Me on Monday

It was a post grabbing, envelope ripping, sigh of relief breathing sort of weekend. The last University offer (his top choice) came through and the tension has dissipated considerably. Just in the nick of time as mocks begin tomorrow.

Today you’ll find me photographing the stages of a screen card, ready for a tutorial. Making the most of the light. I actually had to pull the curtains across the french windows, it’s such a beautiful sunny day here. The lounge is toasty, despite the temperature outside. A bonus not needing to put the heating on in January.

I’m waving back to Sian and everyone else who is playing along today.

Intentions for 2015

Definitely not resolutions, which I don’t make, because I never keep. Intentions feel less restricting, less set in stone and I don’t feel like a failure if I don’t keep to them. They’re just ideas for a path to follow, but it doesn’t matter if I stray into the woods.

Reading ~ There are lots of reading challenges around the internet, some have a very specific list of books, others are a particular number to complete in a year. I wanted something that was open to interpretation and a friend posted this one on Facebook, which looked good. The bonus being she has set up a “Reading Group” page, where we can share the books we’ve chosen to inspire and encourage each other throughout the year. It’s for 52 books, which I know I won’t read in 12 months. Instead I’ve set myself a target of 26 and I’ll combine categories for the books I choose. First up is The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. It’s over 500 pages and a Pulitzer Prize winner to boot. I’m enjoying it very much so far as I did her previous novels.

Crafting ~ Card making is a given. I have to come up with around six card ideas and a 3D project every month, for classes and, of course, the cards I need myself for friends and family. Sometimes I can combine the two, which is handy.

I played around a bit with Project Life last year, but didn’t really find a way to make it work for me. I think it was possibly the 12x12” page protectors. They seemed a bit daunting, having not scrapped in a long time. I’ve now got some pages in a 6x8” format and will give it another go.

I’m looking forward to putting my Friendship Quilt together this year. I’ve been looking online for possible sashing fabrics, but I think it’s something that I need to see “in the flesh” to make a decision. I originally thought white or cream, but some blocks have one in the background and some the other. Now I’m thinking a silvery grey, like the fabric I used in Amy’s block.

I went a bit headlong into dressmaking last year. Starting with a simple skirt, great, then realising it needed lining and not being sure how to approach that. Moving on to a fairly complex dress and coming to a halt with the zip and how to finish off that centre back seam as neatly as the others. There are so many great sewing blogs out there and it’s tempting to want to make everything you see, but there’s no point if a. it’s beyond your current skills and b. it’s not something you would wear in real life.  With that in mind, I’m going back to the simple A line skirt pattern. This time making it in a lightweight denim, which won’t require lining. I just need to get a finished garment under my belt and stop faffing!

Blogging ~ Three posts a week, a monthly tutorial and the return of SIPIDI! I hope some of you will join me with the last one.

I think that’s enough to be going with. There is a lot of change on the horizon this years. Mocks begin for my boy next week, followed by the real thing in May. He has offers from three of his four choices so far and hopes to get the grades to go to university in September. At the same time my girl will be sitting her GCSEs and she is hoping for a place at Art College. New directions all round. My main intention will be to keep us on an even keel through it all. Anything else will be a bonus.

Do you have grand plans for the year ahead? I may have seen them on your blog already. If not, then point me in the right direction in the comments.

What’s On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #293

It’s more like “Where is Your Workdesk? Wednesday” around here this week.

This is the spot where my desk usually stands. It was taken down for the duration of the festivities and the legs were put up in the attic, by mistake I’m sure. Without them the top is little more than a giant tray so behind the sofa it remains, for now.

Instead of a workspace, I’ll share the other two cards we made in class last week. The technique here, was using a variety of small stamps to create the look of patterned paper, which we then cut up to decorate our screen cards.

This was our “Twenty Minute” card. Although it’s considerably quicker in class as the cutting is done by me in advance. It’s just a matter of some punching and then assembling. A design you will no doubt recognise as a favourite of mine, if you’re a regular visitor. I haven’t run out of ideas for it yet. I tend to make a batch in different colours/styles, ready to add a sentiment when I know what I need it for.

Joining in with Julia and her merry band, as always on a Wednesday.

One Photo & Twenty Words

Joining in with Abi at Creating Paper Dreams.

“There aren’t enough bullets in the world to stop all the laughter that will eventually drown the hate and stupidity.” 

Michael Moore

I usually steer clear of politics and religion on my blog, but I felt compelled today.

What’s On Your Workdesk? Wednesday #292

Hello and welcome to the very first 2015 edition of this weekly madness blog hop.

The kitchen table has been busy, since the children went back to school on Monday. Kitting for classes yesterday and today. Lots of kraft cardstock, being cut to size, which doesn’t make for a very interesting work space.

The cards went down well this morning though.

It’s a good thing my class ladies like it as much as I do.

Right, I’m off to get myself organised. I’ll be looking forward to dropping in on some of you when I get home. Head on over to Julia’s place to see who else is joining in.

Me on Monday

The first Monday of the new year and it’s time for Christmas to go back in the box.

If you’d popped in a couple of hours ago, this is how you would have found me on Monday. I like to read the cards again, as I take them down, and think of the people that sent them. It makes the putting away of all the festive bits and pieces a bit less sad. I’ll just have to make the most of all the new found space….

….and remember the fun we had decorating.

Waving to Sian, as always, at the start of this week.

A Year of Making ~ 2014

I’m starting the year with a look back at some of the things I made during 2014.

My favourite project from last year was, without doubt, the Friendship Quilt. From January to October I made squares and sent them off. I found photos of most, but there always seem to be one or two that get forgotten before popping in the post.

Then, in June, it was my turn. Such a lovely feeling when each one arrived. Carefully chosen fabrics and lines of stitching. All different and yet fitting together. Again, I couldn’t find photos of all of them. I’m so excited to sew them up into a quilt top, once the last two have arrived, as a reminder of our lovely blogging community.

I carried on teaching my original class and started a new one in May, which filled up very quickly. These are a few of my favourites from the past year. I’m looking forward to starting again next week, with a “Back to Basics” session.

Finally the sewing projects. To my shame, 5 of these remain unfinished. Can you guess which? Yes, the dressmaking! I seem to be incapable of making an item of clothing as the pattern intends. There is always an element I want to change, but I don’t have the necessary skills so I end up getting frustrated and moving on to something else. I need to change that and I’ll tell you how I plan to go about it when I blog my “Intentions” next week. 2015 *will* be my year of sewing. I’m determined.