Sorry To Bore you All with my Busy Week…BUT, I Wish I was Here!!!

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Continuing my quest to make ever more, even quirkier, unique Peg Bags….My week started here! After considering where I would most like to take my washing in order to get it dry ~ having no electric dryer (living in the dark ages and all that) I considered it would be very cool to set off in my orange short set and matching hat to a remote, very deserted desert Island to watch my whites waft in the wind!! Hand drawn , cut and appliqued novelty Peg Bag ~ check out my Etsy Shop for more quirky items and gift ideas!

On a little roll of creativity, I got, interjected with…an urgent request from a lovely lady in the UK…..Could I make her…..An Origami folded fabric tote in the ‘little owl’ fabric, the same as I had made my little 8 pocket pouches???? But, Of Course!! I even gave her the option of a bespoke lining colour and wadding effect!! No sooner had I had her reply, I was racing off to the fabric store ~ before it closed to buy the requested colour – Duck Egg Blue!!

Received request…Sourced Fabric…Produced the next day….Listed for sale…and sold!…all within two days ~ shipped… and my lovely lady received it the day after ~ what a turn around in under 96 hours!!! My lady was so please I received this little note…….

I absolutely love my new tote and pouch 😊
Thank you it’s very well made and is already in use
It is definitely a talking point
I will remember you in the future for more purchases and recommend you to friends and family
Kind regards…

A wonderful result to make a creative crafter very happy!!!

Whilst on my jolly jaunt to source the Duck Egg Blue, I succumbed to purchase a little ‘Scottie’ Print cotton fabric as well ~ couldn’t resist! SO…

And then…..

Another ‘plumped’ up version…using some more of the Duck Egg Blue cotton fabric for the lining………….

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/280529334/tote-and-mini-cosmetic-pouch-duo-set?ref=shop_home_active_26

If you want a conversation starter…this is a good starter!!

Moving swiftly through the rest of my week…………

I had enough ‘Owl’ fabric left to then combined it with a rich burgundy cotton for the lining for another unique tote creation….check it out……….

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/281068022/owl-fabric-tote-free-shipping-super-cute?ref=shop_home_feat_2

back to where I was eventually in the week….Peg Bags ( with included Peg Doll creations for a lovely unique feature)

…Do you know how difficult it is to fashion Peg Dolls with full length Culottes ??? LOL ~ wish my garden was that tidy btw!!!

 

Another little cutie ~ I hope the little fluffy at the back can keep up!!!?!!!

A change of direction from the previous week’s makes…. having some ‘owl’ fabric left over from the commission and a selection of 8 inch squares hanging around for no apparent reason ~ I combined the two ~ into a simply colourful duo Place Mat Set…

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/294711137/little-owls-patchwork-place-mats-skewed?ref=shop_home_feat_1

…on a ‘skewed’ roll again, rounded my week off 😉

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https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/294299903/set-of-six-coastermug-rugs-pink-and?ref=shop_home_active_3

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https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/280537690/coaster-matsmug-rugs-skewed-squares?ref=shop_home_active_14

Ok!!! I reckon tomorrow is a sewing day off after that week of creativeness 😉 perhaps a little weeding is in order ;-/ ???

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Oil Paintings from May!…….OMGoodness They are actually dry at last!!!!!!!!! :-D

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Art, Art and Beauty, Artist and crafter, Artistic, Arty, Carens canvas and craft My ETSY shop, Christmas gift ideas, Dapple shaded poppies, Free Shipping Offer, Lurking in the bushes, Oil painting on canvas panel, Original art, Original oil paintings, Poppies in Oil, Still Life from my own garden, Still Life Original Artworks, Stone statue in Oils

”Lurking in the bushes”

‘Dapple Shaded Poppies’

Mounted and ready for shipping as is My Original Oil on canvas
‘Dapple shaded poppies’

Dapple shaded poppies mounted

Time for a happy dance…get the clogs on!! Some may remember??…way,way,way back in May of this year I did ten Oil paintings on 14 x 10 inch canvas panels?! Only today have these two, actually dried out ;-/!! But, even just behind a mount, they were worth the wait! 😉 Glad I wasn’t holding my breath though – note to self……”add some white in future!! as it dries out much quicker mixed with other pigments”

A SIMPLE..BUT STYLISH, Patchwork, Hand Quilted, Cotton Fabric, Flower Button Tote/Shoulder Bag

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After recovering from my last set of little creations, I spent a whole day routing through my buttons, Ahhh BLISS!!!  I decided that I would use some recently purchased little painted wooden Flower Buttons….not really with any plan in mind, I set about with two 6.5 x 6.5 inch square pieces of cream cotton fabric and marked out a simple line design for the coloured buttons I’d chosen. As soon as I’d finished stem stitching and adding the buttons….all became clear they would be a feature for a new bag design! No plan or pattern at hand, as ever, just develop it as I go along! Then, YAY! I found the perfect cotton fabrics to match in my stash as well….Maybe the stars had aligned ?? A Tote it would be then 😉 !! 

A simple but stylish, lightweight, hand-quilted, cotton fabric tote with tiny painted wooden flower buttons!

As they are always so useful, I added one of my little internal triple multi-pockets and sewed on the last two little coordinating buttons I had left, as a little extra detail. Even hidden touches are important too! 🙂

My two little bordered, six inch squares, hide a little secret…even more storage! Instead of incorporating them into the body of the bag, this time, after first hand quilting them, I decided to bind them first and make an extra large full width external pocket which has the benefit of a little magnetic clasp(as shown above) in the centre, to keep things all neat, tidy and safe too!

The reverse of the little tote/bag incorporates the same top border detail as the front with a simpler bordered black block design which has also been hand quilted with a diamond pattern. With a lengthy pair of straps it can be worn on one shoulder or even cross bodied too!! A great feature if you have much weight inside.

Almost finished….
Another noisy route through my treasured button collection, produced a one off vintage button, which matched perfectly !!!! It just begged to be sewn onto the little top, centre flap which houses another magnetic clasp!
As always, I still believe I have everything already I will probably ever need to make a life time of new little creations (though it’s still good to have an indulgent shopping trip every now and again just to make sure ;-D )
The final result…a pretty, stylish multi-pocketed, quite unique and very practical tote bag! 
………Right, What’s next ??? 😀

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/219116760/flower-button-tote-free-shipping-cotton?ref=shop_home_active_1

Patchwork landscape and applique sheep tote

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Applique sheep, Art, Artistic, Arty, Carens canvas and craft My ETSY shop, Crafty creations, Creative crafts, Fun cute, Fun with fabrics, Hand quilting, Handmadde and designed tote, Patchwork tote, Sheep design fabric bag, Tote

Combining some of my original ideas and patterns I decided to use some recent offcuts from my last project and create a colourful and cute fun tote. I never tire of my little sheep in pink wellies and they seemed just perfect for this new project. After forming the patchwork landscape I cut shapes from felt and hand stitched them into place….That little sheep is sooo proud of her little boots! 😉

Inside there is a useful multi pocket, with one large open pocket and a coordinating zip on the other, adding colour to the inside of the cream cotton interior.
Not wanting to miss the opportunity I decided to add a little sheep on the reverse as well…

The whole tote has been hand quilted, a little magnetic clasp for extra security on the centre flap and a few little heart buttons finish off the new design perfectly! A Pretty and practical and unique little creation! 🙂

A fun little cotton fabric tote made from a few offcuts, bits of felt, lots of stitches and little heart buttons 🙂

‘Flying Goosey’ Quilt Number 2 – proving a point to myself…that I’m not getting slow in my old age (Not that old really) !!!

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In well under two weeks I have a result! From the humble beginnings of four cotton fabrics which I selected – to a finished little beauty! Lovingly hand crafted and hand quilted with ever so many stitches it could never, ever, EVER fall apart 🙂

My newest creation! Flying Geese and appliquéd hearts lap quilt number 2 actually finished yesterday, but my camera broke down – and here’s me thinking it’s the quilt design that is jinxed !!!  Maybe it’s just me…..!

My four chosen cotton print fabrics….after lots of hunting through mountains of materials at the fabric shop I eventually chose these four to go together. Tasteful, Simple, Rich, Stylish and Elegant! As soon as I had them in my arms all together, I could already see how the new quilt would look in my mind’s eye! The only thing delaying me from starting, was some good old fashioned hand washing of the fabrics to rid them of any excess dyes! No sooner dry and ironed…..let chopping, piecing and quilting begin 😉

I always think it is a good idea to make another ‘Goosey” quilt until I reach 5/31 geese border strips…then I sigh my way through the next 26….knowing, it WILL be worth all the effort – at the same time trying not to think of all the hand quilting to come ;-/ !!!!

A little hand sewn label, to let generations hence, (should it EVER become an Heirloom piece 😉 ) know who and where it was made! A little touch I probably should have already been adding to my lovingly hand-crafted quilts…better late than never though ! As a seller on Etsy I have become aware of just how many vintage quilts there are, and, it’s important to new makers like myself, and a must, to let people/buyers know that they are NEWLY made rather than vintage…..though, I hope and feel my own designs show a contemporary style anyway! As much as I love patch working I do feel sometimes people just add too much (colour/mix of fabric designs/ confusion etc,etc (this is my opinion only-others may feel differently and we should all have our say, I think), I do like some structure to what I design and make, though others may too have other tastes, which is of course absolutely fine too! Whilst I realise in the olden days, Patchwork items were made out of what was available and maybe in short supply, it is now a luxury to go and buy new fabrics to create such items today. Though it is my belief that by buying only small quantities of each fabric I am still forcing myself to create something out of very little – even if it is all new material!

I look out proudly at my latest achievement as it gently blows in the wind after its final wash before going off to my Etsy shop! I do hope it can eventually make someone happy…..and of course warm and cosy! 🙂 I certainly sewed many, many hours during its creation (on average, I reckon I work for 2 pence per hour including material costs!!!!! Minimum wage would make it only available to the Billionaires of the world – I’m not sure they shop on Etsy?!?) and incorporated lots of sweet dreams into it too! – they are include free of course!!!  😉

Pen and inks imaginary sketch on box canvas

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Way back in the year, our family friend Ronnie, commissioned me to do a little box canvas pen and ink painting of sheep to match the other one, of cows, which he had bought from me previously. I had said I would go and take photographs and then decide on which would make the best composition for the painting. As he wasn’t in any rush, I got a little side tracked, but did let him know a few times that I hadn’t forgotten!….Time crept on, more speedily than I would have liked and before I knew it it was September…halfway through the month was Ronnie’s birthday!!!! I decided I would make up for the time he had been waiting by giving it to him as a surprise for his birthday, that was when I had done it of course ;-/ Still I hadn’t been able to go and get any photographs…so, it would have to be an imaginary scene… I think all turned out well in the end, Ronnie was thrilled with his little 9 inch x 12 inch box canvas surprise painting and I got to splash around with some inks again 🙂

I wonder what sheep gossip about over their garden fences??? In an imaginary scene it could be almost anything – but, probably about the cost of wool these days!!! ;-/

An early Christmas present (for this year AND THE NEXT FIVE AT LEAST!!!)

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Finished forget-me-not quilt
OMG! How many stitches can you put into a 6′ x 4′ panel???? at least double your thought and and then add another two million!!! Then you might be half way near to the quilting in this little creation!!! I can’t put into words the joy of finishing this little piece – never has a project been on the go for so long – interrupted by day trips with family, subsequently contracting crafter’s lung (as diagnosed by Mrs.P) more trips after a successful recovery then projects for Etsy/Commissions/Life in general… eventually back to find this awaiting unfinished project in a lonely bag!!!

I won in the end! This little creation has been playing on my mind for almost two months!!! Though already, and only finished two hours ago,( I couldn’t wait for better light to take the picture…!) it has a new owner – My Dearest is snuggled beneath it as I type….:-) There could be no other owner than him, as it has little Forget-Me-Not flowers and lots of hearts in the design!

I have been promising him a larger lap quilt for ages, but always they have been spoken for, or intended for My Etsy shop. As winter is approaching, it is a great time to be making these little lap quilts, though I won’t be able to put in 13 hours of sewing each day as I have for this baby! Dark nights have me a new plan, I am about to embark on a new batch of paintings instead – Dipping a brush into paint, by candle light, is much easier than trying to thread a needle when you are past 40!

…..Oh My!… I think I hear snoring?!? Obviously it is comforting too! 🙂

What a wonderful week!

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Art, Artist and crafter, Artistic, Arty, Carens creative canvas and craft MY ETSY SHOP, Colourful creations, Crafty creations, Creative crafting, Cute creations, Flying geese patchwork quilt, Fun quirky hand craft, Fun with fabrics, Hand quilted items, Handmade novelty items, Lap quilts, Lovingly handmade items, Moomin T-Towels, Original, Patchwork, Patchwork and quilting

Jen’s ‘Moomin’ quilt!

After completing and handing in her PhD last week, our Daughter Jennifer, came to stay for a little visit around lunchtime on Monday this week (and, has just left after lunch today, Friday, so keep in mind its been roughly four full days!),  As only just out of the world of being a full time Student at 25 years old, she has yet to readjust obviously…so, thoughtfully she still brought me a large case of washing!!! ;-/

We excitedly discussed all her recent deadlines and caught up on other things, whilst I turned on the washing machine….She then put forth her ‘little plan’ for the short stay home, which meant we could have much Mother and Daughter time, sounds lovely I thought 🙂 simultaneously Jen produced three ‘Moomin’ cotton T-Towels – so cute! Her plan was to make a lap quilt using the cotton panels, hand quilt it and take it back as a surprise for her partner!!! …..WHAT in four days..???? Aaaarghghgghgh. I know I can work quickly….but really?

You might be thinking two people/four days simple….! But from those four full 48 hours we now have to minus time for visits with Grandparents, A pre-planned outing by my daughter to Manchester to see Stephen Fry at the Bridgewater Hall, which of course means leaving at three o’clock on the Wednesday and not returning until nearly midnight, a dental appointment which I had booked the same day, so a round trip of loosing another couple of hours including treatment and a numb face for the next five hours, and of course Jennifer managing to squeeze in another lunch out for us all with grandparents on Thursday…there’s another couple hours gone….maybe allow for two hours sleep each night as well ?!? Suddenly those four days, hardly even seem to have 48 hours left of working time to make this little masterpiece!!!!  AAAAArrrrrrghghghhghg again! As we talked through all this, my lovely daughter said, ‘… it would be fine – plenty of time!!!!!’  😉 How did her generation get to be so laid back???

By 5.0 pm on the Monday of her arrival, we had just about decided on a plan of how it would look, taking into account the different shapes of the towels, now all we had to do was find the colour combination she wanted…??? OMG! … was I ever under prepared for this……My whole fabric stash was about to be brought out…ALL at once – OMG!!! :-0  :-0  :-0

After opening a zillion boxes and sifting through 99 tons of cotton fabrics, moving them from one ledge to another until my whole conservatory workspace was in danger of bursting, I managed to create a short list of colours for Jen’s final decision…! By 10.30 pm the chopping of fabric was well under way…at last – PHEW!

What can I say?!? It was actually finished by 2.0 am this morning – she was right…”Plenty of time!” Though I must confess to missing the last bit of hand quilting – my midnight oil had obviously run out…as I had fallen asleep in a little heap on the sofa beside her ^-^ !!!

Overall it has been a wonderful week and a lot of fun making this little quilt with her too – I hope it’s a nice surprise for her someone special!!!?

I shall at last get back to my WIP (sneak preview below) which has been sitting patiently in a bag for way longer than it should……

Will I ever get to finish it??? My flying Geese lap-quilt guaranteed to have me all Goosed out with all the hand quilting I have planned….!

Crafty creations for Christmas! Cotton fabric hand quilted patchwork place-mats.,

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Art, Artistic, Arty, Carens canvas and craft My ETSY shop, Christmas patchwork, Creative crafting, Hand quilted, My Etsy Shop, Original, Patchwork and quilting, Patchwork place mats, Unique

Seasonal patchwork quilts on s small scale…or should I say Place-mats?!? 🙂           

In classic Christmas colours of red, green and cream, to add a simple splash of style to any table over the festive season! A set of patchwork place-mats and coordinating coaster mats. All the fabrics are 100% cotton with a soft cotton wadding sandwiched between the front panel and a plain cream back panel allowing me to hand quilt over the entire area, finished by hand stitching a matching binding strip all around each mat. Now available on my Etsy shop as; a set of two OR a set of four!

Set of four handmade and quilted place-mats and matching coaster mats
https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/carenscanvasandcraft

I feel a silly season of sewing on the horizon…..Christmas is approaching way too fast…! ;-/

Stonehenge done my way :-) !

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”…..Sometimes…..’ A poem  by ME!

Caren Taylor copyright 2014 (for both picture image and poem)

‘…..Sometimes…..’

Sometimes we need something ???

but, don’t know what it is…?

Sometimes we want something ???

but don’t know how to get it…?

Sometimes we feel something ???

but don’t know how to respond…?

Sometimes….. things just happen

And…It’s the best feeling in the World..! 🙂

—————————-CAREN TAYLOR 2014 (C)

One day…I knew I needed to paint another mural, but though I knew what I wanted, and, I had a feeling of what it should be, it just wasn’t becoming how I envisaged… in fact it was about a million miles away from making me happy! Then…a Eureka moment! Life is all about change…! So, scrap the first plan!!! Pensively, drawn from one situation to another and seeing things from two different perspectives within my head, there was only one realistic outcome to achieve my aim, I based my creative crowning glory on a Constable! An atmospheric artistic arrangement in my own colours of His ‘Stonehenge’! Painted ferociously with everyday emulsion paint in a matter of hours…when you know something is right…… go for it!!! Was I a Druid in a past life?!?…Maybe?!? Am I happy with the outcome?!? YES!!! I can stand anywhere and look into the perspective of the picture to give me perspective on life, I can sit and wonder in the forefront of my thoughts, or I can delve back and take a deeper moment of thought of what things could or should have been…! Constable’s reasons for painting his picture were his… My mural makes me muse over matters and moments of my life…for ME!

Stonehenge Mural – done my way! But, inspired by Constable!

A simple emulsion painting (using only tester pots and cheap decorating paintbrushes))  which has brightened my days for many years now – I cease to tire of it 🙂 Oh! and I also built a mini Stonehenge at the bottom of our garden, using old stone paving edge stones I dug up – a post for another time, maybe!!!

On many of my posts I have photographed my craft items on our large sofa in our back living- room, which is directly below my huge mural of my beloved Stonehenge. Our back room leads directly through to my painting/drawing/crafting workspace in the conservatory…as a south facing room, it is perfect to work in, maybe for two or three days a year!!!, making for one giant place to work and create! On some of my crafty posts, a snippet or two of the photos, may have included bits of the painting, which was unknown to the viewer …so I am now unveiling what sits above!

For whatever reason…I have been drawn to Stonehenge for years, and, was fortunate to have visited the site…on a surprise trip! – which made me doubly sure.. I must have been some kind of Druid in a past life ;-/! (for the fulfilment if being there, was just indescribable)  – it was the best thing I could ever have wished for and experienced! I have much to thank my Dearest one for, because, the experience, and, even though he didn’t understand my drive to be there… he still took me 🙂

After doing many murals both for my own children in their bedrooms as they grew up and for friend’s, and, sometimes even for their children too, over the years, I suddenly felt the urge to create one for myself!!! Not really knowing what else to add to the unveiling of my wall…I thought I would stick a poem underneath, which also seems a little disjointed from reason too! So they make a perfect coupling :-)!

One amazing purely random fact I want to share………t I have a mirror centrally placed directly opposite the painting, and, if the sun hits the mirror on the summer solstice, which it has done a couple of time over the years, it lights up My Stonehenge in the most amazing way, taking a beam of light through to the back of the painting and through the two furthest stones!

 

PS. Having first been an untitled poem by myself, I was spurred on by the lovely Mrs. P. to give it one…so, after much deliberation……….and then some more……….I came up with the apt new title of, ‘…..Sometimes…..’ 🙂