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Home About Me The Blog Items for Sale Home Education Art & Crafts Photography Project 365
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Art & Crafts
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Over the years I have tried many things. I remember being shown by my Auntie how to do Cross-Stitch embroidery at the age of 11 or 12. That was my first experience of a "proper" craft. I was soon hooked, and spent many hours and even months relentlessly working on a project. I made gifts for friends, decorations for our home, and presents for teachers. I loved cross-stitching, and completing projects was so rewarding - but, I couldn't bear how long it took. I became more and more impatient, wanting immediate results for my efforts, so I started looking at trying other crafts.
I tried my hand at knitting and crochet, but such things didn't come easy to me - and again, results were slow in the making. I went to a craft show and saw an encaustic art demonstration. I loved it. How could an iron and some wax create such amazing pictures? Fascinating stuff. My parents kindly bought me a kit for Christmas one year (I think I was around 16 at the time), and I set about learning the art. One thing that I love about Encaustic work is that there are no right or wrong results. You can come to the table with no pre-conceived ideas of what you want to create. Different patterns and ideas develop as the iron moves the melted wax across the page. People of all ages are able to give it a go - the only criteria is that you can safely use the (hot!) encaustic iron. Encaustic art provided me with that instant satisfaction I was craving - an art form where you don't even have to wait for the glue or paint to dry!
Again things progressed further and I started looking at what else I could created from paper and card. I started making baby shoes to celebrate new life, various wallhangings and tag books. I like making my own embellishments, and stay away from many of the shop bought offerings. I prefer my crafts to be "handmade" and often feel like I am cheating if I use readily made embellishments. The bonus to this is that my work is unique. I also enjoy decorating wooden shapes. Usually to create wallhangings.
It wasn't long before I was ready and looking for another challenge. Just what else could I try? One day I was visiting my husbands family when I noticed a cupboard full of unusual looking ornaments. Fascinated, I took a closer look, only to find out that the items were made from real eggs. Making things from an egg shell??? That I had to try. So my love of eggcrafting was started. I soon learnt how it was done, and happily spent hours cleaning, disinfecting, painting and decorating the shells. My favourite design to make is the baby cradle. I also enjoy making eggcraft cards. These always produce the "wow" factor as they are so unique and special. I am still trying new things and wanting to learn new skills. I recently picked up the knitting needles again and discovered that it isn't as difficult as I thought it was. I love making accessories - hats, scarves, gloves, bags etc. Again I still loathe the length of time I take to finish a project (hence going for the smaller makes...) but one day I will be brave and tackle a jumper or something - just watch out, it may be in a Christmas present coming to you soon *grin*.
The newest and latest love of
mine is Digital Art. I have had Paint Shop Pro for what seems
like forever, b Thank you for reading. I look forward to sharing more of my creations with you in the future. Why not join the brand new Live, Love and Laugh Flickr group at and share your own makes with us :o)
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Arts and Crafts
have been a huge love of mine for as long as I can remember.
As a little girl I can remember attempting to make cuddly toys from
bits of fabric and sewing thread, and I have fond memories of all
those primary school art sessions - anyone remember the pasta shapes
and gloopy white school glue? The bubble art made from paint
and washing up liquid? Butterfly pictures created by folding the wet
painted page in half? I used to make such a wonderful sticky
mess with that glue and the plastic spatulas. Come to think of
it, not much has changed...
Never one to be
satisfied of course, I was always on the lookout for something new
to try. Many people have made cards for friends and family to
mark special occasions - but when I tried it, I got the
papercrafting bug. I started off just making cards - mainly
using rubber stamps and paper layers. It got to the point
where I wasn't c
reating
for anyone in particular, but just for fun and to try out new
techniques and ideas. I started joining in with blog
challenges and learning more and more, gaining further inspiration
from hopping around the very talented crafty blogs out there.
ut
have only just started to learn what results can be achieved with
it. I am really enjoy manipulating photos and creating
completely unique works of art.
