GUEST CRAFTING AT GAYTON

Jane is one of my lovely ladies, who attends my classes and our monthly pub group, asked me last year to be a guest tutor at their monthly craft get together and I booked a T.O.I.L. day from work.

I had a fantastic half-day with some lovely ladies, guesting at Gayton, Kings Lynn.  I think nearly all their members attended and made this lovely suite of projects, with each attendee having a colour co-ordinated set.  It was lovely to see how the different colour combinations looked.

 

 

The ladies played with my Stampin' Up! Envelope punch board and were pleased to be able to make the card-in-a-box and matching envelope from just one 12"x12" sheet of Designer Series Paper.

 

As a last minute change, I took along the Bird Builder punch and various scraps of green card, suggesting they may wish to add a few leaves - they looked gorgeous and everyone had a lovely time.

Unfortunately my camera is broken - another job on the ever growing 'to do list' as I must get used to a new one before the BIG holiday. Unfortunately I didn't get to take photos of their creations but they did some stunning creations.

Thanks again for inviting me and I look forward to joining you again for another guest appearance later in the year, with a Christmas theme.

 

Happy Craftin'

 

Sandra

MONTHLY CRAFT CHALLENGE - January 2014

 

With her husband away for the weekend of 17th & 18th January, Julie kindly invited me to stay over for the weekend and join Jane,Tasha and herself crafting.

 

Having set myself challenges for my 50th year, and knowing they all do 'beading', I asked if, during the course of the weekend, they could help me meet one of my monthly challenges I set myself and so January challenge was scheduled.

 

We all had a lovely time, of course not going to bed until the wee small hours and up again bright and ready to carry on the next morning at 7am :-)

 

We started Friday evening with me sharing my card-in-a-box and co-ordinating envelope made on Stampin' Up! Envelope board, that I had made for a couple of January birthdays.

 

Saturday morning saw more research on Envelope Board projects and a joint trial session but tailored to our own changes.  Photos will follow as I decided to put on my suite of projects at a class later this month.

 

...... and now for the beading !!!

 

I do own a few beading tools, wire and beads but have never attempted anything on the scale of what Julie, Jane and Tasha have been creating over the last year.

 

Firstly, with Julie's help and patience, I made a cute little Angel threaded onto a headpin and I asked to put onto a bookmark.

 



 

Next was the dragonfly.  So now I learnt that the longest bit, is choosing the beads you want to use !!!!  This was later added to my final project below.

 

Tasha's turn next to show us how to make a 'Hand of Fatima'.  This was another lovely project which neither of the others had made previously either.

 



 

At this point, they told me I had completed everything they did in their first session so now to put together all the techniques into a bag charm myself.  Again the choosing what to do and what beads to use was the most time consuming bit, but I was determined to get finished.  I love the little fairy on the left hand strand but I'm now a little worried she is too delicate and might get damaged.

 



 

This was the end to a perfect couple of days, wonderful company, fabulous food (thanks again Julie), lots of laughter (plus innuendo's and giggles) and some gorgeous projects.  Thanks girls, this was just what the doctor ordered and timing was particularly perfect !!  I agree we really must repeat again, and yes, I'm happy to adjourn here later in year once I know the rest of David's biking dates he attends, that I don't go to.

 

Pop back soon and keep up-to-date with my next Monthly Craft Challenge for February.



 

Happy Craftin'

 

Sandra

NEW YEAR, NEW CHALLENGES & NEW ME !!

Morning crafters & welcome !

 

Those of you who are close to me will be aware I have had several challenges over the last 18-months, the latter part of 2013 in particular. 

 

One piece of sad news last year, brought a different perspective for me.  My sister and I grew up on a farm, and together with the adjoining farms, meant six girls and no boys to continue the three farms. Sadly, one of the girls passed away suddenly last year, aged just 49-yrs. 
 

Being the same age, this had a big impact that changed my outlook on life, as none of us know what is round the corner. 

2014 is a BIG year for me and I intend to make it a special one.  David and I are really looking forward to celebrating my 50th birthday this summer with a Caribbean Cruise.  Our airport hotel the night before, our house and cat sitter were all booked too with initially 11-months to wait, I'm pleased to say is now drawing closer.  

 

Planning ahead for my 50th year, I began setting myself many challenges to achieve during 2014. 

 

I have ongoing lists on my iPad, constantly being updated, in preparation of what I would like to achieve this year.  Working full time, my crafting time has almost always been mainly for my classes and with no 'ME' time, to relax and enjoy my hobby, not just as a small business.  

 

With this in mind, I set about making a list of new crafts to try, ones I wanted to resurrect and things that interested and/or challenged me.  This, together with other things I want to achieve, complete etc, list is long (someone asked if I was planning to live until I was 300yrs old !!) and although I have roughly allocated one new craft challenge per month, I am allowing myself 'creative licence' to move these around to fit in with life in general.  

 

I will also be making time to scrapbook this special year.  Please feel free to check in with me later in the year to see how it is going and to keep me on track. 

 

Here's to more blogging in 2014 than previous years :-)

 

Happy craftin'

 

Sandra