rubykittyruby

  When you're a child and there was a Bank Holiday - which means a day off school - it always seemed to pour with rain, so you were stuck indoors and bored.  I've been largely indoors today, but haven't succumbed to boredom.  Instead I've been sewing a cover for my Ann Wood inspired stitchbook.  The 100 day challenge Ann hosts is nearing an end.  I finished the 19th page this morning, and in five days time that'll be the final page completed.  Then it's simply a matter of assembling the book.   I've already decided the 20th page will feature insects.  Bugs!  Not always my favourite creatures, but I bought a fun die cut with various beetle shapes on it, and made printing stamps of them.   This was something I only learnt how to do the other day, YouTube yet again teaching me a new technique.  Hobbycraft sells A4 sized pieces of craft foam with adhesive backing.  You use your Sissix machine, a die cut and a piece of thi...

  I don't know the name of these red berries, but the hedgerows and trees I see on my walks are looking stunning.  They're especially pretty when it's been raining and the twigs and berries have little shimmering droplets of  rainwater hanging from them.  I love the colours of autumn, all the russets and golds.   Today was a getting on with chores day, which meant laundry and tidying up.  Taking advantage of a mild dry day I finally got the last of the tulip bulbs and alliums planted in the back garden, and did a wee bit of tidying up.  (Through I'm conscious of leaving enough stalks and leaves for the wildlife to shelter in.)  I remembered to trundle the green recycling bin out of the front gate, ready for the binmen tomorrow to empty.  If I'm unsure whether it's a black or green collection scheduled, I could go online and check the council website, but it's easier to peer down the street at what our local binfluencer has put out. ...

It's a bitterly cold, grey, drizzly day here in West Yorkshire, though I'm curled up on the sofa with the heating on, so I can't complain.  Especially as the kettle's boiled for a cuppa and there's a supply of chocolate in the kitchen.  I'm trying to resist scoffing the lot!    Let's start off this blog post with a few photos of recent gell prints.  I've been layering up stencils and colours, trying to get some interesting effects.   It's all trial and error, and it's like every day's a school-day as you're constantly learning what works and what doesn't.   I love using the metallic paint colours, especially gold.  You get that shimmer and sparkle (though sadly not on this photo as the light wasn't good enough when I was taking the picture).  Apart from splashing the acrylic around I've also done my usual rounds of charity shops.  I nearly bought a black full length pure new wool coat, originally M&S, which was reduced to ...

  We've had a lot of drizzly, chilly days lately, which has been rubbish for getting the washing dry but good for staying in and getting on with crafty things.  Mainly printing, it's got to be said.  I joined Facebook a while ago, only to get access to useful posts on my slimming group's page.  But I've since discovered a few craft groups that look interesting.  I've just joined one for swapping ATCs - artist trading cards.  Not that I consider myself an artist, but I like splashing around the acrylic and messing about with stencils and my Gelli Arts plate.  So, I've been trying to make ATCs that're good enough to swap.  The only rule is that they're 3 and a half inches x 2 and a half.  I've cut rectangles from thin cardstock and tried to come up with ideas.  I like these red and pink ones, but they need something extra.  A focal point on each card, and I don't know what to include yet.  Maybe some text?   The Faceboo...

I haven't posted for a while, and can't give you any good reason for that.  Day to day life gets in the way sometimes. Odd jobs and irritating tasks need doing, and sometimes have to take precedent over taking pictures and wittering away on Blogger.   Well, we managed to miss the worst of Storm Babet in this part of Yorkshire.  The rain fell continuously for an entire day, and I discovered there was a tiny gap at the top of the sliding glass doors leading to the conservatory, and through that tiny gap rain dripped down for hours!  I can't complain though, can I?  I mean, all I needed to do was deal with several sheets of soggy newspaper and a few damp cloths.  Nothing compared to the poor people whose houses have flooded.  I can't imagine how awful that'd be.   Today's foggy.  It's nearly lunchtime and it's not fully lifted.  I've been indoors this morning, happily splashing acrylic paint around and producing yet more prints us...

  Can you believe it's halfway through the month already?  The days have certainly got colder, and my woolly jumpers are emerging from the wardrobe, along with gloves and a pink cashmere and silk pashmina picked up for about three quid in a charity shop.  One of my better finds.  I've got a few things to blog about today, so I'll crack on.  As it's Wednesday I'll review a craft book.  This time it's Maria Shell's 'Improv Patchwork.'  As you can see from the cover, it's subtitled 'Dynamic Quilts made with Line & Shape', and that's pretty much what the book showcases.   It's full of colour photographs, and if you're a fan of modern improv quilts, and stripes in particular, it's the book for you.  It's a comprehensive book, going into a good amount of detail, as can be seen from the contents pages above.  There are some craft books that're ideal for browsing.  Flicking through, looking longingly at glossy photogra...