Easter

And Finally we're right up todate  again.  Managed to get my Easter window done on time. Inspired by Pinterest.  The bark was a sheet brought from AnnaMarieDesigns  glued on in strips with bits of moss glued in between.  My Great niece Amelia was Christened  Sunday morning so didn't get much chance to see if they still looked good. They've done their job and no doubt come Sunday will be looking rather sad.

News on the Hut

Finally the Hut is ready to paint inside Yippee.  It's now had 2 coats of Ronseals knot block and

primer and we've chosen Farrow and Ball Wimborne White as I didn't want it to be too bright.  It's coming up a nice soft colour and gives a caulky finish. It's looking better than the wood.  In excitement of things starting to come together I got excited and brought this gem, battered but will look fab painted and sat under the window I hope!

Baking

 Been wanting to have ago at making cheat sausage rolls for ages, Gluten Free of course.  So I used Sillyak ready made gluten free pastry and managed to make a small apple and blackberry pie and 6 mini sausage rolls. I used Debbie and Andrew's gluten free pork sausages removing the skin a bit messy but worth doing and added some apple juice. Tasty.  Also whipped up a few little cakes with a bit of strawberry jam hidden in the middle and some runny butter cream on top flavoured with a touch of rose water. Yummy.

Trying out new skills

After our https://annamariedesigns.co.uk/ retreat weekend I thought I'd have a play at making a little canvas for my nieces new home.  She tells me she loves it. X

Perfect Gift

My Friend brought me this fantastic little kit, (from reallyhomemade) which once I got into the rhythm of remembering how to crochet was very quick to make. Clever idea and perfect for my new chair. 

Another catch up!

Well I've had a bit of sewing session and finally got round to making an Artisan Apron (by Janet Clare).  Had a play with applique on the pockets and detailed with Lace. 
I made more carrots and Bunny Ear Bags from Just Judehttp://judith-justjude.blogspot.co.uk/.  The plan was to sell at Church but didn't quite go to plan. Oh well eat the chocolates and keep them for next year.

At the end of March my friend and I went to AnnaMariedesigns retreat in the Cotswold. It was are first one and we stayed for 3 nights. These are just some of the projects we did over the weekend it was very fast paced but a lot of Fun.  Loved trying new things and resurrecting forgotten tools.

Nothing Much to Report

It seems along time since I last posted on here.  Busy doing not much!  I've knitted some chicks ready for Easter Sunday to use at the Church Egg Hunt, we need about 40 and 4 of us have been busy.  Have spent  a lot of time sorting and re sorting through fabrics and ideas.  Also watched a lot of You Tube for ideas and trawling Pinterest. Had a mad idea to have a craft stall at this years summer fete and said I'd make a few bits!!  Must stop procrastinating soon then.

Meantime have put together a little raffle prize to run at Church during Lent.  I made the fabric Carrot and filled with chocolate eggs  Found this pattern on http://judith-justjude.blogspot.co.uk/p/my-gallery.html  there's also a great little bunny ear bag too.

My latest excitement is to make an Artisan Apron following a JanetClare pattern which arrived yesterday.  As I'm an awkward shape it was suggested I make a mock up first so headed to a charity shop and managed to pick up a huge duvet cover for a £1!!!  It's already been washed as I can't wait to get started as need an apron for a retreat next month.

Progress being made on another Project

As with all my projects they have inevitably been around for sometime, either waiting to be done or half started!  It's a common theme in my craft zone.

So this is no exception.  I brought the MDF loo roll holder as Rob the MDFMAN designed it, as I thought would be great in the shepherd hut (Hubby's on going project!) for storage.  So probably 2 years on this is how it looks.  Not quite finished.  So far as been painted with several layers of gesso and then decided white would be to harsh for the Imagination Crafts rice paper so decided to paint it in Cosmic shimmer Honeysuckle chalk paint.  Until I decided to crackle the rest of it so then painted it coral then used Americana crackle medium before painting over with the honeysuckle again! Finally I glued the rice paper to both sides (same print design).  Before putting a seal over it all to protect it  still need to decide what next.   Happy so far and thinking it would be great to house my knitting project to keep clean and safe from the furries!

First Patchwork

At last I've had a go at doing my first bit of patchwork. I've joined a quilting group at a local craft shop (The Craftworks) I always wanted to have ago and having been stuck on my Christmas tree skirt I thought the help of professionals would be useful.  So having turned up this week with nothing much to do, as I keep putting the tree skirt off I ended up having a bash at a simple patchwork.

And this is what I have finished at home.  I hadn't taken my machine so in fact I hand sewn the individual squares together to create 4 strips but I did cheat and machined the strips together.  Not perfect so still need to practice however very happy with my effort.

January's last bit's and piece's

A day late in posting but just wanted to share a couple more things done last month.

My 2nd square towards my blanket. This time in pink.

And 1 fingerless glove knitted in a round with an owl outline.  Just need to work out the reverse to complete hes mate.

A Very small project

Last year I picked up a little heart frame from Poundland thought it would be nice to do something with.  Made a start on it then wasn't sure where I was going so put it in a box.  Today I added a metal title 'Life is good' and only used a couple of flowers.

Viola!  At least it's out the box and hung up.

A Re hash!

One of my early mdf projects was looking tired and dusty. I had an idea to do something with it, you know how it is some wonderful image pops into your mind.  So I went ahead all guns blazing as they say prepping and sticking.  Then other things came along and Christmas too.  I seemed to have lost my inspiration for it and it's sat buried under everything else but determined I dragged it out.....

and well it's done.  Until the next re vamp!  Shame there's no before photo but originally the letters stood on their own and had some different embellishments.

Still being productive

okay so it's been hanging around for a while half done and it's not completely finished but it can be fixed to the wall just as soon as I can pin down hubby long enough to drill a couple of holes.  It was a bargain picked up from Colemans Craft Warehouse and according to my blog from 18 months ago I'd originally planned to use in the Shepherds Hut (which is still not finished).  It's great that things don't always turn out how you plan them.

Used lots of Pion papers from Scotch Lodge.  Very pretty paper's, I also decided to put some cute little clear acrylic knobs on the drawer.  My take on vintage/shabby chic. Needs lace trim of sorts but will add later.

To my next UFO  the Christmas tree Skirt is trickier than thought so will take longer but getting professional help from a local quilting group.  Plenty of others to choose from!

On a Roll....

...well of sorts.  My lovely friend Jenny brought me lots of lovely wool for Christmas. I've had Debbie Abrahams book, blankets and throws for a few years with the intention of knitting a blanket or two! So this year I'm diving in and going to tackle the 'sampler'.  It's all about texture and although it's all one colour in the book I'm going to use 3 for mine. So.......

first square completed yesterday. Yeah. Will keep going until I run out of wool but quite a few to do!!!

Not just about crafts..

As I get older I seem to be getting grumpier!  Shopping at Tesco's this morning frustrated again by the fact I'd come across out of date chilled foods yet again I decided to go off find someone and rant. I wish I'd demanded for the manager as somehow they may not hear and I dare say I'll continue to come across the same problem.  When you pay a premium for food due to a medical condition it annoys me when I find things out of date.  And aren't Tesco campaigning about food waste yet a whole batch of Sillyak pastry 2 days out of date being removed  from the shelves!!! WASTE! 

Not alone!

It's a while since I posted on my blog.  As no one follows my blog and it may not be that thrilling it doesn't actually matter, I've decided.  I couldn't help but notice that I'm not alone as other blogs I have followed have also been struggling to blog regularly.

So we may be half way through January but it's okay I'm just going to jump straight in.  Things are changing here at home so this year I'm planning to be quite good. Umm I may have said that before! But I'm on a mission.  There are too many things started and not finished and more worrying too many projects not even looked at yet.  (These are craft related not major home improvements will leave that to hubby, well eventually).

Already I have started well having finished a pair of socks for hubby started 3 ago!!  Had been panicking about having enough wool but my friend Jenny pointed out I could always do different colour toes!  Simple when you have a clever friend.

Last week was my birthday.  Hubby kept asking what I wanted and really didn't know as I have so much (that sounds very grand I just believe I'm very fortunate and don't see the point of asking for the sake of having).  In the end I said what I really want is something to fix to the door of the wardrobe to hangs things on instead of having them thrown on the chair or stuffed elsewhere.   So he found a piece of mdf, edged it and marked, drilled the holes for the screws and my knobs.  The knobs I'd brought from a salvo fair 2/3 years ago just for this purpose. They are actually blue and green but only picked up 4 so he found a clear 1 at BnQ to keep with the odd numbers, flows better. So I painted it with white gesso and then used rice paper to decoupage the background before adding a few embellishments, and viola!  Very happy.

Today saw the completion of yet another UFO. Not sure how many years ago Jenny brought me this kit guessing 3/4 years ago at least.  I've spent the last couple of days finishing the star, Santa and skate.  Finally all done ready for this next Christmas. 

Plenty more projects still to do and as tempting as it is I'm going to resist the temptation to list them!