In the Garden & the Leaving of Liverpool

I made this yesterday and posted it off today to my daughter. She wanted a sign to hang on her front door as she spends so much time in the garden with the little one who loves to be out there on her "wing" (swing!)  or in her sandpit. It is a bargain welcome sign which I stripped and painted with acrylics. The letters and pennants are painted chipboard then I added clear crackle glaze overall.

Queen Mary 2

 Last night we went to the Pierhead to watch the biggest of the Cunard Fleet, the Queen Mary 2, as she departed in a blaze of glory. The occasion was extra special because it launched our city's River Festival.

There was a fantastic light show projected on the Cunard Building, which stands next to the famous Liver Building on the river front. The Liver Birds perch there looking out to sea, on the top, above the clock.

The wonderful, changing, images depicted memories of vintage Cunard voyages.

Here the images are draughtsmen's drawings of the liners.

 A spectacular firework finale just prior to The Queen Mary 2 leaving Liverpool helped send her on her voyage...

 The decks were lined with cheering, waving, passengers! What a sight for them and for the thousands of sightseers below on the quayside as they departed, with the loudest, deepest, burst of the ship's hooters.

Passengers are always amazed at the warm welcome the public gives to cruise liners in the port and Liverpool is campaigning for a bigger, superior, terminal to enable many more international liners to come to the city.

I wished we were on board, cruising off to tropical climes, instead of heading home through the crowds on a chill evening, but I think it will take a lottery win to fund a trip on this lady of the seas!

WOYWW 119 & More Tin Jewels

 Another week amazingly has zapped into nothing (but everything) and here I am showing my desk, as part of the biggest "own up" in the World, courtesy of our instigator Julia who invites us each week to spy on her desk and own up to what is going on in our creative work place. You can join in this mayhem, madness, craziness if you pop over to Stamping Ground to see over 100 more.

That sad daffy doll is still relaxing on my strawberries waiting to be altered with a loose limb on top of her. Little does she know that the rest may be cut off before she is painted, sewn, embossed etc.,...please don't warn her, will you?

 I still haven't tidied away some of the stash I brought home last week and yet I have added to it. Those gorgeous retractable jungle print pencils were only around £1 for the lot in Wilkinsons and the adhesive paper lace is from Clas Ohlson... a shop well worth visiting. It is a Scandinavian hardware and household shop.... fairly new to us in Liverpool... and it also stocks a range of art materials. Not too much but it seems to increase and change each time I visit. On the back middle edge of my black messy mat you may spy some hooks. they also are from Clas Ohlson and are so handy. They are little spring clip hooks with a loop, intended as a device for hanging kitchen cloths but methinks they could be used far more artistically. I'm thinking and cogitating.

This pendant below is the result of my recent experiments making jewellery from recycled tin plate and this so far is my favourite item. 

My previous post shows how to treat the tin and as I've progressed I've modified my method. 

This piece was easily cut (with scissors), filed smooth, beaten, sanded, alcohol inked then glazed to seal with Glossy Accents. There is a little dot of gold leaf front bottom. I trapped a bead in the neck, one of the beautiful glass beads Donna gave me.

Here are my earlier experiments with, first, my charm from Roni's swap on the left and the larger pendant I made whilst Donna was visiting, on the right.

some handbag bling.... 

and more....

The following two pendants don't show up in the photo very well and look much better IRL.

Charms Swap

Recently I participated in a charms swap which was hosted so efficiently by Roni, of inkstainswithroni blog. It was a popular swap and over 300 charms were whizzing to and fro around the World! Take a look at Roni's posts for all the entrants.

This is one of the charms I made and further down this post you'll find details of how I made them from scrap tin.

I couldn't post details until everyone in the swap had their charms and I am thrilled with the fabulous collection I received. Here they are fastened to the pin that Roni kindly sent along with a vintage key.

Special thanks go to Roni and (left to right) to Lori Williams, key from Roni, Helen Cleary, Olga Brock, and Cassie Larson.

This is one of the old Star decorations I used to make mine... just a bit of old tinplate but a bit heavier than a tin can.

It cut easily into shape with old scissors, then I battered the shapes on my late Dad's old shoe last to texture them a bit. I created the required holes by (over a piece of wood) hammering in nails, then filing down the rough side where the nails had pierced through.

Throughout the stages until filed be sure to beware of any sharp rough edges!

They then were painted with white acrylic dabber

 After a light sanding to expose some of the metal I coloured the shapes randomly with alcohol inks and when dry I stamped over with script images using Stazon ink.

 I coated them with Glossy Accents and when that was tacky I added some tiny bits if gilding flakes. They can also be sealed by clear embossing or just dip them UTEE in the melt pot, if you have one! I really don't know why I didn't choose this option.

 Here's the full set of charms I made ... .all slightly different. The design came from necklaces I had made many years ago in pure silver and making these has given me an itch to start making jewellery once again. This is certainly a cheap and effective way to experiment with the prices of precious metals being at an all time high. They would make great pendant necklaces and could be sized up very easily.

If you fancy having a go and need more information just ask and I'll try to help. They look complex but are quite easy to do. I'm in the middle of making some other designs so watch this space........

Hair Bands & Mediaeval Market

My 4 year old grandee in Brighton starts "big school" on Monday so I sent her a card, (which I forgot to photograph), and a little parcel of treats including some some wacky hairbands I made, which she loves to wear.

I love the cherry buttons!

3 little sparkly butterflies

A really jazzy rosette.

Whilst I was away there was a mediaeval market in the town and in all the years I have visited Germany this was the first time I've been there at the same time so I relished the chance to browse.

 It was so interesting to see all the artisans wearing costumes and demonstrating many traditional crafts. Even the street signs had sacks over them to give an authentic atmosphere.

My daughter's friend demonstrated her skills and her basketry is beautiful.

I couldn't resist buying this cute rattle from her, which is so well made, and I was given a very kind discount too!

I've never caught a knight in shining armour clanking passing by before and I wonder where he left his white stallion?! 

Mediaeval colour co-ordination

I wonder if this is a mediaeval car?  It amused me that it was secured by a chain lock yet inside there was a crash helmet left on the seat and easy access to a petrol container... all more far desirable and valuable to thieves, I'm sure, than the "car"!!!

WOYWW 118 Just Back from Germany

A quicky post as I'm only just back home within the last few hours from Germany and I really miss my lovely family so much. I've spent quality time with them all but it was especially good to see my little grandee looking so well after so long without seeing her whilst she had her intensive treatment. She really is a star and spreads sunshine wherever she is. All credit to her lovely parents too. I had a wonderful time.

This morning we went to see the ducks and also visited a craft store and a Rossman store where all the ribbons were reduced. I came back with all this bargain stash. Well I couldn't leave it all there in Germany, could I?

I also bought a few lovely fabrics which I have plans to use very soon. Otherwise my desk is just the same since Donna's departure. I just left it as it was as I didn't craft again before I left for Germany. You can go and nosey around lots of other work spaces via our illustrious leader Julia's blog if you are that way inclined...why not!?! Stamping Ground will take you there.

Here's what I've been doing since last Wednesday and it has been wonderful!

Feeding the ducks.......

 Playing hide and seek.....

 Visiting all the animals at the local allotments......

Painting on the new easel gifted by Vicky Stampers

Making daisy chains, all simple pleasures but such treasures.

Back now but I already miss them soooo much!

Follow up from last week......

A big shout out for Ally Fiddy who has won a small prize for guessing correctly my Mystery Item! Well done Ally and please leave me your contact details so I can post it on to you.

Mystery Item!

Here's the Mystery Item that took almost two weeks to be identified.

It's a hat block/former/mould and here it is below poised over my head.

All of a sudden there was a flood of correct comments so I have put them into the hat and picked out.....

Ally Fiddy to receive a small prize which will be posted when I return from Germany. I don't know Ally so hope she will email me her details so I can send a nice treat in the post.

Thanks to everyone who made a guess as it gave me such a good laugh at the amazing and astounding suggestions as to what it could be.

I've arrived here safe and sound, everyone is in bed bar me due to the time difference and the early start for them so I thought I'd put you all out of your misery.

I participated in Neil Walker's matchbox swap and received my swap from Mickie. I don't know Mickie, who doesn't have a blog, but I have emailed my thanks. Having had no return contact I was hesitant to post pictures without permission but realise that Mickie has not been directly identified and it would be rude not to show what was made and the thoughts behind it. It is quite apt that I should be posting it from Germany too!

Mickie's father was in the army and married a German woman who went on to have Mickie.

 Mickie as a result has become a pacifist and symbolises this by the dove of peace inside the tiny box in contrast to the strong image of the British soldier, the Red Rose of England and the German flag. All really poignant. The frame is crackle glazed really effectively adding to the story.

When we had our Brighton Belles staying last week they had great fun romping in the garden and picking apples for me. The trouble was that the little one took a taste of one in four but soon threw them into the basket when she realised they weren't sweet.

This is the new canal basin at the Pierhead right by the new museum and we couldn't pull the 4 year old away as she was fascinated that people actually lived on those long colourful boats.