Planning and Preparation

Hi Everyone

It’s my focus on sewing today (in theory every Tuesday) and I’m inspired to develop some sewn appliqué Christmas Card samples. This project will prepare and test a few samples for a small batch of Christmas cards. I like the idea of a simple decorated tree but have also seen some cute Robins which I may try out. 

Take a look at my Christmas card Pinterest board HERE for more inspiration ideas and starting point for the cards. Here’s a couple of my favourite images at the moment. I may change my mind later !

                         

I like the ideas of coming up with something similar to the right hand image but with a Christmas theme rather than flowers. I’m unsure about wether to stitch directly onto card of make a motif to stick onto a card ? I’ll try both and decide. I’m also slightly ‘up in the air’ about colours  ? Should I go for traditional or contemporary ? So many decisions !

I’m hoping I can be a little more organised this year re Christmas. I always have great intentions and lots of elaborate ideas which rarely fully materialise because of time. So, hopefully, I can be better prepared if I keep to my current plans, test them out properly and plan thoroughly. Is it possible ?

Thanks for calling in today.

Making Moulds

Hi Everyone

I’m sharing a little more of the polymer clay project I talked about a couple of weeks ago check it out here. I mentioned using a range of moulds that I had made. The moulds were made from something called Siligum. This moulding paste is widely available and is very easy to make, it’s a fast setting, two-component silicone paste. Ideal for moulding small objects. My moulds were made by pressing natural seed heads into the mixed paste. After setting the seed heads can simply be removed. The moulds are very flexible and work beautifully on the natural material.

In my samples, I developed beads from polymer clay which has been pressed into the moulds, removed and either rounded to form a large bead or flatterned and sandwiched together (with a channel for threading).

               

My new batch of beads are to be developed in shades of mixed red clay but I’m also going to experiment with surface dyes to colour the white samples.

I’m hoping I will have some interesting results to share next Monday.

Thanks for calling in today.

Fibre Friday

Hi Everyone

It’s Friday again - how did that happen so quickly ? If you are a regular reader, you will know I’ve been on holiday (at home) and had thought I’d have lots of knitting progress to show. However ! - although I’ve been busy with fibre, I’ve spent most of my time ripping out and starting again - so not much actual progress to show.

It’s all good news, the Hanabira (a long standing crochet project for me) has been completely ripped out and I’ve started again. I was almost finished. My #2 version is going well and the only regret is pulling out the lovely flower section. I spent forever learning how to do this and made a decent job in the end. Still, move on and I’ll be in a better position to do it again, when the time comes.

Sticking with crochet, I’ve also been working on a tiny little project for the Making Workshop (read back on the blog for more on this regular initiative). It’s a crochet Snowman, so fits into Friday fibre updates. The Snowman is either a gift bag or a tree ornament. I’ll share more on the detail next time.

Spinning has been limited to 2 more rolags for the big sweater. I’ll give more details next time with a review of progress on this project.

I did mention casting on a Blacker Yarn sock last time. It hasn’t happened ! Hopefully, I’ll get that one going this weekend. Again, more on this next time.

My last story is about the new Nuuk (see last Friday for more detail). Another little issue - I’m probably not much further than the photo from last time. I had added 10 new rows but had not read the pattern correctly. Instead of increasing at the sleeve points every other row, I’d increased every row. Fortunately, I thought things were not quite right before going too far. I’ve ripped out the offending rows and I’m back on track. I’m off to my weekly knit group this morning so should make some progress today. However, I often need to rip out lots of knitting after knit group - too much chatting and general lack of concentration !! However, I always have a lovely time.

That’s it for my fibre update this week.

Have a great weekend. I’ll be back on Monday.

Henni’s World

Hi Everyone

It’s Day 4 of the Henni Doll Project and I think, the sketch maybe there ! At this stage, it’s time to get some colours and textures into the piece. I’ve chosen a colour palette with the help of decoupage papers and I’ll start adding colour to Henni’s face today. My approach to getting paint onto dolls faces is very much like applying makeup. I’ll start with a foundation and add highlights for shaping,eye colour, lips and cheekbones. This is a long process and I’ll go carefully, layering light shades each time. I’m not sure exactly the look I’m going for but I’d like to stick with the Titian hair colour therefore Henni needs a fair complexion. The warm colours of the papers will help me here.

Have a quick look at the development so far :

                                 

I’m hoping to keep this project going for a few weeks. I’ll hope to spend an hour or so each day. It will be interesting to have a photo of each day as I progress. Often, I change my mind and new plans are formed and that fine (I’m prepared for that) - Henni will tell me what to do.

Here’s the colour palette I’ve chosen :

                                

Thanks for calling in today.

Henni #2

Hi Everyone

Henni is still developing ! (read back this week for more on Henni). She has been changed slightly and there is still ‘a way to go’. I’ve altered her eyes and her mouth and I’d like to keep her looking slightly ‘other worldly’. I feel her features are a bit big for her face but that’s almost the look I’m going for. I will possibly change the length of her face ? I like the bone structure of her cheekbone and may exaggerate that a little more. I like her eyes looking into a stare/far away - not quite real. My husband thought she looked liked Lady Penelope (of Thunderbird fame).I can see the resemblance.

The colours are, of course, blue ! but I’d like to have some pattern going on - not sure of the detail of the pattern yet ? More decisions needed today.

Here she is at he moment :

                     

                            

I wanted to finish off the clay elements yesterday but ran out of time, so that’s another job for today. The colours on the bottom are some of the range I’m thinking of using. I also changed the neckline of the dress, yesterday’s Henni had a Peter Pan collar. 

I’ve been wondering about hair colour too - I’m almost decided on Titian (not red !).

I’ll be back tomorrow, sharing whatever turns out of my session today.

Thanks for calling in.