A new obsession in embryo?

So you know how I am addicted to cushions, well I have had a little break from cushions this week and have finally embarked on making candles.

I've fancied trying this for ages now as I have seen pretty teacup candles for sale and thought, I bet I could make one of those, so I did. I rummaged under my bed for one of many teasets I have stashed away and created my first ever teacup candle. It turned out quite well, it was a little more of a faff than I had anticipated but it's not terribly complicated and the result is quite good (plus you get to pick dripped wax off stuff when you slop it ~ which I enjoy ~ I am a bit warped). This was my first attempt (apologies for the dark pics, I took these at night). Candle making bits and bobs, I used Blackberry scent for this one at the request of my friend

Candle in embryo, you can't fill it up first go, you must let it well then poke it and top it up (I'm sure there is a technical term for it),

And the finished article. I gave this to my friend as my 'guinea pig' and apparently it's lovely, it even looks a bit tea coloured :)

I snaffle pretty tea sets up when I'm in the local charity shops and recently one of the lovely ladies said to me after my third tea set that week; 'are you planning a tea party?' to which I replied that I was planning to try my hand at making teacup candles and she was rather intrigued. She quickly talked me into making one for her, or rather for the shop as a donation. This little one is the one I made for the Marie Curie Charity Shop, it's 'Lemon Meringue Pie' scent and it's beautiful. I had some wax left and make myself a tea light and it smells divine.

They were really pleased to recieve it yesterday and she told the staff it was not for sale, she want's to keep it close as it smells lovely ~ bless.
I might knock a few of these up for Mothers Day which is not too far off now.

So there you have it, perhaps another little obsession in the making? Oh and on the(tenuous)subject of Marie Curie Cancer Care just a quick photo of my daffs on the kitchen table; making me smile at the minute, they just scream Spring with the promise of longer lighter days to come.


I think the miserable weather has got me down,I have been feeling really fed up these past couple of weeks. Last week lovely Lynda sowed the seeds of 'time for a new haircut'; and having a rare day off and a mini mid life crisis I went and had my hair all cut off today, this is the shortest it's been in a long time but it feels kind of liberating and a bit grown up!

(how do you ladies take photos of yourselves it's hard!)


p.s. Just wanted to note that I bought some safety labels for the bottom of the candles just to be sure my backside is covered should someone lose their mind and set fire to something ~ it was not my fault...honest :)

~ ♥ TTFN ♥ ~

My name is Kandi and I am an addict...

I am still in the grip of cushion addiction. There must be some form of treatment for this, but until I find it I will no doubt continue to churn them out.

This little treasure started a few weeks ago when I made my granny squares cushion, I was engrossed in the TV and forgot to stop, so I stopped trying to stop and got started!

And here we go, another bloody cushion! Poor hubby has just started rolling his eyes at me now on the completion of yet another cushion.

Anyhoo, using what was left of the jumper from the last cushion I made another back for this one, et voila:

I am also part way through another crochet cushion this time in Sublime Baby Cashmere wool, which is just a pure pleasure to work with it's as soft as an angels bum :) It's almost there just not quite; here is a sneaky peak...

On another totally unrelated subject I have had a bit of luck with the bargains these last couple of weeks and have scored myself a cake stand for £1 ~ I have been after one for ages, it's in it's original box I imagine it was a wedding present to some couple many moons ago. It has never been used all the bits are still there, don't you just love the packet the handle comes in?

The same day I found this I scored these three beautiful mirrors from the local junk shop. I think I befuddled the man in the shop as he was after £25 for the pink one and I got all of them for £15! I was delighted to pay £5 each as I fell in love with them, I thrust the cash at him and ran from the shop incase he changed his mind.

This one came with a 5 year guarantee (which expired 10 years before I was born)!

And this one is my favourite, I can now see myself in Rose Tint, and I look so much better!

My poor husband is exasperated with me, he wondered how many mirrors one house needs? This last one has some minor blemishes where the silver is peeling off the back, which I think adds to the charachter of it.
Husband wanted to know why I bought a mirror with pixel loss ~he's such a geek!

~ ♥ TTFN ♥ ~

Happy New Phone and an Easter Swap

First off, have you seen the Easter Swap that our lovely Lynda is organising over at Hookin' with LaaLaa?

I was a bit reluctant to join the Spring Swaps as I just didn't have the time but I am keen to join this one, I do enjoy Easter (might be something to do with the Chocolate)!

If you fancy joining in the fun, pop over and sign up with Lynda ~ open until Sunday 20th March.

~ ♥ ~ ~ ♥ ~ ~ ♥ ~ ~ ♥ ~ ~ ♥ ~ ~ ♥ ~ ~ ♥ ~ ~ ♥ ~ ~ ♥ ~

On a totally unrelated matter; after many years of hand me down mobile telephones I have been dragged into the 21st century and got myself a shiny new phone.

Not sure how I ever lived without it, it's my constant companion now and as soon as I ordered it I set to looking for a lovely cover to keep it nice.

I did have my heart set on this one from Cath Kidston; but the very poor reviews put me off, that and the £25 cost for a 5 inch piece of pretty plastic...

... so I made one.

I did get out my Cath Fabric but all the prints were too large to make a little cover so I found these fat quarters that I bought last year and knocked one up. I chose a dark colour as I just know it will get filthy quite quickly in the deep dark depths of my massive handbag.

It's my one of a kind iPhone4 shabby roses cover and I love it.

I'm still busy with the crochet cushions, only I have been sidetracked. Looking on Amazon for screen protectors for my new phone this pretty book turned my head, and I'm never one to pass up a pretty book so I snaffled it up!

100 flowers to knit & crochet

by Lesley Stanfield

I just couldn't wait to get making little flowers, only I had underestimated just how long some of them can take; I made two tiny flowers in one night. I must put this away and crack on with my WIP first but little knitted flowers are just so sweet, I'll show you them soon.

~ ♥ TTFN ♥ ~

Cushions and Fabric Gifts

Afternoon Ladies.

It's still a little manic in my neck of the woods, but I have made time this weekend for a little crafting.

I apologise in advance for yet another cushion, I think I have a problem; but that's my thing at the minute.

I finished this little beauty today, I love cable and it's just so detailed and right at home on my couch.

Here is where I confess; unlike the last cable cushion I made, this one didn't take me month, it took about an hour.

I cheated!

I snaffled this jumper up in the charity shop a few weeks ago and as soon as I saw it I thought cushion!

I snipped and sewed it and crocheted a row on the back to make button holes and added three Grandad buttons from my vintage button box.

I have to also show you this little beauty, I received in the post on Friday from my lovely friend Sue.

What makes this even more incredible is that Sue is sewing after having had an operation on her hand only 3 weeks ago!

Isn't she clever it's a beautiful fabric tray made with the most wonderful shabby roses fabric it's right up my street.

It has now taken pride of place on my messy shelf which is full of my favourite things, it's perfect for keeping my scattered bits and bobs in place.

Thanks again Sue xXx.

I also used it to hold my latest crochet; the softest sweetest little grannie squares for my next cushion, watch this space!

p.s. I just have to send lots of love and light to those affected by the terribe tragedy in Japan, I just can't get my head around the scale of the carnage my heart goes out to them all xXx

~ ♥ TTFN ♥ ~

Using up my beads...

It's coming up to the next Pins & Needles show at the Metro Arena in Newcastle and it made me think ... I bought beads at the last show that I have not even opened and the guilt set in.

I set to and made a few key rings / bag charms as the beads are just to pretty to stay hidden away. These are heavily inspired (read copied) from a keyring that my lovely friend made me recently that I posted about here.

Hearts & Roses

Pearls & Ribbons


Whilst I had the bits out and my crochet stuff to hand I mixed my medias and made some crochet and bead earrings, not sure what I would wear these with.


I have taken a bit of a shine to my last crochet cushion and have made a start on another one in a more muted shade, I have still not finished the huge granny square cushion I really should get one thing done at a time.

Oh, one last thing, I gave in to bloggy peer pressure and bought myself the Rosali Bed set from IKEA last week, I was a little unsure till I got it on the bed and I just love it!! My delightful husband climbed into bed with a bit of a quizzical look and said "You do know we don't live in the 1950's don't you?".

...well I wish we did!

Anyone up this way heading to the Pins and Needles show this time; if you are might see you there?

~ ♥ TTFN ♥ ~

I'm back with some happy colours...

Sorry!
I've been missing in action this week, I usually don't go this long between blog posts. Once again work has been insane busy, 12 hour days and two of them spent driving up and down to Nottingham and Manchester; 5 am starts and getting home and sliding straight into bed :(

Luckily I am a big ipod fan and have loads of podcasts and paudio books to listen to while away the hours (and a big bag of werthers originals).

But I'm back and have squeezed a little sewing and knitting in mainly this morning and last night.

I started this a while back using only yarn I already had and following the guidance from the brilliant Lucy - Attic24 I made these little summer garden granny squares and they morphed into a cushion last night.


It's even nice on the reverse with all the little single crochet (UK) lines joining it all together.

Making these little squares was a pleasure, the colours have had a real positive influence on me and cheered me up no end.

They take no time to make and before you know it you have enough for a whole cushion.
I found a wool jumper in the charity shop a couple of weeks ago and bought it with this in mind.

Snipped and hand stitched to the front with a dainty crochet edging and little button holes.


And it's another to add to the pile of growing cushions in my home; if you ever come to visit me you may have to sit on the floor, the couches are filling up fast :)

I think I will hedge my bets and enter this as my March Monthly Make.
I have the Stanley Pattern from the wonderful Annie and will be making him too.

I have been watching season 2 of Big Love a series I love from the US; and whilst engrossed and crocheting one of these squares, I got a little carried away and kept on adding to it and it is more than likey going to turn into another cushion.

Besides crochet I have been knitting recently and have taken a shine to this pattern for sweet facecloths. I only really started knitting again recently and this pattern was a real challenge for me and took me a few attempts to crack it but I got there in the end and have made a few for the birthday swaps.
I recieved a beautiful knitted face cloth from the lovely Clobelle last year and I was really blown away when I opened it, so I thought I would make some myself, they are easy to pick up and put down and knit up quite fast.

I promise not to leave you for quite as long next time.

~ ♥ TTFN ♥ ~