Photoshop editing test

I thought it was about time I learned how to use photoshop for photo editing....
After a quick read up I gave it a whirl.














Rather pleased at my first attempt :)

Until next time
ttfn

Quilting bug?....

I've been bitten by the quilting bug!
After the Japanese Quilting course I've been researching all I can about a variety of different quilting processes. So what has become of all this research?
Well I've decided to take the plunge and try my hand at quilting!

I had been playing with the idea of attempting quilting before, looking at Heather Bailey's Freshcut quilt sparked off the idea originally and I finally thought I'd give it a whirl....

I've officially made my first quilt patch!



Not sure how big I'm going to attempt, probably something fairly small to start with to get a feeling of it... but fun? Oh yes :D

So until next time
ttfn

Japanese Quilting

I signed up for a two day japanese quilting course at the uni. With very little knowledge of the subject I trundled along to the session....

The course cost £25 and that included all the materials and use of supplies. We were taught how to do Sashiko hand stitching, and Shibori indigo dyeing... After just two days I think I've found yet ANOTHER craft that I've fallen in love with!

At first I thought £25 was a bit expensive, however it was definitely worth the money! We were given a bound booklet, with all the details about Sashiko, it's history etc and then a step by step instruction section explaining the task set for the course, a bibliography and some patterns.



The task was to create a large Sashiko cushion (21"x21") from scratch, so not just the Sashiko needlework but the cushion itself as a whole...
All the fabric and other materials that were provided were of brilliant quality, and you also had the option to buy fancy threads and fabric as an extra if you wished. We were even able to keep the Sashiko sewing needle we used for the two days!!


The red fabric (was a fat quarter) was an extra (£2.50/$5USD) as the free fabric offered was an ugly white tartan (don't get me wrong I love tartan, but this particular pattern was rather ugly!). Unfortunately most of the best ones had already been 'reserved' when I arrived, it was a mad dash to the fabric box! :(
There were a few fab japanese fabrics too, shame...

There were three patterns to choose from, natrually I chose the most time consuming one with a detailed background pattern, doh! Didn't even think about how much work it would be compared to the others when I decided, kind of regretted it during the making process, but glad in the end as it looks effective and gave me more than enough practice of Sashiko!


Breaking from the planned cushion, I decided to do something extra to make my cushion a bit unique from the others... so I used my newly found Sashiko skills to sew two small koi fish on the back. Unfortunately there wasn't a pattern for them so I had to quickly do a rough sketch of a fish! I also made it a side opening instead of a top (so the opening was vertical instead of horizontal).



I made a few errors sewing the back too... the ties are not quite right (they're not all the same length..oops!) and I also made a measurement error for the smaller right section, not a big issue but I know its wrong so it's annoying!! Still, I suppose if I do it again I know where I went wrong!




The teacher gave me the other patterns too, I think I may give them a whirl too at some point as it was easy peasy to do and lots of fun!



Brilliant fun weekend!

Until next time
ttfn!

A poem for all of us who were 'average' in school

The Average Child
by Mike Buscemi

I don’t cause teachers trouble;
My grades have been okay.
I listen in my classes.
I’m in school every day.

My teachers think I’m average;
My parents think so too.
I wish I didn’t know that, though;
There’s lots I’d like to do.

I’d like to build a rocket;
I read a book on how.
Or start a stamp collection…
But no use trying now.

’Cause, since I found I’m average,
I’m smart enough you see
To know there’s nothing special
I should expect of me.

I’m part of that majority,
That hump part of the bell,
Who spends his life unnoticed
In an average kind of hell.

Fabric stash and sewing machine

I've been spending some time recently building up my fabric stash, particularly some funky patterned fabrics, some are 'proper' sized fabrics (FQs or half meter/yard) others have been pulled together from scrap packs... but I'm sure you'll agree they're all gorgeous!







Yum!

Also, I've finally managed to get my very own sewing machine! No longer am I dependent on an HOUR drive to pinch my mothers for a few months!



So very very pleased!
So you maybe asking what I've been doing with my new sewing machine? How about some mini scotties? (Although admittedly some of these I did sew by hand)








I love em!


So until next time

ttfn!

Funny things people say #5

This time a MSN conversation where I show a rather dim moment...
On talking about Newport Castle in Pembrokeshire:

Nic says: (22:51:43)
http://www.gtj.org.uk/en/blowup1/13202
^ ariel photo, it's the top middle building

Nic says: (22:52:14)
Although I don't really need to say that... lol

Nic says: (22:52:33)
"It's the castle in this photo" works just as well :P

Bec says: (22:53:12)
ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha that really did make me laugh out loud

Nic says: (22:53:31)
;)

Bec says: (22:53:40)
"lol" is so lost these days, you have to type that you laughed out loud when you do cos lol means nothing anymore

Nic says: (22:54:16)
Well I realised that as soon as I typed the first sentence that it really wasn't needed unless you didn't have a clue what a castle was...

Bec says: (22:55:06)
ha ha ha ha ha ha

Nic says: (22:55:48)
'A dim moment - by Nicola'....

Scared? You will be!

So....

At the time of this entry I have 1 month 9 days 9 hours and 34 minutes until the Flora London Marathon or rather just over 5 weeks.... ARGH!!

I now have my iPod marathon tracks all chosen and my Nike + sensor is ready to go!
I'm still struggling on what my "Power Track" should be (While in the Nike + workout session, by pressing a button on your iPod you stop the current playlist and play your motivation boosting song for when you are flagging).
I was originally thinking of Chariots of Fire, but not only is that a bit too cheesy, I think it may freak people out if I fall into pace of the beat and start some slow mo action.
Still a work in progress methinks.

As for training, I admit it's been a bit patchy, but I've stuck with it. I just hope what I've done is enough! I WILL get to the finish line, even if it takes me 9 years!

Still not worked out what would be best to wear, but thank god my running shoes are fully broken in now, knowing my pathetic skin, this marathon is gonna hurt....lots.
I also need to work out what hat I'm going to use. Since my skin has the ability to suffer from moon burn (A slight exaggeration but it is pathetic, once I managed to get sun stroke from a RAINY CLOUDY DAY and had to be sent home from school the next day). I WILL need a hat of some sort if I'm to prevent myself from turning pillar box red....

So lots to sort but I'm getting there.... just trying to keep the lid on the nerves!

ttfn
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