So while browsing seamstar I remembered this scarf I’d bought from the market ages ago with the aim of crocheting a trim to jazz it up.  A couple of clicks later and this

became this!

I love it and it goes with so much (though what that says about my wardrobe I don’t know…)

Also the latest issue of Beads and Beyond is out and has one of my tutorials in, for making beaded triangles crocheted out of wire and a couple of examples of what you could do with the same pattern, just by altering the number of stitches.  If you have a go let me know what you think!

I cant wait to get the other Christmas decorations around this and get the tree up!

While looking for some old photos the other day I found the ones I took of the bracelets I made for this months issue of Beads and Beyond.

They are really simple to make, I just crocheted the bands in various simple patterns and pva’d them on a coke can and they retain their shape.  One thing I have noticed, everything I seem to make generally has a ‘vintage’ feel and its not intentional.  I think I need to ‘modernise’ my work a bit, yes, thats the next task!

For some reason this photo keeps switching position, sorry for the sore necks!

However, I am back in the land of the living and having just uploaded my camera programme on the computer I can also show you some pics of recent activity.

First up, I’ve been wanting to make a reusable advent calendar for the last few years but never really had the time.  Also the boys are getting older so sooner rather than later was the idea!  Nothing too big otherwise I would spend a fortune filling it, but big enough to be an actual decoration.

So I cut out 50 (I know 24 seems to be the norm, but 24, that just seems odd?) red felt stockings, got my bits and bobs out, beads, thread, trimmings and started playing!

So what do you think?  I’ve finished 20, the last few are going to have a bit more embroidery on, sort of Scandinavian type style I think.  I am imagining pinning them to some twine with wooden clothes pegs that I may stick numbers onto, I’m not sure yet, but more photos when its finished!

I received my suprise gift from spoiltpig, remember Chrissy is doing that fantastic idea of donating all proceeds to Oxfam in return for a surprise gift, isn’t it fabulous!

Aside from feeling all warm and glowy, I get this gorgeous gift that I would never have chosen myself, but I absolutely love, its chunky and sparkles and feels wonderfully smooth in your hand like a worry stone almost.  If you still haven’t bought all your xmas presents yet I do suggest you pop over to her site, she has raised £301 so far for Oxfam, like I said, its win win!

I spent last weekend making the most stunning mincemeat, really its the best I’ve ever tasted, and I made it!!  Its from Ali over at very berry handmade , its so easy to do and the house smelt wonderful for the whole day!  I used a variety of jars and it made 7 and should last for a year, though really it has little chance in our house.  Mince pies are a favourite of my boys and every year I think that I should make these more often, why only in December?  So 2011 is going to be the year of the mince pie in our house!

Finally, for now, I’ve just had my latest turorial published in Beads and Beyondmagazine.  Though I can’t show you a picture as I can’t find it, when we lost everything due to the virus our friend said he managed to save the pictures, but they are hidden somewhere in the depths of the computer… but I’m not thinking about that or I may start to panic, suffice to say they are a gorgeous cluster of bangles, crocheted in cotton then stiffened to maintain their shape and they are quite vintage in style.

Well, I’m sure your cup of tea has gone cold, I’ll be back with more pics of what I’ve been creating soon x

Waiting in the post for me was the latest issue of Beads and Beyond Magazine, which has my tutorial for using amethyst chips to make a necklace and brooch.  I’ve had these for absolutely ages, and when I bought some new thicker wire I knew what to do!

Speak soon x

They requested something beach themed, so I spent ages looking through the Bijoux Beads website drooling over, well, everything really.  They also wanted something simple, so I came up with ‘Dominican Dreams’.

There is also as always, lots of other fab projects particually Shanghai Lights by Anita Mistry.  Its beadstitching which I’ve never done but I really want to have a go, the pendants are really gorgeous, very Victorian, vintage looking.

Well, back to craft fair preparation

Jane x

I cover the basic three stitches, chain, double and treble with step by step photos and descriptions, with a couple of examples of how each stitch could be used.

I have to say the chain stitch earrings and bracelet are my favourite, they won’t be going into my folksy shop when I get them back!

So if your new to crochet and have always wanted to have a go, try my masterclass in the magazine – I’d love to know if it works!

But what I really wanted to write about is a wonderful compliment, and I’ve had two over the past two days!  The tutorial I wrote for this months issue of Beads and Beyond is for my crocheted curtain rings, they look better than they sound, trust me!  In fact you can trust Jo, look at her gorgeous blog Daisychain Designs, she makes stunning silver jewellery, a skill I can only marvel at.  Fortunately for me though, Jo can also crochet, and she has made one of my designs!  Not only does she like it, but more importantly, she can read my instructions – they really work!

They are fab, love the colour!

There is also a link on the Beads and Beyond website here for a tutorial for the vintage variation of the Reflections set

The necklace

The earrings.

My second compliment was from a previous tutorial, someone has sent a letter in to the magazine with a photo of my Vintage Lace bracelet they made!

PEOPLE CAN FOLLOW MY INSTRUCTIONS!!!!

And more importantly, choose too!

So no more!  I have ‘experimented’ with my last new idea, I am only going to explore ideas I have already set in motion, like this one I started yesterday…

Its made from scraps of Amy Butler fabric I’ve had for a while, a bit of an old dress, an old shirt and a favourite but broken necklace, and of course a bit of crochet, a double shell trim that I extended to fit the flap.

I boxed the corners and lined it with interlining to give it some stiffness so it retains its shape.  I’m now envisaging a whole range of them, all the same shape but with different fabrics and crochet bits SO I’M NOT GOING TO LOOK IN OR WRITE IN MY IDEAS BOOK.  I’m going to work on this for a while, and my curtain ring jewellery, I think that can go a lot further too.

So it is written down I am only going to work on those two ideas, although its half term next week so If I manage to do anything it will be a miracle!

On a last note, the latest issue of that fab magazine Beads and Beyond has a tutorial for my Miyuki earrings.  Those flowers are what I made that evening necklace and my beautiful green bracelet from as well – ooh – another idea I need to pursue…

So a nice piccie

Crocheted flowers waiting to go onto hairslides

and a bit of shameless promotion

I’ve put my Vintage Lace bracelet that I made for February’s issue of Beads and Beyond in my folksy shop – its a good Valentines day present!

 I’d forgotton how versatile this technique is, and I’ve been using different things to cover like bracelets.

My first experiments:

What do you think?