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Sunday 26 January 2014

The rain has abated

Hello all,

Didn't feel like getting up this morning when I heard the rain beating on my windows, but now the sun has been spotted peeping out from behind the clouds and there is a smattering of blue sky. I've taken a photo as it's such an event.



A lot has happened this week.

My friend's husband came round yesterday and pruned my apple tree. I've no before photo but there is a lot more light around in my garden and some bewildered pigeons.

Thursday class went well and we discussed Amigurumi. Research led me to discover that it has only been popular since 2003. It's one of the projects I like to make as it is good at using up your small scraps of wool.

I've also signed up for Ravelry, loads of patterns and ideas for knitting and crochet, as well as Pinterest where there is so much lovely stuff.

I've also taken a mighty jump and put some items in my Folksy shop. I opened the shop last year with a couple of items, but have never sold anything. Now I have more time on my hands I have taken the decision to add more stuff. I think that making things to order may be too stressful for me at the moment so I will just put things in the shop that I make as I go along. I feel like this is a brave decision for me, but if you are not out there, they don't come knocking at your door.

I've also had time to do some stitching today, to join in with Chrissie's stitching Sundays. But this is something different - have you heard of punch needle. I received a kit as a gift several years ago and have managed to finish it today. It was very quick and easy to do.

This is the back.
This is the front. It's a kind of proddy rug made with three strands of cotton floss instead of rags.

Making samples of tunisian crochet for the class this week has also taken up some of my time.

Hope you have a great week.

S xx

Thursday 23 January 2014

Reunited (and it feels so good)

Look who I have been reunited with .......

It's my first ever sewing basket.

Not looking too bad considering its age (I'm a lady so I won't divulge), and the fact that it has been in my father's shed for many years too.

And what's inside?

An eyelet making tool, and eyelets,

And some vintage linen threads.


Hey basket, it's nice to have you back :-)

S xx


Friday 17 January 2014

Five little friends

Hi

Just a short post to let you know what I have been working on.

Meet my new friends.

Pattern is in the December issue of Simply Crochet.

Have to fly, reading a good book which I can't seem to put down. The Ice Princess by Camila Lackberg.
I filled the bottom halves with lentils so that they would behave and stand up.

Hope you have had a good week.

S xx

Sunday 12 January 2014

Bowled over

Hi

I took ownership of a very special bowl this week, it's a wool bowl with holes and slits to feed your yarn through. When you are working, the ball of yarn jumps around inside the bowl gently unwinding, rather than leaping off the sofa and heading off across the floor. So I will have to find other methods of getting my daily exercise.


It is part of a special commission for the Tuesday crochet&chat/stitch&bitch group that I go to on a Tuesday evening. The group meets in the shop next door to the pottery studio of Stuart Broadhurst, better known for his teapots. And I feel very privileged to own one.

On the crafting front I have added more waves to my blanket (sorry no photo as it is too dark now), and have the swatch samples ready and waiting for the class on Thursday.

Bye for now.
S xx

Sunday 5 January 2014

Wet Sunday, Wet Yarn

Not enjoying all this rain, but it's better than ice and snow.

Am taking on a new crochet class this month; 'Beyond beginners'. So have lots of planning and new examples to set up.  The five week course will introduce a different aspect of crochet each week and each student can get assistance to complete a project, or projects of their own.

First week is selecting patterns and working a swatch to ensure success, so this is what I have been setting up today.

Worked examples and pattern info including tension.

Weave in ends

Wash and rinse

Gently squeeze out excess water

Place on a towel

Gently roll in the towel to remove more moisture

Pin out and leave to dry

Also for fun have added a few more rows to my wave blanket.


Enjoy your week.

S xx

Wednesday 1 January 2014

New Year, New start

Hello, long time, no blogging....   I hope you all had a good Christmas.

I've been absent for over a month and this is a hard blog to write as I feel embarrassed that it has been so long.  I've had a strange end to 2013 which has knocked me off my feet for a while but after some deep thoughts I'm striding forward again. I'm reminded of a quote I read in a book some time ago 'when life gives you lemons - make lemonade'. I'm not going to go into what has happened, suffice to say that life has altered on the job front, and not in a positive way - soooooo I'm going to take this opportunity to try making some money from my makes. I've already got some tutoring set up and hope to expand here as well as try on-line selling and go to the craft fairs again.

I've started to get my creative juices running again and over the last couple of days have been working on a new crochet snuggle blanket, based on a wave pattern, and yes it's made in bright colours. I started with alternating rows of blue then light blue.

My granddaughter said it looked like water and that's when I decided to try making it look like a glorious sunset.  The water at the bottom, followed by green to represent the land. The setting sun starts as yellow and orange, moving into pink, red and purple.



The idea is to continue adding waves in colour ways until I reach outer space and use sparkly yarn to represent the stars.


I've worked each row in the back loops only which gives an overlapped look, and one side is brighter than the other due to the way the colours different colours take dominance .

Hope you like it.

Wish you luck for 2014.

J xx