Miniature Disasters and Minor Catastrophes

After a particularly stressful week I came home to this yesterday,

the wind has been 'blowing a hooligan' as we say and my poor tramampoline (it's what the kids call it) took off and squished my lovely willow fence. It's going to take many hours digging posts out and fixing, maybe next weekend!

Luckily to cheer myself up; I had taken today off work and my lovely friend and I hot footed it to the Metro Arena in Newcastle to the Pins and Needles craft show; it was fab!!
We spent many hours traipsing up and down the aisles and spent a small fortune on beautiful treats, our bags were groaning with goodies and we could barely carry it all towards the end.
I'll not bore you with it all (and some of it is for pressies) but here is a small selection of the beauties I got.

Piles of new and vintage fabrics

There was a quilting exhibition (no photos allowed) and an exhibition of masterpieces in wool and fabric (photos allowed), check these out, the detail was just incredible.

...did you recognise them?

We took a needlecraft workshop at lunchtime to make a little 'Sleepy Ewe' using a stumpwork technique called a Slip. It involves lots of french knots and they take ages so it's not anywhere near done, I'll finish it this weekend and show you, it's so sweet!

I have made a few more candles this week. I made one for my Mum for Mother's Day and a couple for an order for a friend.

I ordered some more scents, one of which is Baby Powder, this smells of babies bums, yum yum!

I am awaiting delivery of packing boxes but once they arrive I will be able to post out to those that have asked for them I will be in touch soon if you are still interested.

You know how busy I have been, and you know I have a cushion fetish, well I found this delight in Pene's shop on Etsy, it's made from Cath Kidston fabric and I fell in love with it.

As I rushed to her shop to snaffle it up, those beautiful handmade cards also fell into my shopping bag, but they were just too lovley to leave behind. If you have not seen Pene's lovely makes pop over and have a look she has a 15% discount running until Easter Monday, details here.

Anyhoo I will be back soon with more makes, and as it's my 1st Blogiversary next weekend I am planning a lovely giveaway, watch this space.

~ ♥ TTFN ♥ ~

More Christmas Makes

Well I have been knitting for England this last week or so, knocking up scarves and facecloths like a good un ~ they are all gifts for Christmas or Birthdays so I feel like I am making a little progress. It's rather rude of people to have birthdays in December I think (I have 8 and a Wedding Anniversary)~ although some of the best people do; mine is 1 week before Christmas (imagine how much that annoys everyone) and my best friend's is New Years Eve.

Anyhoo, here is the finished cream scarf - it's chunky and toasty and I could keep it but I don't have time to make another, my boy was quite taken with it he gets excited at my little makes and tries everything on.

Still on the subject of makes for Christmas are these beaded snowflakes.


I made these from my stash of beads, I got some lovely crackle glaze beads and mixed em up with what I had and I think they turned out quite nice, very traditional colours. Actually I just noticed looking at them in the photo they look like skewered grapes!

I added one to the middle of my rag wreath.

I got this idea from Jacqui over at Bunny Mummy, she kindly did a tutorial and she is having a rag wreath giveaway (ends 28th Nov) so pop over and have a look ~ (thanks Jacqui) it's miles better than my feeble attempt.

I used some green gingham, some Christmas fabric I picked up earlier in the year at the charity shop (I think it was supposed to be a table cloth but it was a queer size), and some red gingham ribbon from my stash. I didn't have any garden wire but I found some size 8 jewellery wire and I used that instead. If I sneeze near it, it looses it's shape so next one will have to be stronger wire, but it will do for my first attempt I think.

In the spirit of Christmas I think I will have to do a little Christmas Giveaway, I'll have a think of what to add and will post it soon.

~ ♥ Back Soon ♥ ~

Christmas is Coming...

It's getting near to that time of year again, I love Autumn and look forward to Halloween as it means Christmas is next! I have been getting into it a little earlier than is sane and have cracked these beauties out...

Apple and Cinnamon Candles:

And these give me the background smell of christmas for a little inspiration for some christmas makes:
A little felt beaded Christmas Tree:

Some wire beaded snowflakes in Christmas colours, I think I will hang these on fine ribbons and hang about the house, I have a few more to make:

Since attending the Craft Fair I have been 'into' my beads again and have made some big blingy rings from some chinese doughnut crystals, I love these beads:

I had left over beads and made some earrings to match.I quite like the look of the red velvet and opal stones and they also remind me of Christmas, I think I might keep these for myself and I have just started a matching bracelet in the same colours.

Have you got the Christmas bug yet or is it far too early, and am I insane?

~ ♥ Back Soon ♥ ~

How to make you own Zip Pulls...

As promised here is a little guide as to how I make the little zip pulls on my pouches.

First up I assemble all of the bits, the beads, head pins, pliers and wire cutters.

It might look really hard and like you need loads of equipment but it's really not and you can get the pliers and cutters for about £3-5 a pair. If you fancy giving this a go you can get the bits I have used here from lots of suppliers, or maybe have a look on ebay for a starter kit with the pliers, beads and wires to get you started. I bought most of my bits from Jillybeads, Totally Beads and Rosarama Beads.

(check out my posh tupperware lid tray)

This is the best bit and the bit that takes ages, sorting out what you want to use and in what order, I usually faff with this bit for a while:

Next you grab the head pin with the round nose pliers just above the top bead and bend the wire to a 90 degree angle:

Next move the pliers up to the straight bit and grab hold again just past the bend, then using another pair of pliers wrap the wire around the pliers until it touches the starting point:

Once its at this stage this is the time to add any other embellishments and add it to the zip pull:


This is not the best picture but what happens next is that you grab the loop with one pair of pliers and with another pair you grab the end of the wire and start wrapping:

Coil the wire round and round keeping the wire taught and neat, the general rule is wrap it twice to be sure and three to be secure :)


Too many wraps will smash the delicate glass beads so just judge the space available. Once its done, snip the wire off as close to the edge as possible.


Using the crimping pliers I nip the end of the exposed wire to neaten it up and if it's still a bit raggy file it with a metal nail file.


and that's it, all done your own personal little zip pull. This method is the same for adding beads to bracelets, necklaces and earrings, once you have the basic tools you can make all kinds of stuff, and it is so addictive.

p.s. thanks to Dana for the beautiful 'made with love' tags x


~ ♥ Back Soon ♥ ~

Sewing, beads and bits and bobs..

As mentioned yesterday, here are a few bits and bobs I have been making recently. I don't really have a plan for any of it, I simply enjoy making it. Some of it has already been given away as gifts to friends and family I guess at the end of the year when I have a stash of stuff I will have to do a craft fair or sell online.

Most of my beads and fabrics were previously something else, or were bargains. I am unable to pay full price for anything and I am always on the lookout for bargains. Now and again however, something comes along that I just have to have at any price, but I think my general thriftyness makes up for it somewhere along the way (is there such a thing as thrifty karma?)

Some of my fabric makes:

Some of my jewellery / beading makes:

Be back soon

Kandi

x