Knitting Needles and Cake!

I've been busy the last couple of days with a party, pub lunch with friends etc.  It's been lovely!


I haven't had much chance to do any crafting, although yesterday morning I did some more work on the present for my friend who had a baby this week.  Nearly done!


As it is still a secret, I will just show you the picture of what I have been using to make the present...

Funky wooden knitting needles!  These were actually a present from the friend in question, so very fitting that they would be used!  (It was a bit dark when I* took this photo, but you get the idea.  The darker spotty balls are actually purple, but they look a bit black in the photo)


*When I say 'I' took the photo, Rohan actually took it, because I was failing to get a decent shot, and was ready to give up!


Last night we were at the wedding party of... (not Will and Kate!) but friends who recently got married in Bali.  They had a party to celebrate last night, and one of their cousins made a lovely cake for them:

I thought it was very impressive!

Random Things

No craft pictures today, as I've been working on something for my lovely friend who had a baby yesterday!  (Congratulations!)  She reads my blog, so I don't want her to see what it is!  (Of course something tells me that reading my blog might not be the first thing on her mind at the moment - but just in case!!)  Also, I'm not sure if it's going to work out... but we'll see!

All will be revealed in time!

For now, here is a picture of the packaging and thank you card for a Dinki Dots order for my sister-in-law.  (My orders are still just from friends/family!  Oh well, I'm having fun!)  It was one of my little crochet ball characters - like the penguin I made previously.  I gave it to her over the Easter weekend, with the other Easter treats!

And here is a picture of a pretty flower, from the garden of Rohan's parents' place.  I couldn't tell you what it is (I'm not very good with plants etc) but I just love the colour!!

Gorgeous!!

I've seen a button swap, at Lemonade Kitty that I'm thinking of doing!  Just trying to pluck up the courage to sign up... not sure why I'm so nervous!!!  I've never done one, and it's a bit scary!  We'll see...

Funky Cafetiere Cosy

Another lovely day today.  I spent the morning working on the project I mentioned yesterday, and finished it.  I didn't end up having a shower and getting dressed until 1pm!  I kept thinking I'd just finish this little bit first, then I'd start on another bit, and ended up just carrying on until it was done!


This is what I started with:

Bits of cut-out fabric (on my spotty ironing board)

 I added some wadding and put it all together to make this:

Funky Cafetiere Cosy!

Button fastening

Funky flowers!

A cafetiere cosy has been on my Craft To Do list since last year.  I first planned to crochet one, then I thought I'd make one out of felt, then I decided to use fabric.  (So fickle!)  Well, after thinking about it for months, I have finally made it!


I sewed the spotty fabric to the top and bottom of the flowery fabric to make the front of the cosy - I love the two fabrics together.  There is wadding in the middle, and the back of the cosy is made from the spotty fabric.  I also used that to make the two button fasteners, and I covered two self-cover buttons with it to make some matching buttons!  I'm very pleased with the end result!


Although, heaven forbid a drop of coffee gets on it, after my hard work!!!


Once I finished the cosy, I got showered and dressed, and went out for a delicious afternoon tea with some friends (thanks to some discount vouchers!)  Now that is the life! Tea and cake in a luxurious setting!  That's the kind of life I should be living every day!!  ;o)

Lovely Day

Poor Rohan was back at work today, but I'm off until next week.  Lucky me!  I met up with my sister-in-law (who is also off work) for lunch and shopping, so I had a lovely day!  I bought various bits and bobs, including the below from Tiger:

Different coloured tissue paper and some beads.  Not sure what I need any of it for, but I'm sure I will find uses for it all at some point!  I couldn't resist!

I also made a very small start on a new project involving the below two fabrics:

This is as far as I got, before going out lunching and shopping - I cut out the below:

That really doesn't give any clues, does it!  Hopefully I will make more progress tomorrow!

Pennie Pocket

We've had a fabulous relaxing bank holiday weekend!  We went to visit Rohan's parents on Saturday, who live in a pretty little village near Oxford.  Lots of relaxation in the sun, and eating delicious food!  Then straight from there to my parents' house today for an Easter lunch with my family.  Lots more eating of course!  It's all been very lovely, and I still have another week off work - yay!


Here is a picture of a little extra Easter gift I gave to my lovely sister-in-law.  Some mini eggs in an organza bag inside a Pennie Pocket:

I made this back in February after stumbling across this tutorial.  I made this one, then decided to get some pretty spring fabrics to use to make a whole bunch of them, to put Easter treats in for the women in the family.  Well, I kind of lots interest, but my sister-in-law loved this one, so I thought I would give it to her as a surprise!

I hope you all had as lovely an Easter as I did!  If you are anything like me, your belly will now be twice the size it was before the weekend!  I've still got a mountain of chocolate eggs to get through too - oh, what a hardship!!!

Easter Tree and Excitement!

Well, yesterday was a WONDERFUL day (some crafty excitement happened!).  Of course the weather was amazing - we pottered about a bit getting some things sorted at home, popped into town for some bits and bobs, and then spent the afternoon in the park in the sunshine.  I cannot get over how hot it is for April - it felt like we were in Spain or something!

I also spent time admiring my Easter tree whenever I was in the flat!  It is a happy little tree!

I just love that pink polka dot jug vase too - I managed to get the last one in Sainsburys on Thursday evening.  I had to have it - it's so pretty!

I seemed to be rather useless at arranging the branches, and after trying various options I bought some artificial blossom sprays from Wilkinsons, after seeing cupcakejojo's Easter Tree using them.  I think they work really well!

My tree is decorated with eight handmade felt eggs, which I have been making over the last month or two.  I also added pretty bright feathers to it.  These feathers were given to me by my lovely Swedish friend (hi!) as it is a Swedish tradition to have Easter trees with feathers on - I think it's a great tradition!  I love the bright colours!

Well... now on to the 'Excitement' part of my post title... I have won a giveaway!!!!!  I entered a giveaway at Sew Special Bears and I have won the 'crafty stuff' prize!!!  I should receive a selection of crafty bits and pieces!  This is the first giveaway I have won, and I am so excited!!  When I read her post showing 'Dinki Dots' as a winner I couldn't believe my eyes!  I started leaping and dancing around the living room like a demented baboon, making crazy happy noises!!  My boyfriend watched with great amusement!

I will be sure to show you what I get when I receive it!  Aaaahhh, I'm so excited!!

Flower Ta-Da!

Finally!  The flower project is finished, after my distractions!  Thanks for the guesses - it was my little mum who was right (well done Mum!)... it's a needle case:

I had different packets of needles that I have acquired over the years, and I needed one place to put them all.  Now I have it!  There are six squares of felt in the case - 4 blue and 2 lilac (the front and back cover).  Because they are sewn together in sets of 2 it means there are 4 sides that needles can go, without having needles on the front and back.  (If that makes sense!)


It's a practical item, but also pretty!  Maybe not as exciting as some of the ideas - I especially like the flower bunting idea from Becky - how pretty would that be!  That might be something to add to my ever-growing 'Craft To Do' list!  I don't know about anyone else, but I have more ideas than I can ever keep up with!!  Having to sit at a desk all day, when I could be getting on with craft doesn't help either!  (Not that I want to lose my job - then I wouldn't have any money for craft supplies!!)


In other Easter-related news, my Easter tree is done and I'm very pleased with it!  I will try to get some good photos for tomorrow's post - before we toddle off on our way to visit family for Easter (and eat lots - yay!)

Cute!

I turned the crocheted ball from yesterday into...

...a very cute little penguin!

You've just gotta love him!  (Well, I do!)

I attempted to make my Easter tree last night, and failed miserably!  I just cannot get branches that look right.  It is probably my poor ability with anything plant/flower like - even putting some branches in a vase is too much for me!  I MUST get it sorted tonight, ready for the Easter bank holiday weekend - I need my felt eggs displayed!

Dragging the Flower Thing Out...

I was just about to leave for work this morning, when I glanced in the mirror and realised I still had my hair in a towel on my head!!  That would have been an interesting look for the day...! 

Back to craft news... I am still working on the project with the flower.  I got a bit distracted, so it isn't finished, but here is another clue:

I'm really dragging out this flower thing, aren't I?!  I'll finish it tonight and will show you the finished item tomorrow, then I'll stop - honest!!  (It's not even that exciting - not really worth all this suspense!)


Now this is what I got distracted with - I was making this instead:

'What is it?!' I hear you cry... it is a random little crocheted ball in lilac cotton!  My crochet skills are very basic, so I'm really pleased that I managed to make it.  It may not look like much, but to me it is a great achievement!  (It's the little things!)  I am going to add some bits to it and attempt to turn it into something cute... I've got an idea, although I'm not quite sure if it will work yet!  Watch this space!

Flower Project

Ok, I think I've decided what to make with my flower... it involves the things in the picture below!

What's it going to be?!

(Wow, that photo imported quickly - it's the first time I have compressed a photo for my blog - I think I'll have to do it in future as it saves a lot of time.  So far, I don't think it looks any different to the non-compressed photos - hopefully that will remain true when this is published).

Flowers and Toadstools

I got the sudden desire yesterday evening to make a felt flower.  I sketched away for a bit, until I came up with something I liked, then I cut out the pieces:

I wasn't quite sure what I wanted to do with the flower when it was made, so I decided that I would sew it onto a white circle of felt, and see how it looked.

I like it... but I still don't know what to do with it!  I thought of making it into a brooch, or of stuffing it and hanging it from a ribbon - as a cute flower 'hangy', or maybe something else... not sure yet!

I wasn't the only one creating something - Rohan did a bit of a wood whittling, and made this cute toadstool.  He even burned the spots into it!  I love it!

It's only about 2.5cm tall - how cute!

Spring Colours

Here is a picture of a mini-blanket that I've been crocheting for the last year or so - I keep leaving it for months on end, which is why it's taken so long - and I'm pretty slow!  This is only the second thing I've crocheted, so I'm definitely a novice!

It's a stripy blanket in four pretty ice-creamy colours.  I'm feeling inspired to do some more of it, so who knows - maybe I'll finish it one day!

Happy Anniversary

I've just got back from a trip with my family - we had Friday off work (yay!) and spent a night down in Wales.  We spent some time in Abergavenny, and visited Cosmeston Medieval Village.  We also had a really delicious meal out at Bali Thai last night, for my parents' wedding anniversary - the nicest Thai I've ever had!  Happy Anniversary Mum and Dad!

Here is the anniversary card I made for them (lilac/purple is my Mum's favourite colour) - the pictures were taken the other evening, when it was a bit dark - so not the best photos.

And here are a couple of the photos I took in Abergavenny yesterday:

It was very pretty!  I really like that second photo - just something about it I like!

Lunchtime Lurking

More lurking around in the bushes around my work carpark in my lunchtime today - trying to get a picture of my newest egg!  Was quite overcast with a bit of a breeze that kept blowing the egg around, so it was a bit tricky to get a nice picture.

Close up

Good old bondaweb came into play with the fabric flower I'd cut out, then two buttons sewn in the middle on top of each other.  I'm really pleased with it - I love the pretty colours!

Last night I also put my hanging cupcake in my Folksy shop - here's hoping someone somewhere wants it and buys it!

Bye for now!

Easter Eggs and Bondaweb

Last night I made a new egg for the Easter Tree I am planning!  See my cheesily titled (!) previous post 'Crafting is Eggcellent' for pictures of the six I had already made.  It had been a while since I made them and, with Easter drawing ever closer, I thought it was time to start making some more.  Don't want that tree to be too bare!

I spent lunchtime lurking around in the bushes of my work carpark, trying to get a decent photo!  I thought it would be more interesting to see it hanging from a bit of plant life, rather than plonked on a side in my flat.  Anyone looking out the window probably wondered what on earth I was doing, and I got a bit of an old look from a couple of people on a lunchtime walk - the things I do for my blog!

I changed the design a bit for this egg.  My other six were basically the same as each other but in different colours, made from felt, but I've added some fabric to this one!  My first time using bondaweb, and I love it!  I've got an idea for another one, also incorporating fabric, so I can't wait to get started.  I hope it turns out how I'm imagining it!

Embroidered Pincushion

Today was quite exciting as I delivered orders to two friends!  A hanging heart, shown in a previous post, and a set of magnets!

Here are the magnets in a pretty little box I made for them.

I really like how this looks, but I’m having to rethink this idea, as it took far too long to make.  I had to measure, draw out, score, cut out, fold, and stick the box – then do the same again for the lid!  Maybe I would get quicker at making them, but it just doesn’t seem very efficient to spend so much time on packaging, when I could be making things to go in the packaging!  But... I still want them to be presented nicely!  Do not fear... I have come up with a new idea that I think (hope) will work and look good.  There will be a picture when it is ready, if it works out!

My 100 postal boxes arrived today as well – I think they are going to be okay.  I just need 100 orders and I’m set!  Easy... hhmmnn!

For no particular reason, just because I thought about it today, here is a picture of a pincushion I embroidered about three years ago:

Front

Back

It was from a tutorial in a craft magazine - can't remember which one now!  I've never used it as a pincushion, as I thought it was too nice, so it just hangs in the bedroom looking pretty!  (Although, don't look too closely at the pictures, as it had gathered a bit of dust over time that didn't want to come off - poor housekeeping, too busy crafting!!)

Postal Box Madness!

We had a lovely day yesterday.  We walked in the sunshine to a nice country pub with a beer garden, to have lunch.  Then walked back, stopping in the park for a bit.  It was full of people enjoying the day – such a nice atmosphere!  I’ve been quite tired today, though, as we stayed up late watching some golf Masters thingy.  I say ‘we’, but I had no interest in it at all... instead I was busy researching postal boxes on the internet for posting my orders in.  Amazing how much time can be spent on that kind of thing!

After MUCH searching, I found what I hope will be suitable.  Unfortunately I’m always on the quest for good value, so I got a bit carried away.  I started thinking that I’d get 10 to start off with and see how things go with trying to sell my creations.  But the more you buy, the better value they are.  So I thought maybe 20 would be better... then, well it’s better value to get 50!  Then, well it isn’t that much more for 100 really when you think about it...!!  So, yes, I ordered 100 postal boxes!  What was I thinking?!  (This is what happens when I make decisions late at night!)  The only orders I’ve had so far are from friends, so I don’t even need to post them!  Well, it’s good to be prepared.  I just hope they aren’t too small for my needs... I checked the measurements, but sometimes it’s hard to visualise without seeing the actual box.  Let’s hope I haven’t just spent a load of money on some unsuitable postal boxes, for my non-existent orders!  :o)

Although, talking of orders, one of my friends has asked for the hanging heart I made on Friday, which is great!  I’ve made some Thank You cards to go with orders, so I will get to use one!

The hearts are still available to order through my Folksy shop, though, as I will be making more.

I’ve also had a request for some fabric-covered magnets from a friend at work!  I’ve been working on the packaging for the magnets, so I will have a picture to show you tomorrow.

One last thing - not sure if anyone noticed, but I have changed my logo slightly!  Same general idea, but a different font – I much prefer it!

Sunshine and Hearts

I am quickly fitting this into a window of spare time!  I need to get ready to go out again, but I thought I'd better update with the latest, as I didn't have chance yesterday.

The weather is so beautiful at the moment, so I knew that when Rohan got home from work yesterday he would want us to go straight to the park.  (He loves the sun!)  On a Friday I get home before him, so I quickly cut out some bits for a new project and bagged up all the sewing bits I would need ready to take down to the park.  Sure enough, he burst through the door desperate to get straight down there!

It was lovely, and so warm!  We spent a couple of hours with our folding chairs and picnic blanket, beers for him, a blue WKD for me (yes, I still drink alchohol designed for teenagers!) and I got to work on my latest idea.  Here it is - a stuffed felt and fabric heart:

I love it!  (Even if I do say so myself!)

Other than that, the fabric-covered magnets are now in my Folksy Shop - click here to see them.

A little taster for you - this is one of the five pictures I used:

Gotta rush!  Bye for now...

Fabric Covered Magnets

Now, this is a project I've had in the pipeline for a little while now!  I've previously given you a glimpse of my fabric covered buttons and pins.  There will be more to come from them at some point!  I plan to make some more pins and get some good photos so I can put them in my Folksy shop for sale.

Fabric covered magnets are a part of my whole fabric-covered button craze!  This time the buttons are bigger, and they have a... you guessed it... magnet!

Here is a pink set of six:

And here is a shot of more of the selection:

They have a diameter of 23mm and a magnet on the back.  They can be used as fridge magnets, or on magnetic notice-boards.

I'm going to be selling these in my Folksy shop, in sets of six, so I need to make some more different ones, and take some better photos.  I also need to decide whether to:

1)  Create different sets of six for customers to pick from,
2)  Show a photo of the whole range and when (if!) I get orders, send a random selection of six,
3)  Show the whole range and let the customers pick each magnet for their set of six.

Decisions decisions!!

First Folksy Sale!

Very quick post today, as we are going out to see friends...

I made a sale of my strawberry brooch, through Folksy!  Well, it was bought through Folksy, but it was actually a friend from work who bought it... so she was definitely subjected to a bit of extra advertising!  I can't imagine any strangers will find it, let alone buy it, but at least I have one Folksy sale under my belt!  It is very exciting!

So I got home and got to work on packaging it, by attaching it to some card and pretty vellum.  Here is a picture of it in the park!  We went to the park to sit in the sun, as it was such a lovely day today.

And here it is wrapped and ready to go!

I'm looking forward to delivering it tomorrow!

Strawberry Delight

I've been trying to get a decent photo of the project I finished last night - a strawberry brooch!  Photography is not my strong point!  I took my camera and strawberry to work and sneaked off to a random windowsill to try to take a picture in the daylight.  No-one was around when I started doing it, but of course the whole office decided to stroll past while I was busy clicking away at a strawberry on a windowsill, looking like a mad person!

I still was not quite happy with the photo, so Rohan is now attempting to get a good photo with his fancy camera and tripod etc... photographing small things is so tricky - especially trying to get decent light on them.  Right, he has finished and here is the long awaited strawberry brooch...



Front



Back



It measures approx 5.5cm tall and approx 5cm wide (at tallest and widest points).  I hope it was worth the wait!  And yes, you will have noticed my Dinki Dots label on the back!  Not quite the same as I showed in my post last week, as I have cut the dots off - they didn't look quite right in 'real life' and also made the label too long.  No harm done, though, it was worth a try!

I am also planning to make this with a magnet on the back, to be used as a fridge magnet, or maybe on a magnetic noticeboard.  I plan to have a strawberry range for sale - magnets, brooches... and other things when I think of them!  (I've got a couple of other ideas, but need to see if they will work first!)

... Quick update to this post - I have now created a Folksy shop, and added my brooch for sale!  I'm not holding my breath that anyone will buy it, but I might as well see what happens.  http://www.folksy.com/items/1605349