Friday 9 March 2012

S.W.A.L.K

Evening!!  I HAVE A JOB!  Thank goodness!  I start on Monday in the local GAP store at Sterling Mills.  I have never been so relieved in my entire life :-D  I'm really excited, but Daisy is more excited about the discount!   What a stressful couple of weeks!  It will take a few weeks for my shifts to settle down into a pattern but as soon as it does I will let you know the opening hours for the shop!

Have been busy with weddings over the last week or so again, but decided to have a play with the S.W.A.L.K. stamps that arrived yesterday from Crafters Companion.  I limited poor Daisy to choosing 4 and it took her AGES to choose, but I love the ones she did pick.

This is Slugs & Snails, coloured with my Polychromo Pencils - the papers are First Edition "Up Up & Away"





Here's the colour chart for the pencils...



And here is Rain.  I have Paper Pieced her umbrella, wellies & raincoat, used 4mm pearls for the buttons & stickles for the rain.  I coloured with the Polychromo Pencils again.  The papers are We R Memory Keepers "Love Struck"






And now for something a bit different.  I read this book a couple of weeks ago - in 2 sittings!  It is an AMAZING read.  So much so I really want to read it again.  It won the Whitbread Book of the Year award, and was thoroughly deserving in my opinion.  The main character is 15 and suffers from Asperger's Syndrome, and I can't tell you how well the novel gives an understanding of his thinking.  Rush out and buy a copy now and let me know what you think.  I loved it!


Reading is my wind down at the end of the day, and I seemed to have passed this love of books onto Daisy - we are currently reading Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets, and she gets really really ratty with me when reading times up - she would sit up all night if she could, something of course I never ever did - with a torch - under the covers - without my glasses on ;-) (sorry mum!)

Right time for me to put my feet up tonight I think.  Talk to you soon.

Keep Smiling
Ruth
x
ruth@fairyheaven.co.uk

Saturday 3 March 2012

Patched

Evening all - and what an evening it has been!  Hopefully by now you will have noticed something different (and probably thought you were on the wrong blog!)  Had a wee oops moment tinkering with things I shouldn't have been and managed to delete my WHOLE blog layout! Talk about panic!  Daisy of course was cool, calm and collected and just said "well start again" so that's what I did, of course with the design Guru's help (any excuse not to have to go to bed!).  It's a bit different to before, hope you all like it!  Have added a follow me by email tag over on the right too so, in theory, if you sign up you should get my blog updates direct to your inbox!

Next thing, please don't laugh at my poor photography tonight - I will get used to photographing textiles!!!  This definitely is the way NOT to do it, but it will give you an idea tonight lol!  Since papercrafts are now pretty much my day job I decided I needed to do something else to switch off, and patchwork was top of the list!  Here's my very first ever quilt...

This one took me a good few months to finish off because I had never even used a sewing machine before but I am so pleased with the finished result!




So then a few weeks ago I took a notion to have a play with an Amy Butler fabric bundle, and here are the results.  This one is only the front at the moment and still needs backed and wadded but I LOVE LOVE LOVE the colours so much!  Think some bunting is on order with the offcuts!


Think my little sisters might have her eye on this one, and pretty sure she has a special birthday coming up so this could solve a present problem ;-)

So I know I said I'd have a 4 hour goody bag class extravaganza announcement to make tonight, but between housework, building Hogwarts & getting carried away reading the Chamber of Secrets, plus the impromptu blog design time has run away with me so will save that for another night!

Sweet dreams everyone, and happy creating!

Ruth
x

Friday 2 March 2012

Chilled!

Well I can't believe how relaxed I am this evening!  I have had a day at home today due to the gas man coming, and it has been bliss!!!  First time ever I was actually happy a tradesman was 3 hours late!  I pottered about, did loads of washing and just generally didn't stress!  My batteries feel well and truly recharged tonight - and they will be even more recharged shortly when I curl up with the latest issue of Sew Hip magazine which I got my hands on today.  Have had a quick glance through, and not sure which project I want to try first - I think possibly the cushions on the front cover!  Will get Daisy enlisted to help tomorrow I think!  Also had a read of an interview with the very inspirational Emma Castle, the face behind Bagladee (find her website at www.bagladee.com)  Have had the pleasure of chatting with her via twitter and she is so lovely, super enthusiastic and helpful, a definite role model for those of us just starting to turn our hobby into a business!  I am inspired!  Have a look at her website, her bags are absolutely stunning!


I've got a custom card to share with you tonight that I made a few weeks ago for a 55th wedding anniversary.  55 YEARS!  I still can't get my head around that!  It's such a special achievement to be married so long, and they are a brilliant couple.  When Bob asked me to do this special card for his wife I chanced my arm and asked for a wedding picture, and am so so glad that I did.  A quick scan later and here are the finished results.  A very simple easel card with a vintage feel...



The ribbon is my newest Malaysian import and I just love it - if you come into the studio and stand still for long enough you may end up with some tied to you!

Right, I am off to read the rest of my mag in bed.Details of a kit class to come tomorrow (but if I forget please remind me!)

Night night all, sweet dreams
Ruth
x
ruth@fairyheaven.co.uk

Thursday 1 March 2012

World Book Day

Morning all!  Just thought I would quickly share with you the results of an inpromptu "photo shoot" with my daughter and nephew this morning for world book day!  Introducing Katie Morag & Tiresome Ted, with George, The Smartest Giant in Town...











Have a fabulous world book day everyone - I am very much looking forward to curling up on the sofa with a good book after my class tonight

xx