Sepia toned butterflies

I have now finished the last of the  butterfly cards  I made at Bristol using the Pergamano Grid No:31.  I showed the photograph of the unfinished one on my Bristol post. Here it is again.

Instead of using a contrasting butterfly in the centre as I had done for the others  I made one from Grid No: 17 (which has larger sized butterflies) using the same coloured parchment.
I remember that about 4 years ago I made a butterfly in the same colour tones using  a stamp by Carolines.  I also remember how nice I thought  the black gems/pearls were that  I had used on the butterfly so....
This is what I have done:

The overall colour looks better because this last photo was taken in my garden this morning with the sunshine.  The other was taken on the scanner.  What a difference?
I hope you like it.  I think I am butterflied out for a wee while.
Carol xx

Bristol Parchment Exhibition 2015

Back from my trip to the West.  I had a great few days with my sister and got back yesterday late evening.
Lots and lots to see at the show.  Some beautiful work as always but this year I was so taken with some coloured Zentangle work on Parchment. I was so busy admiring the work and taking photographs I failed to ask the name of the artist and I am sorry about that.
Here is just one of the fine pieces of work that this charming lady produced.

If it was a better photograph you would be able to see how delicate and fine the work is.
I decided to work on something simple. Simple to prepare and easy to demonstrate and something that didn't need massive concentration like a complicated grid pattern.  I made butterflies.
I printed out several sheets of parchment in different colourways using a favourite CD background from a CD by Carol Anne's Studio.
I cut this in half and used  half as a front only wrap to a square card approx 15cm x 15cm.  The card had been printed in a toning colour using Sharon Duncans CD - Embossibilities. The other half of the parchment I used to make butterflies using Pergamano Multi Grid No:31.
The finished butterflies were attached in a circle on the coloured parchment and then the wrap fixed to the card using the butterflies to hide the fixative.  I used heart shape and round white half pearls for the bodies and added a butterfly from Artylicious CD Butterfly Bliss to the centre.
I made two to show on the table (the first has butterflies made with plain parchment), made one whilst there in between chats and then made another at my sisters but it isn't finished yet.
Here they are.

I might leave the last one without pearls and put something else in the middle.  Depends how the mood takes me.
We met lots of lovely people as always - including Margaret and Vernon again.  Lovely to see them and we had the chance to sit down and have a cup of tea together and catch up with news. I am looking forward to it all again next year.
Carol xx

Bristol Parchment Exhibition 2014

It is all over now and I am safely back home. The weather was glorious - in fact a little too warm for the Exhibition itself yesterday.  I think perhaps some consideration  could be given next year to providing some  cooling fans or some such.  It is difficult to work on parchment when your hands are hot and sticky.
Any way back to the show itself and the exquisite pieces of parchment on display and their creators.  It was all fabulous but some was jaw droppingly good.
Lots and lots of lovely people stopped by to chat whilst Jenny (fellow pupil) and I were working on our tutors stand.  Jenny was creating a wonderful lacy piece and I was working on some ATC's. 
Here are the ones I managed to complete on the day:

Two of the lovely people I met and chatted to were Margaret and her husband.  It was great to see Margaret looking so well after all her trials and tribulations.  We managed to chat for quite a while.  I see on her blog that there are many photo's of some of the exhibits.  I did have my camera but didn't really have the time to take any pictures.  So thank you Margaret.  It will give a good idea of what was on offer.  This will be the third time I have met Margaret at the show and I look forward to many more such chats.

 
I look forward to next years event - especially as I get to spend some more time with my sister.  I am off now to put the washing in and then perhaps play with a few of my new toys.  Parchment and others. (We visited the new Lakeland store at Cribbs Causeway).

It is that time again

for the annual Bristol Parchment Craft Exhibition.  It is on this Sunday - 22nd June - 9.30am - 5pm - at Brunel's Old Station - Bristol.  Right next door to Temple Mead Rail Station.  After what happened to me year before last I tend to approach this event with some trepidation.  My sister lives in Bristol so I am going down early to spend a few relaxing days in her company.

I will be with my Tutor - Marilyn Pybus on her stand - and I will be making some parchment ATC's. Just what ever style takes my fancy

As I am travelling tomorrow I have been getting all my parchment tools and 'stuff' together today and couldn't resist having a play........

I hope to have more to show when I get back next week. 

Have a lovely weekend and I'll catch up with you all later.
Carol
xx
 

Bristol Parchment Exhibition

Well I got there and back safely this time but must confess to being tired.  This trip was the furthest I have driven in a year - but I did it.

The Exhibition was wonderful.  After I  had a long wander around  all the stands and gawped at the incredibly beautiful work on show I came to the conclusion that I don't do parchment - I just play at it.  I am not too despondent about that fact as I know I started learning late in life and I really do enjoy the parchment work that I produce - good or bad.

I had a great time with my tutor Marilyn on her stand and met many lovely people.  Not all of the questions we were asked were expected.  Many of the ones I received were about the source of the case that I use to keep my tools in and from where did I get the sparkly vellum I was using for my Christmas flowers.  I was making sparkly flowers and poinsettias - all in parchment for use as card embellishments.  I sold quite a few and was very pleased. 

On the Sunday evening I joined a whole crowd of the Exhibitors at supper (59 of us).  It was a very pleasant evening.

On Monday Marilyn and I joined many others at Linda Williams' workshop.  A rare privilege for me and I did worry that I was 'punching above my weight' parchment wise.  This is what I have managed to do so far - about 25% of the finished project.

This has been scanned in front of a piece of glitter card just so it can be seen.  It will have a background card when it is all finished.  There is so much more work to be done on the hair and the bow in the hair - let alone the rest of the card.  You can just see the little piece of tape that is behind the face holding a white paper mask to show the colouring.  It may need more yet.

CD Sunday - Jenny's Sketch

As this is a timed post I am not sure how Jenny is going to title this challenge.  Sketch was her choice for this week and this is how we have referred to it on our Admin Blog so I will have a 50/50 chance of getting it right or wrong.

I haven't done many 'sketch' type cards.  In fact my very first one was an early entry into CD Sunday challenges before I was kindly invited to join them.
Anyway here is my 'take' on 'Jenny's Sketch'

I used 'A little bit of folk' from MCS 3rd Anniversary bundle.  I did actually buy some lace ribbon especially for this card as I haven't a die or punch that would achieve the zig zag edge.  I am pleased with the result and it will be an addition to my 'here's one I made earlier' box.

The reason for the timed posting this week is a very early start to tomorrow for myself and Debs (who at this moment is winging her way to my house)  and another friend - for our drive to Bristol.  We are leaving at 6.30am.  I am looking forward to the day.  It is a wonderful chance to meet and greet so many talented 'parchers' from all over the place.

I'll catch up with everything when I get back - a tired but happy bunny.
x

p.s.

no tired and happy bunny i am afraid.  we were loading the car last night ready for this morning when i tripped over the threshold went smashing down onto a wood floor and broke my left arm.  finally got home from casualty about 0.15am  can't describe the pain.
sorry can't do caps.  can't lift to hit the key.

Back to parchment

I felt the need to do some 'proper' parchment.  The sort of project that needs quiet and concentration and practice of various techniques.  This pattern involves colouring with Faber Castell  polychromos pencils and white work embossing.

The pattern - Semi Circle of flowers -  is by Kay James and is in the Parchment Craft Magazine - Summer Special

Here it is

Kay's pattern has a second parchment lining (a little larger)  with a repeat of the edge pricking and embossing pattern but I omitted this and just used a dark purple card liner.  The semi circular embossed and pricked feature uses a Pergamano Moon tool and the card edge uses a Pergamano Wing tool.  Both are recent additions to my tool stash.
I enjoyed making this and I hope you like it.

Now - on Sunday - down in Bristol -  is the  Bristol Parchment Craft Exhibition .  A wonderful extravaganza of all things parchment and yours truly will be there.
This year instead of just being a shopper I will be running a stand.  I am going as representative for Judith Maslen  and will be showing and selling her wonderful patterns.  Judith can't make it this year so I am thrilled to be doing it for her.  If you come down please come and say Hi.  Stand 17/18.  My great friend Debs and Tina Cox will be next door on 19/20.