Creative Dwy

Another Saturday at the rink

2012-01-21T16:03:00.001-03:30

An early rise, snowy roads, and a stop at Tim Hortons... Lily has hockey games today. One win, and the outcome of the second game is yet to be determined.

Although the games are fun to watch, I'm looking forward to getting home, lots of projects in the works!

Shine on!
Kelley

EEEK!

2011-10-01T10:54:00.000-02:30

My gosh...I never win anything, but I just got an e-mail that I've won free tuition to an on-line scrapbooking event, Spawn of True Scrap. So exciting!!! Lots of classes and loads of techniques, and the best part for me is that you can view it on your own schedule, which is very necessary for me.

Lucky me, eh?!

Shine on!

Kelley

I just looked at the date for my last posting...my, I've been a bad blogger! Since school has started, I've haven't had a lot of time for crafting, and even less time for posting. I really need to win the lottery...hey, with my new streak of luck, perhaps I should buy some tickets!!

See you all soon!

Sweet Giveaway

2011-08-29T09:45:00.001-02:30

In my look at all the gorgeous Magnolia stamps, I've recently come across this blog:

http://jacquesmagnolias.blogspot.com/2011/08/its-celebration-sweet-stuff.html

(I'm posting this from my iPad, so I can't hyperlink the blog address; just copy and paste it into the address bar of your browser)

She is currently hosting a great giveaway to celebrate some wonderful news:

Check it out, and leave her a big cyberhug; she deserves it!

Shine on!
Kelley

Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Peachy Bold Blossom

2011-08-23T08:00:00.001-02:30

We made some cards yesterday using the Bold Blossom stamp set, which is due to retire soon. Here is another card using different colors...

more Kards 4 Kids, and ...you guessed it! Another tag!

Shine on!

Kelley

Bold Blossom Pear

2011-08-22T08:00:00.001-02:30

This stamp set is almost retired, so I'd better use it before it's put away! This is a case from a sample in the catalog, using the 2010-11 In-Colors.

Kards 4 Kids needed some new cards, so we made a few...

and I sent out one tag!

Shine on!

Kelley

And baby makes 3

2011-08-19T08:00:00.000-02:30

I was asked by a co-worker to make a baby shower card for her niece, and had this paper lying on my table. It just happened to coordinate with SU's Crushed Curry cardstock and ribbon, so the card came together in no time at all.

I copied the layout from a card I received in a swap a couple of years ago...kept the card front because I liked the layout...clean and simple, my kinda card.

Gotta love these easy peasy cards!

Shine on!

Kelley

Tag! I'm it!

2011-08-17T13:12:00.000-02:30

I was tagged yesterday, so I did up some tags myself and sent them out right away...had seen this idea floating around somewhere, and thought I'd try it. It's a neat way to show off your embossing folders.

Sponged pastels on the edge...don't know if I'm a fan of this look...

maybe a different color chalk might do it for me.

Off to rug camp soon...can't wait!!

Shine on!

Kelley

I'm it again!

2011-08-16T13:15:00.000-02:30

While I was away, two tags arrived in my mailbox. The first came from Joanna...so pretty

and the second from Deb...
I like the ribbon treatment...I can't tie a proper bow for beans!

Time for me to return the favor...

Tag! I'm it!

Shine on!

Kelley

Sketch Saturday #168

2011-08-14T16:00:00.000-02:30

I had some left-over images from a swap kit I was putting together, and they're too cute to recycle, so I put together a few cards using a Sketch Saturday sketch.

I like this sketch

especially the scalloped border at the top...sweet!

Since my card was boyish, and didn't call for anything girlie, I roughed it up a little by using twine.

The buttons

are SU Kraft cordury buttons that I dyed to match the cardstock.

Not really a fan of the button on this layout, so I re-did the card without them.

I like this one much better, and since it's just a sketch, a starting point for the design,

I guess it's ok to leave out that element!

Gorgeous weather here on New World Island, quite a change from the last week! Renovations are still going on; I've never dusted and cleaned my floors so much before!! It'll be great once it's done.

Shine on!

Kelley

Love me those tags!

2011-07-07T19:17:00.001-02:30

I'm so glad the postal strike is over; more lovely cards coming my way, like this one from Katherine

The tag cards usually are sent with no specific greeting stamped inside, allowing the recipient to personalize it more. But Katherine included this neat little post-it note inside the card

Sweet, huh?

The neatest part of this card is actually what it was mailed in...an envelope made from a page in an old SU catalogue. This really appealed to the recycler in me.

This looked really neat...before I ripped it open! Gives me an idea, though, to reuse all the different catalogs that come thru my house: books, LL Bean, Home Hardware. You can even personalize the envelope to match the recipient...which reminds me...the Martha Stewart scorer I bought at Michael's (because it was in sale!) has an envelope template...gonna go try that out!

Shine on!

Kelley

Tags are flying again!

2011-07-05T14:24:00.002-02:30

Postal strike is finally over, and some tags are starting to show up. This one is from Twila in Illinois...

The card has a cute little bookmark attached to it, perfect little thank you for someone. They'd make cute favors at a conference or an event with a large number of people; it wouldn't cost much to make, just your time.

Had a wonderful Canada day weekend at the cabin. The weather wasn't great on Friday, so we celebrated it on Saturday instead!! We had fireworks and a bonfire, lots of friends and family around, except for DH Craig, who was in Corner Brook marking public exams....someone's gotta work around here!!

Shine on!
Kelley

Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Mobile posting

2011-06-28T22:59:00.001-02:30

Just downloaded a blogger app, and trying it out.

So excited, I can hardly wait for tomorrow... My new iPad will be here!!! Better than Christmas!

Shine on!
Kelley

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Out and about...and a little cut wool

2011-06-27T23:20:00.000-02:30

Well, we've hit a record here...3 days in row with sunny patches! The nice weather made us want to get outside, so the kids and I hit a local walking trail...

All was good until we hit the stairs...

Wow! I hadn't realized how out of shape I'd gotten after this winter! We were rewarded for our efforts by this sight (not a great pic from my phone, but you can imagine the panorama!)

The stairs going down were just as onerous!

I felt like my grandmother negotiating the stairs, God love 'er:)

At the end of the day, I'm spent! All that fresh air tuckered me out! We started our Harry Potter review this evening; in prepartion for the new, and final movie, we're watching the first 7 all over again. We love us our Harry Potter!

While we watching, I cut wool for the Sincerely Jane mat.

It was a great day; I'm all in!

Shine on!

Kelley

Happy birthday to me...a little late!

2011-06-26T09:30:00.000-02:30

This card arrived from Melinda just on time for my birthday.

I like the way she presented the tiny tags; I've got some of those little safety pins that really should be put to use. Off to the card table...

Shine on!

Kelley

Wool Palette No.1

2011-06-25T21:29:00.001-02:30

I've been in the dye pot for the last two days...well, the microwave, to be exact! I've finished dyeing all 12 colors of my first palette, 8 values of each color. I'm very impressed with it!

The colors are so lovely, it almost stops me from cutting in to them!

Too cool! I also dyed some combinations of these 12 colors, what April calls the "extended family". Right now they're drying in the laundry room, so I'll take some pictures and post them tomorrow. I also have to take pictures of the individual colors, for my records, but since I don't have a light box, I need to wait for a bright sunny day...according to the forecast, that might be a while!

Hope you enjoyed some sunshine in your corner of the world today!

Shine on!

Kelley

Sincerely Jane...away!

2011-06-22T21:48:00.000-02:30

This was the pattern at the end of last month, just the grid, but no block designs chosen. There had been little (actually nothing!) done on it until last week.

The Yahoo Rughookers have been posting their progress the last few weeks, and they spurred me into action!

I spent several hours each evening last week drawing all the quilt blocks on to the burlap backing. Well, not all of them - I'm not that crazy! The original Dear Jane quilt had 225 pattern blocks; that would take me 2 years, and my CADD (Crafter's Attention Deficit Disorder!) would prevent me from even coming close to finishing it!! My rug has 90 blocks. I selected those that "spoke" to me; some of them were chosen because of the really neat design, and some I chose simply because the block name was clever!

I didn't have an easy way to show the entire rug, so I just laid it over the couch. I'll need to figure out a way to hang it when it's done, so I can get a good picture.

A few close-ups:

I did a little color coding as I was going, following the light/dark values of the original blocks. It might help me color plan as I'm hooking. Becasue I didn't use all the original blocks, I tried to vary the block placement according to geometric shape and dominant value; foe example, I tried not to put the more circular patterns to close to one another, and I also tried to alternate between blocks that were mostly 'dark' or 'light'.

I haven't made any deliberate decisions about color planning yet, other than I plan to use the wool I've dyed (following April's palette process). The colors all come from the same 3 primaries, so presumably they will all blend nicely. I'm using Dorr's antique black for the sashing, and am toying with the idea of putting each of the palette colors in the setting triangles, in a kind of color wheel effect (the triangles would echo the colors in the rug then).

I'm not sure how to go about hooking such a large rug. I guess I'll start in one corner and work my way over and down. One of the Yahookers mentioned using quilter's bicycle clips to hold the bulk of the rug out of the way as you hook, so I'll give that a try also. Many of you are more experienced than I; do you have any other ideas that might help make the process easier?

All in all, this will be a rug of many firsts. It is by far the largest rug I've attempted (finished size approximately 62" x 67"), and I plan to chronicle its evolution on the blog. I'd love for you to follow along-I'm going need a cheering section to get this one done!

Shine on!

Kelley

Delinquent blogger am I!

2011-06-20T23:43:00.000-02:30

I'm such a delinquent blogger...so busy with life...but there it is. The only solution is for me to become independently wealthy so I don't have to work. Since I don't buy lottery tickets, and have no rich relatives, I guess the lifestyle of the rich and famous won't be for me!

Received a cute card for my birthday from the one of the girls in my tagging group; Elaine's card has a really neat fold in it,

I have to return the tag, but Canada Post is on strike, so the tags are sitting by the front door, waiting to be sent on their way.

Now that hockey and figure skating and all the other family activities have finished for the year, and school is winding down, I'm looking forward to having time to do some of my favorite things... a little me time. I've also signed up for an art journaling workshop - entirely on-line...how cool is that! I'll be sure to share some of my "experiments"...stay tuned!

Shine on!

Kelley

Ooh, ooh, I'm so looking forward to Mr (or Mrs) courier visiting. I've been saving 2 years worth of birthday and Christmas gifts, and bought an ipad 2!!! Happy dance!! Can't wait to play!!

Tag-I'm it again!

2011-04-19T08:00:00.000-02:30

Wowser, I've got some more cards coming to me from my SU Tagging group. I love getting mail!

Neat, huh?

Shine on!

Kelley

ATC's...part 2

2011-04-18T08:00:00.000-02:30

Oops! I scheduled this to post on 05/04//, thinking that this was April 4th, but I obviously read the date wrong, since it never showed!! Anyway, here it is, better late than never!

Yesterday, I showed you some of the ATC swaps I received from my fellow Yahoo Rughookers. Here are the rest of them...

Gail's flower has a little sparkle in the middle-from metallic wool, maybe?

Linda's ATC

has the tidiest finished edge; no backing showing...love that!

Leanne's geometric looks familiar-I think I have those very same dyed wools!

Diana's "Full Moon Field" was quite inspiring...

maybe it'll spawn a mat sometime soon...one never knows where inspiration will be found!

Thanks to all these ladies, and to Jo-Anne for organizing the swap. It was a lot of fun! I hope I get to participate in one of these again; I loved getting all these little mats!

I want to show these ATC's off to the ladies who come over to craft. Anyone have a suggestion on how to display these?

Shine on!

Kelley

Spring is here??

2011-04-17T19:14:00.000-02:30

I don't want to be premature, but I'm so hoping that spring may be finally here! After all the mounds of snow in our back yard, we can finally see glimpses of grass peeking through!

The lonely snowblower, standing guard and ever ready.....

I hope it only gets fired up to make its way into the shed for summer hibernation. Gosh, I really hope I haven't jinked it!!

Shine on!

Kelley

ATC swaps found their home!

2011-04-04T20:34:00.000-02:30

The mailbox revealed a treasure last week...a little trove of hooked ATC's. These mini-rugs are too precious, and one has inspired the idea for a new rug...gotta love the inspiration circle.

This is the first time I've participated in a ATC swap...in fact, it's the first set of ATC's I've ever made, so I want to share what I received.

This is from Arline; I love the open background...looks like embroidery

This is the sweetest feather Christmas tree from Brenda...

the addition of the charms is so neat!

I love how she fingered the edge...neat finish!

Linda's is the state animal of New Mexico

Linda Sue's impressionistic ATC is full of color and texture

So many little treasures...check back later to see the rest.

Shine on!

Kelley

PLAY!: act 1, scene 6

2011-04-03T23:01:00.000-02:30

Whew! Has this ever been a busy couple of weeks! So many things happening at school...but I did find time to play, just not time to blog about it. So here's what I've been up to lately...

Over at the PLAY! blog, Victoria issued a challenge; of course, I didn't meet the deadline, but I did use her rules to play with. She wanted us to use checks, stripes, and dots...all in the one block! What was she thinking of? Goes against all the rules, but here goes...

These were the challenge fabrics

and this is what came out of them

Check back later this week to see what else I've been doing...

there's been a lot of snow flying around here lately!

Shine on!
Kelley

Tag time again!

2011-03-25T12:37:00.000-02:30

I got tagged again! This time, I received this neat envelope from Gwen

The top slides off

Neat, huh? Thanks, Gwen!

Shine on! Kelley

Sincerley Jane Challenge

2011-03-09T21:36:00.000-03:30

The Yahoo! Rughookers group have settled on a new challenge- an interpretation of the Dear Jane quilt; we're calling the challenge "Sincerely Jane" (since the "Dear Jane" moniker is copyrighted). I'd originally intended to hook the entire quilt (13 quilt blocks across, 13 blocks along the length, and a border of setting triangles) but when I started to get the backing ready, I realized I'd have to overlap the main piece of burlap on each size. That meant basting ( a big piece!), and then hooking through 2 layers of burlap...neither of which I'd done before.

Impatient me-I just wanted to get started at it, and didn't want to waste time having to fool around with the backing, so I reduced the size to 8 quilt blocks by 9 quilt blocks, and kept the setting triangles. And what a wise decision that was! I obviously cannot conceptualize size, because until I put that piece of backing in front of me, I didn't realize how BIG it was!

Craig and Nathan held it up for me, so I could take a pic of the entire backing (can you see Nathan's shadow behind the backing?) The pattern measures 61x65, by far the biggest thing I've done. I hope I haven't bitten off more than I can chew! We've set ourselves a year to complete the challenge, so I should be good. I'm planning to take it along during the Easter hockey tournament...I'm guessing I can get a chunk done at the hotel between hockey games!

I've only laid down the grid for this pattern, and it took a long time. Keeping the grid lines squared on the burlap took some concentration...hence, the few "corrections" that you can see.

Since I'm only going to hook some of the quilt blocks, the next step is to decide which ones will translate best for hooking. This week is flat out busy, as I'm back and forth for our local music festival, so the plan is to get the rest of the pattern drawn on this weekend. Hopefully, the Dorr antique black that I ordered will be here, and I can get started.

Shine on!
Kelley

Play!: act 1, scene 5

2011-03-02T23:44:00.001-03:30

I pulled these 2 "nasty" prints out of my bag of scraps. I would never have purchased these for my own use; I don't know which I like the least! But, moving forward, I looked through the bag and chose a few prints that might work with the 2 "nasties".

Cut and sewed

cut again

added a stick

then another...this stick took on a life of it's own!

Had another go, using the same fabrics. I like this block a little better, but...

when I turned it on an angle...

Now this I like! Can anyone tell me how I put this into a square block?

Shine on!
Kelley

Lily's first appearance!

2011-02-20T22:54:00.000-03:30

DD Lily and I spent the afternoon putting together a messenger bag she got for Christmas. It came with all kinds of iron-on things, hence the need for my help.

She did a great job "designing" her bag

Look how proud she is!

Crafter-in-training!

Shine on!
Kelley

Play!: act 1, scene 4

2011-02-17T23:19:00.000-03:30

Had a snowy day yesterday...50 cms in 24 hrs! But every storm cloud has a silver lining; I had lots of time to play! Made lots of fabric, and 6 blocks...here are a few...

Shine on!
Kelley

ATC info

2011-02-13T08:00:00.001-03:30

I need to put some info on the back of the ATC's I've been working on: things like contact info, and notes about materials used (in this case, cut and type of fabric, and maybe the kind of backing used).

I found a template on-line (why re-invent the wheel?), and printed it out on muslin.

I backed the muslin with fusible web (Steam a Seam II, to be exact), then fed it through the printer. This was the first time I'd ever used the printer to print on fabric It was a bit finicky, wouldn't go in straight; I remembered reading about changing the print setting to accommodate something thicker than a regular sheet of paper, and that did the trick!

When I'm ready to put them on the back of the ATC, I'll use a fine-tip permanent marker, and then iron it on. Too easy!

Shine on!
Kelley

ATC update

2011-02-11T08:00:00.001-03:30

I'm having fun with these little ATC's. They are so small and hook up so quickly (perfect for an ADD crafter like me!) The small size, however, does limit the motif; detailed images are not going to be realized within such a small space, especially if you use a cut wider than a # 4 or 5.

The little fish motif is being explored through color, using odds 'n sods in my scrap bucket.

Here's the second little fishie

and the third

and the fourth

I need to make eight; it's a good thing I haven't grown tired of them yet...

and guess what's for supper this evening!!!

Shine on!
Kelley

PLAY!: act 1, scene 3

2011-02-10T08:00:00.003-03:30

I asked for some suggestions from my PLAYmates, and they were more than helpful. One of the suggestions that really appealed to me was making "wonky" log cabin blocks. I started by cutting lots of strips

and then began with an irregular 5-sided shape

From there, I just started adding strips

trimming as I went

kinda looks like a house, doesn't it?

et, voila...my first freehand scrap block!

I think I need to trim it, but I'm going to do some more before I look at how to set these blocks.

I know, it seems a little silly to get excited by this, but it was fun to just grab and sew, not caring about the end result... I'm excited to try another one!

Shine on!
Kelley