The ebb and flow of hobbies

I am a person who has a lot of hobbies.  Reading, Crafting, Gardening, Jewellery making, Baking...the list goes on.  In 'Crafting', there is a whole load more - Sewing, Lino Printing, Silk painting, Gelli plate printing, Card making, Felt making, Paper crafting, Art Journaling...
As with everything, there is an ebb and flow and I have decided to put some of my hobbies on the back burner for the moment. Felt making is one - for a few reasons:

• Felt making is an autumn/winter occupation for me as it is a very physical activity with all the rolling that is necessary to felt the wool
• I need to devote a whole morning to making a few pieces
• I need to clear the whole of the table to work on
• I made so much for the craft fair a few years ago, I am a bit 'felted out' still and I am just not feeling all that inspired to make felt pieces at the moment

Lino printing and silk painting are other hobbies which I am not doing at the moment either, even though I do enjoy them.  Jewellery making was also something I was doing a lot of (and spending a lot on, of course!), but now it is more if I need something for a birthday or something for me (I do need to make some blue earrings for myself).

My other crafts are easier to set up and tidy away and I can do some of them for just a few minutes should I need to.  Of course, this doesn't mean I won't come back to felting (particularly in the autumn and winter) but that other things have more of an interest to me at present.

 I am loving the gelli plate printing and have been following a tutorial and making 'galaxies' as well as learning more about layers.   

Here are some of my galaxy prints.  I also created some interesting ghost prints on the way to making these.

 I am continuing to work in my art journals - the rainbow textured page above...

...and the printed page below are two of my most recent (the washi tape says 'let's enjoy this day' but doesn't show up well in the photo).  I really enjoy the way I can pick up a page, do a bit and then put it down again as the mood strikes me.  Card making is always useful and I shall continue that too - little projects that have a finished product as well as an enjoyable process.
So, I shall continue with the hobbies that I am interested in and no doubt, there will be more activities which come and go with time.  One great thing about hobbies though, they will wait patiently until you pick them up again.

Cross media crafting

Well, it had to happen, didn't it?  You knew it would eventually. I said I wouldn't get into card making, but gradually I have been drawn into it in a small way. (In my defence, I have always enjoyed paper crafting.) I am not going to make that many cards (famous last words), and those I do make will be simple, but hopefully elegant. I think I am one of those people who likes to collect crafting equipment, as I certainly have quite a lot of it now, for my various crafts.

(image from http://www.scrapbook.com/articles/creative-quotes)

I have got lots of stamps, inks, embossing powders, a small and a large die cutting machine, and I have been experimenting with what I can make.

 A 'Delilah Doily' die cut.

 Embossing folders - which give a raised texture to the paper.  I really liked this bubbly one.

 Chris liked the retro feeling of this pattern.

I couldn't resist the animals and birds on this embossing folder.
However, whilst investigating online and watching tutorials and craft channels, I have been discovering that many of the media I have will work with other crafts that I enjoy.  For example, I have Blockwallah woodblocks which can be used on fabric, card and polymer clay, depending what paint or ink you use with them. I am thinking that I need to make some decorations.
I have a heat gun which can be used for embossing powders but I have also found out it can be used on Kato liquid polyclay (this is the only liquid clay which can be heated using a heat gun) to create ceramic effect polymer clay, or enamel effect polymer.

Picture and tutorial from: http://www.polymerclayweb.com/tutorials/fauxeffects/fauxceramicpendant.aspx

Picture and tutorial from: http://craftygoat.com/2013/11/how_to_make_autumn_leaf_pendan.html

I am going to try both of these effects once my liquid clay arrives.

I also have some ultralight clay which can be put through a die cutting machine once it is dry.  It can also be sculpted and remains flexible once dry, unlike polymer clay.  I haven't tried it out yet, but I need to.  

My jewellery making stash can be used to make jewellery, of course, but I can also use it in felt projects or on decorations with my polymer clay.  

I am feeling very excited about all these possibilities and will share my makes as and when ... roll on my next day at  home!

Christmas making and baking

 Like many other crafting people around the country, I have been busy making and baking for Christmas.  Above are some polymer clay pendants ready to be made into necklaces for my mum for Christmas, in her choice of colours - turquoise and orange.

 Star biscuits made for a vegan friend who called round yesterday for a chat.

And lo and behold!  My Christmas bunting is up on the mirror, looking very lovely and festive.  (The eagle eyed amongst you will notice that yes, there are two of the same material next to each other, which couldn't be helped, because even though the two bunting strips are double sided, this still happens whichever way you turn either of them.  And I thought I had managed to avoid this issue...Ho hum!)  I still love the cheerful effect of the bunting though. I have now got Mum's necklaces to finish and more baking to do before the big day, but there is still time.