HeartCrafts

Wednesday, 3 April 2013

7:08:00 am

NEC Birmingham 21.03.2013 - Wow!

What can one say about seeing creations and more creations created by people who are artists of the humble needle!

A bit blurry...but 'readable'

I was fortunate enough to visit the Sewing and Embroidery Exhibition at the NEC in Birmingham in March 2013. The only complaint….there was not enough time to drink and enjoy each and every exhibitor there! Walking from stall to stall one could only smile and enjoy all the vibrant colours / people /creations.

Here is my grand daughter admiring one of my favourite quilt of the show.....made by a Heather Hasthorpe..

My favourite quilt of the show....

The show was visited by myself, my daughter, little toddler and 2 teenagers. They soon disappeared from sight and were more interested in the hobby-craft side of the exhibition and thanks to technology we could reach them by mobile at any time.

Wow Wow Wow -Such lovely quilts....

Little toddler was extremely good and fell asleep as soon as we entered the halls…good little boy slept for 2 hours solid which was a bonus as we could walk around with no problem.

Our visits to the various stalls were not just ordinary visits….we indulged in a bit of retail therapy on numerous occasions…the stall holders were all so friendly and helpful which was a super bonus…lots of photos were taken / business cards taken to look up on the Internet afterwards and spend some more time admiring some people’s lovely work!

Too many buttons and ribbons to choose from......

It was a long day as we went there by train / walked around the whole day / took the train back home-----in the rush hour at 17H00---and for those who do not know the trains in the UK---that is the worse time! My poor daughter and children had to stand a whole hour –the whole journey as there were no seats available, but we made it and just collapsed at the end of the day- tired, but happy for being enriched by this lovely exhibition.

A bonus was a little fox that ran next to the train as we approached our destination station and my mind slipped back many moons to a little song I used to sing to my kids – ‘a fox went out on a chilly night, prayed for the moon to give him light…as he had many a mile to go’

So dear crafters and grafters and exhibitors – all well done and hopefully we will be able to go to the next exhibition again next year.

Luvvies

Monday, 25 March 2013

1:20:00 pm

To each his own - live and let lived

We are all different. Yes, we all know that but do we really understand the meaning of being different in an organised way as not to live in chaos?

I have once again experienced it so intense the last few weeks, as I opened my eyes once more to see the see beyond and learn to accept people's remarks that reflects their own perceptions.

100% Made by hand from old off cut pieces of material

How tragic it is for some of us not to recognise that other people have different ideas on art / beauty and general life, BUT in order to fit into this life there are certain rules and regulations that cannot be erased or dismissed in order not to live in anarchy and chaos and here I am talking about practically, like driving a car, adhere to safety rules…

Now before I get shouted down! Example: if there are no rules of the road and people can choose to drive on any side of the motorway at 100mph…crashes will occur and someone will get injured along the way….Certain rules need to be obeyed for all us humans to live together in peace and harmony…but when it comes to being creative…there are no rules as long as it is not obscene and distressing to the mind.

When I create things (and beauty is in the eye of the beholder) I create it because it is lovely for me. This is where my D I F F E R E N T theory comes in, just because someone has ‘learned and studied at college about certain colours going/blending together’ does not mean that I have to adhere to it. In my creative mind I could have a total different out look on colours and how they blend together and to me they are acceptable!

All colours in nature just blend together without supervision

Just like The New Seekers sang so many moons ago : I like the world to sing in perfect harmony....to each his own - in perfect harmony!

Get out there, be creative in your own mind and do not always follow the ‘rules of art / colours’ just to ‘fit in. Be your own creative person.

Happy Crafting

Sunday, 24 March 2013

10:29:00 am

Busy busy busy...

as the end of March approaching

We all had a busy week and we ended up with so much snow on Saturday (23rd March 2013) that our road at home was 'snowed' in. I do not drive in such conditions and had to change my whole plan for the Saturday craft we went to.

As hubby is away, far away where it is warm....my only other alternative was to get there by hook and crook and I ordered a taxi. (Good old taxi drivers who can drive in all kinds of roads...Bless their little socks.

We had to unpack all our 'wares for sale from the plastic containers (they are SO handy) ditched the props and the clothes rail...and repack our goods in 3 cases. Soon we (now that is myself and my grand daughter) ready to go and join the show, because no snow can stop a show in good old Northampton! Like the organisers said :Cakes were baked, pizzas were prepped and had to be eaten....

We waited for the taxi like 2 passengers ready to fly to The North Pole with 3 pull on -cases on hand. It was first snowing still, secondly the wind chill factor was minus something my ears did not want to hear...I was beanied and scarfed and booted and jacketed like I was off on a expedition to the the North Pole - but forward we did go! Ever tried to pull a case-trolley in the snow? It works like a snow-plough.....not a good idea...

I know now what Del Boy (from Fools and Horses) felt like when he was selling out of suitcases...but anyhow it was great fun and the music and people and the whole atmosphere was lovely. Met some lovely people. I did not come back a 'millionaire' but made enough to cover the pitch/time/tea/taxi there with a few bob to go back into the business. All in all a lovely day out.

No time is ever wasted if you meet someone who brightens your day with some kind words and a smile♥

Here is my grand daughter in her 80's jacket and hairdo enjoying the music in between talking to customers

Vintage dresses and handmade goodies
So all you Crafters out there-no matter what the weather -we all stand together!

Luvvies

Monday, 11 March 2013

12:55:00 pm

Time was away….and so was my mind.....

The poem reads ‘’Time was away and somewhere else…’’ that is how I felt emotionally when my husband was put in the ambulance and then onto the hospital after a heart scare a few Saturdays ago…

I went into auto mode and had no words to comfort him – our eyes did the talking. After so many years together (39) words are often replaced by looking into the windows of the soul. Praise after spending 12 hours in the hospital and many tests he was discharged and now needs a cardioversion in a few weeks time – I will deal with that when we have to cross that bridge.

Out of the old will come the new

Then it was the lying awake with concern and fear. Fear for the unknown which has knocked on our door. Only time will erase the fear and put the mind to ease. Life is so short, hundreds of thoughts run a marathon through the brain about everything and nothing can slow it down…..

I once again praise the lovely people who are called doctors and nurses. The care and love they showed us was so wonderful and we cannot praise them enough. Well done all of you out there. It is a vocation – not just a job.

The cold season seems to be dragging on and with all the goings on there was hardly any time to sit down and relax with a needle in the hand. The blanket I am busy crocheting gave me a purpose with each automatic stitch I did. It kept my fingers and mind occupied, but a a dull way as there was no creations in my brain – just auto mode…..

Enough of all our woes and troubles! Start each day with a positive thought the saying goes and the rest will follow! So I will keep my chin up and walk tall and wait for the next bridge to cross. I just hope the toll is not too much to cross it.

Well, this little tic toc brain did a few things in between to keep the mind from falling apart, so here we go!

I bought some lonely lost napkins from the charity shop (they called my name whilst I passed). It is not that I have not enough material already.....and made something new out of them.

Soft in Pink the napkin got a new purpose in life

Out of the old came the new

Simple and plain...a little birdie decorated with glass beads

Cross each bridge as they appear

on our daily paths and keep on crafting!

Luvvies x

Sunday, 17 February 2013

9:25:00 pm

Oh Dear

Always time to make something....

What happened since I last wrote a blog? Life has been going at such a speed and I feel like singing along with Freddy Mecury :-

‘’ I'm burning through the sky yea
Two hundred degrees that's why they call me Mr. Fahrenheit I'm travelling at the speed of light ‘’

If only I could burn off some fat whilst travelling at such a speed ...oh well - back to reality.

After a wonderful Christmas / New Year with family it was back home again to the normal run of the mill, you know what I am talking about – no walks along the beach, cosy cream teas in lovely tea rooms, vino at the pubs, sitting in front of a roaring fire…what stared me in the eyes was a heap of dirty washing, a dusty house, loads of post to go through…

and then the magical snow came down....like a fairytale world

Our garden...a Winter Wonderland ♥♥

Grandchild playing in the snow....

After that was all done and dusted I needed another holiday! Then I landed with 3 children to look after for a week and the little toddler makes you run from dawn till dust (my daughter had to go to Europe on business) and when she came back…I got a bad bad cold, so it was bed for me and as soon as I recovered from that, another tummy bug got hold of me and now it is the 17^th of February 2013 and almost Easter again!

BUT, as a little busy bee and always time for something and no time for idle hands I did manage to make a few things in between all this burning through the sky and I proudly present…

Here they are : little love hearts by the dozen to bring someone a bit of joy in their life♥