Happy Accident

I am worried I haven't been posting as much as I would like. But I have been following everyone seeing all the wonderful things you have been making. I haven't made as much as I would have liked but have managed a few things.

This came about by accident I had some leftover clay and rolled it then twisted it and loved the variation from dark to light and for some reason decided to roll it like a fossil. I really liked it so made it into a necklace. The trouble is I don't think I would be able to achieve it again it was a bit of a fluke.

I saw a link to a wonderful tutorial on Pips blog and though I had made a kaleidoscope cane on my brilliant course last year I hadn't tried to make one again so had kind of forgotten some of the steps. Following Pips steps I managed this it may not be perfect but I was really pleased with it.

As mentioned before my menace is obsessed ( and I mean obsessed with lego) so inspired by him I have made this Lego bracelet.

An as my lovely girl got me started in clay with wanting an Allsorts bracelet (since which I have made many) I also made these.

I think next I am going to try to make a better flower cane. Watch this space. Hope you all have a lovely week.
x

Resolution

Well we are into  2012. I  decided not to make many resolutions as I never really keep them.

However one I have made and will really try to keep, is to focus more on working with Polymer Clay. I had been flitting between different crafty things leading up to Christmas and though enjoyable I wasn't really practising any of the few and admittedly basic clay skills  I so far possess. Over Christmas I did some more clay work and really enjoyed it. So I am really going to do more and hopefully I will start to improve. I have particularly found  Cara's blog very inspiring she does such lovely things.

 This is a bracelet I have made to give to a friend who will soon be moving away.  I think its okay but when I put the cane slices on the bead I find that the pattern slightly distorts when I re-roll the bead to get it back in shape. Not sure how to get round that one?

I co-hosted a Vintage Tea party for my friends leaving bash. It was lovely to get out and use all my vintage china that isn't often seen,  However really annoyingly I forgot to take any pictures, aaaghhh. She did love the bracelet I gave her which I was really pleased about.

I have decided to go back to basics and practice things so I am off to try a skinner blend.

Back soon I hope. xz

Merry Christmas

I haven't been keeping very up to date lately, but wanted to wish everyone a very 

Merry Christmas and happy and peaceful New Year.

Although I haven't posted much I have still been reading all your lovely blogs and have been really cheered up by all the lovely Xmas pictures and news.  I will try and do better in the New Year. 

Take care everyone

I

Why is it I cannot seem to focus on one thing at a time. (Because I am female, a Gemini, a crafter)
I am sure I am not the only person like this. My trouble is I feel I do lots of things but nothing really well, perhaps because I never stick with something long enough.  I have tried to teach myself crocheting but move onto something else and when I go back to it I have completely forgotten what to do and have to look at my instructions again, same with knitting I  just about suss casting on/off basic stitches stop and veer off to something else so forget again. With clay this week I wanted to focus and practice but for some mad reason I decided to go back to making things with felt. Anyhow I supose it keeps life interesting. I have however noticed my children seem to be following in my butterfly footsteps, particularly my daughter.

Recently I have been making some more felt brooches.













Then I decided I would use felt to make some bookmarks.

A friend liked the camper van bookmark very much and asked me to make 2 for her boys I made one in dark blue and one in red and embroidered their initials and age on the front numberplate and their names on the bac, with buttons not hearts as headlights.. They did look quite sweet and she thinks they will like them which is great.

Now I have started making felt Christmas decorations, not as lovely as those by Clare at selfsewn, so my new clay cooker isn't getting as much use as I thought.  And talking of lovely things for Christmas Pippa at Pips has been making some beautiful items for all the craft fairs she will be doing, she is going to be very busy.

Hope you all have a lovely weekend. xx

Bargins and Beads

Its been a little while since my last post. Partly because I have been busy using my new oven as some friends wanted some of the dolly mixture and allsorts bracelets I had previously made.  I feel I have done enough sweetie beads for now, but I am really pleased that they liked them so much.


I finally got around to attempting another flower cane and though not perfect I felt I am a slowly getting a step closer to getting the hang of it. As they say, you learn from your mistakes so next time I know what I will do differently. One of the purple clays came out much darker than I thought it  would after baking, but I still quite like them.

As I have mentioned  I love to collect vintage china and pretty bits and bobs. a few weeks ago I went to a local auction and was excited to spot these fab vintage sherry glasses with a lot of china and glass, seeing some other bits that looked interesting I decided I had to try for them so for the first time ever bid and won at an auction.

I love them like this

But even more like this!

 But even better was spotting this.

Having seen the wonderful trollies  by Jane at  Teawagon Tales, I had to have it and I will try and follow her example and make a lovely vintage craft trolley. Thank you Jane for your advice.  I will get round to actually painting it one day.


I have also been trying to make some polymer xmas tags for friends at work ( I know they don't read this so it is safe to show them).  I have tried to emboss their names on the stars but they do not show very clearly. I Inked in one to make it stand out. 

One day I hope I can make beautiful things similar to the ceramic Snowflakes designed and made by Cathy at Potter Jotter, (for which you can enter her give away). she  makes absolutely gorgeous ceramics.


Well I will stop rambling on and hope you all have a lovely weekend xx

Lego and clay

At last I can get round to explaining my impending excitement in the last post. I was waiting to get this little baby.  Tah Dah !!!!   My toaster oven.

I know to some it may not be the most exciting purchase, but I love it.  I was feeling uncomfortable about using my domestic oven for clay all the time.  (apparently you have to CLEAN it!). So I managed to persuade Mr G for the family's safety and my sanity that I needed this. Luckily he agreed and home it came. Unfortunately the reflection shows the mess my kitchen is.

I  also love to collect vintage/retro china and glasses and thought I would show you the shelf above my new baby, with some of my bits and pieces. My dresser is full to bursting and it doesn't help I keep picking up bargins.

However instead of concentrating on trying to make lovely canes (which I really need to do) I have been somewhat sidetracked making these little trinkets. I would blame my lovely teenager as she likes to snaffle the things I make and loves fun quirky jewellery, but I have to take the blame, I like fiddling about making little things. Perhaps I am putting of trying to make canes that I feel will just squish. 

Well I am glad it is a last half term. Possibly not as glad as my Menace (who has told his teacher he likes nothing about school and only wants to be at home playing with his lego) at which I have to say he excels, a future Chief Exec of Lego in the making I think.

 Clone Wars Troop Transporters

Lets hope we can all enjoy the late sunshine. I hope you all have a lovely week. 

Till next time x

Felt not Clay

I haven't really made anything with clay the last few days. Partly it think because I have felt a bit in awe of some of the really great blogs I have been looking at. But I am going to practice and use this great book as well as the tips and tutorials found online. It will be interesting to see in the future how / if my attempts develop. I am very excited (well its exciting to me) about getting something for my clay later today will reveal all soon.

 I realised I hadn't actually made any brooches lately and for some reason the recent chill in the air  made me want to try to make an autumnal brooch. So here it is.I made it from a felted scarf and added some embroidery and buttons, Mr G though the buttons blended too much, but that's what I wanted.

Then having got in the brooch mood,I decided to use some lovely purple and create a more abstract design (possibly a bit big but I think its ok) kind of based on a paisley shape.

I have discovered 2 lovely blogs today. Particularly excited as they are in Norfolk. One has the name of my lovely daughter  Planet Penny   (Penny not Planet) and has such beautiful needle felted items on there. I especially love the xmas robins (needle felting is something I have wanted to try for ages, after using felt for brooches - but somehow polymer jumped in the way - but I must try it soon) and moobaacluck who makes wonderful personalised wooden decorations, plaques and lovely illustrated cards.

Hopefully going to the boot sale at Hunstanton later, if I can get everyone moving. Hope I find some treasure.
Will let you know.