WOYWW - 21st April 2010

My workdesk is fairly neat at this precise moment.

here is my desk - set up to take the final photo of my first 'commissioned' card.

SG1 on in the background ;-)

Here is the finished card - I am pleased with the way this one turned out. 

Certainly, a very masculine card. 

Now to show you my Workdesk #2 - I have spread out to the lounge/dining area and have seconded the extendable dining table ;-)

I have been playing with the layout and think I will go with this

If you feel like having a nosey, and want to have a look at other people's work spaces,

click on the WOYWW icon in the sidebar.

The quilt saga continues ......

I have discovered I cannot cut or sew a straight line to save my life!!!!

But, I am not deterred, I will carry on!

these magically turn into ..............

I must be a glutton for punishment ...............  I think I am enjoying this  ;-)

It has begun......

I have decided my first real/proper quilt will be made following http://www.jaybirdquilts.com/2010/04/hexagon-quilt-along-block-1.html

I just love this material - I love the little hands ;-)

This is what happens when you go ahead and cut without reading ALL the instructions properly ;-)

My triangles were not quite right ;-( and they are not going to join properly

This is what happens when you read ALL the instructions properly and take your time cutting - a much better result!  **smiley face**

Now to go and do a few more strips - stay tuned for some more pics!

My First Quilt Blocks

Here are my first quilt blocks

Here is my stash - all new and crisp.

my first batch of strips all cut (on far right)

next quilt (blue material on left) is already lined up ready to go

My first group of log cabin blocks - you can tell the first one (bottom left) it is a bit crooked, but the more I did, the more even they turned out.

here is a close up in the daylight

6,000 BLOG HITS - CANDY WINNER!

Hi there

a few of you commented on my post about reaching 6,000 hits and getting 20 followers ......... I said I should do something about Candy ......... well I did.

I wanted to say thank you to those people that visit and leave comments regularly.

Congratulations SueW you are the lucky one!  Please email me (see my profile) your snail mail address and they will be on their way  to you ;-)

This is what you have won:

1 Grace Taylor Butterfly Stamp
1 pkt Kaisercraft pearls
1 organza ribbon
2pkts gems


Thank you to all my followers who regularly visit and leave comments, I really do appreciate it!

WOYWW - 14th April 2010

Hi WOYWWers ;-)

a lot has happened on my desk during the week.

A few of you have always commented on how neat it usually is, but I have proof that it does get messy ;-)

Here we are right in the middle of making the sidestep card for my swap partner over on CraftMad

I had three attempts at making this card - the first one for my SIL came together so easily, I think I got over confident for this one ;-)

I rearranged part of the desk (while I was trying to come up with another birthday card for a friend) and will try keeping my inks right in front of me, instead of in the drawer that is open in the first photo above.

This is my desk this morning.  I went to Spotlight and used my "spend $100.00 and get $40.00 off" voucher.  I knew I was going to need more of the blue jelly rolls I had previously got for the baby throw rug and decided to get some backing material too.

There is also a batch of purple fat quarters there - I am going to make something for my sister - she loves purple!

The Lecien Shabby Roses quilt fabric purchased from http://www.theozmaterialgirls.com/ has been washed and I have started cutting the strips ready for my simple log cabin pattern.

I am so pleased with myself this week.  I have completed both my card & sewing swaps for CraftMad, my first official comissioned Birthday Card has been accepted (I just have to change the wording on the front) I have made a start on the quilt (something I have been wanting to try for years)  and ........... I have lost 1 kg!!!!  YAY

want to have a nosy on other people's workspaces?   visit here and have a look ;-) or you can click on the WOYWW link in my sidebar.

You're the best Dad ever!

I find it most difficult to make male cards.

A friend has asked me to make a card for her Dad's 80th birthday.

this is what I have come up with - I was originally inspired by a card I saw on SCS here

I am thinking of putting an embellishment of the number '80' in the top right hand area

the white balance is not quite right and the image has been coloured in a bit rough, but I will do it properly if Clare decides she would like this card.

I finally got to use up some of metal brads that have been in my stash for such a long time!

The inside of the card is blank for the moment, but I think I would put this stamp on the inside.

Any suggestions?

Thank You Card - Sidestep Card - very late swap **sad face**

Here is my sidestep card for my swap partner over on CraftMad -  Beth has been extremely patient with me - I was late for my last swap too!

My first sidestep card for my SIL came together so easily, but I really struggled getting this card done.  This is actually the third card I have made - the other two ended up in the bin.  My crafting mojo has been on a holiday this last few weeks.  Whenever I try to make up a card, I get easily sidetracked sorting  ;-)  isn't it supposed to be the other way around, when you are sorting/tidying up, you get motivated to make a card?

I used VersaMark to stamp in the inside and placed a panel to write a message on.

I do love the gold embossing!

This card is in the post, and all being well, Beth has received it today!

I went shopping!

I went shopping and got a few things  ;-)

I saw these really cute stamps and just had to have them ;-)

I have been bitten by the quilting bug and got some jelly rolls and a rotary cutter - I am hoping to make a small baby quilt/throw rug for my nephew's new babies due in August.

I also got some plain fat quarters to go with the lovely patterned material I already had.

this material has now been washed and ironed and is ready for me to start cutting

but first I have to rearrange the spare room to get my sewing machine out ;-)

the Photo that started it all ;-)

This is the photo that started my interest in photograpy!

Taken in 1994 at the Adelaide Grand Prix.

WOYWW - 7th April 2010

Hi WOYWWers!

I am a bit early with my pics, but I figured I better get them in, before I forget!

This is what is on my desk this week - the SU images have not moved, but at least I have made a start on the 80th Birthday card for my friend's father.  I have used the toolbelt from Taylored Expressions Boys will be Boys stamp set.  I am not that happy with my colouring in, but will use these images to play with the layout.  When I am happy with the layout, I will stamp another image and colour in properly ;-)

I had set aside some copics to take part in a Copic colour challenge, but I don't think I will make it in time.

On the left, is some fabric for me to start my first quilt - thinking small here!  I think I will start with a throw cushion for the bed.  I have come across some instructions for a simple log cabin quilt, and will give it a go.  Although, I do need to get the sewing machine out, so this will probably become one of my many UFO's (unfinished objects).

Not much actual crafting has been completed this week, aprt from finishing the card for nephew (see previous post) as I have been in an organising mood, pottering about 'sorting'.  I recently sorted my stash of 12 x 12 papers and have put them in colour sections - they still need some refining, but it is better than being all in one pile.  Next will be my A4 papers - they are stored in a filing cabinet.

I finally got to sort my clear/unmounted stamps into blank CD cases and have categorised them.  I did some labels for them on the computer.  I am still intending to stamp them all in a book so that I can see at a glance exactly what they will look like stamped.  My friend Beth did that recently and I thought it was a good idea.

How do you sort your unmounted/clear stamps?

If you want to have a nosey, just pop over to HERE Julia's blog and check out some more workdesks!

6,000 hits! who would have known?

6,000 hits in my first year!

wow!  20 followers too!

I may just have to find some candy as a reward!

Happy 14th Birthday Peter!

Today is my nephew's 14th Birthday - where did the time go?

I have been working on this card for about three weeks now - working on the idea, getting the image just right, then making a GSD file to cut on the CraftROBO.

I was inspired by this card over on SCS, but as I didn't have that particular template, I had to make my own.  My card is not as jazzy as the electric one ;-), but mine is a more sedate accoustic guitar, as this is what Peter is learning just now.  Who knows what will be next - his parent's have objected to drums ;-)

Finally, my card has come together and I am happy with it - I think!  Now that I see the photos, I could have smoothed the edges a bit better!

Strings have been added with sewing thread.

The gold circle is actually from a sticker sheet with sailing boats on it ;-)

The inside has received some treatment - unfortunately, I know nothing about music, so I am not sure what sequence of notes I have determined here in the placement of the gold stickers ;-)

Here is the back!

We are off to have a combined Birthday/Easter celebration BBQ later this afternoon - the weather this weekend has been perfect!

We get an extra hour today ;-)  We have finally finished our Daylight Saving Time here in Adelaide - YAY!

WOYWW - 31st March 2010

It's Wednesday again!  boy that week went quickly!

I have finally put some ink on my latest SU purchase - I bought these in the beginning of the year, but haven't used them yet.  As you can see, I am playing with some paper piecing - now to sit down and colour them in!

I have a few birthdays coming up and really need to buckle down and get some cards made. 

I have also been asked to make a card for a friend's father's 80th birthday - a bit of a challenge, but I am working on a few ideas and will keep you all posted.

Must be off and get out to the shops to do a bit of grocery shopping, then when I come back I can relax and so what I love most ............... being in my craft room.

If you want to have a nosey, just pop over to Julia's blog and check out some more workdesks!