rubykittyruby

If, like me, you're not familiar with the work of artist Rex Ray then here's a brief intro via the wonders of YouTube.   Why am I showing you this?  Because, if you stopped by yesterday's post you'll have seen info about Abstractuary.  The arty prompt for 2nd February was Rex Ray, and I took inspiration from his collages and tried making my own.   Hmmm ... me and collages don't get along.  I tried cutting out painted papers and glueing 'em down, then switched to colouring pencils and tried that.  But I always end up with stuff that looks like a primary school kid made it.  So instead I took up needle and thread.   It's not finished yet, but it's a fabric postcard-sized bit of stitching, and is meant to represent one of his paper collages.  I think I'll eventually make a fabric book based on this Abstractuary challenge, and this will form one of the pages.   Today's prompt is 'print' and as I haven't hauled out the gel...

  The days are getting longer, and there are snowdrops in the garden.  I'm on day 13 of the Ann Wood stitchbook challenge, and still enjoying myself. I try to get my minimum of 15 minutes sewing done after breakfast, while I'm full of porridge and feeling optimistic about the day ahead.  I'm also still trying, and not particularly succeeding with making mini collages.   I did remember I'd got a stack of printing stamps and ink pads, which has helped.  My problem with crafty supplies is that if I put 'em away in the drawer or cupboard, I forget about them.  Out of sight, out of mind. So those stamps and ink pads went right out of my head for ages, until that doh! moment when I thought, 'Yup, they'd be useful for a collage'.  In fact, I got so enthusiastic about stamping I used them on fabric too.   Before Christmas I'd bought about a dozen white cotton napkins from my local charity shop, and used one to print on.  I don't know how pr...

Storm Eowyn's here, despite the deceptively clear blue sky and sunshine.  Thankfully it's not raining in my part of Yorkshire, but the wind's strong enough to be whoosing through the branches of trees in nearby gardens.  Moving their bare branches to and fro like they're in a washing machine on spin cycle.  I'll venture out later in the day when it's died down.  If I don't stretch my legs for a stroll, however brief, I feel cooped up, so I'll wander to the Co-op for milk and veggies.  Not the most exciting outing, but it'll burn off a few calories, won't it? In the meantime I've being stitching on page two of Ann Wood's 100 stitchbook challenge.  It's got very blingy.  There's a shisha mirror, a boho style bead and a shiny bit of pleated trimming.  I've still two days left to fully complete this page, so I've no idea what else I can squish in there.   Doing this stitching challenge has made me realise how I'm happy to ...

These are a few of the many paper flowers I've been making, it's quite addictive.  I've now moved on to leaves in autumnal colours, which generated this seasonal collage.  I cut leaf shapes out of gell prints, picking out orange and brown shades, then drew on them with a white Posca-style paint pen.  (It's not actually a Posca pen, but a cheaper brand.  2 black pens and 2 white from 'The Works' for a mere three quid.)  I used a verse from John Keats 'Ode to Autumn' as what could be more appropriate for this time of year?   I hope Storm Ciaran hasn't done any damage to your home or neighbourhood.  Just been watching the news and it's been scary for those further south.  Houses ruined, roofs ripped off.  The power of Nature really is something to behold, isn't it?    

Hello from sunny Yorkshire.  I'm here with my Wednesday - uhm, more like Thursday - craft book review, plus some general wittering-on about crafty type stuff.  I've been overdosing too much on news lately, and what's coming out of the Middle East is horrendous, truly truly shocking.  Meaning it's more important than ever for us to prioritise good mental health.  That can mean a lot of things.  One of which is making time for yourself, doing what brings you joy or peacefulness or respite from such grim reality.  That time might be spent gardening or painting, knitting, embroidering, going for country walks, listening to music, doing yoga, whatever you choose. Craft kind of does that for me, along with being outdoors - especially when a day's bright and blue sky - and writing fiction.  (Even when that fiction doesn't get anywhere near being published.  Didn't get further than the longlist of the HWA competition.  Oh well, never mind.  At l...