Artistic license... I mean I do it my way!

The rag rug for my craft room is coming along nicely. I'm not spending all my time doing it, especially whilst it's been so warm, as I do have other projects on the go too! So here's the update.....

....I'm not expecting to fill the whole frame ( I'd need a lot more tee shirts for that!) but, it will be a good size when it's finished. As you can see I work from the back. This is the way I was taught to make these peg rugs.....

...you make the hole in the hessian with your chosen rag tool, (more on that in a while) push one end of the strip into the hole, a few threads along make another hole and push the other end of the strip into that hole. Try to make the ends as level as you can. ( I know I shall have a few to trim up as they've been cut a bit too long) and this is what it looks like...

..there are no rules, move over the hessian any way you want......

....as long as you are keeping the lengths between holes as equal as you can. Now, when I was growing up, these types of rugs were called peg rugs. The reason being is that mainly this was used as the rug making tool....

...these are in fact original pegs from the 1950's. They belonged to my late mother, and I have a box full of them....

...to get back to the pegging tool, one of the "legs" was cut off the peg and the remaining leg was sharpened to a point so that it could be used to pierce the hessian. That is how I made my first pegged rug when I was about 10, and it stayed in our kitchen for about 10 years. This is the tool I use now....

..it's has a very short handle which helps as I have arthritis in my fingers. So, I'm really pleased and hope to get it finished in the next week. I decided to go with a random pattern, and patches of colour. I didn't want straight lines or a shape. That's the thing about doing it your way! I have been thinking ahead though, and have begun making these.....

....ready for you know what. I'm trying to be organised, for a change!

Strips, stacks and ready to go!

Well all the tee shirt pile has now been cut into strips for my rag rug....

...all sorted into colour piles ready....

...I've decided not to use any of the striped fabric in this rug. I think I'll use them for something else, at a later date. I used my rotary cutter on an A2 self healing mat and a large metal ruler, one we usually use for picture framing to cut all the pieces. With the fabric being 100% cotton there was quite a lot of fluff flying about, my desk was covered. But, it soon cleaned up.....

... One thing I will mention is that because I also use my mat for paper craft I made sure that I cleaned it well. Because if it's left it could cause heaps of problems when trying to cut nice neat lines on card. Take a look...

...all those cotton fibres which are trapped in the cut will stay there and the surface will be uneven and not very nice. So I cleaned it with a washing up scourer and warm water. It ended up like this.....

...It only took five minutes. If you use your mat just for fabric, well I suppose it doesn't really matter. Anyway, this is all my waste from all that cutting.....

...I put it in this veg storer whilst I was cutting away, to catch it all. Is it waste?

Will it end up in the recycling or on the compost? No, I'm going to try and use it all, ( if I can). The rug which I am making is for my little craft room. The old fitted carpet is being taken out, ( it's been in there for a number of years) and it's being replaced with some vinyl flooring. (I'm hoping to get an off cut reasonable cheap from somewhere as it's a small room) Then at least I have a wipe clean surface for when I'm on messy or wet projects. So the plan is for the waste from my tees to be used as place mats, or coasters, I'm not sure yet, but I'll find a way of utilising them. If you're wondering if I've spent any money on materials for this rug, well the answer is not really. The hessian I've used for the backing was from a huge piece which was given to me. The tee shirts were all ours , worn until they no longer fit, out of shape, or whatever. The wood for the frame was off cuts from one of our gardening projects. I don't count the cost of my time, as I feel that any time spent doing anything creative is more than worth it. Now I just have to decide on a pattern. I'm going straight on to the hessian, from the centre and see what shapes appear. That all begins this evening.

Felt, fibre, fabric, frames...and files!

August, already, how did that happen so quickly? Well this month I'm concentrating (mainly) on all things fabric. I am working on a scrapbook, well more of a "special memory" book. But I have at least eight weeks to complete it. so I'm taking my time, selecting my photographs and putting my elements together bit by bit. Now... on to all things fibre related. The first project I'm working on is a Christening gift.....

.....I never make cards for family Christenings, I prefer to make a lasting gift. This one is a cardigan and booties set. It will be embellished with tiny glass beads, ( not for wearing of course) a keepsake. Once completed and it has been given as a gift I shall post pictures of the completed set. My next project is also in pink......

.....a quilt. I have selected some more pink fabrics and coordinating patterned fabric since I took the picture, and they all match perfectly. This project will take me quite a few months, but that won't matter. Something else I'm doing is playing with colour and texture.....

...but I am only "playing" at this stage! There's more to come with that project too! The garden is full of such glorious colours. Some of my absolute favourites are Heucheras and Hydrangeas. They are such beautiful blended colours....

...my favourite colour is green, but I also love autumnal colours and blues and purples.....

......so I'm trying my hand at making some felted autumn leaves and hydrangea flowers using this gorgeous selection of wool tops.....

......it will be so much fun! For quite a while now I've been saving old tee shirts/tops and fabrics to make a rag rug. I haven't made one for about 20 years but I think my stash of fabrics is growing.......

.........

.....so I shall set aside a couple of hours or so to begin cutting the strips. Neither my grandmother or mother used a frame for pegging rugs but I've decided to give it a try. This frame measures approximately 40 x 30 inches.....

..... I can't make my mind up whether or not to draw a design on the hessian or just dive straight in. The last one I made I just did blocks of colour. Decisions! I'll give it some thought once I've cut the strips and see what I have. There is one thing which I must do and that is sort out my files on my laptop. When I take pictures I always put them in files by months. Then every couple of months I would (usually) re file them into their categories, (family, sewing, plants etc) well it's now August and I have from April to do! I really need to be more organised with them don't I? That should keep me busy for a while, or should I say, for August!

Labours of love

It was back in early June when we'd decided that the garden patio set needed a coat of paint. With it being cream in colour it had weathered quite a bit,(not surprising after all the dreadful wind and rain it's had to succumb to!

We bought a tin of this paint....

...and I began to tackle the job. Mick said that he would do the painting, but I was adamant that I wanted to do it. By the end of the first coat I was wondering to myself why I had been so eager. I must say, it felt like I was painting the Forth bridge. "Why didn't we buy spray paint?" I asked myself. But to be honest, I'm not that keen on spray paints, and I'd certainly make a mess with that, so that answered my question. So in between all the thunder, hail, wind and rain we've had over the last couple of weeks, the set had two coats of the creamy paint.

...Stands back, admires work.... then I thought to myself " Now it looks a bit flat!" It looked too bright, ( well, isn't that what I wanted?) yes but... it looks too bright. By this time Mick was beginning to think I'd gone barmy. " I thought that's how we wanted it" he said. Well, yes, but. Then I had an idea, but if it didn't work (and it looked a mess) it would mean that I'd have to repaint the set all over again. Do I..don't I? Yes, do it!!! Right, off to my collection of paints I go and find this little pot of magic....

.....it's colour is Antique gold. In my brush box I found an old children's paint brush. Yes, I've had it since our children were small, (I don't discard anything if I think it will be useful) I wasn't going to use any of my nice newer brushes for this job! It didn't take much paint, I only used about a quarter of the small pot for the whole job. Beginning with the table I dry brushed the gold paint over the cream. I didn't want to cover the cream just add it along edges and also to the floral work at the base of the table and back of the chairs....

.......

When I first began putting the gold paint on it looked very dull....

....had I made a mistake in trying this?

...carry on until it's all done.. wait for it to completely dry....

...then make the decision, yes, that's what I'd do.

Well, it's turned out wonderfully. The pictures don't really show how "gilded" the set looks. In fact I was so pleased we now have a "gilded" cage too...

All that's needed now is to cut the plexi glass circle to fit on top of the table. I do use a table cloth which has matching seat pads which I made a while ago. But to ring the changes we shall use the clear top and I shall make another set of cushion pads, ( fabric from my enormous stash which I've collected over the years) I have some gorgeous Oriental fabric with gold running through it, I may just use that! Then all we need is some warm sunny and dry days so we can sit back and enjoy the fruits of my labour...please!!!

Batman Returns

Yes, Batman has returned. For our Grandsons' birthday card I just had to use him ( and his many guises) in some form. This is what I did. After giving it some thought I decided to try something different this year. We didn't know what to buy him for a gift and thought that it may be nice for him to have a money gift, which he could either save or spend as he wished, his choice. I didn't want to just hand over an envelope with money in it, I wanted something different. So, after some thought and some rummaging around in my little craft room, I came up with a flat box, about 9" square and 2" deep. Thinking of all the Batman films and shows which I'd seen in the past, ( I'm referring to Adam West as Batman now, nothing earlier than that!) I thought that doing some kind of mystery or puzzle would be different. Thinking cap on, I knew I had some green A4 paper and matching envelopes ( somewhere safe) so whilst retrieving said paper my mind was thinking of a riddle. Yes you've guessed it, green paper and envelope....the Riddler! Now all I had to do is make up a riddle.!?! I was thinking about this whilst I was covering my box with brown paper.....

...Once the box was suitably covered (and adorned) it would hold three "letters".... back to that later. I covered the box with brown paper. Now, this box needed to have travelled through the " Gotham City postal service" so I cut out two pictures, one of the Riddler and one of Joker and used them as stamps. I drew a "franking" date stamp, and added a few more "ads" to add to the look......

...I even added a "boot" foot print on the base of the box to give it a grunge look. I loved doing this, it was so much fun. I used a dye base black ink on my trainer sole. Mick wondered what on earth I was doing! I think it worked really well. Once the box was finished it was set aside whilst I composed my riddle. It didn't take too long. I just wanted something which may give him a clue to his present...

...I printed it on the laptop after finding a font suitable, and then I sealed it in the envelope which had a number 1 on it. Number 2 envelope contained his money, but I carefully wrapped it in silver foil and placed in a white envelope marked number 2. Number 3 envelope contained his card. But it wasn't a card as such it was a " who is Batman" mystery. Here are the pages.....

....I used pictures from a book (again) as I had with my sons' card. The background papers I made as a collage of batman images and took the transparency level down to give it a faded look. I used a jagged edged ruler to tear the edges... ...

...the script was done on the computer.....

....there are so many to choose from, but this one was just right....

...the backgrounds were just matted onto the card, but some of the embellishments were put on 3d foam....

....by this time I was wondering who had been my favourite Batman.....

.... (as the picture says) ..that's not him!....

...by the time I added this picture I thought of how old I was when I watched him on tv!!......

....and now to reveal who is Batman (and my favourite).....

...it couldn't be any other could it!....

....our Batman!....

.....success!!!!

Batman and the Princess

For every card I make, it has to be relevant to the recipient. I can't just make a batch of cards up and then chose one to send. This doesn't work for me. The only time I do any different is when it's time to make cards for Christmas. The way I do these is to have a theme and/or colour scheme. Last years' cards were a contemporary theme. But never mind Christmas, I don't even think about that until October at the earliest! Anyway,here are two of the birthday cards which I've made for this month. One of our grand daughters was three and the theme for her card this year was princesses and pink. This is a C5 card...... ...the background paper I printed off from my Craft Artist cd rom. I changed the colour to this gorgeous pink, ( it's actually brighter than in the picture) then I used my Sizzix crown die and cut one in baby pink and one in 300gsm white card. I glued the two die cut crowns together and once dry I went through my box of "sparkle"s and decorated it with flat back pearls and clear gems, some gems on a strip of silver thread (which I've had for ages and still have more left) and also used some Art Institute fine glitters, in various shades of gold, pink and white, to add more sparkle. That was then mounted onto the card with 3d foam. The picture was a recent one and that too was mounted on white card stock and edged with baby pink glitter..... .....the wording I did on the computer, cut out and mounted and finished as I did the the picture. I finished off with some clear glitter glue around the edges and added some to the background on the fairy coaches and horses. I did an insert to match but omitted to photograph it! .....The second card was for our sons' birthday. Every year I do a different theme for him. This year I chose Batman. He's a great artist (and still draws and paints when he gets time) and he and our grandson share the love of Batman computer games! This card is also C5, in black 300gsm. The background image and the main image were from a book. I cut out the pieces I wanted (It's a damaged book) and mounted them onto the black card. The image of Batman was mounted on black 3d foam (I made it from black funky foam and double sided tape, much cheaper doing it this way)..... ..The wording I again did on my computer. I used a shadow effect on the words as I wanted it to look grungy and Gothic. I then clear embossed it and then crackled it (in the fridge)..... .... for the insert ( again, didn't photograph it. Too busy thinking of my holidays!) I scanned in the picture of Batman and printed it out landscape to fit the card. Using my decorative scissors I cut all around the edge of the insert. It turned out great because the edge resembled the shape of bats! To finish off I scanned in one image of the bat logo and filled a sheet with them. I cut them out...... ....and folded the wings slightly and these were then placed loose inside the card. When the card was opened the bats were "released", it worked perfectly. Both cards turned out exactly as I wanted them too, and both our grand daughter and son were thrilled with them. I finished these cards before we went on holiday as both birthdays were whilst we were away. I've now got three more cards to make before the middle of July. I think I know which themes I shall be doing. We've just had two wonderful weeks away in Cornwall. We've both returned home refreshed and revitalised. I have loads of ideas and jottings in my notebook, and I just have to sit down and get them in some sort of order. We went to so many places and took so many photographs, it was wonderful! I have a couple of ufo's to finish but then I can begin on my new projects. Tomorrow I will be spending some time in the garden, everything is growing lovely now. There's also housework to do (isn't there always!) but I shall go through that like a blur so I can crack on with more exciting things!!