The Stitches and Craft Show

My sister and I visited the Stitches and Craft Show yesterday. There were so many stalls/markets to choose from. It was great if you are interested in scrap booking, cross stitch, patchwork, and card making. While there were other stalls concentrating on different crafts, these were the predominant categories.

There were quite a few millinery stalls there- which I loved! I love hats. They make every outfit a glamorous, extravagance. I wish more people wore them, so I wouldn't stand out so much when I wear mine!

A have listed a few of the milliner's that were present there yesterday:

Lin Teo Designs: the below photo is one of her lovely designs.



Hat Box Creations by Denise Bromley- stunning cream straw hat with black bow. Reminded me of the Dior "New Look" hat.
Ph: 9663 4867
denisebromley@optusnet.com.au


Lindsay Clare Couture Millinery - interesting hats using lace, and other unlikely products to produce her hats.

Papillon Hats by Margaret Keeble - Margaret had designed my favourite of the day! A stunning black and white spiralling creation. It is unfortunate I don't have a photo or a website to show you.
110 Rosemead Road, Hornsby
NSW 2077
Ph: 9987 4330

There were also a few hand screen printed textiles sellers. My favourite print of the day was the below design by BKH design. I am planning to make cushions out of it, and I will hopefully post the finished product photos on my blog soon!

How-To Frame Your Photos Uniquely Part II

As promised in part 1, these are the steps for the wedding "artworks":

1: Collect all the materials you will need (clean chopping board, metal ruler, long plastic ruler, pencil, blade, your papers). I used frames from Ikea for this project. The Ribba series is recommended.

2. You need to first decide on what papers you will use. I used the rust/red colour, and the gold, because I wanted to place these framed photos in our bedroom, and the colour scheme happens to be Rust/red, gold, white and black. I deliberately used a photo that was smaller than the mount size, so I can have a large double mount of gold. I bought my papers from Pepe's Paperie.

3.Measure the photo. Minus approx 1cm from the width, and 1cm from the height, then halve each of these measurements. Square up on the back of your A4 piece of board (I used the gold cardboard for this), these measurements (starting from the outside). Check to make sure your photo sits approx 5mm outside of each of these lines.

4.Using your metal ruler, blade, and clean chopping board, cut along the line, to create a window for the photo to sit in.

5.Use sticky tape to tape the photo face-down to the back of the window mount. Sticky tape is best, as it allows you to undo it, and reapply if necessary.

6.Check to make sure the photo is sitting square to the mount.


7. Using the mount, draw the dimensions of the window size for the large mount, onto your piece of paper. (In my example, this is the rust coloured paper)

8. Cut this paper out, and cut out the window.

9.I decided that the mount looked best, with a highlight of black. The best way to do this is get a wide pen, and very carefully mark along the diagonal edge. (see photo)


10. Glue your pretty paper, to the large window mount. Then tape the small window mount, face-down to the large window mount. Check that it has been lined up square.


11. I decided to decorate the corners with a little gold detailing, but this is entirely optional.

12. Assemble the frame as normal, and hang it proudly!

How-To Frame Your Photos Uniquely

Ever wanted to frame a beautiful photo, but you can't find the perfect frame? Or have you found the perfect frame, but it has made the project un-affordable?





Well, if you are a creative, like myself, then maybe I have a solution......

First, you will need a standard frame with a mount. Ikea has a great selection. I particularly like the Ribba series.

Next, you will need your photos. Decide on sizes.

Then you need to decide on paper choices. This will depend largely on what other colours are in the room (you are planning to hang the frame in), as well as what colours are in the photos. A great paper shop in Sydney, is Pepe's Paperie.

I have created 2 kinds of Framed "artworks", with details shown below....

The steps for the "passport" option:
1.Collect all materials that you will use to display the artwork. I have recently applied for a new passport, so I am going to use my old hard-earned stamps for this project!

2.Using the mount, draw the dimensions of the window size for the artwork, onto a piece of paper.

3.Arrange the passport pages around the hand-drawn window, so it will be virtually covered.

4.Arrange your photos, then place the mount on top, to make sure you haven't gone over the edges.

5.I had a few empty spaces, so I placed a lovely printed paper behind the passport pages. Start to glue these onto the large piece of paper.

6.Glue the passport pages, then the photos, taking care to make sure they do not overlap each other, or the mount.

7.I decided that the mount looked best, with a highlight of black. The best way to do this is get a wide pen, and very carefully mark along the diagonal edge. (see photo)


8.Once this is done, you can assemble the frame as you normally would.


9.Hang your artwork in a place where you are proud to show it!



I will provide instructions for the wedding artwork in another blog post!

I hope this has helped to get your creative mind thinking!