so everyone will know the origin of this award.
5. To show these rules..
It is a very difficult decision but....Here are the people that I have chosen---

Julie who makes the most incredible mixed media art--from found objects.

Susan for her incredible forsight in arranging the Cyber Fyber exhibition.

Dot who is the most generous person I know in blogland and makes amazing art as well.

Annica for her persistence in creating a small piece of art every day for a month as part of the TIF challenge

Nellie for her amazing art quilts that are breathtaking.

Excellent Blogger Award

Sharon has kindly awarded me the E for excellence award for which I am honoured to receive.

I would like to pass this award on to so many bloggers whose work I admire very much and who have helped me along the way on this incredible journey but I am going to give it to 2 lovely ladies whom I have met this year and who both work in very different mediums.

The first is Jan in the UK who does the most amazing mixed media work

and is so generous with her ideas.

The other is Judith in New Zealand whose Silk Ribbon Embroidery and Crazy Patchwork inspires me to achieve a higher standard in my hand embroidery.

Thank you to both ladies for your inspiration.

April PC for Carol M

Here is my April Calendar Girl's Postcard for Carol M.
I thought that I would try something different this time in fact I made several different versions but this is my final choice.
I started with a sheet of primed artist's canvas and coloured the background by sweeping a blue stamp pad lightly over it.
I then painted the flower which was on the right hand side of the calendar page and added some hearts as well.
Now I don't profess to be an artist but I had a go and it does have child like qualities don't you think?

I felt it needed more so I inserted a red heart shaped brad in the centre of the flower then I painted a coat of gloss Mod Podge over the card and I placed a sheet of white tissue over this.
When this dried a repeated the Mod Poge and tissue once more to give the whole thing a misty appearance.
I outlined all the flower and hearts using Fabrico fabric pens.
I hope you like it Carol.
If you would like to see the other Calendar Girls postcards just scroll down and click on the Calendar Girls badge on the left hand side.

More ATC's and a book

More ATC's --this time from Anne L who lives in France but doesn't have a blog.
I love swapping with Anne who does the most amazing cross stitch designs.
The tree and butterfly card is supposed to be for me and the other one was for Ebony but I have decided to swap with her because I actually like the sampler one--although I haven't asked Ebony yet.
Thank you Anne as usual they are beautiful.



Also I have received an early Mother's Day gift from my daughter Susan who purchased this book for me via the Internet from a second hand dealer in the UK.
I have wanted this book for ages since seeing about it on Sharon B's blog last year when I was doing the TAST challenge.
It has every hand embroidery stitch imaginable in detail so there will be no stopping me now.
Thank you Susan I love it.

ATC's from Ati

Yesterday these two lovely ATC's arrived from Ati in Norway.
The one on the left is for Ebony and the one on the right is for me.
It has been a lot of fun for Ebony and I to swap with my blogging friends together.
Thank you Ati we both love our ATC's very much.