This is why I collect 'treasure'

I, like many crafters, collect things. Buttons, scraps, beads etc etc. So when my little sister said she was going to buy some sort of belt for the Summer Ball I asked what sort of thing she was thinking and we collaborated to create a belt buckle design for her.

First I sewed a layer of net to both sides of a felt shape using just running stitch and whip stitch. 

Then I sewed on bugle and seed beads (individually was easiest!) And satin stitched the ends with metallic thread.

Then came various buttons to fill in the remaining space

On the back I surrounded corsetry steel with more net and then used that net to sew it to the back. I added two buckles so that it can be put onto a belt.

Et voila! A belt that is inspired by and matches my sisters handbag. Money spent: £0.00.

...She'll probably kill me for putting this in but this is the only picture at the ball that shows the belt! This is past the midnight marker so not so flattering!

Art Journal Page

Art Journal pages

I was pretty glad to use my Hardback Recycled Scraps Art Journal and see it worked fine :)

Lost Dollz :(

When I was at Uni I discovered an online art that was 'dollz'. Spelling with a 'z' seemed to mean searching was easier and took away conventional doll results. Dollz are pixel art figures, you start with a 'base' which is an image of a figure with no clothes and no hair. You then digitally draw on hair and clothing to create the finished doll. In my time 'dolling' I had a website showcasing my dollz and entered several contests where I won a few prizes. I must have spent hours and hours dolling. But I neglected my dollz and site occasionally as my crafting took me in other directions and now I realise my dollz site lapsed without me realising. In the meantime I changed computer and my old computer died. So I've lost all that work :(

I remembered I uploaded once to an online image storage site and managed to find the doll above. I can't remember which 'doller' created the base - I really should be mentioning and linking them to give them due credit. I remember I originally made this for a 'geisha' contest. She wasn't my best and I really wish I could get my dollz back to showcase again :(

I might stumble upon a file now and then to display but I think most are lost forever!

More bits and bobs

First attempt at a fabric bird... I looked at lots of tutorials on the internet and am sure I'll try other shapes but this one was made by looking at this pdf from spoolsewing.com. It isn't yet finished but its sitting on the cake stand until I return to it.

Next up are a return to sketching inspired by andrea joseph's sketch blog and lots are challenges from the series 'Every Day Matters' from DannyGregory.com.


Lastly my babies are growing fast, soon I'll put them outside with lots of protection from birds and snails :)

What I've been upto

So I was mooching along here in Basra feeling fairly uninspired by all the sand and sand coloured surroundings so I decided I'd turn interior designer and try to doll up my room which I share. It looks like this:...which of course is very very dull. [at this point in typing I have had to put on my body armour and helmet - it is very uncomfortable!] I ordered some massive posters of forest and some green fabric to hide the bricks and padding. We've also replaced that one sheet of wood with two, nicer, sheets of wood to even up the top and 'clean it up a bit'. Hopefully will post the finished article in a few days or so.

I also received recently two magazines from my DB's mum:
Which was fantastic, and got me back into the crafting mood! Especially as the CrossStitcher magazine had a free kit with it!

Of course, I sat and stitched the free kit on night shift. It took me around eight hours as I was working at the same time, but I loved every minute!

I converted a 'with sympathy' card into this Christmas card, I had to cover the greeting on the inside with a patch and doodled to cover the join. Then I decided I'd doodle on another card too :)

As I was stitching away, in amongst the boys typical comments of 'old before your time' and 'would you like your tea cosy and blanket with that?' Some of the girls actually expressed interest as they'd done some stitching as young girls. One even decided she'd join me in ordering a kit when we spotted some designs we'd like advertised in the magazine! She is getting Our Wedding Day (Tatty Teds) by Anchor And I am getting Rose Lady by Design WorksI can't wait to get them in the post and to have another project!