Lotus Seed Pod Lino Cut

I have been wanting to make my own stamps for ages (years, really) but somehow have never tried to do it until now. I make a lot of my own gift cards, but I usually decorate them using stamps I have bought or been given over the years, or by sticking photos I have taken onto cards. I always get inspired to make my own stamps whenever I look at the simple but beautiful designs on the Tiny Happy blog, or the more intricate ones on Geninne's Art Blog. Today I decided to try my hand at lino cutting, and set out to try to make my own stamps! The last (and only) time I have done any lino cutting would have been back in my Year 8 art class at high school (more than 15 years ago!! eeek).

I decided my first homemade stamp would be of a lotus seed pod...I am always fascinated by these seed pods whenever I see them, and am always drawn towards the lotus pond at the Adelaide Botanic Gardens every time I visit.

 First step, I sketched my impression of a lotus seed pod on paper. Then transferred it on to the lino by pressing really hard with a pen and going over the original pencil lines a few times with a lot of pressure. Then I drew in the impressions with a lead pencil so it was easier to see the outlines. Next step...start carving the shape out of the lino. This was fun, but also required a lot of concentration and fiddly maneuvering with the lino tools. My hand was quite sore by the end of it, probably because I'm unfamiliar with using these tools! Hopefully it will get easier with practice :-)

Once I was happy with my carving efforts, it was time to ink it up and see if it actually worked as a stamp! And to my utmost delight....it worked really well!! Much better than I had imagined, so I'm thrilled with this first attempt at stamp making. I think I'll be doing a lot more in future.

I have now used my lotus seed pod stamp to make a whole bunch of gift cards. I had been neglecting my card making for a while, but making my own unique stamps has inspired me to make a small stash so now I will have a few on hand when I want to send a special homemade card but don't have the time to make one.

Picking up the needles again

I really have neglected my crafty activities this year, including updating this blog. I have decided to pick up my knitting needles again - it's a therapeutic and productive way to combat stress, and it brings me such joy to make something handmade and special  to give to my friends, or to wear myself. Above is a little pair of booties I made using some of the Manos Del Uruguay yarn I bought earlier this year. The colour is called "abalone", and it is a merino/silk blend, very soft and beautiful to work with. I made these booties for my best friend's sister, who recently had her second child.

I have also been (very slowly) working on a garter stitch infinity scarf for myself, also using Manos Del Uruguay merino/silk' yarn, this time in a colour called "olivewood" (see below). Last year I made myself a similar scarf using "wildflowers" yarn, and it has become one of my most favourite accessories...I wear it everywhere. So I thought I might make a few more in different shades :-)

I have also been working on (and finished) two other knitting projects, but as both of them are presents and I haven't given them to the friend I made them for yet, I'd better not post any photos here yet! I hope to put pictures up soon though :-)