Hello Vilene

I was inspired by Kim Thittichai, who has lots of ideas for experimental textiles, to make some jewellery with heavyweight vilene. I painted the vilene and added inclusions such as foil, paper, wool and glitter paste.

I then used a Sizzix rectangular jewellery die to cut it into pieces to create funky jewellery.

Create and Craft 13th Birthday

I had good fun creating a card for Create and Craft`s 13th birthday. I used My Craft Studio "A very important date" and incorporated some of the faces of the presenters using Craft Artist. Can you spot them?

The Stitching Sewing and Hobbycrafts Show

I was fortunate to win a free ticket to this fabulous show at The ExCel Centre and spent a wonderful day there last Saturday.

I loved the knitted and crocheted "Yarnia" display, made in the USA and Canada. It featured characters from the Lion and Witch and the Wardrobe. You can see from the pictures below that it was amazing!!!

Tumnus the faun

The Narnia children dressed for battle outside the tent

Another display called "Forest Forever" depicted leaf shapes embroidered by Afghan village woman.

I loved the vibrant colours.

Madeira featured embroideries from their competition "a Glimpse of Brazil".This helps us get ready for the 2016 Olympic games.

I managed to put my mark on the world`s longest embroidery. I thought it needed a bright cheery sun.

It was draped along some long tables so that anyone who wanted to could embroider something on it. 

The National needlework archive presented a show of beautiful felt embroidered birds. These were amazing and created in the 1960`s and 70`s.

I was fortunate to meet Kim Thittichai while I was there. I have one of her books  She is a tutor and has developed some innovative techniques in surface decoration. I have her book "Hot textiles" and I bought some heavy duty vilene which I am hoping to transform into some funky jewellery.

I also managed to get on the Tonic workshop and treated myself to the Kensigton handbag dies which I have started to play with since returning home.

I have also been trying the Suitcase die by "Crealies"

I decided to leave the top of the suitcase open so a little pressie could be put inside. Some pieces of velcro ensure the lid can be closed

When I left the show I wanted to make the most of being in London so I had a look around Covent Garden to further inspire me.

What an angle!!!

All in all it was a wonderful day out.

Feeling felty

I love felt because it is so versatile and does not fray. Here are a few key-rings I made.

The teddies were cut with a die

family of owls

minion

Foiled again

I bought the tattered lace poinsettia die and went crazy when I discovered it could cut thin foil, which I got from Watford Recycling Arts project. Here are some of the flowers I made.

I was going to throw the off cuts away but the thrifty, recycling part of me thought they were too good to throw away so I laminated them and made them into bags.

Sea Breeze

I was inspired to make some cards from The Cardmaker`s Collection Sea Breeze from Ultimate Crafts. The kit has a nostalgic retro feel and is fun to use. It has a variety of components including a magazine full of wonderful ideas, dies, embossing folder, stamps, sequins and papers. I am still in my pop up box phase because they are such fun!!

I have started adding fancy edges to make the cards look more elegant.

The shell and the anchor are the dies you get with the kit.

There are two sentiment stamps among the set.

Below are some other pop up box cards I made recently

I used the spring border from Tattered lace. It is so useful and I have used it on many of my cards. 

The rabbit is Bebunni from Crafter`s companion and I used the tattered lace Carnation Charisma dies on the edges. I love these dies because they look fabulous and are easy to make.