I've just completed a four-hour free online class which was an introduction to Canva, an online graphics design tool. The class was spread over two nights, but between taking notes, watching the live demo and simultaneously trying to copy the teacher in my own Canva application, it was pretty demanding. I'm a bit knackered now, lol. But it was well worth it, it seems like a really useful application even using the restricted free version. I have been regretting losing my free Photoshop since being forced to 'upgrade' to Windows 11, so Canva seems like a very useful alternative. I do use another free package called Paint.net but it's a bit more clunky. The class was aimed at crafters who want to create their own junk journals, and junk journal ephemera, and we learned how to create basic page spreads and some tags and bookmarks.
I got a really nice book this week by one of the Junk Journal vloggers I have been watching. It's called Treasure Bookmaking by Natasa Marinkovic, and she explains the basics of creating your own journals and papercrafts at home, without bookbinding tools. Quite well written and illustrated, and it makes me want to try several of the projects.
I have done a few more pages in my new journal this week but I spent more time printing out a bunch of freebie printables for journals because I discovered that is a thing online and there are even FB groups for sharing free printables - usually to tempt you to actually purchase from the relevant designer. Loving my new ecotank printer, so freeing to be able to just print whatever I want and not worry about the extortionate cost of ink cartridges. I've discovered that with coaxing (pre-bending the paper) I can print as thick as 300gsm cardstock (scrapbook card weight) which is useful for more robust constructions. The printer prints thick paper (160gsm) no trouble at all and that is the weight I am using the most for journal pages, ephemera etc. My new scrapbooking area in the attic was disappearing under all the tools and paper so we stopped into the YMCA charity shop and I picked up a little four-square shelf unit to store the things I want to have close to hand but not actually on my work surface. Also this week I printed out a little project for a Christmas paper craft that was a free 30 minute online tutorial on Saturday. I made that just to practice printing, cutting, inking etc. They are two little pockets full of useless little bits of this and that, in a christmas theme. The designer does the free tutorials regularly so I might do more in future as it's a good way to learn and fairly relaxing.
I finished weaving the two Christmas tea towels. I think I mentioned that the pattern directed to weave at quite an open density of 11 crosswise threads per inch, so when it came off the loom it was a bit like a wiry cheesecloth that I could see my hand through. I was trying to have faith in the designer but I had doubts. But after a 60C wash and a jaunt through the tumbledryer, the cotton fabric has softened up incredibly and also the weave has closed up due to the 10% shrinkage lengthwise. The resulting fabric is still more drapey than I would like, I would prefer a firmer density. But it's my first time using this thin weight of 8/2 cotton, and like knitting, I could have woven a swatch first to see how the yarn would behave but I wanted to get straight to the good part, lol. I have ironed the towels for the photo but haven't sewn the half-inch hems yet. I look forward to using them over the holiday season. I've still got lots of the yarns left on the cone so I could do another project with them, need to think what I want to weave next.
On the small dollshouse kits this week, I have put together two kits for leather handbags from Model Village Miniatures; another of their kits for a two-part housemaids wooden basket; and am currently working on a set of period housekeeping tools like a duster, broom, mop etc.
On Saturday DH kindly drove me over to Earls Barton where some local stitching groups were holding a small quilt exhibition. It was a mix of new and vintage quilts, attractively spread on the backs of pews. This was a very striking sight but made it hard to see the details of the quilts. The most impressive was the large quilt of EPP hexagons made by the community to celebrate the 250th anniversary of locally-written hymn 'Amazing Grace' (hanging vertically at the altar screen). They also had a de-stash table of quilting books going cheaply, but I was strong and didn't buy any.
I did some more long-arming on the Teapot digital panel this week, it has ended up quite skewed on the frame now that I am getting near the other end. I'm not sure if it is something I've done by mis-rolling on the frame, or if the panel itself is skewed and I just didn't notice when I was adding borders to it. Hopefully it's just rolled on funny and will straighten out.
Still stitching away on the Gail Pan blocks, haven't done much on them this week. I have started another knitting project for a casual lace shawl called Dirty Lace by Libby Jonson, which will use up some of my fairly large stash of sock yarn. Knitting is just less demanding for when I feel like doing something while watching TV but am not up to the rigours of embroidery.
No comments:
Post a Comment