Jewellery construction

I wouldn't claim to have 'made' these bits of jewellery as such... perhaps constructed is a more appropriate word.  As with a lot of things, I go through phases with my jewellery.  There were a couple of necklaces which I used to love at one point but had gradually stopped wearing as I didn't like the length anymore, or the chain had become tarnished etc.  So a quick rummage through my bits 'n' bobs box and I found a couple of unused/ broken chains to swap them with.  The bracelet was shortened from a broken necklace, and made using pieces left over from other jewellery.  Accessorize can be a good place to find broken jewellery quite cheaply. Usually they just need a small pair of pliers or a blob of glue to fix them.  Or you can use the 'bits' to make something totally new!

 

Bargain bin rescue

I've always wished I could be the sort of person who goes into a charity shop, finds something for a complete bargain and then transforms it into something amazing and new looking!  I just can't do it!

 

Instead I decided to rescue this jumper from my 'heading to Oxfam pile' and turn it into a cardigan.  A quick chop up the centre and a hand-stitched seam or two and it was done!  Nothing drastic, or dramatically different, but it's something that I'm much more likely to wear.  Shame the weather is now firmly in Autumn and it's far too cold to be wearing it!  Ah well, something to look forward to for next summer...

 

Rwandan fabric

Last year when I was in Rwanda, I bought a lot of fabric... like A LOT!  It was really stressful buying it from the market, mostly because there was so much choice and because I'm terrible at haggling a good price!  I love the vibrant colours and prints.  Some of the fabrics I saw in the market were crazy - massive repeat patterns of handbags or cakes, swirls of colours, all jammed into a small stand.  I've loved being able to use the fabric I bought for various projects.  I've made quite a few things, but still have so much fabric left... anyone got any requests?!  Click here to read more about my adventures in Rwanda.

 

A cover for my Bible and a case for my phone charger

 

An apron.  I also made an apron and tea-towel for one of my nieces to

go with her toy kitchen - very cute.

A wee flowery brooch

 

Bunting card... I'd love to make some full size bunting - I think it would look amazing!

Jewellery bags - perfect for travelling with

A table cover

I love my Rwandan giraffes and other bits & pieces

Brooches

These are a few brooches that I've made.  I'd love to do more jewellery as I so often see cute wee brooches in the shops and think, I could make that!  They're quick and easy to make, and look so pretty.  Good ideas for birthday presents.

 

Wedding gifts

One of my good friends got married earlier this summer.  At the time I bought her and her husband some mugs from their wedding list, with the intention of making some things for them as well.  2 months later and I finally got round to giving them what I had made!!

 

I bought some cork coasters from a craft shop and used a black marker, silver pen and acrylic paints to decorate them.  With hindsight, I probably should have varnished them to protect them from liquids and heat.  They still look cute though!

I was inspired by an image I found on Pinterest.

I wanted to make an embroidered collage as well.  As with many of my projects, it didn't quite turn out as I had originally planned, but I think I prefer it this way.  It's simple, but still detailed because it's hand-embroidered.  The focus is on the words.

Mermaid den for the nieces

My nieces turned 3 and 1 over the summer, and my sister-in-law asked if I could make a den for them to play in.  It didn't turn out quite as I envisioned, but seems to have gone down well - always a good seal of approval if the girls like it!  Ishbel loves mermaids (we used to make her into a fish with a blue blanket when she was wee) so I used this as a theme for the den. 

 

I bought a blue flat sheet to be the background, chopped it up to make it the right size and painted it with bleach and sparkly paint to make waves.  Next I added some shells and seaweed shapes with fabric paint that turns 3D when ironed.  I cut out lots of felt shapes (fish, shells, starfish, seahorses) and decorated them with glittery fabric paint, and spent hours hand stitching them onto the sheet!  I found the remnant bin in my local fabric shop (20 pieces for £5 - total bargain!) and set about cutting them up with my pinking shears to make more seaweed.  I used my sewing machine to attach these, in order to save time, then added bright orange pompoms, buttons and beads.  Add in a jelly fish and sea horse each to play with, and it was finished!  It fitted perfectly onto their drying rack, with the ties that I'd added onto it, and is easy to fold away when the girls are finished playing.

 

And even better, it's the sort of present I can keep adding to... more fish to play with, a mermaid doll, a treasure chest... I better get working on it now!

 

 

I think that smile says it all - what a cutie!

Handmade cards - birthdays

These cards have been made for birthdays, but could be used for other occasions.  I like trying out different techniques to see what works well.  I love the bird cards - simple, pretty and easy to do (the best kind of craft).

 

Marker pens and fineliners (along with my new favourite - a white gel pen)

The bird on the left card has been drawn straight onto the card, while

the other two birds are attached with foam pads.

Using scraps from magazines and drawing over them

Colour pencil

 

The card cloud is stuck on with wee foam pads

and the 'rain drops' are cut out from paper and stitched together.

One of my photographs - simple but so effective!

Handmade cards - weddings

I've been trying to make more cards for people instead of buying them.  Both to encourage me to create, and to save money!  The following cards were made for weddings and engagements, using a variety of techniques.

 

Stitched hearts

 

Stitching with wire

Using the end of a pencil dipped in paint

 

Scene from Rwanda

I painted this for a friend's birthday during the summer.  She spent some time in South Africa a few years ago, and has an 'Africa' themed room in her house, so I knew this would fit in well!  I must admit, I copied the figures from a card that I bought in Rwanda last year and the background was taken from one of my own photos.  (Rwandan sunsets are pretty incredible!)  I used acrylic paints (the ones I have left which haven't dried out that is) on a canvas about 6 inches square.  It was good to do some painting again  - something I've not really done much of for a long time.  And I loved wrapping it up at the end - you can't beat a bit of brown paper and some pretty lace and ribbon!

 

Bright lights bigger city

It's been rather a long time since I last blogged here... over 2 years!!  Where does the time go?  (Yes, I know that makes me sound old!)  Back in April 2011 I was living at home with my parents, working 2 part-time jobs and finding it very hard to have the time or motivation to do anything creative.  Fast forward to today, and I'm living in Glasgow again, working for a small charity and feel like I've just about recovered from the experience of Art School.  My current job is part-time, which might make things a bit tight, but it has allowed me the space to do more art things.  It's been so encouraging to me to discover that I can still find enjoyment in making and creating!

 

And so, I've decided to start blogging again with the hope of giving myself some motivation to keep going and to share some of the things I've been working on.  Feel free to comment on the blog posts - it would be great to get some feedback! If you'd like to receive new blog entries by email, you can do so by entering your email address in the 'subscribe' box on the right hand side.

 

Also, check out my other blog here to read about my adventures in Rwanda in 2012.

 

Click on the photos below to see larger versions.

 

Buchanan Street, Glasgow city centre

City wildlife

My old favourite - the Botanic Gardens in Glasgow's Westend