Altered "curse tablets"box!

Last night the power went off for a minute so today my alarm didnt go off so I was rushing round like a mad woman trying to get all the kids breakfasted, dressed and off to school in 10mins!!! On top of that I felt familiar back twinges!! So today I have ate choclate, pigged out on junk food and will have a large glass of wine later when the kids have gone to bed. Today I decided to alter my ibuprofen box so it looks nice in my bag and makes me happy!

Altered paper doll line

My friend Linda has a Craft n Chat shop over in the Wirral (about 10 miles away from me across the River Mersey). A few of us in the shop were given some white doll shapes joined together to alter. I covered mine with various papers, a stamped inka face, buttons, prima flowers and threads. I am quite pleased with the way they turned out so have used it in my blog header..think I will have to make another one just for me!! The words on their bodies read "focus on your inner creative self" which are words that I love. I think that we all have creativity inside us but that it just needs bringing out rather than saying the words "I can't". When they are all finished they are going to decorate the walls of the shop..so great fun as it is such a great place to go and the company is brilliant!

New little art bags listed in my etsy shop

I have just listed some more little art bags in my etsy shop as they are proving to be very popular. I found some gorgeous, sparkly chiffon so have added that to 2 of the bags for a bit of bling. I love making these bags and using different materials each time and have managed to make one for myself this time before they all get snapped up again!! Thanks again to all those who now carry a little piece of my art with them.
5 March..they have now sold out but shall be putting some more up soon.

Here come the birds canvas page

This canvas page has a tissue, paint and ink layered background. I have cut up the canvas page and made tags surrounded by chicken wire just to be different. Have also added some string, lace and buttons for a very grungy, worn, washed out page that I wanted to achieve.

Dreaming of Spring

I was in the garden this morning and noticed the buds and little daffodils about to flower..spring is definitely on its way. My youngest bought a little scarecrow today to chase away the birds from our plants mum!! He put it next to the apple tree that we planted at the weekend!! Finished some fabric ATCs that are on their way to Mary Beth in Canada and Waxela in Texas. More arty post this morning with a OWOH gift of a painting print from Betty (http://pinkglitterfae.blogspot.com/)from Canada..Its really good that we all have our own style and I like this whimsical painting of Alice which is completely different to my style of painting.

A great day for arty post

My postman brought me loads of arty goodies today. Thanks to Sandra from Germany for the Prag travel around the word card and the little ATC. Mary Beth from Canada sent me this lovely OWOH tag with loads of little butterfly stickers and tags etc so a big thanks. I also got my fabric art workshop book that I recently ordered and this months Cloth Paper Scissors..isnt it great when the post is full of goodies and not bills!! CHECK OUT THE COMMENTS AS ANJI IS HAVING A GIVEAWAY OF THIS MONTHS CLOTH PAPER SCISSORS MAGAZINE ..GOOD LUCK!

Little bottle top bags (UK Stampers swap & arty girlz "wire"

I am in a swap taking place on UK Stampers and this month it was to create something with bottle tops. I admit it took me ages to think of something unusual and different. Eventually I made these little bags which I am quite pleased with. Stamped background, little patchwork heart, bottle top with beads and image, curled wire added for hanger! The top pic in the bottle top is of a skull with the words "giggle"!! I think I will use this bag for my little ipod full of my heavy metal music!!

fabric book/needlecase (crazy amigo "colour" & uk art raffle

Managed to create something quick today whilst the dinner was cooking in the oven. I definitely dont feel right if I dont make something every day!! This is for the UK Art raffle organised by my friend Sarah. The theme for this month was trees. Everyone makes something and then if you are lucky you get chosen that month and win everyones creations! So as I have been going through my crazy patchwork phase I thought I would make a little fabric book which can also be used as a needlecase. It has inner pages made from curtain blind with stamped images from tuscan rose. The front stamp is one I won in a blog competition and is by Crafty Individuals and as it has loads of colour it qualifies for this week's crazy amigo challenge

culture but no crafting as its half term week!!

Today we all went to the maritime museum in the city where african drum sessions were taking place so we all had a go and it was great fun. There was also an exhibition on the story of liverpool which was really interesting. During our visit to the museums I have been taking photos of some interesting patterns that I will probably use in my art in the future as I love the patterns. I am also very pleased as I have just sold another 2 little art bags which will shortly be on their way to Canada. I just love that something I have created is going to be enjoyed the world over so far Germany, the Netherlands and now Canada so a big thanks to all my etsy buyers.

Things that make me smile!

What a nice surprise to be given a blog award by the talented Lisa from la femme papier (check out her blog by clicking on the link to the right). I also sold another one of my little art bags which is on its way to the Netherlands. A great day. Its the second day of half term so we are all heading off to the city again to do some Big Art at the Walker Art Gallery!

Travel round the world swap "Rio"

Its the start of the half term holiday this week so I took the kids to the World Museum in the city. We had a great time looking at the aquarium, space rockets and huge dinosaurs! My favourtie room was full of Buddhist art but of course the kids were bored and were running round by then as we had visited 5 floors of exhibits!! I thought this week I would try and catch up with the swaps that I am in so I did this colourful Rio card today. I just think she has got the most amazing smile and exudes happiness. When I think of Rio I think of colour, carnivals and dancing. This card is on its way to Germany..looking forward to getting my Rio swap!

another altered yorkshire teabox!!

I needed a little box for all the knitted squares that I am knitting before I join them up. I used another teabox and covered it with some knitting and put a 4x4 fabric collage that I did a couple of months ago. My husband said it made a change to knitting a tea cosy!! I joked that I will be knitting dolly toilet roll covers if he doesnt shut up..anyone remember them!!

Happy Valentines Day "love" canvas page

I took 2 of my sons to sports club this morning and whilst I was out my little 4yr old did me a beautiful valentines painting that I just had to share. My husband told me that as soon as I had gone out the door he got the red paint, the plastic takeaway lid and brushes and paints..he knew where they all where from our painting sessions and started to paint. I got a single red rose off my husband but I treasure this painting more I think!! I managed to do a "love" wax collage this morning whilst my sons were out ..it has a gesso background and roses from last years Valentines Day melted on with wax. Even if you didnt get anything for Valentines Day make sure you do something that your passionate about just for yourself..whether it be shopping, gardening or creating!!

Superstition 13 (tgif "13" challenge

Another page for my techniques canvas book. I have been experimenting with fusing elements with wax on the page today and this page smells lovely. I have included a transparency pocket, fabric background, threads and the words "friday 13th, superstition, black cat". The background to the whimsical woman is stamped, painted gesso- another one of my fav techniques!

One World One Heart

I noticed this event on Hermines and Pattys blogs but thought I was too late to join in but you still have time to join in so check out this link http://oneworldoneheart.typepad.com Its a worldwide blog giveaway with some 351 and counting creative bloggers giving away some freebies all in the name of friendship and building the creative blogging community worldwide. I thought I would offer one of my domino fabric bags that I have just made. Leave a comment to be in with a chance of winning. I will pick a name out of my lucky hat on February 12th 2009..this is open to bloggers only and please make sure there is an email for me to contact you. Good luck and be sure to check out all the other fantastic art blogs!! COMMENTS NOW CLOSED.. so time to pick a winner!! Thanks so much for all your wonderful comments.

Some colour on a cold winters day

I saw an article on Elizabeth Armstrong (an Australian textile artist) in my fav magazine Cloth Paper Scissors and was inspired by her use of colour. I made this needle felted and knitted bag recently to hold all my needle felting wool. I have combined knitted squares with some needle-felted embroidered squares. I have only just learnt to knit so I can only knit squares at the moment! I was taught how to crochet flowers today in a craft n chat session so going to practice later on!

ONE WORLD ONE HEART WINNER

Its now February 12th in the UK in the early hours so I have just picked a winner using the Random.org..and the winner is:

True Random Number Service
List Randomizer
There were 215 items in your list. Here they are in random order:


Lovely offering! Please count me in for the drawing.
Thanks stopping by my blog Lorraine.


21 January 2009 23:48

Ida Clare
3rdEyeMuse

water flower "arty girlz" flower challenge

I sewed my nuno felted piece to canvas with papers underneath..you can just about see them showing through. Chain stitched a silk painted flower that I painted last week to the centre. Around the edges I have sewed beads and sequins. I sewed the background using metallic thread which is a right pain to sew with on a sewing machine as it keeps snapping..so does anyone have any tips or know what tension to put the sewing machine on to make it easier??? There is loads of texture especially from the felted wool to this piece as I love anything with texture or dimension.

"Be my friend" crazy amigo "postage stamps" challenge

This is the first page that I have done for my canvas book that I got off Lisa recently. It features stamps from my German friends, material scraps from my textile friends, buttons, transparency, paper, paper ribbon and brown fruit bag netting! I thought I would stamp the words "Be my friend" as this image from Somerset Studio looks as if she needs a friend. This piece is dedicated to all my friends that I have met via blogs and art challenges who have sent me things through the post. I know the internet often has a bad press but its a brilliant way to share art and make cyber friends. Some of these cyber friends are now good friends as we meet up in the real world to have craft time together.

"looking for love" mixed media monday "romance"

I did a painting today of a girl who is looking for love. My youngest son and I had a play with some air dry clay this morning and so I made the word "love" out of clay, stamped it then painted it with acrylic metallic paints. I glued it on to the canvas usidng dimensional glue and added some on the top to add a bit of gloss. The background uses paints and napkin flowers. I really like using napkins at the moment as the effect is subtle.

Experiments with felting

Today I went to a textile group and had a go at nuno felting which is felting thin strands of wool onto silk, chiffon etc. My first attempt was too thick so I added needle felted flowers but I was quite pleased with my second attempt as I put the wool on finer and as the wool felted it dragged the chiffon into quite textural folds. I am going to add to both of these with some beads and threads but it was great to experiment today..so thanks Ann. Think I will make some felted beads tonight once the kids go to bed..they are all running round playing captain underpants at the moment..ha ha!!

Domino Brooch off Gail

I took part in a domino swap on UK Stampers and today I got this great brooch. I really love the funky colours and the way she has drilled the domino to wire the button through the middle of the domino. I have put it on my bag to show it off.

Coffee peace Theme Thursday "borders"

I decided that I needed to do another painting as I had some time this afternoon before the school run. I used some coffee images from some napkins that I had won. I have called the painting "coffee peace" as 7am in the morning is the only time I can have my cup of coffee in peace whilst I gradually wake up before all the kids get up for school half an hour later!! This painting is dedicated to all the stay at home mums like me out there who know what I mean!! I have stamped a border round the edges. I have decided that I want my paintings to feature smiling women as it gets a bit depressing looking at paintings where the women look miserable!! I will probably make a little fabric bag featuring a print of this painting soon so keep checking my etsy shop.

a little snowman, a great gift and more goodies from my mum's loft!

I love it when packets arrive with green customs stickers on them as I know they will contain something good. To my delight Lisa from la femme papier sent me a ready to alter canvas book..it says you can paint it,sew it, alter it, bead it so I think I will try all of these and they will be like little arty reference books..cant wait to start on them. Big thanks Lisa..your arty present is on its way..so check your mail in a week or so!! Today it also snowed again..we were lucky as we didnt have too much snow today but just enough for my youngest to make a snowman all by himself..I think its quite good for a 4yr old with its pea eyes and carrot nose!! My mum had also been in her loft today and gave me a load of fabric and fur scraps plus some old dressmakers books and a great metal flower gadget that I am not really sure what its for..so anyone else know or I will just use it as a template

What a great day I have had!!

Today I sold 2 little art bags in my etsy shop..I have made some more little art bags so be sure to check out my etsy shop! The very talented Inka who owns Inka stamps mentioned my blog as one of her favourites!! and to top it all I passed my orange belt grading in kickboxing tonight!! As I have had all this good karma I posted a little present (pictured) for Lisa who is hosting the one world one heart giveaway as I have had so much enjoyment looking at some very talented artists blogs!!

TMTATC "rock star"

Thought I would try a fabric collaged transparency ATC for a change. I was reading my traci bautista book collage unleashed this morning so this is influenced by that. The words scribbled on read "I wanna be a rock star" I love that Nickleback song. My husband plays bass guitar and our house if always filled with rock music!!