The end of 2020

 ....and looking forward to 2021 with a LOT of hope...

...that things will be very, VERY different!!

I've been keeping myself occupied with various bits and bobs...

...and have many more bits and bobs to be carrying on with over the next couple of "lockdown" months.

Cross stitch adventures include a couple of new biscornu...

...and a "Little House Needleworks" panel called "Sweet Shop"

...very sweet indeed!!

I have also been motoring along with my sketchbooks for the Near & Far expo (still hoping it goes ahead in March!!)

The "Wearable" piece is also coming along...

...but I'm not ready to show that just yet....

I am so glad that I have all of my creative pursuits to keep me sane!!

...and I hope that you all have a happy and HEALTHY New Year!

Sending love and virtual BIG HUGS to everyone who reads my little blog.

xxxxx C 

Inspiration galore......Thank You....Professor Tolkien!!

We've just got back home (again) after a few days in Oxford......which is always inspirational...

...but this time even more so...

...because of the Tolkien - Maker of Middle Earth exhibition at the Bodleian!

I picked up a few bits and bobs...or course...

...like this notebook, a few pencils, a bookmark and a couple of button featuring Tolkien's artwork.

I also got this lovely little tote bag with a drawing from the Hobbit on it....

...which I intend to use as a soft cover for another small book inspired by his doodles and artwork...

...and, of course the languages and letters.

I had already cut a load of templates and stencils of Anglo-Saxon runes before we went....

...used Markal Paintstiks to put them onto batik fabric...

...then stitched around them with metallic thread....followed by teeny tiny french knots and seed stitches.

These will take me a while...

...but winter is coming...

...and they are a divining set for my story character "Caria" in "The Near & Far Creative Textile Group" on Facebook.

I have been soooooo busy this year so far that this project has had to sit on the back burner for way too long......but, thanks to Professor Tolkien.....I have been inspired to get back to it at last!! :-)

More to follow as and when...

x C

Working on a couple of "Book of Shadows" pages for my "Caria" story

Some of you may know that there is a lot of interesting stuff going on at the "Near & Far Creative Textile Group" on Facebook.

I started my story some time ago...

...and made a large book for it (although I didn't know at the time exactly WHAT it's purpose would be).

Well...

...it seems that Caria will be inheriting a "Book of Shadows" or "Grimoire"...

...all sorts of "magic" stuff for her life-journey.

I had abfew monutes between things yesterday...

...so I did some stencil work...

...and a few bits of Runic Writing....

...and put in some lovely "Stamperia" papers (with a bit of stenciling on top).

I'm hoping to get some more done over the next few weeks...

...before the NEC...

...but, for now, all is on hold as cases are packed...

...and we have an adventure to go on!! :-)

x C

"Near & Far" working notebook

I've made a "Near & Far" working notebook...

...using Eileen Hull's journal die...

...texture paste...

...Distress Oxide Ink Pads...

...and some Inkylicious and Lavinia Stamps.

I used a spatula to put texture paste through one of my own cut stencils...

...then used the Distress Oxides to add some colour before stamping some Inkylicious Pampas Grasses...

...and some lovely Lavinia leaves.

I've used some of my "leather paper" as covers for the signatures inside.

Now ....

...to fill it with wonderfulness!!  :-)

x C

My new project book...

...is coming along nicely.

We're forming a new group on Facebook entitled "The Near and Far Creative Textile Group"...

...and our theme is "Maps and Journeys".

So...

...for every new project...

...there just HAS to be a new project book.

This one started it's life as a rather sad-looking photo album.

You know...

...the old sort with heavy pages and glassene in between.

Yuk!

So out came the crumpled tissue paper...

...and white gesso...

....and texture paste through some stencils.

Can you see the sun-wheel in this one...

...and the rock art boat in this one?

I've now begun the "rusting" process with a kit by Pinflair...

It's lookin' good! :-)

x C