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Saturday 12 April 2014

On Days Like These

It's been noticed that I haven't posted for a while.  The fact is, that nothing of note has happened, just ordinary days that I thought were so unremarkable that you wouldn't want to hear about them. I still don't have anything startling to impart but thought I'd better get back here as I'm sure there's someone out there who's waiting with baited breath to see my latest secondhand finds...?
I thought this little French canard would fit into my plans for the conservatory.
£4- newly found chazza Forest Row

Topshop knit 30p - Scouts jumble sale


Monsoon linen skirt £4 - same chazza as above
(Love the colour and hoping to pimp it up a bit)

Wool tapestry bag -£2 chazza

I was working last Tuesday evening so I've only just caught up with the final of The Great British Sewing Bee.  I was gripped by this series and even though I am not a sewist it has inspired me to have a crack at making a garment.  Lazy Daisy Jones is hosting a sew-a-long for beginners and although I won't be sewing along with her,(as I've yet to buy fabric etc) I've bought the pattern!  I plan to make the skirt along with a couple of ladies from my Stitch & Bitch (knitting/crochet) group.
  
One of them is an extremely accomplished seamstress and she will be guiding us through the complexities of the pattern, cutting out, seams, zips and other seemingly tricky stuff.  She doesn't mince her words either so no doubt she'll tell us exactly what she thinks of our efforts!  Due to shift work and holidays we can't schedule a sewing day until June, so until then the only thing I'll be making is.. cards.  Here's one I made for the OLC at Less Is More where the theme is shadow stamping.

 I made an oval mask and shaded inside the aperture with ink dusters.  
Stamps used :
 sentiment - Stampendous
bird - Inkylicious
flock of birds - Crafty Individuals
Inks - Memento Pistachio and Olive Grove 

It's not very special as I didn't have much time today but my card stash is getting low so thought I'd have a bash at the challenge.  Also linking to :

Addicted to CAS - Far and Away
CAS-ual Friday - Good Egg

Hope you're having a blinding weekend.


xx 

34 comments:

  1. Nice finds...we love to go thrift shopping!

    Love your masked card...looks great! I love the color green!

    Thanks for joining us at CAS-ual Fridays!

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  2. Very elegant card and perfectly shadowed for the challenge. x

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  3. Great finds ... I love the little china duck. The card looks fab too.
    xx

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  4. Wow Fi the skirt and top are just lovely.
    My Nana had one of these type of pot birds, think her's was a "Chicken!".
    Card is simple and beautifully C&S. Debbiex

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  5. fiona this is fab and one of my favourite colours

    Thanks for joining us this week
    Jen xx
    Less Is More

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  6. Great finds there Fiona, nothing like a bit of second hand shopping to brighten up the day. The duck is gorgeous! Good luck with your sewing, it ain't hard once you have the basic mastered.

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  7. Oh now I haven't been to a jumble sale for yonkers conkers - it used to be an almost weekly event! Love the Monsoon skirt and it ties in perfectly with the reddish colour on the bag you clever thing you! Looking forward to seeing what fabric you choose for the pattern x Jane

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  8. Love your new little duck! Very cute. You definitely have an eye for a bargain, very good shopping! xx

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  9. Another beautiful card Fiona. The red skirt is rather lovely although it looked like leather to my poor old eyes in the photo. I thought you'd gone all rock chick on us!
    I've also caught the sewing bug despite only having seen one episode of the sewing bee. Might have to find it on i player. x

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  10. You've got some great bargains there Fiona & I love that duck. I wish you luck with your sewing project, you are a lot braver than me. lol. I really love your LIM card, gorgeous stamping & in my fave colour too.
    Sally x

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  11. Love your card, your shadowing is very neat. Great finds too, love the duck. Me and daughter have planned a charity shop crawl when we get back from hols, haven`t done one for ages.
    Lynne xxx

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  12. You are great at finding bargain, love both the duck and the clothes.
    The pattern brings back memories. When I finished college I used to do quite a bit of sewing but now I've even forgotten how to thread the machine!

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  13. The card looks great, Fiona. And so do your chazza/jumble finds, love that duck and the bright skirt.
    So you are having a go at some sewing too, excellent! I have set myself the challenge of making either a skirt or dress this Easter holiday. Because that's sensible, right, trying to do something I haven't done in over 30 years while the kids are all milling around and distracting me! Oh well, I'll just blame them if it all goes tits up...
    It's always lovely to see a post from you, Lady Fifi, you don't have to have any great news to impart, it's just nice to have you around. Look at my blog, I just talk rubbish most of the time! xxx

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  14. Fantastic jumbo finds, the duck's a beaut and the Toppers crochet number, Monsoon skirt and groovy bag are ace. Can't wait to see the pimped up skirt.
    Good for you for cracking on with a bit of sewing. I start off following the pattern then just make the rest up most of the time. I was very disappointed with the result of the Bee although Heather's final dress was bloody gorgeous. xxxxxx

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  15. Fiona love your CAS design--excellent. Thank you so much for sharing with us at CAS-ual Fridays!

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  16. I love your duck... great find... the card is pretty darn good too!
    Thanks so much
    Chrissie
    "Less is More"

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  17. Great interpretation of the code word this week! I love the shadow stamping and the monochromatic colors. Thanks for playing along at ATCAS. :)

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  18. So simple, so effective, love your CAS card.
    Sewing is a lot of fun and skirts are a great way to start, the fit only really needs to be right for your waist!
    Thank you for playing along this week
    Anne
    Less is More

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  19. Great finds - particularly love the duck and the Monsoon skirt. I have one almost identical!

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  20. I loved the sewing bee. Your skirt is great and a bargain! lovely colour for summer too x

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  21. I love the simplicity of your card Fiona and the birds add just the right amount of detail. I do enjoy seeing your chazza finds although I do manage to keep breathing inbetween viewings! That skirt is the very thing I need to be making (if only I had more time!) Happy Easter, Vicky x

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  22. Oh the Bee! Feel like having a go at a pattern too, but haven't a clue, so need guidance or it'll just end up in a bag behind the sofa…Super card, unfussy and lovely as always - and quacking finds xxx

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  23. That's one cool canard, Fiona ... but I would say that! Cool take on the Code Word too ... great monochrome look! Thanks for playing along at ATCAS! Anita :)

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  24. Great card and wonderful masking!
    Thanks for linking this up to CASual Fridays!

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  25. I love your card, Fiona. I'm also liking the Monsoon skirt. Good find old girl! How's your skirt coming along? I'm making one too only a wrap around one which my colleague assures me even a fool could do. I'd better get clearing the back room pronto (we've got builders in) so that I can actually start sewing the skirt up - eek!! xx

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  26. Good luck with your sewing and super finds in the charity shops. Lovely shadow stamped card. x

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  27. Love the single bird on the sentiment oval added to the little flock. Lovely CAS card. So glad you joined us at ATCAS this week
    jaydee

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  28. Popped over from Mrs. M's. Love your cards (I'm a card maker too) and photographs. I'll be back. :)

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  29. Hello super chatty post! awaiting the outcome of your skirt with great impatience!!
    bestest daisy j x

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