Time for a change...

Since it's been more than a year since my last blog post here, I don't think it will come as any surprise that I am retiring this blog.  I have still been crafting but I've also been working, moving and having a baby.  Now that we're settled back in our home town, I'm keen to get back to blogging.

I've also decided to retire my other blog, The Happy Ranter.  Rather than concentrating each blog on only one aspect of my world, I'm going to combine the two.  The hope is that having a new, cohesive space will make it easier for me to maintain and update.

There will be an emphasis on the crafty side of things but there will also be more posts about daily life and other things that I become involved with.

At some point I will begin moving all of the posts from this blog to the new one but this space will remain up until I have done so.  I hope you'll come join me over at my new online home:  Telltale Thread!

Carolyn

Swap one - finished!

I finished up my fabric for the hand printed fabric swap (organized by Leslie at Mase & Vale).  I've never actually printed fabric before so this was a bit different for me.  I went with the carve a stamp, dip in fabric paint and stamp on fabric route and it came out pretty well.  At least I think it did.  Here's hoping my swap partners feel the same!

To start, I had to carve some stamps:

Then I had to print the fabric:

Then I had to let it all dry:

As you can see, I did two bird designs.  One I just free-handed and the other is based on an old-school swallow tattoo.  I actually used a vibrant red to print some of the fat quarters as well but didn't get a picture of that.  

Tomorrow these will be 'winging' (couldn't resist) their way to four separate swap partners.  I hope they like what I've done and I hope they each find some good use for the fabric.  Needless to say, I can't wait to see what I'll be receiving!

For my next trick:

I'm also part of an ornament swap, so I've got to get working on that.  I've still got about 2 weeks to figure out what I'm going to do, make it and send it off.  I'm having issues deciding on a medium.  Any suggestions?

P.S.  Five more days til Desert Bus!

And there it is again!

Can you spot my Space Invaders cushion?  Look at all that crafty goodness!  It all starts on November 18th and the donations are already almost at $6000.  Mark your calendars and be sure to check out Desert Bus!

On the agenda...

...I have to finish up my printed fat quarters for the Hand Printed Fabric swap.  Fortunately, I have a three day weekend coming up and will be able to have those done and ready to post.

I also have a Christmas ornament swap to do by the end of the month.  I have a few ideas floating around in my brain for that one, although I'm still trying to decide between shrink film, felt or paper.  Maybe a combo of all three?

I need to come up with a foolproof way of organizing all of my craft-related ideas.  At the moment, I have things jotted down in various journals/notebooks, notes in my phone, and numerous post-it notes.  There's got to be a better way!  I'm thinking I might make my own 'craft central' journal.  If I get around to that, I'll be sure to post pictures.

In other news, The Boy spotted my Space Invaders cushions twice in the Daily Diary video on the Desert Bus for Hope site.  You can check it out, too - just click the link to the site, hit play on the video and keep your eyes peeled.  It first shows up around minute 2:21 and a few seconds after that as well in close up!

An update and a finished piece!

I have quite decidedly fallen off the Blogtoberfest wagon but at least I'm willing to jump back on.  Even better, I finally finished my cross stitch for the Desert Bus for Hope.  It's been sent in the mail and I've confirmed it has been received by the good peeps in charge of the whole show.  And now for the great reveal.......


TA DA!

I decided to make a cushion, rather than framing the fabric.  I figured that would make mailing easier but would also make this a more functional piece.  I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out and The Boy has requested that I make one for our place.  I'm still a little cross eyed from the late night stitching but I'm sure I'll get back in a cross stitch groove again some time soon.

Fun details of this project - the Score <1> numbers are the date that Desert Bus starts this year (18 November), the Hi-Score is the amount the crew raised last year and those white letters and numbers on the invaders?  Those are stitched with DMC glow in the dark thread.  I wish I had a picture of how cool that looks but alas, you'll have to use your imagination.  

If you're interested in being the lucky owner of this one of kind cushion, be sure to check out Desert Bus on the 18th of November.  I'm not sure if they'll be using this for a give away or as part of one of the auctions but either way, you'll have to be in it to win it.  

It's the Canadian way...

...to say sorry so....Sorry!  I'm being the world's worst craft blogger at the moment as I try to a) wrap my head around training at a new job and b) finish my cross stitch for Desert Bus for Hope.  In the meantime, here's an echidna:

Photo by me!

Still stitching...

That is all.  I'm working like a demon to get this piece finished and then I'll be back with better updates.

On a side note, I finally found a couple more balls of wool that I've been needing to finish the granny square afghan I started, oh, LAST YEAR.  At least it's good weather here for cuddling up on the couch with a hook and some wool.