I’ve been working with my Gelli plates to produce some prints for various uses. The first set have been used for making a fun multi-colour collection of all-occasion gift tags which will add a spark of interest even to the plainest gift packaging! They are up on my Etsy store and are selling in sets…
‘ojo de dios’ — Standalone tutorial — suitable for kids If you are looking for relaxation, but are hopeless at knitting or crochet, this very simple craft might be of interest to you. I have led a couple of workshops suitable for all ages, in the art of the traditional ‘Ojo de Dios’ (God’s Eye)…
We have recently added some new colours for the multi-strand recycled textile necklaces which have proved so popular this year. You can now find them in purple, cream, coral, turquoise, mid-brown, black, olive green and dark red. Contact us via Etsy if you are interested and we will put your preferred colour up for you…
Feel almost bad about having had such a good day yesterday – we went off early morning on the bike and only just got back indoors in time for our evening meal. Visited a big regional market where I bought some nice yarn and haberdashery bits – and we picked up some nosh which we…
Miss Pumpkin in orange & black [easy level] Downloadable PDF cross-stitch pattern & colour chart Description:A simple cross-stitch pattern suitable for novices and youngsters, this downloadable PDF file includes a simple chart with colour key to create a cute Halloween witch in the traditional spooky colours, black and orange. The chart includes a thread named…
Downloadable PDF cross-stitch pattern & colour chart Description:A simple cross-stitch pattern suitable for novices and youngsters, this downloadable PDF file includes a simple chart with colour key to create a Christmas elf in the traditionally festive colours, red and green.The chart includes a DMC colour chart, but of course you can use any brand of…
This year seems to have been my ‘patchwork’ year — probably as a result of the restrictions imposed on us by the Covid pandemic, I have found more time and patience to dedicate some of my sewing time to patchwork and simple quilting. My efforts have covered a number of projects, including a doggy coat…
In recent years I have fallen in love with the honest, rustic appeal of recycled cardstock for the Christmas cards (and not only) that I make. This year I have added some other recycled materials to my cards — scraps of fabric, and in the case of the Christmas cards — the scraps have a…
I’m sure I’m not the only one, but for years I have used plastic bags or tattered boxes to keep my Christmas baubles in order between one year and the next. This year I decided it was time to break the habit by making some dedicated cotton ‘sacks’ to hold them all neatly together at…
The biggest surprise of the past couple of weeks has been the interest in my specs’ keepers. They are one of those accessories which disappear off the scene for awhile, and then for no apparent reason — return. And that’s what’s happened, and I have found myself stringing beads for hours on end for this…
At long last I have managed to add a couple more of these sewing kits to my Etsy store. This particular kit has been surprisingly popular — partly because of its simplicity that even a beginner can handle quite confidently, but also because of the mix of different elements and methods required to complete it….
Many of us have become aware over the past couple of months, either through personal observation or via the media coverage, that the period of lockdown seems to have had a positive effect on our environment. Animals have been leaving their natural habitats to venture into city centres, no longer clogged up with traffic and…
Got a very pleasant surprise when I opened up my mail this evening – I discovered that some kind soul had bought one of my calendars! Just want to say many thanks indeed to whoever you are and wherever you are! I hope the calendar gives you as much pleasure as it did for me…
Been out and about sourcing materials for our very own personal ‘Boho’ look for our handmade and combined creations. Here is just a taster of the kind of thing we are looking for – gorgeous vintage look amulets and pendants which we will be combining with ribbons and textiles to create wearable and unique pieces…
I had intended to do these the other day, but a few other things cropped up that needed my attention more urgently, so it was only this morning that I finally got working on my lino prints. They actually take quite some time individually as the mixed media all dry at different speeds (inks, acrylic…
Well this is only half the story… the bottom half in fact! One of my recent shopping adventures produced this fun fabric in very dark grey with fun stylized houses printed all over it. I knew I wanted to use it for something a little unusual, but just needed to think about it for a…
Following unexpected requests, I have now added a couple more specs’ keepers to the collection. The one you see in the image is made with old gold silver lined Rocaille glass beeds and has an amber colour glass bead at each end of the thread and gold findings. The other one is a lovely midnight…
Been wanting to make some of these little guys for ages, but I was finding it hard to get hold of the felt colour I wanted. At long last my suppliers came up with the goods and I was able to ‘bake’ half a dozen. I also decided to set up a little kit for…
JesS and I have been doing quite a few things, though she tends to limit herself to flashes of inspiration for earrings. I’m the one who pulls out the sewing machine, and this is what I was up to last month… I call them travel buddies to take along with you during your short breaks…
Tough going for the felt hearts I am sewing right now. Not quite a drill job, but I do have a pair of pliers to hand to pull the needle through at almost every stitch! The problem is probably down to the fact that I am having to use a hefty cotton and a needle…
Been doing these little note block holders. I have a feeling that with the current economic crisis people are going to be looking more for useful gifts rather than ornamental ones, so this is my answer to that need: a little covered cardboard note block holder with closeable flap and linen covered ‘hinges’. When the…
Greetings with a difference and they don’t come much more different than this one! Your seasonal wishes will certainly stand out with this cute (ouch!) washing line full of Santa’s smalls – and larges too! These will be custom made as and when they are requested, but that shouldn’t affect the delivery times so within…
Well it’s just about that time again, and we are getting ourselves ready for the Craft Market to be held in Via Garibaldi here in Venice at the end of this month. We have a fairly good stock of bits and pieces, but were surprised at the last market by just how many earrings went,…
Well if ever rain stopped play, I can say with confidence that is exactly what happened today to put a stop to our last craft market of the year. Gale force winds, lashing rain and a particularly bad bout of high water just put us out of the game! Even if there had been no…
Couldn’t believe it — the whole of last week was absolutely glorious with brilliant sunny, even if not very warm, Spring days. Yesterday morning we woke up earlier than usual to get ready for the flea market and were frustrated to see that the wind had got up and was putting the whole day in…
Woke to a brilliant morning and just hope that it will be like this on the Venetian hinterland as well as today I am off to Vicenza with hubby, daughter and her boyfriend. The boys are going to be bored to tears, but no one twisted their arm to accompany us. They had just better…
