About Me

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Christmas Therapy 2

This time we are sewing these...they only take 10 minutes to make.
The other day, while waiting at the dentist, I found this design for a Reindeer, in a magazine. I sketched it in my diary and then drew it larger on some white paper, when I got home.

You will need all of these...to make the reindeer.
Pin the cut-out paper Reindeer on to the brown felt (2 layers), and cut out 2, pin them together...
Select some coloured embroidery thread (I didn't have brown, so I used green), and thread up your needle. It's time to start sewing...
Start sewing, start from his belly...use "Running stitch" - - - - - - - it's simple and easy.
Sew all around, leaving an opening under neath. Then stuff small bits of cotton wool inside. A small paint brush will help you, to push the cotton inside, into his antlers.

Finish the sewing.
Use a small bit of green felt and a bell, to make a collar for the Reindeer.
Sew red embroidery thread, for his nose and for a loop on top. Now he's ready to hang on the tree...
Here he is on the tree, the boys love him, and even the cat loves him...
Last year I made angels... (in all different colours),
and stars, the boys even helped.

Friday, November 14, 2014

Christmas Art Therapy

It's been a long time between blog posts... But I've been distracted. But, I've started the Christmas decorations a bit earlier this year... Christmas has a habit of creeping up on me!

The process is very easy. First you need a polystyrene ball. A size that will work for you. (I have found that the larger balls get very heavy and don't go on the tree very well, but they make great table decorations). The medium ones, take 2-3 hours.
You need lots of pins, I have large and small ones. The medium balls, take about 2 packets of pins (50g) to finish.
You also need lots of sequins... I use 3-4 colours on each ball. Check the brand of sequins. before you buy up big. Sometimes the holes in the sequins are bigger than the pin heads. To compensate this problem, you can add a glass bead to the pin, to make the size bigger and for some added texture and variety.
Using a pen, draw up the design. It will be covered by the sequins and pins, so don't worry if you make a mistake. Then it's time to add the pin into the sequin, pushing it into the ball.
Here are some finished ones...
Later, I add a fishing line to the ball, wrapping the fishing line around one pin and using 4 other pins to secure it, to the ball. Now it's ready for the tree!
A box of finished ones... I pin, while watching TV and in between household jobs and kids. They make great gifts and you also can put names on the balls, to make them even more special.  Click here to see last year's designs.

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Three ATC's by PurpleCathy

No. 36
No. 37
No. 38
These are the new ones in the ETSY shop, click here for more details...

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Seven ATC's by PurpleCathy

No. 29
No. 30
No. 31
No. 32
No. 33
No. 34
No. 35
I'm really enjoying the ATC size, just perfect for small spaces... they are in the ETSY shop, click here if you want to shop!

Monday, October 13, 2014

Ten ATC's by PurpleCathy

No. 19
No.20
No.21
No.22
No.23
No.24
No.25
No.26
No.27
No.28
All of these were made using pen and ink and watercolour over the top. These are all in the ETSY shop, click here to go shopping.

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

No 15, ATC, by PurpleCathy

No 15.
A likeness of a friend, who loves Purple, Cats and Paris as much as me...

Monday, October 6, 2014

New Goodies, by PurpleCathy

Today and yesterday I picked up some exciting goodies...

These little beauties are just out. Yesterday in Paris, I found the most amazing shop, called Cultura. Inside the shop there are books, cds, dvds, video games, toys, craft and art supplies.... a shop for everyone!
I can't wait to use them...if you want to know more about them go  here
Who could resist this book? I saw it in the bookshop in the Louvre last visit and I thought it might be a good buy. But it weighs nearly 3 kilos, so watch out... I bought it at the book depository, to save my back and shoulder... click here to order yours.