Sunday 31 August 2008

Claude Monet


I tried to change my calendar on the side as September is nearly here, - but I have forgotten how to customise a calendar!
So I decided to have a page element which I hope will change each day. The Monet pictures will remind me of a visit to Giverny a few years ago - a lovely memory.There is a link on it to a tourist site with a few different pictures, and www.intermonet.com/ is a more comprehensive link.

Saturday 30 August 2008

Today In The Garden


It was pleasant in the garden this afternoon and there are still Summer things to see even though Autumn is round the corner

Wednesday 27 August 2008

A Poignant Circle


Today was bitter-sweet. Three from our craft group of ten - which has met monthly for over twelve years - met with Pat, a dear member who had a severe stroke earlier in the year. We have visited her before but this was our first craft day with her. We are all right handed but we painted with our left hands, as Pat can only do that now - we have always enjoyed challenges and laughter at our efforts and did so once again. It's difficult as Pat has also lost her speech.
We know each other so well and we enjoyed being together crafting once again, albeit also sad.
Now we have done this we'll move on and help Pat as best we can - our paintings weren't brilliant, but then we never were artists - Pat was always much the best watercolourist and today her painting was the best too.
The poignant circle is made from a pretty ribbon card she sent me some time ago - one of many keepsakes that have now become more precious. There is something about the circle - it comes from a lovely embroidery - yet it's now so different - life can be like that! Yes, bitter-sweet.

Sunday 24 August 2008

The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady.














I love this book and the video from it, and have enjoyed making these ATCs from scraps of fabric, inspired by Edith Holden (1871-1920). She was influence by the Arts and Crafts movement of the early C20th and sadly drowned in a tragic accident.
Nice that the one with the butterfly has been selected as my tenth photo in Flickr Explore.

Saturday 23 August 2008

That Cat!




Dylan was not happy last night when I suggested he shouldn't sleep just there!

Friday 22 August 2008

Life Changes!



How long since I slept in the early hours of the morning -
or read - fed babies - caught up on college assignments whilst everyone else was sleeping - even caught up on the dreaded ironing -stitched - baked - did jigsaw puzzles - crosswords - sudoku - ??
Now I play with flickr toys - what next?

Thursday 21 August 2008

Score for Bird Chorus


I didn't realise until early this morning that the constant daily cooing was actually rehearsed - on my neighbour's roof!

Monday 18 August 2008

Machine Stitched Doodle Post Card



My sewing machine is old, basic and unreliable so I don't think I'll venture into attempting drop feed embroidery with it, though I'd like to. I have tried a few times previously with little success.
So I've made a top stitched doodle post card and will try to hide the shortcomings with embellishment. I usually keep 'before' & 'after' scans of cards - how will this develop?


............Tuesday 19th ....... well now I know!

Saturday 16 August 2008

The Recycled Tie.


.........*******.......*******.......*******......... Post Card completed!

Thursday 14 August 2008

John's Old Tie


Yesterday I spent quite a lot on various fabrics on line - that I didn't need, but wanted. Then I had a thrift moment and cut up one of John's ties - he rarely wears a tie these days anyway and has far too many! I'm enjoying making a post card from it, it has some strange shapes just asking to be outlined - is that a butterfly on the left?
I'll see when it's finished.

Poppies





I love drawing and painting - but never seem to improve - maybe I should have taken lessons.
....... I intended to paint a pic today but then got side tracked by the old tie!

Wednesday 13 August 2008

An Old Book


This is the book, published in 1976, that introduced me to Jan Beaney. I saved it from the bin many years ago - it seems it may be a collector's item now!

Tuesday 12 August 2008

Dogdaisychains: Plan B or Teaching you what you already know?

Dogdaisychains: Plan B or Teaching you what you already know?
I've linked to this post as I really would like to try machine embroidery (again!).
I discovered Jan Beaney many years ago through a lovely little collage for children book and have always read her many other books avidly and with a yearning to do something really different for me! I've tried and failed many times - maybe this clear tutorial will improve things. I hope so.

Sunday 10 August 2008

Daisy Daisy


What dreary summer days recently! I cheered up by making a bright post card to send to a friend, Barbara. She inspired me to start textile postcards a few weeks ago by sending me one.
I found the large lazy daisy flower tucked away from long ago, a lovely bright curtain remnant, matching bits and pieces and a few stitches here and there - done. Time flies when you're enjoying yourself.
It's a good thing I gave up HW long ago - there's just not time for it! (Hope you agree Maureen or I may feel guilty!)
John's cooking bacon and it smells lovely so I'll take a break and then find another bright piece of material out and start again!
My favourite books at the moment are by Judith Baker Montano - I have five - her crazy quilting is inspirational!

Saturday 9 August 2008

Another Amazing Circle. - of Post Card


Just had to make this in www.dumpr.net!
I can't resist playing.

Friday 8 August 2008

Textile Post Card




I completed my third post card today and it's my favourite so far.
Although I chose the fabric for patches carefully each patch was completed haphazardly, deciding what to do as I went along.
Probably not a good thing but it worked out OK today, and became my eighth pic in Explore.

Tuesday 5 August 2008

Post Card 'High Summer'



Well I can't believe that so early in the month I've completed my personal challenge post card for August.
And I've stitched the foundation patches for another - obviously a new addiction is setting in!

I was amazed to find that the bottom patch became a mini 'landscape'
as the fabric was an abstract design from a remnant of curtain material. Another happy accident!
I decided to make a few printed post cards from it.

Monday 4 August 2008

For Birthday Cards









I have to make two birthday cards today so have chosen photos to make traditional matted cards.
The rose photo was taken in the garden a while ago and the Protea is a copy of a photo taken in 1997 in Cape Town. I bought a large bunch of protea from a flower seller on Table Mountain.
We were visiting John's twin brother who lived there for many years, sadly he died last year.

Friday 1 August 2008

6x4 lives Challenge Post Card 'Summer'


I wrote about this on 30th July - now it's finished, only a day late after all.

More Amazing Circles.




Couldn't resist seeing how the photos below would turn out in Dumpr Amazing Circles!

From a vase of flowers.










Late tonight I noticed that a vase of Gaillardia and Marguerites was just right for a bit of photo editing practice.
I'm not keen on editing as much as in the bottom photo - flowers are beautiful in themselves - but it's part of my learning curve!
Some edited photos do look different on greetings or note cards though, and I find they are often popular.