Updating My Etsy Shop

I have been neglecting my poor old Etsy shop for a while now and have just transferred a few items over from my other shop for the moment, which haven't been seeen on Etsy before.  As well as some of my best selling collage sheets, here are a couple of the updated items that have gone on today:-

A couple of project inspiration packs

 A pretty lace grab bag 

Please pop over to my Etsy shop and have a browse around. Thanks for looking and enjoy your weekend!

ONE WORLD, ONE HEART WINNERS!

Today is Winners day for OWOH and I would like to thank all those lovely ladies who entered my giveaway this year - I have been quite overwhelmed with the response!  Unfortunately there can only be 2 winners and I have selected these through the random number generator.

The first winner is:-   Martina2801 from Germany .  Martina will receive the vintage 1930's white linen pouch.

The second winner is:-  Michele from Vermont, USA . Michelle will receive the small embroidered pouch with buttons, lace and trim.

                                  
Well done ladies - hope you will enjoy these items and can use them in your home or artwork. If you would like to contact me via email with your addresses, I will get your prizes off to you.

As you know, Lisa announced that there won't be any further OWOH events but she has just made it known that there will be a new event in its place:- Our World, Our Art - read more about it here .

Thanks again for your support and looking forward to seeing you again next year.

CONGRATULATIONS ZSUZSA - 150TH FOLLOWER GIVEAWAY

I am very grateful to all my new Followers and have been overwhelmed with lovely comments and praise about my blog and work during the One World, One Heart Event - thank you so much ladies!

My 150th Follower is Zsuzsa from Hungary - my first Hungarian Follower as well.  A small thank you gift will be winging its way to your door in the next week or so, when I have decided what I am going to give away!

Thanks again for all your interest and hope there will be lots more to inspire you in the coming year.

Another Giveaway Coming Up ....!

Since this year's One World, One Heart event started, I have gained many more Followers, for which I am truly happy and pleased - thank you all very much for showing an interest in my work and blog.  As of now, my Followers stand at 142 and if the counter reaches the heady heights of 150 in the next week or so, I can feel another "Thank You For Following Me" giveaway approaching.

So, spread the word to your friends that a little gift could come their way if they sign up - don't know what it will be yet but probably something lacy or vintagey.

A New Project

Thanks to Linda from Blue Eyed Girl, I discovered this fabulous quilt artist Jude Hill.  After seeing Linda's pretty project I felt inspired to have a go myself so I have signed up for Jude's Spirit Cloth Workshop "Cloth to Cloth".
I sat up watching most of the videos last night and today started to sort out bits and pieces of scraps to start weaving my cloth.  Essentially, this course is to make new cloth from scraps of old cloth by simple weaving, hand stitching and embellishment - right up my street.  I am starting with a small block first of all, to see how I go.

I have used  strips from some patterned silk fabrics I bought at last year's Knitting & Stitching Show, plus some of my avocado dyed lace and broderie anglaise and other lace.  I will be hand stitching this when I have finished piecing it together and will post more about it when it is done.

Natural Dyeing with Avocado Skins

Well, who would have thought that such a beautiful pale pink colour could be achieved by dyeing with avocado skins?  I certainly didn't but saw the results myself after reading a couple of blog posts about this late last year and I was so taken with the idea that I thought I would give it a try.

I also got a wonderful book for Christmas (requested by me!) Eco Colour: Botanical Dyes for Beautiful Textiles by India Flint which is full of information about using nature for dyeing purposes.  (I am still working my way through it.).

This is only my first attempt but I will certainly be trying other methods of dyeing for sure.  I simply boiled the avocado skins in an old saucepan not used for cooking for about 15 minutes and then added my fabrics -various types of lace, broderie anglais, canvas, an old piece of doily and other trim and then boiled that for about 25 minutes.  I am so pleased with the colour - it is such a delicate shade.

ONE WORLD ONE HEART EVENT - 2011 & GIVEAWAY - REPOSTED DUE TO PROBLEM VIEWING THE PREVIOUS POST

WELCOME TO MY BLOG - IT'S SO NICE TO MEET YOU!  PLEASE STAY AWHILE AND HAVE A GOOD LOOK AROUND.  I HOPE THAT YOU WILL LIKE WHAT YOU SEE AND CALL AGAIN! 

It's that time of year again for the One World, One Heart Event but this will be the final one ever.  This great event is organised by Lisa at "A Whimsical Bohemian" and enables bloggers from all over the world to make contact with each other and get to know people from other disciplines they wouldn't have otherwise.  I took part last year for the first time, not really knowing what to expect and was a little trepidatious to be honest with you.  All I can say is that I am so glad I joined in - it is HUGE opportunity to meet fellow bloggers and make friends with artists from every category and country.  As a result I made several good friends I wouldn't have had if I hadn't taken part in this event.

So here's what you can win from me.  This year I have 2 door prize giveaways:-

The first is a 1930's vintage linen pouch, originally intended for storing hankies or napkins in but can be used to keep all sorts of bits and bobs in.  I have embellished it a little further with one of the handmade toppers from my shop (lace and fabric label with vintage lace, button and silk ribbon).  It has also been trimmed with some old lace along the bottom edge.

The second giveaway is a cute little handmade linen pouch with a selection of vintage buttons, lace and trim inside.  This is made from printed linen, trimmed with lace, a scrap of seam binding and recycled doily flower.  Small but pretty.

Pouch Closed

Pouch Open

If you would like a chance of winning these two items, you have to do just two things:-

1.  Leave a comment on THIS post before 17th February, mentioning which of the two items you would like to win;

2.  Include your blog link or blog info with your comment so that I can visit you too!  I will pick 2 winners on 18th February.  It's that easy!

YOU MUST LEAVE A VALID BLOG LINK AS THIS IS FOR BLOGGERS ONLY.

I hope you will leave a comment for me and that you will call back again.  I would be pleased to hear from you any time!

FOR THOSE LADIES WHO POSTED THEIR COMMENTS ON THE PREVIOUS POST (WHICH I HAVE HAD TO DELETE DUE TO A PROBLEM SOME PEOPLE HAVE HAD IN VIEWING MY BLOG), PLEASE DO NOT WORRY AS I HAVE PRINTED OFF THE LIST OF COMMENTS MADE AND THEY WILL BE ENTERED IN THE DRAW, NO PROBLEM.  SO DO NOT WORRY.  THANKS.  :)  


THIS PROBLEM HAS NOW BEEN FIXED THANKS TO MR V-B! (6.2.11)