A WORD OR TWO ABOUT ME

 Hello and welcome.  I live in Bournemouth on the South coast of England with my Assistance Dog Bailey and my Soul-Mate Paul.  Here is Bailey reading the papers!
 
I have been arty and crafty all my life. I have never been one to do things the easy way and I love a challenge.     My mum taught me to knit when I was about six.  The first pattern I followed was a fairisle jumper with cherries on it.  I remember I only finished the front but I was still very young! I picked up some sewing skills from my Dad - I remember he was always mending his work trousers and made stuffed toys for charity events. As a child I remember there was a  sewing machine that opened as if by magic from a big red box.  I was absolutely fascinated and  learned to sew at a very early age. I started my first patchwork quilt when I was 13 years old;  I never finished that either! I loved art and textiles at school, and at home, I especially liked making Wedding dresses.

My children Laura and Rosanna are now both grown up but when they were tiny I gave up my office job to spend more time at home; I did some sewing from home, working for a posh Designer shop in Fulham Road SW1 callled Tatters.  I used to make beaded bustiers,  cummerbunds and other lovely things. I never threw any leftover fabric away so have plentiful supplies of some lovely materials.  

All that changed in 1997, when I had a brain haemorrhage at the age of 34.  I was in a coma for two weeks and made a gradual recovery, but I had to come to terms with life in a wheelchair. 

 However being the eternal optimist that I am, I see not being able to walk, as an opportunity, rather than a disability.  I love life, just wish there were more hours in the day!

Most people when they see me probably see a disabled person, but I firmly  believe that you are only disabled if you can't do something. Being a wheelchair user doesn't stop me doing anything, I just have to think of alternative ways of doing things sometimes!

Here are a few things I made earlier:

Autumnal Leaves.  Real and textile leaves, printing, beads and stitching

A patchwork quilt in my favourite colours.

Seaside Inchies

I am creative in everything I do; it is not just crafts and textiles.  We have an allotment and grow all sorts of fruit and vegetables.  This results in lots of jam and  chutney making and homemade liqueurs.

Minnie Mouse pumpkin Halloween 2011

I hope you will enjoy my blog and be inspired to create and make the most out of life.

Love and best wishes
Jane

VALENTINE'S DAY- TAG TUESDAY

A St. Valentine’s Day Proposal .....

My Valentine's Day theme tag is actually a set of five tags carrying on from my Daisy heart last week.   They have a vintage feel in shades of white, cream and gold. Following Carolyn’s example last week, I have been experimenting with wax; I’m so glad I did, thank you Carolyn for your inspiration.

The first tag is a heart of gold flowers on white lace which was going to be a ‘heart of gold’ for last week’s heart theme.  This idea fell by the wayside as I got hooked on the daisies idea.  I stuck a double paper daisy in the middle of the heart with a small gold heart as the daisy centre.  The words ‘Will you marry me?’ are cut out underneath.

On the second tag I have printed the words of ‘Daisy, Daisy’ onto a sheet of parchment, which I then embossed with a few flowers.  

  
You can just see through the parchment to the next tag which is the sheet music of ‘Daisy, Daisy’.  I dipped this tag in wax then stitched lace along the top and bottom. 

The fourth tag is a handmade envelope, made with cream paper embossed with flowers and leaves. There is a tiny paper daisy on the back.  This is the envelope for Daisy’s reply... does she say ‘Yes’ or ‘On yer Bike?’

The fifth tag is made with matching embossed paper, with a paper daisy and photo of a couple on a vintage tandem. I dipped the photo and flower in wax which gave them a lovely translucent quality. The tag also has Daisy’s answer ...'Yes with love Daisy xx'

Here are the five tags before they are fastened together with cream and white ribbons.

Well done to all of you for all your wonderful tags, thank you for your inspiration.  Have a great week,

Love and best wishes, Jane xx

TAG TUESDAY - HEARTS

HEART OF DAISIES

I think I must be yearning for Spring.Even though Nature hasn’t provided the real thing yet, I thought a heart of daisies would bring some early Spring colour to a dull February, rather than the traditional red/pink that comes to mind when you think of hearts and valentines.  I am planning for daisies to be a bit of a recurrent feature throughout the February themes.

For this tag I have used scrapbook paper for the grass and made daisies using a paper punch.  I have sewn a yellow bead to the centre of each daisy. The tassel at the top is made with ribbon and coordinating threads, and I have made a beaded fringe at the bottom.

It has been a real treat to be in such creative company with the Tag Tuesday group. 

Have a lovely week,

Jane xx