Craft Review: Weeks 32, 33, 34, 35 : Sunday 29th July -Saturday 25th August

Wow. It would appear that I haven't done a Review in 4 weeks... THAT'S BAD!

 

Although, I won't count the last two weeks. I've been entertaining friends, and I've been to Sicily. That deserves some slack, right?

 

But anyway, this is what I have done in my absence:

 

I knitted a hat and I'm just finishing the scarf, both for my sister for Christmas....

 

More of My Ravenclaw Scarf - Less than 100 rows to go!

 

Innocent Smoothie hats - Post to follow....

I did make a Birthday card, and knit a cherry blossom brooch and bracelet for a friend, but I forgot to take a picture of it....

 

A Weasley Jumper Christmas Ornament for Mum....
 

 

A Make-up bag for my sister for Christmas, which I will fill with some goodies from Boots most likely....

 

 

I also missed this blog's first anniversary... 15th August, as I was away in Sicily.... But, I'm nearing my 100th post, so I'll celebrate that instead....

 

Oh, and just in case anyone missed - I got an A in Art! All of that hard work paid off! Now it's just off to A-Level in September... Just over a week to go now.... Panic!

Craft Review: Week 31: Sunday 22nd July - Saturday 28th July

This week's been a good one in my opinion... I got rather a lot done!

I also participated in my first Creatives Unite, a brilliant idea that makes a crafter commit to at least one un-interrupted hour of craft between 9pm and 10pmon a Thursday Evening. Please, check out Anna's blog, she's amazing.
Above is what I made: two felt hearts. The grey one is a design I've used before, but the red and green one I created to represent a more contemporary Christmas feel. This is because I'm starting my Christmas stuff now. Call me crazy,but it's always worked before.

Speaking of Christmas, take a look at these two! My first Christmas Cards of the year... I want to give them to my Grandma to use,as I myself am not particularly religious person. I did, however,love painting the watercolour background to each. In a way, these cards sum up what I enjoy, and what I'm good at.

Here is a painting I did one afternoon when it was warm. It has no purpose, as of yet, but I'm fairly pleased with it, especially the light and the shadow across the body of the shoe.

This, you have already seen. For my mama, the tutorial is here.

And this is another thing I finished, which now features prominently, my blog logo. I am very pleased with it.

So, that's all for this week... Next weekend, I'm away watching the Olympics! So that should be fun... The craft review will most likely be a bit later,and then in a fortnight, I leave for Holiday.But,don't worry, I'm setting up a load of schedule posts to carry this blog through until I get back...

Toodle Pip!

If I could, I would..... Thank Everyone for 10,000 Page Views!

..... But I don't know who you are. Oh well.

So,Yes. Last night, I went to sleep, and awoke to find that the toll had ticked over just enough...

This, is mainly due to CraftGawker, an absolutely brilliant site to drool over amazing art and gorgeous craft projects.

So, Here are the posts you, the viewers have been loving the most:

Skye

Felt Hearts

Allan

Henry Moore

Hana

 I would once again like to say Thank you. I know my blog isn't like others... I don't advertise, I don't want to make money from it. It makes me feel like I've got someone to share my journey with, no matter where it's going. You don't know it,but I had a rough time back in Autumn last year. The development of this blog, and the way it has changed,and changed me, I owe entirely to those little ticking pageview numbers.

Thank you

Rachel

Craft Review: Weeks 29 & 30: Sunday 8th July - Saturday 21st July

Well, the last two weeks have been a bit hectic.... But don't worry! I have a planned tutorial coming up, and I plan to start my Christmas cards, and making things for a Christmas fair... So, it should all be good!

But, here's what I've been up to over the last two weeks...

I made a simple envelope red cushion cover, I'm just adding the finishing touches now...

I made a card for corresponding with my friend up in Yorkshire... I far prefer sending post as opposed to sending e-mails... as it generally means that they have to reply using post as well. Which is good, as I like getting mail. Plus,this is actually a stamp that she gave me for my birthday,so I thought it would be a good idea to send her one of its products...

This is a very bad photo of another square for my Harry Potter blanket. It's the Sorting hat, or supposedly. It's a very dark brown, so it doesn't show up very well.... I hope to get some more squares done at some point...

Here is a ruffle flower brooch in teal... I found some glittery net, which I'd forgotten about, and I thought this was the perfect project.... a little bit of prettiness

I then started to make a Weasley jumper Decoration for my Mum..... I just need to sew on the other sleeve, and a loop to hang it from....This is hopefully for the beginning of advent, as a pre-Christmas present. I also plan to do one for my sister... Hers will be in a horrid shade of fuchsia pink...

Then over the last week, I had lots of fun painting my room... It's ok, but I thought it would be paler... But it's ok... Photos to follow at a later date when I have sorted out the carnage left behind...

And then, on Saturday, I took the train dressed as a Hermione Granger look-alike for the launch of the summer reading challenge at the library where I volunteer.

Always fun to watch the confused faces of other passengers..

Craft Review: Week 28: Sunday 1st July - Saturday 7th July

A pretty boring week, at least, not one that I want to think about.

I made a skirt! Intermittently.... I still need to hem it...
It looks like a WWII Schoolgirl, no?

I began to 'de-clutter' my room (aka, moving junk from one corner of the room to another).

 The tennis was ok, but in both of the finals, the one I rooted for did not win...

Source

I made some cheese straws....

And then I went to prom for what I would call a mediocre time, and not really worth the bribe of ice cream.

And, on top of it all, I've lost my camera lead.
*Update: I stole one from the cable drawer.I don't even know what it's meant to belong to....*

So yeah. It's been a bad week for me.

Wow, I even sound depressed in writing.....

Craft Review: Week 27: Sunday 24th July- Saturday 30th July

Here we go... Another week gone by... ah, shame. This week though, mother started leaving me jobs and chores to do.... I've put the washing on now so many times, it's unbelievable! But here is what I managed to squeeze in in my spare time...

Lovely little Radar.... You've seen him before....

This Egyptian Eye-Thing Painting for my sister (she's the one who knows too much about the Egyptians, I have absolutely no clue. I just typed something into google and this idea came up)

It's painted with both acrylics and watercolours,and I'm quite pleased with the outcome.

I also painted my mama this lily. Lily's are her favourite  flower, and I can understand why.I had a bit of trouble trying to decide how to outline the petals, but I settled on silver ink pen. It looks ok, doesn't it?
Painting in acrylic and watercolour,with pen as well.

I also knitted a few more rows of my Ravenclaw scarf, took some photographs, and made some lovely cookies from a recipe on DeerLittleFawn's blog. Recipe here. I definitely recommend them, my friends devoured them in seconds. Seal of approval, I'd say!

Toodle Pip!

Craft Review: Weeks 25 & 26: Sunday 10th July - Saturday 23rd July

I seem to be forever apologising here.... But, yet again, I skipped last weeks review and have to bunch it together here.

On the upside, all exams are now finished, I am on leave, the weather is picking up and I have practically nothing to do.

Lots of crafting opportunities.

Week 25, my main craft venture was to make Thank You cards for my favourite teachers. I have always done this, and I felt it necessary to thank and say goodbye to those I have liked the most (so, my french teacher I've pretty much ignored for the past month as I really hated her).

I made Four Cards.

One for my Biology teacher, who is a lovely person, I just hate biology. She's been very supportive, and I think I will miss her most.

One for my Art Teacher, also very supportive, and very kind generally. She's been very helpful the past two years also.

This one is for my English Teacher/Form Tutor. She's a very interesting person, and as crazy as a box of frogs.... instantly likable.

Another thing all three of the above have in common is that they each inspired a character in my story...

Lastly, my Geography Teacher, who was a family friend. She eventually got used to me knowing all of the answers...

This week I added 16 rows to my Ravenclaw scarf. I figured out that that means I have 156 rows left. I should finish before Christmas......

I also cut out from the pattern and sewed the side seams for a skirt... Looking at it now, I realise it looks slightly 1940's schoolgirl-ish. I think it's cool.

Hopefully I'll have a more productive week this week, in my first full week of freedom....

Craft Review: Week 24: Sunday 3rd June - Saturday 9th June

This week, I did a lot of revision for my remaining exams. In less than a week and a half, I'll be free of them and school for summer.

But, to break up the time, I did some sewing; a change from my painting. And I am very pleased with the results.

This one's been in the pipelines for a while. I found some beautiful white netting with silver sparkles and knew it had to be used for this. The centre is also one of my favourite colours, so I'm really pleased. This is a ruffled flower brooch, I think originally taken from the book '20 Fabric Flowers'.

Here is another of my Felt Hearts. I love the ribbon on this, I got it around a present and it was a real wrench to use it. And, actually, to give away. This is going to my Art Teacher, it's the sort of quaint little colours and thing that she would like...

I'm actually unsure why i made this one. I don't know anybody who likes that kind of pink, nor anyone I could randomly give it to... I think it was just to use up the fabric because I don't like it.
Ah, dear.... Still. It's pretty, I guess...

Finally, I started some sketching for a Crafty-Ravenclaw Crest. I figured that my blog is just boring and needs a little something to brighten it up...

Toodle pip!

Craft Review: Week 23: Sunday 29th May - Saturday 2nd June (and a Thank You)

Tada! We're back, but with a different format...

I'm not going to do structured days anymore... I'm just going to gather together everything from the week and show them.

I'm also not going to be as strict on my Resolution as I was before; as long as I get one crafty project done a week, I think I'll be happy. This is thanks to Deer Little Fawn, and her wonderful comments in my Wednesday Recap. Please, go and check out her blog, her paintings are gorgeous, and she's a lovely person.

So, without further ado, here is what I did Last week.

Hana, as seen in a previous post. She is definitely one of my favourite characters, and indeed, my favourite painting of my characters that I have done so far.

And this.... may look familiar. I did the stitching a few months back. I've spent ages on this, and I think I've finally reached a point where it's acceptable. Beneath this, there are layers and layers and layers of watercolour washes, pencil lines, other swirls.... If anyone has any ideas as to what could make it look a bit better, I'm willing and open for suggestions. Just add a comment below.

It has struck me how recently I've only been painting, rather than drawing or knitting or sewing.... I'd like to change that (hopefully). In just over a fortnight, my Exams will be finished, and I will be free! But, until then, I need something to keep me sane as I revise.. watch this space!



Craft Review: Weeks 18 and 19: Sunday 22nd April - Saturday 5th May

I first of all apologise for not doing this last week as I was ill and spent the whole day sleeping in front of the television, watching films. Not that I'm complaining. I became addicted to Marvel films, but mum won't let me go and see The Avengers because my exams are soon. As in, I have 8 days.

That's scary.

This has occurred before, so I will accumulate a list of what I've done mostly in the past two weeks.

1. Art Exam. Completely and utterly. That sufficed me up until the Thursday of the first week. Mind you, I then switched back to obsessing over my coursework.... Which is due in this Friday. Panic.
2. I made my best friend a birthday card (rushed) and I didn't get round to taking a photo of it.... It involved a Ravenclaw scarf, painting, Elf Ears, R2D2 and Firnen the dragon from the Inheritance Series. And that was one of the more normal ones I've made for her.
3. I made one of my owls, for another person's birthday.... There are a lot of birthdays in May

4.   I painted Kate! I probably should get round to writing some more of that story, or I'll end up losing it...





5.   I knitted a few rows of my Ravenclaw Scarf, but not enough to make a substantial impact....


6.   I made fudge with a suspicious recipe that included melting marshmallows at a sleepover... Update may follow!!!


I do apologise, but that time of year has arrived. Exams.

Craft Review: Week 16: Sunday 8th April - Saturday 14th April

I had a bad day yesterday.

Yeah.

That's my only excuse for not posting this yesterday.

Well.

Not entirely.

But I will speak of that later.

I did far too much art this week - I was meant to be off school, yet I still have this inexplicable urge to work my nose to the grindstone. It may have something to do with the fact that my exam is ONE WEEK AWAY and I am FREAKING OUT. If I have not mentioned it, I assure you. I did something every.single.day.

Sunday

I made some cards for the honesty box I have at my mum's work... I can't remember whether I actually took a photo of them... I don't think I did. They had pretty silver buttons on them, and the colours were white and pale blue.

Monday

I finished crochet-ing that bracelet! It looks quite nice, but I'm going to save it until someones birthday is sprung on me from out of the blue. I'm sure there are some of them coming up soon....

Tuesday

I went into school today and did some printing, some clay and some painting. All for my exam.

I hate clay.

Wednesday

I did not knot my two other house-scarf squares, but I did knit two thirds of a sorting hat square, which I will show you once finished.

Thursday

I made this pink.... thing..... for my sister. Far too much pink for my liking. Far too much.

Friday

Pencils, Pastels, Split pins.... you name it, I had it. In a bumper art session that left me exhausted.

Saturday

I painted Skye!

I do think she's my favourite.

Now.

My other reason for not posting yesterday was this.

and this.

Two AMAZNG Books - Not what I would usually read, but they kept me hanging on so badly. They were brilliant. I will say absolutely nothing about the covers.... I fume over ones with photos and these are no exception. I just blatently ignored it and made my own concoction of character.

READ THEM.

They're good.

Craft Review: Week 15: Sunday 1st April - Saturday 7th April

As  it is half term, I have had plenty of time to do art and craft. Admittedly, an awful lot of that was taken up by my Art Exam prep, which I have been annotating faithfully, as well as adding the experiments for at least another 6 pages in my book (A3). I haven't done much of my other work though yet, so I'm going to have to try and get that done this week....

Sunday

I made two more hearts. These are not designed to specifically given, but I am beginning to build up my stocks as my Mum says she might let me have a stall at her school's summer fair, to sell my crafts. I'm awfully excited, as it would mean I would have something to prepare for after my exams, and an easy way for me to earn a little bit more money. It's a win-win situation!

If anyone has any tips or tricks they'd like to share, or even any ideas for what I should sell, please comment and tell me!

These hearts are very simple to make, and I've re-adjusted the pattern from the book 'Kirstie Allsopp Craft'. These ones skip out beads and nonsense, and look far more rustic with shorter tails and a knot. Once I've assembled all of the equipment, it takes me only about 5-10 minutes to assemble them, and they really are gorgeous. Perhaps I shall share a pattern later...

Monday

On Monday, I painted little Ida... I love that shade of blue...

Tuesday

I finished the last few rows of My second Fluffy Buckbeak Scarf, and I then spent the entire day doing my Art Exam Prep. I even got my acrylic paints out to do a fair few studies. I love this project so much, but  the exam is looming and I'm beginning to panic...

Wednesday

I knitted another square for My (long-neglected) Harry Potter Blanket! This is a Gryffindor House Scarf Square, and it's a really simple pattern, which I will share when I have finished all 4 of them.

Thursday

I spent the morning knitting, and the afternoon painting. I knitted a fair few more rows of my Ravenclaw scarf, my faithful WIP, and then I painted Erick. Not bad for a day's work in my opinion. 

Friday

Today, twas another art day. But I forced myself (it's such a strain... *sarcasm*) to knit another Hogwarts Scarf Square for my Harry Potter blanket. I hope to do Slytherin and Ravenclaw next week, and perhaps even a couple more, of various descriptions.

Saturday

I had my first experiment with crochet today! And I have to say, it's looking rather successful. It took me a while to to figure out how it works, I'm completely self-taught here, except for the tutorial I was basing it on, and I think I'm beginning to get the hang of it. I chose to experiment here, because I have lots of friends who like bracelets, and I don't, and this seemed a nice way to get rid of the bracelets without making it look too obvious.