Meadows-Evans Photography

I haven't had a chance to take photographs for too long now and starting to really miss it... I need to pull my finger out and make time!! I had wanted to get clicking away when I was on holiday but the holiday didn't work out too well, and we ended up going for a relaxing week away with family.

http://www.redbubble.com/ is a great website for artists and photographers who want to sell there work.  They basically print and despatch your art work, and you get to decide upon the mark up that you want to take on their prices.  Very clever stuff, I've tried selling my photography myself, but I just couldn't make it cost affective for the amout I could sell.  So this is the perfect way for me to try and sell my photography work.

If you fancy having a look at some of my work for sale click here... http://www.redbubble.com/people/M-EPhotography  and below are some examples of my work.

Every Good Deed….

Just a quick blog about some rather useful little bead boxes I have just purchased!

My Mum has had the same boxes for some time now, but seeing as I didn’t use beads that often I hadn't taken the plunge. However, as of recently I have been using beads more often and I truly had not realised how unruly a bead could be!

At any opportunity they like to make a bid for freedom, and it's amazing how far one bead can get on its own, with no help from me they launch themselves across the living room!

Not ideal when one is trying to sew them onto something one has just created!

So I decided to scan EBay and see if I could find the same natty boxes that my Mum uses.

I had to sift through a great deal, but seek and ye shall find, and I found em! (click here to see them on ebay)

I ordered a couple of boxes and sadly the naughty postie lost them!! HOW DARE THEY! However I contacted the seller and they, without quibble, question or delay resent me another set, and they arrived the very next day! A rare seller worth their weight!

So if you want some I highly recommend JEWELLERYTOOLS on ebay!

And for my beads…? Well they are safely tucked up in their new little home! So pleasing….ahhh.

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You like em... I make em!

Nothing pleases me more than to look at my basket of yarns! I can spend ages (and often do) just wondering what I can make next.  It's tricky sometimes as I know what I want to make, but I worry (yes I actually worry) about which colours to use next!

I have to make sure that I use wide range of colours as I want to make sure I can cover as many possible tastes.  I like to use colours that I don't naturally lean towards as usually find they are the items that get the most attention! Funny isn't.... just because I like it doesn't mean that anyone else is going to like it!

I often tell my Husband that I have colour block, which usually results in him patting me on the shoulder and says oh dear, would you like a cup of tea?  Which is always a nice response, but no matter how much I love a cup of tea it doesn't help me un-block my colour block....

So.... when I get lovely lovely emails from people asking me to make flowers in colour combinations that they need I am deeply happy, as 1) it instantly means my mind is un-blocked and can think of every colour combination I would like to make and 2) means I can then crochet safe in the knowledge that I should be getting it right!

Just recently I have been asked to make up some of my crochet flowers for a couple of lovely ladies on Folksy.  First was an order for some of my larger crochet flowers as shown below.

And my second order was for some of my smaller crochet flowers (shown below) by POLKA - have a little look at her shop on Folksy, absolutely gorgeous shop!! well worth a gander!  

I hope they are very happy with their orders, and if you would like flowers to add to your what-evers... get in touch... you might just be helping me to un-block my colour block! ♥

A Cushion for a Friend!

A little while ago, a dear friend of mine excitedly told me that she was decorating her spare room. The colours she had chosen were Purple, Green, Brown and Grey! The colours are stunning together, but she was having trouble finding the right accessories to go her new lovely decorated room.

One key accessory my friend was looking for was a cushion cover with lots of texture to it but didn’t break the bank. Knowing that I liked to do a bit of hooking (!) in my spare *ahem* time she asked me if I could make her a cushion cover to go in her room.

I, who loves a project, jumped at the chance. I’d not made a cushion cover before, so I thought that this would be a great chance to ‘have a go’!

I purchased some reasonable priced brown suedette from the wonder eBay, and I got some wool in the colours as agreed by my friend, and she let me loose to do whatever I wanted, just with the spec of ‘flowers’.

Below are two photos showing what I came up with. The first photo is not a great close up, but the other photo shows it off rather nicely in its new home!

A Labour of Love!

So every now and then, I get it into my mind to make something that I have always fancied!... So on my week off, I decided to have a go at making a crochet version of a traditional Christmas decoration Paper Chain! I've not seen any on Folksy or Etsy, doesn't mean that there isn't...

But after the third day of making the Crochet Paper Chain.... I can see why I haven't seen any!  For some reason it took ages to make... I keep telling myself that it's because I was making up as I went along...

Anyway, I've made it now, and I have to say I love it!!

Would love some feed back on the colours.... xx

Project Runway... eat your heart out!

So being on the larger side of life, I was sick and tired of not being able to find the kind of clothes that I wanted to wear. 

My Mum has always owned a sewing machine and could always just 'run' up something at the drop of a hat!... curtains, quilt covers, tops, trousers, princess nighties for a little me who liked to run around fields when cammping with her grandparents pretending she was a princess in her special nighty.

Well I can't say I run around fields these days in my nighty, but I am sure my Husband can vouch for me 'acting' like a princess at times!

I ownded a sewing machine of my own, but where as I am sure some bargin sewing machines are great, this one seemed to hate me! Everytime I used it the darn thing it would snarl up, jump acrosss the table, and often snap the needles... so I didn't use it as much as I wanted to!

Last year, just after our first wedding anniversay, Martin and I found that we had some left over JL vouchers.  We decided that as it wasn't a huge amount, we would split it and purchase something that we each didn't really need but would really love to have.

Martin, went for a coffee machine, and I decided to put mine towards a new sewing machine.

I didn't want to spend loads, but I wanted one that if I needed to sew together anything thicker than a paper bag without making a literal song and dance about it.

After much research I went for Elna 2600.  Not because she (all my sewing machines have been girls) has pink and purple on her, but she was the best I could afford.  I have to say she has been my second best friend ever since I got her.  Apart from the usual mending bits and piceces here and there with her I've also made a few bags and tops!

So here are the photos of what Elna and I have made together.

These are just three of the summer tops I have made, I've also made a couple of smock tops, which are more winter tops and currently hiden away until it gets really cold!

I've loved making these tops, and have just made a fleece jumper for my Husband.  I am more proud of the top I made for my Husband.  It makes me happy to think that I have made something for him to keep him warm when I'm not with him to keep him warm! 

Designer Labels

I make a few items of clothing... from time to time... and I got to thinking that I should get some labels made to put on items that I make...

So I had some made.... what do you think?

I guess I wont be able to put them on earrings and the like... but if I made a bag or cushion, then I should be able to sew them in somewhere...

For clothes I had some made up just my name on it.. I have to say, having your own 'label' does make things fell rather 'finished' if you know what I mean?

I highly recommend getting some made up... I got these made from http://www.jjcash.co.uk/ I got 144 (yes that was rather optimistic of me) for only £17.00 free p&p... that's around 12p each... not bad eh? (other label companies available, I just was swung by the free p&p)♥