Painted doors

Doors painted and waxed. Stencil painted in black acrylic , distressed then waxed.

Reds and creams

A simple lap quilt in reds and creams. Quilted on the diagonal.

Painted patriot

Managed to find this fab oak table at Goodwood antiques fair. A bit of masking tape and some different colours of wood stain and this is what you get. A coat of varnish to finish!

A selection of recent cards for special occasions

An 18th card for a friend for her daughter..................who is sailing the yacht!

A wedding card for someone at work.

A retirement card for someone at work.

A good luck card for someone moving on to another job.

A 50th birthday card for a friends husband.

Union Jack Cushion

Threw this together in an afternoon!! I had made a Quilt previously and thought I could just cut block pieces for the cushion cover. It's OK unless you look too closely! Some of the blue triangle don't match up size wise. Hey Ho....... :(

Annie Sloan Chalk Paint

So ..................Annie Sloan Chalk Paint............... This table has been in the middle of the lounge for years. It has been used as a painting table, to climb on, eat off of etc etc and finally I decided to give it a new lease of life.

After giving the top a good sand i painted the legs and skirt in Annie Sloan's Duck Egg Blue chalk paint. After a short drying time I dry brushed over the blue in Old White. Another quick sand to distress the paint work and I began applying the three layers of wax required to protect the paintwork. A coat of clear wax first, left to dry for 24 hours. The next day a coat of dark wax is applied where you want it and left again to dry. Day three....the last coat of clear wax and a really good polish. I stained/varnished  the top of the table using a dark walnut satin.

I forgot to take before photo's of the next two pieces so have some from the web that look similar!

I did exactly the same to this pine bedside table which is now also in the lounge.

The little pine table my husband brought home form the tip!

Same treatment and a stencil added to the top and who would know!!

  Bit Blurry!


 

The Chalk Paint test!!!

Well - there's a first time for everything and this was it. Annie Sloan  chalk paint in Old White, highlights in Country Grey and waxes in clear and dark.

 Before.....

 and after......

and after...........It's so easy to use and there's no sanding necessary. Fab - took me 3 days from start to finish. (not finished the inside but won't take long as I am just going to whitewash it and put shelves inside).

18th Birthday Card

Card for a friends daughter - that's it Flossie...you buy the drinks now!!!!!

Tea pot card

I loved making this card!! The teapot is cut using my Cricut then I added loads of flowers and ribbons etc from my stash. I layered the flowers up to create a real 3D card. Kraft card was used for the base.

The Hangover Quilt!!!!

If you didn't have a hangover when you woke up..... you will now!!!!!?? Grumpy son (with hangover!)  Made from a fabric pack of 5 fat quarters from JoAnns (USA) with the addition of the two borders fabrics.

The finished thing!

The finished lap quilt. Photo is a bit fuzzy!

Loving the stripey binding.......and does my free motion quilting look good or what?????

Lap quilt with free motion quilting!!!!

I made the lap quilt using a Moda charm pack called Strawberry Fields.

It's a 42x5"square pack so creates a 7sq x 7sq quilt.

I used my free motion foot for the first time - properly, not on a practice piece and this was the result! I am very pleased as it was much easier than I expected.  Just got to finish it off now :-)

Decorated photo frame

My daughter (on the left) bought the photo frame for her friends' birthday (on the right!) so we did a bit of decorating and came up with this. Photo is not brilliant but you get the idea - shame the photo below went in it!!!!!!

A couple of cards

 I found the method for the flowers on 'youtube' and thought I would have a go - if you have a border punch or two it's really very easy!!!

A crafty card for a friend!

Birthday Bash at The Shabby Tearoom

My card for The Shabby Tea Room Challenge this week!   Birthday card with a cupcake using the photo for inspiration.  I enjoyed doing this - luvin the large crystal pin!!

Easter card and Challenge blog

This is my card for The Shabby Tea Room challenge blog this week  I think I have the colours right but the handmade flowers........? Well lets just see???  I think it's usable as an Easter card so that's where it's off too.  You can just see the stamped image of the butterfly embossed with pearl white powder on the background.

Right Ladies......if I can do it you can too!!!

Now..... I get back from the USA and the first thing I buy for my machine is a free motion quilting foot!  The only thing I can say to the Stitches group that I left out there is ....GET ON WITH IT!!!! (This means you Mrs N - stop gadding about all over the country and get on with your quilting!!) It may not be too pretty close up but I think for a first attempt it's pretty good and actually is quite easy. With a bit of practice I think I can get some good results. Stitchers - let me know how you get on????

Rib reminder!!!!

Had to spoil everyone and give them a reminding taste of the USA...these ribs are great and available at Waitrose - YUMMY!

Chocolate cupcakes with chocolate ganache!

These look delicious....and they are!!! Gotta stop spoiling the kids(!) when they come home from school/Uni. Chocolate ganache is really good for you  - it's only double cream and melted chocolate....no calories whatsoever!! YUM!

Shabby Tea room challenge

I need to improve my photo taking techniques but I think you can see clearly enough that this card meets the challenge on this weeks "Shabby Tea Room" Blog!   Colours and pennants/banners/flags!

Anniversary cards

Its a bit dark (my photography!) but I am quite pleased with the idea! Hopefully it will be appreciated later on in the month by the recipients.