The Creative Blog Hop

Hello there

Last Monday my mate Diane Wray, aka Miss Di nominated me to take part in The Creative Blog Hop (TCBH) along with Elizabeth and Mary.   Now TCBH was a brainchild of a blogger some time ago.  A blogger is tagged along with two others who then answers some questions and introduces three other bloggers the following week and so on and so on.  There are no rulz, so I can see, as to who you invite or what art the blogger you choose undertakes whether it be cooking. painting, cardmaking, scrapbooking, writing or anything else.  

This could mean a lot of bloggers eventually become involved in this blog hope.  I am not even going to try and do the maths!

Background

I have been crafting almost all my life.  My Mum was a prolific dressmaker and she would give me scraps of whatever she was working on and I would make "outfits" for my dollies.  Funny enough, by the morning my "outfits" would fit better than when I left them!! Magic!!

On a Sunday afternoon you would find Mum, my Sister and myself watching an old black and white film embroidering.  When we started to embroider on Aida in school, I apparently complained that the Aida we were given was "for babies".  It was a course weave and I was used to finer.  When my Grandad died my parents found the first tray cloth I had made in his drawer and he used it whenever he had visitors.  It was threadbare and well used.  I was very close to my Grandad and this thought makes me smile and I try to live up to this tray cloth.

Right on with my post.   

A little word about my tagger, my Mate Diane.

Most who know her as Di.  Aunty Di to my chikkin Miss Di, who was named after her.   She is keyholder of the Snippets Playground.

I first of all met Di's desk through WOYWW which is a weekly blog hop hosted by Julia Dunnitt. Within a few visits Di and I were following each other and becoming regular visitors to each other's blogs.  

Julia hosted a crop in Burbage in October 2013.  That was when Di and I  got to meet each other in real life, something we try to undertake as often as possible.

The day was full of giggles and from there we coined the term "punch poo" on account of my working on a Christmas Album and creating a lot of bitty litter around me from the punches I was using.   (This was before I knew about a certain person who uses these bits to create cards!)

When Di took over the infamous Snippets Playground I became a regular at the Playground using up those pesky Snippets left over from scrapbooking layouts. I am convinced they breed though as no matter how many bits you use up there is always lots in the drawers/box/tin.

Di and I also met up at Ally Pally with some other Playground buddies.  Rachel, Sandra, Miss Di, Mrs A and myself with Fergus.

Again we all spent the day giggling and getting to know each other.   This is also where I overheard the conversation with Mavis, of yesterday's post.

Right the questions...

1.  What Am I Working On Now?

How long have you got?  I am a typical Gemini...I have lots of UFOs (UnFinished Objects) on the go at any time.  At this precise moment I have on the go:-

•  A quilt waiting to be quilted.
•  An Anniversary quilt only just started. 
•  Scrapbook albums awaiting finishing (including a mini of our wedding).
•  Several x-stitches.
•  Some summer tops I want to make (maybe with the current weather I shall wait until Spring).
•  A dress waiting to be altered.
•  Some mini albums waiting to be started.
•  A bag waiting to be finished.
•  A crotchet bag waiting to be assembled.

Is that enough for now?  I have probably missed something out.

 

2.  How does my work differ from others in my genre? 

Now this is a difficult question for me to answer.  I think part of the reason why some of my lovely friends follow me is that they never know what they may see next on my blog.  Whether it be my Girls, an unusual papercraft project like this one, some cards, Christmas cards, quilting, scrapbooking or my passion...mini albums.

3. Why do I create what I do?

Hmmmn!  That is a tricky one.  Some of my work is used to decorate my home.  Scrapbooks are because I like to record things as history, some are given away as gifts to friends and family.  Scrapbooking to me is telling a story of what happened and the story around that particular photo.  I am also trying to trace my family tree and so try to scrapbook about this too.

I enjoy creating things.  I am also lucky enough to have a room of my own where I can spend hours creating things for my pleasure.  It is known as Santa's Workshop from about this time of the year onwards and also the Solar Room on account of it being of a south facing aspect.  

My Hubby also works nights so I spend many a happy hour keeping myself out of trouble whilst listening to music, sometimes working until well after midnight on a school night!!  Some of my past quilts have also taken inspiration from my surrounding area.  I live in the Brecon Beacons in South Wales surrounded by rolling hills and woodland.  Bliss!

4. How does my creative process work?

Ahh!  Now you are asking.  As Hubster says I "have a mind of a flea"!.  I sometimes see something in a magazine that inspires me to create something, or a photo in the case of scrapbooking.  I often see something on blogs that inspire me of I may think "Ooo I have that stamp or die, why didn't I think of that?".  Also, I do sometimes join in on challenges that are on the internet and that sometimes inspires me to create something.   Inspiration is all around us, it just needs to trigger us at the right moment. Or as in the case of yesterday's post...an overheard conversation floating around your brain just as you are rummaging around in your stamp drawers!

Now enough about me, I would like to introduce you to my three maties who kindly agreed to join me on this blog hop.

In no particular order...

Kim

Kim was my PIF on the first WOYWW anniversary I took part in.  We became good friends instantly and within a short time we were skyping and exchanging emails.  Last year Kim and her lovely Hubby Mike came to Wales and spent two very short but fun filled days with us.  Later this year my Hubby and I are going to be visiting US and we will be spending a little time with Kim and Mike.  

Kim says...I’m Kim Young, and I’m so humbled to be included for this creative hop by my friend Hettie! 

I have always been creative…starting with candles, then running amok with candies, leatherworking (which stopped once I realized that making my own saddle wasn’t going to get me a horse! But still one of the best money-making hobbies I’ve ever had), music (I was a flute major in college-still play in a community orchestra), and photography (with my own darkroom and everything!)  I’m also a role player/gamer, which is what brought me to my current and all-encompassing hobby…Rubber Stamping/Card making.  You’ll just have to tune in to see how that happened! 

I have been making cards and altered art pieces now for almost 18 years.  While I started with the “Clean and Simple” style—I just don’t do cute— along the way I was introduced to the Distressed Look and a Mr. Tim Holtz…My husband I’m sure still regrets that! 

My Blog, Kim’s Creations http://kimmcyoung.blogspot.com/ was started in June of 2010 so I could join my first blog challenge, The Compendium of Curiosities Challenge at Studio L3.  I honestly didn’t think it would go much further than that.  But Blogging has allowed me to meet so many wonderful people from around the world!  It is such a wonderful way for the creative community to inspire and support one-another.  While I used to be a regular poster, nowadays it seems I’m lucky if I get a challenge piece in. The “What’s on Your Workdesk Wednesday” hop from The Stamping Ground sometimes is my only motivator to get in the craft room some weeks to snap a quick pic! Sad that I’m counting down to retirement already so I have more free time…14 years, 11 months and 3 weeks to go…

Debbie

Debbie and I met at the second WOYWW crop that Julia hosted.  We met at the bring and buy stall and bartered me for a Spellbinders die and Debbie for a glass cutting mat.  We became buddies straight away.

Debbie says... I have been crafting in one way or another since I was little, starting with old fashioned sugar paper scrapbooks, crochet, knitting, cross stitch & dressmaking. Then a few years ago I discovered card making & Papercrafting & I was hooked!

Since then I've been a member of various Design Teams, and become a regular designer for Making Cards Magazine. I enjoy lots of different Papercraft techniques, but rubber stamping & paper engineering - unusual cards with movement - are my faves.

I'm thrilled that Hettie asked me to join in on this blog hop, as I love the variety of her work and I can count on her for a giggle every week!

Elizabeth

As yet Elizabeth of Crafty Robin have not met despite the fact that we both live in Wales though unfortunately at opposite ends.  Hopefully we will get to meet in the next few months, maybe at a halfway point.  Elizabeth does some beautiful work both paper crafting and fibre work.  

Elizabeth says...Hi my name is Elizabeth Robinson and I am lucky to live at the seaside in beautiful North Wales, UK. I have crafted all my life, learning to sew, knit and paint with both my Mum and my Nana. I was also inspired to try new crafts by a fabulous teacher at Primary school, she taught us lots of mixed media including lino carving and printing.

I love any type of crafting but papercrafts, mixed media and felting are my passions! I am an independant demonstrator for IndigoBlu, a member of the Craft Stamper's Challenge DT and also look after a little challenge blog called the Dragons Dream TIO. Somehow I also find the time to teach classes for the WI and am very involved in the county shows.

Right that is my Creative Blog Hop for today.  Please call by my fellow nominees Mary and Elizabeth. 

And as for those rumours about me working on a Trabbi they are all true.  Here I am trimmng the roof lining with my Tim Holtz scissors earlier today.

TTFN

Hettie