Whimsical letters....

I have been waiting for three months for this book and oh boy it was so worth the wait, I love it. I got up this morning plonked myself at my desk and tried my hand at some whimsical journaling in my RED BOOK. This book was a project that began on the very first day of creative thinking and it is based on "The RED BOOK" of Carl Jung.  So it will come as no surprise when I tell you that my red book has all the ramblings of a creative crazy lady (me).  I love art journaling and I enjoy watching endless you tube videos of other artist and crafters making it all look so easy never daring to have a go myself.  However, along came the "RED BOOK" and I entered the world of art journaling. I thought I'd show you the two pages I created today by following some of the amazing tips and advice Joanne Sharpe gives in the book.

The wonders of Wales

Plas Y Newydd

Italian Garden at the back of Plas y Newydd

Beach huts at Abersoch

On the beach at Aberdaron

Aberdaron

The entrance to Plas yn Rhiw

I have just come back from a fabulous four day break in Wales, we had a great time as well as the most glorious weather. Each day we jumped in the car and followed the coastal roads to where ever they would lead us and they did not disappoint. We stumbled across some gorgeous little alcove beaches, one being Whistling sands which is a national trust area.  The most quaint and idyllic little villages, it was just blissful. It was one of those holidays that I didn't want to end. 

Free demonstrations.

Look what I made yesterday! I went to see the free demonstrations at Southport craft centre on Lord Street (which is one of my favourite shops).  Angela Puck the proprietor invited the very talented Karen Mackie to do free demonstration through out the day and I went along to have a nose. I was not disappointed, I didn't realise you could actually sit down and have a go at the demos. I spent a great couple of hours chatting away and crafting. Karen was so lovely and showed us endless amounts of things you could do with all different types of glues, glitter and beads. Needless to say I walked out the shop with several Pro marker pens and a few stamps. Well I really couldn't resist but I did restrain myself  (almost).

Feeling rather Whimsical.....

FMQ May swap to Barbara.

This one is for Paige.

I have started my summer holidays by dusting my beloved Bernie and giving her a good run. Sunday I made several blocks for Flower Power quilt and this morning I made these two delightful fabric postcards. The first is my May swap for the group FMQ Postcards/sewgals and the second is for my niece Paige. I started to make and send Paige one a week when she started Uni but I did not manage to do this over the last month as I became bogged down with uni homework. however, now I have completed my first year (HOORAY) I intend to sew sew sew throughout the summer.  As you can see by these two cards I'm feeling rather whimsical. I adore watching you tube, people making journal pages, ATC'S or handmade cards I get lots of tips and ideas that I can sometimes incorporate into my fabric post cards. The penguin PC idea came from watching Linda Pearson making a journal page which then gave me the idea for Pages PC. I now have several other ideas so I will love you and leave you and get back in the sewing room and continue to sew.

The end is nigh.

Tomorrow I have to turn in my final pieces for Uni and then I have finished the first year. I feel I have done all that I can and what will be will be. Today I  decided I was just going to sew, sew, sew just for meeeeee. I bought some beautiful fabric from Dot on Saturday, at the Crosby area day. Elaine Humphrey's was the speaker, he quilts where simply stunning.  A great day was had by all, as always lots of chatter and laughter with great people. It is days like this that make me want to rush home and make a quilt.  I purchased my lovely friend Janet's block of the month pattern a few weeks ago, with the intention of making it during my summer holidays but I couldn't wait so I started it today. I have completed three of the applique flower blocks and four log cabin blocks. I have really enjoyed sewing today. :)

Its the little things....

that make us happy. This is my second attempt at reading a crochet pattern and look what I to made this little Amigurumi bunny. I have placed her next to a cotton real so you get a feel of how small she is. I started her a few days ago and finished her last night. The pattern is from Craft Pattern: Crochet spring Bunny, by Stephenie Jessica Lau. It was a little fiddly because I am still quite clumsy at doing a magic circle and holding the crochet hook and wool when it comes to crocheting tiny piece.  Sometimes it takes me up to six attempts at the magic circle before I'm off and running but I am so pleased with what I have accomplished in the last three weeks. Seeing as Easter is just around the corner I think these little guys will make perfect gifts for loved ones together with a little egg. Now you know what rabbits are good at folks? and now I have two, I think a few more will shortly appear. x:)

Shelley Rhodes, Pecocks and their feathers.

A couple of weeks ago I was able to attend a work shop with the amazing artist Shelley Rhodes which was organised by the Contemporary Quilt group of region 13.   I loved every minute of the day. It was quite an intense work shop but most enjoyable as Shelley had lots of techniques, tricks and tips through out the day and she crammed as much as she possible could in the six hours we where with her. We had to bring along a interesting object which would be our focal point of the day. I chose a Peacock feather although it took me weeks to decide what to take because I got hung up on the word interesting.  The rest of the requirements list for the work shop was enormous luckily everything fitted into my little suit case and away I went. The two bottom images are little bits of the work I produced on the day. I came home and put them to one side knowing that someday I'd come back to these little works of art. The following week Natalie and I took the three boys to Walton Hall Park in Warrington and strolling around the little zoo where several peacock. I snapped away thinking what beautiful creatures they are and how the sun shimmered the gorgeous colours of their tale feathers. Then a few days after the park trip we where given our final brief for drawing for textiles and its was open. Yey we could chose anything we wanted and yep you guessed it I have chosen PEACOCKS! The top image is the work I have done so far and I've even managed to incorporate the art pieces from the Shelly Rhodes work shop. Happy days all round me thinks. X