just the thing...

I found these serviettes yesterday in Zürich, just the right size for the inchie cubes and the kind of images I like.

I just have to show you what I used for the hidden compartment, Nathalie you were right about using matchboxes, it's just an unusual shape which was fortunate as I had already cut the middle of the book out before I realised there wasn't enough room left to put in a full- sized matchbox!

Inchie cubes

Patty over at Magpies Nest http://bitze.wordpress.com/ came up with the most wonderful tutorial last week (17.11.08) and I finally managed to sit down and have a go at an inchie cube

I made the base out of thick card following the template then punched out 1" pics alternating blue and yellow which I glued on. I sanded it lightly then used a bit of Antique ink to tone the colour down a bit, I finished the edges with a heavy gold pen.

I threaded the cube onto wire but it didn't look quite right so I went for my ever faithful upholstory tacks instead! I could imagine a pile of these as part of a table decoration or even threaded onto a tag rather like the bookmarks you can get with beads hanging from the bottom.

distraction

Contrary to photographic evidence I did manage to stay focused today, I finished and packed the banners for posting to the US, added a bit of paint to the houses ( 2 out of 4 ain't bad) made a cube inchie which I'll reveal tomorrow in the light of day and chopped up another book.

I opened this one up and found a title page to end all title pages, I mean just look at it, how divine is that??!! Only problem is it smells rather like something from my Grandmother's cupboard, it's obviously lived a fabulous life of it's own but I hope I can tone it down just a little bit with a couple of layers of paint.

I even managed to make the beginnings of a hidden compartment in this one, I followed the instructions I found in a book by
Bev Brazelton called Altered Books Workshop. She glued the sides together then cut into the book, far easier than what I did with the previous one .

unfinished business

This week I 've set myself the task of completing all those half finished projects. The first two houses don't have a single Christmasy thing about them, suspected as much!

I just need to find some metal hooks to hang them

The last of my fav flowers

End of the week

I don't really seem to have achieved much this week, the majority of my time has been taken up by visitor's days in both the kindergarten and school. This morning I spent over an hour looking for the phone which I eventually found in my daughter's craft cupboard, the worst part is I put it there myself while I was looking for a bit of cork to attach the lovely Marie, suffice is to say I'm pleased it's the last day of long week. Anyway, I re-stamped Marie and cut a dress out of an old paper bag from a French shop, I heard her muttering that it's not nearly posh enough but I'm afraid it'll have to do. After the orange hair incident I've decided to just leave her alone.

I attached several Grungeboard elements to the front, I think I probably should have done a bit more than just paint them black but nevertheless it's quite an interesting material to work with. I've had several goes at photographing the whole cover but have given up, big storms are sweeping in here, the light is terrible and everything I photograph ends up either shiny or white

In lieu of a suitable beau for Madame to look at I stamped some crows onto Mica and glued them on with a bit of Diamond Glaze.

Poor old Herr Deck's eyebrows nearly went out the top of his head when I said I wanted to chop the tops of some flat headed nails, apparently they really are as hard as nails. I told him I'd already managed to get the tops off the upholstory tacks and he assured me the nails would be twice as difficult so I settled for some half beads, not quite the look I was after but at least they're on. Off to eat a tub of Ben & Jerry's and watch mindless telly...

and another one

I feel like I want to just sit down and make the last five cards to complete my year's journey and get it out of the way but that would probably defeat the purpose of making spontaneous weekly art so I'll just hang in there a little bit longer. I think the greatest thing I've learnt in the past year is the importance of actually beginning, sounds a bit silly to say but previously I'd kind of want to complete the project in my head before I began, but because I've made myself do something every week I've had to get on with it and stick down that first bit of paper, make the first splash of paint and see what transpired. I'm pleasantly surprised where this way of working has taken me and although I've forgotten most of what's hidden in those envelopes I have a sneaky feeling I'm going to like it all! roll on Dec 31st!!

wedding anniversary

Well, the darling old bloke and I reached the 10 year mark on Saturday and decided to celebrate on top of the world. I'm embarrassed to say I've been in Switzy for some time and until now have never made it up Pilatus (7000ft) We went up through the clouds, and came out to this...

in keeping with tradition we ate this...

and then we sat wrapped in a Granny blanket and contemplated life...

Xmas banner

I got up this morning thinking I would get on with the 6 mini banner pieces I need to complete for a swap by the end of the month. I had a feeling I would probably like the finished article but didn't realise quite how much! I so very rarely keep what I make but I've decided these are going nowhere! my DH is always bemoaning the fact that the good stuff goes out the door and this time I agree! I still have enough fabric to make another three so will begin again.

I cut two fabric pieces and sandwiched a piece of altered music between then sewed the whole thing together

I picked up the lace from the local secondhand shop

while you were sleeping

Just have to show you what I've been feasting on this morning, one of the best breads around! This is made only at full moon and is unbelievably yummy, very crusty on the outside and soft inside. I always try not to eat it all at once but boy is it a challenge!! I've made a note to leave some for the kids, but it's only just gone 9 and I'm perhaps being a bit optimistic, coffee 2, bread 3, Edam slices 4 , oh dear oh dear...

Book surpirse

Ok, so I did it, I chopped up a book! what fun! I've done one of these before but this time I decided to leave the pages uncovered which having cut them all presented a bit of a challenge to stick them back together again.

I spread glue and glitter everywhere (Patty LOL!)

The black and gold theme is in keeping with the black cover

I stamped Marie Antoinette and painted her but she's so badly dressed she clashes with EVERYTHING, I think she'll have to wait for another venue, don't know what I was thinking?? I blame the light, I mean really, her hair is orange!!

prep and parade

I spent yesterday preparing my Christmas houses although I'm not sure about the roofs now, they don't look very seasonal and may just end up being year round houses. When I started I thought the pattern on the spotty paper was too big and yet now it's the one I like the best.

Last night was the Räbeliechtli parade in the town. All the kids carve a turnip the day before then walk together through the town the following evening. The band leads the way and a horse and cart brings up the rear. It finishes at the school with food and mayhem. The turnip carving can get a bit competitive with some very elaborate designs making a show. This year I went for a simple but effective idea I saw in a Martha Stewart mag (thank you Hera!)

Clean me

My daughter was sent home with her paint box because she needed to clean it. Well now, I guess it all depends on your definition of clean, don't get me wrong, I'm all for looking after your tools but it is a paint box afterall, isn't it supposed to have a bit of life in it??

my mixing tray and water pot - no comment!

Stamps

I thought I'd give myself an early Xmas present and look what arrived!! Just love these stamps from Catherine Moore http://www.characterconstructions.com/ I can see this won't be the last time I order! they were beautifully packaged in the tissue paper above (which I've used already!) with a postcard for inspiration

Finally I have a Dame stamp! and doesn't she look just fab

Christmas cards here I come! Only downside is I've just discovered I haven't got any stamp cleaner or an acrylic block big enough, ho hum more waiting for stuff to arrive