A bit of freeform crochet
31st December 09
Just a brief one today, I wanted to show you what I had a go of yesterday. My wonderful mum and dad got me a brilliant book ‘Freeform Crochet and beyond’ by Renate Kirkpatrick, as well as some new hooks and wool, but more about those later.
I finally got to play a bit yesterday. The pictures are really good, Istruggled a bit with the explainations though thats probably due to my left handedness – but there are some great idea’s and starting points. It’s certainly stimulated lots more ideas for me.
Anyway I had to have a little go
Crochet wings (lazy j stitch)
Bullion Knots
Spiral surface with loops
My sample square. I worked another lazy j stitch but carried on to make a flower and attached them all to a simple treble background. I love the raised sections of the lazy j stitch, though I think I ‘ve worked them ‘differently’ and the spiral without the embellishment is gorgeous, but the simple addition of the frill is a great idea. I have loads more I want to try – but the raised sections have certainly got me excited!
Not my New Years Resolution list
23rd December 09
New year resolution lists really wind me up, who actually Carry’s them on beyond February? If I’m being honest its the idea that you have to do it – everyone else is. WHAT THE POINT!!!
Having said that I have a list that happens to correspond the the chiming of the new year, purely because I’ve been mad busy making stuff for Christmas and that rush has finished, I now have time. That’s my reasoning and I’m sticking to it!
So, I really want to sort out my website. I’ve only had a couple of sales through it, they all come from Folksy, so I think i’m going to remove that bit. I also want to make it more atractive. Having said all this I have NO idea how to actually do all this, a friend set it up and I can’t ask them again, so make the most of it before I crash everything.
I also struggle with the light taking photos, our house is a long narrow terraced house with absolutely no natural light, well, not much. So i’m going to figure out some sort of light box – sounds good – again have no idea – watch this well light space!
Finally I’m not the most organised, I have bits of paper everywhere with ideas, patterns, notes, drawings, receipts. So I have started already. I bought a couple of books yesterday and spent a happy hour cutting and sticking with the kids (so it was justified)
Ideas book
Patterns book
see what I did there…there’s no flys on me I tell you!
And just to show I’m still crocheting, a pair of funky handwarmers for me.
HAPPY CHRISTMAS!
Swaps!
14th December 09
Well, I’ve posted my secret santa – I really hope my swapee likes it, I think she will. I really, really enjoyed putting it together, it is so much fun creating something for someone who you know appreciates the thought and enjoys handmade. And on the plus side, I too received mine - SO EXCITED!!!
Also the craft neutral bauble swap I was doing is finished, Emma of Paddymade received mine and loved it! And I received hers and really loved it – look
And this is what I did Emma, she said she had a liking for black tinsel and I thought the pink would go nicely!
A massive thank you to Elaine of cup of tea for organising this – it really was a great idea, a simple bauble swap- beautiful in its simplicity like all the best things are.
Beads and Beyond – again!
11th December 09
I’m in it again! If you take a look in January’s issue of Beads and Beyond magazine, you’ll find a rather stylish vintage necklace on page 50! I had all these lovely bits lying around (yes, literally, you’ve seen my room) and wanted a way to bring them all together that didn’t look like a mish mash. I think I’ve achieved it here, and the brooch gives it a nice bit of weight too. Using the most simple of techniques, a chain anyone can do this!
Also there’s only 1 day left on the folksy upcycle ebay auction for Sue Ryder, there were some great entries which are now all up for sale, a few people have even bid on my doily rug! So if you want an unusual Christmas present pop over and place a bid, its all for charity don’t you know!
New Ideas
5th December 09
I’ve been a bit busy with the hook again, this time a number 4, starting my 2010 challange early using up odd balls of wool I have in my now depleating stash. Yay me!
We went away at the beginning of the week, we’d booked a cottage as a suprise for my dads 60th, it was wonderful, near Leighton Buzzard, on the edge of the Grand Union Canal, we had snow and sun and a brilliant pub in walking distance – what more could a girl, or her wonderful dad want! While there my mum showed me some fingerless gloves she’d done, from a pattern. They were gorgeous and it got my little brain thinking I could do that – but better obviously! So, after playing with my number 4 and some trebles, here are the results, now in my folksy shop for £20 a set, bargain for Christmas I say!
2010 craft neutral challange
4th December 09
Back in October I think, Vonnie over on her really brilliant blog, adventures of a lady in training put up this challange, that next year you can only craft using supplies you already own. I can only buy new stuff If I sell anything i’ve made.
I’ve been pondering this since then (yes, procrasting is a theme of this blog) I do kinda do this already. Kinda. I hate waste and rarely throw anything away, I love making things out of other things. I like the feeling I get making something new and gorgeous from things I have in already.
But.
And I rarely do buy wool, If I go home I will buy a bit from the local shop there as they sell bin ends at great prices, so it’d be wrong and inpractical not too! If we go away, like this week for a suprise dads 6oth and happen to stumble (my mum is wonderful) on an amazing wool shop (i’ll blog about that and my purchase at a later date…) it’d be wrong not to take advantage, wouldn’t it?
So, If I really think about it, it won’t be too hard to sign up, i’ll just have to not leave Barry really.
Vonnie, count me in!
(If I can carry over my xmas sales to spend on the January sales though!)
Another swap!
3rd December 09
I’ve signed up for another swap – I know i’m a muppet, but I do love a swap and this one is a quick and simple one, and its Christmas decorations and who doesn’t love handmade dec’s?!
Eileen, over on her wonderful blog came up with this fab idea of making a decoration from stuff you have already, with a little edible pressie if you want, see, simple!
I’ve been partnered with Emma who does some amazing origami, (and has a great taste in men!) I can’t wait to see what I get!
I’ve also been busy on a new idea I kinda got from my mum, handwarmers, that i’m going to do as a set with the scarflettes, so I’ve been playing with different ideas. If we get some sun here in Wales i’ll post some pics. (Don’t hold your breath)
