Crazy Patchwork Stockings Lovingly Hand Quilted

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Artistic moment, Artsy, Carens canvas and craft My ETSY shop, Christmas Patchwork Stockings, Crazy Patchwork X-Mas Sock, Creative craft, Creative crafting, Fun with fabrics, Handmade, Modern Abstract Stockings, Patchwork, Patchwork and quilting, Quilted Cotton Christmas Stocking, Unique, With Love from Santa stockings

Okay…now we are in September, I don’t feel so guilty about showing off Christmassy things LOL 😉

Recipe:  1)Grab a large selection of Christmas cotton fabric off-cuts,  2) Sew any which way (which, slowly, but surely, WILL drive you crazy!!),  3)Trim to desired stocking shape, 4) Sandwich with cotton wadding and backing and then hand quilt, 5)Repeat for reverse of stocking (Or, as I did, reserve a little sanity by doing a plain one with cross hatched quilting, 6) Add hanging loop between front and back pieces, bind, then hand stitched to finish!

A simple, sanity saving, hand quilted plain cream cotton reverse!

If, by this stage, you don’t feel compelled to take yourself off to the local recovery centre….try it all again LOL ….Take two!!

Okay…three solid days of craziness….I’m off to book myself in…right now ;-D !!!

A summer spent SEW nicely!! ;-)

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Artist and crafter, Artistic moment, Artsy, Carens canvas and craft My ETSY shop, Christmas Patchwork Mats, Christmas Place Mat Sets, Christmas Table Runner, Colourful Skewed Place Mat Sets, Crafty creations, Creative crafting, Cute quirky creations, Fun with fabrics, Handmade, Modern and Traditional Table Mats, Original, Patchwork, Patchwork and quilting, Table Mats and Mug Rug sets, Traditional Christmas Table linens, Unique, X-Mas Dining Place Mats

Not one to renege on my promises…..here is post number three of my get back up to date out of semi-retirement (though, technically if you count the random alliteration post ~ it’s actually No.4 LOL) !!                                                                                                                                              Sew nicely is how I have been spending my spare time, getting stock ready for the Christmas rush (well..I hope ;-)!!) in my little on line Etsy shop . Trying to cater for all manner of tastes when it comes to festive dining??!!….from the traditional, as shown here, in this beautiful hand quilted set of twelve…to many new quirky, colourful, original and unique designs below……

Again, quite a traditional set of twelve, though with a less formal theme aimed at the young at heart…of course 😉

Now then!! If you really want to add some colour to your Christmas mealtimes..??…these ”Rockin’ Reindeer” Place Mats and matching fabric Coasters/Mug Rugs,  should definitely do the trick!! Traditional Christmas colours with a modern ”skewed” design twist  😉

Another modern take! Colour themed around the central printed cotton squares, I have selected and added fabric strips in co-coordinating colours to bring the different coloured backgrounds together as a bright bold set, which can be brought out year after year! As all my sets are made from cotton fabrics with a 100% cotton wadding, they can be laundered in a machine (YAY) and ironed…. to have them looking as good as new after every mealtime!!

Having been caught out last year, by a customer who wanted extra to match a set she’d bought from me (which I didn’t have, but managed to make a coordinating set to match in for her)….I decided to make a few more smaller sets, which can either be bought as stand alone or add on sets for larger dining tables!

And, then back to traditional! A beautiful hand quilted Festive Table Runner  ~ and it’s still not quite the end of August ~ so, still time to get a few more Christmassy things done 🙂 

Sew!! Missing I may have been, but, slacking..well, not really! And it’s definitely nice to be back amongst you All !! 😉

 

 

SPRING into a new season of pegging out your laundry with a new Designer Peg Bag!

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Artist and crafter, Artistic moment, Artsy, Buttons, Carens canvas and craft My ETSY shop, Crafty creations, Creative crafting, Designer Peg Bags, Felt applique, Handmade, Nature, Original, Outdoors, Patchwork, Posh Peg Bags/Pouches, Unique Peg Bags with wooden hangers, Wash line scene Peg Bags

….

‘Lets tell the world how cute, stylish and unique we are!!…Don’t they knew we have these new boots for a reason??!

One of my most popular designs over the past seven years!!! With another little new twist – NO TWO ARE EVER THE SAME! All hand drawn, cut, and appliquéd to give a uniqueness for the new owner! 🙂 With…the addition of some little button ‘flowers’

Trialling out some very quick drying crepe fabric with a light weight cotton gingham lining for a new range of Quirky Peg Bags! Should that shower drench your washing ;-/……….this little peg bag, if left on the line, should be dryer than dry in no time, compared to your sad washing ;-/! Peg out in style ( and make your neighbours jealous with a new unique, affordable designer Peg bag!

….Taking Drying to new heights!!

‘…keep a little sunshine in your pocket pouch!…. 🙂

A busy time – New Etsy projects and gifts for friends and family too!

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Artist and crafter, Artsy, Buttons, Carens canvas and craft My ETSY shop, Cotton fabric, Crafty creations, Creative crafting, Cute boats, Fun with fabrics, Patchwork, Patchwork cushion covers, Patchwork totes, Quilted bags

New projects for friends, family and Etsy too – like this latest design!
This little shoulder/hip bag/tote is perfect for everyday use when you just need a small bag for a few essential items! Lightweight, fully lined and colourful too! Padded and quilted with some simple embroidery detail and a few buttons to finish the look! It is completely reversible with an extendible base – just in case you find a little unexpected bargain on your travels!!!

The last few weeks seem to have had me lost in clouds…of….new projects…gifts for upcoming events…for both friends and family, and, I still have a couple on the go, but here’s the finished few 🙂

A little Baby ‘Sprinkle’ present! A little present for my Dear friend’s imminent new grandson 🙂

The first part of a handmade gift for my great nephew twins, some simple little decorations to hang in their bedroom – buoy boy!!! were those little bunting flags fiddly to attach to the wire! The completed boats are only 3” wide by 9” high, so you can imagine how small the triangular flags are. I found some florist wire and a small mixed pack of balsa wood pieces, which have been residing FOREVER in my supply cupboard, so, a Stanley knife and some imagination, plus a couple of holes here and there, a few picture hooks, combined with some leftover fabric to match their cot quilts (I made earlier in the year) resulted in two little boat baptism gifts. I have two patchwork cushion covers also on the go to commemorate their precious day too – more on those soon!

Quilted heart tote. A little gift for my dear friend’s grand daughter. Hopefully big enough to carry essentials for a lovely day out with her grandma :-)!

PHEW! I have much to worry about….will they like them?? I hope so 🙂

Mysteries of the forest – Eyes are watching you! – A bleach painting

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Art, Artistic moment, Artsy, Arty, Black card, Bleach painting, Bored moment, Crazy art, Creative canvas and craft, Creative moment, Eyes are watching, Imaginative art, Moment of madness, Mysterious art, Original, Original art, Original bleach painting, Something different, Weird ideas, What where when

Here’s something new! I thought I would try painting just with pure bleach on a brush over black card. This was the result – I had no idea where this was going and just went with the flow, obviously I only had one chance at this, bleach and black card are not favourable to mistakes!! Maybe it is something I will have as my new favourite thing to practice, though not too often,. as I did have a sore throat after this attempt from the bleach fumes in a sunny conservatory

Life seems so hectic at the moment, I just don’t seem to be able to catch up with myself, I am producing so many different things craft and art wise, for so many different events I have almost forgotten to put them on my Etsy site or Word press, I hope to catch up in the next few days. Christmas looming, craft event people phoning to book me, spontaneous new ideas, combined with me playing with new designs for the fabric I bought last week all means I have little or no time to sleep—-So much to do and create!!!!!!!! Goodness, help my hoover, when I eventually get around to tidying… NO forget that idea, that can definitely wait……anyways here’s the first attempt with bleach and black card – whatever you read into it!

 

Mysteries of the forest – night-time goings on – eyes watching over you!

Pen and Ink – ‘Along The Lane’ – Sketch in Ink

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Art, Art in different mediums, Artist, Artistic, Artistic moment, Artsy, Arty, Black and white sketch, Fishing lodge illustration, Light and shade in ink, Local landscape in ink, Original art, Original pen illustration, Pen and ink water scene, Sketch of fishing lodge, Stone cottages, Village scene in ink, Water scene

‘Along The Lane’

This Ink drawing, of a local scene, was done from a photograph I took.  It’s a lovely little spot where, whatever the weather, there are always fishermen sitting around the little hidden lodge. Some of you will recognise this scene as it is one I have revisited several times in my art projects using different mediums, for those who haven’t already seen the other versions (one in oil and one in pastel), click the links below;

Landscape – ‘ Along The Lane’ – Oil Painting of Local Landscape

Landscape – Pastel Drawing of Local Landscape

 

Pen and Ink – Edgworth over to St. Annes Church, Chapeltown – Sketch in Ink

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Art, Artist, Artistic moment, Artsy, Arty, Black and white illustration, Chapeltown, Coloured pastel landscape version, Edgworth, Ink sketch, Landscape drawing, Local scene in Lancashire, Original art, Original pen drawing, Pen and ink landscape, Redrawing in different mediums

Edgworth over to St. Annes Church, Chapeltown.

This is a simple black and white pen illustration of a local countryside scene. Previously I have posted a pastel version of this same scene done in autumn colours  Landscape – ‘Edgworth over to St. Anne’s – Soft Pastel Landscape

Still Life – Van Gogh’s Bedroom – By Me

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Art, Artist, Artistic moment, Artsy, Arty, Pastel drawing Van Gogh's Bedroom, Recreating old masterpieces for yourself, Tweeking art masterpieces

Van Gogh’s Bedroom
By Me!

For those of you who have ventured around my site, you will know and see, I do primarily my own thing! Original and of my own imagination. However, every once in a while, like many others before and after me, sometimes you want to see if you can reproduce an old Masterpiece. Above is the classic ‘Bedroom’ of Van Gogh. I did it in pastel and tried to under work and simplify my drawing of the scene as much as possible. It is amazing just how many people have done this very same drawing. I think Vincent would have been overwhelmed that so many people wanted to share in the knowledge of his bedroom contents!! Other Old Masters’ works I have played around with in moments of being uninspired are;

Still Life (Master Compilation Series) -” ‘EAR’, Where’s He Gone?” – Oil Still Life

Master Compilation Series – ‘Cezanne’s “Mount Saint Victoire” overlooks, Renoir “Boating on the Seine” !’ – Oil painting

They were done to add a little twist to recreating others artwork and yet still making them original too!!!

Abstract – Oil on Canvas Panel – Abstract

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Abstract arrangement in ols, Art, Artist, Artistic moment, Artsy, Arty, Black and white art, Bored moment art, Intriguing original art, Oil abstract, Oil on canvas, Original Abstract, Original black and white abstract, Thought provoking art

Another Abstract arrangement! (number 2)

This oil painted abstract was done at the  same time as  Abstract on canvas panel – Oil painting.  I find them intriguing to look at, usually seeing something new in the picture each time I look at them. Goodness knows what’s going on in my head sometimes!

Animal Portraits – ‘Its Peppy, Again!’ – Pastel Pet Portrait

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Abstract pastel dog picture, Abstract pastel Weimaraner portrature, Art, Artist, Artistic moment, Artsy, Arty, Blending pastels in art, Original art, Original Pastel drawing, Original pet portrait, Pampered pet pooch pic, Pastel pet artist, Photographing pets for portraits, Portraits of animals from photographs, Portraits of pets in pastel, Sepia pastel pet portrait, Weimaraner artwork, Weimaraner pastel pet portrait, Weimaraner portrait in pastel

‘Its Peppy – Again!’
(In Sepia this time!!)

In this pose he really does look as if he’s thinking ” She’s got that camera thing – again!”  Obviously, I did this pastel drawing from a photograph I took of Peppy, and the real reason he looks like he’s concentrating – is because – I had a dog sausage treat on my head,  to keep his attention. (Naturally I omitted the drool from the finished portrait!) This is the second pastel picture of this same pose, below I will show you the first. The reason for this, is my Daughter stopped me in my tracks, whilst drawing the first. She came in and saw the preliminary stage of how I do my pastel portraits and pleaded with me to leave it as an abstract version. I was not wholly convinced and assured her that all my portraits look like the one below before I blend them to how I prefer them, (See Other examples of my Animal portraits in this section) as above.  Anyway, for the sake of comparison, its like before(BELOW) and after(ABOVE), really. Though she still maintains some people like abstract portraits of their pets too!!! Who knows – She may be right…..But then, She thinks She’s never wrong anyway! 🙂

‘Its Peppy – Again!’
Abstract Version