Fabric postcards

 I joined in on a great forum last week, stichin fingers, Its amazing to see all the wonderful things people make around the world. I have just set a challenge on the site for textile/ fabric post cards along the subject of  'RAIN' ( seems quite apt what with the summer we are having, or not having as the case may be ).
So over the next week I will be working on a piece along these lines. Will post the results and try to link the other blogs to my site so you can see what everyone else has come up with.
Here a few of my past fabric cards which have been sold or sent to loved ones.

I found this one in a charity shop, its a fabric painted card . I think  its been printed or painted on a stiff linen

This is one I made for a friend who is travelling the moment.Its a great way of using up little bits that you don't want to chuck away because something about them speaks to you or inspires you.

If you want to join in the challenge then link up and lets see what we all come up with.
Looking forward to seeing the results.

Folk art illustrations

 I have been doing more drawing and illustrating this week what with this dodgy weather.
Trying out new styles and ideas.I have come up with these as my more successful pictures.
I will print them out and get them in the shops shortly.

 This little owl was inspired by an old guy I know at the allotment called Dennis. I imagine him to be a gnarly old wise owl. He seems the oracle of wisdom and must be several hundred years old!!!!!!!
Pretty impressive, hope i'm still doing my plot when i'm his age, what a star.

Also had some interesting news this week but trying to not get too excited. I have been looking at buildings for the past year round Saltash to start an Art Craft And Environment centre. The project is called 'Saltash Creative Hub' and this week the council informed me that a suitable venue might be coming up so fingers crossed. The last card may come true for me. I'll keep you posted.

80's re- work and dolls clothes

I think I have put a curse on the Cornish cost so sorry about that to any holiday makers. After my last post going on about the great weather, the heavens opened and we are now drenched down here in Cornwall.
Days of cornish missel  ( drizzle and mist for those not in Cornwall ) have filled the weeks so I have been trying to be as productive as I can.
Lucky I have been doing my book or I may have gone bonkers by now.
Merryn did a great collage with her friend.
Although she has been off school with a chesty cough she hasn't let it stop her getting on with all those fun things kids do at 3. 
At least I have had her cheery face around to brighten my day.

Today we set about making two dresses for her two dolls 'Yorkshire and Strawberry ' ( buy the way we have never been to Yorkshire, but at least Merryn loves Strawberries)
She picked out the fabrics and trims then we talked about what she would like and I put it together for her.

I also re-worked a couple of jumpers. One had a coffee stain on that I covered with a cloud and the other jumper was one that my husband was throwing away, so I chopped the top off and added an 80's touch with some denim and white cotton.

A bit of art.

 On my last post I mentioned that I had lost a disk of my art work . On it was also some pictures from my dads sketch book. I was gutted and then to make it worse when I asked my dad for his sketch book again to make a new disk up he told me they were lost. Gutted gutted gutted........

But hoooooray today I have found the said disk and made a back up copy, few dad has no other record of his work now other than this disk, it has become family gold now.

Anyway to celebrate I thought I would post some of his marvels on my blog for all to enjoy.

This one is one of my own. Its a self portrait, I made it from ripped up magazine papers. I had forgotten about it until I found it on the disk so thought I would share it. Not sure if it looks much like me but as a picture it came out pretty well.

My new book

 We have been loving the sunny days in Cornwall, I love it here when the sun shines. Until I burn my legs with a stupid assumption that my legs never tan so they don't need cream.
How daft but I know I will just do the same thing next year. The kids have been enjoying the beaches and I have been watching my allotment come to life.
In-between beach antics and the usual sewing projects I have started on a craft book venture.
Here is a sneak peek at the cover and inside pages.

 It was great fun going through old photos with my dear dad and picking out those photos were you are in matching jumpers knitted by your nan or some crazy outfit you made as a kid. I love seeing the fashions change through time too.

The book is in sections, Kids, Home, Community and Re-worked fashion. I hope people like it and have a go at some of the projects. I went to town with this one litterally and have a fun section on town craft projects, a twist on yarn bombing and a cute project to give something back. Cant give too much away but it will be available to buy in the next few months, I'm hoping to get it out before christmas but we will see how timescales go.
It was funny looking back through all my old sketch books to gather some of my illustrations and old art work. Still looking for one computer disk though full of my art card work. I will be truely gutted if it doesn't turn up.

cross stitch, crochet and patchwork

Cornwall has to be one of the wettest places, the April showers look like to be carrying on into may. My little girl Merryn drew a picture of her dad and it sums up every ones general mood quite well.
Good likeness to her dad too I think.
I have been keeping busy as always making and Thrifting things for the shops and trying out new ideas.
here are a few things i made this month.

Found a few interesting things this month too. A skull on the beach (have no ideas what it is from so any idea let me know) And this wooden cup with a crazy handle.

I also decided to spray paint my guitar with a couple of stencils.
Spray painting is so addictive it made me want to put on a hoodie, go out in the night and paint the town.
I can see how graphitti artists get there kicks now. Imagine if you were actually a good artist with it too!
We started of customising my sons skate board. Then we went onto the spare boards, then the guitar, we ended up frantically looking for something else to spray it is so addictive.

Rabbits are doing well too. the poor things had to have injections this month but they didn't seem too traumatised.