Just a little mini-tutorial type thing...

Well don't get too excited, this is very basic! I made this little bird mobile earlier for my study and I thought I'd share it.
Supplies: scrapbook (or any pretty) paper; cardstock; pencil; little scissors; double sided tape; cotton thread.

1. Choose a shape, I drew a bird a while back so I used this to make my template. Any other shapes would work well such as flowers, circles, squares and so on.
2. Use a piece of card (cereal packet or similar would work well) to draw your chosen shape on. Cut it out. You now have your template.
3. I folded my paper so I didn't have to draw around my template too many times! I managed to fold it into quarters and was still able to cut through it ok. Draw around your template with the pencil and cut out the shapes. I have seven birds on my finished mobile so I needed to cut out 14 shapes.
   
4. Lay out your thread. Leave enough at the top so you can hang it up when you're done. Lay your first cut out shape, right side down, underneath the thread. Put a piece of double sided tape over the thread and then match up another shape, right side up, over the top. Press it down.
5. Continue this way, spreading out the shapes evenly until you're done. Cut the thread off at the bottom and hang your new fancy mobile up wherever you fancy.

Photos are below. Any questions, let me know in the comments but I think it's pretty straightforward.

My studio/study/craft room/spare room

I'm so happy to have a dedicated "space" at last, it's got room for all my craft supplies, I can sit comfortably to work and study (and blog) and it's got room for a sofa bed (eventually).

Here's a few photos (with the messy bits cleverly avoided). I need to take one of my desk at some point that my man made for me (need to clear it a bit first though!).



1. My study- inspiration board, 2. Study windowsill, 3. Shelf in my study, 4. My study

Go to flickr to see all the notes of who the pieces of artwork are by.

Hope you all have a lovely weekend x

Quirky me

Lu posted her quirks, so here are mine...

• I can't sleep without ear plugs. I can be home alone and there be no noise but I still need them to sleep.
• I have to put my mugs on the mug tree in a certain way (they have to follow each other if that makes sense? No bottoms facing bottoms!)
• Also on the sleeping thing, I need to read before I can sleep too. The cause of many an argument that one!
• I love decorative boxes and collect them. Not one of them has anything in it.
• I hate mess. But I'm really messy. Funnily enough that ones causes arguments too. It could be I only hate other people's mess.
• Like Lu, the slightest bit of embarrassment or nerves causes me to go red. Not fun.

Anyone else want to list theirs?

Loving my garden

I'm a bit rubbish when it comes to gardening. I get all enthusiastic and spend a fortune on new plants and then they all die as I don't look after them. But I'm really going to try this time as they're so beautiful...



1. Lavender, 2. Lavender, 3. Houttuynia, 4. Abyssinian Banana, 5. Abyssinian Banana, 6. Abyssinian Banana, 7. Abyssinian Banana, 8. Broccoli & Cauliflower Gardening 365/1, 9. Buddleia

In other news...

• I bought my wedding dress (yay!)
  
• I was featured here
• More flowers have come in for my fab flower collaboration- photos soon
• Loving this blog that I found via lu

Hope you're all having a great week so far. x

Where have I been?

Not on holiday sadly, just very busy. I have been...

• a guest blogger on rare bird finds
• away on a weekend of crafting
• blogging my weekly wedding picks on uk handmade
• doing a little bit of scrapping/journalling (photos soon)
• moving in to my new study/studio (again, photos soon!)
• receiving flowers for the fab flower collaboration
• trying to design christmas cards!
• printing some yummy writing paper and envelope sets
• booking trips to Holland and New York
• trying to write my dissertation (just two semesters left as a part-time mature student)

Here's a little montage of the crafting retreat just so I'm not posting a picture-less post...

1. Lots of busy making, 2. Sat night, 3. Kirsty, 4. Mel & Kirtsy get close, 5. Needle felting, 6. Charlotte teaching needle felting, 7. Needle Felting, 8. Tricia sewing jiffy bags, 9. Tricia sewing jiffy bags, 10. The gang at dinner in the pub, 11. Mel modelling Jo's felted Princess Leia hair clips, 12. Kirsty & Laura

New stuff & a fun project

First up here's the fun project...

Fun Flower Collaboration

I was so inspired by this amazing work that I came up with an idea for a collaboration for UK artists. My idea is for artists/crafters/designers to contribute handmade flowers to be made into a large piece of art that is then auctioned off for charity. You can make your flowers in whatever medium you would like- felt, beads, paper, ceramic, wool etc.- as long as it will be possible for me to attach it to a background (probably fabric, so think about how I could sew it on).

Any size is OK but don't go massive and dwarf your fellow contributors. If it fits in a 6"x4" envelope it's probably fine.

So, if you want to take part email me with your name and your blog/flickr/shop/web address. I'll send you my postal address so you can send me your contribution. All participants will be mentioned on my blog along with photos of what you send in. Submissions should be with me by the end of September.

Nearer the time I'll host a vote to decide which charity should benefit (let me know if you have any ideas) and then auction off the final piece.

I'm really excited about this so please spread the word to your UK friends!

And next up here's my new personal stationery that I'm rather in love with...



I hope you're all having good weeks. I'm going away this weekend with a bunch of crafty ladies and I can't wait :)

My favourite room in the house

I thought I'd give you a little tour of my favourite room in our house. It's partly my favourite as it's the only one that's finished, is clean and tidy and has the biggest wardrobe in the world. Our bedroom...


As you can see there is a huge floor to ceiling mirror as part of our fitted wardrobe. The wall behind our bed is plain at the moment but I'm thinking of either stencilling something in white or getting a decal to go there.


Gorgeous cherry blossom duvet set and a triptych of prints waiting to be hung (they're by askey).


The view from the window, fields and cows mainly!


And finally, here I am having a little rest.

What's your favourite room?