Friday 28 December 2012

Aster Manor Quilt Tutorial By Ros Mirrington of Bloom Blog


If you like really PRETTY linens like I do then you're going to love the Aster Manor Quilt pillowcase tutorial that Ros Mirrington has on her Bloom blog.    Isn't that pretty?  I just LOVE it.

Aster Manor Quilt Tutorial
Free projects from Bloom @ Moda Bakeshop

Copyright © 2010 - All Rights Reserved - Written by Ros Mirrington of Bloom blog.

Here's what Ros had to say about her tutorial: The muted prettiness of 'Aster Manor' by 3 Sisters combined simply with linen, pearl buttons and ric-rac make up this dreamy little pillow. Finished size: approximately 12" x 20"

Ros's Terms of Use:  I have had the wonderful privilege of having some of my designs posted by Moda Bakeshop. These designs are free. Please link back to my designs if you use them and feel free to add photos to my 'Made with Bloom' Flickr group. Please do not use these tutorials for commercial purposes.

Ros's Blog Bio - A friend recently asked me which I could give up more easily, gardening or stitching. An impossible question. Of course, the suggestion that I could give up either is preposterous! If you are similarly enamored with blooms, whether they be real or stitched, welcome to my blog!

Copyright © 2010 - All Rights Reserved - Written by  Ros Mirrington  of Bloom blog. Ros is an avid gardener, crafter, photographer, quilter, handbag designer, embroiderer, stitcher, crazy quilter, and seamstress.

Please visit her Bloom blog and her Bloom and Blossom Flickr photostream.

Rosebuds Tutorial By Carol Daisy of Embroideries From Daisy's Garden


I LOVE just about any kind of silk ribbon embroidery flower and was was thrilled to see that Carol Daisy had a wonderful tutorial on her Silk Ribbon Embroidery blog showing you how to make rosebuds in silk ribbon embroidery.  Enjoy making your flowers.

Rosebuds

Copyright © 2010 - All Rights Reserved - Written by Carol Daisy of Embroideries From Daisy's Garden.

Here's what Carol had to say about her tutorial:Detached Chain / Ribbon Stitch in 4 mm. Silk Ribbon - Basis of this rosebud is a Detached Chain Stitch, keep the ribbon as flat as possible to obtain a full bud. Stem Stitch is added in embroidery thread. Two ribbon stitches to form the calyx. Two small straight stitches at the tip of the bud in green thread ( or the colour of the bud ).

Please respect Carol's TERMS OF USE:  The patterns and designs are available for your private use only & remain the copyright of "Embroideries from Daisy's Garden". Ribbon Embroidery Supplies are available from our Website " Embroideries From Daisy's Garden."

Carol's Bio: My life is at the stage that I can indulge in my interests of Embroidery and Crafts. Ribbons,beads,threads, laces and trims all have a special place here in my studio. 

My childhood was spent on the family dairy farm in Toowoomba, Queensland. When I was about 12 years old, my Grandmother (nicknamed Daisy – hence the name Daisy’s Garden) introduced me to the joys of needlework. I am so thankful to her for giving me a skill that I could enjoy and build upon for life. After the chores were done, whenever I had some spare time, I would sit quietly on the front porch and stitch away. I remember these times so fondly. When I retired, and finally had some time to myself, I had the desire to do embroidery again. I didn’t get far with the fancy work tablecloth however, once I discovered Silk Ribbon Embroidery, I became addicted!

Copyright © 2012 - All Rights Reserved - Carol Daisy of Embroideries From Daisy's Garden.

Please visit her Embroideries From Daisy's Garden website at http://www.daisysgarden.net.au, her Silk Ribbon Embroidery blog at http://www.caroldaisy.blogspot.com/, and her Create-Enhance blog at http://www.create-enhance.com/.

How To Cut Dresden Plate Wedges From 5" Charm Squares Tutorial By Ros Mirrington of Bloom Blog

I just love Dresden Plate quilt designs and love seeing them. Whether it's on a large quilt, art quilt, or even table runners or place mats I think they're all fabulous. If you've ever wanted to try making a Dresden Plate quilt, but don't know how then you'll be pleased to know that Ros Mirrington of Bloom blog has a wonderful tips & techniques tutorial showing you how to cut Dresden Plate wedges from a 5" charm square. Enjoy the tip!


How To Cut Dresden Plate Wedges From 5" Charm Squares

Copyright © 2009 - All Rights Reserved - Written by Ros Mirrington of Bloom blog.

Here's what Ros had to say about her tutorial: You may remember my Mum's table runner that she has been working on? The pattern is called 'Plates for your Table' by Kim Walus at bitty bits & pieces. I said that we had modified Kim's instructions to suit two charm packs, instead of using fat quarters. This was followed closely by a query from a reader who 'couldn't for the life of her' work out how we had done that!

Ros's Terms of Use:  These designs are free.  Please link back to my designs if you use them and feel free to add photos to my 'Made with Bloom' Flickr group. Please do not use these tutorials for commercial purposes.

Ros's Blog Bio - A friend recently asked me which I could give up more easily, gardening or stitching. An impossible question. Of course, the suggestion that I could give up either is preposterous! If you are similarly enamored with blooms, whether they be real or stitched, welcome to my blog!

Copyright © 2009 - All Rights Reserved - Written by  Ros Mirrington  of Bloom blog. Ros is an avid gardener, crafter, photographer, quilter, handbag designer, embroiderer, stitcher, crazy quilter, and seamstress.

Please visit her Bloom blog and her Bloom and Blossom Flickr photostream.

Friday 21 December 2012

Christmas Break

Dear readers, this blog and its author are taking a Christmas break. I wish all of you a very good holiday season. May 2013 be a year with lots of interesting new development in ECHR jurisprudence, but even more importantly with a better protection of human rights in Europe and across the globe! I also express the hope that you will continue sending all your information on new ECHR-related publications and events and guest posts.

Please note: the Netherlands Institute of Human Rights SIM is moving to new premises in the coming weeks. Our new address as of January will be: Achter Sint Pieter 200, 3512 HT Utrecht, the Netherlands.

Merry Christmas!

Wednesday 19 December 2012

Conference on ECtHR and ECJ

Oxford Brookes University is organising a conference on Europe's two main Courts: the European Court of Human Rights and the European Court of Justice. The conference will be held on 18 January and is entitled 'Fundamental Rights In Europe: A Matter For Two Courts'. This is the description:

The aim of this workshop is to bring together scholars, judges and policy makers to discuss the legal framework for the protection of fundamental rights in Europe. This event will reflect on the relationship between the Court of Justice of the EU (CJEU) in Luxembourg and the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in Strasbourg. It will examine the current state of accession of the European Union to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and consider the legal implications of the accession for the protection of the fundamental rights of EU and non-EU citizens. It will explore this theme from a number of different angles and as such it is divided into four main streams: employment rights, citizenship and migration, fundamental rights versus fundamental freedoms and access to justice.


The following themes will be explored:

a. Overview of the EU law and policy aiming at legal integration based on rights;

b. Analysis of legal implication s of the EU Charter, the EU accession agreement and the ECRH in relation to: employment law, citizenship and migration and trade in Europe; analysis of the ECHR and ECJ case law in the respective areas;

c. Evaluation of the relationship between the ECJ and the ECtHR and their mechanisms;

d. Examination of the interplay between EU, ECHR and national level: the extent to which the EU/ECHR fundamental rights’ caveat sits with simultaneous developments in strategies/law and policies at national levels;

e. Analysis of the effects/ impacts of the different laws/policies on the lives of EU citizens/residents, and the potential discrepancy between formal rights and the actual ability of people to enjoy these;

f. Legal implication in relation to the EU Draft Accession Agreement to the ECHR

The morning plenary session will be followed by four parallel afternoon sessions and a final round table.

Speakers include:

■ Mr Niilo Jaaskinen, Court of Justice of the European Union (Advocate General)


■ Ms Kristi Raba, Council of the European Union

■ Mr Joerg Polakiewicz, Human Rights Law and Policy Division, Council of Europe

■ Professor Paul Craig, University of Oxford

■ Professor Stephen Weatherill, University of Oxford

■ Professor Titia Loenen, Utrecht University

■ Judge Dragoljub Popović, European Court of Human Rights

You can register here.

Cookies and Milk Snack Mat Tutorial By Amy of nanaCompany

I can hear my mother asking, "Who wants cookies and milk?" Me, me! Especially if it's served on an adorable snack mat like the one Amy has on her nanaCompany blog. I hope you enjoy Amy's tutorial.


Copyright © 2011 - All Rights Reserved - Amy of nanaCompany.

Here's what Amy had to say about her tutorial: Cookies and milk. Mmmm. We use these snack mats every night just before bed. And as I've said... cuter than paper plates, reusable, washable, and handmade with love. Let's do it!

Amy's Bio - Hi, my name is Amy. I live in a small house near the ocean in Los Angeles with my three children and my awesome husband. We are a lively family but we live very quietly ~ I can honestly say that all five of us are homebodies, looking forward to returning home whenever we go out. But the fun thing I've discovered while looking through my camera these past years, is that there is a lot of beauty in our "everyday." And I'm looking forward to sharing with you my life as I create and explore new ways to find that beauty.

Completely self-taught in everything, I am a "see it- do it" kind of girl. And I love trying new things. Maybe someday I'll have a real style, but for now I love vintage and modern, girly and clean, and everything in between.

Copyright © 2011-2012- All Rights Reserved - Amy of nanaCompany.

Please visit Amy's nanaCompany blog at http://nanacompany.typepad.com, her nanaCompany Etsy shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/nanacompany, and her Flickr stream at http://www.flickr.com/photos/nanacompany/




Making a Paper ATC Fan Tutorial By Laura Carson of Artfully Musing Blog


I LOVE ATC's and love the idea of making a beautiful paper fan out of ATC's. So, I was pleased to see that Laura Carson had a wonderful tutorial on her Artfully Musing blog showing you how to do this. How cool is that? I know I'm going to enjoy trying this. I hope you do, too.


Copyright © 2011 - All Rights Reserved - Written by Laura Carson of Artfully Musing.

Here's what Laura had to say about her tutorial:  My favorite size art piece to work with is the standard ATC size. But being a cluttered person (which I think is reflected in my art), I’m always looking for ways to cram more stuff on to the standard 2 1/2'” by 3 ½” space. If you are familiar with my work you know that I’m always going off the edges. I also like working with different shapes. I love fans and use fan images frequently in my art and I enjoy making paper fans. A while back I decided to marry the two; fans and ATCs. The result is in the pictures below. When the fan is closed the base dimension of a single blade is 2 ½” x 3 1/2”. But when open, the fan expands to a five blades – lots more room for stuff!

Please respect Laura's TERMS OF USE:  My tutorials are protected by U.S. & International copyright laws.  Do not copy, duplicate, alter or reproduce in anyway.  Please use for inspiration only. ALL NAMES, LOGOS AND DESIGNS ARE THE PROPERTY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS. ©2012 Laura Carson (Artfully Musing), All Rights Reserved

Laura's Bio: After retiring from the computer software industry where I spent my career designing, building and marketing software, I needed a creative outlet. A few years ago I discovered Mixed Media Art and have had a love affair ever since. I’ve taught classes in Altered Books, Handmade Books, Collage Art and Mix Media Art. I currently design for Alpha Stamps and I enjoy trading in various art groups. Starting this blog is a way of sharing my art and the wonderful art I have received from others. I specialize in very detailed multi-layered and textured pieces. I live in Anthem Arizona with my husband Kevin, dog Sandy, and cat Tigger.

Copyright © 2011 - All Rights Reserved - Laura Carson of Artfully Musing.

Please visit her Artfully Musing blog at  http://artfullymusing.blogspot.com/.



Lace Cards Tutorial By Karen Bailey of Todolwen Blog


I just love innovative and creative ways to help me get organized - especially when it comes to my craft supplies. So, I was thrilled to see that Karen Bailey had a wonderful tutorial on her Todolwen blog showing you how to make pretty little lace cards for organizing your lace. I'll be making plenty of these.  How about you?


Copyright © 2012 - All Rights Reserved - Written by Karen Bailey of Todolwen Blog

Here's what Karen had to say about her tutorial:  Hello my dear friends, I have been so very busy this past weekend working on several  projects. After finishing one of them that is when I thought this might be something good to share in the form of a short tutorial because I think that this quick and easy project might be of help to some of you to organize your laces and ribbons and ... it looks nice too!

I am sure you all agree that storing lace in different objects like old tins or jars looks amazing but ... when it comes to finding the right lace or ribbon to work with ... how many of you ~ just as I have been ~ were confronted with this hug ball of tangled lace? And this is what had happened to me over the weekend. I was working on my ballet slippers and I needed some lace which is stored in an old box and I ended up with almost all of it as one big ball in my hand and that is why I made this little tutorial. I didn't have to go out especially to buy anythingfor this project and I am sure many of you have everything you need right there at home already. It's a really good way to recycle as well because you can use almost any cardboard and container. I have also made two sizes of the lace cards so if you have less or more of a lace/ribbon you will have the right size card.

Please respect Karen's TERMS OF USE:  Please do not copy my tutorials in full and/or claim them to be your own and/or post them on your blog without my permission. Furthermore the sale of my tutorials is prohibited. All my designs are protected under copyright.

Karen's Bio: My name is Karen Bailey, and I am the wife for over 20 years to a now retired british serviceman and a Mum to two beautiful daughters. For many years we traveled and lived all over the world whilst serving in the army. After leaving the army we now live in Ontario, Canada. My passion is antiques, especially victorian unrestored furniture and household items and creating/crafting. For me there is nothing better when I have a moment to sit down and make something beautiful. My blog is 'Todolwen' which is an anogram made up from 'old to new' which is what I love to do ~ take something old and give it a new life. I hope you enjoy my makings as much as I enjoy creating them.

Copyright © 2012 - All Rights Reserved - Karen Bailey of  Todolwen Blog.

Please visit her Todolwen blog at http://todolwen.blogspot.com/.

How To Wash Vintage and Antique Lace Tutorial By Pamela Kellogg of Kitty and Me Designs


Lace is very, very common in crazy quilt creations. For some crazy quilt designers the old and more intricate the better. However, sometimes old lace presents a problem and needs to be washed. If you've ever wondered how to do this then you'll be pleased to know that Pamela Kellogg has a tutorial on her Kitty & Me Designs blog showing you how.

How To Wash Vintage and Antique Lace

Copyright © 2008 - All Rights Reserved - Written by Pamela Kellogg of Kitty & Me Designs.

Here's what Pamela had to say about her tutorial:  I recently received an email from a stitcher who just purchased a bagful of Vintage Lace at an antique shop and she wanted to know the proper way to wash it.

I'm sure many people are intimidated by old textiles, fearful that washing them will somehow cause deterioration. Honestly, it's quite the opposite. Dust & mold is what causes damage to lace & fabric so washing it is indeed a good way to preserve it.


Please respect Pamela's TERMS OF USE:  I like to share Craft and Embroidery Tutorials on how I do a variety of projects and techniques and helpful hints. I add to this list regularly. Please feel free to download the directions and if you try them, please let me know if you enjoyed the project!

Pamela's Bio:Designer, Textile Artist and Instructor. Although I love all forms of needlework and embroidery, my true passion is Crazy Quilting. I enjoy a quiet life in our little cottage by a lake in Northern Illinois. I frequent flea markets and antique shops looking for do-dads that I can sew on to my stitching projects. I offer some of my handmade items, along with my mom's and my sister's, in my Etsy shop. I enjoy baking and share many of my recipes here. And did I mention glitter?

Copyright © 2005 - 2012 - All Rights Reserved - Pamela Kellogg of Kitty & Me Designs .

Please visit her Kitty & Me Designs blog at http://kittyandmedesigns.blogspot.com/ and her Kitty & Me Designs Etsy shop at http://www.etsy.com/shop/kittyandme.

Silk Ribbon Embroidery Tutorial - Loop Flower By Carol Daisy of Embroideries From Daisy's Garden


I LOVE just about any kind of silk ribbon embroidery flower and was was thrilled to see that Carol Daisy had a wonderful tutorial on her Silk Ribbon Embroidery blog showing you how to make a loop flower in silk ribbon embroidery.  Enjoy making your flowers.


Copyright © 2009 - All Rights Reserved - Written by Carol Daisy of Embroideries From Daisy's Garden.

Here's what Carol had to say about her tutorial: Flower combinations in 4 mm . Silk Ribbon - These are from a discontinued Introductory Kit. Satin -n-Cream on a Baby Quilt or for Doll Collectors. But I am sure you will find many other uses.

Please respect Carol's TERMS OF USE:  The patterns and designs are available for your private use only & remain the copyright of "Embroideries from Daisy's Garden". Ribbon Embroidery Supplies are available from our Website " Embroideries From Daisy's Garden."

Carol's Bio: My life is at the stage that I can indulge in my interests of Embroidery and Crafts. Ribbons,beads,threads, laces and trims all have a special place here in my studio. 

My childhood was spent on the family dairy farm in Toowoomba, Queensland. When I was about 12 years old, my Grandmother (nicknamed Daisy – hence the name Daisy’s Garden) introduced me to the joys of needlework. I am so thankful to her for giving me a skill that I could enjoy and build upon for life. After the chores were done, whenever I had some spare time, I would sit quietly on the front porch and stitch away. I remember these times so fondly. When I retired, and finally had some time to myself, I had the desire to do embroidery again. I didn’t get far with the fancy work tablecloth however, once I discovered Silk Ribbon Embroidery, I became addicted!

Copyright © 2009 - All Rights Reserved - Carol Daisy of Embroideries From Daisy's Garden.

Please visit her Embroideries From Daisy's Garden website at http://www.daisysgarden.net.au, her Silk Ribbon Embroidery blog at http://www.caroldaisy.blogspot.com/, and her Create-Enhance blog at http://www.create-enhance.com/.

Thursday 13 December 2012

New Book on Diversity and the ECHR

Professor Eva Brems of Ghent University, who leads one of the largest current ECHR-research projects in Europe with a very talented 'crew' of researchers, has compiled a book on diversity issues within the jurisprudence of the European Court. The approach of the book is original and innovative, as the contributors were asked to focus on one specific judgment of the Court and to make suggestions for a rewriting of that judgment. It is entitled 'Diversity and European Human Rights. Rewriting Judgments of the ECHR' and was published by Cambridge University Press. This is the abstract:

Through redrafting the judgments of the ECHR, Diversity and European Human Rights demonstrates how the court could improve the mainstreaming of diversity in its judgments. Eighteen judgments are considered and rewritten to reflect the concerns of women, children, LGB persons, ethnic and religious minorities and persons with disabilities in turn. Each redrafted judgment is accompanied by a paper outlining the theoretical concepts and frameworks that guided the approaches of the authors and explaining how each amendment to the original text is an improvement. Simultaneously, the authors demonstrate how difficult it can be to translate ideas into judgments, whilst also providing examples of what those ideas would look like in judicial language. By rewriting actual judicial decisions in a wide range of topics this book offers a broad overview of diversity issues in the jurisprudence of the ECHR and aims to bridge the gap between academic analysis and judicial practice.
And this is the table of contents:

Introduction Eva Brems; Part I. Children: 1. Rewriting V v. the United Kingdom: building on a groundbreaking standard Ursula Kilkelly; 2. Images of children in education: a critical reading of D. H. and Others v. The Czech Republic Sia Spiliopoulou Åkermark; 3. Mainstreaming children's rights in migration litigation: Muskhadzhiyeva and Others v. Belgium Wouter Vandenhole and Julie Ryngaert; Part II. Gender: 4. Redrafting abortion rights under the Convention: A, B and C v. Ireland Patricia Londono; 5. A noble cause: a case study of discrimination, symbols and reciprocity Yofi Tirosh; 6. From inclusion to transformation: rewriting Konstantin Markin v. Russia Alexandra Timmer; Part III. Religious Minorities: 7. Rethinking Deschomets v. France: reinforcing the protection of religious liberty through personal autonomy in custody disputes Renata Uitz; 8. Mainstreaming religious diversity in a secular and egalitarian state: the road(s) not taken in Leyla Sahin v. Turkey Pierre Bosset; 9. Suku Phull v. France rewritten from a procedural justice perspective: taking religious minorities seriously Saïla Ouald Chaib; Part IV. Sexual Minorities: 10. Rewriting Schalk and Kopf: shifting the locus of deference Holning S. Lau; 11. The burden of conjugality Aeyal Gross; 12. The public faces of privacy: rewriting Lustig-Prean and Beckett v. the United Kingdom Michael Kavey; Part V. Disability: 13. Unravelling the knot: Article 8, private life, positive duties and disability: rewriting Sentges v. The Netherlands Lisa Waddington; 14. Re-thinking Herczegfalvy: the Convention and the control of psychiatric treatment Peter Bartlett; 15. Rewriting Kolanis v. the United Kingdom: the right to community integration Maris Burbergs; Part VI. Cultural Minorities: 16. Minority marriage and discrimination: redrafting Muñoz Díaz v. Spain Eduardo J. Ruiz Vieytez; 17. Chapman redux: the European Court of Human Rights and Roma traditional lifestyle Julie Ringelheim; 18. Erasing Q, W and X, erasing cultural difference Lourdes Peroni.
Congratulations, Eva!

Tutorial - Fitting Appliquéd Text To A Quilt Block By Ros Mirrington of Bloom Blog

I just love quilting and sewing tips, especially when they come from masters of their trade.  And, Ros Mirrington Bloom blog  is a master at quilting.  So, I was happy to see that she had a wonderful tips & techniques tutorial on her Bloom blog showing you how to fit appliqued text to a quilt block. Enjoy the tip!

Tutorial - Fitting Appliquéd Text To A Quilt Block

Copyright © 2010 - All Rights Reserved - Written by Ros Mirrington of Bloom blog.

Here's what Ros had to say about her tutorial: I am working on a small quilt at the moment that I am hoping to be able to show you very soon. Occasionally, I have the need to appliqué text on a quilt or other project. I have put together a tutorial, as much for my own reference as anybody's, but perhaps you will find it useful. I am using Microsoft Word on a Mac, but the commands should be much the same for PC.

Ros's Terms of Use:  These designs are free. Please link back to my designs if you use them and feel free to add photos to my 'Made with Bloom' Flickr group. Please do not use these tutorials for commercial purposes.

Ros's Blog Bio - A friend recently asked me which I could give up more easily, gardening or stitching. An impossible question. Of course, the suggestion that I could give up either is preposterous! If you are similarly enamored with blooms, whether they be real or stitched, welcome to my blog!

Copyright © 2010 - All Rights Reserved - Written by  Ros Mirrington  of Bloom blog. Ros is an avid gardener, crafter, photographer, quilter, handbag designer, embroiderer, stitcher, crazy quilter, and seamstress.

Please visit her Bloom blog and her Bloom and Blossom Flickr photostream.

Mr. Cool & Snowblind E-Pattern By Sue Allemand of Palette Primitives

I just love primitive, country, and folk art crafts. Especially if they are snowmen.  Don't you? Well, Sue Allemand has a terrific e-pattern on her Free Stitchin' Patterns blog for creating a snowblind stitchery pillow and snowman doll.  Enjoy.


Copyright © 2010 - All Rights Reserved - Sue Allemand of Palette Primitives.

Here's what Sue had to say about her pattern: Quick and easy pattern! Make both of these for fun or profit! Glasses & nose are painted on.... while the star is an actual rusty, metal star! And he has cute floss hair! hehe

Please respect Sue's TERMS OF USE: All designs are copyright protected by Sue Allemand. You are given the right to make the finished products for personal use or profit (selling on the internet is fine), however, no mass producing, copying, sharing or distributing of the pattern or design is allowed. Please give credit to the me whenever possible. Thank you!

Copyright © 1999-2012- All Rights Reserved - Sue Allemand of Palette Primitives. Sue is a professional artist and designer.

Please visit Sue's Palette Primitives website at http://paletteprimitives.com, her Palette Primitives "Get Your Prim On" blog at http://www.paletteprimitives.blogspot.com, her Free Paintin' Patterns blog at http://freepaintinpatterns.blogspot.com and her Free Stitchin' Patterns blog at http://freestitchinpatterns.blogspot.com.



Love to Cook - Rumer's Cookery Book Tutorial By Ros Coffey of RosMadeMe Blog

Are you looking for the perfect gift to make your favorite cook, your Mum, your daughters or granddaughters who LOVE to cook?  If you are then you'll be pleased to know that Ros Coffey has a wonderful tutorial on her RosMadeMe Blog blog showing you how to make a bag to store all those handwritten family recipes.  What a wonderful idea for gifts this holiday season.  Thanks, Ros.

Love to Cook - Rumer's Cookery Book Tutorial

Copyright © 2012 - All Rights Reserved - Written by Ros Coffey of RosMadeMe Blog.

Here's what Ros had to say about her tutorial:  I have a friend called Rumer, she likes to cook, mind you she also likes to knit, sew and play on her DS, which is not a bad thing considering her mum runs our local yarn shop. When I saw her today, she said she wanted to make lemon drizzle cake and then we started talking about her granny's amazing chicken soup and I thought now is the time for her to start collecting her family recipes in her own cook book which is why we are going to make her very own book to gather up the recipes. I wonder if like me and my mum you have recipes books filled with hand written little scraps of paper with your beloved family recipes, if you do then this is the perfect project for you start on.

Ros's Bio:I live by the sea, in Essex, in Leigh-on-sea. I have been making things since I was a child, earliest memories were embroidering squares of binca matting, making felt egg cups and ripping back my knitting when my sister had picked up a dropped stitch... yep, it really did have to be all my own work! I am a dreadful hoarder, with stashes of wool and fabric hidden around my house, together with the projects that I have not yet finished. I am currently making cushions, quilted, appliqued, stencilled... actually just anything that I will enjoy crafting.

Copyright © 2010 - 2012 - All Rights Reserved - Ros Coffey of RosMadeMe Blog .

Please visit her RosMadeMe blog at http://rosmademe.blogspot.com .

Snowin In The Meadow Stitchery E-Pattern By Sue Allemand of Palette Primitives

If someone says primitive, country, and folk art stitcheries - I'm all ears. If you are, too then you'll be pleased to know that Sue Allemand has a terrific e-pattern on her Free Stitchin' Patterns blog for a snowin in the meadow stitchery pillow or wall quilt.  I hope you enjoy Sue's free stitchery e-pattern.


Copyright © 2010 - All Rights Reserved - Sue Allemand of Palette Primitives.

Here's what Sue had to say about her pattern:  FREE Stitchery Pattern .... here's a sister to Snow Season! Make them both for a cute little pair to decorate with! Includes complete instructions for beginner stitching and sewing on the borders and backing for a pillow or wall quilt! I LOVE to use flannels with these - makes them nice and cozy!

Please respect Sue's TERMS OF USE: All designs are copyright protected by Sue Allemand. You are given the right to make the finished products for personal use or profit (selling on the internet is fine), however, no mass producing, copying, sharing or distributing of the pattern or design is allowed. Please give credit to the me whenever possible. Thank you!

Copyright © 1999-2012- All Rights Reserved - Sue Allemand of Palette Primitives. Sue is a professional artist and designer.

Please visit Sue's Palette Primitives website at http://paletteprimitives.com, her Palette Primitives "Get Your Prim On" blog at http://www.paletteprimitives.blogspot.com, her Free Paintin' Patterns blog at http://freepaintinpatterns.blogspot.com and her Free Stitchin' Patterns blog at http://freestitchinpatterns.blogspot.com.

Basic Fusing Tips Tutorial By Frieda Anderson of Walks In The Woods - Art Quilts

Ever have a problem with your fusing?  I know I have.  If you have, too then you'll be happy to know that Freida Anderson has a page on basic fusing tips on her Walks In The Woods  blog that may help.

Basic Fusing Tips

Copyright © 2012 - All Rights Reserved - Freida Anderson of Freida Anderson - Quilt Artist Teacher.

Here's what Freida had to say about her tutorial: Let’s talk about basic fusing.  I have found out several things over the 30 years that I have been using fusible web. I have had some ups and downs but over all I love the process and the products that I use. I am a faculty member of the Chicago School of Fusing - dean of technology, I help people with their computers, printers, sewing machines, irons, if it is a machine I help them. I really think I could have been a mechanical engineer, well except for the math part.

Copyright © 2012 - All Rights Reserved - Freida Anderson of Freida Anderson - Quilt Artist Teacher.

Freida's Bio: Frieda is a fiber artist whose original quilts are inspired by the colors from nature and the everyday scenery that surrounds her living in the mid-west. Working with her own hand dyed cotton and silk fabrics is fun and challenging, the dyeing process is always a surprise. Frieda has been making quilts for over 40 years.  Freida is an award winning, widely published and recognized quilt artist and teacher whose work is exhibited throughout the world.  For more information on Frieda and her biography please CLICK HERE.

Copyright © 2012 - All Rights Reserved - Freida Anderson of Freida Anderson - Quilt Artist Teacher.

Please visit her  Freida Anderson  website at http://www.friestyle.com and her Walks In The Woods blog at  http://www.friestyle.blogspot.com/

Tuesday 11 December 2012

A better Google News experience on tablets

Posted by Mayuresh Saoji, Product Manager, Google News

[Edited 02/13/2013] Update: The new Google News experience for tablets is now available in most English editions worldwide. Hope you enjoy it!

There’s something special about reading news on your tablet. Indeed, swiping through Google News on your tablet is a comfortable and effective way to find more articles from great publications that satisfy your needs and tickle your serendipitous interests. Starting today, Google News feels even more natural and fluid on tablet devices. For example:

  • You can find new articles, news sources, and even topics of interest with intuitive gestures. Swipe horizontally between sections – from Business to Entertainment, for example – or tap “Explore in depth” to see multiple articles and other info related to a particular story.
  • We’ve also added more breathing room between articles, making it easier to spot the stories you really care about.

We think these improvements will help Google News send even more visits to news sites (six billion per month and counting).  

To give it a try, just visit news.google.com with your Nexus 7, Nexus 10, or iPad. 

Musings of a Former Judge

With yesterday's post about translations into many languages in mind, I dare to post for once a publication in one of Europe's smaller languages, Dutch (also my own incidentally). At the occasion of his retirement from the European Court of Human Rights, a compilation of his own writings was presented to the former judge in respect of the Netherlands, Egbert Myjer. The book, entitled 'Straatsburgse Myj/meringen' (the best translation is probably 'Musings from
Strasbourg', although the wordplay with his name is impossible to translate) includes the many short articles he wrote for the Dutch human rights review (Nederlands Tijdschrift voor de Mensenrechten) in the course of his years in Strasbourg. With his well-known knack for irony and pithy statements, the short articles give an insight into the many aspects of the Court's practice that do not usually surface in academic literature.

Monday 10 December 2012

Court Information in Many More Languages

The Court is continuing to expand its translations of key publications for potential applicants and the general public. Currently, the “Questions & Answers”, “The ECHR in 50 Questions”, and the leaflet “The Court in brief”, have been translated into the official languages of Council of Europe member States. At the moment, 139 new documents, in 39 languages, have been published online and more are to follow. A dozen new language versions of the video-clip on the Court have also been released (see here). According to the Court, more language versions of these publications and videos will be released in the coming weeks, including in Chinese, Japanese, and Arabic.

For the available materials, see this part of the Court's website.


Saturday 8 December 2012

Altered Book Frame Tutorial By June Crawford of A Creative Dream

I am a book lover and book collector and just hate throwing a good book away. Well, you can imagine how pleased I was to see that June Crawford had a wonderful tutorial on her A Creative Dream blog showing you how to make an altered photo frame from an old book. I just love this idea.


Copyright © 2011 - All Rights Reserved - Written by June Crawford of A Creative Dream

Here's what June had to say about her tutorial:   Let's alter a book.... Not like I haven't done that pretty often, eh? I am somewhat obsessed with it aren't I? This time I have a twist though... instead of making another journal, how about we turn a book into my current fancy... a frame?

I seem to have caught this particular bug (for making frames) while I was working on the woven photo frame. (You know... the one that I've got up for grabs as the current give away...over there on the left).  Since you can alter books into so many other things, surely I can alter a book into a frame, right?

First is the deconstruction phase. One of the most interesting things I have found since I started altering books is how very simple it is to deconstruct one. I have always thought of a book as something that is rock solid, but all it takes is two carefully created incisions and you have a book cover separated from the book pages. My only caution here is that you be very careful (if you follow along and create your own) not to puncture the spine of the book while you make the incisions.

Please respect June's TERMS OF USE:  Please note, in regard to the copyright, all of the directions and photographs in my tutorials are mine, you may not copy or reproduce them without my consent. These instructions are for you to use for PERSONAL use only, not for profit.

June's Bio:  Me... a dreamer, a ponderer of big and small thoughts. A wanna-be artist, a soon to be empty-nester... wondering what the heck I am gonna do with the rest of my life...

Copyright © 2011 - All Rights Reserved - June Crawford of A Creative Dream.

Please visit  her A Creative Dream blog at http://acreativedreamer.blogspot.com/. Her A Creative Dream Flickr page is at  http://www.flickr.com/photos/creativedreamer/ .

Recycled Pillow Case into Hand Stamped Ribbon Tutorial By Thespoena McLaughlin of Vintiquities Workshop

Have you ever thought of taking old pillowcases and creating hand stamped ribbons? Well, Thespa McLaughlin has and she shows you how to do this on her of Vintiquities Workshop. What a great idea for recycling old pillowcases!

Recycled Pillow Case into Hand Stamped Ribbon Tutorial

Copyright © 2010 - All Rights Reserved - Written by Thespoena McLaughlin of Vintiquities Workshop.

Here's what Thespa had to say about her tutorial:  This is a quick and easy tutorial that shows you how to make hand stamped ribbon out of an old pillowcase.

I buy old pillowcases for their decorative crochet trim and for their embroidered designs to use in my mixed media stitched projects. I'm left with the rest of the pillowcase that happens to be perfect for stamping on because of the tight weave of the fabric.


Please respect Thespa's TERM OF USE: My patterns & tutorials are for personal use ONLY. Not for resale. If you want to share it online please give full credit complete with a link to Vintiquities Workshop at http://vintiquitiesworkshop.blogspot.com .

Thespa's Bio: I am a mixed media artist living with my family in the Ozarks. I love aged turquoise, faded cream, and lots of romantic layers. I dig rusty things and found objects and frequently use them in my art.

Copyright © 2012 - All Rights Reserved - Thespoena McLaughlin of Vintiquities Workshop.

Please visit her Vintiquities Workshop at http://vintiquitiesworkshop.blogspot.com/.  You can also follow her on Pinterest here.




Friday 7 December 2012

Book on European Court in the Post-Cold War Era

Dr James Sweeney of the University of Durham has written a very interesting monograph on the intersection of the universality of human rights and the specifics of transitional justice, with the European Court as its case study. The book, entitled 'The European Court of Human Rights in the Post-Cold War Era: Universality in Transition', was published last week with Routledge. This is the abstract:

The European Court of Human Rights in the Post-Cold War Era: Universality in Transition examines transitional justice from the perspective of its impact on the universality of human rights, taking the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights as its detailed case study. The problem is twofold: there are questions about differences in human rights standards between transitional and non-transitional situations, and about differences between transitions.


The European Court has been a vital part of European democratic consolidation and integration for over half a century, setting meaningful standards and offering legal remedies to the individually repressed, the politically vulnerable, and the socially excluded. After their emancipation from Soviet influence in the 1990s, and with membership of the European Union in mind for many, the new democracies of Central and Eastern Europe flocked to the Convention system. The voluminous jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights can now give us some clear information about how an international human rights law regime can interact with transitional justice. The jurisprudence is divided between those cases concerning the human rights implications of explicitly transitional policies (such as lustration), and those that involve impacts upon specific democratic rights during the transition. The book presents a close examination of claims by states that transitional policies and priorities require a level of deference from the Strasbourg institutions. The book proposes that states’ claims for leeway from international human rights supervisory mechanisms during times of transition can be characterised not as arguments for cultural relativism, but for ‘transitional relativism’.
Congratulations, James!

Thursday 6 December 2012

Deportation of Children Judgment

It is my pleasure to have a guest blog today by dr Maarten den Heijer, former colleague and a specialist in European migration law. He has been so kind to comment on the judgment of Butt v Norway, delivered by the Court earlier this week:

Court prohibits deportation of Pakistani siblings from Norway

Coincidentally or not, a series of complaints in recent years against Norway has allowed the European Court of Human Rights to flesh out the principles that apply to the expulsion of families that have acted fraudulently in obtaining a residence status. One key issue in this type of cases is the question whether fraudulent conduct of the parents (but also the simple refusal to leave the country despite an order to do so) should also be attributed to the children, who in the meantime may have developed strong ties with the host country. In the Court’s latest judgment on the issue in Butt v Norway, the Court clarifies that it is generally allowed to equate the residence status of a child with that of the parent, but it also stresses that the independent interests of children warrant serious examination and that the moment at which a child learns that his status is precarious, is relevant in taking a decision on expulsion.


The applicants were brother and sister Johangir Abbas and Fozia Butt, Pakistani nationals who were born in 1985 and 1986 respectively and live in Oslo. They arrived in Norway in 1989 with their mother and were granted a residence permit on humanitarian grounds. In 1999 their permits were withdrawn however because their mother had failed to disclose to the immigration authorities that the family had left Norway and returned to Pakistan from 1992 to 1996. Their mother went into hiding in 2000-2001, was expelled from Norway in 2005 and died in Pakistan in 2007. The siblings were living with their aunt and uncle who were legally resident in Norway.

In comparable cases, the Court normally stresses that not much weight can be accorded to ties with the host country that have developed whilst it was known that the prospects of future residence are precarious (e.g. Omoregie v Norway; Antwi v Norway). In Nunez v Norway however, the Court added that children should not always suffer the negative consequences of fraudulent conduct of a mother and that the authorities should always examine the effects an expulsion has on the possibilities of children to enjoy private and/or family life as protected by Article 8 ECHR. The Court considered that ‘exceptional circumstances’ may make it necessary to accord primacy to the interests of the children – even if that would imply that a parent must be allowed residence as well.

The Court further develops this reasoning in Butt. In determining whether ‘exceptional circumstances’ are present, the Court makes several interesting points. The first is that it agrees with the approach of the Norwegian court that a general migration policy approach is allowed “of identifying children with the conduct of the parents”, i.e. of imputing fraudulent conduct of the parents also to the children. The Norwegian court had stressed the importance of this approach, for otherwise there would be a great risk that parents would exploit the situation of the children to secure a residence permit. But the Court adds that in this case there was no such risk of exploitation, since the mother had already died and could therefore not benefit from any decision taken in respect of the children. Consequently, less weight is to be accorded to general interests of immigration policy.

A novel and particularly significant consideration of the Court is its finding that the strong ties of the Butt siblings with Norway had already been formed before they became aware of their mother’s fraudulent conduct. They cannot therefore, in the opinion of the Court, until that moment be reproached for having stayed in Norway knowing that their stay was legally precarious. This implies that more weight is to be accorded to protecting the ties the siblings have established with Norway. Further, as in Nunez, the Court notes the delays on the part of Norway to decide upon deportation of the siblings, which puts into question the pressing character of immigration considerations as to their removal. Balancing all relevant interests at issue (the Court notes furthermore the relatively minor offences committed by the brother that had also been advanced by Norway as justification for expulsion), the Court concludes that Norway would overstep its margin of appreciation if it would deport the siblings.

The Court’s focus on the moment at which children become aware of their irregular residence status may have considerable ramifications, as one may expect especially younger children to often be ignorant about their status or possible abuse or fraud of their parents. It will be very interesting to see whether the Court will in future cases indeed accord full weight to ties built up with the host State before the precarious status became known to the child. If such ties are to be taken more seriously than previously thought, immigration authorities may well be forced to widen up substantially the ‘exceptional circumstances’-formula that the Court first laid down in Nunez.


Maarten den Heijer, assistant professor of international law, University of Amsterdam

Wednesday 5 December 2012

New Academic Articles on the Convention

The newest 'Current Contents Selection' of my home base SIM has been put online. It includes the following ECHR-related articles (I am only mentioning the ones I did not refer to before on this blog). First off, the Cambridge Law Journal (vol. 71, no. 3, 2012) contains two articles about Strasbourg:

* D. Mead, 'Kettling comes to the boil before the Strasbourg Court: is it deprivation of liberty to contain protesters en masse?', pp. 472-475.
* C. Simmonds, 'Paramountcy and the ECHR: a conflict resolved?' pp. 498-501.
Other articles are:

* K. Henrard, 'Duties of reasonable accommodation in relation to religion and the European Court of Human Rights: a closer look at the prohibition of discrimination, the freedom of religion and related duties of state neutrality', Erasmus Law Review, vol. 5, no. 1 (2012). This is the abstract:

This article aims to answer the question of whether duties of reasonable accommodation on the basis of religion can and should be identified by the European Court of Human Rights. Throughout the article, it is emphasised that duties of reasonable accommodation are ultimately about realising equal opportunities and thus substantive equality by levelling out the playing field and evening out barriers to full participation. Duties of differential treatment under the prohibition of discrimination and the prohibition of indirect discrimination are both general in application and, arguably, provide a solid basis for duties of reasonable accommodation, including those relating to religion. Consequently, it is argued that identifying these duties of reasonable accommodation would seem to be a logical development of the Court’s jurisprudence. It will be argued that the potential tension with the prohibition of discrimination (regarding those that cannot benefit from the accommodation measures) can be solved when an asymmetrical approach to the scrutiny of suspect grounds is adopted. Similarly, the apparent conflict with duties of state neutrality under the freedom of religion disappears when an inclusive vision of state neutrality is followed. When reasonable accommodation measures trigger controversies, this should be countered by awareness raising about the intrinsic connection of reasonable accommodation measures with substantive equality.

* P. Thielbörger, 'Judicial passivism at the European Court of Human Rights', Maastricht Journal of European and Comparative Law, vol. 19, no. 3 (2012) pp. 341-347.
  * C. Guthrie, 'Scottish limitations to testamentary freedom and freedom of religion under Article 9 ECHR',
Aberdeen Student Law Review, vol. 3 (2012) pp. 78-99. This is the abstract:

The writing of a Will may be regarded as an action in life carrying with it the reasonable expectation that its contents will be adhered to. Whilst, in general, anybody with the capacity to do so may leave a Will distributing the entire or part of his estate as a mortis causa trust on his death, testamentary freedom in Scotland is subject to certain limitations. Some manifestations of religious belief require specific observances on death which could be prevented by these limitations. Three such limitations to testamentary freedom, namely restrictions arising from the concept of legal rights, immoral Will conditions and the regulations surrounding the disposal of the corpse, have the capacity to affect directly the freedom to manifest religion which is protected under Art.9(1) of the ECHR. This paper will contend that whilst limits to testamentary freedom may interfere with the freedom to manifest religious belief, such restrictions are justifiable under Art.9(2) of the ECHR. It is, therefore, concluded that while interference may occur, the three limitations to testamentary freedom do not contravene Art.9 of the ECHR.

How-To Make My Needle Felted Holiday Fiber Tree Free E-Project by Linda Walsh of Linda Walsh Originals

Needle Felted Holiday Fiber Tree
Copyright © 2012 - All Rights Reserved - Written By Linda Walsh of Linda Walsh Originals

During my sister's and my 2nd needle felting and roving crafting adventure she managed to get two alpaca head ornament creations completed and 1/2 of the fiber art picture she was creating done.

I, on the other hand, only managed to get a holiday fiber tree done and which is pictured above. I had wanted to create a red/white/green traditional tree, but the green roving colors I had weren't quite right. It ended up looking like a Southwestern holiday tree instead of a traditional holiday tree.

Oh, well. You can't always control the final look of your creations. It stands 7 1/2" tall and is felting over a Styrofoam base.

Here's how I made it:

Supplies Needed

6 1/2" by 3" Round White Foam Cone
White Roving - I used white roving from my sister's alpaca Sunflower which can be purchased HERE.
Roving Mixture - Light Brown, Dark Brown, Gold & Metallic Thread Mix
Roving - Gold, Lime Green, Dark Burgundy, Moss Green
Metallic Thread - Gold
Thick Braided DMC Floss - Burgundy
1" Star Cookie Cutter Mold
Clover Felting Needle Mat Large or Colonial Needle Needle Felting Foam
Blue Grip Single Felting Needle
Clover Pen Style Needle Felting Tool

Directions

1) Spread a light layer of the white roving all along the bottom of the white foam cone and extending about 1/2" up the sides. Needle felt to hold.
2) Take a long piece of the white roving and starting at the bottom of the cone wrap it around the cone in a counter clockwise direction needle felting it as you go along with the pen style needle felting too until you reach the top. Needle felt to the top to secure the end. Make sure the entire white foam is covered fully.
3) Fill the 1" star cookie cutter mold with gold roving and then needle felt it with the single felting needle and the felting mat or felting foam until it measures about 1/4" thick.
4) Position the gold star in the center of the top of the tree and needle felt it with the single felting needle to the top to hold it.
5) Cut a 42" long piece of the roving mixture and roll it between your hands until the roving mixture is about 1/4" thick. Needle felt all along the roving with the single felting needle and foam or mat.
6) Starting at the top of the tree next to the gold star needle felt one end of the roving mixture with the single felting needle to secure it to the top.
7) Slowly wrap and needle felt the 1/4" thick roving mixture around the tree in a counter clockwise direction with the pen style felting tool until it is pleasing to the eye and until you reach the bottom.
8) Needle felt the end of the roving mixture with the single felting needle to secure it around the bottom of the tree.
9) Pull a small piece of the gold roving abut 3/4" to 1" and roll it on your hands to create a small ball then needle felt the ball with the single felting needle and foam or mat until it is about 1/3 to 1/4" round. Create 16 gold balls.
10) Pull a small piece of the dark burgundy roving abut 3/4" to 1" and roll it on your hands to create a small ball then needle felt the ball with the single felting needle and foam or mat until it is about 1/3 to 1/4" round. Create 16 dark burgundy balls.
11) Pull a small piece of the moss green roving abut 3/4" to 1" and roll it on your hands to create a small ball then needle felt the ball with the single felting needle and foam or mat until it is about 1/3 to 1/4" round. Create 16 moss green balls.
12) Starting at the top of the tree and alternating the gold, dark burgundy, and moss green balls space and needle felt the balls along the bottom side of the roving mixture about 1/2" apart until you reach the bottom of the tree and end of the roving mixture with the pen style needle felting tool. Make more balls if need be.
13) Cut a piece of the thick braided DMC burgundy floss 45" long and needle felt one end to the top of the tree with the single felting needle.
14) Slowly wrap and needle felt the thick braided DMC burgundy floss in several places with the single felting needle around the tree in a counter clockwise direction until it is pleasing to the eye and until you reach the bottom.
15) Needle felt the end of the thick braided DMC burgundy floss with the single felting needle to secure it around the bottom of the tree.
16) Cut a piece of the gold metallic thread 45" long and needle felt one end to the top of the tree with the single felting needle.
17) Slowly wrap and needle felt the gold metallic thread in several places with the single felting needle around the tree in a counter clockwise direction until it is pleasing to the eye and until you reach the bottom.
18) Needle felt the end of the gold metallic thread with the single felting needle to secure it around the bottom of the tree.
19) Cut 26 to 30 pieces of the lime green roving 6" long and about 1/4" wide. Slightly roll each piece between your hands to slightly felt it.
20) Tie each of the 6" pieces into a bow.
21) Pin the center of the bows all along the tree until they are evenly spread out and pleasing to the eye.
22) Needle felt the centers of each of the bows with the single felting needle to secure them to the tree.

CONGRATULATIONS! Your needle felted holiday tree is done.

Please respect my Terms of Use: All patterns, e-patterns, e-books, tutorials, how-to's, and e-products © 2004-2012 Linda Walsh Originals-Designs by Linda Walsh. All rights reserved, including downloading, mass producing, photocopying, enlargements, reductions,and all other forms of reproduction, website sharing, Email, RSS feeds, or any other means of redistribution. Commercial selling or reselling by any means, including eBay or any other website by permission only.

Copyright © 2012 - All Rights Reserved - Written By Linda Walsh of Linda Walsh Originals, Linda Walsh Originals E-Patterns, and Linda's Blog. Linda is a doll maker and doll pattern designer. http://lindawalshoriginals.com/

A Book Tutorial By June Crawford of A Creative Dream

Have you ever wanted to make a journal or book, but didn't know how? Well, if you have then you'll be happy to know that June Crawford has a wonderful tutorial on her A Creative Dream blog showing you how to make a book. Have fun!



Copyright © 2010 - All Rights Reserved - Written by June Crawford of A Creative Dream

Here's what June had to say about her tutorial:  I am soooooo OVER this... Ok folks, I feel like I am always bitching...but I gotta tell ya...I really am SO OVER THIS...this was the view in my neighborhood Tuesday morning just a bit before 6:00 am. Snowing like the dickens...and, there's ice under that snow too. The city of Lexington had declared a snow emergency Monday evening...and work was going to begin on a two hour delay. I just couldn't face it. I called in and took a vacation day.

What better time to play with things I love the most? Ok, a couple of things I love the most...I've bunches of paper sitting around here, large, huge sheets of watercolor paper. I am not someone who plays well with watercolors, they are something I simply have not mastered...or come close to...at this point, but I do love the paper. Of course, if you read this blog you know I have a thing about paper...I'm not sure why, but I really have a thing about paper. I adore paper...it's a bizarre love affair really. I adore it, love the potential of what will come to be on it, and yet, I have shelf after shelf of blank books. Another thing I have "something" about...books, especially journaling sort of books. And, I have wanted to work on this coptic binding thing...Seemed like the perfect time to make another book.

Please respect June's TERMS OF USE:  Please note, in regard to the copyright, all of the directions and photographs in my tutorials are mine, you may not copy or reproduce them without my consent. These instructions are for you to use for PERSONAL use only, not for profit.

June's Bio:  Me... a dreamer, a ponderer of big and small thoughts. A wanna-be artist, a soon to be empty-nester... wondering what the heck I am gonna do with the rest of my life...

Copyright © 2012 - All Rights Reserved - June Crawford of A Creative Dream.

Please visit  her A Creative Dream blog at http://acreativedreamer.blogspot.com/. Her A Creative Dream Flickr page is at  http://www.flickr.com/photos/creativedreamer/ .


Nutty Screws, Screwy Nuts

(Hopefully this doesn't completely break  the page)

Wow, new material on the Bad Article that isn't totally irrelevant to our purposes here! Well, I did say that although it was 'the end', we might still sometimes post new things. So, here we are.

Now then, I do see some confusion between what bolts and screws are, how they work, and how they're used linguistically. Russian seems to have a hard time doing this in English, but it's a universal problem. The words nut and screw also have loads of idiomatic meanings too, most of which are dirty, some of which are mentioned above. By the way, if you have any trouble reading the picture (!), I think you can click on it and see a larger version. Or, you could go and stare at it on our Facebook page where you'll definitely get a larger version.

Well, that's it for now. Back to work! Any questions, put them down below or over at BA HQ. :)

Altoid's Tin Book Tutorial By Laura Carson of Artfully Musing Blog

If you love mixed media vintage creations and working with altoid tin's then you're going to love the "Altoid's Tin Book" tutorial that Laura Carson has on her Artfully Musing blog. I'm definitely going to make one. How about you?

Altoid's Tin Book

Copyright © 2012 - All Rights Reserved - Written by Laura Carson of Artfully Musing.

Here's what Laura had to say about her tutorial:  In this tutorial I’ll walk you through creating a vintage Altoid’s Tin book using chipboard and two Altoid’s tins. The fun part of this project is that by hinging two tins together it creates niches that you can load up with all kinds of embellishments.

Please respect Laura's TERMS OF USE:  My tutorials are protected by U.S. & International copyright laws.  Do not copy, duplicate, alter or reproduce in anyway.  Please use for inspiration only. ALL NAMES, LOGOS AND DESIGNS ARE THE PROPERTY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS. ©2012 Laura Carson (Artfully Musing), All Rights Reserved

Laura's Bio: After retiring from the computer software industry where I spent my career designing, building and marketing software, I needed a creative outlet. A few years ago I discovered Mixed Media Art and have had a love affair ever since. I’ve taught classes in Altered Books, Handmade Books, Collage Art and Mix Media Art. I currently design for Alpha Stamps and I enjoy trading in various art groups. Starting this blog is a way of sharing my art and the wonderful art I have received from others. I specialize in very detailed multi-layered and textured pieces. I live in Anthem Arizona with my husband Kevin, dog Sandy, and cat Tigger.

Copyright © 2012 - All Rights Reserved - Laura Carson of Artfully Musing.

Please visit her Artfully Musing blog at  http://artfullymusing.blogspot.com/.


Sunday 2 December 2012

A Nifty Strip-Piecing Trick Tutorial By Ros Mirrington of Bloom Blog

Have you always wanted to learn how to strip-piece a quilt. Well, Ros Mirrington of Bloom blog has a wonderful tips & techniques tutorial on her Bloom blogshowing you a nifty strip-piecing trick. Enjoy the tip!

A Nifty Strip-Piecing Trick Tutorial

Copyright © 2011 - All Rights Reserved - Written by Ros Mirrington of Bloom blog.

Here's what Ros had to say about her tutorial: It happened this week that I needed a large panel (20 by 7) of randomised 1.5" patchwork squares - as you do?! I read about this great technique in Australian Quilter's Companion

Ros's Terms of Use:  These designs are free.  Please link back to my designs if you use them and feel free to add photos to my 'Made with Bloom' Flickr group. Please do not use these tutorials for commercial purposes.

Ros's Blog Bio - A friend recently asked me which I could give up more easily, gardening or stitching. An impossible question. Of course, the suggestion that I could give up either is preposterous! If you are similarly enamored with blooms, whether they be real or stitched, welcome to my blog!

Copyright © 2011 - All Rights Reserved - Written by  Ros Mirrington  of Bloom blog. Ros is an avid gardener, crafter, photographer, quilter, handbag designer, embroiderer, stitcher, crazy quilter, and seamstress.

Please visit her Bloom blog and her Bloom and Blossom Flickr photostream.

Formica Chip Ornament Tutorial By June Crawford of A Creative Dream

Are you looking for an adorable ornament for your tree this year? Or to give as a gift to a co-worker?  If you are then check out the Formica Chip Ornament tutorial June Crawford has on her A Creative Dream  blog.


Copyright © 2009 - All Rights Reserved - Written by June Crawford of A Creative Dream

Here's what June had to say about her tutorial:   A Little Holiday Cheer... Folks around the office are complaining about how there is no holiday cheer in the building. So, me being me, I thought...ok, why not spread a tad of cheer. Since everyone in our building actually celebrates Christmas, I thought..."Hey, why not Secret Elves spreading Random Acts of Holiday Cheer?". Imagine something like a "Secret Santa" sort of thing, where everyone is assigned a person from those participating to share random acts of cheer with. ...I would have gone with the Secret Santa, but I really prefer to think of myself as a cute little elf...rather than a rotund one. So...two weeks ago I posted a flyer, and stuck one in every mail box in the office encouraging people to participate. Tomorrow is the deadline for signing up.

As of Friday, when I left at the end of the day...counting myself and the two other girls that originally thought it was a great idea...a total of six are participating.  I think I have discovered why people are complaining about no holiday cheer.

Since so few are participating, and since I expect that very few more will be joining in, I decided that I would begin the spreading of random acts of holiday cheer when I assign everyone their victim. Besides, it would give me the chance to try something that I'd been wanting to for a while now. Off I go to my local home improvement store and their counter top samples. You know the ones I am talking about? The are in the kitchen area...they are small tiles of laminate with a hole punched in them so they can hang. Great for using to make small, very simple, ornaments.

Please respect June's TERMS OF USE:  Please note, in regard to the copyright, all of the directions and photographs in my tutorials are mine, you may not copy or reproduce them without my consent. These instructions are for you to use for PERSONAL use only, not for profit..

June's Bio:  Me... a dreamer, a ponderer of big and small thoughts. A wanna-be artist, a soon to be empty-nester... wondering what the heck I am gonna do with the rest of my life...

Copyright © 2009 - All Rights Reserved - June Crawford of A Creative Dream.

Please visit  her A Creative Dream blog at http://acreativedreamer.blogspot.com/. Her A Creative Dream Flickr page is at  http://www.flickr.com/photos/creativedreamer/ .