This week we did a photoshoot for our local newspaper, its for ladies pamper night on 15th December in Blackpool at Cafe Dolce on Abingdon street, 7pm - 9pm if you live locally and dare brave the seaside weather pop down, the lady on the left, Anne does angel (oracle) cards and readings, me in the middle will be selling my sewn items and Fran the one on the right does amazing vintage clothes, there will be other stalls too and lots of cake :)Hope to see you there xx
Showing posts with label A. Show all posts
Showing posts with label A. Show all posts
A bit of promoting!
Been super busy crafting, homeschooling, trying to keep warm and sleeping lately, each day whizzes by and before you know it it's bedtime again, I have tons of fairs coming up over the next few weeks so have been neglecting my blogs, so sorry readers for that normal service shall resume soon!, This week we did a photoshoot for our local newspaper, its for ladies pamper night on 15th December in Blackpool at Cafe Dolce on Abingdon street, 7pm - 9pm if you live locally and dare brave the seaside weather pop down, the lady on the left, Anne does angel (oracle) cards and readings, me in the middle will be selling my sewn items and Fran the one on the right does amazing vintage clothes, there will be other stalls too and lots of cake :)Hope to see you there xx
This week we did a photoshoot for our local newspaper, its for ladies pamper night on 15th December in Blackpool at Cafe Dolce on Abingdon street, 7pm - 9pm if you live locally and dare brave the seaside weather pop down, the lady on the left, Anne does angel (oracle) cards and readings, me in the middle will be selling my sewn items and Fran the one on the right does amazing vintage clothes, there will be other stalls too and lots of cake :)Hope to see you there xx
A Few Words.....And Some Halloween Inspiration!!
So,.......
I wanted to take a few moments and explain why I've not been around much lately.....
First, I hope you all know how much I LOVE this blog and all of you GREAT readers out there! You guys are what keeps me blogging/crafting late at night when I should be sleeping (really, I should be....)
Next, I wanted to tell you all the real reason I have been MIA so much (gasp!), well aside from the fact that there are 3 cute little girls always running around here that keep me pretty occupied.
So, I've mentioned before that I get migraines....and they suck (for lack of a better.....PG-rated word)!! Well, what I didn't say was that I get them all.the.time. Like several days each week....and recently they have gotten worse and more frequent. (if you don't know what migraines are, here's a pretty good breakdown, but I have never had an "aura" with mine.....so needless to say I'm jealous, cuz they sound pretty freakin' cool!).
Anyhoo, typically mine start with a regular headache for several hours and then advance in to full-blown migraine attack, where I need to sprinkle a box of cereal on the kitchen floor and turn on Phineas & Ferb to keep my girls happy while I retire to my closet and lay on the floor and just try to sleep it off and keep my feet against the door to keep my kids out when they run out of cereal....or till the baby has a poopy diaper....whichever comes first. Ok, I'm not really THAT neglectful.....but you get the picture. The migraine part is also usually followed by another headache or just where I feel crappy and tired for another few hours.....such a treat!
I do take a daily medicine to (cross-my-fingers) keep them away and then a medicine to stop them when they do decide to bless me with their presence....and that second one works well enough IF I catch it early enough, so, thankfully (hallelujah!) they don't always progress to the migraine attack part.
So, there it is.....I still think of you all very often and will continue to post whenever I am able or not prying my older 2 children off the baby....cuz they "just love her so much, mommy" or keeping my now-walking toddler from running (yeah, that walking-to-running thing happens FAST!) over and getting the child-safe scissors from the craft table and putting them straight into her mouth. And then, blah, blah, blah, blah.......
Ok, enough boring stuff and onto the the good stuff!!
Here are some Halloween crafts I did in the past that still garner a pretty good following and will hopefully get your creative juices flowing in time for the long-awaited, candy-filled, sugar coma night (I will post new stuff soon!):
Glowing Jack O' Lanterns and Monsters These have been SO wildly popular since I posted about them last year....and anyone can see why. Cheap, easy and they glow!!
Spooky Cupcake GhostiesThis also has a recipe for super-easy homemade fondant so you and yours little ghouls can make your own!
Halloween Countdown BlocksWhats better to foster anticipation than letting your kiddos count down each.and.every.day.
Glass Halloween BlocksSo, can I tell you how much I LOVE finding craft supplies at Home Depot or Lowes....this is one example....
Super Yummy EyeballsMmmmmm, what more can I say?
Okie dokie, so get out there and make up some of your own ghostly goodies to display around your home!!
Have fun!!
A Few Last Halloween Ideas.....
Ok, so anyone game for 2 last great Halloween projects.....for next year, of course. But still fun to look at and keep in mind for later :)
For this project, I was inspired by Shelley of House of Smiths and her supa-cute Halloween subway art she showed here!!
So, I decided to make one to add to our Halloween decor stash this year (I like to add something each year).
I got myself a perfectly nice frame at the thrift store for a few buckaroos (just like Shelley) and painted it white (I always like to use primer first to make sure it sticks well)
Then, after cleaning the glass thoroughly, I applied my words to the back (it was cut out backwards), popped the glass back into the frame with a nice kraft paper background.......
AND
Ta da!!!
Totally cute, right?
Next up, I just fancied up a cute jar for some spooky gummy worms.
I found this SWEET blog Love Manor and they had some spooky and realistic-looking Halloween labels that I HAD to use!
So, I printed one up and then dirtied it up a bit around the edges and used my Terrifically Tacky Tape to stick it to this cute jar and then added some yummy wiggly worms to it.
YUM!!
Okie dokie, one last idea while I've got you all here.....
My friend Chanelle told me about the "Halloween Fairy" at their house and I thought that was a fantastic was to get all that candy OUT of the house AND still keep the kiddos happy.
So, after they get home and look through their stash, they get to pick out a few pieces to keep (5-10ish) and then put the rest under their pillow (or at the foot of their beds since it's supa hard to get that from under a sleeping kid's head).
Then, the Halloween Fairy comes and leaves them a present and takes away ALL THAT CANDY outta the house and the kiddos LOVE IT!!! They even tell all their friends about it.....and when their friends tell them they haven't heard of the Halloween Fairy, it just makes them think they are so special to be the only ones ;)
Hope you all have a spooky and safe All Hallows Eve this year and be sure to come back on Monday for a Supa Special giveaway I will be hosting!!!! Don't forget!
Have fun!
A Little Update.....i.e. Why I Have Been MIA
So it's been awhile since I've been writing regularly (soooooooo sorry about that BTW) I figured I would write an update post for ALL my awesome readers that have continued to stop by even though I've been kinda laaaaaame. I want to let all you wonderful people know how much that means to me and that some of you have even dropped emails to ask about things around the McDonald casa. Those emails always seemed to land in my inbox on days when I was feeling too overwhelmed & really needed a lift in my spirits. I know I was terrible and didn't always answer, but please, please KNOW how much those few sentences meant to me and that someone was thinking about me. I promise I'll make it up to you guys!!
So enough about me......ok, actually maybe a little more about me since this IS an update post after all :D
Well, we have all been doing well......just super busy over the summer. It always took up so much time to take the kiddos places to keep them active and entertained and keep them from maiming each other whenever they got cabin fever and had had too much of each other. It gets pretty HOT 'round these parts in the summer (or this week too!!) and we need to visit the pool often or find alternate sources of indoor fun.
My migraines also got worse there for awhile and I just wanted to focus all my non-agonizing time with my sweet little girlies (no, really......look how sweet & cute they all are.....mostly while they are alseep). I am learning to manage the migraines better and treat them faster, so that's good.
We have also been working really hard with Kira everyday to try and catch her up with speech (she's very behind and we were starting to worry). But, we just found out that she is having hearing problems due to fluid buildup in her ears.....which we were starting to suspect. So, they'll drain them to see if it's a chronic problem and then check for any other issues. Even though this is not necessarily a good thing....we are relieved to know that this should help her speech immensely.
Other than that......Madison just turned 7 (gasp!) and is now a big 2nd grader. She is at a larger school campus and was worried about that all summer. Sissy #2, Aislyn, is still 5 & now enjoys her mornings in Kindergarten and LOVES it!! Although I suspect she still gets lost in "Aislyn-Land" sometimes. Kira will be 3 soon and is still small in stature, but makes sure her presence is known throughout the house. She is making huge strides in development, but just needs more help with speech (as I said earlier).
Anyhoo, since the older 2 kiddos are off to school these days and I have more time in the day to spend with Kira and to keep up a little better with my blogging.....after all, I have many months worth of crafty things to show you all! I also want to open up my Etsy store again soon......so stay tuned!!
BTW, don't you all just adore this year's family pics!!! And yes, you guessed it...... these were all taken by the very lovely & talented Jen Gagliardi, thanks SO much again Jen!!!
Have fun!!
If I keep a GREEN bough in my heart, then the singing bird will come...
'If I keep a GREEN bough in my heart, then the singing bird will come' by ShortcakeDesigns
A Chinese proverb to brighten your day, along with all these beautiful greens. All items support animal charity through donations. For more items that support animal rescue search Team EFA. Thanks!
Treasury tool supported by the dog house
A new Brizel Tarot Amulet Pouch is born...
About Brizel Tarot Amulet Pouches...
Brizel Tarot Amulet Pouches are custom ordered four dimensional handcrafted bags made for tarot decks - with fabric, beads, and/or semi-precious stones and found objects. They are created specifically for individual customers and their particular deck. The artwork that unfolds is a unique and one-of-a-kind manifestation representing the relationship between the individual and their deck.
Once a custom order Brizel Tarot Amulet Pouch is commissioned & ordered- the work begins corresponding with specific moon phases.
At New Moon... with a tarot card reading and with the creation of a conceptualized design. The conceptual work is only limited by the financial parameters given by the client. A Brizel Tarot Pouch can be limited to a one panel representation, or expand up to a three panel Amulet Pouch with embellished sides.
| A paper template is made for each project |
Materials can range from upholstery, plain cottons, velvets, silk and/or rayon fabrics; and from plain glass beads, metal tones, silver sterling, semi-precious stones, carved shell or bone.
Email correspondence and consultation occurs soon after the conceptual design work, and with a written confirmation to begin the work from the client. Materials for the project are gathered in time for Full Moon, when the creation of the tarot pouch begins.
| Backside of new custom Tarot Amulet Pouch |
Throughout the handcrafting process, this unique & original art piece is placed on Brigit s altar for blessing & safekeeping. Brizel is an organic combination of Brigit s name, the Celtic Triple Goddess, with my own chosen name: Hazel. Brigid is my muse and source of inspiration and all Brizel Handcrafts are created in Her honor & with Her blessing.
CUSTOM COMMiSSiONA new Brizel Tarot Amulet Pouch is born...
This Brizel Handcrafts' Tarot Amulet Pouch is based on the William Blake deck depicting an original & unique adaptation of The Sun and Prophecy tarot cards. Its creative timeline went something like this...
Card Reading 9/17- new moon
Meditation and intuitive design work 9/22- equinox
Locate materials- order as necessary
Discuss with client and began further creative work around 9/29- full moon
Craft template, cut fabric and make Amulet Tarot Pouch
Front Panel- The Sun created 10/4
Begin Prophecy & completed 10/8
Draw string bag made on 10/10
project completed - approx creation time: 16hrs ?
| Front of Brizel's custom Tarot Amulet Pouch inspired by The William Blake Deck XiX The SUN |
The fabric was cut several times before i got the pattern of the weave to portray this important path to The Sun 'just right'. It is edge stitched with a silky silver gray crazy quilting thread.
| Original adaptation of The Sun by Brizel Handcrafts |
The image of the sun itself was to depict a sunrise- a dawn of possibilities... the sun that you see here is the top layer of 'the cake'. The first layer which is not visible has a bright yellow core and this top one a more golden one. It is, in fact, the front of the same fabric that I used for the river. I love that. This gold disc is edge stitched with a metallic gold crazy quilting thread.
| Angels as the rays of sunshine |
I was so darn excited to be able to manifest this wondrous vision that William Blake had for the rays of his sun... angels with wings alighting to the heavens.
I found these 'ready made' angel beads which were not initially perfect with my vision. I wasnt looking for cute. Their bodies had skinny waists and fat feet and their wings were turned downward. Once I reversed both the wings and bodies- suddenly I got what I was looking for.
| Behind the front flap of the Amulet Pouch |
| Inside Panel of Brizel's custom Tarot Amulet Pouch inspired by The William Blake Deck Prophecy, 10 of Poetry |
Prophecy is the second main card which needed to be represented on this special custom Brizel Tarot Amulet Pouch... This is where all the hard work went as I was choosing the upholstery fabric for the pouch itself. When searching for fabric - I literally scried its surface searching for a specific pattern.
Since the main embellishing focus was to be the double divine rings... I needed to depict an abstract watery abyss below it as well as the suggestion of a figure kneeling in prayer.
| Prophecy as granted by the Divine |
I used an upholstery grade velvet / faux leather, edge stitched that with a dark cobalt silky thread and painted red eyes on its surface. Once again, I felt the angelic force in the Prophecy card was noteworthy and a relevant symbolism for this project so three carved bone faces were found for the circles. I glued shanks behind them in order to attach them to the Amulet Pouch.
| Tarot Amulet Pouch with front flap open |
Because Brizel's Tarot Amulet Pouches are works of art in their own right, it is best to safeguard them by keeping them in a bag of their own. Its a fabulous opportunity to keep other relevant items in it too (so long as they are not sharp, if so they can also be placed in a wee bag of their own).
This fabric came to my attention at the very beginning of the material gathering process on this project. It has the perfect colour palette - both watery blue with a greenish tone of gold that shows fire in the water.
I also love those 'eyes' which travel up and down the fabric connecting earth and sky. So I jumped at the chance given to me to provide this custom Tarot Amulet Pouch a draw string bag of it own.
My holder bags usually are large enough for a reading cloth to go in them which I often wrap around the actual Tarot Amulet Pouch for further safe keeping. Sometimes I have another object, or journal, or mini book in them as well.
And so... I am pleased to share with you the birth of this new magical creation.
Thanks & gratitude to my patroness for obliging me in its craft making !
xo
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