Sunday 8 March 2009

Craft retreat


Hello fellow bloggers! Best grab yourselves a cuppa this is a long one!!!I have returned from the most fabulous time deep in the Yorkshire dales (only 12 miles from my house actually) In the gorgeous village of Grassington. This is my fourth retreat but the first at this location. We normally go to Malham Tarn fieldcentre where we are beautifully looked after in the most stunning surroundings but alas they could not accomodate us this time so Midnight crafter Michelle and I set about sorting out our own so we could still see our fabby retreat buddies. Emma, Andy, Barbara and Kate travelled up from Grantham and Lincolnshire and stayed over in a B&B close to the art studio that Michelle organised for the weekend. We catered ourselves to keep costs low and had a lovely time relaxing with fellow crafters and admiring each others work and most importantly stash! Emma is a stampin up demonstrator and we joined her club last November. This time we got to play with her gorgeous products and are keen to buy yet more stash over the coming months. Emma has just reached first bronze status so gave us all a gift to celebrate! How kind and HUGE congratulations Emma! We were also joined by local crafters Bee and Dee who met our lovely retreat buddies for the first time but fit into the group really well and also were tempted by Emmas fabby stampin up stash!
I am really pleased with all my efforts this weekend but wont over face you all at once! This was my biggest project. A wooden house. Most of you know my passion for Art from the Heart and Blonde moments well Dy did this as a class at Christmas that I was unable to attend (fancy having to work when you just want to craft!! lol)so I bought the wooden house and Christmas papers to have a go myself. Needless to say the bare house was still sat in my craft room till Friday morning when it shouted please take me and show me some love. I came across some basic grey papers "Urban Couture" I had bought in a sale some time ago so thought the house may like these lovely colours and be displayed all the time.
Firstly I painted the house brown inside and out with some very smelly kids toy paint! Left to dry overnight and on sat morning I set to measuring the walls inside and out. Cut to size, tore edges, stitched and inked before sticking to the house. The roof was done with over 120 hearts! Blonde moments hearts stamped, cut, inked then curled before sticking onto the roof in the style of tiles. the roof ridge tiles were made using a stampin up scalloped punch both sides. In my minds eye I had not planned from this stage on so the next day I made windows out of chipboard then covered them with papers, inking where necessary then put a picture of everyone living at 8-10 so included my Mum and sis Amy. Just needs the finishing touch of the front door which needs drilling into the wood so can show you that tomorrow. Hope you like it Im really pleased with the results and have ignored everyone who says what are you going to do with it now??? Like that matters when it looks so gorgeous LOL!



Just added more pics now the front door has been added. You can just see Tim and I inside the door! bless!


11 comments:

  1. thank you for the lovely mention in your post Janet. Like you we both had a fab weekend and I can't wait to come to the ATC Meet at the end of May. Thanks to you and Michelle for this weekend.

    Emma xx

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  2. Looks great Janet, had a great time this weekend, thanks for your superb company.
    Loadsa Love
    x Michelle

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  3. Aw wow, the ickle house is super, your so lucky to have the chance to attend these cool retreats, wish there were some round my way!!

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  4. Ohhhhhh it's wonderful - I NEED one!

    Sounds like you had a fab time Janet, maybe I should 'come back' for the next one!!! Love Jo x

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  5. Such a lovely project this.
    The way you have done the roof, brill.
    And to finish off, some wonderful pics. bet you wished you done this sooner now.

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  6. Hi Clarky what a gorgeous house ! love it !

    Im not so far away from you , im in leeds !
    your retreat sounds great fun !

    take care
    maddy

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  7. Wow this is stunning - sounds like you had a great time!

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  8. Clarky! This is gorgeous! Am impressed!! Seriously, it is real cool and am glad you all had a good time!

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  9. Wow - great job Janet, it really is fab! I love the roof (all those hearts were certainly worth the effort) and the door too!

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  10. Ab Fab house. Reading about your retreat reminded me of a field trip I did at school staying at the youth hostel in Malham. Fun times, but more years ago than I care to thing about!!!

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  11. Sorry meant to type Think! about

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Thanks for taking the time to stop by and look at my bits and pieces. If you leave a comment I can pop over to yours and have a peep at your work too.