Posy Scarf...

"I had a break

I didn't intend to

It was a week

But turned into three

I haven't been lazy

Lots going on

Not much crafting

But changes for me..."

So the 'Posy Scarf ' is complete.

The ends have been tidied away and it was laid out and blocked

For the first time Doris got unwrapped and put to use.

The days have been dark and grey, but Friday when I was home from work, the sun showed it's appearance, and we had some light and brightness.

Firstly we had an indoor shoot near the window with rare natural light.

But I couldn't resist taking her out, into the rays of the sun, with the dark green bushes filled with bright orange berries as a background

Meanwhile, I have still be working away on making lots of pink posies, when I have a field full, then I can then face the task of working out how they can join for the shawl pattern...

So after my prize winning last month, it's like buses, I won another prize! This time it was a Woodland prize pack from a group of amazing crafters

It's been exciting getting different packages through the door, so far I have received these goodies...

Cards, notebook and print from @bycharlieshand and 3 prints from @erryberrydesign

I'm feeling extremely lucky!

Virtual doors are open...

This week I concentrated on getting my little online store back open again.
I set up my mini blank backdrop to photograph my products, with the little bit of morning light.

Then it was to the editing to make the white background actually look white!

Then it was to the shop, adding each item and writing descriptions.

It's all very time consuming but fingers crossed it will be worth the effort.

Once all the cushions were relisted, it was the same process to get the baubles that I made last year, getting hubby to pick a sprig of holly for the finishing touch.

I welcome you all to my newly open store. The ribbon is cut (but not a celebrity in sight!), the trumpets are blowing (a party popper might have to do) and the doors are finally open (even if they are just virtual doors!)

I also went back to my mood squares as I'm determined that I will be ready for the unveiling at the end of the year!

I made another couple of squares. The first I had a test of the pattern that Attic 24 made for her new blanket.

The second, well I just made it up! I worked through the back of the stitch only, so it had a different effect. Adding a couple of normal tr stitches in a contrasting colour.

Once I'd  finished I decided it needed a little something of interest, so a few little embroidery stitches later and little rows of tulips were born...

I've spent plenty of time edging my previous squares, and getting those pesky ends sewn in.

I do feel like I'm getting somewhere, but the biggest test will be as I get busier at work and it eats into my time more and more, which is why I need to make sure I'm not trailing behind...

Today I have a rare Sunday off work, why?, because i'm creaking my way into being another year older!

I was treated to coffee and breakfast in bed...

Followed by opening cards...

And presents. 

I was completely spoilt!!

Tonight, I am looking forward to celebrating with a meal at a local Italian restaurant

Behind the scenes. ...

Ive not got much to show you on the crafting front this week, but it doesn't mean ive been idle!
Mainly, I or should I say we, (as I'm a complete technophobe hubby has been helping out with pc bits so I dont completely lose my mind, and temper!!) have been working behind the scenes as I'm determined to get my Folksy shop back up and running again!

         

So, we've been working away adding backgrounds, titles, widgets and goodness knows what else and trying to link Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter and every other medium we can think of!

• Contact
• Buying from me
• Favourite

• Blog
• Twitter
• Facebook

I also think I have found a solution to the background when I take photographs of my products. After reading someone's blog they stated they used artists canvasses, so after a trip to the works I purchased some white artists boards, so I need some bright daylight which is a bit infrequent now the nights are drawing in!

At the start of the week we had a beautiful sunny day, so I took my latest cushion for a walk round the grounds for its moment of glory in the bright light.

This Saturday I did manage to get another weekend day off of work so i took the opportunity to go to the local craft meet up. This is pure bliss to sit in a relaxed atmosphere, talking with like-minded people, and can focus on any craft that we chose to take in...

I started with making a couple of squares for my mood blanket to try to catch up. 

The rest of the time I finished my next cushion background, so now I can focus on the decoration.

In the evenings I have continued with joining my mood squares, and I've completed another two rows.

This week hubby has started back at work, only starting with two hours a day, but its start and now hopefully we can now progress, he just needs to work on daily exercises to get the strength back in his leg muscles.
Last night we went for our annual trip to the local firework display, and it was spectacular as ever, and the perfect, mild, dry weather for it too...

We've flown through another month. This is a look back at October

Patch perfect...

With a mix of lovely hot sunshine, and heavy showers, more flowers have sprouted and bloomed.

But mainly this week, I turned my hand to Decopatch. Dad had bought me a beginners pack last year, and my intention had been to find a course, but months passed and I never found one. I don't know why I didn't have the confidence to just go ahead, but having taught myself crochet from youtube clips, I got to the point of thinking, lets just go for it!

So out came the glue pot, paintbrushes and mix of papers. I had some empty boxes that I had saved from work which I knew would be perfect.

I cut up the paper into little squares, and just went for it...
Oh my goodness, it was so much fun!! So childlike and free, just cutting, sticking, and getting icky sticky fingers!!

I also did matching bases inside

Then I thought, how about taking it a step further and adding a bit of sparkle! So out came my box of treasures!

And I thought the golden star sequins would go very nicely with the purple and gold marbled effect paper

I thoroughly enjoyed my afternoon of fun, and am happy with how they've turned out. I can't wait to do more! 

I also have some larger round boxes, and my mind is already racing with different ideas on styles and ways to embellish them

As we don't own a table, or have any good flat, plain surfaces I have to find different ways to photograph my makes. I have found the papers in Craftseller magazine quite useful, but I noticed tonight how amazing the difference in colour that my products turned out, dependent on what colour background I used!!

These are the same boxes, but with a bright coloured background, the colour of the boxes zing, but with a paler background the boxes become much more muted. I'm sure this is very obvious but a  good lesson I think, and more playing around and experimenting can be done...

So to this weeks mood square. I have been quite washed out and lethargic this week, so i've used a mid blue and two shades of green, and I tried a version of the spike stitch.