Projects underway

Hi all
Just thought I'd post an update on my progress with ongoing projects as not posted anything since my post stating I was back, but not posting anything sort of contradicts what I said, no?
Anyway, as I've said just want to update my project progresses.
The present I am making for my friend, the hand binded sketch book, covered with a needle felted picture is nearly finished. Few touch ups on the felting to be finish. Then the book just needs binding. Here's a picture of how the felting is looking, apologise for the quality, not the best light.

The other project I've been working on is some butterfly polymer clay jewellery. I've been experimenting curing the clay in a halogen oven, and have to say I'm loving it! There is better control over temperature, and as they are a lot smaller than my oven, reaches the desire temperature a lot quicker! Am loving it!

That's it for now though. Will catch up when these projects are completed now I guess. Til next time......

4 weeks and I'm back!

Just wanted to update you all that, on 10th March 2012 I gave birth to my second daughter, Lily Anne

Due to this I have taken a 4 weeks 'settling in' period, but am now back and ready for crafting :-)

Got a list as long as my arm for projects that need completing or even starting, but my first tasks are 2 owl doorstops for family members, and my best friends birthday present for beginning of May.  I am making her a sketch book which I am binding myself, and covering with a needle felted picture I've been working on.

Will keep you all updated on my projects as I go along, but for now, happy crafting xxxx

Paper crafting

After seeing a pin on Pinterest recently from the blog, Homespun with Heart, I decided to have a go at making some paper flowers.

I then used these to decorate a heart, which I plan on hanging up with some ribbon as a cute decorative item.

Here are a few pictures of my first attempt

If you look carefully (though not sure it shows up too well on this picture) there are small gaps, and I'm not totally happy with all the flowers, though as I have made more I have gained confidence with them.

Therefore I am going to attempt another one, hopefully make it gap free, with flowers that are more similar in height, but not necessarily size as I think that variation helps with the look.

As I do plan on making another because I wasn't totally happy with this one I haven't bothered adding the ribbon to it.  However, my mum didn't want this first attempt to go to waste, as I was just planning on putting in my craft box and probably forgetting about it, so she has used it in her bedroom and stuck it in the middle of her bed head board (What would we do without proud parents????)
I have to say though, from a distance it looks pretty cute (if you dont get close enough to notice the gaps)

Will keep you updated with any new ones I make.

Until next time :-)

Completed Owl Doorstop

Today I finished my full size owl doorstop, and am really pleased with it.

Its a nice size and weight to do it job, and the sewing on it is a big improvement from my very first experiment.

And here it is in comparison to my first two owls....

I am really pleased with how its come out, and seems other people are too as I now have a request for my first commission one! Bonus!

Hope my readers also like them, and as usual any feedback always welcome!

Until next time

Oya Designs

Textile Owls

So I have made further progress on my owl designs to hopefully use as doorstops.  I have so far made two mini versions, both with their good points and bad points.

The first one I made was the one with green eyes.  It had been a good few years since I last used a sewing machine, so used this first one to try and figure out the best way to attach each component of the owl.

I used the sewing machine to pretty much attach everything, the eyes, eye outline and beak.  I thought this looked a bit messy tho, particularly the eyes, so with the next owl I made I attached the eyes with the sewing machine, but just using black cotton to attach both the black and whites of the eyes just sewn through the blacks of the eyes, and this was sewn onto the eye outlines.  I then hand stitched the eye outlines onto the body, which I think looks a lot better.  I stuck with sewing the beak on with a zig zag stitch on the sewing machine but didn't bother with the stitching down the sides of the beak.

When it came to the wings, with the first owl I attached them with a hand stitch at the top of each wing, so the stitch and seam was visible.  With the second owl, however, I tried to hide the stitching as much as possible, still doing it by hand but pushing my needle through the body fabric and the underside of the wing to try and hide it as much as possible.

 Each owl was stuffed with craft stuffing and rice to give them some weight. The second owl I think was stuffed better than the first, knowing to use more of everything to make it bulkier.

These two owls only measure about 25cm tall and 25cm wide.  I now have the fabric cut out to make one double these sizes, hopefully using what I have learnt to make a much better version.

Will keep you updated with the progress of these.....................
........................til next time!

Update on Current Projects

Hiya all!!!

Just wanted to update my followers on my current projects I have going on, not only to keep you guys in the loop, but too keep my motivation high :-)

I currently have underway a tiger cub cross stitch, which I plan to use to make a handmade sketch book for a friend.  I also have begun experimentation with different patterns to make an owl doorstop.  Also plan to look at other animal designs for this too, but for those who haven't already been able to guess, my dad is owl mad, so the initial idea was for him.

Additionally, though I haven't yet begun them, I have bought the necessary wool to make an infinity scarf/snood, and a mobile with teddy bears.

This is the first attempt at the owl design for my door stop, its only a miniture version, but the pattern will be the same.

Will keep you all updated on how it all goes, and if you haven't yet subscribed to my blog please do.

More craftyness to come!!!!!

I'm back and ready for ACTION :-)

Its been a while since my last post, and to be honest my crafts have sort of taken a back seat while various things have been going on, like moving house, and the due date for my baby is now fast approaching :-/

But I did just want to up load some of the pictures of cards I made this Christmas, and a picture of some handkerchiefs I made for my dad too.

CHRISTMAS CARDS

All these cards have been made from various bits I've had in my kits and free papers I've received in magazines I've bought.

HANDKERCHIEF

Here are some simple handkerchiefs I made for my dad with an embroidered owl on them

 

He absolutely loved them as he is a big fan of owls, or more specifically the Mighty Owls (Sheffield Wednesday)

Now its just time to start with my 2012 projects, and I have a lot of ideas in mind, trying my hands at a few new things and revisiting a few old tricks.  

So heres to a happy crafty 2012 !!!!!!!!