Wednesday 25 September 2013

WOYWW - Old Mother Hubbard?

Hello and welcome, visitors to Magpieheaven, where life is busy with my tutoring starting again and the cupboards are not bare exactly  - but - a mystery picture for you: what are these?

 They are dinky little models of what our cupboard doors will look like, evidence that they are an actual work in progress now!!! Kevin brought them over last Saturday evening and Mr Magpie forgot to tell me until last Monday. They measure 6 by 14 cm and I reckon they'd make a nice little diptych with some hinges on them!  Last Sunday I left my unfinished kitchen behind me, spread my wings and fluttered by Ally Pally! I met some lovely crafters there and spent lots of money - ah well, it was my birthday treat! Since then I've been playing with my stash when I should have been reading 'King Lear' and 'Jane Eyre' for my tutoring! I loved the chipboard flowers on the Paper Artsy stand at Ally Pally; but my money ran out before I could buy any. I've been trying to improvise! I'll show you an idea I had - possibly for a Christmas decoration -  in a minute. First I have to say if you want to know the meaning of this blogpost title and to join in with the best bloghop around hosted by the incomparable Julia Dunnit then click HERE and head over to The Stamping Ground. I will try to be brief, as I'm sure you'll all be leaping from blog to blog, eager to see other desks. I was lucky enough to get Happy Mail from dear Darnell on Tuesday! She took note of a comment I made on her blog about loving Moons with Faces and she sent me these beautifully stamped images to use! Thank You, Darnell for your generosity! I'll give them a good home! They are lovely!
Today I want to start another homemade book, so I've got out my waxed thread, my little pack of canvasses for the covers and some sketch books for the pages. My daughter has asked for one for her birthday on October 4th so I have to get busy. I have told myself I'll do a selection for Christmas gifts. Is this too ambitious??? Everything looks neat and tidy because I have to get things out as I need them and then put them away again, but once I get started there will be quite a mess and it will spread everywhere. My dining table is speckled with Frescos - gives a whole new meaning to dining 'Al fresco' I suppose! Maybe this time next year I'll be in my very own summerhouse in the garden!
Here is one of my experimental flowers. I made it with heavy white card out of a TH Tattered Floral, painted with one of the new Paper Artsy blues. The underlayer is some waxed paper also from PaperArtsy. The image stamped in the middle is from a Lynn Perrella plate and it's coloured with Portfolio Pastels mixed with Glossy Accents. Here is what it looks like on the reverse side.
I stuck the flower onto the bookplate from Tim Holtz's tag die and added another little flowery centre, I reckon the addition of some wings might suggest an angel and it could go on the Christmas tree. The flower is made of computer paper scrumpled, spritzed and then swiped through distress inks and when dry, dusted with Treasure Gold. This black floral fabric gave me the idea for maybe creating these flowers from linen, die-cut and stamped and painted with Frescos and fabric medium then stitched onto this fabric for a  project. What do you think?

 Oh dear, not enough hours in a day! That reminds me I must get those wings into gear and visit some crafty blogs to see what's on their work benches today! Thank you so much for dropping by. It's always a pleasure to read your comments - they brighten up my day!

36 comments:

  1. Beautiful work. I so nice to get happy mail. happy crafting #5

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  2. I think those mini doors would be awesome as a diptych! Your angel flowers are beautiful, they'd make lovely decorations :-)
    Hugs, LLJ 33 xx

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  3. Those flowers are beautiful, you are so clever I couldn't imagine doing something like that. Tiny doors are better than no doors at all, at least you have something. They would make a great diptych.
    Have a great week.
    Von #41

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  4. Julie Ann, that decoration is just fabulous!!! What a talent... Your little doors are great too, hope the big ones arrive soon now... (really don't want to have to come good on my rash offer..) so I can't wait to see what you do with the doors... perhaps you could replicate whatever, on the full sized ones too.... Have a great week. Helen 14 (and thanks for already stopping by)

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  5. Beautiful project and to think it started as some plain old computer paper! You have done a really lovely job. I keep hearing about Treasure Gold I wonder if it is the same as our Rub & Buff.?
    Sandra @12

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  6. Looks like you have been busy and those doors are just crying out to be altered.

    Thanks for sharing and have a great week.

    Hugs Candace
    #36

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  7. Love those flowers, what a clever idea!
    Bishopsmate #45

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  8. Oh my, these are just gorgeous!! What a creative touch you have!

    Blessings!
    Kelly #43

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  9. Really enjoyed your show and tell today. Love those flowers.
    Hugs,
    A x # 50

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  10. Super experimental flowers, can't wait to see the book and thanks for visiting me BJ#26

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  11. Oh, that flower face is fantastic - and the garland you have made is WOW. Yes, in fabric and stitched on black fabric that would be awesome. I'm not that much of a pink fan but I love that pink flower and it looks so right against the black. Oh please do some and then show us so I can get a bright shade of green (with envy).
    Hugs, Neet xx 11 (thanks for your earlier visit) xx

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  12. Oh my goodness, your flower is simply lovely. As for the cupboard doors, we were with you on altering them! Wish we'd made it to Ally Pally, one year maybe!

    The bears @#79

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  13. Hey My sweet Cuz, you are such a brilliant little Magpie, that flower beginning with computer paper, GORGEOUS, it would make a fabulous Christmas ornament. Miss Darnell is such a sweet and generous Lady and a fabulous card maker, those Moon face are beautiful.. Now those 2 lovely pieces of wood, you will make them into something fabulous that I'm sure can't wait to see, I had to stop in before I head out the door, have a wonderful day, thanks for stopping by (((( BIG HUGS )))))..

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  14. Your flowers are adorable! Happy mail is the best. Thanks for taking a peek at my dollhouse today! (It's new territory, so it's good to have positive support) Happy WOYWW! Sandy Leigh #88

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  15. I bet the next time we see those doors they will have gotten a fabulous makeover!

    I'm glad you didn't buy flowers because there is no way they could compare with this amazing beauty!! How exquisite!

    Hope your Wednesday is absolutely wonderful!!

    Lynn #20

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  16. Hi Julie Ann - GORGEOUS flower and what a clever workaround - I like! Your dinky doors will make a great altered project - looking forward to it already. Have a great week MMx #48

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  17. Love your flowers!
    thanks for visiting and the snoop around.
    robyn 13

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  18. Great happy mail and such a wonderful flower! Looks like you had fun with your birthday present =)
    Happy WOYWW 225 and I wish you a wonderful week.
    xx Monique #94

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  19. I've had happy mail from Darnell too, she's nothing if not sweet and generous. Love the clever flower, really great and the little doors can definitely become crafty little doors too! I scrolled down to your Ally Pally post, I think you were very restrained! Have fun playing!

    Hugs
    Brenda 1

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  20. Hey Julie Ann thanks for swinging by earlier..Ha ha I loved running up the steps, it was fun! How lovely to get such a beautiful package in the mail and your flower project is gorgeous..would look lovely in my craft room :) Cx #32

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  21. Your work is lush and George S, Julie Ann!! Oh, to have a look around your brain sometime would be fabulous, although I'm sure it would wear me out. You are a magpie and an energizer bunny, my girl! I'm glad the moons finally got made by that nonenergizer bunny, Darnell, hee! Enjoy them and enjoy all your new goodies from Ally Pally! I'm delighted you remembered LITS and gave yourself lots of birthday treats!! Happy WOYWW, have a wonderful week, and thanks for the visit to me! Darnell #22

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  22. Hi Julie Ann,

    I love your take on the flowers - very pretty! Hmmm, I don't know what a diptych is. Can you please explain?

    Isn't Darnell nice! Love that moon!

    Happy WOYWW
    Kay (25)

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  23. Such cute little doors, you must make something with them in the end Lx

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  24. I think you are quite creative and innovative and that's what good artists are!
    Sandy

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  25. Fabulous flowers - may give that a try - I do love my tattered florals! Not been very productive today as we nipped off to the cinema to see "Rush" - hubby's choice but I quite enjoyed it! Come on Kevin!!! Chrisx ps Thanks for visiting

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  26. I don't know why but I'm tired now after reading your post. I think you wore me out! I thought the mystery item was slide mounts at first for microscope slides that were all the rage for awhile there. I love your tattered flower and how it is decorated both front and back.

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  27. Oh WOW...love the flowers, what a great idea. Good to see progress on the door front but it does seem a shame not to craft with them!! Ally Pally was great, looking forward to April. Hugs. Pam#34

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  28. We all see things so differently huh - I saw bases for projects when I looked at the cupboard door samples...you see hangings..fascinating. Your flower is a beauty - no need to buy any then!

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  29. I so love your flowers they are amazing, I have gone to leave a message on your blog many times over and been called away, Sorry I am returning so late as I am in Grandfinal week and it is hell with work.

    Belated WOYWW greetings
    Eliza & Yoda 30

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  30. DIY is not something we do, we just arent that crafty lol. Love that moon stamp. My daughter ate her camera cake I believe, anyway she took it home
    Bridget #78

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  31. it will be exciting to have the new cupboards in1 love the moon/cloud stamp! Happy WOYWW! Lindsay #28

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  32. Lovely flower piece. Very creative and I'm imagining multiple ways I'd use them. How sweet of Darnell to send you happy mail. We really should do that with everyone more often.

    Yeah on the cabinet doors! You know I've been drooling over this project for months right along with you. Someday I'll have my own piece of heaven to play in. For now, it's back to the dungeon I go! Creative Blessings! Kelly #15

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  33. Hi Julie Ann, Love your paperartsy flowers there look great. I went to ally pally on the saturday and bought loads of stuff from the paperartsy stand :)

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  34. What beautiful and elegant those flowers are! I love the flowing flowers lines and colors.
    It look like Japanese kimono pattern.I am looking forward to your post.
    Thank you for your nice comment.

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  35. Hi Julie. Thank you for stopping by my blog earlier. In answer to your question, minions are little characters in the movie(s) Despicable Me and Despicable Me 2. They are little yellow guys. :-) If you haven't seen the movie Despicable Me you should rent it - it is a cute member. April #21

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  36. Lucky you, happy mail! Mini doors to alter..neat. Now for the normal sized doors? Love the flower idea! Thanks for the earlier visit! Happy WOYWW a few days late! Nan G #7

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