Nearly there - Christmas is coming!!!

As I haven't posted for a few days I thought I would just squeeze in a post between the manic last minute shopping and house cleaning and show you my contribution to our festive decorations this year.  I got the idea from a Prima magazine but other than the idea of the stockings hanging from the stair post and the template for the shape, this is pretty much made up as I got along.

It is made from felt and ribbons because I really like working with felt - it is so forgiving after wrestling with cotton and voile and all sorts for my crazy patchwork piece for my course (more on that when I finally get a chance to edge it).  I am considering whether to embroider the intital of each of our family onto the little stocking but there are 6 stockings and only 4 of us so it might look a bit odd.

I also got to use some lovely Christmassy red velvet which I love.  I must admit the bow is constructed rather than tied - I tried for the natural look but it was too messy and I ended up with the tails facing the wrong way - at least by cheating everything faces out!

So 2 more days to go until The Big Day and we can stop all the preparations and shopping and put our feet up and enjoy it.  I might even have the time to get the knitting needles out again as I have such a long list of things I would like to make.

Whatever you are doing this Christmas and wherever you are, I would like to wish you a happy and healthy one!  Merry Christmas!!!!! 

Busy, busy.

Well, it is the end of term for my City and Guilds course.  I can't believe the last 10 weeks have flown by so quickly.  This week we had a special workshop on book making.  Not the sort with the horses you understand, that would be weird for a design and craft course, but making lovely note books to show off all our design ideas.  More on that in a moment.

First of all I wanted to go back a week and show you my crazy patchwork from last weeks lesson.  It was slow going as it is the hand stitched version but this is how far I have got.

I decided on a blue red and gold theme, the primary colours really.  I have sewn most of the pieces onto the calico - I have used ordinary patchwork cotton fabric, a few bits of silk and some voile which I have used over the top of some fabric so that the calico doesn't show through.  It is meant to be square but I have yet to trim it.

I even have a tiny bit of gold lame that I got with a sample pack ages ago.   The voile is covering the pice of plain blue fabric at the bottom which has a bit of a shine.  It was fiddly as voile isn't keen on lying flat and you can't iron it but it looks quite good.

The bit with the red leaf on a gold background is very posh silk upholstery fabric - 2 layers thick. Whilst it is very nice it has frayed horribly so I have had to edge it with ribbon. Embroidery just won't work there.  So, having done all that I now have to tidy it up and do the embellishments with beads and some fancy stitching.  Should be fun.

And this is the book I made this week which I am quite pleased with.

It is A5 sized and is made from cardboard with hand decorated paper covering. The inside is heavy paper, torn for a more handmade look. The pages are stitched together and given some support by the ribbon so this picture shows the spine.



And these are the pages - 7 signatures or groups of pages with 8 pages in each signature.  Quite a decent size really

The hardest part was assembling it,  It was really hard to line up the board covers with the pages especially if you tried to do the front and back covers at the same time.  Mine aren't quite the same but you can't see that from these photos and I am trying to ignore it or I will never be very pleased with it.  The perfectionist in me won't let me be pleased!!  Anyway, I have enough materials to make another one so I shall see if I have learned by my mistakes and can do a better job of lining it up next time.

And finally, as I didn't have a knitting picture to upload last time, here is a picture of the back of the cardie I am in the process of knitting.

The yarn is Sirdar Escape in these lovely shade of blue. turquiose and navy.  I just fell in love with it in the shop as the colours seemed to glow.  It knits up quickly too so I am enjoying this project.  I haven't done much this week though as we had visitors this weekend but I am hoping for a quieter weekend next weekend and then perhaps I might manage some more.



And finally, whilst I was sorting out my photos I realised I seem to be having a bit of a blue and turquoise thing going on at the moment - my notebook and my cardie seem to be using the same paletter.  Maybe I will start a new trend - colour coordinating your clothes with your stationary!

Thanks for reading.  I hope that next time I have a finished piece of hand sewn crazy patchwork to show.    Best go and get on with it!!

Tidy up Time!

This week I thought I would tidy up all my stashs and put them in an underused cupboard so that if I want something I don't have to sort through the whole house.  It turned out to be quite a job and I am a little shocked at exactly how much stuff I have accumulated! Even more scary is how much it must have all cost.

It is a deceptively large cupboard, going back a bit into the wall.  It occurs to me I have spent a fortune on storage boxes too but I need them to make sure everything is accessible and won't just end up in a heap in a corner that is difficult to read.  I haven't added all my stash yet.  There is a fair bit of fabric around the house at the moment waiting for some inspiration.  This week's City and Guilds lesson was on crazy patchwork.  I don't think I am going to be very good at it.  Too haphazard for me and I don't do random very well.  On the other hand it will give me a chance to do some embroidery which I have been itching to do for ages and not found a reason to do it.  No pictures of that yet as I haven't really done anything and what I have done I might well change.

The other thing I have been doing is knitting a cardie I started a long time ago.  I uncovered it whilst I was reorganising my stash.  I have been pondering buying something a little warmer now the weather is finally starting to get a little cooler but why buy something I can make it myself especially as I don't even need to fork out any extra cash.  I had already done the back before whatever it was that got in the way of me finishing happened.  That is the longest bit.  The rest should feel relatively quick.  It helps that it is on quite big needles too (6.5mm) so it is growing quickly.  Again no pictures as I don't have the knitting to hand at the moment but I will finish off with my nice tidy stash cupboard and ponder how I am going to get the rest of the fabric in.  I think more boxes might be required!

Mustn't forget the knitting

I have been so caught up in my patchwork and quilting that knitting has been on the back burner a bit. However, if you can't knit this time of year, when can you really?  It is a must for autumn and winter evenings surely and it is more portable than getting the sewing machine out.

So, I have decided that I am going to get this yarn which I purchased last month at the Knit and Stitch show at Alexandra Palace........

 

a gorgeous chunky merino and make this scarf with it.....

or maybe this one.....

Or now that I come think about, did I intend to make a hat? Choices choices.  I will be back to let you know what I decide.  One thing for sure this yarn is crying out to be knitted!

Challenges!

Well, my patchwork and quilting course is going OK.  It is quite hard work.  The classes I have done before have been informal and not assessed in any way but this one is different and it is proving a challenge.  Not that that is a bad thing.  I started the course to be challenged and to actually move on with my skills but boy is it time consuming.

Last week we did Bargello and seminole blocks.  They are fiddly and the lines all have to match up which I sort of achieve but it is really hard work.  Much stitch ripping and adjusting going on.  It would take me months, probably years to do a whole quilt.

Anyway, this my attempt at a sample of Bargello.

I am quite pleased with it so long as I don't peer too closely at it!  Being a perfectionist is fine but it does your head in when you are trying something for the first time.

I have to confess, though I find whole Bargello quilts amazing and I can see the amount of work and thought that must have gone into them, I don't think it is the technique for me.  I don't find it very restful which is fine, it is good for things to have an effect on you, but it means I wouldn't want a wall hanging or a bed quilt in it.

I haven't got any seminole to show yet.  We tried out a few patterns in paper but I haven't yet done my sample.  Better get on with it I suppose - Wednesdays come round really quickly!

Oh and if anybody is interested, I have a Pinterest account now.  Another way to waste time on the computer.  If you want to come and see what else interests me and what else I have collected as inspiration for the patchwork and quilting course and for all the other types of needlecraft I like then come over here and have a nosey.

Creating gets a new lease of life

I have something to write about on a regular basis at last.  I am doing a City and Guild Craft and Design Course in Patchwork and Quilting and it is proving to be hard work but great fun.  The course is a day a week with another days worth of homework they reckon.  I have yet to get myself in a routine, having only done 5 weeks but I am sure I will have to do it soon or I might well be snowed under with things to do!

So far we have been doing colour theory which is very interesting as I have never formally studied it so far.  It also gave the opportunity for some serious retail therapy in the form of buying art materials.  Who knew there were so many ways to create...... or that they would cost so much.  At least I won't be short of christmas pressie ideas for people this year though.

The best thing so far has to be the dying day though.  Take a look at these!

We did 24 fabrics in all.  12 of them were primary colours and mixtures of primary colours.  The second 12 (the bottom half of the pile above) were the same mixs of primaries but with a bit of black thrown in to make a more mute palette.  We used procion dyes and white cotton and the Dye in a Bag method.  Very easy.  And to think I had always found the thought of dyeing fabric a bit daunting before.  It was actually quite easy so long as you kept track of where you had got to in the colour combos and remembered to add all the ingredients.  I would love to do it again some time.

I have to say my favourites were the pure colours without the black. 

Look at those colours!  So vibrant. It is a shame to cut them up it really is!  I will show you what we have been doing with them in another post as I haven't finished working on a few samples that we have to sew.

The amazing thing is that learning colour theory really changes the way you look at designs.  I went to Alexandra Palace with my mother at the beginning of October for the Knit and Stitch show.  Honestly a day was just not long enough - it was really a lovely day out for those that like all things crafty.  The exhibition of work by various creative people looked very different after learning about colour theory.  Before I would have marvelled at the techical ability of putting the piece of work together but now I marvel at the use of colour theory too.  I have always noticed colour - it is my favourite thing and the reason why I like so many crafts I think - but I never appreciated why before.

So last time on the course we did stripe piecing but this week are doing Bargello and Seminole patchwork and for all the courses I have done in the past, I don't think I have tried these two before so it should be fun.

Oh and the other eater of my time at the moment is Pinterest.  Have you come across it.  I am not sure if it is the work of the devil or  the work of a genius.  It is like an on-line pinboard where you can stick pictures of things that inspire or interest you. Since I am supposed to be collecting ideas for my course it could prove very useful although I have yet to discover how to print it off in a useful way should any of it require assessment.  I shall think of something though. This is mine here.  You are more than welcome to have a browse.

I shall be back quicker than I was last time with more things to show you. 

Where has the summer gone?

Only another 2 weeks and it is the end of the summer holidays.  I can't believe how quickly this year has gone.  I don't have a huge amount to show for it either.  And it seems we should be starting to think about Christmas - I have had some DMC Christmas kits delivered already which I really must put in my little shop.  It is a scary thought although I refuse to think too much about it when we still have two more family birthdays left to go in September. First things first - lets get one lot of present shopping out of the way before we start thinking about the big one.  I suppose that shouldn't stop me sorting my shop out though.

Me and my boys have been out and about a bit in the last 3 weeks so there has been some opportunity for a bit of retail therapy.  We went to Winchester yesterday and I was 'allowed' to go in the fabric shop.  I didn't get too much - a couple of plain pieces of fabric, some embroidery cotton, a ball of wool to make a square for a Mumsnet comfort blanket and a pattern book for some Sirdar Calico yarn which has been lurking in my stash for rather a long time.  I am wondering if I should make something my parents-in-laws 50th wedding anniversary in two weeks - just a little bit of embroidery, mounted in an embroidery hoop or something.  I got two books for my birthday 2 weeks ago - this one Doodle Stitching - the Motive Collection and A Rainbow of Stitches which could prove useful for putting together a design.  Watch this space.

But what have I actually done recently?  Well, not a lot has been finished but I have made this camera pouch for my younger son as his camera didn't come with the pouch.

He loves dogs and would have one if we let him! 

A few weeks ago I also went on a bag making course, just 2 hours,  and this was the end result.

The picture makes it look quite small but it is big enough for an A4 file and the straps are long enough to put over your shoulder comfortably.  I was quite pleased with it but it isn't without mistakes.  However, I am not going to point them out!!  Not bad for a first attempt although I did have add the ric-rac afterwards because my sewing machine couldn't cope with the thickness of the fabric and the join of the handles to the bag were not the tidiest.  However, it is a usable bag, I like the fabric and it is comfortable to carry so I can't ask for more really.

Trying something new.

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There isn't much point writing a blog if nobody reads it so I have signed up for Bloglovin' and I need to put the link in.  I am going to see what effect it has!

Getting back into the swing.

I've not posted for a while which is a bad thing. I wanted to do a blog and fell at the first hurdle - making sure I post regularly!

Never mind, I am back again now and intend to get into a bit more of a routine!  The problem is that I have been collecting photos and things to mention on here and now there is a whooping great big back log of things to show.  So what have I been doing?

Well, back in February I went to Unravel in Farnham - a lovely knitting and crochet show where there are some gorgeous displays and loads of stalls selling beautiful yarns - lots of spun or dyed by the individual. 

I bought a 4 ply sock yarn from the Skein Queen in a shade of turquiose-green (Not entirely sure how I managed to photograph that and have an entirely black background but it makes the yarn look good so I am not complaining).  I don't have any plans about what I am going to do with it yet.  It is 70% baby alpaca, 20% silk and 10% cashmere so if I did summon up the courage to make socks, they probably would be the softest, comfiest socks imaginable but would probably have holes in within the week!  I shall probably save it for some sort of shawl or scarf.

I also bought these two lovelies from Skeins.co.uk in a chunky yarn called Lushush.  They are very soft and squidy too.

The yarn band suggests 9mm needles, just to give you some idea how chunky it is.  I think I might do a buttoned cowl with this one.  I don't have a lot of it because it is dyed in small batches and these were the last two skeins from that batch but it is not cheap and I have enough for what I want so it is OK.  It would have made a great jumper if I had enough of it though. 

My final purchase came from Ni Mu - a 65% cashmere, 35% silk mix.  Again I could only run to one skein but I am definitely going to be making a shawl with this.  There was a made up one on the stall at the show so I have already got the pattern.

Isn't it the most beautiful colour?  And it is so soft too.

At the moment all I am doing with these is looking at their woolly loveliness and stroking them.  I really need to get a move on although I have other projects at the moment that are taking priority.  Still, can a stash ever be too big? (Don't answer that with a yes and shatter my illusions please).  And knowing my luck I shall knit all these scarfs and shawls and we shall have the warmest winter on record next year and I won't need them, but I suppose the advantage of knitting accessories is that you can't grow too big or too small for them so I shall just have to save them until they can be worn and enjoyed.

I also have some knitting to show you, and I went on a bag making course a couple of weeks ago and made a nice little tote.  My edging stitches aren't great (I blame my machine) so I want to cover them with some ric-rac - when I have done that I will show you that too.  I could go on and on but I had better stop before this gets too long and leave the rest for another day.

Thanks for reading. x

Who'd have thought it was so easy!?

I was having a root around in a box of needlework bits yesterday, fighting of the creeping cold that was setting in because our boiler broke down.  Whilst I was delving in the box I found a small Elizabeth Bradley tapestry kit that I got for Christmas some years ago - more than 10 if truth be told.  I think it was before my first son was born anyway. I also found a millenium cross stitch kit meant for marking the year 2000 which I was going to do on maternity leave.  That is nearly 11 years old now and as yet, untouched, but I digress.

I haven't started the kit as I couldn't fathom how the colours printed on the canvas were supposed to work.  Where were you supposed to start and finish the cross stitch in relation to the colours?  It just didn't make sense to me, and being as tapestry kits are so expensive, I put it to one side rather than make a dogs dinner of it. 

Yesterday I again sat there looking at this thing completely flummoxed by it.  And then I turned the canvas upside down and suddenly, there were the first 3 rows with crosses over the canvas that lined up with the holes!!  Eureka, it all made sense!  I have done those 3 rows now and the little crosses have disappeared and again it seems like blocks of colour but I have started so it doesn't matter.  I can count the number of stitchs needed in each row, for each colour and sew them accordingly.  The printed canvas is unnecessary as a guide to the pattern and that suits me fine.  I will post a photo of what I have done when I get a bit further along but I am actually quite chuffed that I have got it.  Another needlecraft that I can say I have tried.  Can't be bad.

Now all I have to do is resist the urge to start buying tapestry kits and making my stash of UFOs even bigger!  Easier said than done.  I am already contemplating whether to make this for my in-laws Golden Wedding anniversary.

This kit comes from One Off Needlwork and I stock it in my shop. I have been thinking for a while that it would make a good pressie for the in-laws wedding anniversary in September but I haven't had the courage to have a go.  Perhaps now I will.

Thanks for reading.



Unexpected benefits of having a lie-in

Yesterday morning I had an unexpectedly leisurely lie-in.  Our central heating is broken so I was in no hurry to get out of my cosy bed and have a bath so I just stayed put and found myself thinking about knitting, as you do!

I started off wondering whether I could make up some kits for my shop.  I need to have a pattern as well as provide the yarn and my pattern designing skills are not, as yet, up to the challenge of making jumpers and cardigans.  I suppose I could do scarves and hats but I haven't yet.  Anyway, I got to wondering about small projects and for some reason thought of knitted Christmas decorations.    Yes, yes I know it is only February but one must plan ahead!!  So, after a quick trip into town for some squared paper and then to the wool shop for some yarn, I came up with this -

I am quite proud of myself.  It may only be one little tree but it is the first thing that isn't a scarf that I have 'designed'.  I have never knitted with sequins but that will be what I have a go at next. After all, if it is to be a Christmas decoration, I will need to decorate my knitted tree.  Alternatively I could sew on some beads I suppose but knitting with beads or sequins is probably easier.

I then got to wondering about decorating it with flowers since Christmas is so far off but I don't think it is a flowering tree shape so I shall leave it bear for the time being. If I did do that, I think I would use felted flowers.  I don't think you could crochet or knit flowers small enough as the finishe size is only about 13 or 14cms.

What I did do was add some stuffing and I ended up with something that looked like a pin cushion so it is at least useful!

 The yarn is lovely and I used Artesano Superwash Merino which I have used before for some fingerless gloves. It knits up really well.  I particularly liked the brown although that might be because it looks like chocolate!!

Whilst at the wool shop I  got some other colours as my lie- thoughts also pondered the possibility of doing some fair isle.  I thought I would have a go at trying to design  my own fair isle pattern too, since I appear to be on a roll.  (Clearly the creative juices require lie-ins to flow properly).  As yet I haven't done anything with them, but this is what I bought.

Not my usual choice of colours but as I say, I love the chocolate brown and the other three go with it well I think.

Watch this space to see what I come up with!

 

Interesting Days.

I went to a business expo yesterday to help out on my husband's stand as he has his own business.  As I haven't been in a business environment for a considerable length of time (ahem....10 years or so) it was a big deal.  And, since I don't have office smart clothes at the moment I had to 'invest' in some smart new shoes which are lovely.  Nice red ones but not too red.  I wore a smart red jumper and black skirt.  I thought I looked sufficiently business like not to show up Mr P anyway.  However, having seen what all the other women were wearing I seem to be very out of touch with office clothing.  Since when did office clothes have to be so dull and boring?!  Is it the done thing to wear a grey or black suit and a white shirt?  I remember now why I am trying to do something else rather than go back to working in an office.  Obviously I am not so shallow as to be entirely put off by the clothing, there is more to it than that, lots more which I will tell you about one day, but it doesn't help!  The irony of it is that the men where more colourfully dressed than the women.  They didn't seem scared a splash of colour and an interesting shirt!

Anyway, whilst I was there I took the opportunity to go to a search engine optimisation talk which is relevant to me and my little website.  It was very interesting despite being a bit geeky.  I now get why my advertising in magazines was such a costly waste of time.  People just don't use them as a means of sourcing their needlecraft materials.  I can't say I am surprised really - I don't much either.  Google is the on-line shopper's friend along with blogs, Facebook and all the other social media. I have much to learn about that's for sure.

What with the talk and a visit from the DMC rep today, I am enthused once more about my little business and how to make it bigger and better.  The DMC rep was very interesting and showed me all the new kits that were coming out in the next few months.  I shall be selling most of them in my shop.  I love new kits - it keeps things fresh, doesn't it?  You have to admire the work that goes into some of the designs too.  To think somebody has to first draw these pictures and then turn them in to thousands of little crosses - what a job!  I wish I had more aptitude for such things - I definitely wouldn't contemplate working in an office again if I could do that!

He also told me about their new, updated website (http://www.dmccreative.co.uk/) and the DMC Club.  If anybody is interested in cross stitch you can join the DMC Club for access to some free charts which can't be bad.  Apparently meerkats are the subject of choice at the moment.  I think that might have something to do with a certain insurance company, their adverts and the Russian branch of the meerkat family!!  I have to admit they are a favourite in this house too - the real ones at the zoo and their showbiz relatives.

And on top of all that excitement I had my haircut today by a new hairdresser.  I got a bit fed up with the old one and so decided to try somebody else.  Not only has she made a good job of it but she said very nice things about what a lovely colour it is and how soft it is.  Since most hairdressers are forever trying to get me to change the colour of my hair it was a refreshing change.  Others also seem to need to tell me that my hair is flat and lifeless, that my hairline is dodgy and the back of my head is flat.  Charming!!  Not the kind of remarks I go to the hairdressers for I have to say.  I thought it was supposed to be a confidence boost.  Actually, my favourite comment was from the one who said I had the straightest hair she had ever seen.  Quite an accomplishment if it were true but is  so not true that I did wonder if she was even talking to me. Admittedly I don't have a head of curls like I used to in my teens (where did they go?) but it certainly isn't that straight!!  She should see if first thing in the morning sticking out in all directions - I wish it were straight then I can tell you!

Thanks for reading. :-)

How did it get to February already!?

Well I said that I would finished my elder son's jumper by the end of January and unfortunately haven't touched it.  What I have been doing is perusing my yarn collection and books trying to decide what to make next.  I really need to start reducing that stash and I admit it is a very enjoyable pastime but not very productive in terms of progress and pictures.  The only really crafty thing I have done is a few rows of my granny stripes blanket which is coming along nicely but is going to take a lot more work until it is finished and not yet worthy of updated photos.

Anyway, with thoughts of  stash reductions in mind, I went to Hobbycraft yesterday and managed not to buy any yarn at all!  Whoo hoo!  I must admit it is partly because Hobbycraft don't have reductions on their wool and our LYS (Local Yarn Store) usually sell theirs for less than the RRP plus their choice is better.  Had I walked through their door instead of Hobbycraft I doubt my willpower would have been strong enough.  Thankfully, the LYS doesn't sell craft paper for children and that is what I needed so it was a blessing to be relieved of the burden of going there! 

I didn't get away with spending no money at all unfortunately.  I succumbed to the lure of this pattern book from Rowan for their 100% wool.

It is full of lots of simple patterns for all of the family including a couple of illusive patterns for boys!  Yay!!  They are not well represented in the knitting pattern world. Girls patterns are two a penny but not boys. I find it really hard to find nice ones  although thankfully my older son is just beginning to creep into the XS adult size these days now he is nearly 11. It won't be a problem I have to deal with for much longer!

I suppose the only question now is where to start with the Rowan?!  Shall I be kind and make something for my younger son or Mr P? Or maybe I should just get on with my boy's jumper and behave and put the Rowan book away for another day!  I am sure I will let you know what I decided in the end!

Still messing about...

Yesterday I ended up changing the name of this blog.  Today I have been messing around with the header photo.  The new photos have come out much better than I thought and I might even do a post about my stash in a few days time.  I have some lovely yarn photos now!

Anyway, I am finally getting there.  I changed the name of the blog because the old one just didn't sound right to me.  I wish I was clever enough to think of some play on words but I'm not.  I like Passing the Time because it sounds sort of laid back and relaxed, a bit like how crafting is really - so long as there isn't a deadline to meet of course!  I am trying not to overthink it though and make spurious connections between the blog title and the real world.  I just kinda like it.

Of course I should be doing my tax return.  It is a definite downside of running my little shop that I have to do a return again after a few years break.  I wouldn't mind but I don't even owe any money, I am still working on building up the business.  Actually that is the other thing that is keeping me busy this week - I have lots of new Anchor kits in and some lovely Patons Dreamtime 4 ply yarn that I have not had before.  I have had the DK and the colours and the feel of the yarn are lovely.  It is 100% wool and very soft.  It isn't in the slightest bit scratchy as you would expect for a baby yarn.   Anyway, it is always exciting getting different things in and loading them up to see if there is any interest.  I am still hoping to expand the yarn part of my shop further to incorporate some Rowan as well.  I am looking forward offering more choice and having more lovely yarn to squidge.  I'm not entirely sure where I am going to keep it all at this rate but we will cross that bridge when we come to it.

Thanks for dropping by.  Dx

Already falling behind

I have been meaning to do this post for over a week.  Oh the shame.  Only just started and already I am not keeping up. I have it on my To Do list for this week to do two posts at least so that is what I am aiming for.

Anyway, to get down to the point of this post, last weekend I went to the annual quilt show at the Farnham Maltings, run by the Farnham Quilters.  They show off their lovely quilts and also provide some opportunity for  a bit of stash building and retail therapy.  I took my mother as she is a bigger quilter than me these days. I do take full credit for introducing her to the craft as I used to take her to craft shows and shops after doing my first patchwork and quilting course almost 15 years ago but she has thrown herself into making gorgeous things since she retired and now belongs to the North Hampshire Quilters.  I find patchwork and quilting quite time consuming and difficult to do for short periods of time, unlike knitting and crochet so I haven't done much myself recently.  However, I have become inspired by the show to think again and maybe, now I am free of studying, get on with making something myself.  Well you never know - it is on the list of Things I Want to Do this year. 

I took a few photos to give a feel.  It is worth a visit if you are close enough but you'll have to wait until next year as it is just one day in January.  Shame. Anyway, I was much impressed by this piano cover that the ladies of the group made for the venue.  Such gorgeous colours!  And I have to say that I was quite impressed with the shape too.

These miniture quilts, below, were lovely.  Just my sort of size - I could manage a project like that!  I went so far as to try and buy a pattern but they had run out.  Shame.  I do have the lady's card though and if I ever get round to it she said I could email and arrange one mail order.  It would be a great project to take on holidy I think.  Very compact.  I like the seaside scenes but the Christmas ones make good decorations although, it being January, I am not really thinking that far ahead at the moment!!

There is a technical name for a quilt such as the amazing one below but it escapes me a the moment.  Anyway, you have to appreciate the work that goes into something like that.  I am not sure that I will ever manage it.

And this stand below, was also a little inspirational. It was set up to promote the City and Guilds level 2 and 3 Patchwork and Quilting courses which are being run locally next September.  It runs during the day which would be ideal for me as I don't have to disrupt anybody in the family to do it.  Plus, I have done evening classes but would much prefer not to have to go out on dark winter's evenings, if I can help it!  Wouldn't it be great if this time next year, I could be making quilts like this one? 

I loved the graduation of colour on the next quilt. It was a large quilt and it is quite something to keep in mind what you are trying to achieve when you are working on the little components.  I also like the simplicity.  The red/pink on a plain white background.  Sometimes less is more!

On the other hand, where would we be without a splash of colour to brighten our days?  I do have some lovely colourful batiqs just ripe for turning into a quilt such as these.  Not to everybody's taste I know but I love em.

Anyway, my mother and I had a great morning.  What is even greater is that I didn't spend any money.  The fabric sales were good but it was so busy I ended up getting fed up of being jostled by everybody.  Besides, there was a bit of a January sale vibe about the place where everything was cut price and meant to be a bargain but there wasn't anything that really grabbed me.  I came home empty handed much to Mr P's relief.

Coming home without purchases is unlikely to be the case for my next proposed visit to Farnham Maltings, the last weekend in February.  They are staging Unravelled which is a knitting show.  Lots of knitting and crochet loveliness plus lots of the smaller yarn producers and shops selling beautiful unusual (and expensive!) yarns that you just want to spend all day squishing and stroking. Sigh.  I am saving my pennies for that one.



Breaking more new ground

Well, I have worked out how to set this blog up, I have tinkered with it and tried to make it look pretty but now I think it is time for some photos.  Lets see how they work.

This blog is meant to be about my favourite crafts.  At the moment that is anything woolly - knitting or crochet.  Last Friday I finished a short sleeved cardie and was very proud of myself as it only took a week and wasn't half bad even if I do say so myself.

(Yay I uploaded a photo!)  This was made from Sirdar Squiggle which is knitted on a 10mm needle - hence the speed of creation!  It is part wool, part acrylic but lovely and thick, and I hope, warm.  The picture doesn't really show it but there is just the one button at the top.  I am pretty pleased with it although have yet to wear it on account of short sleeves.  It has been too cold for that.  However, the milder spell we are having might be the cue to wear it.  It is made up of lots of my favourite colours - red, purple, green and pink with a smattering of brown and cream too. A melange of colours!!

My next project is to finish a jumper for my elder son, the lovely C.  I am going to push the boundaries of technology and put in another photo of a UFO (unfinished object - not the spaceship kind - that really would be pushing the boundaries).

Quite a plain pattern apart from the ribbing in Sirdar Denim Chunky which is lovely and soft but inclined to split a bit.  I am using my 6mm rosewood needles which are really nice.  I have recently got into wooden needles and who would have thought that they made knitting that bit more enjoyable!?  I used to think needles were needles.  I don't know why they make a difference but they do!


I have done the back and have started doing the 2 sleeves at the same time.  It is knitting up quite quickly but I did start this in December 2009 with a view to having it done for a residential trip for C which started on 4th January 2010.  I didn't make it obviously, not by a long way, so I just put the whole thing aside and forgot about it for a bit.  I am trying to clear some UFOs before I go on another yarn buying spree otherwise the whole house may well disappear under a pile of yarn so I thought I would get on with this one before he grows out of it without ever having worn it!  Thankfully at 10 years old, the lovely C doesn't grown quite as quickly as he used to (although far to quickly for my liking - it was only yesterday he was a baby surely) and I was making it big so he might get a bit of wear out of it before having to pass it on to the gorgeous J who is 7 and catching up fast.


One more picture of the UFO, just because I can!!

And finally just for completeness sake, this is what I was working on last night.

This is my granny stripes blanket which I have been crocheting for a few months.  This photo is quite old now - I am just starting the 5th repeat and this photo was taken as I just started the 2nd.  I intend it to be at least twice as big as it is now.  It is a lovely project to pick up and put down.  Like so many people I got my inspiration from the Attic 24 blog -  a link here http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/granny-stripe.html


I hope this is alright.  I am not entirely sure of the etiquette of linking and tagging and loads of other bloggy stuff but if somebody wants to tell me off and show me the way, feel free but be gentle with me.


Thats it for today.  New skills learnt and woolly news shared.  Have a nice day!

What is in a name?

I'm still struggling with what to call this blog.  I have already changed the name several times only to find either I didn't like it when I saw it on the screen or somebody else had something similar.


I have been thinking about why I like the things I like, be it needlecrafts or gardening or cook books or whatever and it boils down to the fact that I love colour!  I would be miserable if I was forced to wear black and white all day.  I have to wear something with  bit of colour in it or I look ill.  Our house is full of colour although we try to keep the walls toned down to avoid clashing too much but I could never live in a minimalist house - far to bleak for me.


So I have been trying to incorporate the idea of colour into the title of this blog and not doing particularly well!  In the end I have settled for 'It's All About Colour' because that is it in a nutshell.  Not only does it fit my interests but it works as a metaphor for life really - not leading a dull existence and trying to find something enjoyable in your day, no matter how small.  I will leave the title as it is for now and ponder it some more.  Can't promise it won't change just yet but for the time being I am quite happy.


Hope you are having a good Tuesday.
P.S.  In case any body is interested I have put a link up to my online store over on the right hand side.  Feel free to have a look if you have a moment.

I hope this works!!!

Hello, I am new to all this and just trying to find my way so bear with me, won't you? 

I have been thinking about doing a blog for a while now so, new year, new start and here we go!

I am still working on how it would look so if you happen to stumble upon this blog in the early stages of development, don't be surprised if nothing works and it looks completely different if you can bear to come back to it another day.  I will probably even change the name as I did have an idea and now whatever it was has completely deserted me.  Not to worry, I'll get it right in the end.... hopefully.

The reason I am writing a blog is so that I can share all my craft making thoughts and creations and probably a bit about day to day life as well.  Another thing I am not sure about - where to make the balance.  I suppose it depends on how much crafty stuff I actually make - I have just finished knitting a cardie which took me a week and I am still reeling from the shock since the cardie before that took 5 yrs!!  So you see it is all a bit erratic to say the least! 

I also have a little Internet shop which sells needlework materials so I that is an important part of my day and something I am sure to mention in passing if only to say that I have seen some lovely yarn or fabric to lust over and want to sell it in my shop!

The final reason for writing a blog is because they do say that everybody has a book in them, don't they?  Not that real writers would necessarily agree with that of course - it sort of makes their craft sound a lot easier than it is!  Truth to tell I don't actually think I have got a whole book in me - no imagination for plot and frankly, writing about what I know for 300+ pages might be a bit dull.  However, I quite like writing so this can be my outlet since it is one ambition I am sure I will never get to pursue any other  way!

But that is enough for now!  You will probably realise very soon that I could witter on for ages so I will draw this first post to a close and get back to fiddling with my settings.  Hope to see you again soon. x