Sunday 25 November 2012

Handmade Monday 94

Welcome to Handmade Monday.  Click the link for more info about how to join in.

Despite it being one of the busiest times of the year on my website, I've also had some magazine commissions to do.  And, how typical is it that if you're already busy, things do not go to plan!  This week's note to self: When you rush, it's easy to get things wrong.

I have a failed photo frame.  OK, make that two.  Why why why did I not make a practice run of this, in old sheets or curtains (I have plenty!) instead of using this gorgeous spotty denim...

the spotty denim is available here

I'm relieved to report I do - finally! -have a completed frame now.

the lace roses are from Wholeport

The finished frame, along with templates and instructions will be in Craftseller in time for Mother's Day 2013...

this is the back view and I'm showing you this because I'm so pleased with how it's turned out!  
I've since fixed tabs on with Velcro so the picture stays secure

I also had problems with these  paper-covered placemats for Craftseller magazine...

tatty old placemats and coasters smartened up with Craftseller's free papers

I managed to damage one of them (slow-drying varnish and impatience somehow had a head-on collision) but I hope the magazine still has enough to work with. Maybe my concentration was not what it should have been at the time: I was being distracted by a young man (daughter's boyfriend) on a garage roof (neighbour's) with a chainsaw (mine) and a broken branch seemingly bigger than the tree it had fallen down from (also mine).  Still, I now have some free firewood for my wood burner and at least the neighbour's roof appears undamaged!  A damaged placemat seems small fry after that mini drama turned out ok!

Hope your week's been plain sailing... feel free to share your handmade news and makes with us here on Handmade Monday!

19 comments:

Carolee Crafts said...

These things are meant to try us but look at it another way the end results are now happy accidents and unique

Free Spirit Designs said...

sounds like a tricky week!! i'm glad everything turned out well in the end though :)

your picture frame looks gorgeous! i couldn't begin to imagine how to put one together so beautifully so it is somewhat reassuring to know that you too encountered a few hiccups along the way!

Your place mats and coasters look super too, i can't wait to see them in their full glory :) x

Christmas Pie Crafts said...

The picture frames is lovely and the roses trim is gorgeous. Glad nothing grim came out of the chainsaw event. Hope you have a good week.

Planet Penny said...

I must say anyone on a roof with a chainsaw, especially in this weather sounds incredibly distracting. I'm glad all is well! x

Highland Monkey's said...

Lads, chainsaws, roofs, trees....yikes! Glad you managed to work out how to do the picture frame.

Martha said...

I know what you mean about this pre-xmas rush and pressure. easy to say but all we can do is to stop for a moment, breathe in breathe out and relax. sorry to hear about your faulty foto frame and wasted fabric. the last one you made looks good tho. you have your smart ways how to conjure up something nice.
hope for future crafting will go smooth and easy.

Martha said...

Hope your future crafting*

Martha said...

Hope your future crafting*

Lyn said...

Lovely photo frame and I would have shown off the back too - it's so neat!
I'm surprised you could concentrate even a little bit with the chainsaw drama.

Blue Forest Jewellery said...

Wow - what an eventful week. So glad everything turned out OK in the end. The photo frame looks so neat. I tend to rush things too - no patience at all - so I now just how you feel ;-)

Alison x

Ginx Craft said...

Your picture frame looks really nice. I really like the roses trim.

Anonymous said...

I was wincing when I read about the chainsaw bit! Love your makes and really enjoy seeing these things in the magazines :-)

Jan said...

Slow drying varnish and lack of patience don't go well together, saying 'oooh I wonder if that's dry yet' inevitably leaves a finger print. :)

Have a great week

Jan x

Rebekah said...

It is so reassuring to hear that before getting to such a lovely finished product, you've experienced a bit of trial and error. Sometimes when seeing other people's lovely creations, it is easy to imagine that they "nailed it" on their first attempt. Well done on seeing it through and finishing - it looks gorgeous. And wowee that young-man-on-a-roof-with-a-chainsaw sounds very anxious-making!! x

say it said...

The frame looks gorgeous. Love the spotty fabric. I'm very impressed at the range of skills you have!

Anonymous said...

I'm always petrified when my husband starts wielding the chainsaw so I can only imagine how you felt when a roof was involved too.
Love the spotty picture frame.

EleanorLucy Millinery said...

Very pretty frame, but with an edge - love it! I'm also very impressed with the neatness of the back of the frame, there's nowhere to hide with a project like this and you've done a great job (even more so considering all the ditractions ha!!)

AliceAndFlorence said...

Your picture frame looks great! The effort you put into it was definitely worth it. Glad everyone is safe and sound!
Wendy x

knitnrun4sanity said...

Can't believe that you are thinking about Mother's Day when I am still trying to get my head around Christmas! Anyway I really like the frame - it was definitely worth the journey. Hope you have a slightly less 'exciting' week.