Wednesday 31 March 2010

EtsyHookers Team Challenge

The polls are open for the EtsyHookers Team Challenge! Place your vote before 8th April for the best Irish themed crochet item: http://etsyhookers.blogspot.com/

Friday 26 March 2010

Sew pleased!


We were fortunate enough to be given a car booster seat for my youngest DD several years back. 

It was very tatty but useable, so I just cut a piece of fabric and glued it to the top of the cushion to make do. That's what you see here.

When the glue finally gave up last week, we decided it was time to mend it properly!

DD chose some lovely bright cotton fabric from my stash and I bought matching purple bias binding from my local fabric shop for 25p. 

The lovely lady there very kindly gave me an offcut of thick interlining to cover up the worst of the torn cushion underneath, and give it a plusher feel.

I've worked on this every time I had a few minutes spare this week, and today dusted off (literally!) my trusty sewing machine for the final part.

Tada! Here it is - beautiful.

Youngest DD loves it and now eldest DD wishes she still needed to use one!

Wednesday 24 March 2010

I like my postie!


He brought me a package sent all the way from Canada today.

These are supplies I bought from YukiDesigns which stock some fantastic buttons, beads, and other goodies.

These beads are all resin - they have a lovely chunky feel with beautiful colour depth.

I love the metal flower and molecule bubble connectors, and have vague ideas floating around in my head for incorporating them in some crochet necklace designs..

Tuesday 23 March 2010

Stash Enhancement - but not yarn

I'm trying not to purchase any more yarn for "a while" - that's vague enough to keep me from having withdrawal symptoms. In the meantiume though, I have been buying other craft supplies.

I supported my local flea market recently when I discovered a lady there selling beads. Of course I couldn't resist.

This little haul of medium to large glass beads cost me £3. Well who can resist a bargain?

Monday 22 March 2010

I love turquoise!

We're waiting for some bits and pieces to arive to start crafting with the gorgeous bright felts and buttons. In the meantime, I've been crocheting with some vibrant turquoise blue cotton.

I've made some short summer fingerless gloves in a clean and crisp design. These can be dressed up with beads, buttons and bows - or worn plain and simple. They're available in my Etsy shop now!

A pair of black ones will be flying off the hook next - and I'm hoping to put the pattern up for sale too.

Thursday 18 March 2010

It must be Spring!


The postie brought a lovely package today from Titchables - amazingly fast as I only bought these yesterday!

I would recommend you take a look at the listings in Titchables shop - there are some lovely supplies and cute badges, all at very reasonable prices.

I indulged in some impulse buying and gave in to these gorgeous bright felt squares and buttons. 

They are inspiring me to do some litte fun projects with my daughters for spring - hairband decorations, badges, charms, and such.

I can't wait to show these to my girls when they get back from school - I know they'll be as excited by those colours as I am!

Wednesday 17 March 2010

Bahama Blue


I've been feeling the need to crochet some more jewellery recently. Finally I got some time with enough daylight to pick out the beads and yarn that I wanted to use.

This necklace is crocheted with some gorgeous hand-dyed crochet cotton that I bought from fellow Etsy seller Snappish - her shop is Brea-Aly Threads

The colour graduations from blues to purples are really lovely, and the cotton is fine enough to make a delicate but strong item.

I added several lots of beads in co-ordinating colours and I love the finished look. 

You'll have to take a look at the listing to see the two fabulous big beads by the fastener close-up!

Tuesday 16 March 2010

Makers online photo contest

The makers-online.co.uk website is currently running a photo contest with a top prize of £200 up for grabs!

I sent my entry in and was thrilled to find that it's been included in their blog feature too. Go take a look and get your entry in - closing date is 26th March.

Monday 15 March 2010

Mothers Day treats

I hope all mums celebrating Mother's Day yesterday were made to feel well and truly appreciated - I certainly was.

We had a lovely day, some of which was spent at the beach in wonderful warm sunshine. My daughters both worked hard on making me some wonderful cards, and I was treated to two fabulous gifts.

This arrangement is just one third of the gorgeous bouquet of flowers I was given, and I can now book myself to a pampering aroma back massage at my local top2toe beauty salon via my gift voucher!

Thursday 11 March 2010

Nearly there!


My spring moss cardi is nearly done! The back and fronts worked all in one piece are now finished, and I did a 3-needle cast-off to seam the shoulders.

I am going to have to seam the sleeves and sew them onto the body, but that'll be the only sewing in the whole piece.

Eldest DD wants one of these now; if I did do another I may change the shoulder to a modified dropped shoulder with grafted sleeves. After all this is an aran weight yarn worked in moss stitch so I think seams will be pretty bulky.

Anyway, on with the final sleeve!

Wednesday 10 March 2010

EtsyHookers Creative Challenge No. 9

I recently joined the EtsyHookers group - crocheters of course!

They run regular challenges and I decided to take part in this one for St Patrick's Day. The challenge is to crochet any item with an Irish theme.

I've crocheted a simple little shamrock bookmark from some leftover Cherry Tree Hill variegated emerald green sock yarn and a dark green glass bead. I made up my own shamrock pattern based on some others that I found. Mine suits the yarn weight better.

Voting opens over at the EtsyHookers blog from 31st March.

Saturday 6 March 2010

Mmmm - cupcakes!

I've just bought my first silicon bakeware after many months of wondering about it - cupcake cases of course!

We gave them a test today with the first batch of cakes - vanilla, coconut and chocolate chip cakes with all manner of toppings! I made the cakes and the girls had great fun decorating them.

The cases are great - no cake left in them when we peel them off. The cakes are scrummy too - had to get a quick shot of these before they disappear.

Thursday 4 March 2010

Housewarming gift

My brother and his family are moving house next week, so I decided to buy a housewarming gift for them - from Etsy of course!

I chose this lovely printed teatowel from Taylors Type and an equally cute "New Home" card from amybird art.

Perfect!