HS:MS Drawer

Show us your favourite drawer - well it had to be my stamp drawer. It is rather messy, I'm always tidying it up, but as soon as I am looking for a stamp, it's messed up again. Probably not the best way to store my stamps, but hey ho - it will have to do just now.

It's here!

It's arrived!!! My embellisher machine is here - will be going off to unpack it and have a play in a little while.

Frustrating!

I had a message on my mobile, so I called the number back and it was the delivery driver for my embellisher machine. He was on his way back to the depot. He couldn't find my house (boo hoo), I explained how to get to it and he must have been quite close because he described the house just up the road. It should be here tomorrow - hurrah!

HS:MS Bedroom

This is a little Shisha embroidery I did a long time ago. It hangs in my bedroom. I would really have liked to show you the black marble, tiled fireplace (more 1900 stuff) but there is so much stuff on it and I couldn't face tidying it up.

Embellisher Machine

For those who don't know what this is

-here is a picture. Yes, it looks like a sewing machine.

Here is what it does:
'Pfaff Smart 350p Embellisher

Pfaff have produced this fantastic machine the 350p Embellisher that uses No Thread! absolutely wonderful for experimentation, felting and creative fun. Produce wonderful textures, backgrounds and special effects with the Embellisher that suits all ages from 8 upwards.

About the Pfaff Smart 350p Embellisher

The Embellisher is not a sewing machine - it is a "punching machine". Instead of using thread, it works with several specially shaped needles to create the most unbelievable effects. All you need are scraps of fabric, yarn, wool, felt, denim, silk – each material results in a different effect. Just lay two or more materials on top of one another and you’re ready to go. The needles of the Embellisher mesh the fibers of the fabrics together. The results are whimsical details and dramatic surfaces. Its pure creative fun and an unlimited source of inspiration that will suit both designers and all those with creative minds. Beautiful: Make felted graphic motifs, especially on wool fabrics or lay woven patterned fabric on a background fabric and “stitch” over it and let yourself be surprised!Pick up on the latest trend: Embellishments or worn effects on denim – they’re easy to do with smart 350p. '

What I did yesterday...

This is the little cat that I made with hand needlefelting. It's not a very good picture, but I've tried lots of different angles and can't seem to get him right. He reminds me of Mog, from the children's stories.

This is a sample I made with the Embellisher Machine at my needlefelting workshop. I like all the textured bits (made on a wooden skewer and then attached with the machine) I just loved using the machine.

Here is another piece I made on the machine. Just a sample piece, trying out different pieces of fabric and fibres. And yes, I have ordered an embellisher - it makes felting so much easier.

DCM Dare Ribbon Christmas & Little Extra

Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all the way.... Okay, okay, I know I am cheating by trying to combine Tuesday's Little Extra sketch and the Ribbon Christmas Dare but I just don't think I'll manage another one this week. I really love this sketch and think I might use it for most of my cards this year, I can see so many possibilities and square cards are my favourite.

Halloween

These two shots are for the Bubblyfunk Forum October Photo Challenge, I was out in the yard yesterday morning at 8am looking for spooky stuff.

HS:MS Bathroom

This is a sneaky peek at my bathroom. It is my favourite room in the house. Being an old house, it was built without a bathroom and only had one put in in 1954! We had it ripped out completely about 5 years ago and I designed the cupboards and our fantastic joiner made them to fit under the stairs. What I like best is that there is a place for everything, so there are no grotty toothbrushes on display (they are in the cupboard) I even have drawer for spare toilet rolls. Because there is enough room to put everything away, the bathroom always looks tidy, unlike the rest of the house!

HS:MS Hallway

Hallway
What hidden treasure or favourite spot do you just LOVE about your hallway?

The top storey of our farmhouse was put on in 1900, we know because we have the plans. We have many Victorian features including this lady and her sister on the other side, mostly I don't notice them, but I do love them.

HS:MS Pink

Here is my something Pink. It's one of my felt handbags, everyone picks it up and says it is gorgeous, but no one has bought it yet. It's called Raspberry Ripple. If you would like to see my bags they are on my website at www.janicepattie.co.uk or at www.tuggle.co.uk

DCM - First Anniversary - Circle of Friends

The subject is, as in our original dare "friends", but this time the title is CIRCLE of FRIENDS and we'd like you to incorporate at least one circle into your card.It would make it a very special occasion if for this dare you'd make a card just for the DCM rather than doubling up with other challenges.Please join in and celebrate our first anniversary with us,without all of you - our wonderful extended "Team of Darers" and of course all those who've joined us as Guest Designers over the last year it wouldn't be half as much fun. HAPPY BIRTHDAY DARING CARDMAKERS ALL

Here is my circle of friends. I cut the circles with my Cuttlebug using paper that Kathy sent me as an RAK, I used crafter's workshop doodle templates and the text's are some song lyrics and friendship quotes:

"When you are down and troubled and you need a helping hand ...you've got a friend" Carole King

"and the seasons, they go round and round..in the circle game...you're captured on a carousel of time..." Joni Mitchell

"What would you think if I sang out of tune?...I get by with a little help from my friends" John Lennon

"Gems may be precious, but friends are priceless"

"It takes a long time to grow an old friend"

and my favourite "a circle is round and has no end, that's how long I want to be your friend"

Many, many thanks to all the team at DCM, they keep me crafting.

HS:MS Blue

When I hear 'Blue' my first thoughts are the classic album by Joni Mitchell. I'm a huge fan of Joni Mitchell, have all her albums and never tire of her muscality and lyricism.

HS:MS Green

Catching up on my 'rainbow' here is a little green from my beech hedge.

HS:MS Yellow

Never mind 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' - I'm somewhere running behind the rainbow, but I love this theme so I'm posting anyway. This little yellow 'jingle bells' is a remnant of my Sunday School Teaching days, later commandeered by DS2 as part of his percussion section. All we have left is the drum kit and cymbals which were too big for him to take to his flat when he moved out in August taking the guitars, flute, clarinet, speakers and mixing desk. Oh no, I forgot there is also the electric organ - wish it had gone!

DCM - Animal wild

Here is my wild creature for the DCM Dare. Both the Elephant and sentiment are from Elusive Images. I coloured the elephant with watercolour pencils and sakura pens. Can you see a bit of a theme here - mmm elephants, orange...OMG I'm just too predictable.

HS:MS Orange

Here's a little orange in my space. I made this wall hanging about 8 years ago and it hangs above our bed. My whole bedroom is orange, which sounds strange, but it has a slightly Indian theme with shisha embroidery, mango designs and elephant images like the ones on this little quilt.

HS:MS SOS - Gingerbread Men

Thought I'd show off my gingerbread men. I haven't made them for several years, but I am doing a recipe card swap on Bubblyfunk Forum and needed to take a picture of my recipe. I will freeze most of them for Christmas.

Totally relaxed

Never even twitched when I took this photo, nearly lost my boy the other week. He had a tumour in his mouth which was removed (95%) but the vet says it will grow back, so we don't know just how long we will have him wth us. He will be 15 on 5th November.

HS:MS Self Portrait Saturday

Felt making.

Christmas Template and Paisley

Couple of challenges on Just Bex. The Template one could have done with more contrast but I am pleased with the Paisley pattern card.

Textile Inspiration

Found a fabulous textile blog called A stitch in Time You know, it had never occurred to me that there would be textile forums and challenges just like there are for papercraft. Carol's blog really inspired me to get back to my textile work, which apart from the on-going felt making, has been sadly neglected.

HS:MS Step

This reminded me how much I need a new stair carpet!

DCM Little Extra - Christmas Words

"So here's your first "Santa's Little Extra Helper":
Christmas Words
We'd like you to use Christmassy words on your card, not just in the sentiment but for this challenge the word/s should form the main focus of your card - like in Rhi's "In a Word" dare of a couple of weeks ago"

Good chance to use my new Artylicious Christmas CD for papers, words and the holly decoupage.

HS:MS Crockery

My Denby cups and saucers and a couple of lovely jugs, one brought from Ireland by my sister and the jug and sugar bowl bought in Glasgow in 1979 from Saltoun Pottery, a little craft pottery up a mews lane - no longer there.

HS:MS Autumn 2

HS:MS Autumn

HS:MS SOS

DCM - Remembrance Postcard

Okay, so on going back and reading the challenge again "I want you to design a post card - and whats more I want you to actually post it! Aren't I mean ?" , I realise that this is probably not what was asked for! However, hearing the word postcard got me all excited as I have a few very old embroidered postcards. I think this one is from WW1 and came from my DH's family, I've been looking for a reason to use them on a card for ages and this just seemed like too good a chance.

William's Birthday

I have had such a busy week, I forgot to get back and blog William's birthday card. He is a very spoiled dog.

HS:MS Self Portrait Saturday

Okay, so I decided I couldn't hide quite as much this week. Here is my self-portrait, I'm hanging out the washing, added a few effects to hide the wrinkles and grey hairs.

Found a new blog with great downloads

I am really excited by my new find, Rattytatty's Paper Ravings there are free paper downloads and one of them is a gorgeous Klimt sytle paper which will go really well with my Elusive images Klimt bauble stamps. There is a also a blog candy giveaway, "the Blog Candy has been donated by The very kind English Paper Company With Christmas coming up they have very kindly donated a whole 12 by 12 stack of their Christmas collection (which can be seen by clicking on the above link) There you will see the six design ranges that the whole collection encompases. With something for everybody it is ideal for cardmaking and scraping."

So I would recommend getting over to Rattytatty's Paper Ravings and leaving a comment.

Tagged by Rosie

Rosie has tagged me - so here's some stuff about me - some of it rarely revealed.

Four places I've worked: In a garage serving petrol; in a pharmacists in St Ives, Cornwall; in a Solicitor's for an MP; in a university.
Four places I've lived:Fife, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Dumfries & Galloway
Four places visited on holiday: California, Brighouse Bay, South of France, St Petersburg
Four places I would rather be right now: California, St Petersburg, Natural Beauty (my local beauty shop), no that's about it, I love my home and I would rather be here most of the time.

I have to nominate four people so: Lisa, Kate, Andrea and Anice