A Fresh Coat of Paint

So after months of thought and planning I am devising a reshuffle of my bedroom and crafting space. Something all together more organised and tidy. Along with this I will be repainting all the walls and ceiling in Natural Twine, Sugar Sweet and Nutmeg Spice. I think it will look fab-u-las! Will post photos as soon as I'm finished.

Only as Strong as the Weakest Link

This evening I did my first commissioned repair work. It was actually a very simple fix, but it does make it feel so much more self-succient. As my craft skills develop I am trying to explore my ideas and any new techniques that I'm learning.I am proud that I will be returning something that is as good as new.

When Cleaning Is Not Cleaning

This weekend I discovered Doktor Power, a few of my friends had mentioned to me how amazing this oven cleaning product was but I just could not quite believe it. Who would believe that putting your well used oven shelves into a bag and pouring a bottle of pink liquid in and sealing the bag for about 10 hours would result in dazzlingly clean oven shevles that only needed rinsing in hot soapy water. Where was it when I over filled a pirex dish with a creamy fish pie. I was scrubbing for ages, actually I think Doktor Power may have removed the stuff left in all the nocks and crannies that I could not get to.

All hail Doktor Power!!

I think my green aspirations are in serious danger.

You can never really leave your school days behind

I am now enrolled on two courses that I am extremely excited to be studying/taking next term. They are hand knitting and silk screen printing. Although my gran and mother had taught me to knit in the past, so I can cast on, knit, purl etc my attempts at cable knitting have not been successful. I joined Stitch London - I felt like too much of a begginer to really enjoy myself, everyone was really nice and helpful but I still felt ... away. I do miss the fun I had proudly knitting in public.The second of the two courses is silk screen printing - I have a vague memory of doing it during Art.

Thank you Miss Miranda, I loved going to her classes!

I really want to print some unique cushion covers and wall hangings.

I will keep you posted with my progress.

Project: Reborn 2 - Black & Grey Ribbon Beaded Necklace

Last night, I felt inspired to revamp a Black bead necklace and Grey bead necklace (both beads of the super chucky over-sized variety) into one fabulous black and grey necklace on black wide ribbon. Apologies as I forgot to take photos of the pieces individually before I started but when inspiration strikes... what's a crafter to do?

What happens when you drop something and don't pick it up

This mornining I had to do some emergency gardening - my tomatoe plants have not been receiving all the care and attention they need from me. I kew that propping their stems against the bamboo trainers wouldn't suffice forever and today was the day that my lasy attitude came home to roost.

Picture it - still in my fanel dressing gown fantically tying stems to their trainers, all in all I was extremely luckly only a few brocken leaf stems and one with a tomatoe sacrificed. Out of six plants that was very lucky! Did I mention that almost as soon as I started it started to rain - thank goodess for my hooded fanel dressing gown.

All flushed with my success, I didn't really pay attention to what the dogs where doing. This is what happens when you dont pick it after yourself.

You cannot mention one without the other

So I told you about my subscription to "Making" but not about "Molly Makes" currently only upto its thrid issue but again it's insightful, fun and light-hearted, very female focused but I generally think that is true of the whole industry.

Although I'm always om the look out for more inspiration, I am loving the craft offerings so far from these two subcriptions.

Never won any thing like this before

On Friday I recieved a royal mail-could not be delivered card on my door mat when I returned home from work. I honestly had no idea what it was, so was very curious.
Well... you might ask!

I had won a magazine giveaway competition - I have never won anything before not even a raffle. I am now the proud owner of a £10 voucher for Simple Way, the leatherkit people. I feel a new project brewing. Woh Hoh Hoh!(menacing laugh)

Making magazine, which I feel is definitely one of the best UK craft mags currently on the market (and not just because I won something). Although relatively new to the market it sets a new standard for multi-disciplary craft mags.

Project: Reborn

If this is the start of my challenge to craft/sew for one hour per day, than I think that I should atleast be documenting it. No?!
Reborn is what I'm calling this project.
This is a bag that I think I was given as a present, cant really remember, I love it's colourful and cute which is defineatley me. But I have never used it - why because it's just not really my style. Which is why it's being upcycled into a pair of earrings, necklace and clutch bag.

These are the earrings which I wore today and yesterday, and in this hot weather they are just what to doctor ordered as they are so light, it hardly feels like your wearing anything.
They were made using a couple of the felt beads, with some penny beads, some earing findings and some other beading bits that are part of my crafty stash.

I am currently redoing making the necklace as my chocker idea, didn't look right on me and the necklace is some thing I plan to wear.
The sac part of the bag is slowly morphing into a clutch which will be fun to use this summer. I hope to finish it all by the weekend. so I can move on to new ideas.
TTNF, MagpieSpirit

12 Sew

For 12 months, 12 days a month, I will sew, craft or generally be creative for 1 hour that's the pledge and I have chickpea sewing studio to thank. Yes I realise that I'm not sticking to original plegde but ... my aims are alittle different.