A Thought at Christmas

"Never a christmas morn
Never an old year ends
But some one thinks of some one
Old days; old times; old friends."

A friend sent me this short poem and I would like to share it with you.

Snow Snow Snow

Two Starlings fighting ,brilliant photo!

Yes it's still snowing in Ireland.At this present moment it's 10"deep in my garden, (Kildare) looks beautiful but getting to be a bit too much now.

What do you think of this lovely photo, taken in West Cork by whom I don't know. Sooooooo! beautiful.

Guess Its going to be a "WhiteChristmas"

Best wishes to all

Early Snow in Ireland

This is what my front garden looked like all this week,beautiful but hazardous. I couldn't even get my car out of the drive.

Snow came very early this year in Ireland,usually bad weather of snow and ice comes in either January or February.

So I decided to put my Christmas decorations up to keep me busy.

This is my lovely fireplace in my sitting room,all decorated in red and gold, with gold angel lights,red bells and candles etc.

In reality it is much nicer than the photo.

I also decorated my tree, so cosy now to relax in this room with a nice glass of red wine while watching tele!

Tomorrow I'm back to work on lots of alterations and also getting ready for another craft show this week,weather permitting.

Busy Sewing Week !

Yes another busy week for Alterations in my workshop. As it's coming into the Christmas season and people are buying some new clothes for parties,etc. I have been really kept going doing alterations. Shortening hems on dresses ,skirts and trousers also jacket sleeves are never the right length.

I also decided to make some lovely pin cushions from remnants of velvet I had left over from making my velvet scarves.

As you can see I embossed them in the "rose" design and they are so handy when working.

I sold some at a craft fair last week in Dublin along with my scarves and bags.

My next fair is 5th December and I'm really looking forward to it. I love meeting new crafters and making new friends .

This time I must remember to take some photos and post them on my blog,so till then ,bye

Craft Fair

Sorry for not posting sooner but I have been so busy making my Embossed Velvet scarves and bags for some Craft Fairs I'm exhibiting in.

Last weekend, 6th & 7th November in Killester,north Dublin, was a great craft fair.Organised and advertised really well with the result lots of people turned up .

My scarves and bags were very popular with buyers and got lots of orders also.

I seem to be sewing every day and keeping up with my my alteration and repair business is tough at the moment but I must not complain as life is good at the moment.

My Tote bags or Shopping bags as we call them in Ireland are quite popular here also.

Love to here some feed back from you about my work as this helps me immensely.

Your Workspace

Making life easier in your workspace, is easier said than done! But everything gets out of control at some stage and when this happens, (which happens a lot) start by tidying up!!!!
Next put the work that needs to be done first in some kind of order. Now your getting somewhere.
Because I do Alterations and Repairs this is my main agenda, first come first served is my motto!

I have one rail for incoming orders and another (which I have done) for outing, ready to collect.
I find my threads get in a mess so sorting them out is a great help to me, finding the colours at a glance is a treat!

Best of all is keeping all your spare pieces of fabric in one place,and getting "rid"of stuff you really "Do not need".

As regards my crafts I to do my orders first, which usually means Velvet Scarves and Bags,Totes etc. and the part I love best is trying new patterns for my crafts, which gets me back to my workspace being a mess!!!!!!!!!!!

Simple restyling

I bought this dress at a sale only last week. It was a full length dress ,and I loved the pattern on the fabric.

The neckline was quite low so I added some knitted lace (to complimented the material) and I
then shortened the length by 10ins.

Simple and easy restyling and what a transformation! A dress that no one else has.
It is lovely worn with black knee high boots.

Hope this gives you some idea's on how simple it is to transform a dress,and all just for €12,including the cost of the dress!

Tips on Restyling Clothes

Before you decide to “get rid” of some of your older clothes why not try restyling them. It’s not as difficult as you think, start with some easy changes.
For example.
A blouse, cardigan, jacket or coat, get some nice new buttons and take the trouble to sew them on, I know you probably heard it before but believe me it works.

What about adding lace down the front of your blouse or cardigan,or around the neck if you prefer.
A good idea is to keep an eye out in department stores and check out the latest trims on clothes, even have a note pad with you for reference later.
This season the latest trends are lots of “Sparkles” or “Lace” trim which you can buy in a haberdashery but remember to measure the length of trim you will need.

Also if you’r handy with a sewing machine and your dress or blouse has long sleeves why not cut them shorter, I like my sleeves just to the elbow.

Treat yourself to a brooch and pin it on the shoulder of your dress or coat, you can buy some nice one’s at the local market or even charity shop.
Next time I hope to show some photos of changes I have made to clothes, it’s amazing what a difference it can make and make’s you feel good too!

The Blues Treasury by Darerca on Etsy

Check out this lovely Treasury by Dareaca on Etsy.Included is my Velvet handbag amongst all "The Blues"

SOLD

Beautiful Killarney

Hi all back at last from my holiday in Killarney,hope you like the photos

Photos of how people lived in these small cottages,these are all in the same room

A replica of village life

A place called "Ladies View"on MacGillicuddy Reeks

Muckross House,really beautiful ,and Ross Castle
and lakes

Looking down over Killarney from the mountains

Will definitely go back again

Taking a long earned Break

Just to let all my followers know I'm taking a break for just a week.
And am I looking forward to it! I'm heading off to Killarney to become a "Tourist".
This year I have decided not to go abroad for the first time in years. I know I'm taking a chance on the Irish weather,as you all know,but so what I'm sure we'll have a great time.

Hope to have some good photos to show you and of course the "crack" in the traditional pubs.
See you soon!!!!!!!!!!!

Angel Art

Hi all ,sorry for not posting sooner but I have been busy with some commissions for my "Angel Art"






This one is for a ladies granddaughter called "Grace", a new born baby girl,so pretty in pink.

Next is "Butterfly Angel",as you can see the name has to be inserted on the scroll,another lucky
girl.

Finally A beautiful Angel called "New Beginnings"
to be given by a friend to a brave lady who has

come through a very long illness.

True friends are wonderful!

Like to give you a tip about keeping your brushes soft.


After you have finished painting,wash your brushes in warm "sudsey" water and then put a little of your hair conditioner on ,leave for a few minutes and then wash off,you will find your brushes are so much better to work with.

Beginners Art,Canvas

When I began painting I used acrylic paper (which you see here on the left).After a few months I began using canvas board ,8x10ins was the size I started with and slowly I drifted on to a larger size and found it easier to paint my picture,you will understand this in time.

I then progressed to stretched canvas,and I was hooked,the paint seemed to glide on ,now I was an "artist".Well in my mind I was!

Keeping the paint workable!

I was then introduced to a "wet pallet".To describe it ,I would say it is similar to an oblong plastic container lined with a layer of "blotting paper"(named as such in Ireland),over that is placed a layer of "greaseproof paper" .This is wet with a small amount of water. This prevents your paint from drying up too quickly.

Place the lid on your container when finished working and your paint should be workable for a few days.

Etsy Treasury

Got a lovely surprise on Wed.11th August,I was included in an Etsy Treasury by
http://www.anewlife.etsy.com/

A big thank you ! It was such a surprise,please take a look its a real "yummy" page

Beginners Art,Brushes

As you can see these are some of my (well worn) brushes,my favourites!


When I give my Art Classes I advise to use good brushes.


Sizes I recommend to start with are ,

1ins Flat, 1/2ins Flat, no. 1 or no.2 Round

also a "rigger"brush is great for the likes of tree branches and grass.








Cheap brushes are fine to practice with, but as you progress you will find the hair is coarse and leaves brush strokes on your painting and you will find it hard to get definition . Samples of these brushes are in the photo below.

As you see here, you can pick up sets quite cheaply and good value in your art shop.
I prefer Daler Rowney acrylic brushes but that's just my choice.

Keeping Acrylics Wet.

Stay-Wet pallets are great for this.They come similar to a plastic container with a sheet of blotting paper on the base and a sheet of greaseproof paper on top,you wet this and it keeps your paints very use able for a week or more and it means you don't waist any paint.

I hope this has been helpful to you,if you have any questions please get in touch.

TREAD SOFTLY - POEM by W.B.Yeats

As I am a member of "The Crafts Council of Ireland", textile section,

I was asked if I would like to produce a piece of work relating to the poem

"Tread Softly" by William B. Yeats . A challenge for me indeed as I am not very familiar with poetry and their meanings, but I love a challenge and thought why not!

As I make hand embossed velvet scarves , I interpreted the poem ,(to my own meaning)on a deep blue velvet scarf.

I embossed the "Foot,Stars and Celtic Knot"on the velvet and embroidered the other designs in gold,silver and green threads and silk ribbon for the rose.

I have been working on this for quite a while now so I thought I would share this with you

"TREAD SOFTLY "

Had I the heavens’ embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.

"W.B.Yeats"

Beginners Art ,colours

Hi all, if anyone is taking up painting as a hobby I thought you might like a few tips on colours to begin with. When I teach "Beginners Art Classes" these are a few suggestions I give to my group.

By the way may I add I am using Acrylics as my choice of medium ,did you know if diluted with water acrylics can be used like watercolours.

Primary colours are, as everyone knows, Red,Blue,Yellow.
My favourites are Crimson Red, Cobalt Blue and Process Yellow.

Daler- Rowney and Windsor & Newton are the most popular makes in Ireland but I'm sure whatever country you live in there are much more .

You probably know when you mix , red and yellow it makes orange, blue and yellow make green and red and blue make purple and also when you mix white to either it changes the shades, so you have to experience yourself. You can see these are just from the primary colours,can you imagine the choices you have when you start exploring colour.

Believe me this part you'll enjoy immensely

Sap Green is good to have because when you add yellow in different amounts you get a variation of greens.

Burnt Umber is a nice warm brown and great for darkening the tone of other colours. If you use a lot of orange get yourself a tube of Cadmium Orange. Also Paynes Grey is good to have and don't forget White, mixing white is usually the cheapest and as the name suggests it blends well with other colours."

Please don't forget these are only my suggestions .

Next time I will be talking about Brushes and advising on sizes.

Lemons and Limes

At this moment in time I'm working on a textile piece relating to the poem " Thread Softly " by William Butler Yeats. I have to finish it by Friday so all systems go!

Thought I might show you a couple of my paintings which are hanging on my kitchen wall.

As you can see these were painted in 2005.

If your interested ,I will be giving some tips on "Beginners Art"shortly so hope you'll join me

Valerie

Restyling Clothes

What a busy week it's been in my workshop,where I do alterations and repairs.
My business is called "Nips and Tucks".It does not matter what size or shape you are most people have to get their clothes altered,ie-shorten or lengthen hems on skirts,trousers,sleeves.And of course altering the width of clothes also,never a dull moment.

What most people forget is "Restyle of Old Favourites"
It can change your garment so much,change an evening dress by having the hem shortened,great for Debs dresses and already you have a different style.
Adding sleeves or taking them out in blouses and tops or have you thought of cutting the legs shorter in an old pair of jeans.

Thats a small part of my alteration business,if you need to ask anything just get in touch.
Bye for now

Spots on Blue

Been really busy today in my workshop"Nips & Tucks",altering Debs and Bridesmaids dresses.

I won't complain about having plenty of work as their are lots of people without a job in the "R" (recession)dare I mention it! What ever size people are ,short or tall, big or small, everyone needs something altered plus I love meeting people, some even call in for a "chat",everyone has a story to tell,chatting away while I work.I have made a few nice friends since doing this work.

Well I just wanted to show you this lovely Tote I finished today,It's great for going shopping in town and holds quite a lot.

You can see more photos on my facebook page if you wish.

I will be speaking about Beginners Art next time so hope you'll join me.

Art

Yes, I also have a passion for Art.I have been painting for the past 15yrs or more.

Anyone can paint,did you ever hear that and think "no way" well it's true.

What do you think of this painting done by a lady in my Beginners class ? Did'nt she do well. Her daughter has it hanging in her house, proudly!

Why not try,get some paints, Acrylics are great as they dry quickly, good for beginners.

Oil's take a lot longer to dry but the colours are more vibrant.

You can start painting on almost anything, a piece of board, paper, canvas. You can buy some Acrylic paper from art shops which is good to start with. Some brushes and away you go, let your imagination go wild, after all no one is looking.

Let me know what you think or if you would like some more advice on painting.

My Velvet Jewelry Bags

These are my latest Velvet Embossed Bags.

They come in three different sizes

Small, 4x3ins,
Medium 4.5x4ins,

large 6.5x5ins

Great for carrying your Jewelry,etc. if going on holiday

or maby
Crystals,Chakra Stones.etc.

The large size hold, Angel cards or Tarot cards also.

Made from luxurious rich velvet

embossed by myself.

Go Anywhere Bag

This is my latest addition "summer" bag. Holds plenty ,is very light to carry

has two inside pockets and a long cord to through over your shoulder.

The Beginning

At last I'm a Blogger! Hopefully I can do this right.

I need lots of my friends to give me a "kick start"



You know what they say it's never too late to start, so here goes!!!!!!



Amongst some of my friends are some great talent ,and I will show this as my pages progress.

Artists and Crafters, Jewelry and Fashion,the list is endless.



Also I will be including a few tips on Painting, Acrylic painting as this is my medium of choice at the moment but you can choose Oils if you like