Stamp Boxes

This is a rather simple but really effective little project.

Small decoupage boxes are available quite cheaply from most craft shops now. I collected stamps as a child, and so does my daughter, but for this project I found a bag of stamps in a local Flea Market.

I find that older stamps, not the modern self adhesive ones, work better as you can soak them off the envelope paper without loosing any of the surface design.

After soaking the stamps in boiling water to remove the envelope paper, leave them to dry. Then using PVA glue stick the stamps all over the box, I also use PVA glue as a varnish to coat the whole box, takes a couple of days to fully dry and stop being tacky to the touch, but nice result in the end.

We have made a few, a couple of different themes too, one has nautical type stamps and one stamps relating to flying.

Lining them in a similar way with PVA and coloured tissue paper could turn them into pretty little gifts.

My Daughter's Homework Projects

My arty side appears to have rubbed off on my Daughter somewhat...

We have worked together on several projects for school. Eighteen months ago (she was Eight) the project was "Our Village". Well, at the time the [famous] Victorian Chinese Bridge in the village was replaced with a replica as it was becoming unsafe. There was a lot in the local papers about it. My daughter decided that she wanted to make a bridge in a shoe box. We begun by cutting all of the pictures out of the newspapers and sticking them on the outside of the shoe box. I then took her down to the park near the bridge and she took a photo of 'The Causeway' to use as the background inside her box. She made Fimo ducks and swans to go on the base, in the river. Wool and green paper hung from the top, to represent the weeping willows. Then the bridge, this did require some assistance, we drew the bridge (quite complicated) on cardboard, then cut match sticks to stick on the card and painted white. It was a bit more of a task than originally anticipated but great result - teachers loved it, and she was photographed for a local magazine, The Bridge.

Last years Autumn half term homework (aged 9) - Guy Fawkes/Bonfire Night.

I blame Horrible Histories for this one. My Daughter decided she needed to make a Guy Fawkes doll, to demonstrate how he was killed when he was caught and tried for treason.

She traced all of the paper patterns from a rag doll book, and cut the fabric using them. We sewed it together on the sewing machine, she did the straight lines, I did the curved parts. She stuffed all of the arms and legs, etc. I sewed all the body parts together as this required a bit more skill. She sewed the trousers on the machine and I showed her how to thread elastic through the waist band. She hand stitched the felt boots, front and back and I did the bottoms (complicated curved bits again). I also embroidered the face - ended up looking like Johnny Depp, it wasn't the original intention.

End result was a rather dashing Guy Fawkes doll, with removable intestines, noose around his neck ( had to Youtube, how to tie a noose) and removable head. Quite disgusting, but ten year old's think it's cool!

Spring half term (aged 10) - Solar System.

This one was dreamed up by my daughter and her friend. They wanted to represent the solar system on a cushion... cue Mum!

Well, simple enough envelope cushion cover - easy.

Then they had to decide on some fabric to represent the colour of the planets. They cut the fabric into circles and we used iron on fabric adhesive to secure them while they blanket stitched them on to the cover.

Not the most difficult project we have attempted but still quite reasonable. It's now used at school in their reading corner, so useful too.

Looking forward to the next holiday project..... do your worst teachers!

Crochet Projects

As well as the crochet magazine throw, thankfully almost finished, I've started some of my own projects.

I tried out some "Amigurumi". A big bunny and more recently a small one. My daughter is rather taken with them.

A scout around Pintrest found a project similar to the one below. My new handbag. I had made several things out of the wool, which I love, but somehow I never really liked them when they were finished and ended up undoing them. This time I rather like the result, so I won't be undoing it this time.

"Sherlock" Geek Bag

So... the new project which inspired me to finish the needlework box.

I spend time, quite a lot of time, on Pintrest. I found a picture of, what I like to call, a "Geek Bag". It was a bag made from apliqued/embroidered panels, each one a reference to a Doctor Who episode or quote. A normal person probably wouldn't understand most of the references, but to an 'Anorak', like me, it was a fabulously clever and inspired concept. I rather liked the idea of making one myself, although I love Doctor Who (especially David Tennant) I thought it would be more original find some unique inspiration of my own.

See the Dr. Who inspired bag on this blog - http://quirkiecraft.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/dr-who-travels-to-teesha-moore-land.html#

Well, I'm also a really big fan of the BBC drama series "Sherlock", staring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, written and co-created by Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat (also writers on Doctor Who). There have only been two series and each series only three episodes (so far...), but I thought I could find enough unique references to forge my creation from. So I got sketching, to plan my project a little, not something I usually do but in this case worth it, I think.

The First Panel - 17.06.12

"Vatican Cameos" a quote from episode one, series two "Scandal in Belgravia", and a handgun with a silencer rigged up as a booby trap inside Irene Adler's safe, was where I decided to start. Granted, not a traditional subject for an embroidery project, but I was wanting 'original'.

This photo is the story so far, to be updated as I complete more... watch this space!

The Second Panel -  19.06.12

Well... it wouldn't be Sherlock Holmes without it... 221B Baker Street of course!

Being the perfectionist that I am, I'm not entirely happy with this one. I don't think I have the spacing entirely right between the 2's, I think it should be about half a centimetre less. But I'll stick with it for the moment.

I think the time has come for a colour injection, so the next panel will be a bit more interesting.

20.06.12 - So here we go, panel three. A reference to episode two, series one, The Blind Banker. This is the mark of the Tong, the tattoo given to all the members of The Black Lotus smuggling ring. I rather like it.

21.06.12 - The Wall. Episode three, series one, The Great Game. This panel represents the wonderful wallpaper at 221b and the smiley face that Sherlock shoots because he is bored.

22.06.12 - The best quote ever..... "Honey you should see me in a crown", Moriarty in 'Reichenbach Falls' series two, episode three. However... I thought green would be OK, it doesn't really stand out enough though so I may need re-think this one. Might have a go at a black or yellow shadow.

Needle Book

Having finished refurbishing my Needlework Box, I wanted to keep it tidy. I found I had accumulated, over the years, a not inconsiderable amount of needles, of varying sizes.

So, first new project - a Needlebook.

I did a quick search on Pintrest, to see what inspiration I could draw from other peoples creations, then set to work on my own.

I had some fabric from the refurb of the box left over, so it made sense to make it match, since they'd be spending a lot of time together. Then I went through my button and ribbon box for some extra embelishments. A piece of white felt and an off cut of brushed cotton and I was set.

Quite pleased with the result, does the job nicely, looks pretty and will keep my Needlework box nice and tidy.

Also kept me out of trouble on a rainy Saturday afternoon.

Getting into crochet.

A couple of years ago I found some lovely wool in a craft shop. I've been able to knit for years but have always struggled with the two needle thing, I've always had to rest the right hand needle on my leg as I can't hold it in my hand, not sure why. So I thought I'd like to have a bash at crochet, one needle has to be easier?

As is usual with my great ideas... I did nothing about it!

Then I saw an advert on the telly for a new weekly magazine "The Art Of Crochet", starting the following week... well it was meant to be. I'm not one to usually go for these weekly subscription things but on this occasion I figured "why not", it's something I wanted to try. So I subscribed and started crocheting four squares a month.

I really enjoyed it. Yeah Ok, it's a really expensive way of crocheting a throw, but it's done the job... I'm hooked (excuse the pun!).

In the beginning.....

About two years ago I found a Rosewood Needlework box on an antique/car boot stall in Wells-Next-The-Sea. The base and interior dividers were disintegrating from the old habitation of some very hungry wood worm, but I bought the box and set about restoring it.

I removed all of the wood effected by the wood worm, and treated the rest of the wood with a treatment, just to be on the safe side. I cut some ply wood to replace the parts that I removed. This was good but I was unhappy with the finish on the bottom of the box. Unsure how to proceed I popped a couple of cotton reels in it and sat it on a shelf....

Now two years later and inspired to start a new needlework project I thought it was time to finish the needlework box.

In order to cover up and finish properly the new ply wood on the base of the box I purchased some pine angle from the local DIY shop and mitred it to fit around the base. I fixed it to the box with some wood adhesive and stained it to make it darker, a little wood filler and some varnish and it was complete. I was much happier with the finish now and ready to line the box.

I had previously purchased some rather lovely vintage rose fabric, from the internet, which I intended to use for the very purpose of lining the box. It took me some time to find a contrasting plain fabric, but in the end ended up with a green and a dusty pink which both did the job.

I also located, from an online model site, some short brass tacks for securing the lining. I decided, in the end, to use the fabric to cover sheets of card, cut to size, to give a crisper finish to the lining. I'm rather happy with the result and really pleased I've finally managed to finish it.

Now I'm really ready for my next project....