Wednesday WIP

Wednesday WIP (work in progress), a title borrowed from Kirst over at The Leopard Anchor because it fits the bill perfectly for this post.  I’ve been very infrequent with my blogging over the past month or so because I’ve been kept too busy!  What with gardening work, various craft projects, a last minute spot at Kensal Flea, and being told there’s a void under my lawn (don’t ask) I’ve not had much in the way of spare time.

So, what projects have I been working on?  Well the one with highest priority is a shawl I’ve been making for one of my aunts.  My mum’s going to visit her family again in Indonesia and she flies out in mid-October… so of course I have a deadline for this!  The good news is that I’m nearly finished (in fact I’m hoping to finish it by Friday), and as soon as it is finished I’ll blog about it properly.  In the meantime here’s a work in progress shot from last month .

Next on the list of ongoing projects are hats for The Big Knit.  I had hoped to make more but didn’t realise the deadline was 1st October, so I went and dropped off at Innocent HQ in Ladbroke Grove this morning as I’m going to be busy for the rest of the week.  My grand total?  60 hats!  I’m really pleased with that, and also chuffed that making them helped use up most of the scraps of yarn I had stashed away.  Stashbusting and something for charity, I wish all projects could be this rewarding   All the hats I managed to make are shown below.

Oh, and here’s a bonus photo of the inside of Fruit Towers – I was given a tour when I dropped the hats off (and a bag full of smoothies too!).

Hexipuffs… still a work in progress but I haven’t made any since I started the Innocent hats.  Looking forward to picking these up again next week.

Spinning… well, this has gone well and I actually finished spinning this roving into yarn a few weeks ago, but then it took me a couple of weeks to get round to soaking it to set the twist, and then it was another week before I got round to winding it into a ball.  Lazy, aren’t I?  Still, this is the finished product and I’ll have to try making a hexipuff with it soon!

I think the last project I have on the go is some Christmas cross stitch.  I think I’m going to make some baubles with these snowflakes, but we shall see.

More on those very soon I hope!

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Cross stitch corner #2

A couple of weeks ago I posted about my new love of cross stitch, and now I’ve finished my first proper cross stitch project here are the results…

Not bad eh?  Here they are one by one

I have to admit that I lost my way a bit with the carrot foliage and ended up making it up a bit as I went along, but it seems to have turned out ok!

Verdict: I’m still enjoying it…but it really does play havoc with my eyes, especially as most of the time I have to do cross stitch is in the evenings when the light isn’t so good.  I’m going to attempt the Witchy Washy pattern next, but not for a little while as I have a few other things on the go at the moment.

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Crafty Photo Scavenger Hunt: March

If you’re new to the Scavenger Hunt then please visit Kirst’s blog to see how this all began.  I’m acting as guest host again this month, and I hope you find everything to your liking!

I’ll start off with a list of those people who are taking part – please do visit their blogs and have a look at their entries for this month.  If they haven’t posted their photographs yet then please be patient and check again on the 31st!

• Rachel at The Awesome Lady
• Jeneveve at Timballoo
• Ruth at The Goldhawk Project
• Margot at Tulsi Crafts

Inspiration

I’ve been poring over magazines again this month, as well as books, and especially CrossStitcher which is my new favourite thing…

Something I Made

I’m ridiculously proud of this piece of cross stitch

Motifs: Retro

Perhaps more vintage than retro, but it’s the thought that counts, yes?

Sunlight

Sunlight on a wooden floor which really caught my eye.

Books

You’d think I’d be spoiled for choice for this category, but I actually really struggled!  In the end I took a slightly different view of things…

 

Clearly I had a bit of a yen for the sepia filter this month…

In a few days, once I’ve had a chance to view all the entries for this month, I’ll put up my favourites – please do pop back to have a look!  In the meantime Jeneveve over at Timballoo will be guest-hosting for April (it’s my birthday next month so I figured I’d have a break!), so please pop along to her blog on Monday 2nd April to see what topics she’s chosen

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Project 365 – Day 86

A beautifully sunny day, perfect for sitting out in the garden and working on a little project.

26th March 2012 – “Sunshine and stitching”

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Cross stitch corner #1

It was inevitable really because I do seem to have an insatiable need to learn new crafts, but I have picked up a new hobby: cross stitch.  My interest was piqued last year when a friend sent me a minature cross stitch kit, I enjoyed it a lot but didn’t have the time to look into it further when I’d completed the kit.

A year on and I’ve definitely caught the bug.  When I visited Stitch & Craft a couple of weeks ago I was fascinated by the variety of cross stitch patterns that were available, and did buy a pattern which I’ll be attempting soon.  I also ended up getting a subscription to CrossStitcher magazine, and on my way home picked up a copy of the March issue too.

The March issue of CrossStitcher has got loads of vintage style patterns in it and I was particularly taken with these vegetable ones.  I thought that, as they’re small, they’d make a good starter project for me before I attempt the larger pattern I bought at the show.

I started off quite well really although I didn’t have all the right colours.  I had to make do with the selection of threads I had in the house so there were a lot of substitutions and trying to match colours as closely as possible by eye.  I finished the first one this afternoon and I’m really proud of it.  It’s not perfect but it’s pretty good!

I think I’ll tackle the tomato one next, and as an added bonus these little cross stitch patterns have given me another idea…

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Project 365 – Day 82

Turns out that cross-stitch is a good way to go cross-eyed.

22nd March 2012 – “Cross-stitch?  Cross-eyed…”

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Stitch & Craft 2012

Today I had a rare day out, let’s call it a work outing: I went to the Stitch & Craft show at Kensington Olympia.  I’ve never been before but it sounded good ( (three floors of stitching, knitting and papercrafting goodness? No brainer really!) so I bought a ticket.

I didn’t take as many photographs as I had originally planned because the place was absolutely heaving by 11am and there was barely room to move, much less get many decent shots.  I did take a few though, of the bits and pieces that really caught my eye.

I completely fell in love with the beautiful skeins of yarn by Artisan Yarns.  Utterly gorgeous, but sadly a bit out of my price range at the moment.  I’ve promised myself that I’ll get a skein when my knitting (yes, I’m going to try and improve my knitting!) is of a better standard.

I also liked this Louisa Harding hand beaded yarn at the Addicted 2 Knit stall, and really regret not buying some.  Hmmm, looks like I shall have to visit their website soon…

Something really different which caught my eye was Ingrid Wagner‘s stand.  Enormous knitting needles, and the most incredible yarn.

Yup, she is a normal sized woman, not a pixie – the yarn and needles are huge!  I had a go at knitting a row on the big needles and I have to say it was pretty easy, but I can imagine you’d have arms like a stevedore after finishing a project.  It’s not just your wrists that move, it’s a whole arm workout!

There were hundreds of quilts on display on the top floor, and it was somewhat overwhelming really.  By the time I’d wandered down a few rows I’d forgotten what I’d seen in the first one.  Still, a few caught my eye including this one entitled Spot the Red.

I was hugely attracted by the cross stitch stalls, which was surprising as cross stitch isn’t a craft I’ve really done much of (one small piece last year and that’s it!).  These Transformers by Mr X Stitch were amazing.  Stitched on plastic canvas rather than fabric, these Transformers do actually transform.  I might be tempted to buy one of the patterns…

Dotted around the show were various areas, sponsored by magazines and wotnot, where you could seen various skills being demonstrated.  I stopped by at the CrossStitcher magazine stand and had a quick lesson in cross stitch, given by the very helpful Sam (the young lady in the purple apron):

So, what did I buy?  Oh my the temptation to buy EVERYTHING was so strong.  I think I was fairly restrained though…

I’m determined to learn to knit in the round, so I thought I’d better get myself a circular needle in case I didn’t get on with DPNs.

Despite having just bought a load of merino wool (I’ll tell you more about that next week) I couldn’t resist and had to have some Noro and some Willow Tweed.  They’re gorgeous and I think they’ll work well with the knitted project I mean to attempt.

I was a bit disappointed that there wasn’t a bigger range of papercrafting supplies available, the show is definitely more knit & stitch oriented.  Still, I did manage to find a few bits and pieces to buy!

I was really taken with the beautiful cross stitch items on Sue Hawkins’ stand.  I bought this cute little kit for Matt’s mum (and it’ll be winging its way in the post to her in time for Mothering Sunday).

As mentioned above I’m very new to the world of cross stitch, but I just couldn’t resist this pattern called Witchy Washy.  I treated myself to it, together with some aida, and will be making an attempt at it just as soon as I’ve found the embroidery hoop I’m sure I’ve got stashed somewhere.

The last of my purchases were two subscriptions, to PaperCraft and CrossStitcher magazines.  Bit of a bargain, each subscription was three issues for £3, and you got to take an older issue and a wee craft bag home as a freebie.  I must remember to cancel the Direct Debits before the three months is up though!

These back issues of Creativity magazine were freebies, and I couldn’t resist (who can resist a free magazine?) picking up one of each available copy.  They’ll keep me entertained on rainy days at least!

So overall the show was very enjoyable (if a bit heavy on the spending…).  I do think it’s more of a show for knitters and stitchers as the papercraft stalls were quite few in number compared to the other crafts, and there wasn’t a huge amount of variety.  Tickets are very reasonably priced (about £10 I think, possibly £12 on the door) with concessions available.  The show runs until Sunday 18th March so do pop along if you’re in town.

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Spring is blossoming…

… and so is the creative urge.  It’s been a little while since my last post, but I have been kept busy with work.  On the bright side that does mean I’ve been enjoying the fine weather and revelling in the blossoms and buds that herald springtime.

The last few days have been particularly glorious, with the weather exceptionally warm and sunny.

Bit of a plant overload there, but I couldn’t resist!

Anyway, I’ve been at home for the past day and a half which has been bliss as I’ve spent the time in my own garden.  I’ve taken the opportunity to catch up on my correspondance (I illustrate all my letters to this friend)…

… learn how to cross stitch (I’m taking part in a Secret Friend swap, and my Secret Friend sent me a lovely little cross stitch kit)…

… and start a series of illustrations which are a little different to my usual style…

More about those tomorrow if all goes to plan!

 

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