tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21419027232474633852024-03-13T03:11:33.766+00:00Crafty TidbitsA blog for paper or fabric craftingJaneHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234524661070266136noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141902723247463385.post-11323073750584158222021-06-27T18:53:00.002+01:002021-06-27T18:53:31.805+01:00Cardmaking Again<p> Well, I've been busy but don't have a whole lot to show for it. I must be the worst cardmaker in the world. It takes me days to decided on just the right paper, just the right stamp and die, etc. Then I usually end up doing it over about three times before I finish it! My latest card took two days, then as I was about to pop it into the envelope, I noticed a big black ink smudge on the front. At that point I was ready to blow up my craft room and swear off ever crafting again.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-csYEWVLsCLo/YNix_hoVlRI/AAAAAAAAGU8/GCPsuT-43aAg1LrdRZ6zxxSD9q46CZ6sACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210623_232318.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-csYEWVLsCLo/YNix_hoVlRI/AAAAAAAAGU8/GCPsuT-43aAg1LrdRZ6zxxSD9q46CZ6sACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210623_232318.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is the card. I managed to save it by using some glittery washi tape. It doesn't look too good in this photo but it really did look nice. The washi tape, although it doesn't look like it here, was the exact colour of the soft aqua-blue. I also tried out my new Nuvo Aqua Shimmer pen and was really pleased with the result.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DWdydkcuVqU/YNix_sykivI/AAAAAAAAGU4/zfUedZr-xDEkRJBQfBuY8MhNV6tUcVVlACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210623_232408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DWdydkcuVqU/YNix_sykivI/AAAAAAAAGU4/zfUedZr-xDEkRJBQfBuY8MhNV6tUcVVlACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210623_232408.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It has to be held in the right light to see it, but I used the gold on the edges of the flower. I'd really like to learn how to take photos of my cards to show their true colours. On SplitCoast Stampers, some of the photos look downright professional. I'm going to make it my "quest" to learn how to do that! I usually take photos with my Samsung Galaxy S9 phone but it never really does a good job. I have plenty of other cameras but I've just been too lazy to get them out of the closet.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As for the pens, they're great. There were three in the pack (silver, gold, copper) for a little over £6 from CraftStash, my favourite supplier. I really was looking for a pen called Wink of Stella but everywhere I looked, they were out of stock. I still have that one coming from Amazon, but I think they get it from a USA source so it takes awhile. I can wait.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">All this was the result of our recent Craft Day. I've been meeting with three other crafters for about 15 years, once per month. The COVID crisis lockdown here has meant we couldn't get together for about a year and a half, but we finally did last weekend. It felt great. One of us, Barbara, brought out BAGS of cards she's been making during lockdown. Unfortunately or fortunately, depending on your views, Amazon and a few other craft stores have been open for online shopping so we've all been shopping. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">By the way, Blogger keeps flagging words as being spelled wrong, but it's the problem of British spelling vs American spelling. As an American who has lived in England for almost 20 years, I've developed a schizophrenic spelling complex. Spelling was always my very best subject but now I get confused. So favorite/favourite, color/colour, etc. is what we're stuck with.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p><br /></p>JaneHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234524661070266136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141902723247463385.post-20781212589018667242021-05-04T18:59:00.000+01:002021-05-04T18:59:03.398+01:00My New Gemini Mini<p> Well, here I am AGAIN...not a year later! I've been wanting a little die cutter that I can take to Craft Day or take along anywhere really. After researching for three days and many hours (!) I decided to try the Gemini Mini. It arrived today and I of course had to try it immediately. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y5gAgFIQ9Yg/YJGBC7zGG3I/AAAAAAAAGRU/jSDrXZuIBtAQAtOjNDvDvTSEuM3bOLgYgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210504_171355_06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y5gAgFIQ9Yg/YJGBC7zGG3I/AAAAAAAAGRU/jSDrXZuIBtAQAtOjNDvDvTSEuM3bOLgYgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210504_171355_06.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nLvee6txD8w/YJGC0WQuIzI/AAAAAAAAGSM/5H3jMAUHsdkqY6gHHhvmL4pzkggAdTlTgCLcBGAsYHQ/s693/Gemini%2Band%2Baccessories.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="693" data-original-width="517" height="403" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nLvee6txD8w/YJGC0WQuIzI/AAAAAAAAGSM/5H3jMAUHsdkqY6gHHhvmL4pzkggAdTlTgCLcBGAsYHQ/w301-h403/Gemini%2Band%2Baccessories.jpg" width="301" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is the Gemini as I received it, with the accessories. It only came with one folder but I purchased an extra set of 3. It's a good thing as the folders do get quite marked up from the cutting.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I used a very small and intricate die. It's the Tim Holtz/Sizzix Framelits #662270. But I actually got quite a few on the first cut.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xgNsOeM0fPY/YJGEJU5Mo8I/AAAAAAAAGSY/jQ4vxPxtHk0EvBXJc-z8JnvRO4WQUKlYQCLcBGAsYHQ/s656/cuts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="656" data-original-width="517" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xgNsOeM0fPY/YJGEJU5Mo8I/AAAAAAAAGSY/jQ4vxPxtHk0EvBXJc-z8JnvRO4WQUKlYQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/cuts.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> I can tell I'm going to love this little thing. I've got it right on my desktop and it hardly takes up any room. It only weighs about the same as my phone and fits right into my palm!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am really cramped for space now. In our previous house I had a whole cabin in the back garden that was twice the size of my current room (a spare bedroom). It's really put a damper on my output. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iLzAoW38XWA/YJGF5zuiX7I/AAAAAAAAGSs/gf9dE_g4rKEEHqlMm3unMgzqueQDFpQdQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1908/crafthaus1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1363" data-original-width="1908" height="321" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iLzAoW38XWA/YJGF5zuiX7I/AAAAAAAAGSs/gf9dE_g4rKEEHqlMm3unMgzqueQDFpQdQCLcBGAsYHQ/w448-h321/crafthaus1.jpg" width="448" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This was my beloved craft house! And this is my current craft room.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lKi7K0K5g54/YJGGXncxTiI/AAAAAAAAGS0/nBo3ZqkoopURWxitASkyInFYP3I1DTgKwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/DSC00682.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="340" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lKi7K0K5g54/YJGGXncxTiI/AAAAAAAAGS0/nBo3ZqkoopURWxitASkyInFYP3I1DTgKwCLcBGAsYHQ/w453-h340/DSC00682.JPG" width="453" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm not really complaining as I know some crafters have less space than this, but can't help missing my old one. Our new house is much better though, so I'll have to somehow make this work. I need to get rid of a lot of my stash as the problem is that there is so much it's hard to get working by the time I go through everything to find what I want, then find room to do it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My work table is a portable fold-up I got from Amazon. It's really very handy and I thought I'd fold it up when I wasn't using it, but I've found that it's actually easier to leave it up and just move it around if I need something behind it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--BvClCaUSlI/YJGKJ6OWPEI/AAAAAAAAGTE/fwNgco-VBH4G564NhPh0Jn7XJL7szBcigCLcBGAsYHQ/s521/craft%2Bdesk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="521" data-original-width="511" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--BvClCaUSlI/YJGKJ6OWPEI/AAAAAAAAGTE/fwNgco-VBH4G564NhPh0Jn7XJL7szBcigCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/craft%2Bdesk.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Oh well. Off to play with my new mini! Now if the government will just lift our COVID restrictions so we can go to crops and craft days again!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>JaneHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234524661070266136noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141902723247463385.post-29545564836316018792021-04-22T22:52:00.005+01:002021-04-22T22:52:52.445+01:00Still here....<p> <span style="font-size: medium;">Hello. I'm still here and we're still under COVID restrictions more than a year later! We have no restaurants, no meeting friends in coffee shops, no going out with face masks, no visiting anyone's home (which includes getting together for craft days!), no meeting up outside with more than six people, no non-essential shops open, and no libraries, zoos, parks, etc. open, so life is pretty slow now. I had my second COVID vaccination yesterday, however, so I'm feeling a little more hopeful now. A few restrictions, like non-essential shops can open now, and more of the restrictions are due to be lifted in mid-May, but I doubt that life will ever be back to "normal" again.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">You'd think I'd have enjoyed all this time at home to do lots of crafting, but I feel like I've been in a dark tunnel for the past year. At least we're now having longer daylight hours, which also helps the mood. Our Spring here in southeast England has been unusually cold despite a few sunny days. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">When I do play with my craft supplies, it's always cards. Scrapbooking isn't even on my radar right now since I can't feel very inspired about scrapbooking about staying in the house for a year! On the bright side, I haven't had to make any sympathy cards for awhile! Now it's all birthday cards, which is much better.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RoCcUxgT5FQ/YIG216mUAiI/AAAAAAAAGO0/fyvsEIPy8Ogj1_qfuKkkEC89sOYfylplQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210128_164336.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RoCcUxgT5FQ/YIG216mUAiI/AAAAAAAAGO0/fyvsEIPy8Ogj1_qfuKkkEC89sOYfylplQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210128_164336.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--JWG7A7IBns/YIG22e-tQkI/AAAAAAAAGO8/Q3yf1Lw-tpcSg4cIDp5qJcUUV7o54xlAwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210203_171738.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--JWG7A7IBns/YIG22e-tQkI/AAAAAAAAGO8/Q3yf1Lw-tpcSg4cIDp5qJcUUV7o54xlAwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210203_171738.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mFk2sLjA1YI/YIG25bWTGVI/AAAAAAAAGPA/veXxcl9vue8e97UlQlV-oV1G45onMrYSgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210204_164532.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mFk2sLjA1YI/YIG25bWTGVI/AAAAAAAAGPA/veXxcl9vue8e97UlQlV-oV1G45onMrYSgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210204_164532.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q2Ci3yhhHgY/YIG28aMFERI/AAAAAAAAGPE/5auLTWAFp9wScBLY8L9hKtovnKuxPVzSQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210411_143449_01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q2Ci3yhhHgY/YIG28aMFERI/AAAAAAAAGPE/5auLTWAFp9wScBLY8L9hKtovnKuxPVzSQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210411_143449_01.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6m3xOhrG9wk/YIG29e_6CKI/AAAAAAAAGPI/eoXC769JyBcIbuajN1509mpkZPJ7B-JKQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20210419_154754.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6m3xOhrG9wk/YIG29e_6CKI/AAAAAAAAGPI/eoXC769JyBcIbuajN1509mpkZPJ7B-JKQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20210419_154754.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IUsgnooEgmc/YIG2_RDcLKI/AAAAAAAAGPM/ERIbJfc-v5chIrNalYtd9Wsn4fWpYg-GwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_1025.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IUsgnooEgmc/YIG2_RDcLKI/AAAAAAAAGPM/ERIbJfc-v5chIrNalYtd9Wsn4fWpYg-GwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/IMG_1025.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LY1vzVNuDR0/YIHA24Q7OaI/AAAAAAAAGP0/PMwNC0Da7IIjkX90jId46nOiIO-3CjwqQCLcBGAsYHQ/s877/B%2BAxon%2B2021%2B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="877" data-original-width="573" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LY1vzVNuDR0/YIHA24Q7OaI/AAAAAAAAGP0/PMwNC0Da7IIjkX90jId46nOiIO-3CjwqQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/B%2BAxon%2B2021%2B.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This last card has a blue line across it because I used the wrong camera setting, so had to try to save it as a .jpg. I really am all thumbs when it comes to editing graphics. I use Photoshop Elements 2018 and all I can do is adjust colours, resize images, etc. The basic stuff. I've got to get better at this, both editing AND card-making, or give it up!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hope things are improving for crafters. Best wishes to everyone.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p>JaneHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234524661070266136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141902723247463385.post-6474364777373562582020-08-30T16:57:00.002+01:002020-08-30T17:24:31.725+01:00Covid and me<p> Okay, be honest now, who is as fed up with this Covid virus as I am? So far husband and I have managed to stay healthy, so I'm grateful for that, but just generally bored, sick and tired of staying at home, and hating to wear a mask every time I need to go shopping. We're fortunate that grocery delivery slots have opened up now and thank goodness for Amazon! They deserve a prize for keeping us sane. I really hate it when people criticise them, as they were delivering from the beginning and it always comes on time (at least here). I made some face masks (not as easy as it looks) and bought a couple more, but none of them are comfortable to wear for more than an hour.</p><p>Those of us who do crafts are really fortunate, however. I do know a couple of women who live alone, have no hobbies, don't read, don't garden, don't drive..... and now they're depressed. Well, if that were me, I'd be downright suicidal! On the other hand, crafting gets a little old after a while, too. Yet I carry on, sort of.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iGpCUHUXD7E/X0vB7R9qlfI/AAAAAAAAGDs/BOfLJ8wudyU32tm6tNT49x8MefzdEZFMQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200703_082657.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iGpCUHUXD7E/X0vB7R9qlfI/AAAAAAAAGDs/BOfLJ8wudyU32tm6tNT49x8MefzdEZFMQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/20200703_082657.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Unfortunately, I've had to make a few of these sympathy cards lately. I ordered the die (above) and some stamps, but sympathy cards are not my favourite thing to make. It usually means someone has died (in every case for us, thankfully, not from the virus). It's also difficult trying to decide what colours (nothing too bright), stamps, paper, etc. to use.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--RTcQY3hwrw/X0vCACv8qGI/AAAAAAAAGDw/ZvcTNEVMx_UrK_VWCVt98aiHWBzxjqmygCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200619_174159.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--RTcQY3hwrw/X0vCACv8qGI/AAAAAAAAGDw/ZvcTNEVMx_UrK_VWCVt98aiHWBzxjqmygCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/20200619_174159.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This card (above) was for a friend's birthday. I used the Tim Holtz/Sizzix dies to make the flowers and coloured them with Distress Ink and gel pens. As with all my cards, I spend much longer on the planning than on the actual making of the card. I end up looking at Pinterest, CraftWorld, <a href="https://www.splitcoaststampers.com/" target="_blank">Split Coast Stampers</a> and other websites for inspiration, but then whatever I make never looks like the original anyway. Maybe it's not meant to?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r0GUW6Iq_4Q/X0vGatzNnRI/AAAAAAAAGEA/hUayAA_nO-cXbjPoegZp2B8tqiTYR7vewCLcBGAsYHQ/s564/6ba3574c722fad8a78e19fd48ef22b48.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="564" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r0GUW6Iq_4Q/X0vGatzNnRI/AAAAAAAAGEA/hUayAA_nO-cXbjPoegZp2B8tqiTYR7vewCLcBGAsYHQ/s0/6ba3574c722fad8a78e19fd48ef22b48.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For example, I saw this card (above) on the Internet and just loved it! So of course I had to order the die (Tim Holtz/Sizzlets again for both the flowers and the lattice dies) and try to copy the general idea. I did make one myself but <i>mine was not this beautiful however! </i>It never is!!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-83C69wuo9tg/X0vSH8cyzqI/AAAAAAAAGEw/h89O3l4NsOkhJKH7IhVKctX7qFHo3SgCwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Lattice%2Bdie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1890" data-original-width="2048" height="473" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-83C69wuo9tg/X0vSH8cyzqI/AAAAAAAAGEw/h89O3l4NsOkhJKH7IhVKctX7qFHo3SgCwCLcBGAsYHQ/w512-h473/Lattice%2Bdie.jpg" width="512" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When I see them side-by-side I can see what I missed: the original has a grass border and the flowers are smaller (or maybe the card is larger?). Ah well, my recipient liked it anyway. I never seem to have the RIGHT colour ink, paper, or the right die, despite having a fairly large stash (though it's constantly growing).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My Stampin' Up stamps are all about 10 years old and still in their original boxes. These are just a few of them. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dJj-JaeeZNk/X0vIFV-SdTI/AAAAAAAAGEQ/kPb5KO6eJ-82fZFs5IixU7vQ6-VLcKcRACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_1026.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dJj-JaeeZNk/X0vIFV-SdTI/AAAAAAAAGEQ/kPb5KO6eJ-82fZFs5IixU7vQ6-VLcKcRACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_1026.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-osoIVV3KdRo/X0vIFcIPUYI/AAAAAAAAGEM/TUTD4OwpL8IRgoPoZX3_tAlsaFhDMAGLQCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_1027.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-osoIVV3KdRo/X0vIFcIPUYI/AAAAAAAAGEM/TUTD4OwpL8IRgoPoZX3_tAlsaFhDMAGLQCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_1027.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And my other stamps are in mostly plastic bins (about six of them this size (below). I have one box for just sentiments, the other three are mostly not sentiments.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mi2AsLJj1Jk/X0vIFoQgfwI/AAAAAAAAGEU/_6EcFjSMcAYZkkf4hP2gHURnsAa_WqfZgCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_1028.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mi2AsLJj1Jk/X0vIFoQgfwI/AAAAAAAAGEU/_6EcFjSMcAYZkkf4hP2gHURnsAa_WqfZgCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_1028.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kMbrpCVyaUg/X0vIIM453jI/AAAAAAAAGEc/7OK7LUErMi0HDQxj2FbCTlBYa4PDJwO_ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_1029.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kMbrpCVyaUg/X0vIIM453jI/AAAAAAAAGEc/7OK7LUErMi0HDQxj2FbCTlBYa4PDJwO_ACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_1029.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I5X03KmfDS8/X0vIIOXMRfI/AAAAAAAAGEY/UxOjc4hZTHIfa3ylLTGIN3gZmzaU-UX3ACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/IMG_1030.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-I5X03KmfDS8/X0vIIOXMRfI/AAAAAAAAGEY/UxOjc4hZTHIfa3ylLTGIN3gZmzaU-UX3ACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/IMG_1030.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And of course, two boxes of punches (remember those??) and on and on. Yet, as I said, I never have just the right one! Sigh....oh well, I suppose I'm doing my best to keep the craft industry alive. How about you? I'd love for you to leave some comments so I can see what you've been up to or some suggestions for organising, perhaps.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm also really still struggling with my Gemini Jr. but that's a story for another day. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>JaneHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234524661070266136noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141902723247463385.post-24763727526777761942020-05-16T16:12:00.000+01:002020-05-16T16:12:46.533+01:00Still truckin' along....slowlyWell, I'm still here, still trucking along with crafting. I've managed to accumulate a few new stamps and some other things. Mostly I'm just loving the experimenting with techniques from YouTube. It's really amazing all the wonderful ideas you can pick up there. For example, I am in love with the water colour effects ("<b>Easy Watercolor Stamping Techniques</b>" for cardmaking) as demonstrated by <b>Jennifer McGuire</b>. If you haven't checked her out, please treat yourself. She's amazing!<br />
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Another person I love to watch is <b>GinaK</b>. She has her own line of stamps and more, but she has some wonderful techniques. For something really fun and different, look at her <b>"Outside the Box"</b> video. Her cards tend to have a clean, simple look and you don't need to invest heavily in lots of things you don't have.<br />
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My youngest grand-daughter in the US, is turning 10 years old in a couple of weeks. She's at that hard-to-please age: too old for a lot of children's cards, but not yet quite old enough for the teen themes. I ended up doing this one;<br />
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I can't honestly say I love this one, but I think it sort of fits. I first thought it was boring and plain, so I added some gems in a few places, then the die cut out of the same paper as the frame, so that made it a little better. I used my (very old) Cosmic Shimmer (<i>I think Cosmic Shimmer may now have a different name</i>) paints to colour the fairies' wings:</div>
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She'll have to move it around in the light to see the gold shine but it did make the card a bit more jazzy. </div>
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In the last post I wrote about my new Tim Holtz glass media mat and the Stamping Platform. I've used both of them now and can report I am over the moon with both. The stamping platform is larger than my old one, so much more useful. And I've watched the YouTube video where he shows how to use it and the differences in how inks work on the glass versus the craft mat. <i>Who'd have thought</i>!!!</div>
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And here's one more I did for someone. This was an ultra simple, plain card but the recipient liked it, so that's all that counts. I played with my Gemini Jr. to do this, but frankly I prefer my old hand-cranked Big Shot for most die cutting. The Gemini seems to not cut so evenly, but I may not have my sandwich just right yet.</div>
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That's all for now. Please feel free to leave comments. It would be nice to just know that someone is looking at this blog....</div>
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<br />JaneHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234524661070266136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141902723247463385.post-57842976314053710192020-05-09T12:16:00.001+01:002020-05-09T12:16:29.898+01:00DANGER ahead...Yes, this "Stay at Home" routine is getting dangerously expensive. So far, I've bought about a dozen dies and stamps, the Tim Holtz craft mat, and the Tim Holtz stamp platform. Of course I had to have the protective sleeve for the stamp platform, too!<br />
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I wasn't too sure about this media mat. I'd seen him demo it but didn't know if I'd really like it. However, I've fallen in love with it now. It's so easy for blending and for watercolour, and easy to clean.</div>
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This was just delivered yesterday. I had another one but I stupidly did some heat embossing on the card while it was still on the platform and the rubber mat is now all wavy and I can't get a good stamp image. I "researched" several other brands for replacing it, then settled on this one. I haven't used it yet but will within the next few days, I'm sure. Of course there have been a few other things too. Amazon and a few other delivery services have now become frequent visitors! <i>After all, we have to do our bit to support the economy, don't we? </i></div>
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But seriously, I am using these things. I've made more cards in the last few weeks than in the last few years, I think. I've also been experimenting with a few new techniques. I've discovered a couple of favourite YouTube video demonstrators, like Jennifer McGuire and GinaK. They both do amazing things. I'm learning (not quite there yet) to do blending with Distress inks and Distress Oxide inks. Also to do the watercolour techniques (a Jennifer McGuire revelation). It's fun and a good way to pass the time since we're supposed to be in isolation.</div>
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This one (above) was pretty bog-standard but I did have fun making the butterflies. The patterned paper matched the blue in the stamped image, but it doesn't show up well in the photo. The recipient said she loved it, so that was good! I used my stamping platform to get the two colours on the flowers. I don't know why these stamping platforms weren't invented long ago.....they're a godsend for stampers.</div>
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This one (above) was just a play-around with blending colours. I'd seen some similar cards on Pinterest and was trying to do the same. The main stamp was a bit crooked and I wasn't satisfied with the blended background so it's gone into my "just a prototype" file for now!</div>
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This one I loved. Simple but pretty. I coloured the flowers using Cosmic Shimmers paints. If you're not familiar with them, they come in little round tubs and you just wet your brush, then dip into the tub to get the paint. The colours have a sort of shimmer or metallic quality that's really lovely. I sent this one to a friend who lives alone in an assisted living accommodation and she called to say she loved it. I think sometimes just sending a card for no reason is really uplifting. People usually love to get cards because it lets them know that someone is thinking of them.</div>
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So, that's one of the things I've been doing to keep sane in this crazy time. Plus a few books, lots of time spent looking at Pinterest, and watching mindless television. How about you?</div>
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<br />JaneHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234524661070266136noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141902723247463385.post-54948441411411845202020-03-17T21:22:00.003+00:002020-03-17T21:22:30.765+00:00Every Cloud.....Yes, this COVID-19/Corona virus is a very dark and dense cloud, but even it has a slight silver lining for some of us. Crafters and writers are finding a little extra time to ply their craft. Here in England, the government has asked that anyone with a sniffle, or anyone over 70, or anyone with underlying health issues, does "self-isolation" for up to 12 weeks! Yikes! I doubt that many of us can last that long without going bonkers, but a few weeks will give us a little time to play. Our churches are closed, along with cinemas, pubs, some restaurants, sports clubs, and more.<br />
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As for me, I plan to rediscover some of my supplies and put them to use making cards, perhaps a scrapbook page or two, and also just getting some reading done. I've finally got my craft room sorted enough to do a little work:<br />
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Obviously I still have a long way to go, but considering I went from a large cabin to a smallish bedroom, I feel pretty satisfied.</div>
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Unfortunately, I had to give up my work table as there is no possible way to squeeze it in. However, I found a sort-of-solution: a folding table:</div>
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It's not as large as my work table was, but it's really big enough. When it's not in use, it folds flat and stacks against the wall. It's very sturdy and just the right height. I'll just use it in the middle of the room, which will give me enough room (barely) to get around it to get my supplies out. Hey ho...we make do with what we've got, don't we? I got this from Amazon...as we do!</div>
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Now, to get to work!</div>
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JaneHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234524661070266136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141902723247463385.post-29937026535469452082020-03-11T12:16:00.000+00:002020-03-11T12:16:53.365+00:00New Craft Digs!I really must change that photo in the header...we've just moved and (sob!) I don't have my lovely craft cabin anymore. I've squeezed everything into a bedroom in our new house. It's not all bad, however. I found with the cabin (and British weather) I just went into the cabin less and less. Now that I'm in the house and my computer is here in the craftroom also, I'm spending more time in here. It's been a couple of weeks getting organized (that's "organised" with an "s" for my UK readers) but I'm nearly there. I'll take some photos soon but it's still a work-in-progress at the moment!<br />
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One of the benefits of the move is that in packing and unpacking, I've discovered supplies I'd forgot I had, and some that I still have to scratch my head and wonder what it is and what I have to do with it! Of course, this is about 16-17 years of collecting, so it's no small matter. When I started in card-making, all my supplies fit into a large shoe box. Then I met some wonderful crafting friends (we still meet up monthly after more than 12 years) and we started attending craft shows, sharing tips, feeding each other's craft envy, trying new techniques... and craft supplies just seemed to multiply exponentially. If you're a crafter, you know how that happens.<br />
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So here's a taste of what I've been doing for the move:<br />
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I'm getting there, slowly but surely. It won't be as neat as my old craft cabin but maybe it's as good or better as far as getting me to actually work in it! Please watch this space if you're interested.</div>
<br />JaneHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234524661070266136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141902723247463385.post-3695616212776783492019-05-18T21:36:00.000+01:002019-05-18T21:36:41.797+01:00Create It! Show<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Today I went to the <a href="https://www.createitevents.com/?fbclid=IwAR2iTdReyVxtREUfUrP_lBz3A3mQBWAzMi88_OG_q346GGxHvBLSgvQF2bc" target="_blank"><b>Create It!</b></a> show at Detling. Wow! It was every bit as good as the annual trek to Ally Pally but better parking, less manic crowds, and more reasonable food prices. The prices on the craft supplies were reasonable, too.... no inflation as there is in the other shows. There was nothing missing, either. At Ally Pally, which of course is larger, there are more stands but it's just repetition. I went with two crafting friends and they agreed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I got some new dies and stamps (Honey Doo, Hobby Art, Picture This, JJD Cards, Lavinia Stamps, Pink Ink Designs, and a few others), new papers (Anna Marie Designs and others), and bagged some bargains!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">They're still on tomorrow so if you should read this in time, I highly recommend going. I hope to be posting some images of things I'll make very soon. I took some photos (with permission) of several of the cards on display but don't feel I can post them here as they're not mine and I certainly don't have permission to put them on the Internet. Sorry about that, because they really are beautiful!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Now a little moan. Several months ago I "invested in" (£££) a whole lot of Tim Holtz's Distress Oxide stamps. They're already dried up! I could buy some reinkers, I suppose, but after using them when they were fresh, I'm not inclined to replace them. Honestly, I have a lot (I was a demo) of Stampin' Up pads and they're still nice and juicy, same with a few others (Versafine, Memento, and others). I wonder if anyone else has had the same experience?</span><br />
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JaneHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234524661070266136noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141902723247463385.post-28998014914748452792019-04-17T16:45:00.000+01:002019-04-17T16:45:53.425+01:00Full circle again!Last time I posted I used the title "What's a Year?" -- well now it's nearly TWO years ago! How the time flies ... blah, blah, blah! In the last few years I went from cardmaking to scrapbooking to art journaling to sewing and now I'm back again in cardmaking. A full circle, but I really still dabble in all of them. I'm quite tempted to delete the whole blog and start over but I think I'll give it a little while 'til my chaotic brain settles down.<br />
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Meanwhile, I've made some cards that I'll be posting in a day or two.JaneHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234524661070266136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141902723247463385.post-65154421525202132462017-07-11T14:21:00.002+01:002017-07-11T14:21:51.617+01:00Well, what's a year?A year since I posted last???? What is going on? Well, frankly, not much. Certainly not much to write about!<br />
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This year I've concentrated on sewing, mostly small projects. I've made doll clothes for a granddaughter:<br />
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I've made a few things to wear:</div>
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And lots of odds and ends, but the most recent is a bible cover:</div>
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I could not find a good pattern for this, so I made my own. I needed the pocket on the front to hold my markers (yes, I do often mark in my bible) and some bookmarks. Then I attempted a bread basket, but I'm not at all satisfied with this. It's too shallow and floppy. I'm planning to re-do the corners to make them deeper.</div>
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And the handiest things are my pattern weights. I love them and had fun doing them. They're filled with rice to give them the proper weight.</div>
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So I'm not going to make any grand predictions about posting more often. I thought about quitting altogether because I'm not sure anyone ever reads this blog, but I'll carry on for myself as a record if nothing else. </div>
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<br />JaneHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234524661070266136noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141902723247463385.post-33714378041795914102016-03-21T21:51:00.000+00:002016-03-21T21:51:19.267+00:00Crop Day to Craft Day: an evolutionBack when I was doing papercrafts, my friends and I got together once per month to do scrapbooks, cards, art journals, etc. The group started a year or two before I joined, which was in 2007. So I've been with this wonderful group of women for NINE years now! We lost one member who moved away and another member moved but not so far, so still joins us very occasionally. We're down now to six, which is really a manageable number since we meet in each others' homes.<br />
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The change however is that we no longer do papercrafts. We're all into sewing now: bags, placemats, fabric boxes, mug rugs, wall hangings, or other sewing projects. A couple of us are eager to start sewing clothes, but for now are content to just do our "projects". We're no longer meeting for "crops" (a papercraft term) but now meet for "Craft Day"!<br />
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Someone asked what we take for our Craft Day. I can show you what I take:<br />
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First, of course, is my sewing machine. Currently, it's a Brother Innovis 600, which they don't even make anymore. As far as I can tell, it's almost identical to the Brother Innovis 350SE. I have no plans to upgrade at the moment as I really love my 600.<br />
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The husband of one of my crafter buddies said we look like the sewing room in the show "Mr. Selfridge" when we all start sewing on our machines! That or some kind of backstreet sweatshop, I suppose. And we all use different machines!<br />
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Then of course, we all bring our various "tools of the trade". Some of us use an assortment of bags, but I have a plastic storage caddy. I leave my supplies in it all the time, even when working at home. That way I know where everything is and don't have to go rifling through drawers and boxes to find something.... just pick it up and go. The photos are in reverse order: bottom layer to top layer.<br />
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The contents of the bottom tray change, depending on the project at hand. For example, for the last craft day I made something out of Debbie Shore's "Sew Inspired" magazine. I cut the fabric out before I went, so that saved time and space.<br />
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The second (middle) tray always holds my scissors, rotary cutters, bobbin case,<br />
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fabric clips, and various other odds and ends. These are too large or too odd-shaped to go into the top tray. It may look a little chaotic, but I know exactly what I have.<br />
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The top tray has movable compartments. I keep small items in here, sorted by the type of item. For example, all machine needles are together, tape measures, etc.<br />
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The only problem with the plastic caddy is that the little snaps break very easily. Mine have broken in a couple of places, so I have to be very careful when all three trays are snapped together and I need to carry it. I can replace or add to the trays, although they aren't particularly cheap!<br />
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It looks like this when it's all ready to transport:<br />
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I usually have to also carry a tote bag for large items, such as a very long ruler, a bag of poly stuffing, magazines/books, and my lunch. I think everyone ought to have some friends to craft with. We learn so much from each other and get so much help from each other, too. To see what kinds of projects we do, you can scroll back through this blog. I haven't put everything here but a good sample.<br />
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I would love to hear how you craft: where, when, with whom, and with what kinds of tools. Please leave some comments if you want to share. Thanks.<br />
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<br />JaneHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234524661070266136noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141902723247463385.post-86940979091256991622016-02-01T10:15:00.000+00:002016-02-01T10:15:04.360+00:00Some changes.....You may notice some changes. I kept the blog address but now want to rename my blog as Scrappy Crafts, because ... well... I just like it better. The thing about "scrappy" is that it applies to paper (scrapbooks, cards made with scraps of paper and whatever else) as well as scraps of fabric (patchwork, quilting, and more).<br />
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I've also changed the background to a patchwork theme, but that will change over time, too.<br />
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And in keeping with the them of "change", I've reorganized (yes, I'm doing American spelling...it's easier for me) my craft room (a cabin actually). I took out the long table in the middle of the room so I now have room to move around.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sewing section is enlarged and stamping section reduced now.</td></tr>
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The area to the left is all sewing now. Even the first column in the white Ikea sections is all sewing. A few months ago a man contacted me with a request to take his late mother's craft supplies and distribute them to my local Women's Institute. I had a whole estate-car full of boxes and bags, which I took to our WI meeting and offered them for free. Few takers, however, so I had about half left. Some things went to a charity shop and I kept some. Most of her things were for sewing: boxes of lace, buttons, ribbons, remnants, etc. Then of course, I've been adding "a few things" here and there as well, so now have quite a stash.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My sewing work center (machine is under the dust cover)</td></tr>
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Sewing is still my primary craft now. Although I belong to a Facebook group called UK Quilters, my quilting is really more small projects and patchwork, such as the sewing machine cover and tidy-mat, along with the wall hanging shown here.<br />
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In the process of the reorg, I gave away tons of stamps, patterned paper, embellishments, ink pads, and more. As I went through things, however, it awakened a little spark of enthusiasm to get back into some of my papercrafting, so I'm glad I didn't just chuck it all out. I still have all my Stampin' Up stamps, a good bit of paper, and a few ink pads and art supplies.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still a few stamps, inks, dies, etc. left to play with!</td></tr>
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So, the crafting bug still lives and so does my blog, for now. Although I didn't get any comments after my last post, according to the statistics there were lots of views. For that reason, I'll carry on for a little longer.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's not yellow...the sun was shining in the window and the light was on!</td></tr>
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I even have a nice comfy rocking chair in my room now! I can sit and read my craft books and magazines undisturbed with a cup of coffee!JaneHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234524661070266136noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141902723247463385.post-68703369617214270642015-12-16T16:30:00.001+00:002015-12-16T16:30:07.548+00:00Catch Up for 2015I'm afraid this little blog has been sorely neglected, but I'm wondering if anyone would miss it if it went away....if you would, then please leave a comment. Otherwise it's on the way out....forever.<br />
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Blogs are strange things. For awhile they were really fun ways for everyone to keep up to date with friends and their "doings". It seemed especially great for crafters to share projects, for photographers to showcase photos, cooks to offer recipes, etc. but now it's become a really big business and I'm afraid that we mere amateurs are a dying breed. Some enterprising individuals are even making a living being a blogger! That may work for some, but it's very time-consuming to keep fresh and to blog often, that is unless it really IS a full-time occupation. For those kinds of blogs, you get company endorsements, free products to try, and lots of feedback. It hasn't worked that way for me, but because I simply don't have the time to devote to it.<br />
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Here's what I've been up to since the last post. First I made a sewing machine cover to match my "sewing tidy". I didn't have a pattern, I just measured my machine, then threw myself into it. I'm happy with the way it turned out.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-urgu7tZZy88/VnGH3_fFtBI/AAAAAAAAE_E/l31LzkldK5g/s1600/dustcover1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-urgu7tZZy88/VnGH3_fFtBI/AAAAAAAAE_E/l31LzkldK5g/s400/dustcover1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I used some scraps of the same fabric as the sewing tidy (shown here with the machine sitting on it) and plain muslin (or calico). </div>
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I wasn't really satisfied with it until I ran a top stitch around the top, however, as it needed more "definition". Now it seems to sit better.</div>
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Next is a patchwork tote bag. I didn't really have a pattern for this either, but followed (loosely) a video on YouTube from the Missouri Quilt Company and Crafty Gemini. The first photo is the front, the second is the back.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FuI46aqbzjM/VnGJleHSGEI/AAAAAAAAE_Y/k8ZNldGAZxQ/s1600/20151019_172247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FuI46aqbzjM/VnGJleHSGEI/AAAAAAAAE_Y/k8ZNldGAZxQ/s400/20151019_172247.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fzDoerK82aE/VnGJlh1eCUI/AAAAAAAAE_c/HkZRaZexaRo/s1600/20151019_172337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fzDoerK82aE/VnGJlh1eCUI/AAAAAAAAE_c/HkZRaZexaRo/s400/20151019_172337.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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The bag is made from less than a half-jelly-roll and a base of Bosal-In-R-Form Plus, a kind of fusible foam fabric. It keeps its shape almost perfectly so it's perfect for making bags and anything with a shape. It's really easy to use but I found it a little fiddly due to the fusible feature. It's too easy to get it wrinkled. You could make covers for iPads, laptops, smartphones, etc. and the video is very easy to follow.<br />
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Next I made a little fabric box for trinkets, pins, cotton balls, jewelry, or whatever you need it for.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8BGvz2Fg90Q/VnGMFCGWXaI/AAAAAAAAE_s/K0OKtGV9q1M/s1600/20151122_135103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8BGvz2Fg90Q/VnGMFCGWXaI/AAAAAAAAE_s/K0OKtGV9q1M/s400/20151122_135103.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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These also are easy-peasy. They're made from two 10" square pieces of fabric and a little wadding (UK) or batting (USA). I found this tutorial online also, at <a href="http://seaside-stitches.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/fabric-box-tutorial.html">http://seaside-stitches.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/fabric-box-tutorial.html</a>. I made a different one for each of my craft group friends for our Christmas meeting.<br />
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For crafty things, that about sums it up. I had some foot surgery that has really knocked me back about two months...and counting. I'm looking forward to a new year for 2016. I just want life to get back to normal.<br />
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For anyone reading this, I hope you have a wonderful and happy Christmas and a great new year. I don't think I'll keep the blog open unless I hear from someone, anyone, so I know it's being read.<br />
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<br />JaneHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234524661070266136noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141902723247463385.post-20185041561199277752015-08-25T15:48:00.000+01:002015-08-25T15:54:19.628+01:00Little thingsI've decided I may never make a full-sized quilt. It's not that I've decided consciously to not attempt it, but I just find I love doing small projects far more.<br />
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First, as an update from my last post, I've abandoned the quilt-along group. They are doing absolutely beautiful work but I fell flat on my face with the first block. First attempt was a disaster.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YEjUpU2pCjI/Vdx2Ly7nZlI/AAAAAAAAE50/_25hTwKIXwM/s1600/20150805_181757.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YEjUpU2pCjI/Vdx2Ly7nZlI/AAAAAAAAE50/_25hTwKIXwM/s400/20150805_181757.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First attempt at "Addie" block</td></tr>
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You can see from the lower panel that already it's out of sync....the triangles don't match the same way. Believe me it got much worse than this..... so I started over. This time I made certain that all my pieces were accurately and uniformly cut, then I laid them out before sewing just to orient myself as to what goes where.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gYIeDDjx1tg/Vdx3gVBrXTI/AAAAAAAAE58/xEHW95u3CN8/s1600/Addie%2Bproblems3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gYIeDDjx1tg/Vdx3gVBrXTI/AAAAAAAAE58/xEHW95u3CN8/s400/Addie%2Bproblems3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Second attempt at "Addie" with different fabrics.</td></tr>
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So far, so good. But when I actually sewed it, it was as much a disaster as the first one! I love the book, <i>The Farmer's Wife 1930 Quilt Sampler</i> and the writing, but <i><b>IF</b></i> I ever try one again, then next time I'll pick an easier block! </div>
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My mug rugs, however (see previous blog entry) turned out very well. No pattern-- I just winged it.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lWUCZ0QPu5Q/Vdx3_89H33I/AAAAAAAAE6M/-7Mkyd3hSig/s1600/cat%2Bmugs1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lWUCZ0QPu5Q/Vdx3_89H33I/AAAAAAAAE6M/-7Mkyd3hSig/s400/cat%2Bmugs1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Four mug rugs finished with burgundy backs</td></tr>
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They were fun to make and not at all fussy or difficult. It probably was too easy and I chose the lazy option, but at least they're done now. First I used some heat bondable material to bond the cat silhouette to the front piece. Then I sewed a blanket stitch around the silhouette with my machine. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KBa4tHquzLY/Vdx3_oer5DI/AAAAAAAAE6I/YvjhAqbILC0/s1600/cat%2Bmugs2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KBa4tHquzLY/Vdx3_oer5DI/AAAAAAAAE6I/YvjhAqbILC0/s400/cat%2Bmugs2.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The blanket stitch on my machine</td></tr>
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Once that was done, I assembled the sandwich, using a fairly lightweight batting. After I turned the back lining inside out, I ran some quilt lines from top to bottom. If I made more mug rugs I think I would also have run horizontal lines and perhaps a contrasting binding, but for these I decided this was enough.</div>
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One more little thing is the new magazine, <i>Simply Moderne</i>. I just happened across it at WH Smith's and fell in love with some of the quilts, described as "modern" quilts, and other projects. No blocks or at least not many, lots of applique and just very different. This is the first ever issue so I'm looking forward to the second one. It's published by the same publisher as the magazine <i>Quiltmania</i>. This issue had articles about USA quilters and shops, but I suspect that this will change as it is geared toward UK readers. If you go to their <a href="http://www.quiltmania.com/simply-moderne-magazine-gb.html" target="_blank">website</a>, you can browse some of the pages electronically. The magazine is a bit pricey at £11.99 but it's 128 pages where other quilt magazines are only 98 pages.</div>
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And the last little thing is that I went to a local quilt show here in Whitstable and met the nicest women, I believe most were from Abbey Patchers and Thanet Quilters. There were some lovely quilts on display, at least three different trader tables (I think I bought something from each of them!) and a tombola. I won the tombola (TWO prizes!)<i> for the first time in my life </i>-- two beautiful patchwork cushions.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V4N4fh8GQ6Q/Vdx_XEufkWI/AAAAAAAAE6c/Qskh6y216Xk/s1600/IMG_0604.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V4N4fh8GQ6Q/Vdx_XEufkWI/AAAAAAAAE6c/Qskh6y216Xk/s400/IMG_0604.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My tombola prizes</td></tr>
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Here are a few quilts that caught my eye, though they were all beautiful:</div>
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There is another quilt show in Deal, Kent this weekend. I hope to go to that one, too.</div>
JaneHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234524661070266136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141902723247463385.post-49936805697967149982015-07-30T14:46:00.001+01:002015-07-30T14:46:41.460+01:00Pitter PatcherA little of this, a little of that, a lot of nothing, really! My head is absolutely FULL of ideas these days, but as usual there's little action. I managed to cut out some mug rugs. No pattern for these, just playing with them, so far.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jAZgvUBBUck/VboksOVBx-I/AAAAAAAAE3Y/MjRPlNiaSrw/s1600/IMG_0472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" exify_intitialized="true" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jAZgvUBBUck/VboksOVBx-I/AAAAAAAAE3Y/MjRPlNiaSrw/s400/IMG_0472.JPG" width="400" /> </a></div>
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For the cat silhouette, I cut out triangles, then drew (free-hand) and cut the heads and tails. The plan is to use fusible webbing to attach them to the mug rug, then quilt (the wadding is cut to the size of the mug rug), then bind with the red fabric at the top of the photo. </div>
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Two more projects already in the pile are a sewing machine cover and a bread basket. Oh, and my In-R-Form Plus arrived from the U.S. so I'll also be making the tote bag <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHwcEzyjfn0&autoplay=1&app=desktop" target="_blank">shown here</a> with my jelly roll. See what I mean about no lack of projects?!</div>
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On top of that, I just joined a quilt group online. It's at <a href="http://www.quiltingboard.com/forum.php" target="_blank">The Quilting Board</a> in the "Blocks of the Month" sub-forum. We're using a book titled <i>The Farmer's Wife 1930s Quilt Sampler</i>, which just arrived this morning from Amazon. It has instructions and a CD for making 99 blocks for a quilt. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jmKgw0m1P7U/VbonjLoc_-I/AAAAAAAAE3o/2lEgHbpCSkY/s1600/IMG_0559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" exify_intitialized="true" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jmKgw0m1P7U/VbonjLoc_-I/AAAAAAAAE3o/2lEgHbpCSkY/s400/IMG_0559.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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I've wanted to tackle a full-size quilt for some time, but all the ones I see are just plain intimidating. Beautiful, but involves lots of coordinated fabrics and skills that are probably a bit beyond me. These blocks are only 6" square and seem do-able. The finished quilt will look similar to the one on the front of the book and are obviously just made from scraps, not necessarily coordinated fabrics. The project begins 4 August, so I'm away and running.<br />
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I really wanted to go to the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham in August, but after our holiday in Wales last week, I've decided it's too far and I'm frankly too much of a newbie to get enough out of it. Maybe next year... and I hope that by then my knees and ankles will be better. Our Wales holiday has just about put me out of commission and into a wheelchair. Our cottage was unbelievably uncomfortable and full of steep stairs, suitable for a mountain goat.<br />
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So watch this space for some updates on my projects.JaneHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234524661070266136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141902723247463385.post-35374761054020541282015-06-20T14:35:00.002+01:002015-06-20T14:39:59.729+01:00A Bit of a PanelAs the reorg of my craft cabin continues, I've still managed to do a bit of sewing. In January at the Make-It Show in Farnborough, I bought a panel for my sewing area. <br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qtEOyaNeMik/VYVoRz-bKNI/AAAAAAAAEzw/Nn2vNdSXkK4/s1600/IMG_0467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" exify_intitialized="true" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qtEOyaNeMik/VYVoRz-bKNI/AAAAAAAAEzw/Nn2vNdSXkK4/s400/IMG_0467.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
I wasn't sure if I would cut it up and make cushions or use the cut
pieces as appliques for tote bags, etc. but in the end I decided to
leave it whole and quilt it. Well, quilting is probably a rather loose
term here, but that's what *I* would call it.<br />
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This is just propped against the bookcase but it will be hung on the wall. Here's how I did it:<br />
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First, I tacked on some wadding (UK)/batting (USA), then I machine stitched around each panel. So far, so good. Then I attached a solid colour piece as the back, but realized it would look much better if I stitched around some of the elements within the panels. Doh! Unless I took the back off, there was no way to do that. Instead I hand-stitched some of the bigger bits without catching the back. That was a little tricky and I soon decided I'd had enough of that, so not all of the panels have hand-stitching.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kwMEOXgbOcg/VYVoRZZblhI/AAAAAAAAEzs/prsj2oMVW-o/s1600/sewpanel1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" exify_intitialized="true" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kwMEOXgbOcg/VYVoRZZblhI/AAAAAAAAEzs/prsj2oMVW-o/s320/sewpanel1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I'm lazy, I suppose, but it was my first attempt and now I <i><b>know</b></i> what to do for the next panel project. I have a Christmas panel I bought a couple of years ago that I'm going to do this year. But here's what I've learned:<br />
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1) To make the sandwich first: panel, wadding, and a plain muslin or cotton backing.<br />
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2) Once the panel sandwich is done, THEN start stitching. Machine stitch as much as possible, then hand stitch.<br />
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3) Once ALL the stitching is done, then attach the back fabric.<br />
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That way, the inside cotton/muslin holds it together better. It doesn't matter that stitching shows on this back as it will all be covered by the back fabric.<br />
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So, I've managed to get rid of a lot of magazines but still have a few boxes of scrapbooking and card making stash to go, including lots of stamps. The problem is that my local craft friends have also gone away from scrapbooking and cardmaking to sewing, so no takers there! I need to have a garage sale, I think. I'm sure that as soon as do, however, I'll decide to scrapbook again.<br />
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Meanwhile, I think I'd like to find a local quilting, applique, or patchwork class. I'm looking at the residence-type courses at Denman College (the Women's Institute college), but they're expensive. None of the local fabric shops (there are only a couple of them anyway) offer courses and I don't have the time to do the 10-week courses offered by the Kent County Council. Ah well....!<br />
<br />JaneHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234524661070266136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141902723247463385.post-76018662843478157452015-06-02T13:24:00.003+01:002023-04-01T12:30:17.107+01:00Odds and EndsI didn't realize that it's almost been a month since the last post! Honestly, I have NOT been just twiddling my thumbs. Just after my last post we went on a short visit to the Black Forest in Germany. It was gorgeous and the people were just so warm and friendly. I didn't want to leave.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AzIzKOjAnPs/VW2bOMpVSjI/AAAAAAAAEyY/gMAn1JMuqAg/s1600/Stockmatt1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AzIzKOjAnPs/VW2bOMpVSjI/AAAAAAAAEyY/gMAn1JMuqAg/s400/Stockmatt1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the house where we stayed in Stockmatt.</td></tr>
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Since, I've been back, however, I've actually been doing a little sewing and a <i><b>lot</b></i> of organizing and clearing out. I got rid of most all my scrapbooking and cardmaking magazines, some of which were really dear to me (and expensive, like the Somerset Studio, Stampington, and vintage scrapbooking ones that no longer publish). There were stacks of them, but I advertised them on Streetlife.com and someone has given them a very good home. I need to clear out a lot of my supplies, too, but can't bring myself to do much of that just yet. I keep thinking that maybe, just perhaps, just someday, I might want to use a stamp, a Tim Holtz die, a scrapbook paper, etc. You never know...and I'd sure hate to have to replace something I'd given away!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just one of several piles of magazines!</td></tr>
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So my sewing pile is growing. I haven't bought any new fabric, but just found some Butterick patterns for half price and couldn't resist that!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My just-received goodies from Weaver Dee</td></tr>
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One of my latest sewing projects has been a tote bag. I love the fabric and the bag is certainly usable, but I wouldn't want anyone to look too closely at the construction. I still haven't mastered a STRAIGHT seam. Mine wobble all over the place. And for this bag, I followed a free online tutorial but I think I misread the instructions as the shape and size is nothing like the bag in the tutorial! Oh well, as my friend Hazel always says: "It's a prototype!" Next time I'll do it differently.<br />
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Actually a bag is the last thing I need since I have about a dozen purchased and freebies, but I just wanted to make one myself. I found this gorgeous fabric -- it's heavy and bag-perfect, though it frays like crazy.<br />
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Good news: My overlocker (USA "serger") is now out of its box. I bought it at a craft show in February 2012 and just this week opened the box! After reading about the threading problems, I was scared stiff to use it. <br />
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Silly me....choke! The truth is, I still haven't used it! I have, however, signed up for an online overlocker/serger course on Craftsy, but haven't had time to start that yet, either.<br />
<br />JaneHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234524661070266136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141902723247463385.post-47467539978155232742015-05-09T21:12:00.000+01:002015-05-09T21:13:28.104+01:00Sew very tidyI'm so happy. I actually made something without a pattern! My crafting friends made these "sewing tidy mats" and I have to admit at first I wasn't too sure I'd want one. Theirs were beautiful, but it's not something I ever felt I needed.... until now. All my sewing supplies are in my wonderful Prym snap-on trays, which I love, but it meant opening them up every time I wanted something out of a tray. So I started looking on the Internet for a pattern. I found LOTS of pictures but no patterns except about two that looked incredibly complicated, so I just thought about it for awhile, then did some measurements, then boldly started cutting out. Here's what I ended up with:<br />
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I've had this sewing-themed fabric forever but never knew quite what to do with it and this seemed like the perfect project. It's a bright cotton, same fabric front and back and a layer of wadding in between. In case you haven't seen these, there are lots on Pinterest but few have any kind of dimensions or instructions, so I did my own thing. It turned out fine, but if I had to make another one, I'd measure better (especially the wadding or stuffing) and I'd be much more careful when sewing it. If someone looked at this one closely they'd find all kinds of craziness. The bottom line, however, is that it works:</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6NgxZGHR-Ro/VU5kbz9DeyI/AAAAAAAAEwE/AlF9GB6DtMU/s1600/mat1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6NgxZGHR-Ro/VU5kbz9DeyI/AAAAAAAAEwE/AlF9GB6DtMU/s400/mat1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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And here's a hint... I wanted somewhere to put bent pins, broken needles, or small items like buttons, snaps, etc. and didn't want to just drop them into one of the pockets. So I took a plastic cup and stuck it into the pocket. That way, when I'm finished, I can pull out the cup and dispose safely of the pins and needles or find easily the small buttons, etc. It looks like this:</div>
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Of course, inevitably, my sewing room is now a mess! I sew in my little garden cabin but there's NEVER enough room, even if I sewed in a palace. </div>
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I still have my blouse to sew. It's cut out but I can't find the kind of lace I want. I've bought some blue ribbon and green ribbon, but neither are "just right"!</div>
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This is the fabric and the trims I've found. Below is the blouse I'm making with it all. Sigh.... the world moves on!<br />
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<br />JaneHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234524661070266136noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141902723247463385.post-32300164358840228052015-04-21T15:38:00.001+01:002015-04-21T15:38:06.170+01:00A Little Something<p>Once again, like the pincushion, I have a (very) little project. This one is a case for my iPod Touch. First, a little background: for some time I’ve been searching everywhere for a case that also has storage for the headphones. What good is an iPod case without headphones, after all?! But nowhere could I find anything suitable.Someone suggested I make one, so off I went in search of a pattern (first mistake). I always think I can’t do anything without a pattern….. anyway, I found a very promising project on YouTube so I followed the instructions for that, thinking it wouldn’t be too far off (second mistake). It looked easy enough also. Well, it was easy, but the finished product was too wide and not long enough to be perfect, but then perfection has never been my “thing” anyway.</p> <p>So I cut it out from some fabric I’d been hoarding, bought the fusible fleece for a lining (a bit too heavyweight, but useable), and took it to our monthly craft get-together. I’ve mentioned our group many times in past posts. We used to be scrapbookers and cardmakers, but now ALL of us bring our sewing machines and have a right old-fashioned “sewing bee”. Here’s my finished case:</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7g1enfY7StQ/VTZgyUU5KUI/AAAAAAAAEvE/kjQxm08nnKA/s1600-h/IMG_0282%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0282" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="IMG_0282" src="http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-r739T_cVGyw/VTZgzLdhxeI/AAAAAAAAEvI/CvZLFKjoa7M/IMG_0282_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="446" height="340"></a> </p> <p>As you can see, I barely got my iPod into the case and it’s much too wide. I think I may attempt another one, as this WAS basically easy, but I’ll narrow it and lengthen it. I also changed the strap to close on the same side as the earphone pocket. It just makes more sense to me.</p> <p>On the day of our “bee”, we all went to visit a new shop in Birchington called <a href="http://www.daisybudsfabrics.co.uk/" target="_blank">Daisy Buds</a>. If you’re local, they’re well worth checking out! Most of their stock is for quilters, as it’s colourful cottons and cotton blends, but it’s such good quality that it will make fine tops for summer. If I had a little girl to sew for, I could make LOTS of pretty little cotton dresses and playsuits, too. They also carry patterns (Simplicity, McCall’s, and New Look) and lots of pretty ribbons and trims. The prices are reasonable, so I did buy a couple metres of some gorgeous red print for making a peasant top.</p> <p>I now have plenty of patterns, plenty of fabric, plenty of supplies and tools, so just now need to find plenty of TIME to get it done. I’m not going to go overboard too quickly, however, as I’m still struggling with Slimming World to lose more weight.</p> <p>Speaking of <a href="http://www.slimmingworld.com" target="_blank">Slimming World</a>, I just this morning got the newest cookbook, “Mediterranean Magic” and it looks like the best one yet:</p> <p><img alt="Slimming World's Mediterranean Magic" src="http://images.slimmingworld.com/bookshop/book-large/SPLB-278.jpg" width="539" height="307"></p> <p>I love the food of Italy, Greece, Turkey, Morocco, and the Middle East in general. This cookbook has ALL my favourites: spanokopita, stifado, moussaka (all from Greece); lamb stew with aubergine, baba ghanoush (aubergine dip), falafel with houmus (all from Turkey and the Middle East), as well as lots of others. I’m now all enthused about Slimming World again! </p> JaneHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234524661070266136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141902723247463385.post-69702775215993703812015-04-14T22:42:00.000+01:002015-04-14T22:42:00.335+01:00New FriendThis is a quick post, just to introduce my new friend, Rosie! She arrived in a box with a label that said "New Rose" (her model name) so that's why I named her Rosie.<br />
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I've never had a dress form before but there have been more than a few occasions when I could definitely have used one! She has lots of dials so I can adjust her measurements in several ways, including around (bust, waist, hips) but also the length from back to waist, etc.<br />
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She's covered in a nice soft foam with a beautiful rose print (see photo below).<br />
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She also has a hem measuring thing. I haven't actually used her yet but have big plans! I have the patterns, the fabric, the thread, the sewing space, etc. but now just need to find the TIME! Sewing is not something I can do in short blocks of time (10 minutes here, 20 minutes there...). I need a whole morning or whole afternoon, or better yet a whole DAY!<br />
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And speaking of days, the past week has been the most beautiful ever. Today was warm, sunny, and only a light breeze. I threw open the door to the cabin, even a window, and turned up the CD player. It was heavenly! I know it won't last but it's great while it does.<br />
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We're also having much longer daylight hours now, which helps my mood considerably. I have more energy and feel much more positive. I never realized before how much the deep, dark winter months affect my mood. Onwards and upwards now!JaneHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234524661070266136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141902723247463385.post-56924193730167376112015-03-30T17:24:00.001+01:002015-03-30T17:24:11.400+01:00A Craft Space<p>Although I mentioned in the last post that I would do a video of my craft cabin, I just haven’t had time to do it. So, I thought I’d post a couple of recent photos instead.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-olxTcVYRPwE/VRl4pPNVVdI/AAAAAAAAEsw/Q7uBO9_yJy4/s1600-h/IMG_0236%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="IMG_0236" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-right: 0px" border="0" alt="IMG_0236" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/-LMsNwrn29KE/VRl4prKg2YI/AAAAAAAAEs4/2Dd6gFYlsXA/IMG_0236_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="364" align="left" height="484"></a> </p> <p></p> <p>This is my newest corner. I’m “transitioning” it into a sewing area. This photo was taken last week and I’m still making changes.</p> <p>On the top shelf are my patterns. I’ve now put them all in order by maker (Butterick, Simplicity, etc) and then pattern number. I’ve made a Pattern Record, which is a word document that lists all my patterns and the yardages required. I can take that with me when I shop for fabric and/or patterns to avoid duplication.</p> <p>On the third shelf I have my fat quarters and smaller yardages. Below those I have the fabric waiting to be made into clothing.</p> <p>The bottom shelf is for sewing books and magazines. I just got the newest book from the Great British Sewing Bee, called “Fashion with Fabric” and it came with two metres of beautiful fabric and all full-size patterns. Yum!</p> <p>Saturday I did the most exciting thing! I ordered a dress form. Now there’s no excuse not to get cracking! I’ve got the patterns, the fabric, the machine, the overlocker, and lots of bits that I probably DON’T need, so I’m going to cut out a blouse first. </p> <p>I still have a paper pattern ready to cut some fabric to make a case that I found online for my iPod touch. But because that’s a small project, I’m planning to cut it out and then take it to our next crop-turned-sewing bee.</p> <p><a href="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-BXlkM_MWpA8/VRl4qEapyFI/AAAAAAAAEtA/gBu0ambQGgg/s1600-h/20150207_125949%25255B7%25255D.jpg"><img title="20150207_125949" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline" border="0" alt="20150207_125949" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-hYM5rFWne-Y/VRl4qqbW_II/AAAAAAAAEtE/wvWWk2YO6fY/20150207_125949_thumb%25255B5%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="460" height="349"></a> </p> <p>The other side of the room is basically unchanged. It’s still my scrapbooking, card making, stamping, and die cutting areas. I am finding however, that a lot of my old stash is easily transitioned to my sewing. For example, all my buttons, ribbons, and fibres that I used for card making can also be used to make lots of fabric embellishments. Many of my dies can cut fabric, too, which makes them useful for applique. [Oh, and it drives me crazy on the Create and Craft TV channel when they say a-<strong><em>PLEE</em></strong>-kay instead of -- I looked up the correct pronunciation just to be sure -- <strong><em>APP</em></strong>-li-kay.]</p> <p>So now I have to put together my dress form. It’s still in a HUGE box, so I have no idea what’s ahead! I’ll post a photo when I get her up and ready to greet the public.</p> JaneHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234524661070266136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141902723247463385.post-89645532027718742042015-03-29T20:10:00.001+01:002015-03-29T20:10:02.141+01:00All about Time<p>Wow.... it's Sunday afternoon and I just had a much-needed little nap in the recliner. So many thoughts are running around in my head today......... mostly about time. <p>First, we changed the clocks today. We're now on "British Summer Time". I spoke to my son in Texas last night and he said they'd changed already to "Daylight Savings Time". I just find this absurd... why change at all? Or just leave it as "new time" and we "save" daylight all year round?! <p>Anyway, the "Style" magazine in the Sunday Times today is all about bringing back the fashions of the 1970s. More time distortion, IMHO! I can't say I look back at the 70s with any fondness. Not the fashions, not the culture, not the music (well, except for the Bee Gees perhaps), and certainly not my life in that decade. I started out as a married woman and had my second child in 1972. By the end of the decade, I'd just about lost my way.... divorced, went halfway around the world to live and work, and barely knew who I was anymore. Maybe a little nostalgia is okay but I certainly wouldn't want to revisit it! Big hair, wild fashions and colors in both clothing and home decor (who would want "avocado green" and "harvest gold" kitchens and bathrooms, deep orange shag rugs, macrame plant hangers, and ugly furniture?), a winding down of a horrible chapter in history called "the Vietnam War", and a feminist movement that derailed many of us. Not me, thank you..... <p>Yet, if you look at the sewing patterns now available, there is a real push for nostalgia there, too, called "Vintage" fashions. How funny! I remember making some of these when I was a teen-ager. The full skirts (and teeny-tiny waists) were actually popular in the late 1960s. <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-jCfg5x8400Y/VRhN_T_EWyI/AAAAAAAAEq4/70k-oXrjh8U/s1600-h/3997my22%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="3997my22" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-right: 0px" border="0" alt="3997my22" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-5JsexTbuXSA/VRhN__S6DWI/AAAAAAAAErA/htQE0u7xZ7Q/3997my22_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="174" align="left" height="244"></a> <p>One of my best friends (about 1961) in school was Evelyn Hildreth. We were just babes of course! Her mom sewed for all Evelyn’s brothers and sisters (and there were many, I seem to remember). I’m sure she made this one or one just about like it for Evelyn. <p>I had a white dress with a full skirt and tiny straps and I thought I was just the “bees knees” in that dress, especially as I was always nice and tan in the summer. I can tell you, however, that our waists were NEVER quite THAT tiny! <p> <p> <p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-wDcbKHbnXFw/VRhOAU_8u0I/AAAAAAAAErI/C3BcFuLHL5Y/s1600-h/confused%252520s7009%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="confused s7009" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-right: 0px" border="0" alt="confused s7009" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/-OZKra32yfZY/VRhOBB0guXI/AAAAAAAAErQ/ORJHnfGPR9Y/confused%252520s7009_thumb%25255B1%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="244" align="left" height="244"></a> The "shift" dresses (short, shapeless, simple to sew) were also popular in the late 1960s to the early 1970s. I'm sure I had some dresses made exactly like these in high school. <p>I read today that Simplicity pattern company has invested $1.2million in some machinery that reproduces and remaps these old patterns, and they’re now re-issuing them under the “Vintage” label. You can find patterns all the way back to the early 1900s. <p>But the prices have changed. Look at the Vintage ad below. The price has increased from 15 cents to 15 dollars, a one-hundred times increase! <p> <p><a href="http://lh6.ggpht.com/-HCJCcIKeT5E/VRhOBmejbTI/AAAAAAAAErY/YTsanLCDkKE/s1600-h/vintage1920s%25255B4%25255D.jpg"><img title="vintage1920s" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; margin-right: 0px" border="0" alt="vintage1920s" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/-daD5ruhQWdg/VRhOCBLGe6I/AAAAAAAAErc/CgKx1QbZhNw/vintage1920s_thumb%25255B2%25255D.jpg?imgmax=800" width="329" align="left" height="244"></a> I do think, however, that these 1920s dresses are among my favorites. They look so feminine. Unfortunately they didn't have the wash-and-wear fabrics we have today, so everything had to be handwashed unless it was plain cotton, with lots of ironing. No thanks to that malarkey either! <p>So time marches on, then. And here I am, after all these years back into sewing again. <p>Tomorrow I’m going to post a video of my craft room since it’s been reorganized since the last one. <p><em>Oh, and sorry about all the US spellings: organize/organise, favorite/favourite, etc. I do know better, but it’s just easier and I have visitors from both sides of the pond.</em> JaneHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234524661070266136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141902723247463385.post-81845292110501620602015-03-23T11:15:00.001+00:002015-03-23T11:15:45.276+00:00Tisket a-Tasket and A Pink Craft BasketAs a member of our local South Street WI, I volunteered to make a basket to sell at the Annual Conference Meeting this week. All the WIs in East Kent will descend upon Margate for a day of WI business, a little entertainment, and a keynote talk by Michael Portillo, the journalist. I'm really looking forward to it.<br />
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The baskets can be for any theme, so of course I chose crafts. Last time I bought a beautiful little basket of sewing goodies, which I then gave to the woman who looks after our dog when we're away. At that time I wasn't into sewing so much. Now I'm not into papercrafts so much, so I just pulled from my own stash to fill this basket:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GRxZmAu-Td8/VQ_0F8KPz8I/AAAAAAAAEqc/6lpEzNsTd9I/s1600/IMG_0230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GRxZmAu-Td8/VQ_0F8KPz8I/AAAAAAAAEqc/6lpEzNsTd9I/s1600/IMG_0230.JPG" exify_intitialized="true" height="300" width="400" /> </a></div>
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I loaded it with stamps, stamp pads, embossing powder, punches, packs of card blanks, and lots more. Sadly it didn't even make a dent in my stash collection! Even so, at £10 it will be a bargain to someone who does cardmaking or scrapbooking. Even the basket itself cost £4 and there is easily £50 worth of supplies. </div>
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To finish it, I tied a pink ribbon around the basket, wrapped in cellophane, then tied a pink netting ribbon on top. I think it turned out pretty festive looking:</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FGeaVlB_lbc/VQ_0MoD3Y4I/AAAAAAAAEqk/ayiGj__mM28/s1600/IMG_0232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FGeaVlB_lbc/VQ_0MoD3Y4I/AAAAAAAAEqk/ayiGj__mM28/s1600/IMG_0232.JPG" exify_intitialized="true" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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I just hope that someone else will find it attractive as it's a fund-raising effort for the East Kent Federation of the WI. Who knows, I might find another sewing basket for myself, only this time I'd probably be selfish and keep it!JaneHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234524661070266136noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2141902723247463385.post-73355494573524734042015-03-20T17:01:00.003+00:002015-03-20T17:01:34.897+00:00Organizing for Sewing<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I'm slowly (well, maybe not so slowly) getting organized now for my sewing projects. I've got my fabric all lined up and ready. I've organized all my patterns by manufacturer, then by pattern number, and my sewing space is taking over my papercraft space. Of course, I still have a lot of "weeding out" to do of the old crafts, but it's progressing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My latest acquisition is a sewing box. I spent HOURS looking online for a good sewing box that I could store most of my supplies in, but yet still take along to our sewing meetings. Everything I found was either too small, too big, or too expensive (DH is beginning to get nervous now about all my purchases!), but then I found this:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L2GAO5cwh1c/VQxNvhoybvI/AAAAAAAAEpc/a67RHp8PRFA/s1600/Prym%2Bjumbo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L2GAO5cwh1c/VQxNvhoybvI/AAAAAAAAEpc/a67RHp8PRFA/s1600/Prym%2Bjumbo.jpg" exify_intitialized="true" height="323" width="400" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> It's called a Prym Jumbo Click Box and it surely IS "jumbo", but very lightweight and I think it's going to be just right. It came with the two boxes (7 liters each) and a lid. I've also ordered an extra box, which will be here next week. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The plan is to use the top box for small supplies. I ordered a divider insert for that top box and have now put all my small supplies in there: needles, thimble, tracing wheel, seam rippers, tape measures, etc. In the second box, I've got my pinking shears, dressmaking shears, bobbin box, bobbin winder, and other things that wouldn't fit in the divider.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This is the divider insert. Several people online have said they use this system for their sewing supplies, also, and have found it ideal.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I'll use the bottom box, when it comes, for storing things like fat quarters, interfacing, batting, quilt rulers, etc. as the need arises.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My only complaint would be that the little "click" bit to open the box is pretty stiff and I can see a broken fingernail in my future. I'll just have to remember to go slowly and maybe use a key or something to pop it open until it's been opened a few times.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I've also spent much too much time online looking at sewing rooms. Just try a google search for "sewing room images" -- or Pinterest search for similar.... you'll lose a couple of hours! And then there are the sewing forums, the sewing online shops, and... take a deep breath... the YouTube videos for every kind of sewing technique, sewing project, sewing room decoration, or anything else related to "sewing".</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I found a project on YouTube for making a cell phone ("mobile" phone in the UK) case that is just what I've been looking for. That will probably be my next blog post!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And thanks to the people who have left comments. I get very excited when I think someone has bothered reading this!</span>JaneHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12234524661070266136noreply@blogger.com3