Crocheted Amethyst Jewellery
Well, we’re back from our latest camping trip, soggy and damp but happy and exhausted! I’ll post some pictures when I find the camera under the HUGE pile of washing!
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
A giveaway to celebrate my win!
I’m going to apologise now for the following excessive use of exclamation marks.
I won the makers-online competition with my upcycled morrisons plastic carrier bag crocheted necklace!!!!!
Really, honestly, still can’t believe it but its true!!
Rachelle Strauss of myzerowaste choose the winner and said:
Some of the entries were really stunning so I am unbelievably flattered to have won!
So, I thought in honour of this great occasion I would host my first giveaway! If you would like to win this necklace all you have to do is leave a comment with an email address so I can let you know if your the winner, and pop by occasionally to read my ramblings, see what I’m working on and leave the odd comment as they are so, so important. As much as I love my boys and OH, how can I put it, your comments are more, informative and welcome!
I’ll leave it open till Monday 6th September, the last day before the boys go back to school and they can pick the winner! Well, thats all I think, I’m off to do a bit more screaming…
Jane x
A bit more upcycling
I know its not on my list, but I saw this competition on the wonderful makers online blog
Spurred on by something I’ve been working on for a magazine article, one thing led to another and before you knew it I was cutting up plastic bags.
I kinda have done something similar for the folksy upcycle christmas challange last year, where I cut up a duvet and made that doily floor rug, but this had to be something new, so I thought more delicate.
So this
became this
became this
and with the aid of a crochet hook became this
and with the addition of bits from charity shops and an old chandelier – became this!
What do you think? I really like it, the flowers look pearlescent and rich and feel gloriously soft and light. which I think contrasts nicly with the chunky chain.
Glamorous evening wear, just don’t tell anyone its from a Morrisons plastic bag!
ATC, round robin and other stuff
I’ve been a bit amiss from my posts, I have a craft fair this Saturday at Cowbridge so I’ve been madly trying to make some summer type things, as I’ve only previously had stalls in the winter and as much as I’m proud of my scarves and gloves and despite the cold, I don’t think they will go down too well! So to make this post not too picture heavy I’ll show my new ideas for cards/bags/childrens bits/jewellery later.
But some exciting news, I’ve been sent my latest ATC from the wonderful Kella who actually set this great project up
Its based on ‘Golden’ by Jill Scott. Kella has such lovely reasons for using this and sent me the lyrics too, beautifully written and if you pop over to her blog she has a link to it being sung.
I do love this atc, as all the best things are it is uncomplicated, though as we all know to achieve that can be extremely complicated! It conveys the message perfectly and goes great in my growing collection!
The round robin comes to me for the conclusion. Dun dun DUN! I don’t feel any pressure at all not to ruin them, no, I don’t, I really don’t…um…honestly…
I have an inkling of an idea but I’m not going to rush it (sorry Kella and Victoria) as I really want to finish them off with the care in which they have imbued on them already, however mine is finished! As I started it, Kella added to it and Victoria finished it. Isn’t it glorious!
If you check out Kellas and Victorias blogs you can see which bits they added. This was such a great idea, I’d never have spent so much time making myself something for a start, and I would never have thought of adding the sections that have been. I really like the inclusion of the yarn from Kella and that handmade wooden bead that Victoria made is fantastic. And you know what, I got a couple of little extras too, a lovely pair of earrings off Victoria that match my new necklace and a fab pendant off Kella make from a cornflower air dry recipe – no – me neither, I’m going to have to find out too! No piccies of this yet as I’m going to make it into another necklace for me.
I’ll leave you with a little idea of what I’ve been working on
Jane
x
Presents!
Not for me mind!
Do you know, I love being a mum, It really is the best feeling in the world – to say it is all encompassing doesn’t seem to be enough. Nothing at all can beat the feelings of pride, joy and love, nothing. But with every ying there has to be a yang, and boy, has this been a week of yangs!
However, I’ve deleted this post several times now and will not inflict on you my rantings, musings and then platitudes that we all fall back on, what I will do is show you a picture of a few little pressies I’ve made the lovely women folk in my life. Its a rubbish photo, I’m showing it more as a reminder for me, but Aunty Irene, Aunty Marg, Nan and Mum – love you lots!
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!
My stunning new necklace!
You know when the planets aline, the sun is shining, the boys actually listen (okay, scrap that last bit) but when everything works out exactly as you imagined it but better…
Okay, so no one has a green neck but it was the best thing I could display it on, and It doesn’t work so well on the clear vase.
I crocheted 8 flowers in wire, using 2 beads for each stitch on the petals and used the tail ends to stitch them together. It is so light and soft and molds to your neck shape perfectly. I love it – can you tell!
Still tinkering…and crocheting!
What do you think so far then? I have to say I’m mega impressed with my ability, it did take lots of staring at the screen, copious amounts of shouting at it, a wide range of colourful language and a little bit of wine and some pointers from spoiltcatover on crafteroo – but I think its getting there. I want to try and get a slide show on the right hand side linked to my Folksy shop flashing up images of what I do, otherwise at the minute it just looks like you’ve stumbled upon some random crochet rantings!
I hope to get that sorted at the weekend, absolutely EVERYTHING crossed and every possible good vibe you could send this way will be desperately needed!
In between dipping my toes into code, I have been doing some crochet. I have a craft fair at Brackla in Bridgend next weekend so need to build up my stock.
I’ve been playing with the flower design for the scarflettes and I really like the ruffly aspect to them
And found a nice way to use up some old buttons too.
Well, thats all for now folks, if I don’t delete everything this weekend I’ll see you next week with some new Ideas I’ve been working on with the curtain rings.
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!
An new flower pattern
02 November 09
I’ve mentioned Crafteroo a few times, for me, its been a life saver. Now, I’m not one for dramatic pronouncements, but it really has helped me. I had been toying with the idea of selling my wares, but never had the confidence or know how to. But after finding this craft forum I discovered lots of new friends who, though we have never met, have helped me more than anyone. Just being able to talk to people who share your interests alone is enough, in fact that really is everything. But aside from that wonderful fact I’ve had help, advice and support in the bucket load. I cannot say enough how wonderful the internet is!
Anyway, enough of that, I got slightly side tracked there, (but, getting side tracked again, I do think we are quick enough to moan if things aren’t right, but often not quick enough to praise if things are good) Ali, has a great blog, as does her other half actually (wonderful pictures of flowers) and has created a new crochet flower pattern and asked people to test it for her. Who doesn’t love a new pattern, so, with the boys packed off to Cardiff Citys match against Nottingham, I had a free Sunday afternoon! So, black and white film on telly, glass of wine in one hand and a hook in the other – absolute bliss!
What do you think?
I used a wool that I have been dying to use for ages, a beautiful Kid merino from crystal palace yarns and a 3.5mm hook. I love it, easy to follow pattern and a gorgeously delicate flower. I can picture loads, on mass, making a beautiful cushion cover…
So, if you fancy a fab new flower pattern, pop over to Ali’s blog, craft matters!
