some Sunshine!

First bespoke order of the year and it's a really cute one...

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are grey.

You never know dear how much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away.

First off is to mark out...

Then to choose the paint colours. www.anniesloan.com www.diy.com www.docrafts.com 

Then to paint... 

First coat done, it's time to add a little something extra.

These gorgeous wooden shapes are approx. 40mm high and from https://www.facebook.com/lincslasercraftshapes beautifully detailed, well priced and fantastic customer service! 

Second coat done, shapes painted and glued into place. Hope you all like...

Apologies for quality of the photos, was attempting to do from phone to see how it turned out.  Will stick to computer next time! 

projects at home for 2014!

So this year I really want to get some projects at home done. Several of them are years overdue, some new but all have been pushed aside as the end of the 2013 was so busy (not complaining!); so my view is this year if I start early I might be in with a chance of getting them done...

Project One - MERRY CHRISTMAS

Might seem a little untimely,  but as I never managed to get them painted before Christmas I thought i'd paint before putting away again!

Not quite sure what I'm going to do, but will probably be fairly traditional colours with a little bling thrown in, keep an eye on my FB page for progress and I'll blog when finished.

Project Two - SAMUEL'S CANVAS

This is 2 years overdue now and as he's had this above his cot for that time, I think it's only fair I get it done this year!

Project Three - PLAYROOM WALL

Because it brings back many happy memories and because it just looks cool, I'm going to hand paint the London Underground map on the boys playroom wall.  Will add a bit of colour to the walls as well...

Project Four - DINING ROOM WALL

I wanted to do something a little different than either paint, wallpaper or paintings on the wall; I saw this idea last year on Channel 4 and thought it was very effective (couldn't find original link, but found one better, someone who has gone before me LOL).  I'll collect all different sized, shaped plates (especially ones with molded detail) and then paint them in matte finish.  Think i'll do the majority in one colour and possibly highlight colours here or there to match in with the Harlequin fabric of my curtains and blinds...

Project Five - HALL

No idea what I'm going to do, bit it will be a HUGE white canvas from the White Collection, ideas on a postcard!

Anyway that should be enough to keep me out of trouble...

Keep following to see my progress,

Fay x

finally getting over the festive period!

I can't believe it's 2014, and how little time I've had. Is it just me or does no-one else get the chance to sit down till about 9pm (even on days off) to finally get to do their 'hobby'?  I just don't where the hours go in the day...

So finally I can share some of my Christmas Orders, I hope you like.

I love this particular quote (and style of canvas).  It's a large canvas 50cm x 100cm and used to take me forever to paint as each letter is painted individually, before painting the canvas and then gluing each letter to the canvas.  Until I discovered Annie Sloan chalk paints this used to take about 7 coats, whereas now I'm looking at 2-3 with a much nicer finish as well!  It also means that time wise, it's a lot quicker and best of all cost wise, it's a lot more reasonable.

Next was another white collection canvas, a completely personalised quote to the customer which I thought was just fantastic.

I really enjoyed doing this, might not be to everyone's taste, but certainly made me chuckle!

Now for the original reason I bought the Annie Sloan paints - which I got from the fabulous The Vintage Corner in Pocklington, York - distressed canvases...

Again a large canvas 12" x 32", perfect for above a headboard! Was really pleased with how this turned out...

Having seen how well this worked I had two letter canvases to do and my lovely customer kindly let me use my artistic discretion and go with the same style.

Thank you to all my lovely customers, without whom this wouldn't be possible and I enjoy so much so long may it continue!

Would love to hear your thoughts and please follow my blog and facebook page to see some exciting projects I will be undertaking at home this year, along with my lovely customer orders.  

Here wishing everyone a fab 2014!

Fay x

 

time for her baby...

So I've  been busy making some bits for my babies room.  I had already made the bedding with the fab Peter Rabbit material for his cot and so decided to add a few bits to his room...

I got a pattern for a door stop (original link/pattern no longer available but think this one is better! Though wouldn't bother interlining unless really thin material) which i'd made for a couple of family members, and it's so easy and cute I thought i'd use for baby Samuel's room.  Seriously it's so easy and you end up with this!

I then got a little giddy and went 'off-pattern' to create some tie-backs...  

Needed: Spare material

4 x D Rings

Thread

Cut 2 lengths (whatever you have hanging around, approx 20" x 4") of fabric and 4 small tabs (approx 3" x 1").  Fold the two lengths in half  - good sides in - and sew down one length (leaving 0.5" un-sewn at each end) then turn right side out and press.

At the same time press the smallest hem on each side of the long length of your 'tabs', these are used to attached your D-rings.  Sew down each hem, no need to back stitch as these will be en-cased in the actual tie-back.  It's just for a good finish...

Fold these tabs over the D-Rings (I had some from old tie-backs I no longer used) and sew across to fix in place.  Don't worry if not very neat as will all be covered up shortly!

Fold in the ends of the tie back lengths (you can do this when pressing and press these for neatness, but no biggy), and then slot in the 'tabs' and pin in place...

Sew round the full length approx 5mm in from the edge, start half way down a length as will be covered when folded.  The edging not only gives a professional finish but attaches the 'tabs' to the actual tie backs. 

Once sewn you are left with these fab tie backs! 

Hope my instructions were okay, thought i'm aware some pics initially would have been good!  Any questions just ask!

Fay x

P.S Up-cycling at it's best, all made from off-cuts x

Mod Podge!

So I know I'm way behind everyone else, but I have finally discovered Mod Podge!  And in the words of Craig Revel Horwood it's A-ma-zing!!!!!!!

Here is the canvas as I was applying the Mod Podge.  I'd already used to stick down the poster image and then used it to seal everything.  I must admit the first time I put a coat on I panicked a little till I saw it drying!

Once it had dried I then stuck all the letters down.  I do by eye rather than measuring exactly as I prefer that way, and once I'd stuck down all the letters then I gave them all a coat of the Mod Podge aswell to give them a nice matte gloss finish, almost like the poster itself.

Using the wooden letters in the TinTin font gives it that real 3D effect which I love.

I hope and think you'll agree it looks fab! Can't wait for Henry to see...

Next Projects: Memory Boxes and a Union Jack Canvas for middle boy Freddie!

Fay x

P.S A huge thanks to Granny Bling who had the boys this afternoon, meaning I didn't need to lose my Saturday night in order to finish this!

a few extra hours in the day...

Okay so quite an exciting couple of weeks, although it's taken till now to get updating as there just aren't enough hours in the day.  I'm sure you know how it goes, the 'day' job is manic, the 'parent' job is manic and trying to fit in a little bit of crafting just seems so hard!  Made all that harder last weekend by 3 birthdays and a wedding anniversary, so it's all been a bit... manic! LOL :-) 

Anyway I've finally managed to get enough done to warrant updating the blog for you all to see what's going on.  As you know while I've been waiting on the letters to arrive for the TinTin canvas for my eldest, I've been keeping myself busy with some possible new additions to the Nursery Collection for 2013.

So the personalised building blocks are now finished! #woohoo.  I started off by painting the cubes themselves with three shades; grey, antique white and frosted mint as below:

Then I hit a little stumbling block (pardon the pun!) and couldn't decide whether to paint the letters all the same colour or different, I put it to my fab followers on Facebook and Twitter and out of many suggestions I liked the suggestion of different shades of the same (Thank you Jos, Helena and Angie!) so the next step was to paint the letters and place them on the cubes, think you'll agree the result is rather nice!

Will post a picture of the blocks in natural daylight on Friday so the colours can be fully appreciated.  They'll be available in grey, white and your choice of Mint, Lilac, Pink or Blue.  They can come with a simple a,b,c or could be completely personalised with a child's name.  I really think they'd look stunning in a Nursery, hope you agree?  Got to work on the boring bit now, costings...

Anyway will leave you with a few teasers of the TinTin canvas which I started today...

Hope to update you soon,

Fay x

New inspiration!

So it's 2013 and I promised that I'd start blogging about what I do and how I come up with ideas etc.  For those who don't already know Felicity is me! It's the name my parents couldn't agree on calling me, so Fay I became (fits perfectly!), but Felicity worked perfectly with my eldest two Henry & Freddie! So Henry, Fred and Felicity was born...

Last year was great and a real eye opener to what works and what doesn't for online sales, craft fairs etc.  I'm not saying I've got it right yet, but I certainly know a heck of a lot more than I did 12 months ago!

Anyway, this year I'm looking to expand in a couple of areas:

Canvases

I'll be looking at smaller versions of the name and phrase canvases as they are quite large (approx 40"wide) and also where customers want 2 or more (I have one at the moment who requires 5 in the spring!) I'm conscious that we're talking a lot of money at original size.  I'll also finally be making my boys their canvases I've been promising since we moved! 

Nursery Collection

I'm looking to add to the hand-knitted and sewn nursery collection with a range of hand-painted gifts.  I will be experimenting with toys, memory boxes and peg people over the next few weeks and will be keeping you posted with how I get along, so would love to hear your thoughts along the way!

Anyway time to go make tea, then looking for more inspiration tonight! 1st Job on the list is a Tin Tin name canvas for my eldest Henry (7).

Health and best wishes for 2013,

Fay x