Handmade Monday #120

What a beautiful week weather wise, okay was a bit nippy at times but when the sun came out quite hot. Spent most of the week helping DH in the garden, still a work in progress but certainly a lot tidier than it was. I hate it when a garden has been put to bed for the winter and always looks so sorry for itself coming into Spring.

Still a lot of work to do, need to find some small trees for the new grey pots down the side of the path. some spring and summer colour and the front needs some attending to. Will get there eventually then sit back in the summer with a glass of Pims and enjoy time in the garden.

Shiloh wanted to help with the weeding! sadly he cannot differentiate between a weed and a prized plant, so has to be kept behind bars until we can watch everything he is up to. He will be 8 in June not sure where these years have gone but he is still as mad as a box of frogs. Our vet reckons he may calm down by the time he is 10! Our last one was still bonkers at 15.5.

On the creating front, shut my website early as has not been showing all week due to an unsecure server. All loading onto Folksy gradually and had an Etsy sale the dragon reading pillow.

Have been knitting and sewing a pair of baby trousers made from a vintage hand embroidered table cloth. The leftovers made into lavender hearts.

Stitched up the colour panel cardigan.

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Have a wonderful week

Handmade Monday #119

Well the last week has zipped passed as usual, spent a boring 2 hours at the garage whilst the car had it's MOT, passed, yippee!

Not made as much this week been pattern drafting the results of which should appear within a couple of weeks. Plus gardening, jet hosing the patio and paths etc. DH has a long list of things to do and always seems to involve my input, purely on a supervisory level of course.

Makes for this week another random knit waistcoat this time in strawberry

Using up the left over wool a pom pom hat

Finally had a go at embroidery onto cards, the writing did not work as pulled and split the card but the design worked well.

Daisy

Baby Girl

Baby Boy

After some major problems the past 2 years with website hosting have decided to close my website at the end of June. Will load all my stock onto my Folksy shop. I know a lot of advice is to have your own website but tbh do better at face to face events and on Facebook. Think I have also got to the age when I want to downsize a lot of what I have and do more of the things I want to do. Retirement is to be embraced and enjoyed. Will still do my sewing and card making but not to the volume I have in the past.

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See you all next week

Handmade Monday #118

What a week, wind rain and Storm Gareth hoping for some dry weather with sun even if colder. Much prefer the cold weather and dry to wet and mild.

Not sure where this week has gone but looking back have managed to make quite a bit. My stall in May is going to be full.

Ladies Shrug

Took a while to get into this pattern but after a few rows quite happy. The hardest bit was the filly edges as had to use a circular needle. Never got on with these before but quite happy and would use again. The yarn has a gold thread with mini sequins running through it.

A baby jumper with buttons on the shoulder and broderie anglais trim added.

A baby waistcoat with cap sleeves in lilac random yarn with pom pom's on the ties

Not one to waste wool managed to make a tiny hat with pom pom with the leftovers

Finally some slumber party bags, ideal for a girls' sleepover.

Think going for a rest now. Have to clean the inside of the car of dog hairs on Monday ready for the MOT later in the week. Fingers crossed it passes.

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V & A Papercraft Magazine Review

Saw this magazine advertised and as love V & A and the Arts and Crafts Movement had to treat myself. £12.99 but as included stamps, die and papers happy with the cost, at the point of ordering.

Arrived and got all excited, then disappointed as the magazine is very flimsy and feels cheap. Used to the Hunkydory magazine which is glossy with beautiful papers etc. The papers themselves are double sided A3 sheets folded in half, so with the crease 2 of each in A4 size. Again these are matt and have a rough texture not what I would have expected from the V & A. Not sure if the choice of paper weight is theirs or the publishers.

The stamp and die set are perfect though so not all lost.

A lot of project ideas included in the magazine if you need inspiration.

Would I buy again? not at the current quality. Would be happy to pay more for a more polished set though

Handmade Monday #117

Every year I make resolutions but find them a struggle to keep up with. This year have got craft boxes. You know those plastic boxes that hold A4 paper. Have found these perfect for sorting project supplies into. Can take the box round my supplies and add what I will need. checking at the end for anything needed to order. The boxes are then stacked on a spare shelf, confident that I can pluck a box and start to create. If waiting for a delivery these are put in a different shelf and ignored.

What tips do you have for organising projects?

This week have kept myself busy again, and even took some knitting to the hospital whilst waiting for DH.

Beanie Style Flower Hats

These are hand knitted in a moss stitch pattern with the rib alternate stitched knitted in the back of the stitch. gives a twisted look. The flowers are stitched by my embroidery machine onto organza, hand cut and each flower stitched to the hat by hand. Chose the colours from my new palette of muted pastels. fit age 9-12 approx.

Booked a stall in May at the local market in Liphook. Selected a small table this time for £6 must watch the pennies. It is a 4ft round table which I think will be perfect and for £6 reasonable form of advertising. As I love round tables think will help the display. The hats will be hung from string across the 2 highest display props, being a coat stand and tall shelving unit. Using pretty rose pegs with the prices clearly on the peg. As with all new tables will have a go at home to test first.

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Handmade Monday #116

Welcome to another week in my life. Spending my day's creating what could be more perfect?

This week has been a bit quieter after DH's cataract surgery on the 14th. The hospital appointments start again on  March 5th, 21st and then the MOT on the 25th. Think may get a break until he has his next eye done in about May.

Have still found time to craft in fact it keeps me sane!

This week another Ladies Shirt Top with a dragonfly and sage with pink rose print cotton.

Love these colours and the panel makes the design pop and different.

Using the same printed fabric as the top plus some sage green and white polka dot cotton and pretty sage green lace in tiers. A skirt for a 3/4 year old.

White baby hat and bootee set

White baby beanie hat

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See you next week......