Creative Blog Tour

Hi everyone, today it's my turn on the Creative Blog Tour, so this is a bit different to my usual posts. I've been blogging now for about 6 months and when I first started I had no idea that I would have followers....that other crafters I admired would leave me wonderful comments....or that they would then ask me to be involved in a Creative Blog Tour. So before I tell you a bit more about myself and another wonderful crafter, how did I become involved?

Well I was flattered and honoured when the lovely and oh so talented Ingrid Kristina Vichova (beautiful name) asked me to be part of the tour...of course I said yes and then like others before panicked! Ingrids enthusiasm for crafting comes across alongside what seems to be boundless energy, somehow finding time to whip up a beautiful project before breakfast and juggle being a mum to 2 young girls. Whilst I struggle to submit one project for a challenge, Ingrid will have submitted 3 and they will all be gorgeous! She is uber talented (tie dye technique) and her style is varied, these 3 posts are from the same week and show her talents as an artist or working on mini altered playing cards and lastly CAS, please click on the link below to visit her blog, you won't be disappointed.

Ingrid (Ingrid's Crafts Corner)

So now for the not so simple questions that we are required to answer as part of the tour.

What am I working on?

Well I usually work on one project at a time but do have backgrounds and journal pages just started and there are always things waiting to be altered. At the moment I'm hoping to make an ATB for a challenge, but as I don't have a die I am using 6 coasters (a tip from Alison Bomber). I've since gessoed them and think I may put a hinge on so it has a lid. I may be going down a white shabby chic route but I then I may use the new Tim Holtz Wallflower stash I have just received...or do a more vintage look, who knows....I don't until I start and it quite often changes!

These are spare alcohol inked backgrounds from the last CC3C that I want to use and also some journal pages that I have started backgrounds on.

How does my work differ from others of it's genre?

I think I'm quite eclectic and like many different styles. Some people have said they can see a certain style in my work but just looking at my shelf of finished projects, I'm not sure, maybe I'm a magpie incorporating all-sorts into my projects, maybe I don't have a particular style but I know I like many different genres; modern, CAS, steampunk, shabby chic and although I favour vintage and a more neutral palette, the shelf is screaming a rainbow of colours at me!

Why do I write/ create what I do?

Creating is therapy to me, it calms me, it's the thing that keeps me sane in the frenetic world we sometimes live in. I have always 'created', since being a little. My mum had a haberdashery shop and knitting, crochet, sewing and embroidery were all taught to me. 20 plus years ago I made wedding cakes and adored making bouquets of sugar flowers that adorned them... but that was when I was able to work part time, wedding cakes aren't as feasible at the moment. I can leave a mixed media project for months and it won't go off!

I suppose the why do I write part is why do I blog? I have followed blogs for a long time now, I love looking at other peoples blogs and being inspired, so why not start a blog like the ones I like to follow. I also wanted to be able to enter challenges to stretch myself. I find having a theme helps me focus, whereas sitting at my work space and thinking what shall I make usually results in me getting up and walking away. I can honestly say I have never been so creative as I have been in the last 6 months! I used a Maya Angelou quote recently 'You can't use up creativity, the more you use , the more you have' and it's true.

How does your writing/ creating process work?

Well I've half answered that in the previous question, but it starts with a germ of an idea and that can be sparked from anything, I usually find taking the dog for a walk helps, so I can think about it. Once it takes shape then I am off and only hindered by some technique not working but we crafters are an inventive lot and I think that's part of the fun.

Right that's enough about me...Now the best part, I'd love you to meet the fantastically creative and talented Angela, she is a mistress of master boards and creates wonderful texture with teabags in her journals! Mixed media, steampunk and 3D objects are where she excels. She always leaves the most kind and generous comments and comes across as a lovely person. I'd love you to hop across and see her mixed media work....and I think a new mixed media challenge blog may be on the horizon! Please click on the link below

Angela (Felix The Crafty Cat)

                                                              

Like Ingrid, I would love to have introduced you to more of the creative 'artists' I admire but time did indeed run away with me. I'll hopefully get a second chance sometime.

I know Ingrid left you with a virtual thank you card, well it's not a thank you card but I thought I couldn't let you visit without sharing something with you, so by way of a thank you, I completed a couple more journal pages, the central pieces are on fabric which I started at the Lin Brown workshop. Hope you like.

Thanks for dropping by and hope you enjoyed this different post!