I sorted them into  piles, one of cottons and one of colours that went and one of ones that didn’t.  Well, I’ve made a gorgeously soft hot water bottle out of the cottons, what do you think?

I really like the uniformity of  the grey circles and I do like pink and grey together, very pretty!

And out of most of the rest I started a load of granny squares, as really some of the reminents were hardly enough for a round.  The aim was  a cushion cover, but an idea has started developing for a bag.  I know, I know, another bag, but really – its going to be gorgeous isn’t it!

I love making these and can envisage a glorious blanket however I am running out of scraps now, typical, so the idea will wait till I have gathered more scraps!  It is perfect for keeping my latest crochet project (or one of them!) in and both created from scraps, recycling at its best!

Being very organised too actually and finishing off some UFO’s.  Think it must have something to do with the boys going back and that means there really is no excuse now for stuff to be ALL OVER the house and I must make an effort to make the odd path from room to room…

So, remember I started on those cream/white cushions using up my huge pile of neutral wools?

Tada-ar!

Finished off with a selection of vintage buttons and they will be in my etsy shop as soon as I get a bit more organised.

I love those buttons!

More stash busting to follow!

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’.

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!

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

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!

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!)