fimo experiment

Well, during these calm days, I have spent a bit of time with my new hobby : fimo clay.  I just love the colours and the way you can blend all this together.  I have made another necklace in dark blue beads, with some cupper paint on it.  The result is very nice with a jeans outfit. 
Then i got tired of the necklace, and put the beads together over a little glass bowl, and baked that in the oven. The clay took on the shape of the bowl and now I have a little green fimo pot.  I put some marshmallows in. 
Still thinking of other applications for fimo now. 

 

the lace doily I made too, long time ago

this necklace was fun making 

 

 

and yes, the nose are finally made, with orange fimo

happy new year ! gelukkig nieuwjaar !

Aan al mijn lezers : een spetterend nieuwjaar toegewenst, met veel creatieve ideetjes en voldoende tijd om alles uit te werken en te vervaardigen.  Een goede gezondheid voor jou en voor al wie je dierbaar is.  Een plezant jaar, vol dagen om naar uit te kijken. En tenslotte ook nog veel zin om te bloggen... !

to all my readers : a wonderful new year, with loads of creative ideas and plenty of time to make all the wonderful things you imagine.  A good health to you and all those that you hold dear.  A pleasant year, with many happy days to look forward to. And last but not least, time to keep us informed via the blog..!

more zahia workshops

I haven't had the time to publish these images of another workshop I followed at Zahia.  But in December I made another set of lovely jewels.
This time it was all about working with old venetian glass beads called millefiori.  They were originally ment to be buttons, but never got to that stage.  Forgotten in an obscure Italian basement, they gathered dust untill one of the buyers of Zahia found this treasure and brought them to Belgium where we could have a go at turning them into lovely rings and earrings.
A very easy technique (involving a 2 component glue), a patient teacher and great results, as usual ....

a lovely pair of earrings

a matching ring

all presented in a nice box !

fimo kralen maken - polymeer clay beads

Well, it has been a very busy time.  Glad to be back in a more normal routine.  And as it is a holiday periode for me now, I have some free time to spend.  Winnie asked me to accompany her to a workshop where we were going to make a necklace in fimo (polymeer clay).  I had done that years ago, and remembed it to be great fun. 

The workshop was given by Christine.  In the attic of her beautiful house she has created her own (gigantic ) craft space.   There were 9 of us, all very creative and eager to learn.  We all started with 3 different colours of fimo, and spend the morning rolling balls and 'sausages' until we had some very lovely beads.  It reminded me somehow of my kindergarten days...  back in the middelages of course... After lunch  ( great soup made by Christine's father !) we baked the beads and started on the necklaces.  As we all chose different colours, everyone's beads and necklaces were unique and so different.  Amazing technique, to produce such a variety ! I took some pictures, they will speak for themselves...

these are the colours I choose

Me and Winnie rolling away

Winnie choose turquoise, cupper and white

Some  beads were black, white and red

we learned some 'tricks of the trade'...

the results of our efforts on the baking tray

I had a lot of beads to choose from

putting them on a string or ribbon

nice earthly colours

how do you like mine ?

I had enough to make a matching bracelet, ring and earrings...

A very good workshop, well prepared  and an excelllent teacher who knew what she was talking about.  A lovely day, thank you Winnie for the invitation ! 

Christmas dinner

Tonight my parents are coming over for Christmas dinner, and my table is all set.

The meal is as good as ready.  We are having :

champagne with small appetizers, and a first share of (small) gifts.

3 slices of home made pâté with salad and croutons
(my father in law is a retired butcher who made many of his preparations himself.  His pâté is the best ever.  He is also a hunter.  He has made the pâté from animals he shot.  Not really a nice thought, but his artisan pâtés ares made of hare, wild boar and partridge.)
A second share of gifts.

Then,  home made shrimp croquettes  -  home made by my husband I am proud to say. ( My kitchen was a mess, but the croquettes are very good.)
A third round of gifts.

Then, a taste of pumpkin soup with cream.  On my menu, I call it pumpkin cappucino.  Sounds real funky, doesn't it ?  I am going to serve it in glasses. Showtime !
Another round of gifts, if there are any left over by now -  haha.

Next is the main course : stew of deer.  Yes, we are eating bambi's dad...  I have prepared it according to a tv show by one of Belgiums best cooks ever : Jeroen Meus.  It smells delicious.  Along with it are cranberries, chicory, mushrooms and mashed potatoes with celeriac.

And then dessert.  I know myself : after this dinner (and all the wine) I am tired and quite fed up with cooking.  So I bought some ice cream and I will serve it with a good cuppa coffee. Along with some sweet Belgian truffles and chocolates of course.

By then I am dog-tired and we will fall into the sofa with a last drink.  Many cheers to Xmas,  love and peace, and we wish you all the best.  Tomorrow, a very late & small breakfast (just a vitamine drink perhaps...) and in the late afternoon we are invited for coffee and cakes at my in-laws.  Another load of calories, and probably no time to blog.  See you all next time !

more home made Christmas decorations

Just a quick giveaway for the members of my knitting club...

these hearts are made of felt, and filled with lavender

I made a little bag to put the gifts in, made from old wallpaper.

Ellen's vilten hoeden - Ellens felted hats

During the workshop at the Banier, I met Ellen.  She's a young mum, has 2 children, and her hobby is felting.  She's a 'self-made' felter, she learned it very effciently by 'trial and error'.  And some very useful youtube tutorials.  We got along very well, and I asked her to send me some pictures of her hats.  Well, they are sooo original and wonderful, I just have to share this with you all.  Just imagine the hats are black.  My stupid computer seems to interpret the black as dark purple.   
Ellen doesn't have a blog, but I'm going to convince her to start one.  She makes lovely babyhats and children's hats too.  I told her to put them up for sale, but she's shy that people will not want to buy her items.  What a shame.  I would buy one if I had little children...
Anyway, don't be upset when you see the hats presented on a female head....  It's not real !  It's a dummy-head used by schoolgirls who train to be hairdressers.  It is a bit awkward, but the size is just right for presenting the hats.  If you want to contact ellen, just send me a mail.  I will forward them to her.