If you could see inside my head at this moment you would see a jumping child about to be given the biggest bag of sweets ever. That's how excited my little brain is. Today I have been to my first craft show. The Craft 4 crafters show in Exeter. oh wow was I excited. If you have never been to one before they consist of stands full of goodies to buy, some very new. Some of these stands have people demonstrating products some don't. They also have a number of workshop shops you can attend. Anyone looking for a new craft to try I would recommend paying one of these events a visit. But do be aware you may need to book in advance for some classes. These are usually very reasonably priced. This picture is of a beautiful stand from the pressed flower guild. For £1 you could make a key ring. I was a little surprised not to see more children because lots of the activities would be fine for children over 7. I actually didn't take many photos as I saw lots of signs asking you not to take photos. So today I saw a good mix of products available. Sewing machines, fabric, Papercraft, needle felting, ribbons, artist supplies, one wood carving group, lots of beads, some hand made clothes, lots of stunning quilts, craft books, origami plus lots more. I'd say something for everyone. Mostly items are priced well with begginers kits available on lots of stalls. What's going to be big? Well if that's anything to go by id say stencils. I saw some absolutely gorgeous paints to use with them and lots of glitter. It's a great way to stock up on basics. Lots of card packs at good value as well as double sided tape. I'd pictured in my head I'd look out for a needle felting kit as I'm itching to give it a go and it's my birthday soon so completely justifiable but I got distracted by something else. Block Craft. Block craft is inspired by ancient Indian art of block printing. Using hand carved Indian wooden printing blocks, fabric paint you can print on all sorts of items, including card, fabric, scarves, tea towels the list is endless. I will be honest the friendly staff and lovely display drew me in but seeing the finished results was just fantastic so I purchased a small set. I will review it for you next week. So after a long day I'm exhausted but still so excited about the day.
My next one the NEC perhaps? The only negative was I had expected some of the big Papercraft names to attend but apparently they will at the NEC. If you missed this one then try the bath and west show ground on Thursday the 6th April to Saturday the 8th April. Well it's half past 10 now and my brain is headed into sleep land. Have a lovely weekend xxxx
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Hello welcome back. This post should have been a paper craft one but it's been such a crazy crafty week I wanted to share with you what I've been up to. This week I haven't stopped and not only have I made loads but the variety has been massive. Let's start with this a metal etched sheet. For Christmas I bought the silhouette curio. I will review it for you soon but this machine allows you to cut and etch different thicknesses. These sheets are silhouettes own brand. It's not perfect but I was itching to try one out. My problem being that I'm not sure what I'd do with it. Should it be on a wall or drilled onto a jewellery box or in a frame?. Im really not sure what to do with it yet. ![]() When things go wrong! ![]() Painted slate hearts This is a failed design you see I was attempting to etch onto this slate heart but the slate is such an uneven surface that it kept going wrong. I hate wasting things so I tried to paint over the words. This wonky file looked great on the screen but not good painted on!. I tried to add some folk style roses but sadly this is a reject. But then that got me thinking about trying a more simple design. ![]() I love it! I love painting it I love how it's turned out. In fact I love it so much ive added it to my shop and ive already got orders for more!. You see it's ok when things go wrong and they will and they do but sometimes we just need to try. Please don't be afraid to try a new craft. ![]() Wood work! Yep held tightly in the vice is my mushroom I know it's difficult to see it's a hard wood it's been difficult to work with. This week was my return to wood carving after weeks off due to ill children and all sorts and I'm getting ready to start something new which I'm really excited to share with you. An apple bowl! But sadly with half term in the way it's going to be a while till I get my hands on it again. Can you remember my magazine freebie to make? I finally got round to making it. I made my heart small I was going to make more to make heart chain but they tend to curl up so I decided against it. You can find lots of videos on YouTube to help crochet a heart. That's not all I've been crocheting this week. I started making a hat without looking at a pattern which is never a good idea and it went kind of wrong so then I decided to continue with it and make a draft excluder. I'm hoping that once it's finished and stuffed with filling it will look ok! Time will tell. I've also been cutting out embellishments. You see watching YouTube whilst you work is never a good idea!. Whilst watching a Friend make up embellishments for subscription boxes I just felt the need to cut out some embellishments. Well you can never have enough supplies for that emergency birthday card. Well next week is half term and we have a Valentines cake to make plus I'm heading to my first craft exhibition I can't wait and I'll tell you all about it.
Plus I've some guest blog posts to write, one more item to make for a competition and I want to talk to you about owning a craft business so lots and lots to come. As always thank you so much for taking the time to read my blog I am always thrilled when I see my stats. Have a wonderful week. Xxxx Hello don't you just love February? Well perhaps not but I do. It's cold and wet at the moment but the days are getting a little longer it's a little brighter in the mornings and although we are all willing spring on we know we have to get through February first. I think that's why Valentines day we invented! , Well almost certainly not but when you think about it it's cold dark and can be a bit depressing so the idea of spreading some love isn't a bad thing. After all what is life without love?. It could be the love you have for a pet, your children your patner, family, friends or the memories of someone no longer with us. It's important to take some time out to celebrate it, express your feelings and let those most close to you know you care. Of course we shouldn't have to have one date dedicated to this we should be able to show how we feel when ever we choose, some would say every day. But for those a little scared to express themselves, for those people Valentines day severes as a chance to allow them the opportunity to do so. At this time of year i love that I can bring my favourite colour into our home and yes I know it's commercialised but everything I've bought is going up to my bedroom after so it's not wasteful. Perhaps you would like to add a love to your house?. I took advantage of pound lands bargains and invested in a few goodies. Like these lovely wooden heart lights. They are battery powered but they last ages. I also picked up these wooden hearts and this lovely wooden me and you sign it's almost asking to be decorated but I actually like they way it looks. I have my sign I made last year "love is the closest thing to magic" and they had these felt heart bunting which you are supposed to hang the hearts at and angle but I decided to add some holes so they could hang upright. Because it fitted in with the red crochet roses I put my red wreath up to go with it.
So that is it for now. Just one more week to go and then it's half term. I plan to make some paper heart decorations, Valentines cup cakes and some little cute boxes. I hope you spread a little love this year in any way you can. Take care everyone xxxx It's been a dull January and a wet week is predicated in Somerset I need some colour and let's face it Valentines day is just around the corner. (Well a few weeks away). I love to decorate our living room for every season and celebration I can find. I knew I wanted a vase of Crochet Roses. Well I'm calling them roses although really they are just large flowers. This is the pattern I used. With a 4.5 Crochet hook chain 40 turn and double chain into the 3rd stitch from the hook and double chain in every chain until you get to the end. Turn and miss the stitch and double chain into the next stitch. In that same stitch you need to work 2 double chain and one treble chain and the two more double chain. Then slip stitch into the next stitch. Next miss a chain and repeat the pattern all the way along. Leave a long tail and wrap your rose using the point tail to stitch your rose into place. I added hot glue to some thin chop sticks. I wanted the wood to be seen as it adds to the texture. I made mine in a variety of reds and pinks. This one I made is much to big. I used a chunky wool and a size 6 hook for this one . I think it might become a brooch with a felt backing. I think my roses go well with my red winter wreath. This ones been sat in my bedroom and I think my roses may join it after February. I have a few more projects I'd like to make before I share with you my Valentines display. I did treat myself to a few nice bits as I plan to relocate them to our bedroom once it's over. I did also pick up this Crochet magazine I was encouraged by my youngest to buy it. I've had a quick scan of it and I'd like to start with the fab free gift on the front cover i mean we all love crochet stationary. So I hope your inspired to have a go at crochet roses.
Do take a look on Pinterest I did see some lovely looking closed roses perhaps I should pin them on my ever growing crochet to make board. Take care xxx Hello and welcome back how excited am I to be bring your this post. Can't paint but would like to? Love folk art? Then this could be the kit for you. From the company folk it you can purchase a whole range of kits which teach you the skills needed for each kit. It's recommended that you start with the first starter kit because that comes with everything you need for any of the kits in first section. I recommend you get the first kit. Priced at £25 I did find mine on eBay for £15 so it's worthwhile shopping around. You get 6 paints, two brushes an all important ball pen tool, sponge, wooden heart blank, tracing paper a card blank, instructional dvd, glitter and a booklet. The quality the contents is excellent and the book and DVD is fantastic. Now I can't tell you exactly what to do you would need to buy the kit. But let's just say the step by step process is easy. What I made plus two wooden hearts I had. The kit suggests that you paint the heart black and sand down but that was to distressed for my liking so I just painted it white. I loved this and I'm keen to buy some more kits to learn more. I will confess certain kits look more appealing than other especially the Christmas ones! So before I leave you let's have a little update. I've had my youngest daughter home from school for part of the week but yesterday we ventured out and she choose an air drying clay kit from the pound shop. This is what she made. She also added the fluffy bits to a cushion with this little kit. Finally we have some new felt tips.
Sadly most of the sharpies have worn out now so I will be looking out for a sharpie offer. These plus some colouring books will keep her busy for the rest of the weekend. So I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekend we are celebrating Chinese new year a day late tonight. Make sure you check back next week as I'm getting ready for Valentines on the cheap!. Xxxxxx Hello thank you so much for checking my blog today I do hope you are well. Now you may have noticed me mention my new business and if you follow me on Instagram you will have seen my posts of what I hope to sale in my new business. But before I tell you what exactly my new business is I'd like to tell you why and how my new business has come about. Firstly like most, working part time is no longer an option! as my children grow my money needs to stretch more and more so I need something that allows me to be flexible around my children and my current job. Most of you will know that I ran Nanny Buttons Crafts as a business for a few years. Sadly the costs involved with supplies and some health issues made it impossible for me to carry on. But I kept my blog as I hope to inspire others because making things you see it is in my blood it's what keeps me sane. Life however tends to deal out some odd cards, I've learned that no amount of money will protect you from health issues whether it's physical or mental or the health of people you love. With that in mind I wanted to bring some that can Bring inspiration to others. Mostly I have a positive attitude and I'd like to share that with people. So I'm hoping my new business will spread a little bit of wisdom and cheer. Currently I'm planning some craft classes to hopefully inspire others to take up and craft and secondly I'm working with a range of inspirational and personalised products. For me I've invested money and time learning new crafts working with new materials such as slate, acrylic, wood and metal. I am super excited about all the new items I'm working on and the journey it's going to take me on. So whilst I continue getting stock ready and putting the finishing touches to my new business I will share just a few of what i will be bringing you. My new business is coming with a new name and apart from a link on this page nothing else about Nanny Buttons Crafts will change.
My blog is my way of sharing my love of crafting with you. This year I've lots of new crafts to share with you. I am super excited as I've just ordered a Folk it kit! So make sure you check back next week and I will share with you exactly what's involved. Plus I'm review an art kit how exciting xxxx Hello welcome back. It's been an odd week! Yesterday I woke up feeling dizzy infact I struggled to get out of bed. I felt sick and I felt the familiar reminder of a migraine. So I got back in bed. When I finally woke up at 1 my head was lots better. I think it was a warning to slow down and look after myself a little. Which kinda brings me nicely to my mug warmer. The thing with crochet is ideally you need to be sat down to crochet so that means I had to sit down. Well I should have found a mug cozy pattern to follow but I didn't I just crochet a chain that went nearly all the way around the mug and turned and double chained back. Repeating this until it was the right height for the mug. I attached a gorgeous button and as a double chain leaves a few spaces I just slid my button through. This took about 20 minutes so very quick but I would like to try a few patterns just out of interest. Once I've tried some more patterns I will let you know what I like.
Let's hope for extra warm cups of tea. Xxx Happy New Year although a little late it's still the start of a new year, be a very cold start!. Christmas was lovely and the new year for me was spent in my local which was great fun. Behind the scenes and the reason this post is a lot later than I would have liked but I've been busy moving from my lovely craft cupboard to my new workspace!. Yes we have had to completely change the living room to give me this space. Before I share a picture let me assure you it's a work in process. In fact so that I can work the basics are in but funnily going from a closed cupboard to an open space means my set up needs to be completely different. So you can expect lots of storage solutions from me over the next month. You will be pleased to know that the top part of the unit went to a new home and the bottom half we have reused as a tv stand.
This year I am all for recycling and reusing infact so much so that within my new business I will have a section just for upcyled items. This year despite starting up my new business my blog will be going strong with some new crafts. I am itching to try my hand at pyrography, I think I've shared some attempts before with you as well as my monthly Crochet make, metal Stamping and needle felting our some crafts I'm keen to have a go at. Plus something I am really excited to try is folk painting. Yep it's going to be a very busy year. Personally I'm itching to read more books, cook and bake more as well as get back into yoga I've missed it so. I do hope you will join me for the ride. I'll leave you with a picture of last year's January teas cosy as I really must find a better pattern for a tea cosy. Take care everyone happy crafting xxxx Hello welcome it is Christmas eve as I write this blog and today was my job to make mince pies and settle down to read this book.
Presents have been wrapped and delivered, cards have been handed out and both me and my children are all a little tired as it's been a busy week. My youngest two headed to longleat to see the light festival as well as decorating gingerbread biscuits with their cousin's both treats from loving aunties. You see Christmas if you aren't a Christian is in my opinion a family time. Memories are more precious than any wrapped present will ever be. Now with Daddy home and the excitement of family coming around on the big day we realise that expensive decorations and presents will all be forgotten as will expensive food but what we will remember is the fun memories we will be making. So I guess my message to you this Christmas is make memories with those around you and if you can reach out to those you love and give them your time after all its the most precious thing in the world. Enjoy your memory building, stay safe and well. I truly wish you good health and a very merry Christmas Xxxxx Hello everyone what a busy week!. I do hope you are all well as I have just developed a cold and to be honest I am not surprised. Now I am a little disapointed with myself as I really haven't managed to bring you everything I would have liked to but incase you missed my video earlier in the week this is it for you now. My quick and easy wreath guide. Now it's getting so close to Christmas and I have left a few presents till last minute which is typical for me. This year I wanted to make my niece's and nephews these lovely little personalised decorations. I did use my silhouette for these but in the picture below I used some Anita's peel offs and filled them with some die cut card stars and glitter or mini pom poms. We have a family party so they can have these early to hang on the tree but I made little boxes for them to go in. Most of these boxes I've made from my head but a few are silhouette files.
Now I need to wrap pass the parcel ready to the party. Have a lovely week everyone. Xxxxx |
AuthorHello Thank you for taking a peek at my page. My name is Lucy and I adore craft and the methods and process behind it. Why not join me and see what I am up to.
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