My daughters also benefitted as we invested in a set of Majestix stamps, pegs, and ink pads from Card-IO.
They're being well used already, so I'm sure we'll be adding more sets to the collection.
Sunday, 27 January 2013
Craft4Crafters show
Yesterday I had an adventure with my eldest daughter. We went by train to the Westpoint Arena at Exeter to spend a day at the Craft4Crafters show!
It was a long but fabulous day, which resulted in some great new stash enhancement for my bead collection. I feel lots more crochet necklaces will be appearing soon!
My daughters also benefitted as we invested in a set of Majestix stamps, pegs, and ink pads from Card-IO.
They're being well used already, so I'm sure we'll be adding more sets to the collection.
My daughters also benefitted as we invested in a set of Majestix stamps, pegs, and ink pads from Card-IO.
They're being well used already, so I'm sure we'll be adding more sets to the collection.
Wednesday, 16 January 2013
Happy Birthday Hub!
It's my hubby's birthday today. I think everyone should be allowed to have their birthday off, if it falls on a work day. My hub had to work, but we've had a lovely family party this evening.
It's difficult knowing what gifts to get so soon after Christmas. Hub is an F1 racing fanatic, and whilst I can't yet afford to buy him tickets for Silverstone (one day!) I wanted to get him an F1-inspired surprise.
Etsy came up trumps as usual. There are various F1-themed gifts on there from UK selllers; here are some of my favourites.
This is what I bought my hub.
It's an ashtray or coin tidy with carbon fiber centre, made using a 4th gear ratio from the gearbox of a 700+ bhp Honda F1 racecar driven by Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello!
It came in a black gift box with a card explaining it's history. Hub loves it, and it's a great talking point.
The Etsy shop is LedonGifts, based in Manchester.
They also sell clocks, cufflinks, keyrings, and lots of other items made from F1 car parts.
I love this clock:
My other favourite F1-inspired gift on Etsy is from Sam Osborne.
She has created this poster with a fabulous quote from Mario Andretti.
I'd love to get this on a coffee mug Sam!
It's difficult knowing what gifts to get so soon after Christmas. Hub is an F1 racing fanatic, and whilst I can't yet afford to buy him tickets for Silverstone (one day!) I wanted to get him an F1-inspired surprise.
Etsy came up trumps as usual. There are various F1-themed gifts on there from UK selllers; here are some of my favourites.
It's an ashtray or coin tidy with carbon fiber centre, made using a 4th gear ratio from the gearbox of a 700+ bhp Honda F1 racecar driven by Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello!
It came in a black gift box with a card explaining it's history. Hub loves it, and it's a great talking point.
The Etsy shop is LedonGifts, based in Manchester.
They also sell clocks, cufflinks, keyrings, and lots of other items made from F1 car parts.
I love this clock:
My other favourite F1-inspired gift on Etsy is from Sam Osborne.
She has created this poster with a fabulous quote from Mario Andretti.
I'd love to get this on a coffee mug Sam!
Monday, 14 January 2013
Textile beads anyone?
Sam over at Textile Delights has a fab giveaway on her blog at the moment.
Just comment, follow and link to it for a chance of winning a set of her fab new handmade textile beads!
Just comment, follow and link to it for a chance of winning a set of her fab new handmade textile beads!
Saturday, 12 January 2013
January Sale
As is traditional at this time of year, I'm having a huge sale over at my Etsy shop. All items are priced £10 or under and you'll find some massive discounts.
This gorgeous short scarf is crocheted using fine pure silk yarn and threaded with silk ribbons then edged with mother of pearl chips.
Perfect for weddings, parties, or would make a fabulous Valentine gift!
This is a one-off item originally priced at £29, but now on offer at just £10!
Perfect for weddings, parties, or would make a fabulous Valentine gift!
This is a one-off item originally priced at £29, but now on offer at just £10!
Tuesday, 8 January 2013
Monday, 7 January 2013
Film addict
I'm not much of a film addict usually. This year seems to be different!
Already my family & I have seen The Hobbit and Life of Pi, both of which were thoroughly entertaining and very well made.
You see I only now feel compelled to pay cinema prices to see films in 3D; the technology (not to mention the glasses!) has improved tremendously in recent years, and the results are stomach-churningly stunning.
It all began with Avatar last year, which really made me hang onto my armrests when the riders dived down from the floating mountains!
Watching the trailers at the last 2 films, we decided we may need to move into our local cinema... On the To-Watch list next is Jack the Giant Slayer (must see this as it's based on a Cornish fairy tale!), Oz, and Epic for a start...
You see I only now feel compelled to pay cinema prices to see films in 3D; the technology (not to mention the glasses!) has improved tremendously in recent years, and the results are stomach-churningly stunning.
It all began with Avatar last year, which really made me hang onto my armrests when the riders dived down from the floating mountains!
Watching the trailers at the last 2 films, we decided we may need to move into our local cinema... On the To-Watch list next is Jack the Giant Slayer (must see this as it's based on a Cornish fairy tale!), Oz, and Epic for a start...
Sunday, 6 January 2013
Saturday, 5 January 2013
Back to the dye pot!
In the run-up to Christmas every spare moment was filled with craft fairs and preparation for them. My trusty dye pot sat forlornly on the shelf, and I was itching to get back to it!
Now that we're firmly in 2013, I have time to replenish my hand-dyed Perran Yarn stocks. Only a small amount of time, but regular. Here's the first lot for this year.
I've gone for more of the deliciously soft chunky baby alpaca. It soaks up the colour beautifully, so what better shade to go for than Teal Temptation!
The only downside that I've found is that this is an incredibly difficult shade to photograph accurately!
I've learned quite a lot about GIMP from the last few hours spent playing around with hue, saturation, brightness, and contrast settings.
This yarn also looks fabulous when knitted or crocheted; for example just 1 skein of it makes my Tassel Stitch Button Cowl pattern.
If you prefer something different but not sure what, take a look at the many options here on Ravelry!
Now that we're firmly in 2013, I have time to replenish my hand-dyed Perran Yarn stocks. Only a small amount of time, but regular. Here's the first lot for this year.I've gone for more of the deliciously soft chunky baby alpaca. It soaks up the colour beautifully, so what better shade to go for than Teal Temptation!
The only downside that I've found is that this is an incredibly difficult shade to photograph accurately!
I've learned quite a lot about GIMP from the last few hours spent playing around with hue, saturation, brightness, and contrast settings.
This yarn also looks fabulous when knitted or crocheted; for example just 1 skein of it makes my Tassel Stitch Button Cowl pattern.
If you prefer something different but not sure what, take a look at the many options here on Ravelry!
Friday, 4 January 2013
Perfect pastels
A while back (ahem, October actually!) I started a crochet project. I knew it would take a while.
The wait was worthwhile though.
The gorgeous pastel wrap is now complete, and available to buy in my Etsy shop. It looks great with jeans, and would be equally fabulous for a spring wedding!
One of those accessories that becomes a firm favourite, and gets worn everywhere.
It's a true one-off, as I can no longer get this yarn and I came up with the design myself using a pattern from my stitch directory.
The yarn deserves a little discussion. It's a hand-dyed cotton/rayon blend, hand-dyed in the U.S. and purchased before I started dyeing my own.
This yarn radiates with the most fabulous sheen, and drapes beautifully. The pastel pink/lilac/blue colourway is perfect for spring and summer.
I've made another of my button brooches as the fastener. It has a button at the front for decoration, but also another at the back so you can use it as a brooch pin to fasten the wrap in whatever arrangement you like.
Now if I really get my act together I'll write up the pattern too!
The wait was worthwhile though.
One of those accessories that becomes a firm favourite, and gets worn everywhere.
It's a true one-off, as I can no longer get this yarn and I came up with the design myself using a pattern from my stitch directory.
The yarn deserves a little discussion. It's a hand-dyed cotton/rayon blend, hand-dyed in the U.S. and purchased before I started dyeing my own.
This yarn radiates with the most fabulous sheen, and drapes beautifully. The pastel pink/lilac/blue colourway is perfect for spring and summer.
I've made another of my button brooches as the fastener. It has a button at the front for decoration, but also another at the back so you can use it as a brooch pin to fasten the wrap in whatever arrangement you like.
Now if I really get my act together I'll write up the pattern too!
Thursday, 3 January 2013
Minute by minute
I was going to show you my latest delicious teal chunky baby alpaca from the last dyepot session, but the weather had other ideas. Today was overcast and dark, with lights needed on indoors all day.
No amount of tweaking with my photo editing software would give me accurate enough results, so I abandoned the photos.
Instead here is a glorious photo of a Perranporth sunset at its best.
We are so lucky to live so close to this beach, and really should visit it a lot more than we do!
I'll be keeping an eye on the sunrise and sunset times over the next few weeks as they gradually increase to bring us more glorious sunshine hours each day.
Very soon we'll be welcoming Spring!
No amount of tweaking with my photo editing software would give me accurate enough results, so I abandoned the photos.
Instead here is a glorious photo of a Perranporth sunset at its best.
We are so lucky to live so close to this beach, and really should visit it a lot more than we do!
I'll be keeping an eye on the sunrise and sunset times over the next few weeks as they gradually increase to bring us more glorious sunshine hours each day.
Very soon we'll be welcoming Spring!
Wednesday, 2 January 2013
Valentine Love
CraftBritannia team treasury game featuring TheSequinnedSheep,
WharfedaleWoolworks, AislingDezines, Shalotte, ColourMeFun, Loutul & TheFeminineTouch
Tuesday, 1 January 2013
New Year crochet
Happy New Year!
I have a feeling that 2013 is going to be a year of change, for the better of course!
I have started to replenish the beaded crochet wrap necklaces in my shop; they sold really well leading up to Christmas.
These are lightweight (making them a great gift choice for posting!) and suitable for anyone with metal allergies as they are purely made from hand-dyed cotton and glass/ceramic beads.
I have a feeling that 2013 is going to be a year of change, for the better of course!
I have started to replenish the beaded crochet wrap necklaces in my shop; they sold really well leading up to Christmas.
These are lightweight (making them a great gift choice for posting!) and suitable for anyone with metal allergies as they are purely made from hand-dyed cotton and glass/ceramic beads.
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