Raking up the past….

Raking up the past….

Hi there.
Greetings from the NEC!
It was great to see so many friends and familiar faces today!
Happy to report that the new stand was well received, and the stamps and artboards stayed on the wall! Always a welcome relief. 
Forgot my Ipad at the B&B in the morning, which is tantamount to leaving my brain there. So decided to peel a piece of artwork from yesteryear off one of the boards, and bring that back to the farm to blog .
Wow! This takes me back!
I remember being so excited when I worked out how to keep the silver birches white, and brayer 
the hills into the background.
Can you remember? Hands up if you do…
That’s right! I used a Versamark pen to colour the tree trunks,
and then glazed them with clear embossing powder
Oh yes. And do you remember the Classroom Show on TV, when I showed you how to draw birds on the wire?
Started a right old bird frenzy back then, 
when all loads of us wanted to do was draw little birds on everything!
Mind you, the kidney shaped one here looks like he’s eaten some dodgy seeds!
It’s only when you look back at what you were doing a couple of years ago, 
that you realise just how far you’ve come. 
And in my case, that goes for more than just artwork.
So what kind of cardstock do you think I used here?
Claritycard. The coated stock. Still the best card for brayering on.
In fact, tomorrow I may just have to dig out my brayer and take a trip down Memory Lane.
There are so many new crafters always joining our merry band, and what may be old hat to us will be totally new and interesting to them.
See you tomorrow!
Lots of love,
Barb xx

43 thoughts on “Raking up the past….

  1. so glad today has gone well. The revamp stand looks amazing!! Bet it was hard work to design but well worth it from what I can see. Can't make it to the NEC I'm afraid but I will be with you in spirit. It's always good to remember the past , it's who we are, and what we carry with us, that goes for projects too. I loved this one at the time and might give it another go at the weekend. Have fun, and enjoy. Lots of love.

  2. Glad today was a success with the new stand, I'm sure lots of happy customers got what they wanted and saw lots of great demos. I loved this technique when you did it before so I got the stamps and practiced the little birdies on everything! I have stamped them in green colours and they also looked great in autumnal ones too. Good luck tomorrow. XX

  3. Enjoyed today. Thankyou Barbara for explaining how Elaine Milner had achieved the fabulous magpie card. The card displays where stunning. Enjoy the rest of your time in the Midlands,we are always happy to see you. X

  4. I do remember this one and thought it was totally magical. It is still magical to me even though we have moved into other techniques since then. I had forgotten the birds so I had better get some practice in, even if I cnnot yet manage a straight-ish squiggly line yet. The stand looked fantastic and was so much easier to get around and to be able to find things. I shall be back to watch more demos and look at more of the new paints etc. Have a good night's sleep. xxx Maggie

  5. Hi Barbara, very happy for you that it is going so well. I remember this and you teaching us to draw birds, I felt happy with myself that I could draw birds, and me feeling happy with myself is a very rare occurrence!!! 🙂

    Hope you are taking time to look after you too!
    love Brenda xx

  6. Back home after a wonderful day at the show. The stand looked great, everything easy to find. Your demos AMAZING as usual Barbara. Thanks so much for the sample of your flame frame demo. A privilege to be at the front when you were doing your demonstrations and seeing them 1st hand. Yes I remember the Silver Birch card loved it then & love it still. I still draw the birds sometimes even though I've bought near on all your bird stamps. Hope you & your lovely team aren't too tired. Look forward to seeing you at Ally Pally in April.xxx

  7. Hi Barb,
    Yes, I do remember this and I was another one that was chuffed to bits that I could draw a bird! Pleased everything has gone well and the stands look brilliant. Well done! Love Alison xxx

  8. Oooo Barbara its good to look back occasionally as I think it makes you appreciate how you have moved on and upwards!! And as you say so many will remember this technique but as many won't! And even those who do remember it will be fascinated at how easy you make it look and how magically you turn a piece of shiny white card into a fabulous piece of artwork!
    Glad today went well ! Looking forward to Sunday now! Xxx

  9. Hi Barbara it is so good to hear that your first day went well the stand looks amazing. I came to one of your workshops in Corhampton Village hall and we drew birds on a wire like that. I still have all the bits I created that day. The art work you have shared is gorgeous. It is good to look back to see how things have changed. I hope you have a good hotel. Hugs Jackie

  10. The stand looks great Barbara, so pleased it's going well. A little reminder of earlier techniques is always helpful and as you say, there are always new crafters that would find a lesson in basic techniques useful, like my daughter. So I'll be telling her to check out your brayering blog tomorrow. Give Maria a hug from me and one for you too. Love Jeanette xx

    1. That's great news, thank you for letting me know. If you are able to please pass on my best wishes and hope for a speedy complication free recovery 🙂 xx

  11. I can't remember at all – perhaps a you tube Tuesday of all the little hints and tips like drawing the birds and the boat – I remember the boat but can't quite recall how you did it. There must be more 🙂 Good luck at NEC x

  12. I too had a fab day at the NEC, loved all the fab inspiration and the demos from you and Marie…thank you both – oh yes and that appears to be me looking up and drooling at those lovely cards .
    Enjoy the rest of the show…..

    Sylvia x

  13. Hi Barbara, glad it's going well. I still really like this piece of artwork and remember you doing those little birds. Hope tomorrow is as successful. Wish I could be there! Hugs xx

  14. I'm glad the day went well and all your hard work paid off and the visitors who've commented here testify to their enjoyment. Nice to see the birch trees again and it's still a neat technique. Enjoy your brayer tomorrow, your signature expertise. x

  15. Hi Barbara look at all those happy customers, glad to hear the NEC is going well and all your samples are still there! My one brain cell is still working, I guessed the versamark pen and the clarity card, you see sometimes I listen and remember!! Loved the birch trees when you showed us before so it's nice to revisit and yes perhaps a blast from the past you tube. I was with Jackie T when we did the workshop and drew the birds- that seems years ago now!
    Hope you have a good nights sleep and a good breakfast in the morning.
    Take care
    Love Diane xxx

  16. Glad your first day went well Barbara, and so lovely to see the happy smiling faces in your photo, and it's obvious from the comments here that a good time was had by all. Hope tomorrow is an equally good day! x

    1. Sorry, I meant to say that the birch trees and birds on the wire are gorgeous and remember seeing you do this and thinking how magical it was. x

  17. Hello Barb, I remember this card so well and trying to get my birds to look like yours, most of mine ended up looking like they ate too many dodgy seeds! So lovely to see the pics of the visitors to the stand, glad day 1 went well and I am sure the rest will as well. Have a great day everyone. Bx

  18. Thank you for the demo at the end of yesterday afternoon, and the advice about stamping on to pages from old books, and for patiently answering all my questions. Now I'm going to have a little play and see how I get on.

  19. Hi Barbara so glad the show is going well. I love the birch stamp and I am a proud owner of one of your demo originals from seeing you at stamperama in Stevenage a few years ago.

  20. Looks very busy Barbara I'm so miffed at not being able to get where you are id love to meet you. Love your work today I remember the lesson on birds. Have a great show love June horrocks xxxxxxxx

  21. I am so excited to have come across your blog via a Bokeh Background YouTube. I must pop in to tell you I am so delighted to see your work. You are a creative artist, so talented and caring. I can't wait to enjoy more of your art! Thank you for sharing your beautiful talent in such a detailed and thoughtful way.
    Your new and devoted fan,
    JoyceAnn

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