Mini Celebration Kit

I have been thinking about making an emergency, portable, mini celebration kit for a while now.  I think it would be great to keep in your bag (purse) for when a celebration comes up that you are unprepared for.  Tiny bunting (to tie on the back of a chair), a wordless card and a candle.  You could also use it for people who want to mark an occasion but without too much fuss.

The trick to make this look 'special' is to use the best quality card stock and beautiful papers.  I envisage it being used whenever good news is in need of a mini celebration to mark the event. 

Happy Friday!

Now that's a good reason enough to celebrate!

The Ginger's Back in Town

My ginger boy is almost back to his playful (naughty) self.  We had a horrible start to the year when he got bitten but he is gradually getting his self confidence back.  He never seems to stray far from the house now.  He has never been a lap cat but now spends evenings sat next to me on the sofa.  Occasionally, he'll reach out his paw and touch me whilst he is nodding off.  I think it is a reassurance thing.

Wobbles in Crafting

I was determined to make something this weekend and after watching  a wire work bracelet demonstration on a shopping channel, thought I would try to replicate it.  I didn't have the correct gauge wire but had a go with what I had to hand.  I was quite pleased with the result but my ego came crashing down when my OH was distinctly underwhelmed with my efforts and I did take his response personally.  I think one of the reasons I blog is for the affirmation from people that what I am doing creatively is good and that I am following the 'right' path.  My two nearest and dearest do not 'get' the craft thing at all and I often feel discouraged by them.  They see my craft materials as a waste of money.  I do wish I could prove them wrong but there is a niggle in the back of my mind that they may be right.

This approval thing that I seek to be seen as a valid human being has to stop - I know that.  I shouldn't care what others think of me and what I make. It is very immature of me to keep wanting others to like what I am doing and ultimately like me too.  However, it is very deep seated within me.  Somehow I have made a warped connection that if you don't like what I make then you don't like me either.  I have no idea how I have made that connection other than my creativity is an important part of me.

Anyway, sorry to be rambling on this fine but cold Monday morning.  I had no idea that I was going to spill my feelings over the page.  Creating may have to be pushed aside today as I have bed linen to change and a pile of ironing to be tackled.  Perversely I quite like ironing and find that pressing out the creases in the fabrics is quite cathartic.

I Heart You

I've still not been able to get stuck into my crafts this week - mainly because I am not home alone!  My intention also, was to make some vanilla biscuits on Valentine's Day but because I didn't get around to it I made some today instead.  I've never made them before but used the recipe from an excellent book I have had for some years - The Classic 1000 Cake and Bake Recipes. I found it for you again on this site here.  It really is a good book and the measurements are given in ounces, grams and cups too.  These particular biscuits are made with a butter cookie dough and they just melt in the mouth.  I think they would be good sandwiched together with jam or butter cream too but they won't last that long!

Well, the weekend is upon us again.  Time is moving so fast hence my desire to do something creative each day so as not to 'waste' any time.  It was good to get creative in the kitchen again even if the evidence of my creativity is fleeting!

Have a good weekend! x

Edited:  A request from Sharon and for the rest of my USA friends!

2/3 cup softened butter
1/2 cup superfine sugar
1 egg, beaten
2 cups self rising flour
A pinch of salt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Pre-heat oven 180C/350F/gas mark 4

Cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Gradually beat in the egg and then mix in the other ingredients.  Bring together with a spoon and then knead until smooth to make a dough.  Wrap in plastic wrap and chill the dough for about 20 minutes. 

Roll out the dough thinly and cut into shapes with a cookie cutter.  Arrange on a greased cookie sheet and bake for about 12 minutes until a pale golden brown.  Leave to cool on the sheet for about 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack to finish cooling. 

The recipe makes around 24 cookies so you may have to cook them in batches.

More Hand Made Sticky Labels

Other than make pancakes, I have not had the opportunity to do anything creative for the last couple of days.  The stickers pictured above were made the same time as my cute people stickers shown previously.  I just don't know what project to do next!  I've not made any jewellery in a while so perhaps I'll do that, or 'play' with paper or make stickers again?  I wish I could be content to be a knitter or a painter or embroiderer or just focus on one type of media - but I want to do it all and have tried many creative pursuits including silk painting, Fimo modelling, encaustic art, cross-stitch, rug making, knitting, crochet, bead weaving, willow weaving etc.

I was watching a reality show on television the other day (Little People, Big World) and the person in it said that projects are what keeps him alive and gives him a reason to get up in the morning.  I feel pretty much the same way and am really tetchy if I don't get a chance to be creative each day.  I NEED to create - I know that now.

The sun is out this morning.  I think I'll go out for a brisk walk and put on my thinking cap for ways of how to use my time wisely today.  I can't let another day pass me by without having something to show for it!

Scotty Dog

On Saturday I attended my second free sewing class provided by the Enfield Residents Priority fund.  You can see the first project I made on a previous post here.

I was thrilled with my Scotty dog doorstop!  He is partially filled with rice to give him weight and stability and then further filled with fibrefill.  I finished him off when I got home with button eyes from my stash and gave him a collar that I bought Gizmo to wear when he was a kitten which he refused to wear!

I got such a great sense of achievement from making this little dog as the pattern was quite technical albeit giving a simple result, that I am sure to make at least another one.

At last I think I can finally declare - I can sew!

Hand Made Sticky Labels - Part Two

Following on from yesterdays post, I drew some more characters onto the sticky label sheets and coloured them in with promarker pens.  I've had promarker pens for some years now but not really had a use for them but they are excellent used on the sticky label paper and blend effortlessly.

After colouring in my cute characters I cut them out following their natural outline.

I had so much fun making these and could see it turning into a little bit of an obsession!