Hearts and Flowers

Sometimes a simple thing can lead to lots of ideas for art and design projects......many of the things we found when clearing out granny's attic last year have been waiting in my studio to be used when the moment is right.........

 ...............a year or two ago i made some paper gift packets using children's book pages (from old and damaged books!).......and now i have used the idea here with some pages from an old gardening book we found, partly damaged and deteriorated but with some pages still usable for collage and crafting....

..........i needed some printed text pages for a recent magazine project, and then went on to make this gift packet....you place a small gift or some sweets on a piece of paper, place a matching piece on top and machine or hand sew round the two so the gift is enclosed.......then decorate the outside with rubber stamps, flowers cut from rosy fabric or paper, then tie up with raffia and add a heart button and tag.......

 ..........it can be torn open along one of the handily perforated stitched sides.......................

 ................i also made a decorated romantic wrapper for a white candle......(as with all candles do not leave this one unattended)......it is even nicer if you have a rosy matchbox to light it with.............

...............it has been tulip week here at helen's house......i bought a few inexpensive bunches at the local greengrocer's and have enjoyed them soo much.........here is one bright bunch with the new crafts beautiful magazine....the blue birdie on the cover is part of my project in this month's issue which is filled to the brim with spring crafting.......

                                                      ..........more of my cheery tulips...........

.........i mentioned some time ago that i was busy working on blossom and birdie designs for spring and now they are all appearing.........world of cross stitching commissioned four spring samplers from me for their special giveaway chart book and it is now available........for more information go here.....

.......and i created a new little home sampler for cross stitcher magazine....when i saw that the magazine photographer had styled it beautifully with paints and brushes i thought i'd plonk it onto my studio table among my own paints and brushes and current illustration projects for a quick picture.....

 .............one day last week i stepped out of the house and felt as if spring was in the air....a mildness and a brightness....and lots of strong looking green shoots and bulbs growing in the front garden.....
but then came the gale force winds and lots of gloom and rain for a few days........but it won't be long now till it really is spring :)........

.............thank you for all the bunny love in my last post....the giveaway for miss hyacinth is still open until february 11 so there is still plenty of time if you would like to add your name to the draw.......i have so enjoyed reading your lovely comments and finding new blogs to visit too.........wishing you all a wonderful week with sunny days and happy crafty times..........back soon xxxxxxooooooxxxx