There's More To Crewe Than The Train Station

Crewe, in Cheshire, is one of those places you always stop at if you're taking the train but never visit. Well, until now, that was my experience too. However, I've found a really good reason to leave the train when it stops here and it's called The Cubby Hole. Only a 20 minute walk (if you go at my break neck pace) it's a wonderful shop run by very friendly people and the group that meets there are a tremendous bunch.

Yesterday, I had a lovely time at a workshop there, held by the bubbly Sarah Anderson (who is one of the ladies behind the Play Date Cafe). She was showing us tools, tips and techniques to decorate metal (& believe me there are plenty of double entendres used in explaining them but I shall gloss over the conversations we had). We all had a practise session before each being given a book from a charity store to cover. It was then over to us to use our imaginations and come up with whatever design we pleased. I opted for using a texture plate in the centre to create a cobbled effect and to outline with a rivet technique.

I then spent an hour adding colour using Ultra Marine Blue & Teal Staz On inks. I received plenty of complimentary noises and admiration for it but really I was happier when it was just gold. I know, these days I am so far removed from "arty inky". I adore it in other's work though. Everyone else added beautiful arrangements of colour. They all looked so polished and creative (see these here). But for me, out came the cleaner and an hour's worth of inking was wiped out in seconds.

I decorated both the front and the back in the same design and that's the piece I came home with. What you see in the picture here, is the finished book once I added my own embellishments back in my craft room. I stayed with the metallic theme in my choice of decorations except for the black cord of elastic used to create the fastening. Now all I need to do is put the book to use and fill the pages.

And after all the cake and chocolate I ate there, I'm going to have to eat nothing but lettuce for a week. Worth it though.