Catch up

I have been busy in the last two weeks, honest - but I haven't much to show for it really

I made a larger fabric panel [like the ones for the fabric book] and added it to the front of a bought canvas shopping bag. I like the effect but I wish I had used a bag with long handles as I would get more use out of it. Also the layered chains and charms at the top left keep getting tangled so, although I like the movement when they are not tangled, I might have to add a few catching stitches.

I also decorated a cardboard box for my daughters friend, Debbie, who has just had a baby girl. Harriet arrived over ten weeks early so she isn't home yet but I'm looking forward to a cuddle once she is - well done Debbie.

I also had a go at frantageing [don't think it's a real word so it probably doesn't matter how it's spelt] some chipboard baubles as demonstrated by Sue from The Stampman at the Leeds Grammar School Craft Show last sunday. It is a lovely show, maybe 30 stands [so I have a greater chance of remembering why I bought what I did and also what I've seen demonstrated] and quite a variety of craft good on offer. I did mean to go back to a couple of the stalls, for heavier items I didn't want to carry round for too long, but I ran out of time [which was good for my purse I suppose] as I was due at my mums for sunday lunch.

I was talking to Kay from Indigo-blu as well and she said the best way to do ute casting is to use the melt pot as it keeps the molten ute more fluid than using a pie tray and heat gun. I have a melt pot so I'll have to actually open the packaging and try it out [I've had it years but for some reason I've never got round to using it - may have something to do with not wanting to tackle cleaning it out!]. My moulding compound arrived from Germany [no customs charges hurray] so I'll have to mix some smaller amounts and get mould making. Maybe I can salvage a few that I already made by adding bases to them.

I also finally joined the create and craft club [I couldn't resist the docrafts fairy dvd - I was obbsessed with the images when they came out last year], so I bought the felting machine Jenny Rayment was demonstrating. I obviously wasn't watching properly because I broke 4 of the needles straight away as I was feeding my material between the foot and the needles and it all bunched up in the finger guard. I was getting very annoyed with the machine and muttering rude words until I realised the material was suppoised to go under the foot - I felt [no pun intended] so stupid!. I'll have to have another go when I have got some wool fabrics to try - it might be best to get the hang of it with the correct materials before I go off piste.

Sara x