OVER THE WALL - the beautiful English countryside

I recently saw some wall sections made by a new UK based firm. http://www.debrisofwar.com/ Although they were created for wargaming scenery I thought that there could be other uses. 

I have many many photos of the Kentish country side and my

idea was to decorate a deep frame, choose a picture and put one of the wall sections made by DEBRIS OF WAR in front. I decided on a 28mm broken wall section because I felt that would create the 'feel' I was looking for and that was the easy part. 

 I got my partner to paint the wall section as we are planning on giving this frame as a gift, he did a beautiful job adding some flock and static grass to finish the piece.

 

With the wall section ready I picked the papers I wanted to

use to decoupage the frame.  These were from some early Joanna Sheen paper packs, no longer available but any paper that suits the photo will work.  http://www.joannasheen.com/
Using PVA I stuck torn-up pieces of paper to the frame.  I made sure the inside edge of the frame didn't have many layers of paper so the wall section would fit back in when everything was finished.

 
The hardest part was to choose the photo.
I had originally thought of looking over the wall into a bluebell wood, but the poppies on the wall section meant I needed to find a picture from later in the year.  I narrowed it down to four pictures and we decided to give the extra pictures with the frame so that they can be swapped if desired.  The photos are of Bedgebury Pinetum http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-8yfe54 and of Mount Ephriam Gardens http://www.mountephraimgardens.co.uk/gardens/edwardian.aspx

Mount Ephriam

Bedgebury Pinetum

 While the glue was drying I cleaned the glass so that everything was ready to reassemble.  A little bit of tweaking to the wall section and the photo frame is ready to go.

 Still trying to decide which photo ......



 

Altered photo/picture frames

I really like jazzing up a plain photo frame.  I have made some as gifts, a HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS one for my Niece and a LOVE one as an engagement present.  Both of these were small complete pieces with no need or room for photos.  
With some help from my partner I made a larger frame as a wedding present.  

Starting with a blank white background I stamped, embossed, and coloured a base design.

After the mount board was finished the frame was re-assembled.  The wedding bouquet was red roses,ivy and chilli's so the decoration on the frame had a similar theme.

One section has the wedding day message, I used a square aperture for this so there could be options when hanging.

 The wooden frame was left plain but the rest has swirls and swags of ivy, chilli's and roses.  Lots and lots of roses - in different sizes and white and red shades.

Very pleased with the final result

WANT TO MAKE - shadowbox bag

Eversince I started making bags/purses from cigar boxes I have been fascinated with the idea of making one with a shadowbox front, especially as I have one box with a clear front.  

This morning on PINTEREST I saw this vintage one 
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/219902394279733281/  which is rather lovely.  Clicking on the link showed me that it is (at the time of writting on sale on EBAY).   http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Shadowbox-Wooden-Purse-3D-Butterflies-Daisies-Diorama-Lucite-Handle-Handmade-/351045290895

I love the look of the bag - the 3D flowers & butterflys, the raised corners and the twisted handle.  Not sure if I like the white background that much. 

Now I have another project stored in the backroom of my mind just waiting for the time to give it a go.  

VINTAGE KITTEN - HILLARYS BLINDS COUNTRY CRAFTS COMPETITION

I have been wanting to make a cat dressed in fifties styled clothes for some time but had not found the fabric to inspire me enough to put starting at the top of my to do list.  Then I saw the choice of fabrics in the Hillarys Blinds country craft competition and I knew this was exactly what I had been looking for. 

 I know that this fabric may not be everybody first choice for dressing a soft toy but it has worked perfectly. It is a very forgiving fabric and was easy to use even making the bodice of the dress, which was a little fiddly. The 'give' in the fabric meant turning the hem was a doddle. 

 First I had to make the cat so I could dress her.  She started life as a teddy bear from an old book, altered to make her taller so I could make her skirt as long as possible. 

To make sure the legs were the correct length I pinned and sewed the pattern pieces together before cutting them out.

 I cut a meter length of a similar type of fabric to do a trial run.  I wanted an eight gore double circular skirt to get the "NEW LOOK" style.  While doing the trial fitting I saw that a double row of buttons would look pretty on the bodice.

  I found a ruler that was a perfect length for the skirt and made a quarter circle pattern which I cut out eight times. To make the bodice pattern  I adapted the bear that I had used for my cat.

Double circle laid out so the fabric pattern can be matched (as well as possible).  I lined the bodice, I find that with full heavy skirts this gives strength to the garment and stops any fraying.

I sewed flat seams on all but on of the seams of the skirt, the last one I made a narrow hem so there was room for the tail.

waiting for a new dress

 I used five layers of tightly gathered net for the petticoat to give maximum lift to the skirt.  This was to show off the lovely fabric as well as to be in keeping with the style I was creating. This was all nice and straight forward, simple hand sewing and fabric that was a joy to handle. I loved making this project and am pleased with the result, thank you HILLARYS BLINDS for giving me the opportunity to see how good your fabric is. http://www.hillarys.co.uk/inspiration/the-hub/2014/country-craft-competition/
The hardest part was choosing which fabric to send for.

Petticoat on and dress ready to go, just a few finishing touches.  A bow to go in front of the ear, a bead necklace and some fish ( fish shown were made as a bag charm).  A few shakes to fluff out the petticoat, a few tweaks to the skirt and she's ready to go.

a summer dress for a spring day

HILLARYS BLINDS COUNTRY CRAFTS COMPETITION - a teaser

A few weeks ago I got sent details of the HILLARYS BLINDS COUNTRY CRAFTS competition.  It sounded exactly right for me so having looked at the fabric choices sent off for a piece.  I had chosen WILD POPPIES.  When the fabric arrived I was very impressed with the quality and very pleased that it would be perfect for the design I had been thinking of.

So now with the closing date very close I am two thirds there and happy with the way my project is progressing. 

30th March and my project is finished here is a link so you can see it.  http://dreamtimemakes.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/vintage-kitten-hillarys-blinds-country.html

WELCOME TO MY NIGHTMARE Tattoo inspired purse number one

 Back to creating purses out of cigar boxes, this time round they have become a little darker - inspired by some of the awesome tattoos that are being displayed by so many people.  It amazes me how such a plain box can change into something really unique, it is almost as if they take on their own destiny.  


So welcome to my nightmare as I show you my first 'by ink, inspired' creation.

 There were hints of a blacker side with the 'WHAT'S YOUR POISON' purse, I made some time ago, that was covered with various vintage poison labels. This has been one of my favourite bags and I use it often.

 Each flower has been handcrafted whether it has been made from polymer clay and then painted before being varnished ......

..... or if the flowers have been made from fabric, these circles (cut using my FUSE) made really effective flowers when completed.

Using pages from an Anne Rice vampire novel I decopatched the box before adding a lovely dark floral designed paper and painting the box.  
 The skull heart and some text was added front & back and that was also painted.
 Flowers were added to the front  and given beaded centres.

 

Heart and key metal charms have been attached using strings of black beads.

The handle is covered with a toning chiffon ribbon and fabric flowers are then fixed to its base, with clay flowers climbing up one side.

 The whole has been varnished inside and out making it very hardwearing.  Although it is a fairly small bag it is big enough for everything needed for a night out.

 Sorry fan and vintage evening gloves not included
 https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/183566328/unique-tattoo-inspired-wooden-purse?ref=ss_listing

 I am uncertain if a 'wooden stake' charm would add a quirky charm to this style of bag or whether it would just be horribly twee and spoil the effect - I would love to know how you feel about it.

Beaded centres to the handcrafted flowers

FISKARS FUSE - how much can it do

THE FISKARS FUSE one of the more expensive die cutting machines on the market at the moment.  So what can it do?  I had no plans to get a die cutter, in fact while decorating my Christmas cakes I had cut up several embossing folders that I had got as cover gifts so I could use them to emboss icing (this worked really well).

However just before Christmas I was in my local HOBBYCRAFT store and saw their display of die cutters.
http://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/ 
The one that caught my eye was the FUSE, but as I had found the last system I possessed limiting and it was expensive I decided I wasn't that bothered.  The next week I looked again and saw that it was compatible with other makes of dies and the adaptor plates were included in the offer price. 

 This changed things,  all the dies and embossing folders I had been looking at would work with it.  There was a clip of things it would cut, emboss and letter press.  This all made it more desirable.  Still not wanting to rush into it I went home watched some stuff on Youtube checked some magazines and then asked if I could have it for Christmas.  
http://www2.fiskars.com/Crafting/Products/Endless-Possibilities

 Trial runs have been interesting and I have managed to damage my adaptor cutting mat a little so I will need a new one.  So was it worth it ...... YES!

 All the reviews I read or watched only used the plates that came with the Fuse.  I have used it with a wide range of dies and embossing plates/folders. 

 To begin with I used various papers and thin cards and then I remembered that it would work on leather.  
These are my first attempts.

So far I have only embossed the leather with my cutting dies.  The first piece was fairly thick so I wasn't expecting too much.  The ship was done on thinner leather and I think if I had run it through the machine a couple more times then it would have cut the leather.  I think there are loads of possibilities.  

There is also storage  there is also storage on one side of the machine - just big enough for my current collection.