Monday 7 November 2011

a flower of summer

back from black

To highlight a specific area in a photograph using photoshop.

(I'm using CS3)

original image
first step

convert the image to black and white using a Channel Mixer Adjustment Layer




Your image should now be black and white...

second step


select the brush tool
make sure the colours you have selected are BLACK and WHITE






step 3...

using the colour black and the brush tool, very carefuly select the area you want to be colour - you may have to zoom in to get the finer details selected (ctrl +) and reduce brush size (right mouse click and adjust your brush)


you must make sure third step is done whilst you are working on the top layer

this is what it should look like


done



another quick example

Tuesday 26 July 2011

sweet things, jam things

In our modest garden we have inherited an apricot, a plum and two apple trees. Last year when we moved in, the garden was littered with wasp ridden decaying apricots, but this year we managed to harvest them!




In total, one little young tree produced over 4kg of fruit - which we lovingly used and made over 20 jars of jam!

hot, just made




so far I've given a few jars away, but there is just so much of the stuff! It is lovely though!

and now I need suggestions for plum recipes, as our plum tree looks like this all over





Apricot Jam recipe


1kg of Apricots
700g of Sugar (it appears you dont need any fancy jam making sugar as the apricots have enough pectin in them)

1. cut up the fruit and mix with the sugar
2. leave this for 18 hours to do its thing
3. put on stove and bring to boil (according to Delia, the art of making jam is not to do it in too larger quanitity because you wont be able to bring it to the boil quickly enough for it to work)
4. Once it has boiled you reduce the heat to a simmer until it thickens

step number 4 is supposed to take 15 minutes, but took our jam over an hour!!

Be jolly careful, it's hot old stuff - I really had to resist licking the spoon!!

Top tip - put a saucer in the freezer (we used Gu glass dishes) and when you think the jam is done, drop a little on the frozen / chilled saucer and if the jam sets with a skin on it, it's probably ready!

I washed all the jars in hot soapy water, and put them in the oven at 180 degrees to kill any nasties.... then allowed them to cool a bit before attempting to fill them

then put the lids on  -  it took about 48 hours for the jam to cool and set completely (it was rather lovely)

Sunday 24 July 2011

the sun shines, it must be our summer!

It turned out to be a lovely day today.

However, I have been up since 4.30am with the baby that has forgotten how to sleep...

Ruby 7 months


nearly crawling!




Lola, 4 years













wonder where Silvia and Charles are now x

the view into an 800 year old Oak



no frogs today!

some modern art type stuff in the trees

Tonight I have a lot of editing to do, and some playing around on photoshop! But right now, the sun is out... and it's time for a glass (or two) of pimms xx

Thursday 7 July 2011

a kid's cushion

For ages I've wanted to make some thing that Lola could draw on... I like her drawings... they're pretty  funny. On a plus side, I feel that as many cushions I can make will hide the horror of the sofa that I hate.


mr Ted the bear

 


I made simple 20" square pillow cases, with a flap and button closure on the back. The material is very heavy and durable - ideal for a home in the play house. Used the Berol fabric pens - that are meant to be fixed once they've been ironed. I will feed back as to whether it lasts or not!

Wednesday 6 July 2011

Good bye June



At last, some nice weather that's not too hot - time to sit in the garden and drink Lemon Balm? My partner says it's the drink of his childhood, but I've only recently stumbled upon it.

I've been taking orders for various bits, some bunting, the odd curtain alteration etc, and this oil cloth wallet. Im now desperate to make one for myself!







In the next few weeks I plan to make these sun suits for all the babies in my life from made by rae they're super cute! Plus, some dribble bibs too!

Sunday 3 July 2011

Happy Sunday

Thought I better add some thing today, as things have been a touch slow this week.
 

I made a little fabric pot, to keep hair clips and such in.



and this morning I played around with the dimensions and made a couple of fabric baskets / boxes to hold a few baby bits on the changing table.






So this week I have a long to do list, first craft fair table has been booked and I've got lists of orders from people. Eeeek... In other news, I've had all my hair cut off... don't know if I like it yet!