Wednesday 1 December 2010

December's here

Congratulations all of you who have pledged to keep up the art calendar for twelve months we are nearly there.  So here is my completed November.
 Which looks so much more colourful now it is filled in - and December...
...a blank canvas. Who knows what the next 31 days will bring!
I will say again what great fun I find this to be, and I love looking back and seeing what happened when over the previous months. So helpful when you have a brain like a piece of sequin waste (in-joke there).

Today I should have been having lunch with the 'Nutty Knitters' group which I recently joined. However I am a bit of a wuss when it comes to icy and snowy weather so I sent my apologies. Our hostess lives up a lane about 12 miles away in the Bedfordshire countryside, and although she did e mail to say the road was passable  I am Mrs Cautious these days and full of "what ifs".  So I've been moping about thinking what a wimp I am. However to redeem myself here is my second blog in as many days. 

Firstly here are my attempts at knitting.
No, I am not knitting for a three legged baby with a split personality, they are supposed to be mini Christmas stockings. Even a wash and a hot press hasn't evened up my stitches! Just be grateful I'm not giving you one of these to hang on your tree when I come round! I am much better suited to the other kinds of needles.
Here are the two little journals I have made  covers for, in what I have called distressed patchwork as there are lots of frayed edges.

The embroidery was inspired by the bleached denim marks, I am pleased with the freer designs.

 They come with 4"x6" narrow lined journals.

Below is the last purse I managed to finish before the sewing machine seized up. I am not expecting news before the end of the week at least.

This purse is slightly stiffer than the previous ones and I am offering to add a cord to turn it into a little shoulder bag, for when you don't need to carry anything but you bit of plastic and a few coins.

What do you think? They are now in my Etsy shop.
PS You can view everyones calendar pages here

15 comments:

  1. Terrific and I love your blog. Annette

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  2. Love this little purse, Jill. So useful to take out in a pocket when you're just going for a walk but might want parking money or a cup of tea or petrol. I like the stockings - you could try blocking them out flat and covering with a wet cloth before you sew them up if the uneven stitches bother you - I think they're great as they are.

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  3. Well I never did get started on the journal - maybe I'll do better next year. Yours is so lovely. The little socks are cute and when filled with a gift the even-ness will not show anyway. Don't be so hard on yourself. Of course your other kind of stitchery is fantastic - the journal cover and little purse are beautiful. Oh and better safe than sorry on the icy roads I'd say!

    Jane x

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  4. Love the journal covers, and the purses, and your November page and your December page. December's looking very chilly.....xx

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  5. Your calendar pages are fabulous, December looks very colourful indeed. I think we have all done very well to keep it up (although I haven't actually started December's pages yet....)
    P.S. I'm a wuss in the snow too :-)

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  6. I like your calander/journal very much!

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  7. Great journal pages Jill, amazing how different they look once you've filled in the journal blocks isn't it? I couldn't drive back to Durham today - my car is under a foot of snow and it will be staying there until it melts! x

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  8. Very pretty journal cover and purses Jill - and well done on being so disciplined in keeping up the calendar for all this time! Lesley x

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  9. Your calendar pages are wonderful. It's on my post-retirement list for sure. And the denim purse is darling. Such good work you are doing these days!

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  10. As always I loved looking at your calendar pages. Re the driving: I had to clean offices tonight, only six miles away, very little snow, but down an icy lane. I packed a flask and a blanket "just in case". Well you never know, if there is an accident, or I broke down...... Love that little purse.

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  11. Love the denim inspired purse and the journal pages. Always so envious when I see them but just don't think I have the stamina for it. I might give it a go in 2011. Perhaps I could do a daily collage or a daily drawing of some kind. It would be a great discipline.... not a word readily associated with yours truly! Lesley x

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  12. I really like the calendar pages - fabulous idea - might use that one!!

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  13. Love the little journals, and also the tiny stockings. They may not be obviously useful but are very cute.

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  14. Wonderful pieces, just love the journal pages. Would love to have a go at this next year. Anesha

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  15. You are a better knitter than I! I love the denim colors on the little purse. The one I bought from you is laying next to my sewing machine as inspiration. I have told myself I cannot use it until I finish the purse I am making. It will be a 'double treat'. My friend down the street seen your little purse and just loved it. She asked if I made it and I told her no, a lady from England made it. She was impressed.

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