The cow who ate almost anything....,.

I've made a book for my grandchildren today. The story was taken from my great aunts notebook about her (and my grandmothers) childhood. I used Serif Craft Artist and got some appropriate pictures from google. Hey presto! The children get to learn more about their ancestors and a little bit of family history is recorded. It was about a cow the family owned who chewed clothes it stole from the washing line and ate soap! I think the girls will love hearing about that!

Vintage finds

I had fun at the last bank holiday car boot sales of the year. Lots of finds. Kevin had a meeting in Stroud today, so I was able to tag along and do some treasure hunting in the abundant charity and vintage shops. One was called cauliflower and calico. Brilliant name. These are some of the treasures that I found over the last few days. I have also painted a corner shelf unit. It was so bitty to do but I am pleased with the results. I now have a dedicated Facebook page (heart creations). Come and like the page to see what I'm up to!  

Etsy shop

I would love you to pop over and have a look at my new Etsy shop, or come and 'like" my page, heart creations on Facebook. All welcome :-) My Etsy shop

Thanks!

Getting organised...

It's all beginning to come together. I am creating almost every day and seem to have an unending stream of ideas. I hope it continues! The photo is of Becky (my daughter) and myself at my first craft fair yesterday. It was very enjoyable and educational. We met some lovely people and enjoyed seeing Gill and Marie-Noelle. I have some lovely, supportive friends. So, I am in the process now of opening a Folksy shop -heArt and an Etsy shop - donnadowdheArt . It's a steep learning curve, but I'm having fun !

Birthday badge.

Here's my sweet granddaughter wearing the broach I made to go with her card. She is such a little star! Love her to bits.

Folksy shop

Here's the link to my new Folksy shop.
http://folksy.com/shops/heArt

The Notebook

I couldn't resist this covered notebook.  Embellishing it was a real pleasures might even make my own cover next time. This is for sale, £12 including a blank page notebook. I also have a Folksy account with a few pieces on for sale. Look me up- heArt.

Route master double decker bus!

Could it be done? Late last night I challenged myself to make this.  I'm pleased with the results. What do you think? 

Stitched British Phoneboxes

Well this was fun! A friend asked if I could make a phone box broach and I love a challenge. In fact, I enjoyed it so much I made two more! I am loving making the butterfly broaches. I feel like I would like to put them on everything I have! Here is a picture of how one of the butterfly broaches looks on my bag. 

Little treasures

My box of old cotton reels arrived from eBay today. Very excited! I am imagining who they belonged to originally, and what they had sewn with them. Oh it's the little things :-)

Today's work

Here's what I've been working on today. I thought I'd try to make a needle case but I've been struggling with the best method. It's really important to me that I am pleased with what I create. I would only sell something that I would be happy to buy myself. So the practice goes on and I will let you know when I created a system that I'm happy with! Got to be proud of my work. The top picture is of a butterfly broach I also made today. I had called in to hobby craft this morning and couldn't resist the Tilda fabrics! Fatal going in there haha!

Stitched broach

I love the colours of this one couldn't resist posting! I enjoyed using a bit of canvas for the word. It went through my typewriter easily.

More free motion pins / broaches

This is so much fun! I can hardly keep up with the ideas that keep coming to me. These are what I have made today. It would have been more but I have a bad back so I am pacing myself.

Free motion work

Love, love, love free motion embroidery! I am getting to now my Janome machine and all its little ways, and we are getting along quite well. It really has helped to inspire me. Bit of a neck ache tonight though. Think I've been bent over the machine for too long!

Diddly Free Motion Broaches

Think I am going to see if there is a market for these little broaches. £5 each? 

Free motion fun!

I've been practicing with my new (to me) Janome sewing machine and have loved making these little pieces. Think they will become broaches, I just need to sew a pin on the back. I'm finding that free motion embroidery is really a case of practise, practise and more practise! Loving the results now though!

Cards- the revolution!

I've never much been interested in making cards, but I've come to realise they are just little pieces of art! Here are a few that I have LOVED making the last few days. Think I might see if they sell, although it will be hard to say goodbye!

Productive weeks!

I have had a very productive few weeks, and art has become a regular part of my daily life, finally! I have also sussed this blogging from the iPad (woohoo) so expect to hear more from me! This piccy is a little tin that I have filled witha cute dress I made recently. I made the little coat hanger with craft wire. I can see me doing much more of this. The apron is made from a page from a very old Jane Austen book. Gives it more meaning somehow.

Precious photos, precious lives.

This is my grandmother, Ivy Johnson when she was in her late teens or early twenties. I had thought no photos of her survived after my aunt lost all the family photos on a train during the 2nd world war.. The only ones I had were of her as an old lady. I contacted a great Aunt (wonderful lady! Story for another day) and she gave me several photos of my grandmother, including this one.. I can't begin to tell you how excited I was to see her like this! It has energised me into re-visiting her life story that I put together many years ago. I'm now going to use Serif Craft Artist to make a digital version of it and to include lots of photos this time. I will put some of them on here. I was just appreciating the wonders of modern technology and how it can impact our family history. A blessing indeed!