Tag Tuesday-Snowflakes

The theme for Tag Tuesday this week is Snowflakes

For my Snowflakes tag I had fun combining gelli printed

 pages. I used some wooden print blocks from

Colouricious and finished off with some snowflake

ribbons from my stash.

Tag Tuesday-Baubles and Bling

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas here!

Here's my Baubles and Bling tag for this week's Tag Tuesday

I made a background with glittery card, and added

gold braid and ribbons. I couldn't resist putting on

some sequins. Now I struggled to find a  satisfactory

 way to make the baubles. Then I remembered my

tiny set of baubles on display, and thought they

would be the right size, and they were!

Tag Tuesday-Night Sky

This week on Tag Tuesday the theme is Night Sky.

My Night Sky tag was inspired by a set of Christmas stamps.

The background was painted with Inktense blocks,

and I added water, because it is always fun watching

how the surface changes. Stars stamped with acrylic on

a black background were framed with washi tape stars,

the background sprinkled with more stars. Some fabric

with houses was also painted with Inktense pencils,

and then some larger silver stars cascaded down the 

corner.

Christmas Cards

I have been printing some Christmas cards,

using the wooden print blocks I bought from Colouricious.

I have had great fun stamping and printing. When the weather

is bad it is great to have a studio to make art in. Listening to 

the wind howling round my loft, I feel very in touch

with the elements. As a bonus, I emerge a couple of hours

later covered in glitter!

Christmas Card Printing

Here is my box of wood block stamps

from Colouricious. I am getting ready to

start printing Christmas cards!  They came

in a little box. 

Gelli Printing with Leaves

There are so  many fallen leaves on the ground at the moment.

I decided to use some beech leaves for printing on my

gelli plate.

I was pleased with the results, and it was fun, so I may have

to do some more!

Spider's webs

 There are such beautiful spider's webs everywhere

at the moment. I found these in our garden! 

Online classes at Craftsy

I have signed up for a couple of online classes at Craftsy. If you haven't

come across this website before, I recommend having a look.

There are online classes available in all sorts of creative pursuits.

So many different subjects to choose from! Embroidery, quilting,

sewing, yarn and fibre arts, art and photography among others!

The prices are very reasonable, and the classes are clear and easy 

to follow.It is like having a personal tutorial.

I am doing Embroidering Texture and Dimension by Hand with Sue 

Spargo 

and Bead Embroidery with Myra Wood

Autumn/Fall Colouring Pages by Alisa Burke

Colouring books for adults are becoming increasingly popular.

There are some artists who sell bundles of colouring pages on

their websites. I liked the ones by Alisa Burke, an American 

artist in Portland, Oregon. Here is a link to the page on her 

website.

I have started to colour in one of her free downloadable

colouring sheets to try it out, and I thought it was fun,

and I love her drawings. It is also fun to use my new Sharpies!

It is for the times when I get into the studio and want to do

something creative to kick-start my ideas.

Crochet blanket

I started learning crochet this time last year. It has been a challenge

and great fun at the same time. Once a month I go to a local group

meeting, where we crochet, chat and swap patterns. 

Here you can see the blanket I am making.

Work in Progress

It started as a cushion

The pattern is in this book

More yarn arrived from Wool Warehouse

Sashiko Shirt Cushions

Sashiko is a type of Japanese embroidery, which I really like and

 have some previously stitched projects.

I knew I had 2 finished sashiko pieces, the right size for cushion

covers, and  I knew they

 would be a great gift , for friends who have birthdays on the same day.

I used old shirts for backing and made patchwork borders.

Now I have two finished projects, and two  home made presents.

You can read about the Sashiko embroideries here:

Leaf and Hemp

http://texturetrail.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/some-more-sashiko.html

Grape

http://texturetrail.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/more-sashiko.html

Sashiko Shirt Cushions

Grape Design

Leaf and Hemp Design

Back of cushion

Shirt Back

Matching Pair

Tag Tuesday-I remember when

This week on Tag Tuesday the theme is "I remember when"

I have made a " Nostalgia " tag, because I

wanted to use this photo of two sisters. I really

wish this was an old family photo, but I found it in

a Brocante in France last summer!

I have used a stamp which evokes

memories of times gone by, lace for a vintage feel,

and a birdcage.

 I have added a close up of the sweet photo of two little sisters.

Holiday in Italy

Here are some photos of Tuscany and Umbria.

We had a lovely holiday, and visited some beautiful places.

The scenery was perfect! 

Typical Tuscan landscape

Walled town of Pienza

Coffee in the town square

Narrow streets

Magnificent bank

Epoch 3-new shop in Caversham

We have a new shop in Caversham, selling revamped

furniture and arts and crafts by local artists.

If you look carefully, you will see some of my stitched

textile pictures on display!

Epoch3 is a bright, but cosy shop, with lovely furniture

and things for the home.

This is what it looks like today!

 

Tag Tuesday-Blues and Browns

I am back with you again after a blogging and tagging break over the summer.

The past few weeks have gone by very fast, and it is hard to believe it

is September. I have been spending time at home, and have just

returned from a fabulous holiday in Italy. I will post photos of it soon.

For my Blues and Browns tag, I have used random colours of writing materials 

 and bits and pieces from my studio ( courtesy of Pat Brennan, from when

we did a stash swap)I enjoyed layering on the colours,as some sank into the

handmade paper background. The other pieces were placed on top.

Texture Trail Summer Holiday

Texture Trail is taking a summer holiday and will be back in September.

Have a good summer everyone!

Jane x

Image by The Graphics Fairy

National Gardens Scheme-Chalkhouse Farm

On Sunday Richard and I visited another garden in the
National Gardens Scheme. Chalkhouse Green Farm is
near to where we live. It is a great open day,
with a beautiful farm house, glorious gardens,
rare breed animals and even a swimming pool
and tennis court for the public to use.

We did enjoy wandering round the gardens, but

 particularly liked seeing the animals. Marigold,the

Mangalitza sow was very friendly.  Daisy the

Suffolk Punch,with her foal, Blossom, only

three and a half months old were delightful.

My favourite was Jack the Shire horse, who weighs

about 950 pounds! He looked magnificent

with his plaited mane.

Pretty oriental pot

Quiet corner with a water trough

Large lemons being grown in pots

Fragrant honeysuckle

Sundial

Sweet statue

Carved wooden shutters

Daisy stands guard over Blossom

Jack with his plaited mane

Marigold making friends with the visitors