Country Roses - TMTA

'English Rose' by Sue Smith

Yardley English Rose - I have a fond, yet faded childhood memory, of purchasing this perfume for my mother (or with my mother?) in a lovely department store, that is sadly no longer to be found on the main street where I live.  I do believe it was David Jones, but as I say it's a faded memory.

In my mind's eye, I still see this bottle sitting in pride of place on her dressing table and it's perfume was thrilling to me!  I'd sneak into my parents bedroom from time to time to have a whiff of this wonderful scent :)  And I still remember the delight when Mum wore it!

 I remember her coming into my Year Five classroom one day, dressed to the nines, and the boy sitting next to me commenting to me about her perfume!  My mother loved perfume and she had quite a collection. As I grew older I delighted in being allowed to share from her collection! 

Oh, how wonderful memories can be so simply triggered - the challenge at Think Monday Think ATC is 'Parfum-Fragrance' this week and from their challenge this little memory has come to light!  All stamped images are from Oxford Impressions 'Fairest Flower' rubber stamp plate and the lace edging is another op-shop find from these holidays :)

It's nearly Mothers Day in my part of the world... sometimes a sad and difficult time for me.  As my mother and grandmothers have passed from this world, all I can think about is how much I miss them.  They each have an influence on who I am and how I live and I'm thankful for the treasured memories I have of each one.
 
I hope for you that this Mothers Day will be a celebration and time of treasuring and remembering.  As for me, I shall dry my tears, splash on some perfume and seek out some other comforting memories of these amazing women.



Secret Place - Inspiration Emporium

'Secret Place' - ATC by Sue Smith

Yes, another new challenge site that I discovered today, thanks to Shelley Hickox.  Thanks Shelley!

Inspiration Emporium's first challenge requires you to use any shaped fragment you wish.  I was really pleased because I actually had some Tim Holtz fragments on hand!  Having never opened the packet before, I knew this would be just the motivation I needed to use one, as well as inking up this new set of Tim Holtz stamps for the first time.  The red buttons we a op-shop find in the holidays too!

Live - TPDCC79

'Live'

I've been checking out The Play Date Cafe for quite some time - it's full of inspiration!  Their current challenge is 'Red Lime Grey' as seen in the photograph below!

What a colour combination!!!  I think the texture of the velvet on the cushions also attracted me to this challenge.  Anyway as I sat to consider where to start I knew I wanted to use this set of Tim Holtz stamps which had not seen ink 'til today.  I was having a bit of a tidy up and came across a lime green tea bag cover that also had a tiny touch of red :)  The hardest things to find were the grey tonings, as I always think it's a bit too much like cement and I steer away from using it!  One of my friends adores grey, she raves about it and it's so I've been warming to the idea of having a play with it.  This challenge has enabled me to give grey a chance and you know what, I do actually like it!

Inkurable Stampers - Stitch In Time

'Stitch In Time' by Sue Smith

This is the first time I've participated in an Inkurable Stampers challenge.  It's their 3rd birthday and so the theme for April was '3'.  Within that theme you had to create a piece that incorporated three colours, three stamps and the number 3!

My three colours:  purple, sand and black

My three stamps:  Dress form, textile and spool (all Tim Holtz)

Number 3:  Was highlighted from dressmaking tissue used in the background.

Happy Birthday Inkurable Stampers!

Home

Home - there's no place like it!

The theme for the postcard swap group I'm in this month is 'bird'.

There's lots of layering in the background... Bingo card, vintage text, gesso, dressmaking tissue...

Stamped images are by Oxford Impression, label is ARTchix Studio, egg paper by 7 Gypsies, letters by Collections

and

a feather gathered discretely at a bird park - not I didn't pluck it from the Guinea fowl, I promise! I found it on the ground and scooped it up with glee when no one was looking :) 

Future Shock

'Future Shock' for Shelley

Finally, finally I've managed to make this Steampunk postcard that was supposed to be completed in March for a swap group I'm involved with this year!  All stamped images are by Oxford Impressions, some collage images are from ARTchix Studio and the remainder from an old book from which I rip out some pages ages ago and not 'til today realised how perfectly well they would work with this theme!

Now to get onto April's postcard!  You never know I may even manage to get this one in the mail on time!!!

Frolicked

'Frolicked' by Sue Smith

A postcard for Jenny - will be in the post on Tuesday :)
February's theme for our postcard swap group was 'Marine'.

Most stamped images are by Oxford Impressions (The Deep, Dress Forms and Corsetry, Marie Antoinette) as well as some Character Constructions arms!

Discover!

'Discover' for Jan

This year I'm participating in a postcard swap with a small group of Australian women.  The theme for January was 'Travel'... I have only just completed January's postcard and must get to on the next one soon!  Anyway, the ladies have all made gorgeous postcards and I know this is going to be a wonderful swap to be involved with!

All my stamped images are from Oxford Impressions rubber stamp plate 'Maiden Voyage'. 

Every Inchie Monday - Caring

'Special'

I was thinking about a dear friend of mine whilst making this inchie.  She is such an encouragement to me and to many others... so caring, so thoughtful, so wise!  She's going through a battle at the moment and I pray that those who love her, will show her how special she is by caring for her, just as she faithfully cares for them.

This ARTchix image is just a perfect way to convey the theme over at Every Inchie Monday this week - Caring.   

Tag Tuesday - A Bit of Fabric



'Hydrangea Princess'

A Bit of Fabric is the theme at Tag Tuesday this week - how fantastic!  You might already know that I love, love, love fabric.  I've been sorting things out in the 'studio' this past week (not that you would be able to tell after spending the day there today).  Anyway a tidy-up often reveals hidden treasures and I came across this fabric tag that been attached to a jacket I bought 5 odd years ago!  See it truly pays to never throw out anything because  you never know when it may come in handy!!!

I've just started participating in the online course 'Romancing The Paper' being taught be the very talented Rachel Emilie Jackson over at Crescendoh.  This week we have been learning about drying and preserving flowers.  It's been so much fun and I just had to include a hydrangea flower in my tag today, freshly pressed this week!

All these wonderful stamped images are from Oxford Impressions Fairy Sweets plate.

Every Inchie Monday - Powerful

'Music & Poetry'

I was sharing with one of my friends yesterday about how powerful music can be... it can bring you to great emotional heights, give comfort - lifting you from misery, bring tears to your eyes and speak to your heart like nothing else.  I know when I listen to music my mother loved is moves me beyond measure. Poetry can have the same effect for other people, but for me, music is very powerful.  I thank God for those those gifted musicians and singers that are willing to share with us their talents, blessing us richly with the gift of music.

The theme over at Every Inchie Monday this week is 'Powerful'!

The violinist image is from ARTchix Studio.

Meet Joy!

'Joy'

She's a tangible piece of inspiration to 'Dream Big' which just happens to be the theme over at Wednesday Stamper this week.  This piece is quite symbolic - I'm dreaming big at the start of a new year.  Behind this banner I've stashed away a little envelope filled with a list of things that bring joy to my life... a gentle reminder that I'm surrounded with a life filled with many a thing to be joyful about.

There's a touch of influence from Kelly Rae Roberts and Rachel Emilie Jackson  - two great artists to draw inspiration from.

And some gorgeous Stampotique rubber too!  Which brings me to another challenge over at the Stampotique challenge blog the current theme is 'Punches and Die Cuts'.  You need to include at least one die cut shape and one punched shape.  I've used the tag die cut from Tim Holtz Alterations die cuts and the music note punch by Carl. 

Tag Tuesday - Mosaic

'Admit One'

Can you tell I've still got the Stampotique bee stamps designed by Jo Capper-Sandon sitting on my desk?  I just love them and it's been fun playing with them this week!

Mosaic is the theme over at Tag Tuesday, come on and join in the mosaic fun!  It's a great way to use up some of those little tiny scraps that you can't bear to throw out.

Every Inchie Monday - Eclectic

'No 1' Inchie

Here's a new challenge for a new year!

Every Inchie Monday... and the key word this week is 'Eclectic'

My inchie was created from some of the eclectic bits 'n bobs sitting on my art table.  

The bee is rubber designed by Jo Capper-Sandon for Stampotique

Oxford Impressions - Dress Forms And Corsetry

'No. 2'

Whenever I look through my collection of buttons and other sewing treasures I find myself drifting back to times spent with Mum and both my Grandmothers as they stitched, knitted and created things for both the ordinary and extraordinary times in life.  Each of them talented, each of them passionate, each of them pursuing excellence in all that they made.  To my knowledge, I don't think any one of them had a mannequin to assist them whilst dressmaking, but I do wonder if they hoped for one. 

Perhaps those of us taking the undesirable role of  'mannequin' hoped all the more for one... oh, the irritation (and pain) of having to stand tall and remain still whilst the hem was being pinned...

'Rhinestones'

But oh the joy of being able to spin and twirl and twist around in a new outfit made the process all the more bearable!

'Paris'

Like my mother, my grandmothers or myself, you may not yet own a mannequin.  But you can dream and play with these gorgeous ones from Oxford Impressions latest plate 'Dress Forms and Corsetry'.

Dear Santa - Oxford Impressions

'Dear Santa'  All images from 'Sleigh Bells' rubber plate by Oxford Impressions.

Oh the excitement and anticipation, waiting for Santa to deliver his gift.

I don't think I ever wrote a letter to Santa when I was a child, but I can't help wondering what I might have hoped for?

This year Sean Alexander became one of Santa's little helpers.

 

It was amazing to watch him help Santa deliver gifts... he even put his own gift aside to continue handing out gifts 'til the job was done!

A gift for Grandpa!

Ho Ho Ho - Happy Christmas!!!



Joyeux Noel

'Joyeux Noel'

I don't know about you, but I'm still delighting in Christmas.  It is such a special time of the year as we celebrate and remember the birth of Jesus.  So it's been lovely to be able to put this card together today and reflect a little more about the true meaning of Christmas.  I've been pondering how extraordinary it must have been for those shepherds to see angels appear in the sky announcing the birth of this precious child.

"Glory to God in the highest,

 and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests." 

Book of Luke

This sweet angel is from Oxford Impressions lastest Christmas rubber plate 'Sleigh Bells'.

Season of Delight

'Season of Delight'

I had a lovely time playing with Oxford Impressions new 'Sleigh Bells' plate today.  I've got grand plans to make some more tags and ATC's before Christmas, so I better get a move on!

Tim Holtz 4th Day of Christmas

Here's my first interpretation of this year's 12 Days of Christmas Tags by Tim Holtz for the 4th Day of Christmas.  I have not been able to find the time to make the tags for days 1-3 yet, but do hope to catch up when I can.  I really wanted to try the technique used to create the snowflake embellishment... which I did and the rest of the card just fell into place.  I'm planning to make miniture versions of Tim's tags as I didn't have any large tags at home.  I think it will be fun to display them together this Christmas - just hope I have more than one to display by Christmas!!!

The only 'Tim Holtz' product I had on hand was alcohol ink (and not the same colour), so I've adapted most of the tag as best I could, even down to creating my own 'wish ticket' with a scrap of paper and alphabet stamps.

I've really been enjoying visiting here and seeing how Shelley has been adapting things for her tags.  Thanks for the inspiration, Shelley!

7 Swans

'seven swans a-swimming' as seen in

Cardmaking, Stamping & Papercraft Vol 16 No8

I was delighted to be a part of the '12 Days of Christmas' special feature in CSP and loved putting this piece together with this gorgeous Oxford Impressions swan.  I love the way CSP have stylised my work here!