OH DEAR, WHERE HAS SUMMER GONE?

Hi everyone

The forecast for around here was that part of yesterday and today would be sunny - er, was it?  No.  Like everyone, I am so fed up waiting for summer to arrive.  I feel like I live in one of those weather houses - when the sun shines I rush outside to get some gardening done, when the heavens open I rush back inside to get some card-making done.

The Card-Making workshop I ran with Lauren of the Crafty Hippy on Tuesday evening went very well and we all had a fun time.  The Therapy Garden is a really great venue and ideal for the future events we are planning.  Here are a couple of pics of some of the card-making participants - everyone enjoyed themselves and were keen to know when our next event was taking place, which was good feedback for us.  Photographs of the cards I demonstrated are also shown here:

Photographs of happy card-making crafters

This was the first decoupage card the group made.  It didn't start out as a decoupage sheet, but by copying/pasting the original picture, I was able to show  that you don't need to buy something that is specifically created for découpage use, you can adapt anything.  Try to look at it with '3-D eyes' - what is at the front, what is the next layer, what is the 'flattest' part of the picture?  By using more sticky pads, the various pieces could be made more prominent.

This card gave the group more practice in delicate decoupage, the flowers needed more careful cutting and could be curved to represent the petals on the flowers.

I didn't start out as a fan of decoupage, but when I soon learned to appreciate how you can create and develop a beautiful picture.  It's a personal choice how many layers and sticky pads you use, and the effect created can be stunning.  I have seen some beautiful découpage prints created by very clever crafters and it is something I never tire of doing.

Lauren worked with the group to make two cards using her Stampin' Up materials and the cards were lovely.  Stamping is something I haven't really got into, despite having a large box of stamps and inks.  I must add this to my looooong list of crafting to-do's.

Still on a crafting note, don't forget to visit the blogs taking part in this week's Handmade Monday - lots of great posts with fantastic makes to look at.

I spent a little more time sorting out the new look of my blog - it took ages to get Blogger to accept the colour for web links included in posts.  Initially they were not showing up so it was impossible for anyone to see that there were links included!  Annoying really as it looked as though I was promoting something without adding the link to it.

I spent some time at our local hospital this week (a follow-up appointment to some tests I have been having over the last couple of months) - the highlight of which was a pre-op blood test!  I have major problems having blood taken and despite advising nurses, etc about the problems, they all still like to try to prove me wrong and approach me with something that resembles a road-drill.  I ended up with a very large black bruise on the inside of my left arm and puncture marks on the inside of my right arm and on both wrists!  The 'dots' could be joined up to make a square!  Oh well, I know it is for a good reason - but it is painful.

I hope you all have a good week and many thanks for the lovely comments left on my blog post last weekend.  If you would like to be a guest blogger, do get in touch - it would be lovely to get this up and running again.

I will be back next weekend and Milly will be posting on Wednesday.

Jill

MILLY'S DIARY

Hello everyone

I missed posting last week - all because Jill was away and had taken her laptop with her!  Soooo inconsiderate, especially as I always have a lot to say for myself!

I have been busy sorting out the local wildlife - almost needless to say I am not very popular with Jill and Richard.  Mind you I think Jazz and Daisy are pretty impressed with my efforts.  Last week I caught a mole - Jill checked in her books and on the internet and yes, it definitely was a mole.  Today I caught a pigeon.  I was told that I looked pretty silly carrying a very large pigeon in my mouth because I kept tripping over it!  Being small is not always good when you are a kitten and I don't like being laughed at!

The weather has been pretty miserable here for the last few days, except in the evenings.  when the sun comes out, I rush outside and then rush back in because it starts to rain!  Someone keeps chattering on about it soon being the longest day - believe me every day is long when it rains and I cannot go outside!

We still have Coco and Holly with us - we thought we had someone interested, but it didn't work out.  My pal Badger Boo has written a lovely post about them this week - thank you Badger, paws crossed lots more people will want to come and meet them.  They are very friendly and love to play football and they sit on Jill's lap - and on Richard's computer keyboard!

I think I am up-to-date with my blogging now, and it has stopped raining so it's time to nip outside.  I will be back next Wednesday - have fun everyone.

Milly

TO BLOG OR NOT TO BLOG?

Hi everyone

I intended to blog today, but Blogger didn't intend me too!  I had problems accessing the 'new post' section

of my blog and several re-boots later, it appears to be back on my side.  Thank goodness - I hate to miss out on my main post of the week.

I took a few days out last week, following my back problems it was very welcome.  I spent some time with my sister and we did some shopping, relaxing, walking, chatting and eating out - all very nice and the weather was very kind to us.  

I bought some lovely crafty things including some more embossing folders.  I can't show them to you this week as they are part of my workshop demonstrations, so don't want to give the game away for my crafters.  We still have spaces available on our card-making workshop, so if you would like to join us please get in touch on thecraftycats@outlook.com.

I made two items in pottery this week: a shallow dish which will be burnished, biscuit-fired and then fired in saw dust - a new experiment for me.  My second piece was a large candle-holder made up of individually decorated sections.  No pics yet, but next week.  Due to no power at the centre during half-term, we have a rather large back-log of work waiting for various temperature firings to take place.  Now I know why I got started early on those Christmas pieces!

My fellow workshop crafter, Lauren, is running a great give-away on her blog - lots of great Stampin' Up goodies.  Nip over, follow the instructions in her post and you will be in with a chance to win.

The Surrey Artists Open Studios event opened this week and my pottery tutor, Jean Tolkovsky, held a special viewing today to which she invited her pottery group.  It was great fun, lovely nibbles, Pimms and of course really great pottery.  You must have a look at her work - such a diverse range of creations.  Last year at Jean's studio I bought a mum guinea fowl and two chicks.  I saw some lovely pieces today - one big head-shaped pot caught my eye - sadly not my bank balance though.  However, there were other pieces that come within my price range, so I will be going back.

Off now to make more cards for the workshop.  A crafter's work is never done.  Don't forget to visit Handmade Monday - it's number 120!  Where does the time go?  If you would like to be a guest blogger here, please contact me on christmaspiecrafts@virginmedia.com.  

Hope you have a good week - I will be back next Sunday and Milly (who missed last week - just can't get the staff) will be back on Wednesday.

Jill

A PAIN IN THE NECK, WELL IN MY BACK REALLY

Hi everyone

The end of a painful week - not in the neck, but in my back.  I have spent the last three days flat on my back, mostly in bed!  I have backache off and on, due to a childhood ailment, but this time around it was soooo painful.  I just had to give in and hope that some rest would help and it did.  Feeling much better today and trying to get things back to normal - if there is such a thing here.  The result of this forced inactivity is that no work has been completed this week - thank goodness I didn't have any orders to complete.  I also had to cancel other plans, one of which was to attend the Jacob's Well country market on Friday and to do some research at local gift shops with Linda (cake-maker to the stars - well, one day).  I had already arranged not to do this coming Friday's market and due to other commitments this month, I will only being doing one session.

My working week was squashed into Tuesday and Wednesday: I had a meeting with Lauren to discuss our workshop and other ways of promoting it; changed the background to my blog (I loved the vibrant black and green, but felt a softer look was probably needed and it means I am still using one of my business colours) and booked a spot at a Craft and Food Event at Ripley Nurseries on 29 June.  Fairly productive, but nowhere near what I had hoped to complete this week!

Last week was half-term, so no pottery - thank goodness as I wasn't in any fit state to do anything.  On my return to the class this week, I hope to find that my candle holders have been biscuit-fired so I can glaze them.  It would be nice to have them ready, filled and on sale at the Craft and Food Fair.  Not so worried about the snowflake ornaments being ready for the next glazing stage as I have plenty of time to get them into a saleable condition.  Knowing how quickly time goes when making Christmas things for sale, I hope this is not famous last words.

A short-ish post this week - normal blog posts will be resumed next weekend.  Thank you to everyone who left a comment on my last week's post.  Don't forget to nip over to check out this week's Handmade Monday posts and if you would like to be a guest blogger, please do get in touch: christmaspiecrafts@virginmedia.com.

Have a good week.

Jill

MILLY'S DIARY

Hello everyone

I have given up on being outside for today, it is looking pretty miserable out there.  Sunshine first thing this morning, but the sun has gone home for the day.  It rained non-stop yesterday and I hate the rain!  Jill said it makes my fur coat soft and silky, so I suggested she might like to stand out in it for a while.  She didn't seem too keen to do that.

Daisy is having a snooze with me - well not too 'with me' because we do occasionally confront each other.  I like to bounce, skip and play and Daisy doesn't seem keen to do that with me.   Problem is I occasionally like to bounce, skip and play on her.  These oldies!!

Jazz arrived home one afternoon earlier this week with a scratch on his lovely nose.  Jazz is a big softie and unable to stand up for himself, this means that some local cats biff him one when he gets too close to them.  He only wants to be friends, but they don't see it that way.  Poor Jazz, think he needs to learn to run away from those other cats - or call for me, I will sort them out.  I may be small, but I am tougher than I look.

Coco and Holly are still with us - nip over to the Woking Cats Protection website if you would like to know more about them or arrange to visit them.

I am going to have a snooze now, because the sky is getting darker and darker - is it night time already?  See you next week.

Milly

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY

Hello everyone

Lots of gorgeous sunshine - hope it lasts a few more days.

First of all a big thank you to everyone for their comments last week, particularly for the advice given regarding my weekly foray's into a local country market.  A special thank you to Stephen (Soy of the North) for his great advice.

I have decided that I will attend the market this coming week as I have been advised that out of term time (half-term here next week) is always very busy.  I will do the following week, then take a break for a week and after that may go for either every other week, or perhaps one week out of three.  I have been able to talk to people who regularly attend two other local markets, ones that are much bigger and more popular than mine, and their sales (of craft items) are either low or non-existent.  I feel my time can be more profitable either looking out for other events or making stock.  I wont; abandon it completely because sellers at the event say Christmas is always a good time for craft sales.  Can I wait that long?  The people there are so friendly and helpful and it makes the morning go quickly, however, as sociable as they are I am in business and need to sell.  Oh, I nearly forgot, I sold another candle!  Two in four weeks!

I attended a Willow Heart making course at the Farnham Maltings on Thursday evening - it was great and I hadn't anticipated how hard it would be.  Even when wet some types of willow are hard to bend, and I kept snapping mine!   The tutor was great and I would definitely sign on for another one of her courses.  I made two hearts - one very big and one small in comparison - and brought home more willow to finish them off.  I also made a start and here is a photograph of it:

I have also been busy in my pottery class making a mix of outdoor candle holders (for citronella candles) and hanging snowflake ornaments for the Christmas tree. I know it is rather early, but making, firing, glazing, etc takes a long time, so I need to begin early.  Here are some photographs of my makes:

A square pot with two sides cut away - the back can act as a sort of windshield.

A tall, narrow pot which I have painted brown - a flat base has been added as I felt it was rather narrow and may topple over in the wind.

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These have been made of porcelain and I have painted them white on the 'front' side - depending on how they turn out I will probably not fire them at a higher temperature or glaze them.

I also made a card for a friend for someone who was moving to their new home.  The brief was the recipient was moving into an Edwardian house, liked to ride their bike, was a computer person, and walked/ran a lot.  So I had a bicycle leaning against the wall of the house, a computer sitting inside the window and a pair of trainers on the door step and yes, I forgot to photograph it!  Oh, and the person it was for is a web-designer so the salutation on the front was in the form of a website address.

Still on the subject of making things, don't forget to nip over to Handmade Harbour and catch up with the lovely bloggers taking part in this week's Handmade Monday linky party.  Great reads and fabulous makes.

I met up with my cake-making friend, Linda, and we planned more things to do for our end of year events.  Lots of work to do, and we wop it will be successful - lots of new things from both of us.

I had some requests left on last week's post asking for details about being a guest blogger and I do apologise for not contacting each of you.  However, I hope you are still interested.  Each post should be approximately 600 words long, although I am happy if it is longer.  you need to include lots of photographs to promote the content of your post and don't forget to include your links to your Blog, Website, Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook, etc.  This is a great opportunity for some free publicity.  I tweet about the post every day, more often than not twice in one day and lots of my followers kindly RT the post for me too - so you could be read by thousands.  If you would like to be a guest blogger or need some more information, please do contact me on christmaspiecrafts@virginmedia.com.

We went to one of our regular family get-togethers yesterday at my sister's.  As always it was great fun and lots of laughs - we grew up with these particular special cousins (Maralyn and Evelyn) so we share lots and lots of memories and very similar senses of humour.

Enjoy the rest of the Bank holiday everyone, I will be back next week and Milly will be here on Wednesday.

Jill

MILLY'S DIARY

Hello everyone

Weather is a little grim and grey here, but doesn't stop me going out to play.  Ooooh, the sun has just begun to shine!  Yippee.  Oh, no, just as I am writing this post the sun has gone back in.  Oh dear.......

My feather collection is growing nicely - well it would be if Jill didn't keep removing them!  I brought a lovely one in for her recently, dark and mid-brown colours - Jill said it could belong to a pheasant.  It doesn't, because it belongs to me!  Well it did, but it seems to have disappeared now so I am going to have to try to find another one.  The problem is I want to bring them home as presents, but they don't appear to be very welcome presents.  You just cannot please some people.

I have nibbled a couple of worms recently.  I don't understand why  humans go 'yuk' when they see me doing this and try to stop me - they really don't know what they are missing.

Coco and Holly are still with us.  They are very friendly and so close to each other.  Jill says they need their own home so they can have lots of room to play in and a garden to run around in.  If you know of anyone who would just love to share their lives with these two kittens, please get in touch with Woking Cats Protection.

Worms and feathers are calling me, so I must get back into the garden.  Hope you all have a good week.

See you next week.

Milly

THE TEMPERATURE'S RISING

Hello everyone

Do you think summer might be just around the corner?  We still seem to be having very mixed weather and the forecast for the end of this week says the temperature will be low, but I am very hopeful.  Everything in the garden is growing well, including the weeds which never seem to suffer from high or low temperatures, cold, frost or anything else Mother nature throws at us.

A dilemma.  My time at the Jacob 's Well Country Market was unsuccessful again, despite being slap, bang in the middle of the hall.  So many people there tell me they can attend for weeks without selling anything, but can I continue do this?  I know I have only taken part for three weeks, but having sold only one candle during that time the motivation to turn up is beginning to dim.  It is not a case of 'I could be somewhere else selling my work' but it really is 'can I spare this time of not doing anything?'  The sellers are a great group of people, very friendly and so helpful and I have been given lots of good advice and great ideas to work on, but does that justify losing 3.5 hours (the market is open for 1.5 hours but we are asked to help set up and close down) every Friday?

Initially I had thought I could use the market as a way of promoting my work - having been told sales are low, profit little, etc.  However, despite a lot of interest in my candles, this has only turned into one sale.  Last Friday I was opposite a lady who makes the most stunning stained glass items: swallows in flight, dog's faces as well as framed pictures - she didn't sell anything on Friday and said she rarely does.  I think one of the reasons why I feel so frustrated about this market is that card-makers do very well.  Despite there being three sellers there, they all sell, every week!  A couple of sellers told me that out of term-time more buyers attend the market, and as it is half-term next week I will leave my decision about whether to continue or not
until then.  I don't like to abandon this, it feels like I am letting the organisers and other sellers down as well as possibly missing out on potential sales, but I have to be realistic, I want to sell and make some profits.

It has been the usual busy week here: making, workshop promoting, planning and preparing for meetings and  as the weather has been very generous this week, gardening.  Celebrated a friend's birthday on Saturday and celebrated it again with other friends on Sunday - a nice way to spend the weekend.

No photographs of work this week as most of the time has been spent on not producing, but planning.  However, I must recommend a visit to the bloggers taking part in this week's Handmade Monday linky party as I know they will have lots of photographs of gorgeous work they have made during the past week.

I have booked a spot on a Willow Hearts making course this Thursday evening at the Farnham Maltings.  Looking forward to it as hope it may be something else I can add to my range and I will let you know how it goes and hopefully may have photographs of what I make.

I received a copy of Homemade with love at the beginning of last week.  It looks a great magazine and has lots of lovely things to make.  On my list (supplies already purchased so no excuses) of things to make this week are the fabric covered flowerpots.  Apart from being lovely for me to use in my work room., they will make lovely gifts too and who knows could be something else to add to my range.

Have a good week everyone, I am back next weekend, Milly is here on Wednesday and if you would like to be a guest blogger, please drop me an email on christmaspiecrafts@virginmedia.com.  I love having guest blog posts, lots of lovely interesting reading.

Jill

MILLY'S DIARY

Hello everyone

It is cold, wet and very windy in the Pie today.  I was born in the summer, so this 'winter' weather is not much fun for me.  Jill said there is something called a sun that is supposed to be in the sky.  I am sure I saw something similar last week, but since then absolutely nothing but soggy stuff.

What have I been doing since my last post?  Weeellllll, I have not brought any more feathers in, but I have brought in some twigs, with fluff and leaves attached and the other day I brought a twig in with some black stringy stuff attached to it.  Jill said she wasn't sure if it is was plastic or hair!  She says I appear to think I am a bird collecting lining for my nest - well I do like to be snuggled up when it is cold, so she could be right.


Coco and Holly are still with us.  I do like their coats, very brown, black and peachey colour.  I wonder if I can get one like that for next winter?

Woking Cats Protection are going to be at the Oatlands Village Fayre, Oatlands Recreation Ground, Weybridge on Saturday, 18 May between 12.30 pm and 4.30 pm raising funds.  Why not go along and see them, Alison, Catherine and Margaret will be manning the stand and would be so pleased to see you.  Don't forget to tell them that Milly sent you and said hello, especially to Alison.

The rain doesn't really stop me enjoying myself in the garden, so I am off again to find more things for my 'nest' - but don't tell Jill.

Have a good week everyone - I will be back.

Milly

RUNNING TO KEEP UP

Hi everyone

A late Sunday evening post - time seems to be rushing by so quickly at the moment.  Too much to do, and as always I have plenty of excuses not to do it all.  The beginning of this week made me feel summer had arrived, today makes me feel that it has finished!

My Jacob's Well Country Market trip on Friday did not produce any sales - disappointing, but I wasn't the only one who didn't sell anything.  Being tucked away in the corner didn't help and I have been promised a more prominent spot at next week's market.  The lady on the stand next to me sold cards to the value of £20 to one customer - I was very pleased for her but, as you can imagine, being a card-maker who cannot sell cards at this event, this combined with my lack of sales made for a rather disappointing event.  Still, I won't give up just yet, no sales means no costs apart from petrol (the hall is very close to where I live so travel expenses are quite low), so can I really complain?  One visitor to my stand said to me: 'why do they ruin crockery like that by putting a candle in them'.  They?  Uhm, perhaps this may be one reason why I had no sales this week, am I spoiling the 'crockery'?

However, on the brighter side the plans for the joint workshop Lauren and I are running on 11 June are moving on very well.  We have a venue booked (Normandy Therapy Garden), we have started a blog to promote the event and we have three online adverts running - more to be arranged this week as well as local advertising.

I had a card order to complete this week for a fellow student on my pottery course.  The brief was 'natural, no glitter and likes homoepathy'.  This was a hard challenge, but I am glad to say she was very pleased with the card - as always apologies for the poor quality picture, but here is one view of it:

I printed the photographs and text on to gold-coloured paper and I was really pleased with the effect it created.  It gave an out-of-focus, smokey finish to the photographs.  I was so pleased with it that I re-printed  some of the digi-stamps downloaded from Wendy's links onto the gold paper and here are the results of one of them (not finished, but well on the way):

Something weird happened on my computer and printer, when I printed the quilt digi-stamp it went all black-and-white on me, so I have decided to colour that one myself - here are a few bits of 'colouring in'.  Great fun:

My progress work-wise for the last two weeks has been fairly slow - Richard has been on leave and it is hard to work around someone who is 'on holiday'.  Sadly back to work for him tomorrow but it does mean I should be able to catch up on everything.

I will be back next week - hopefully having caught up with everything: blogging, an interview, Wendy's digi-stamp feedback, etc, etc.  Milly will be back on Wednesday with her 'Life of Pie' tails and I am off now to check out the other bloggers taking part in this week's Handmade Monday.

Have a good week everyone

Jill