Crocheted boots – honestly
Before I show you, let me state first that I am well aware that these are a contender for the what not to crochetblog, but I was intrigued and honouring my 2010 stash busting promise. I mean what else was I going to do with 3 odd balls of chunky acrylic?
It began on Friday night, I was browsing my favourites while waiting for the boys to come back from lifeguards, when I saw the link to drops designs, ‘I haven’t been there for a while I thought’. Yes I know – I opened Pandora’s wool box…
I saw this pattern and though it cute, practical, I need some new slippers and also if it was a good pattern it might do for xmas pressies (ha ha, now I’ve got you scared family members who read this!!!!).
http://www.garnstudio.com/lang/en/visoppskrift.php?d_nr=123&d_id=24&lang=en
So I turned this lovely, though slightly confusing, though easy, though it may not be right, pattern…
into these.
I’m going with ‘ironically funky’.
Holidays!
If it’s possible, I love the Forest of Dean more now than before. We have been quite a few times but this time staying a week enabled us to really see it properly. The site we stayed on was gorgeous, Bracelands, right in the middle of the forest, surrounded by tree’s and the absolute best thing about the whole week, barring the weekend of course was the fact that the English schools hadn’t broken up yet so nowhere was busy, which is really useful when you have a couple of fearless nutters riding at top speed through the forest…
It really made a nice change, all our holidays are beach themed as our boys are complete water babies (as is the big boy too actually) so it was nice to not have sand everywhere and to be surrounded by gorgeous, beautiful green everywhere.
So as well as a couple of days cycling we had a wonderful afternoon doing this:
and this view is from above where we were kyaking:
and we only had one afternoon of this:
Which turned out to be very fortuitous as we went to the cinema in Gloucester and guess what was next door, yes, would you believe it, a Hobbycraft! The gods were obviously smiling down on me as the night before I had finished the lace shawl (pictures in a couple of days when I have blocked it) and had nothing to do and I know I’m on this 2010 Crafts neutral challenge, but I couldn’t not crochet for 3 more days! So I bought a pamphlet on cable and some wool (in the sale!). But I’ll leave that for another post!
Space Invaders (but not as you know it)
Wahey, I can cross something off my list, I’ve finished my crafteroo Space Invader themed challange!
So, after doing a bit of research on the internet about space invaders, the general idea seems to be black/white/neon colours and boxy shapes. None of that appealed to me, plus, I like to change things a bit!
So I’ve gone soft and girly though If I’m being honest it does look a bit more jelly than invader. However, sticking with the craft neutral 2010 challange (which I’m doing quite well at, my stash is slowly disappearing) I used this bright pink crochet cotton that I really can’t imagine using for, well, anything much. I tried a couple of ideas, but my fave one, a crocheted patchwork cushion in nice muted autumninal colours, with the space invader image picked out in slightly darker shades would have taken till next year. So I resized it to pincushion size I mean, who doesn’t love a pin cushion?!
Carrying on with my crochet patchwork idea would have made a pincushion the size of a pillow so after a bit more thinking I came up with the idea of freeforming it!
Obviously its more likely to gum you as opposed to shoot you, but its definatley a space invader – of the friendly kind!
New bags and a clever box
Last week I was trying to figure out a better way to present some of creations at craftfairs. While browing flickr I saw a lady who had converted a large box into a sort of carry case cum display and it got me thinking.
Isn’t it fab! I bought this box, full of old starched collars years and years ago because, well, its gorgeous isn’t it, the history behind it, who was Mr and who starched his collars? But it got to the point when I thought I really can’t just look at it anymore and as much as it hurt to mark it, I did it and I’m really pleased with it!
And some photos of my new bags. I love making these, it’s my own pattern too. I spend far too long matching bits of fabric together (and yes, its craft neutral, all are from my stash or charity shop finds, actually, apart from the magnetic clasps uh oh!) and them embellishing them with bits of ribbon, crochet or buttons. I think they would be perfect for a summer wedding and will be going in my new etsy shop soon!
Tourchon Clutch
Dottie Clutch
Lily Clutch
Cherry Clutch
And finally Buttonista Clutch.
Right, I’m off to play with my fabrics again!
Meet me (minus 5ft)
We had a bit of sun around 1.35pm so I quickly took some photos to prove I have been making ’stuff’, not just sat here with a mug of tea and a slice of carrot cake typing away randomly!
Firstly my new top, not finished but its too cold anyway yet! Crocheted in Kon-Tiki which is a lovely cotton/acrylic mix. Its going well, such a simple pattern. I’ve tweeked it a bit, the top part was supposed to be buttoned, but I thought that might be a little bulky so I joined it up with a slip stitch. You then work in rounds down from that and I have to say its looking lovely!
Next I’d like to introduce you to Janebutalittlebitbetterthoughalotsmaller!
Wearing my usual get up of red converse (not a mouse Julie/Rich!) jeans and a floaty top with jewellery. I was going to go with a nice little skirt and funky top but as I rarely make the effort myself I thought it wouldn’t be a true interpretion…
Obviously the hair is quite similar i.e scruffy, though I have to be honest and say my mate Nicki came round to do my hair today (dye, cut, try to style) and gave mini me a little snip too. You can imagine how bad it was before!
And of course, I had to be crocheting, well that or drinking and I didn’t fancy crocheting a bottle of wine! I’m quite chuffed with this bit, I used a cocktail stick and a nail file to shape it!
And finally, another swap, but its okay because its green …
Rachel from contented has another blog with a friend of her’s, called That little bit greener, full of info and tips and documenting their green journey.
And they are hosting a swap – a green swap – so I couldn’t say no, could I…
New ATC
I know I’m my worst enemy, but there are so many things I want to do. Usually I’m fairly restrained, but I think it was the excitment of selling a few things over the last couple of weeks that has allowed me to spend some money, thanks to the craft neutral 2010 challange and I’m starting to get that panicy feeling in my tummy that I’m not going to achieve much in the next few weeks. Or if I’m honest, the last couple!
I’d like to say this is me at Barry Island, however, I can have the top for the summer, a free pattern from lionbrand, well, I like to have something simple on the go for the boys swimming lessons, trips to the park!
I’ve bought a skirt pattern, which is a little scary but it does say VERY EASY and I’m feeling confident! The main reason is because I was reading Gone to Earths blog the other day, then spent way too long drooling over all the lush fabrics in her shop. I only need a metre so I’m thinking of the Amy Butler Daisy Chain Mosaic in green, with some red bias binding on the bottom edge of the skirt – I’ll keep you posted!
I’ve started 5 more clutch bags which I’m loving making, I really do like combining different techniques and being true to the craft neutral challange I’m also using up lots of my fabric bits as well as buttons and crochet cottons! Pictures soon.
I have actually finished something though and can post a picture as lesley received it today and loves it luckily! The theme this month was songs and as I’m loving Corinne Bailey Rae’s new album it had to be my inspiration!
I used golden silks and velvets as that’s what her voice demands, but with gentle curves like waves, but not smooth clear edges, they had to be burn’t to get that sadness. But images of peacocks always float in my mind with the music too, hense that wire crocheted beaded shape in the centre and that strong curve on the edge. Thats what I get anyway and I’m pleased with it so if you get different animals and colours I’m sorry but its my ATC!
Finally, a little teaser – can you tell what it is yet?!
Speak soon
Jane x
Clicking and clicking
With hooks and mouse! First off today a bit of experimenting – with cassette tape, (an old Prodigy one from my long distant carefree youth…) I’ve had this idea to make oversized chains for a while but hadn’t come up with what material to use. While doing a bit of cleaning (we’ve got visitors coming) I saw a plant pot cover I’d crocheted in video tape a while ago, it was going to be a bag but it was too noisy – but perfect as a glamerous pot cover! One thing lead to another and they need a bit of fine tuning, but what do you think? And do you think The Prodigy would approve?
Next up, I’m going out! I know, can you hear the fanfare too? Anyhow, I got this gorgeous dress in the sales, bright emerald green, quite 50’s in style. I thought perfect occasion to wear my new glamerous necklace I made, the one with the wire flowers… but it doesn’t go.
So I made a bracelet that does!
Finally, I’ve also been spending, but not too much, honest! Thanks to the Craft Neutral Challange I’ve only bought some jump rings this year, eveything I’ve made has been from my stash, and that includes several necklaces, bracelets, earrings, scarflettes and gloves! And after all, we have to support the wonderful craftspeople we have!
So, after browsing through researching some of my favourites shops on Folksy I saw these gorgeous brooches by the amazing artist Amy McCarthy
They are recyled beer bottle tops filled with various found objects like shells, bits of old jewellery, shards of glass and set in resin. I think this one is my favourite
or maybe this one
Check out Amys other fabulous glass products in her folksy shop!
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!)
