Fabric Makes

I have finally dusted off my poor sewing machine and make a few fabric bits.

I have had these cut out since September I think ~ shocking really. The fabric is all a little modern for my tastes but it was in the cheap stash I bought from Fabric Rehab last year. I thought someone might like it and they will make gifts, I forget that not everyone likes what I do and feel I should branch out sometimes.



I did get to mess about with them though I added little embellishments to them, buttons, felt and ribbons and they all have scrummy linings.

Now this is more my style, I made this one as a gift for the lovely NanaGoGo who celebrated a birthday this last week.


I keep meaning to make myself one, I must do before all the CK cotton duck runs out!

~ ♥ Back Soon ♥ ~

Things Made Found and Gifted

Things Gifted

Just want to show you a few little delights from my week. I received this beautiful card and wooden gift from the lovely Tina, Scratchy Cat Crafter ~ I do love her makes, how special is that?

The last card she sent me many months ago is still on display in my lounge I can't bear to take it down, I need to make cards like this;

Thanks again honey! xx

Things Found

Hubby found this stone just outside the door at work, how cool is that, very Tim Burton!

Things Made

I did knit Tom some bees as requested, they were highly appreciated.

So that's me finished work for the week, I'm planning on tacking my half made bits and bobs, what are you lot up to?

~ ♥ Back Soon ♥ ~

~A Monthly Make 2011 ~

I signed up to complete a Monthly Make with 'Annie The Felt Fairy'; and as January is creeping on I am finding myself with very little to actually show.

Of the things I have made many of them are unfinished, including three different cushion covers, a little pile of crochet granny squares, some larger 'Crochet-a-long' squares for the Ravelry throw ~ but nothing complete. The bits that I have completed are for gifts for the birthday swap and the Spread the Bloggy Love swap, so I can't show them here just yet.

So after all my excuses, here is my little offering for January 2011, two large flower brooches made with the last of the Rowan pure wool I had left over from the scarf I made at Christmas.

I added a few pearls (lovingly snipped off a rubbish necklace I had) to spice it up a bit, and then made another exactly the same. They are rather big and heavy and will probably only be suitable for a coat, jacket or heavy cardie ~ I think one might go well on my grey wool coat.

I have dusted the sewing machine off and made some fabric bits this last week, I will have to show you them soon.

~ ♥ Back Soon ♥ ~

Lovely Likeminded Friends

On Saturday I received a wonderful parcel of goodies from my lovely friend Lynda ~ Hookin' with LaaLaa. Lynda has been an inspiration in my knitting and crochet attempts and she has kindly passed on lots of wooly themed magazines and books.

This parcel was a dream, it arrived on Saturday morning and I spent a few hours in my dressing gown pouring through it all, only to get them all back out later in the day for another couple of hours ~ happiness!

Feast your eyes on this beautiful card that came with it all:

There were some knitting needles and bits and bobs included which were a welcome addition to my meagre collection; and there was this purse frame ~ I shall look upon this as a challenge and make another knitted purse!

Pouring through these magazines here are some of the wonderful things that immediately jumped out at me as things I want to make;

My son Thomas has requested that I quite urgently make him some Bees, he needs them apparently!

I am not confident enough to attempt clothing, but as soon as I am I do fancy this jumper:

I won't be attempting this one but when the time comes I would love to go out in style in this knitted coffin! It's made from sturdy carboard (well it would have to be or it would sag) and covered in knitting, very eco friendly too!

Isn't blogging just great for bringing likeminded people together ~ thanks again Lynda x

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My Rock and Roll Friday Night

This is my end of week treat. After a long working week Friday night is catch up time. I had a pile of stuff on my doormat when I got home today; my knitting magazine arrived, CK mag and the new book club brochure along with a tourist guide to the Peak District.

We fancy a change this year and are heading to North East Derbyshire in August for a week in a lovely cottage. Have you been here or do you live near here ~ any recommendations of places to visit and things to do, my only sure plans are that I want to visit Chatsworth House any other recommendations gratefully received as I have never been to this area before.

A big cuppa and a biscuit and I made my way through my mags, first Country Homes, I ADORE this cushion, my Dad used to sing this song to me when I was a kid, and how is that for a beanbag?

These wonderful ladies get together in each others homes to craft, oh I long for a home like this:

Now my knitting mag is here, I kind of skimmed this as I am scared to get attached to any new knitting pattern, I have so many things I want to get done before I start anything new. I do love the knitted coat hanger and baby blanket though.

I do like the book club, I fancy this ~ I was given one of these halogen cookers and it is covered in dust on top of the fridge, I've never even plugged it in, it has the instructions inside still. The thing is I don't know what to do with it, I can't quite believe it can cook a chicken ~ have you used one, is it any good?

Last but not least, feast your eyes on this little beauty, there were so many lovely things in the Cath Kidston mag but I loved this most of all:

So there is my night ~ how Rock & Roll am i?

~ ♥ Back Soon ♥ ~

Stylish Blogger

The lovely Pene, Gill & Hannah passed this on to me with a challenge to share another 7 facts about myself with all my friends in the blogging community. I love reading these as I am just so nosey so it seems only fair that I share my facts too, so here goes:

1. I am the proud mum to two gerbils (aka the Giblets). The kids whined and against my better judgement we got them two gerbils last month. I was not terribly keen but I must say they are cute little critters, they are hard to photograph as they are so fast. We have found the cat looking at them and licking her lips … watch this space!

2 I have an outrageous temper. It rarely ever surfaces properly (these days) and many people can’t believe it as I am usually rather even tempered, but when I am pushed I go off like a bomb and can clear a two mile radius with my insane rage ~ are you scared now?

photo from: historyplace.com
3. I’m a terrible reader. I used to demolish books but since I got into crafting more this last year or so, I can’t find time to read and only read at bedtime. This is the pile of books at my bedside and I am currently part way through all of them! It’s disgraceful really but I am like a butterfly flitting from one thing to the next all the time. 4. I love magazines! I went for a long time not buying any; I would borrow them from the library or do without. Back when I was reading I would resent paying a few quid for a magazine when it would buy me a book instead, but I’m back in the magazine zone again. To be fair I do read them to death and with the crochet, knitting and sewing magazines I go back through them time and time again. My favourites are Simply Knitting, Ideal Home, Your Home & Country Living.

5. I attract nutters. Not sure what it is about me but if I am stood somewhere or sat on a seat in public you can guarantee someone (often crazy) will come and talk to me and tell me their life story or just generally creep me out!

photo: Gary Larson's Far Side taken from http://revkevhamilton.blogspot.com/2010/09/wow-that-was-weird.html

6. I hate peanut butter, it smells like sick!

7. I have a thing for tea, I can drink tea till the cows come home. Earl Grey, Lady Grey, everyday Yorkshire Tea, Lemon tea, Nettle tea ~ you name it I will drink it (this is a very apt recent gift from my lovely friend Nic ~ thanks lovely x).

So there you have it another few pieces of me. I have to pass this on, but again, if you fancy taking up the mantle please feel free to, I will not actually tag you as I know some of you don't like it, but it's open to all.

~ ♥ Back Soon ♥ ~

Knitting Again...

I seem to have developed a thing for cable recently, I made 4 cable scarves for Christmas,I've made a start on a big cable cushion for the lounge and I also started making smaller cable squares to sew together to make a different cushion (but this got left by the wayside a few weeks ago).

I will go back to this I promise.

Aside from this lot I had some purple wool left over from that awful knitted purse so I knitted myself a little phone sock. I’m quite proud of this beauty as I made the pattern up as I went along, it’s just moss stitch with a cable in the middle and a wide rib at the top, but to me it was a small triumph!

Oh and whilst knitting in the kitchen I got my hands on some cocktail sticks and made some miniature knitting. I added some beads to the end of the cut off sticks and ran up a few little rows.

I once made a smaller set but I can’t find it, I used to have a 12th scale dolls house and the poor house was damaged beyond repair but I did salvage all of the interiors and bits and bobs I had and bits I had made, however the tiny knitting must not have made it! I will have to show you some of my miniature bits and bobs sometime.

~ ♥ Back Soon ♥ ~

A Winner and a Little Purple Knitted Purse

Thanks so much for all your entries and kind words.

As per my usual cop out I added you all to a long list, some of you twice and due to time constraints I gave you all a number and copped out again and did a random number generator (sorry, it’s so impersonal, but practical).

Winning Number 11 - CRAFTING UK MUM - I have sent you an email ~ Congratulations!

♥ Sorry you could not all win ♥

I thought I would show you the knitted purse I made a short while ago. The knitting magazine I buy came with a free purse clasp and a pattern to knit a purse so I gave it a go.

To be honest I was a bit daunted as there were stitches in there that I had never used before ( I followed the pattern for the green one), but I plodded on and after what seemed like an eternity it was finished.

A day or so after I finished this I received a parcel from lovely Alex, with this ditsy floral fabric which I though would be just perfect to line it with.

I got cracking hand sewing the purse together and I hand sewed the lining and attached it by hand to the woollen purse, then the fun started. This was the biggest pain in the ar*e to sew into the frame, I used about 8 different types of needles to try and find the right one for the job and when I did find it, after about half a side it snapped! I did persevere and got there in the end but it took me an age to sew this in and it was so difficult that my fingers were really sore for a while afterwards. Needless to say this will be my last one!

I had a little rummage for buttons to add to the front, and couldn’t find anything I was overjoyed with so I covered some small buttons in the lining fabric and added them instead. I am not 100% happy with them, and can see me changing them when I find what I want, but for now here is the purse, that made me sweat, swear and sore… never again!

~ ♥ Back Soon ♥ ~