Braided Bookmarks

The Crafts @the Library session on the 28th September at Birch Hill will be Braided Bookmarks. Here is a couple I did for the blurb that will go up at the Library. The last few sessions have had a mention in the local paper as well!

These are 3 strand braids. I might also have a go at a couple 4 strand braids in case anyone is brave enough to try. I have made up some kits already.

Not rocket science, but there is only so much you can do when you are situation in the centre of the library with people wandering round you! I hear we might have a group of people from a day centre come along. I hope they do! So, I thought if I had something slightly simpler, it would be a bit easier to see how things will work out with a larger group.

Beaded Brooches

I finally got a chance to make a sample of the Beaded Brooch for the next Craft @the Library. I am not sure how long it will take the ladies to make. I may make a simpler version if they feel these will be too complex.

Edit: I made another little Brooch. So, here is another photo.

Great Gift Tags

Lovely little gift tags made today at the Crafts @the Library workshop at the Birch Hill Library.

Great Gift Tags

Samples for May Crafts @the Library

Somewhat easy, but we'll probably do a bit of stitching on it as well.

Just enough time to make the samples for the blurbs whilst doing marking.

Button Blooms - Tues

Here are some of the bright and colourful Button Blooms made by the ladies who came to the Tuesday session of Crafts @the Library At the Birch Hill Library.

Lisa, who works at the Birch Hill Library came up with a really cute variation for making the "stem" look good. Her bunch is at the right.

 They all look even cuter when you hold them up or pop them in with a potted plant.

Button Blooms

Thanks for all the encouraging comments about the dragon! I am usually champing at the bit to do my other projects so I can get back to do another one. I am "nearly" at the place where I might even do a big one! (sucks in breath nervously).

Today I worked on developing the craft for the next Crafts @the Library workshop. Button Blooms
At present they are taped onto some bits of copper wire I have, but I hope to get some florist wire tomorrow in town. i need to pick up some buttons from the haberdashery stall in the market as well.

Some use for a gifted glass left from the Millenium!

Spring Joy

A bit more Spring Joy today...amidst a day of bitter wind and rain!
We had the Crafts @the Library at Birch Hill. Because of having to let the pieces dry, I didn't get photos of Norma's, but she did a lovely daffodil with a light blue background.

The one I did has had a chance to dry, so here is a photo for you.

I might get "in Progress" photos tomorrow at Great Hollands. I am hoping we do get people out. I think this long winter has meant people are staying home in the warm.

Little Purse Booklets

A few more of the little purse books from the session at the Great Hollands Library today.

and a bit more on the Wendy House.

Little Purse Booklets

Here are the lovely little purse booklets made by the ladies from the Crafts @the Library today at Birch Hill Library.

We had a great time with a bit of a laugh and a joke in today's session!

Little Purse Booklets

Sometime back there was an article in the Cloth, Paper, Scissors magazine (Winter 2006 issue 9) which showed how artist, Debbie Crane, had made a little book everyday for a year. She included a couple templates for some of the booklet which could be made to look a bit like purses.

So, for the Craft @the Library for February, we will be making one of the little booklets shown in the Magazine.

Here are a few that I made up for samples. It is a very good way to use the printed paper bags you get at craft fairs and some shops and can't bear to throw away! I also added a few card making stickers I had.

Funky Fleece Scarves

I was recovered enough today to do the Craft @the Library. However, the brain was still a bit fried, and I forgot the camera. Sheila and Norma came and made some lovely scarves. We ran out of time to do the fringing, but they said they could do it at home. They both have granddaughters who may be recipients. I have a feeling they are going to opt out of the chopping up part and keep the scarves for themselves! Sheila made one which was fuchsia and baby pink and Norma made one which was deep blue and powder blue.

So, for a photo you get to see mine.

I had given away all the others I made for Christmas gifts, so I made one up this morning (that had been on yesterday's agenda) to show. Then in class I worked on another one. The ones I had made previously had the ribbon sewn on the machine, but these were stitched up by hand.

Christmas Ornaments - student work

I went along to the Crafts @the Library session for today, but the students didn't come. There were hardly any people visiting the library. Simon, the manager said that about this time before Christmas the libraries go very quiet, while the shops get busier. I guess I never thought of it that way. Everyone is getting ready for Christmas and don't have time to read.

Also, right now there is a lot of sickness about. So, some of the ladies might have been unwell. We need a cold snap to kill off the germs. But I am glad it waited til now. I am nearly done with having to go out and about, so if it gets cold now, I can stay in my house nice and warm!

Anyway, here are the photos of the student work from the Crafts @the Library yesterday. Each of them came up with a different design idea. It is fun when they don't slavishly follow my ideas!

Maz - contrast stitching
Norma - red Christmas pudding

Fleece Scarves

I mentioned the fleece throws I got for making scarves for Crafts @the Library in January. Today I made up 2 ideas to see what would be easiest to do in the session. I am not sure just which one I will do. I have one more idea to try.

I am struggling with a bad cold, but I did manage to do the Crafts @the Library workshop today. I took photos, but I will show them tomorrow when I do photos of tomorrow's workshop.

Fleece for scarves

A few weeks ago I got some fleece throws to make scarves with. Today I have been finishing up the Christmas trees, but I also got the fleece cut. I intend to make up some for Christmas presents and save some for the Crafts @the Library in January.

I have a few ideas of what I will do, but haven't decided for sure yet.

I am struggling with a bit of a thick cold right now. It is rather annoying, to say the least.

Christmas Ornaments

Here are a few samples for the Crafts @the Library workshops next week. I have made loads of the stockings and Christmas Puddings before, but the mitten is a new pattern. I made them from blue felt as it makes a change from the red and green you see everywhere at Christmas. Each of these are doubled, which makes a little pocket for a sweet or a candy stick to poke out the top.
The mittens remind me of some mittens made of coloured paper (and I think coloured with a decorative pattern) connected by a piece of yarn which I made in school when I was about 5! My mother put them up on tree year after year. I wouldn't be suprised if she still does!

Decorator Candles - Student work

Yesterday and today I taught the Crafts @the Library sessions. Here are photos of the student's work.

Birch Hill - Dorothy, Annette, Norma and Lisa Great Hollands - Jean, Chantel, Owen and Simon

Don't they all look good?

Candles and Fleece

Not really connected, but here is what I went into town in the rain for today.

Candles for next week's workshop for Crafts @the Library and fleece for Christmas presents.

I am real chuffed with the fleece. I was going to get it at Tesco where I had found the lowest priced fleece throws for about £2.50 or so. You couldn't get the yardage for that!
However, there were only 2 designs I thought would be suitable for what I want to make (secret!).
But, when I went to another shop for dried cranberries, I saw that Bentalls (the posh shop). Has a shop where they are selling reduced items...maybe a credit crunch idea? Any way, they had these packs of 2 fleece throws for £5.95. Although, the price comes to a bit more, the colour choices are better. I can do alot of mix and matching. The leftovers from the Christmas presents will be used for the January workshop for Crafts @the Library.

Spicy Hot Mats

Here are some of the Spicy Hot Mats the students made who come to Crafts @the Library. It was a lovely scented time! not much individuality, but they all enjoyed making them. We had some new people this time.

These are made so you can place a hot dish on them at the table. The heat from the dish releases the scent of the cloves and cinnamon sticks. The rice absorbs the heat. There is a separate sachet inside with the rice and spices mixture. That way the cover can be removed if it needs washing.

I finished off the rest of the loosely woven linen and made 2 when I got home. I will put them in the Christmas gift pile.

Decorator Candles

I must admit, sometimes I get to the end of one day and haven't got time to put up a photo of the days work...especially when it has been full of paperwork. So, I will be honest. I worked out how to change the date on the create post page before it is published. so, this is Friday published on Saturday morning.

Anyhow, now that I have made that confession. Here is the craft we will do in November at Crafts @the Library.

As you can guess, it is quite easy. But sometimes that appeals. I am thinking that it might give the students something quick to make for friends and hard-to-gift people for Christmas. The images are photocopied from an antique German dictionary I rescued from the outside in the rain bookcases at the Castle bookshop in Hay-on-Wye. So, I can't read it and the definitions may be out of date, but it is already having value a second time in its life. Oh, and the image on the short, fat candle is one of a few I got from an old flower arranging book...again from some secondhand bookshop.

I used acrylic wax to adhere the images.

Bookmarks Student work

Here are some photos of student work from the Crafts @the Library. We did Stitched Bookmarks this time.

Because the groups were small, I made one at the same time. The library seems to have got busier and busier, so the librarians haven't had a chance to join in.

Bookmarks from the Tuesday session with Norma. Bookmarks from today's session with Sheila and Dorothy.

Very good work!