Happy Halloween!!

Amazing what you can do with a pair of brown tights, some pipe cleaners and a couple of polystyrene balls!! Introducing Max the snail!

Rocket & Co.

I am starting a new venture under the name 'Rocket & Co." 

Please take a look at my facebook page www.facebook.com/RocketandCo 

to see what I've been working on.  

I hope you like!

Salt dough foot and hand prints

A couple of weeks ago I had a go at doing some salt dough footprints and handprints of Max's teeny tiny gorgeous feet and hands.  It took a couple of attempts to get a really nice dough but the one I found to be best was the one with a higher amount of salt than flour.  

Here's the recipe:-

Mix 240g flour and 300g salt, gradually add up to 240ml of water.  Don't make it too wet!!

Here's what to do:-

Take a chunk of the mixture and roll it around in a bit of flour to get a really nice consistency, you don't want it to be sticky or it will stick to the baby's hand or foot. Mould in to the desired shape leaving it quite thick allowing for the imprint of the hand or foot.  Find a lovely little baby foot or hand (some babies won't let you do a hand print and will just grab the dough!) and push the foot or hand in to the dough.  I then cut around a lid of a cream cheese tub to get a nice shape (it's a good size for a babies foot)  Then if you'd like to hang your footprint use a drinking straw to push out one or two holes at the top of your plaque.  I then added Max's name around the edge of the dough shape using stamping letters and they show up really nicely.  When you're happy with your plaque you then have to leave it to dry which can take some time.  Either put it in the oven on a low heat (50oc) for a few hours or leave out in the sun as much as you can...my conservatory was a good place for drying!

When they were finally dry I then varnished them with a matt furniture varnish which didn't change the colour of them and just finished them off nicely and adds a protection that will stop then going mouldy over time.  I then tied a blue ribbon through the holes to allow me to hang them somewhere in the house...where is yet to be decided!

 Above and below: All dried, varnished and presented with ribbon ready to hang.

 I also did footprints of the babies in my NCT group!

Above:- Footprints of all the NCT babies

Baby photo shoot

Yesterday I went along to Mothercare to get some photos taken of Max.  It took an hour and Max loved the attention and the camera.  At the end of it I had the option of buying various photos and packages at very expensive prices.  I managed to leave having just purchased one photo.  The whole experience did make me want to have a go myself, so today I made my own mini studio in the bright conservatory and tried to re create some of the photos that we did yesterday but that I couldn't afford to buy.  Once again Max loved it (I think that shows in the pictures) and I am so pleased with the results :o)  I've been busy framing some of the photos this evening. 

I know I'm biased but boy isn't my boy scrummy!!!

Happy Anniversary Mum and Dad

My Mum and Dad celebrated their 41st wedding anniversary on Monday.  I decided to make them a card celebrating them and the family they have produced over those years in a family tree card.  

At the top is my mum and dad, then my brother, me and my sister and then underneath each of us the children we have....I have some catching up to do as my brother and sister both have three!!! ;o)

I used the saying "from Mighty Oaks tiny acorns grow" which I thought worked quite nicely until my dad pointed out that the saying is actually "Mighty Oaks from tiny acorns grow"..oops.  still you get the idea.

Jungle Canvas

I've finally finished the jungle canvas in Max's nursery, a project that I started when I was 6 months pregnant!!!! It's been hanging in the nursery un finished for the past 7 months since Max's arrival and every time I looked at it I felt bad for having not finished it, SO, a couple of evenings staying up until 2am and I did it!! Hurray!! 

Above:- Finally Finished!! Jungle canvas painted with acrylic paints and layered with a collage of papers to create the leaves and grass.

 Max has always been very interested in the canvas.  He loves to touch it and always smiles when I hold him near it.  I talk him through all the animals and tell him what noises they all make (although I get a little stuck when I get to the giraffe!) which always gets him laughing.

 The nursery has a  jungle theme and the canvas really is the centre piece. Max is also building a very nice little collection of jungle animal soft toys!

Above:- Max's Jungle room.

Now, what to do next ;o)

For Poppy

I went to a very special Christening on Sunday.  It was for a little girl called Poppy who has made quite an impression on my little man Max over the past 7 months!  Poppy's mum Catharine has quickly become a very good friend of mine since our babies arrival within 3 days of each other.  We met at NCT classes when our babies were just bumps and we, along with 7 other new mummies have formed a really special friendship while experiencing the many new and rewarding challenges that motherhood brings.  

Poppy's Christening gave me an excuse to make a special gift for her and her mummy, a gift that I hope they will treasure.  

I used photos of Poppy and some fitting bits of music sheets including 'eyes o blue' and 'a smile for me' which seemed to sit really well surrounded by all the beautiful smiling pictures of Poppy!  I'm really pleased with how the frame turned out and I hope that they like it too.

I couldn't resist taking a photo of Poppy's super cute shoes on her Christening day and decided to use the picture to make a personal gift tag.

In with the Old

I've recently re decorated my work space at home to try and brighten it up and make it a more inspiring place.  As part of my re vamp I put together a mood board to display on the wall...the idea being that I'll constantly be updating and replacing this mood board to keep me inspired and excited.

At the moment the mood board is based around old treasures and I titled it 'In with the Old'

My mood board includes old photos, postcards and stamps that I've found in car boot sales and antique shops.

  

Above- My finished mood board on the wall in my new work space (this is the tidy half of the room, the other side is far more messy and colourful!)

Little pieces of art

Here'a a couple of images I created using just some of my many hoards of treasures and bits and bobs.  It was really nice to get all the old bits of jewellery I've collected over the years out, I didn't realise I had so much (mainly thanks to my nan's costume jewellery collection).  I also love the old vintage sewing accessories, especially the old tape measure and needle packets! I feel the scrabble letters fit in well with the feel of the images, giving an overall feel of attic finds and shabby chic treasures!

 I entered these photos in to the 'Tigerprint' female photography competition and my 'Wonderful Treasures' image got to the final 24!! Not bad :)

Farrant Art Prints

As I'm sure I've mentioned before my partner is a very talented painter, as is his father David.  They have just launched a website (designed by Jim's sister..very talented family all round!) promoting and selling high quality giclee prints of some of their wonderful work.  Take a look at Farrant Art!

PADDLING

45 cm x 48 cm (number in edition 195)

£195

SUSANNAH

50 cm x 54 cm (number in edition 95)

£275

The top painting paddling features our nutty Cocker Spaniel Rocket and the bottom painting is me!!

Box Frame Art

I recently painted my new work space bright white in order to make it as light as possible.  I wanted to break up that white with interesting pieces on the wall.  Last summer I collected quite a few box frames from car boot sales but was yet to put them to good use...until a couple of weeks ago when I finally got some super glue and made some funky pieces of art.

 Above:- Using some old rusty keys bought from a car boot sale for 30p each!

 Above:- I have sooooo many buttons, I thought it would be nice to display some of the more

 interesting ones within this long box frame.

And here's my 'Art Wall' so far!!

Little Play Spaces

My Sister in law Kate Fagelman has designed and produced this wonderful cardboard play space in the design of a french cafe. Check out her website 'Little Play Spaces'

I would have LOVED something like this when I was a little girl and can't wait until Max is old enough for pretend play...I just hope he lets me join in!!

Scrabble anyone?

During last years car boot season I became obsessed with finding old scrabble sets.  I wasn't quite sure what I intended on doing with all the letters but I knew they were cool and I'd find a use eventually.  So over a year later and I've finally created a few funky box frames of scrabble art!
The first one I created was using the title of my blog.

I then went on to create a few personalised frames. I created one for my sister and one for my sister in law.  Each frame joins the word 'Family' and all the family members names.  It doesn't work with every family but for the two I choose it works very well.

 Above. My sister's family in scrabble art.

Above. My sister in law's family in scrabble art.

I've got a feeling my obsession with finding old scrabble sets will continue!

Wedding Gift

Yesterday I went to a beautiful wedding of my friend Alison and her lovely man Steve and witnessed as they became Mr and Mrs Leforte.  It was a gorgeous sunny day in a picturesque part of the country in Surrey and I think it's fair to say a jolly good time was had by all.
I decided to make them a gift that will hopefully symbolise their wedding and remind them of their special day whenever they look at it.

Using the same concept as my butterfly frames I cut out small hearts out of a combination of vintage music sheets and interesting papers and then positioned them so they made up one big heart.  I also personalised three of the central hearts with the bride and grooms names and the wedding date.  I framed it in a simple white box frame.  I'm really pleased with the final result and I hope they like it!!

Congratulations Alison and Steve!!!!

My best creation yet!!

Max Jack William Farrant finally arrived (14 days late) on Friday 4th of February 2011 at 04.35 weighing an impressive 10lbs 4.5oz.  He's super scrummy :o)

'Papillon' Greetings Cards

I was shopping in Taunton with my Mum yesterday and was very pleased to come across some of my card designs in the shops.  I was especially pleased to see 3 of my designs in 'Boots'!! I just had to take a picture!!

This is a design I did for a range called 'Papillon' by Paperclip Cards.  I designed 8 cards to replenish an existing range that was originally designed by my very talented work colleague Kim Anderson.  The horse carousel design is my favourite out of the 8 so it was great to see it among the other cards at Boots.

6 of my designs for the 'Papillon' range.

I also designed some Christmas cards within this range for the Dutch market. Here are my 3 favourites.

Changing cupboards

I'm a big believer in rescuing old bits of furniture and giving them a new life/purpose.  Over a year ago I bought a cupboard from a charity shop for £5 and until recently it has been sitting in the conservatory filled with dog toys (most of them needing repair).
With the impending new arrival I decided to give it a new lease of life and transform it from a bit of a tatty cupboard to a baby changing unit.
Now obviously I'm in no fit state to be doing furniture renovation so I happily passed the job over to a much more able and talented carpenter and painter, my fiance Jim.
He did an amazing job and I am so pleased with it.  It's the perfect height for changing and it has a great amount of storage underneath for all the nappies and baby bits.

Jim added a ledge around the top of the cupboard for the changing mat to fit in to, to make sure it was safe and secure.  He then painted it and added new handles...simple ;o)

We also have a very happy dog as there's nowhere for all his toys except the conservatory floor so he's now surrounded by balls, ropes and cuddly animals!!  picture to follow!

Nursery bits and bobs

I've been doing the odd bits and bobs for the nursery for a while now but actually finished a project yesterday (I tend to start lots of things but take ages to finish them!).  We know we're having a boy but rather than go for a blue themed nursery I decided on a more funky and colourful colour scheme.  Back in the summer I found a pack of quilting fabric by 'Freebird MoMo'.  It consisted of 35 different squares of fabric each with different funky patterns but all in the perfect colours for my colour scheme idea.

The first thing I did with the fabric was to make bunting for around the room to add an instant colour lift to an otherwise magnolia room.

After making the bunting I was still left with a lot of material so this week I decided to make a patchwork cushion!! It was one of those projects that as soon as I'd started I kind of wished I hadn't.  I don't have a sewing machine and sewing lots of squares together is quite time consuming and I kept thinking I should probably be making a stew for the freezer or something else 'more productive'.  But I went against my gemini trait and stuck with it and actually finished it in less than a day!! and I'm really pleased with it!

I have two more uncovered cushions that need suitable colourful covers made but I think I'll leave it for a little while..and maybe I'll admit defeat and realise it's time I got myself a sewing machine and learnt how to use it!!

Nesting!!

I'm very close to having baby now (due date is 20th January) and I'm definitely feeling the nesting instinct kicking in.  I've mainly been cleaning random areas and bits around my house that I've never noticed in the 2 years I've lived here (the airing cupboard, the washing machine drawer) but I have also been doing a few bits and bobs for the nursery so I thought I'd share one of them with you now and then I'll try my best to post some other nursery bits soon!

Twit Twoooo book end.

This is Twit Twoooo, a bookend I made a while ago based on a previous 'owl experiment'.  I had a little bit of help from my mum when it came to sewing him together on the machine (I don't have the skills when it comes to using a sewing machine!!).  He is made from old bits of scrap material, felt for his feet and beak and buttons for his eyes and wing joints.  He's filled with rice to make him heavy enough to keep the books standing.  I'm really pleased with him and he fits very well in the nursery.

Thought he tied in nicely with my current 'nesting' stage.