The Linen Shelf

Postmans' Knock five

2011-05-28T02:51:00.000-07:00

For the fifth round of

I had to make a card for

Sue

whose theme was rust.

I had the perfect little spade for this

and added rusty bottle caps

I've found

all stitched onto

fabric left from

The Erosion Bundle Project.

Then added a label with the following instructions,

For My Angels theme

Jane

chose a beautiful image

against vibrant colours.

Jane added lovely verse by

Emily Dickinson.

Lovely to think of

Angels playing

Postman's knock four

2011-05-16T06:34:00.000-07:00

Delivery four at

This is what I made for Jane,

her theme being,

Seaside / Coast.

The image is from a book

of 100 years of seaside entertainment.

The driftwood & flowers

from the beach & clifftop where I live.

Shells from an old necklace

& tiny bunting I made from vintage paper.

On the back I've written...

" Emily begged her governess

to allow her to bathe,

having spent a long morning

collecting shells and flowers"

I wonder if Emily got her way !

My theme is Angels

and this lovely sparkly, lacy

clothes peg Angel

was made for me by

Gina.

Thank you Gina,

she's beautiful.

Pop over to Postman's Knock

to see all the other postcards.

Third delivery at Postman's Knock

2011-05-03T11:42:00.000-07:00

The third batch of postcards

have arrived at

This is what I made for

whose theme is,

Yee ha ! Ride 'em Cowboy !

' Buffalo Bill '

and

The Pony Express.

Images from an old encyclopedia.

Words & phrases

from an old book of spelling prompts.

This is what

Cathy

made for me

and this is

her link

for my theme

Angels !

What fun !

The Simpsons !

Beautifully stitched...

fabulous hair dahlink,

and yes Cathy,

I've been singing

'their song'

all morning !

Thank you.

Delivery Two at Postman's Knock

2011-04-18T05:01:00.000-07:00

Delivery two

at our postcard swap at

http://kiwicarole.blogspot.com/

This is what I made for

Joanna

her theme being

Collections / Collecting

The caption reads,

' Millicent liked nothing better

than an afternoon

sorting her

button collection'

I used buttons from my old button tin,

a page from an old dictionary

& image from

La Mode.

I hope Joanna likes what I made her.

We are having such fun,

twelve of us

sending a postcard we have created

from their chosen theme

to the person below us on the list,
every second Friday

until we have worked through the list and all

have received a set of twelve unique postcards.

My theme is

Angels

and this is what

Chrissie

made for me

Isn't this fantastic ?

I love the colour scheme, the textures

and above all the humour...
the mad hairdo & odd sized eyes !

Thank you so much Chrissie

and thank you again

to all involved in this fun swap.

Click on the Postman's Knock

link at the top

to see all the first set of cards

and now the second set

as they arrive.

Postman's Knock

2011-04-02T08:46:00.000-07:00

I have joined a postcard swap

here

which involves twelve of us making a postcard

for the person alphabetically below us on our list

based on their chosen theme.

All twelve of us post our cards on the same day.

My first card is for

Jill

whose theme is

Windows.

My card is supposed to represent looking into a window

on a whitewashed house in Spain.

Geraniums in terracotta pots on the windowsill

beaded fly curtains

old worn frames

and lace to keep cool

in this hot place

I used to live in Spain

and though I hate to see caged birds,

many houses in our village had them

so I have included one.

I found the vintage book at a market

while staying in Barcelona.

***

I rushed to the door when the postman arrived this morning

and

this is what

Jane

made for me.

My theme being Angels.

A beautiful Angel

printed onto specialist paper

so that the light shines through

like a stained glass window.

The gold is so rich against te darker tones.

Simply beautiful.

Jane photographed the image while on holiday

in Blanchland Northumbria.

The gold edging frames it beautifully.

I'm so glad I chose the theme Angels !

Thank you Jane for my lovely postcard

and thank you to the organisers of

Postman's Knock

for all the hard work.

It's a lot of fun.

Why not follow my link at the top to see all twelve postcards ?

2011-03-20T00:44:00.000-07:00

I made this snippet roll for

my ( third ) cousin Sue

The lady is our our Great Aunt Fanny

I met Sue for the first time

while my mother & I were staying in Southport
visiting family last week.

You can read how Sue & I are related
and how she found me
here

We have become good friends since
and it was wonderful meeting her & her family
and looking though the family tree
which Sue is researchng.

Pay it Forward

2011-03-12T08:28:00.000-08:00

Although I didn't manage to tempt anyone for

Pay it Forward,

I made this for

as I was going to receive her PIF gift.

( I know that's not the way it works ! )

I altered a very small tin

by covering it with gesso

then ink

and adding a lovely image.

Then had fun filling it !

This morning Jo's PIF gift for me arrived

and I was Totally delighted.

I love the idea of using the old scrabble tiles & wooden holder.

I keep picking up the pieces....

so tiny & beautifully made

hearts & hens -

That's me !

The Post card is Jo at her best

and this particularly lovely.

I love her style.

Thank you so much Jo.

2011-03-06T09:33:00.000-08:00

I can't show all of this yet,

for reasons which

will become clear...

but I thought I'd give you a peek !

2011-02-17T00:40:00.000-08:00

I'm really pleased with the way this turned out.

I was on the beach with my daughter & our dog

and saw a lovely piece of driftwood.

It almost looks like stone.

It's the perfect base for this little lady.

I tend to find images from old books to cut out.

I'm not very good at downloading & printing out images

but this year,

I've promised myself a new scanner / printer.

My husband gave me a new camera for my birthday

and I can already see the difference it makes.

Hope you like my little lady as much as I do.

I'm off to search for some more suitable pieces of driftwood

and if I find enough,

I just might do a giveaway......

***

I must tell you about this..

My newly found dear ( third ) cousin Sue
has recently started a Blog.
She is also researching our family tree
( the gent on the left is my Great Grandfather Eli )

Sue has a large amount of photos
she is willing to share for your artwork.
So if you are interested,
please visit her here:

http://theviewfromheresusan.blogspot.com/

2011-02-13T08:31:00.000-08:00

I picked up a lovely book called

YESTERDAYS

The Way We Were

in the Charity shop

and loved this image

of a young girl

standing in shallow water.

I brushed some watered down Gesso

over the piece of brown card

my paper flowers

were attached to

then added some bits & pieces.

Idea for Sycamore seed pod wings from

LOVE STITCHING RED.

well it's a rainy day

what else am I going to do ?

2011-02-10T13:39:00.000-08:00

Snippet rolls:

see previous post.

Thank you

Carole

for the inspiration

and

Margaret

for the

encouragement.

2011-02-07T13:47:00.000-08:00

There is a lovely group

known as the

Queen Bee Five

QB5

who regularly swap their lovely makes.

I love them all individually

and I love them as a group.

I saw their Christmas gift swaps

and decided to try to make what Carole had...

snippet rolls.

Carole ran the fabric journal tutorial

I did last year.

It seems that

many of us have been inspired to make a snippet roll too...

Mine is not finished yet

and will be different as I have no

sewing machine

but it's fun using up those scraps...

why not give it a try ?

Pop over to see:

Spring ATCs

2011-02-05T10:59:00.000-08:00

I've been making my ACTs for the

Spring themed swap

( look away if you are in the swap )

I haven't made anything for ages...

and managed to cut my thumb !

Please confirm that you are in the swap-

If you said yes to the swap

I've counted you in !

for my address

THANKS !!!

SPRING ATC SWAP

2011-02-01T00:57:00.000-08:00

Swap now closed.

There are ten of us swapping.

Can you send me your Spring themed ATCs

by the end of February please.

I'll mail them out the first week of March

for some Spring colour.

Email me at;

http://artfullyooglebloops.blogspot.com/

to get my address

and don't forget to add your return address.

Have fun !

SPRING ATC SWAP

2011-01-27T05:15:00.000-08:00

Chilly isn't it?

Anyone want to join me for a

SPRING

themed ATC swap ?

On the Twelth day of Christmas...

2011-01-05T17:17:00.000-08:00

.

My True Love sent to me...
Twelve Drummers Drumming

Pat's delightful snowmen drummers
bring the twelve days of Christmas
to an end.

On the Eleventh Day of Christmas...

2011-01-05T01:17:00.000-08:00

Mt True Love sent to me...

Eleven Pipers Piping

Linda's wonderfully decorated box

contained the makings for a lovely

miniature garland.

http://www.fancylinda.com/

On the Tenth day of Christmas.

2011-01-04T00:04:00.000-08:00

My True Love sent to me..

Ten Lords a leaping !

I like how Hope

thought out of the (match)box here

and found these tumbling chaps !

http://pixiesponderings1966.blogspot.com/

On the Ninth day of Christmas..

2011-01-03T01:11:00.000-08:00

My True Love sent to me...

Nine Ladies Dancing

From Russia with Love !
Julia's ballerinas are beautiful

http://astra-scrap.blogspot.com/

On the Eighth day of Christmas...

2011-01-02T02:22:00.000-08:00

My True Love sent to me...

Eight Maids a milking

Brilliant Kimmie
I can hear the cowbells !

http://artinredwagons.blogspot.com/

On the Seventh day of Christmas...

2011-01-01T02:59:00.000-08:00

My true love sent to me...

Seven swans a swimming

Jan' delightful box
is very festive.

http://jansartyatcjourney.blogspot.com/

On the Sixth day of Christmas...

2010-12-31T01:08:00.000-08:00

My true love sent to me...
Six Geese a laying

I made number six !

On the Fifth day of Christmas...

2010-12-30T02:05:00.000-08:00

My True Love sent to me...

FIVE GOLD RINGS

I like Lisa's contemporary design

http://lisasarsfield.blogspot.com/

On the Fourth day of Christmas...

2010-12-28T21:54:00.000-08:00

My True Love sent to me...
Four Calling Birds.

Penny used a beautiful image
from an old calling card - lovely !

http://pennybennington.blogspot.com/

On the Third day of Christmas...

2010-12-28T01:48:00.000-08:00

My True Love sent to me...
Three French Hens !!!

I love Jo's take on the French hens
and her very pretty box.

http://fiddlesnips.blogspot.com/

On the Second day of Christmas...

2010-12-27T01:41:00.000-08:00

My true Love sent to me...

Two Turtle Doves.

Thank you Janet

for your beautiful festive box

http://christmas-prep.blogspot.com/

On the First day of Christmas...

2010-12-26T00:44:00.000-08:00

My True Love sent to me...

a ....

Pukeko

in a Ponga tree ? !!!

http://thebalancingkiwi.blogspot.com/

The Balancing Kiwi's

take on

a Partridge in a Pear Tree !!!!

Thanks Lorraine

2010-12-24T09:23:00.000-08:00

Way back in October,

I organised a matchbox swap

for

The Twelve Days of Christmas.

Twelve of us took a day each & made twelve boxes.

I then sorted the sets

& sent them out as far as America, New Zealand & Russia

( hope they've arrived )

Over the twelve days, starting Boxing day,

I'll show you them one by one.

Thank you to all who took part !

Thanks to Jo

Fiddlesnips !

for letting me use the above photo.

Happy Christmas

xxxx

inchie : blue

2010-12-14T01:02:00.000-08:00

Our last ever inchie prompt word at

inchiebyinch is :

BLUE

Thank you for the inchie challenges Fiona

we are all feeling blue that it's the last one !

I have chosen a little blue flower-

the Forget Me Not

2010-12-10T01:50:00.000-08:00

These gorgeous Christmas tags

arrived in the post..

a swap organised by Fiona at:

INCHIEBYINCH

we had to include an inchie on our tag !

They are wonderful-

thanks to all who took part

and Fiona for organising the swap.

( Mine's the frosty blue one with the Christmas tree & buttons )

inchie challenge : COLD

2010-12-07T02:25:00.000-08:00

Our penultimate inchie challenge prompt:

COLD

inchie photographed on an ice cube !

December Dress

2010-12-02T02:38:00.000-08:00

My dress for December-

a little Chistmas cracker !

This brings our year of dress making to an end.

A wonderful challenge hosted by

Margaret at:

http://thebalancingkiwi.blogspot.com/

Thank you so much Margaret

it's been a lot of fun.

Twelve little dresses

hanging in their wardrobe...

***

January * February * March

April* May * June

July * August * September

October * November * December

The Bad Penny Collection

***

inchie challenge : giving

2010-11-30T03:46:00.000-08:00

The prompt word this week at:

inchiebyinch

is:

GIVING

As our daughter will be eighteen next week...

we are GIVING her The Key to the Door !!!

( Ha ! She's had one for ages ! )

Image from old dictionary,

house button used as a stamp with gold pigment

another charm from her broken necklace

and background

a party invitation.

2010-11-25T01:27:00.000-08:00

Your twelve days of Christmas boxes

are winging their way all over the world...

I've had a request for

who made what ,

so here goes...

A Partridge in a Pear Tree :

Lorraine at :

Two Turtle Doves:
Janet at :
http://christmas-prep.blogspot.com/

Three French Hens:
Joanna at:
http://fiddlesnips.blogspot.com/

Four Calling Birds:
Penny at:
http://pennybennington.blogspot.com/

Five Gold Rings:
Lisa at :
http://lisasarsfield.blogspot.com/

Six Geese a Laying :
Me !!!

Seven Swans a swimming:
Jan at:
http://jansartyatcjourney.blogspot.com/

Eight Maids a Milking:
Kimmie at:
http://artinredwagons.blogspot.com/

Nine Ladies Dancing:
Julia at:
http://astra-scrap.blogspot.com/

Ten Lords a Leaping:
Hope at :
http://pixiesponderings1966.blogspot.com/

Eleven Pipers Piping:
Linda at:
http://www.fancylinda.com/

Twelve Drummers Drumming:
Pat at:
http://artfullyooglebloops.blogspot.com/

Phew !

That took a while !

Can anyone explain

how you do that thing

where you click on a name

& it magically

leads to their Blog ? !!!

I tried it once,

but it didn't work !

ichie challenge : Song

2010-11-23T02:30:00.000-08:00

This weeks' prompt word at

INCHIEBYINCH is:

SONG.

My Little songbird

wants out of his gilded cage.

Old sheet music, bird in a cage stamp,

gold leaf & flower charm

( from my daughter's broken necklace )

Background page from an old dictionary.

I didn't know there was a Song Sparrow -

I have sparrows all over my garden

but they are too busy eating seeds to sing !

Twelve days of Christmas match box swap

2010-11-18T08:39:00.000-08:00

Packaged & ready to post...

144 little boxes...

12 sets of 12.

The Twelve Days of Christmas

match box swap.

I'll show them

individually...

over...

The Twelve days of Christmas !!!

***

Thanks to everyone who took part.

There were a few moments

when I didn't think it would all come together !!!

Thank you too for all

the lovely presents I received

and postage stamps.

I reckon I'm going to be

blocking the queue at the Post Office tomorrow !!!

I hope I got it right as some of you kept one

of the ones you made sending me 11-

I really hope none of your twelve are missing !

Let me know when they arrive.

inchie : Faith

2010-11-15T06:55:00.000-08:00

This week's prompt word

for the inchiebyinch

challenge is :

FAITH

***

Faith, Hope and Charity

three saintly sisters

from a Kate Greenaway illustration

and lace from a dainty handkerchief.

Backing picture

an illustration from an old Spanish text book

inchie : Cherish

2010-11-12T07:30:00.000-08:00

This week's prompt word for

the inchie challenge at:

http://thelinenshelf.blogspot.com/2010/10/swap-lovelies.html

CHERISH

To hold or treat as dear; to be fond of; to care for tenderly;

to nurture;

to feel or show love for.

I covered my inchie

with a piece of contents page from

The Oxford Book of English Verse.

Poets write of love and fondness

with great passion.

I then stamped with a stamp

of a bunch of flowers design

which was given to me by a fellow Blogger

of whom I am very fond.

Then added a flower charm.

2010-11-11T14:19:00.000-08:00

I was sorting through

boxes & boxes of books

at the charity shop where I work,

and came across this old school book

and had to buy it.

I remember

when my mother retired from teaching,

she took quite a few old books like these

due to be thrown out

and the grandchildren had a lot of fun with them !

2010-11-06T02:23:00.000-07:00

Jess & I spent hours looking

at the artists & their stalls

on the Ramblas in Barcelona.

The portrait artists & cartoonists were brilliant

( forgot to get photos ! )

I particularly liked the above one & bought a print.

It's only small -

smaller than a postcard

( but bigger than an ATC !!! )

and packed with detail.

It's made on photographic paper

then little ceramic dots added

which give a fabulous feel & effect.

I just love it &

will frame it in an old frame

& hang it in my kitchen.

***

I made another Degas' dress !

The background is the colour

I painted the chimney breast in our kitchen-

the remaining walls are cream.

so my little Barcelona print will go very nicely !

Sisters !

swap treasures and gifts

2010-11-04T09:37:00.000-07:00

Well my postman has been busy recently !

As well as my matchbox swaps arriving daily now,

I've had some other wonderful post.

I received this wonderful heart

from Textile artist Carolyn Saxby of:

LOVE STITCHING RED

Living in St Ives, Carolyn's work is inspired

by the beauty she is surrounded by.

Her textiles are dyed using plants & flowers

and produce the most delicate colours.

Thank you Carolyn

I adore the heart

and the love with which it was made

***

All of my La Mode swaps are home now

and have given me great pleasure.

Pat:

Artfully Ooglebloops

painted a "very me" flower

on her brown parcel paper !

Love it !

Pat had filled a box with wonderful treasures

and art inspired by the La Mode paper.

Lovely...

Thank you Pat-

I love what you made & sent me.

***

Patty:

Magpies nest

made her label from a delicate Honesty seed pod

& wrapped her goodies

in linen with embroidered hens

( A cheeky little reference to my other Blog ! )

Beautiful TAP paper transfers...

and an incredible altered tin

Packed with treasures !

Including one of Patty's famous birds nests

& delicate flowers.

Thank you Patty

I love it all

I' m overwhelmed with all these wonderful gifts.

You can see my other La Mode swaps here :

November dress

2010-11-02T04:31:00.000-07:00

I was totally inspired by seeing the original

Degas' The Little Dancer aged Fourteen

to make my dress this month.

I love this sculpture

and am thrilled to have finally seen the original.

I've had such fun making this dress

from scribbling on the back of an envelope

last night...

To finding the materials...

I've had the sequins in a tin since I was eighteen !

I cut the bodice from crinkly gold paper

then covered it in ruched tissue from a antique dress pattern.

And made the skirt

from muslin I used in

the Erosion Project

so it looks old & faded

Margaret has hosted this wonderful year

of dress making...

only one more month to go.

Pop to her Blog to see the others:

http://pennyshenhouse.blogspot.com/

inchie : patience

2010-11-01T09:54:00.000-07:00

" He waited for her to get ready

with the patience of a Saint "

***

This week's prompt word

at Inchiebyinch is

PATIENCE

My idea was inspired by visiting Barcelona Cathedral.

Barcelona

2010-10-30T02:30:00.000-07:00

Some beautiful images from

our trip to Barcelona...

all my favourite colours !

if you want the chat you need to pop here :

Inchie : Home

2010-10-25T08:36:00.000-07:00

The Inchiebyinch prompt word this week is:

HOME

I've cheated a bit as I've just framed an inch square of

some stitching I did on an old postcard

which someone lovingly wrote while they were away from home

It was my first attempt at stitching French Knots

to make little sewn flowers

So my inchie represents

HOME GROWN

***

Hurried a bit to get this done

as I'm going away for a few days...

I'll be HOME soon

and come to visit to see what you've made !!!

Matchbox Swap

2010-10-23T03:34:00.000-07:00

The Partridge

has come home to roost...

The swans have swum in,

the geese have landed & laid

& the Gold rings are shining brightly !!!

How are you others getting on ?

I'd like to have every set packaged by

mid November

to enable the ones going overseas

a chance to arrive in time for Christmas !

I'll be away next Tuesday for a few days

( Barcelona here I come with my teenage daughter ! )

so hope you leave a message

about how your swap boxes are coming along !

My email is

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvIAyxpjEuc

for my postal address

inchie : FUTURE

2010-10-20T07:26:00.000-07:00

The prompt for this weeks inchie is

FUTURE

http://pinkdogwoodblossom.blogspot.com/

Blog award

2010-10-14T09:33:00.000-07:00

What seems like ages ago,

sweet Cory from:

gave me this award !

Thank you again Cory.

I have to answer this question :

If I had the chance to go back & change one thing in my life

what would it be ?

Then pass the award to six bloggers.

***

The answer to the question is without doubt,

to go back and give my teenage self a good pep talk.

Tell her not to be so shy & nervous.....

Tell the boy who asked my best friend to find out

if I would go out with his friend

" Yes "

Don't answer for me -

I didn't know anything about it til later ( Too late ) !!!

It might have helped my confidence to know

someone wanted to ask me out & didn't because my best friend told his friend no !!!

Tell myself the acne does go eventually

( and you will look nice )

You have a great life ahead

but don't waste time in the cafe at college -

get working hard

& get that qualification !

Learn to drive now silly girl

cos at 47 you still don't !
Stop biting your nails..
cos at 47 you still do !

Stop being so reckless walking home from parties alone in the dark to save your taxi fayre

and NEVER take a lift from someone who has been drinking
and don't drink too much ...

as thirty years later you will lecturing your daughter about this very subject !!!

" What ? I have a daughter" ???

umm probably shouldn't have told her that !

( and a son -shhhsh don't tell )

( oh ! and a wonderful husband !!!)

Tell her everything is OK and she does stop being so quiet...

in fact later on,

she'll find that...

SHE CAN' T SHUT UP !!!

***

I'm passing this very pretty award to some very crafty
( in the nicest way )

blogger friends :

* Jo at Fiddlesnips

* Carolyn at LOVE STITCHING RED

* Margaret at Alice & Camilla
* Kimmie at Art in Red Wagons
* Cathy at Menopausal Musing
* Carol at Madness & Mess

all of these lovely blogs are on my sidebar
and all of these ladies inspire me to create & learn.
Thank you

***

inchie challenge The Past

2010-10-11T08:06:00.000-07:00

Our prompt for this week's inchie is

The Past.

This had me remembering my best friend Natasha.

We met at primary school aged five-

Tash was hanging upside down on the school railings.

We spent so much time together

& were ALWAYS dressing up.

We were in a fancy hat competition

and wore our long dresses

& were photographed for the local paper.

Our dresses were were very like the

Kate Greenaway ones I've used in my inchie.

***

I've backed my inchie with a vintage

footpaths map

showing the village where we grew up.

We learned our

abc and sums together.

I've smudged some chalk on & some blue ink.

Cleaning the blackboard was considered a treat

and I remember getting our first

ink pens & getting inky fingers !

I've photographed my inchie

on the inside cover of an old school book.

***

Tash & me messing around

in the photo booth-

I'm the one in the silly headband !

( I plaited that out of three long scarves ! )

Great memories from

The Past

Thank you Fiona

swap lovelies

2010-10-10T03:14:00.000-07:00

A while back I offered some copies

of La Mode 1900

as a swap.

In return

I wanted either a piece of artwork inspired by the paper

material for a comparable price.

Jo ( Fiddlesnips )

made me this delightful postcard.

I love it - so dainty.

***

Jo also mde me a Hen House ATC !

I've started to make a few ATC's but they are no way

as good as Jo's !

Thank you Jo.

***

Margaret

( Alica and Camilla )

sent a scrumptious package

from Switzerland-

full of old book pages,

papers, cards etc

with German or French script.

Lovely !

I've had such fun looking through them.

Thank you Margaret

English / French phrase book pages

***

My other swappers live in the USA

so my packages took a bit longer

to travel

over the pond !

twelve days swap

2010-10-09T05:19:00.000-07:00

Where is number six ?

The six geese have laid

& the seven swans are swimming to me !

How are your matchboxes coming along ?

Please remember that

I have to post to Russia, New Zealand & the US

in time for Christmas !

devotion

2010-10-07T01:02:00.000-07:00

The prompt for this weeks' inchie at:

DEVOTION.

My image is of a woman writing to her soldier husband.

The background is

my mother's ration book from the second world war .

Later I added some brown paper & string-
mum always folds & keeps brown paper from parcels
& rolls the string into balls-
This is inbuilt from her childhood during the war
Waste not Want not
everything was saved & recycled.

***

I was also thinking of my mother in the early fifties,

young and with her first baby,

waiting to fly to Malta

to join my father who was posted there.

Dad was a Royal Marine.

Though we were often joined him overseas,

there were times when we didn't.

He was away for a whole year

when my three brothers were little

& mum wrote lots of letters.

Being a teacher,

she wrote out the whole alphabet

so that my dad could practise handwriting

so he could write to my brothers

with lettering they could read.

match box swap

2010-10-05T02:12:00.000-07:00

OK, we have:

1. Lorraine

2. Julie

3. Jo

4. Penny ( US )

5. Lisa

6. Penny ( UK )

7. Jan

8. Kimmie

9. Julia

10. Pixie

11.Linda

12. Pat

***

Is that correct ? !

Let me know !

When you have completed your matchbox,

email me at:

to get my postal address.

Send me all twelve boxes.

I'll then sort them into sets of

The Twelve days of Christmas

and send you yours !

Don't forget to add your address !!!

***

I am not filling mine with treasures

& mine are quite simple !

I hope they are OK.

No real deadline

as we have plenty of time

but some do have to be sent to & fro the US

so please bare that in mind

Have fun !

the twelve days of Christmas matcbox swap

2010-10-03T00:59:00.000-07:00

STOP PRESS :

only number 10 left !!!

***

My email addy is :

email me to get my home address.

Send all twelve boxes to me

making sure you give me your address

and I will send you back a whole set !

***

what's the matter chaps ?

never seen a naked lady before ?

Great Quentin Blake illustrations.

***

We are altering matchboxes

for a

Twelve days of Christmas theme

so each of us will end up with a complete set.

Join us if you can..

simply decorate twelve of the smaller matchboxes

with one of the above days left.

I'll collect them all in

then send a whole set to you

in time for Christmas

to make a lovely decoration.

october dress

2010-10-02T01:26:00.000-07:00

For my October dress,

I just had to use

this gorgeous paper.

and add a favourite button

( to cover my crooked cutting out ! )

The background is
a beautiful presentation Whisky box
which would make a great wardrobe
but I've already made mine !

Pop over to Margaret's to see

more lovely dresses at:

***

Calling all swappers !!!

I'm organising a

Twelve days of Christmas

altered matchbox swap

& I need more swappers to join us !

Scroll back to my last two posts

to find out more

and join in !!!

***

twelve days of Christmas altered matcbox swap

2010-10-01T00:37:00.000-07:00

Come on Swappers !!!

I've started mine already!

( I'm doing six geese a laying )

those who have already signed up-

If you want to get started

just let me know which day

you are choosing.

We need more !!!

so we can cover the twelve days of Christmas

the twelve days of Christmas matchbox swap

2010-09-28T09:17:00.000-07:00

A little early methinks for organisig this

but I see other Christmas swaps are already underway

so here goes !

I thought a Twelve days of Christmas theme would be nice...

for a decorated matchbox swap.

If we get twelve swappers

then it's ideal

& I can give you each a day to work with.

If not,

then we will just base our designs on the song in general.

I hope we get twelve as it will make such a lovely

Christmas decoration.

inchie challenge : separation

2010-09-28T02:06:00.000-07:00

SEPARATION

***

Six degrees of separation (also referred to as the "Human Web") refers to the idea that everyone is at most six steps away from any other person on Earth, so that a chain of, "a friend of a friend" statements can be made to connect any two people in six steps or fewer. It was originally set out by Frigyes Karinthy and popularized by a play written by John Guare.

***

I have often thought this would be a

great name for a Blog !

It reminds me of travel,

so I've based my inchie on this.

To see what the others have made visit :

swap til you drop

2010-09-24T00:07:00.000-07:00

***

I have four swappers ...

Two copies of La Mode left to swap...

last chance !

So- Jo, Patty, Ooglebloops & Margaret

I'll contact you to get your addresses

or email me at:

and I can get your copy in the post !

***

I have joined a Witch themed ATC swap at :
http://reveau.blogspot.com/

never made one before

so hope they are OK

Monday inchie and The Linen Shelf Swap

2010-09-18T05:10:00.000-07:00

Our word for the inchie challenge

this week is:

WAVE

I knew exactly what I wanted to do this time

& found the image of a woman on a bi- plane waving

in my Travel in Vogue book.

***

I added some white textured paper

& a tiny fragment of jet which I found

in my old button box.

Then photographed my inchie

on lovely paper with a wavy design !

Really enjoyed making this one...

thank you Fiona.

If you'd like to join the challenge, pop here:

http://twodressesstudio.blogspot.com/2010/08/butterfly-effect-open-is-calling-you.html

*****

The Linen Shelf Swap

***

I returned to the reclamation yard this on Saturday

and bought the remaining six copies of La Mode.

I am offering these as a swap.

***

What I would like in return for a copy of this lovely old paper

is either:

some images that you think I'd like for my artwork

for a comparable price

The copies of La Mode cost £ 5 each.

Or :

A piece of artwork made by you inspired by your copy.

***

If I get too many entries

( I have six copies to swap )

I'll put your names in a hat

and draw the winners on

Friday 24 th September.

Good luck !

***

dainty

2010-09-13T07:39:00.000-07:00

Today's inchie challenge is

to use the word Dainty.

***

Dainty conjures up images of

tiny ballerinas, lace gloves,

kittens, parasoles,

fine bone china,

Beatrix Potter mice, butterflies....

***

I used an image of a dainty Kate Greenaway lady,

some delicate cut paper

and covered with a layer of

a fine tissue paper pattern

I found in a 1900 La Mode paper

I bought on Saturday.

***

I think I need to get some cut inchies
as mine are never straight !

***

pop over to see the others

or join the challenge here:

http://inchybyinch.blogspot.com/

the butterfly effect

2010-09-11T02:29:00.000-07:00

I have completed my butterfly

for the Butterfly effect project

(Details Below )

***

I've displayed it

on this fabulous old leather bound dictionary

I bought yesterday

for three pounds !

***

***

***

***

***

My butterfly is made from a image from an old book

which I then pasted with a patterned napkin.

Then stamped with my favourite stamp & white ink,

added a touch of gold leaf

& highlighted with a pearlescant ink.

***

Visit two dresses studio

to join in :

September Song

2010-09-10T00:03:00.001-07:00

During September

I will be celebrating

the changing season.

The beauty in nature all around us.

***

Please visit the blog below

& click on the icon

to join in with a

fantastic opportunity.

I am

http://twodressesstudio.blogspot.com/

2010-09-09T07:26:00.000-07:00

September always feels like a fresh start

to the year somehow

Children back to school & nights drawing in.

Time for a new challenge perhaps ?

I saw that

inchbyinch

were setting a new challenge

so decided to join in.

We had to base the design on the word

touch.

I had this lovely

black & white card last Christmas

showing a row of young women

doing up their ice skates.

I've covered it with sparkly voile

and coated the edges with sugar

& added a tiny bit of lace...

all very fiddly !

Why not join in the challenge !

erosion bundle project

2010-09-08T02:53:00.000-07:00

Last January,

I joined the

Erosion Bundle Project

by selecting some

papers, leaves, fabrics

and bits & bobs

to make bundles

which we left outside

in the elements til April.

I tucked mine behind the branches

of my clematis.

***

I should have made my piece of artwork

with the results in August...

but I have no idea

what to do !

***

so here are simply some images

of the best bits...

Can you believe that the first two images

were created by an eroding

Poinsettia flower ?

a vibrant red last Christmas !

I love the marks it made.

***

pop over to see what some of the others made :

http://erosionbundles.blogspot.com/

***

september dress

2010-09-03T03:03:00.000-07:00

My dress for September

celebrates the onset of Autumn

and the lovely Hydrangea flowers changing colour

& drying out.

***

I printed the word Hydrangea in Edwardian script

& added its definition from my plant encyclopedia.

***

Over this I pasted white tissue paper

which I'd stampedwith a lovely pattern.

I gave the bodice extra ink

& another layer of rushed tissue paper.

Finally added some petals & lace & a touch of sparkle.

***

For more lovely dresses visit :

All Hallows Swap

2010-08-31T13:16:00.000-07:00

HALLOWEEN

Match box swap.

Are you interested in swapping

an altered matchbox with me

with a Halloween theme ?

***

I would be happy to host a swap

for anyone interested...

give it a go-

we had fun last time !

2010-08-22T05:20:00.000-07:00

I've been messing around

with the last napkin

from a pack I've used a great deal recently.

I bought them last Christmas & kept a few.

In fact I had to take this one from

my erosion bundle

( which I still have to turn into a piece of art )

***

I love how when you peel the napkin to a thin paper

then paste it over an image,

it makes a lovely transparent effect.

***

With this one,

the paper was rather special,

a thin sheet of tissue covering a botanic illustration in a book.

It's the last I have.

The colours of he illustration have stained the delicate tissue.

***

Trying out different ideas with these cards

to see the effects I get.

I could lightly stamp on white tissue paper.

fabric journal

2010-08-19T11:11:00.000-07:00

***

Some images from my fabric journal

made during Kiwi Carole's Tutorial.

It's not finished yet

& I'm having a creative crisis.

So I 'm going to make a series of cards

based on what I've learned here.

Thank you Carole

You are a great teacher

( sorry if we messed around in class ! )

***

August dress

2010-08-05T00:17:00.000-07:00

My dress for August

not really " me"

but then I'm not really feeling

very me at the moment.

visit: