WIP Progress report

What to do on a wet bank holiday Monday. Well what else but get out a WIP. I started this one a few weeks ago and have to have it finished by early July. This is when our Embroiders Guild are meeting to make our work into hand bags. I'm not good at working to a timescale so to avoid a last minute panic I took advantage of having a whole day to myself and finished the embroidery part yesterday.

It's gone from this

To this

I've used a variety of stitches; running stitch, French knots, stem stitch, chain stitch, coral stitch, feather stitch, satin stitch and a few I've made up myself.

And I even had time to do this for the back.

Just got to wait until July now for the finished article.

What would you like to do if you had a whole day to yourself.

S xx

A little treat

It's not often I surprise my nearest and dearest, but I managed it this year.

Once a year we have the following conversation.

N&D: "it's nearly your birthday, what would you like?"

Me: "I don't know"

N&D: "well if you don't let me know you'll get now't". (Now't is local dialect for nothing)

Me: I'll try to think of something

Well this year I surprised them, and this is what I requested and received.

A solid silver thimble by local designer, Jane Chantler. I found her stall at Orton Farmers' Market, which is held on the second Saturday of the month. She has many designs to choose from. Each design is made in limited numbers and they come with a certificate.

I fell in love with it as it is both practical and beautiful. My photo doesn't do it justice, but the design is the moon gazing hare.

Adding to Jessie's collection for future generations.

Freestyle crochet

Have you heard of freestyle crochet?

It's where you let your hook and fingers work in an absentminded way, crocheting what you feel like without a pattern, colour scheme, or idea.  Using different materials to see how they crochet up. When you have finished take a creative look.

Sometimes it looks like this - fun to do but what is it?

Why not give it a go - it's very liberating.

Happy Monday.

Mummy monster

Pattern from an old issue of Inside Crochet. Couldn't resist making this for my granddaughter. It's a sort of marsupial monster, keeping three baby monsters in its pouch. My granddaughter loves removing them and hiding them for us to find, al la hunt the thimble style.

Crochet is so versatile.

Hope you are having a good week.,thank you for reading  my blog.

RSPB parrot re-homing service!!

Oh dear, I've got one sad parrot here (the one on the left). Ever since his pal went to a new home, he's  been all forlorn. Spending his days watching out of the window, looking for a new family.

He's no trouble to look after its just that I work full time and cannot give him the attention and company he needs. Plus he doesn't eat that much, but ..... I'm not having much luck teaching him to talk.

If you think that you can give him a new home, visit my Previous post post and leave a comment

Life is full of so many wonderful times

It's been a busy week.

Tuesday - Embroiders Guild. This is going to be a bag eventually. It's not easy to see but it's a seahorse. It was from one of my transfers which was inside one if my vintage embroidery magazines.

Wednesday - Girly day out. The Full Monty in Leeds, followed by supper at Betty's tea rooms in Harrogate, then home. This is the ceiling in the theatre, not the best photo, but hopefully you can see how grand it is.















Thursday and Friday - hectic time at work

Saturday (today) - meeting family at local farmers market.

These two posing for their photo. Wonder what they are thinking!

Have a great weekend.

J xx

Little shopping bag

Happy Tuesday - back to work today, but had a great crafty day yesterday.

For Mothering Sunday I made a small shopping bag for my mother, which she said is just the right size. not too big that its overly heavy to carry, but large enough. The shorter handles stop it dragging on the floor. So when I saw this sheep material in the fabric shop, I just had to make one for myself.

Will use it to carry my lunch to work.

Hope you had a good weekend.

J xx

Little sewing kits

It's surprising what you are given once you pass the word around that you like crafting.

Look what I got this week.

Little sewing kits, often given away free or in Christmas crackers. And these are from years ago.

Could be the start of a new collection! I've heard just recently that women my age start hoarding, well I've always wanted to be 'normal'  ???????!?

Happy bank holiday weekend folks

Happy weekend.

I'm really enjoying being in blog land and virtually meeting all you crafty people and am wowed by all the good ideas and lovely photos and tutorials. I've now had a blog for three months now, and hopefully I'm getting better at it.

Yesterday I went for a walk in the lovely Lake District, at Borrowdale. Only had my mobile phone with me so the photo is not the best. I think you'd call it dark and brooding. It was raining, but Borrowdale is one of the wettest places in England.

Started a beret last night, and added two more waves to my new ripple blanket.

And Modelled here by Doris.

Looking forward to getting some crafty making in this bank holiday which I will share with you. Embroidery floss/needles/buttons/beads/sequins are calling me.

I also, in a moment of madness decided to set up an online shop on   Folksy.  Folksy is a bit like Etsy, only you have to be a British designer. It's a bit of a scary thing to do; what if no one looks/buys. But it's my hobby, I'm having fun, so I'll do it as long as I'm enjoying it.

J xx

One parrot up for adoption

One parrot has a new home. (See a previous post)

The other has been left behind.

He looks really lonely sitting on his branch looking out of the window. I feel so sorry for him - would anyone like to adopt him?

If you adopted him what would you call him? Let me know via a comment by the end of May 2013, then I will put all the names in a hat and one lucky parrot will have a nice new owner.

J xx