Its Christmas again December 14, 2010

I know I know…my blogging habits are a bit like busses…nothing for ages and then lots at the same time.

I finally got to work on my Christmas cards last weekend. Thankfully it meant I was able to avoid any exposure to the X Factor so that was satisfying! I think I made about 30 cards but the revelation of the weekend was what happens when you paint decopatch lacquer on ribbon and let it dry. It stiffens and the colors become more vibrant. It becomes a perfect substitute for coloured card and has a pretty texture too.

This is all particularly useful considering the huge quantities of ribbon that I’m now hiding in boxes under the stairs for fear of being caught and accused of having a fetish.

Here are some pictures and thanks to Made Marian for the buttons idea – I love it and made it especially for my very special Nana.

iPhone craftiness September 12, 2010

Everyone knows I love my iPhone. Despite holding out for so long adamant that iPhones were for muppets I eventually gave in…well when I say I gave in, my phone broke and within a week my iPod broke and there seemed to be one logical solution to both of those problems. So now I own an iPhone.

It has completely changed my life. I love that I can read the news headlines before I get out of bed in the morning. I feel more prepared for the day that way. I feel like I’ve mitigated the risk of nasty surprises. However, I’m a bit sad about the absence of great craft apps. I don’t really have any suggestions, I just hoped that someone out there would have created something that would make my crafty life even more enjoyable.

I did find one that I like though. Its called Pano and it’s not very expensive to download from the app store. It allows you to take panoramic shots and merge them together. It takes a little practice to get right but I can’t imagine it could be any easier to use. My friend Caroline took this picture while we were in Ireland this summer. It creates the most amazing panoramic shots and when I’ve shown this picture to friends they can’t believe it was taken with an iPhone.

I’ll keep searching for more and post if I find any great ones.

Such a pretty bear! September 10, 2010

While at home I came across this bear. I love it but €59 is just a bit much to pay for a bear me thinks! I’ve made it my mission to find a great pattern and make this myself. Yet another project that may or my not ever be finished!!

Old friends September 10, 2010

I spent this summer at home in Ireland catching up with old friends and doing plenty of horse riding. I know I haven’t blogged for AGES but I was reminded this morning of one particular chance meeting that makes me smile!

One morning after Sunday mass my old school teacher stayed behind to say hello. She is retired now but taught me from the age of 4 until I was 8 years old. She taught me lots of things not least of which the ability to read and write which when you think about it is the most amazing gift to give any child. I can’t imagine what a talent it must be to be able to impart that kind of knowledge. Ms. Griffin really was the loveliest teacher.

She was the first to teach me to knit. Well I suppose it was a dual pronged effort, Ms Griffin taught me the basics on Friday afternoons while Mom helped me with the tasks assigned and to be delivered the following Friday. On Friday afternoons the boys went to Master Callaghans room to “do art” and the girls took knitting tuition from Ms. Griffin. When I think about it now the feminist in my 6 year old self should have been appalled! While the boys created model ships and aeroplanes the girls knit scarves, teddy bears and sweaters! (I never quite completed the sweater, Mom got fed up and did it herself!)

Anyhoo….I met Ms Griffin after mass that day and I was so proud to tell her that not only had I found enjoyment in knitting again and always had a project of some sorts on the go but also that I had taught myself to crochet. I can’t wait to make a little trinket and send it to her to say thank you.

The nostalgic part of me thought this morning about the things I love to do and how grateful I am to the people who taught me to do them! I love my father for teaching me to fish and wish I had the opportunity to spend summer evenings at the river with him never catching anything, I love my uncle Frank for teaching me to cycle, I love my mum for showing me the pleasure that can be found in creating things, I love my brother for attempting (and failing) to teach me to love horses but it sunk in eventually  – 24 years later and I love my Grandad for teaching me to love nature and thats just for starters!

Wow, thats particularly sensitive for a Friday lunchtime! Must be the weather

Baking cakes June 14, 2010

When we were small we always knew when a Sunday afternoon visit to Auntie Sarah’s was scheduled. We would arrive home from church and Mum would whip up a world class Victoria sponge before we knew what was happening. As wonderful as Auntie Sarah was the sponge cake was definitely the highlight of the visit! My mothers cake and bread making ability is well documented and talked about – her wholemeal bread is second to none and as for her Christmas cakes…well they’re just another story entirely! What is less talked about is her complete lack of talent for any other kind of cooking. The suggestion of Mum cooking dinner results in a flurry of volunteers to pay for take away.

Anyway, this weekend I decided to make a Victoria sponge for my long suffering boyfriend and his brother. In fact, I made lots of Victoria sponges…not because I was especially fond of them but because I couldn’t get it right. Who would have thought it could be so difficult to get a recipe with 4 ingredients right? By Sunday morning I was distraught…I had called Mum for advice, we established that my ingredients were in fact at room temperature, I was using unsalted butter and the right kind of flour. The eggs were organic and free range. I had to call in local re-enforcements. Enter Caroline!

Between us we finally established that I was using the wrong attachment on my food mixer and we finally got it right. I sliced some fresh strawberries and layered whipped cream over it all. Tom was charged with holding our creation on his lap and keeping it safe while I drove us to Camden where the cake was very happily received.

Another successful mission in the kitchen I think! Here’s a rather rubbish picture. I really must start using my camera and not my iPhone.

To Kill A Mocking Bird June 11, 2010

I must be the only person in the world who reached the age of 28 and hadn’t read this book. As soon as I’d finished I wanted to start again.

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect – a classic of course but would I enjoy it because I knew it was a classic or because I had become consumed by it as I have been with other favourite books.

I was consumed…I had very quickly fallen in love with the inimitable Scout and can’t think of a character who had managed to worm her way so effectively into my affections. I loved her outlook on life and her ability to simplify the most complex issues through simple childhood naivety. When my journey with her was over I was genuinely lonesome for our friendship that had ended.

Atticus is also a fantastic character and rightly deserves his place as a moral standard for so many people around the world.

2010 is the 50th anniversary of the publication of the book and rather disappointingly Harper Lee has declined every invitation to speak about the book with a hearty “Hell no!”

Making a mess June 11, 2010

I’ve been a very naughty blogger…well at the very least I’ve been very remiss about updating. I’ve worked on lots of little projects over the last few weeks. I made some pretty place settings for my partners mum and some gift tags for my mum to use as well as lots of mothers day cards. I had intended to take lots of pictures but didn’t! I’ll behave better in future!

I did take a picture of the mess I made. The fun part about crafting is making the mess and watching my neat freak partners reaction to it. I don’t get quite so excited about cleaning it up though!

a craft bomb hit!

Decopatch March 26, 2010

I said I’d post the Decopatch projects that I completed this week and so here they are!

Its a really easy technique. There are specialist papers, glues and brushes available but to get started archive glue and any paper will do.

Decopatch paper is available and the benefit is that the colors and prints don’t run when the glue is applied. I found lots of different prints and accessories on the Artyfect website. They’re a bit more expensive than some of the other Decopatch suppliers out there but they seem to have more stock and really reliable deliveries.

I’m still learning but practice makes perfect etc etc etc.

Made Marion (www.mademarian.net) posted some time back about Mod Podge jam jar lids which I think I’m going to try with Decopatch.

Craft and stitch show March 26, 2010

Last weekend after returning to rainy London from a fantastic few days at the Cheltenham Festival I had settled upon a quite Saturday at home sorting my life out. There was laundry to be done, groceries to be picked up and cleaning to be endured. I took off to do our grocery shop and as I got in the car I got a message from Sunita – another crafty friend to say that she was at the Craft and Stitch Show at Olympia and I should really get myself around there quick smart.

So I did. My word….it was a crafters paradise! I picked up some treats that had been on my shopping list for ages. I finally invested in a really pretty Martha Stewart border punch. There is a great range available at the www.thecraftbarn.co.uk.  I also picked up lots of embellishments and card for card making. I am particularly excited about my Decopatch purchases though. I had done this in the past with normal paper and archive glue but I got some  special gloss Decopatch glue and special Decopatch paper. I’ll post the results soon.

I rambled around the show for a few hours looking for ideas and spending waaaay too much money! My adventure was spoiled by a very concerned boyfriend who wondered what had happened to me between our house and the supermarket. Needless to say that he was a little taken aback when I told him that I’d taken a small (4 hour)  detour and I’d be home presently. The grocery shopping had to wait another day!

Mothers day March 12, 2010

What better excuse to make some pretty cards than Mothers day. I spent last Saturday making some girlie cards for all my mothers. I must be the only person who needs 6 mothers day cards Making them for my mum, my adopted nana, my sisters in law, my boyfriends mother and his sister is a great excuse to spend an afternoon making a mess.

Here are the fruits of my labour (apologies for the poor light)