BUONPOMERIGGIO.

I'm learning Italian and find all sorts of ways to put it into practice. Bounpomeriggio means good-afternoon. I love the way Italians are so expressive.
I know I will never get it just right but I'm having fun just learning.
I've always had an interest in learning Italian and when I read of a class at a local Community Centre, I couldn't wait to get there. Mind you, I'm driving everyone mad with my fractured attempts at the words I have learnt.

I want to say "benvenuto" or welcome to new follower, Jean of Jean Day Miniatures. I'm so pleased that you have joined my little blog. I encourage each of you to visit Jean's blog and web-site but be warned, you will spend quite a long time there as her work is stunning!

I am so tired of this hot weather, just hoping for cooler nights at least so we can get a few hours sleep. Oh well, it's a good excuse to sit at the computer saying "ciao" to each of you or looking in Ancestry to find new relatives.  My tree is growing almost every day. You can read more about my journey on my other blog, Life's Good.

Buster says hello too, he's laying right next to me under the ceiling fan.

Blessings,
Vicki.

HELLO AGAIN.

 I feel very sad because I haven't kept up with regular posts. There was a lot happening here in the last couple of months of 2012. Some happy and some not. Christmas was enjoyable though, spent with family on two separate days. It's difficult to fit everyone in because we all have such full lives and many relatives to catch up with!

 I wanted to show you some of the things I've been making lately. I've given my Cuttlebug a good work-out, it's one of the best craft "machines" that I have ever bought. So versatile too.
 Our Probus craft group ended last year with a lovely day finishing off a milk bottle top covered Christmas tree. I can't show you a photo of it as all my decorations have been safely packed away.

We made a start this year with me showing the members how to make a burnt edge fabric brooch. These are six that I've made so far and I will make more because I've been invited to demonstrate the process to another craft group in a couple of weeks.

I enjoyed doing the stitched canvas items, I particularly like the cross in the pocket. It also has a printed prayer that goes inside, you can keep it in your purse or bag.

We also made zipper brooches one day. I'm not happy with mine and don't know if I will make any more. You know how some crafts just grab you and others don't?

I gave this card to a dear friend for her 90th birthday, she loved it. One of my favorite dies is the rolled rose.
I could make a whole flower bed with it!!

More rolled roses. This one was given to friends for their 50th wedding anniversary.

Some of the Christmas cards from last year.  I had recently bought the "Lovely as a Tree' stamp set from Stampin Up. Another versatile craft item to wear out!

 I made the tree and wreath cards by punching out LOT"S of little leaf shapes and gluing them down. It looked really effective.

Apart from all this crafting, I've been spending lot's of time with my little dog, Buster. He's found a permanent place in our hearts and when we take him for a walk, he just loves it if people stop and pat him. He's got the sweetest personality.

I hope you haven't forgotten me,  'till next time,
Blessings,
 Vicki.

SAY HELLO TO BUSTER.

I want to introduce you to our dear little dog, Buster. He's a five year old Maltalier which is a Maltese Terrier/Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.  I just got him today. His owner wasn't able to keep him and we have missed having a dog in our family.

 

He's the most affectionate, funny little dog and has settled in very well so far.  One of my cats, Harry seems to like (or tolerate) him but my other cat Bella isn't at all happy. Her inquisitive nature will get the better of her before long though.

I knew that one day a dog in need of a home would find his way to our house and heart and Buster is just the dog I have been praying for.  He's beautiful don't you think?

I will post some more photo's later. He loves attention and tummy rubs and he will get plenty of both in our family.

 

Blessings,

Vicki.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GOOD-BYE TO MY DEAR LITTLE DOG.

I just wanted to let you know that my sweet little dog Nicholas went to sleep on July 2nd.
I'm so sad and lonely without him but thankful that I have my two beautiful cats to love and cuddle.
I have written more about it on my other blog, LIFE'S GOOD, plus some photo's. I do hope you will read what I have written about Nick, he was the sweetest little friend and everyone who knew him misses him too.
If you are the fortunate owner of a pet or pets, give them an extra hug because they are a blessing in our lives.
Hugs,
Vicki xx

I'VE FALLEN IN LOVE.

No, dear friends, I am not having an affair,(well perhaps that's not exactly true).  After much thought and looking on the internet, I have bought a Cuttlebug and I just LOVE IT!!
My fiend Sandie from Scrappy Snippets has one. I had been inspired by some of the lovely cards on her blog. Also the wonderful ideas online really got me excited me so I decided that I couldn't possibly live much longer without  one myself.

I can't believe just how versatile these machines are.  With just a few embossing folders and dies you can make such lovely cards.  Of course there are way too many to choose from and the temptation to spend the grocery money is quite easy. I'm only joking!  I usually look on Ebay for the "buy it now and free post listings but have also purchased a couple of items from online stores.

 

These are only first attempts on inexpensive cards with just the papers I found in my stash. When I improve, I will buy more expensive cards, the finished article always turns out better if you use good quality papers. I have also made two of the "tag" shapes by hand drawing the shape on paper, gluing it on thin perspex (I used the perspex from the pack that the dies came in) and carefully cutting it out. Then it's easy to draw around the shape on the back of your chosen paper with a pencil and cut it out. That's how I made the tag in the card above.

I was quite happy with this black and white card. I have three sympathy cards also but they aren't finished yet.  I'ts hard to see but I've put some tiny red gems on the tag and the flourish.  I'm still mastering the art of  very gently sticking down the "flourish" die-cuts. They are so small and delicate, I love them.

A QUICK HELLO

I have just posted an update on my other blog,  Life's Good and though I should say hello here as well.

My time has been taken up in recent weeks with family and friends.
 My little dog Nicholas had a large cancerous lump removed recently and he's now fit and well thankfully, but it was a very worrying time for us and the nursing care he needed when he came home kept me busy.

I have also recently lost a dear friend. Ruth was a special person and we all miss her so much.  It's hard to believe that we won't see her again.

I have been busy with a variety of crafts but don't have any photo's organised yet.  ( Note to self,  get them sorted out)  I never seem to have enough hours in the day or am I just dis-organised?

I bought a Cuttlebug machine just a few days ago.  It hasn't arrived yet but some of the dies and embossing folders that I also ordered are here so I'm really looking forward to playing with it.  I've looked at so many ideas on the internet that I might have to stay up all night to try all the lovely projects!

A warm welcome to new friends who have joined  recently.  I promise to at least try and say hello more often.

Blessings,
Vicki xx

ANOTHER NEW FRIEND.

Goodness things work fast in blogland.  No sooner had I welcomed three new members on my other blog,  Life's Good,  but I see that Helen has also joined me here so a warm welcome to you and I hope you like finding out a bit more about me and my other interests.  There's always something new to discover and try out so there will be plenty to find out about here
.
Take care,

Vicki x

MY PORCELAIN BABIES.

Firstly, a warm welcome to two new followers Shez and Cheryll.  I was very happy to meet Shez last Sunday at the Embroidery exhibition here in Ballarat. We discovered that we are "neighbors" living only about 30 minutes from each other!  I've made some lovely blog friends and hope to make some more.

I wanted to show you some of the porcelain dolls that I used to make a few years ago.
 I belonged to a group where the lady poured the molds then we did the rest. Sanding, painting, wigging eye-lashes etc then we made the outfits to dress them in.  I loved making them but have to confess that I have several dolls still in pieces awaiting stringing and dressing. My excuse is that I have nowhere safe to display them as my cat Harry would knock them down, but to be honest, I just haven't got around to finishing them!

This is Aaron.  He's life size and has porcelain head and hands and a soft body.  I love his face.

This is Sugar Britches. She also has porcelain head and hands. I pinned  my daughter's baby bracelet and name brooch on her dress.  Isn't she beautiful?

These are six sweet little boys and girls.  They each fit easily into the palm of my hand.

Here is one of my Christmas angels. He hangs on the wall above my computer so I can see him each day.

Aren't these little angels sweet?  They also hang on a wall all year.  They are too pretty to put away  with the decorations.   I promise to show you more of my porcelain family in the future.

Blessings to you all,

Vicki x

SMALL STITCHED CUSHIONS.

I really loved making theses little stitchery cushions.  They were thank-you gifts that I gave to each of the ladies on my Probus club committee.  The last committee meeting for our year ( in Probus) is always a lunch and the president presents the gifts to her hard-working group of ladies.  Our club is ladies only, there are 89 of us and a fantastic group too!  It's been so much fun and very satisfying to be the president for the past year.  I am very sorry to be stepping down but hope I will be asked again some time in the future.

I like doing stitcheries because the patterns are often simple "country" themes and the colours are cheerful too.

The ladies were each really happy with their gift and now that every-one has seen them,  I might teach my craft group how to do one.

I particularly like the "blessings" message on these. I think I will have to make some extras to have at home.

CRAFTING WITH WONDERFUL FELT.

A warm welcome to two friends who have followed me from my other blog,  Drora and MiniAussie.  I hope you both enjoy visiting and perhaps learning something new along the way.

I love working with felt,  it's quite forgiving and best of all, doesn't fray!  There is a vast range of colours to choose from and the items that can be made are endless.  I usually just buy the pieces from Spotlight or Lincraft. They are about A4 size although you can buy it by the metre if you have a large project to make.

These cupcakes were made using a folded and rolled face-washer placed in a large paper cupcake. The brown check one is purchased, the other five are ones that I cut out and glued together.
The flowers were made from various petal shapes and stitched together. Some have been decorated with small beads.  I'm very happy with the holly berry one as I created it myself.  I pushed a plastic headed sewing pin through the flowers to keep them in place.  They make great gifts.

This hat pin hat was fun to make. To give you an idea of the size, it will sit on the palm of your hand.  It's filled with polyfil, trimmed with ribbon and roses ( mine are purchased ) you could decorate with anything that you wish.  I also made the beaded hat-pin.  I fondly remember my Nanna using beautiful pins to keep her hat in place.  The hat could also be used as a pin-cushion for sewing.

I love this little Christmas tree brooch.  Made with dark green felt cut out into a tree shape and beaded all over with beads and sequins.  It's filled slightly and a brooch clip added to the back.

 Two Christmas trees beaded in a "smocking" design. The dark green one is a bit hard to see. The shapes are cut out, then folded in half to resemble a long triangle, the "branches are formed by beading alternately all the way around which closes the gap. They can be made any height depending how large the shapes are cut.

I found this house pattern and decided to make it up. I'm not really happy with it, one day I might get around to making another one!

All of these felt items were made at my Probus club's craft days apart from  the house. We've made some fantastic crafts in the three years that it's been going.  There are about 16 of us although not always all there on the day. As I organise the craft days,  I'm always looking for new ideas and of course, I need to make the item at home first to see how it will work and how long it will take to make.

If you are a visitor here, please drop in to see my "miniatures" blog,

http://lifesgood-sandie.blogspot.com

Take care "till next time,

Vicki.

WOOD BURNING ITEMS.

I thought I would show you some of my pyrographed pieces.  Wood burning, or poker work as it's sometimes called,  has been around for a very long time.

 Today however, there are many wonderful tools on the market. I have an Ironcore set and a cheaper set like a soldering iron with several different shaped tips.

  The Ironcore has several wire tips that you can bend into the shaped points that you want, fine and broad tips depending on the look you're after.

These tools are electric and get very hot at the tip but the handle stays cool.  I usually like to hand colour my work but if the article is for food preparation then I don't seal with anything just wipe over with grape-seed oil.

I have no idea how the last paragraph appeared in blue.  The mysteries of Blogger!!

Until next time,  take care,

Vicki.

WELCOME TO MY FIRST POST ABOUT MY CRAFTS.

I hope you will enjoy my new blog. This is all about the various crafts that I love to make.

 I have a large collection of magazines that are an inspiration for me but they are also a bit of a trap.  New ideas, more fabric, beads, threads etc to buy and then starting the creation. Finishing it isn't always as easy though.  I keep promising that ONE DAY I will finish all these things but I will have to get up very early as it will be a very long day!