My Weblog

Elephant purse

Here's Michael,

with his little friend Matilda.

If people don't believe me when I say I do things like this instead of the housework, I'm going to take a photo of my ironing pile to prove it. It's scary, I think I saw it move yesterday.

Molly asked me this morning, how to spell the noise an elephant makes.

Is it Bbbmmmwwwer ? or Mmmmbwer ? or what ?. What does it even start with ???

We're all stumped, she wouldn't accept

'T-R-U-M-P-E-T-Y T-R-U-M-P'

She wants to spell the sound, so whoever comes up with the best suggestion in the comments box, I'll make them a little animal purse of their choice.

Good Luck, I've been walking around all day , just trying to make the sound. God knows what my neighbours must think.

Have a great weekend, Byeee !!

If you don't use it...

Somebody stole my sock-monkey socks.

It was either my husband or son, but nobody's owning up.  Now I can't get into town until Saturday, which will be definitely leaving it until the last minute.

Instead, I've been working on a little elephant purse which I'll post tomorrow, and while I think of it, the arm/ snap closure idea isn't my original idea, it was stolen directly from Kkomeggi.

I am that irritating woman who stares intently at your work in craft shows, and then rushes home to make my own version. That's why none of us sell us much as we'd like to at craft fairs,  they just attract other able crafters. Maybe we should set up a stall, outside of a Doctor's, or plumber's or scientist's convention.

Anyway, I digress, I know what you're waiting for !

Are you ready ????

O.k.......

Drum roll please .........

DAH -DAH !!!!!

Isn't she fantastic, and only 2" tall !, I did a little chicken swap with the very talented and fun, fun, fun, Regina at monster crochet. You should see the tiny little stitches and the detail on the fried egg bra,amazing.

Be sure to take a look at her other unique creations, she is completely bonkers (and I mean that as the highest compliment ).

Kitty Purse

Well, I managed to get one purse done,

Her tail is looped at the back, to hold your keys,

or a teeny tiny friend.

Her arm has a little snap fastening, she has polka dot lining, and she's about the right size to hold those oh-so important credit cards.

She's a bit wonky (aren't we all ), and although fun to make, was very time consuming, so I might turn some of the drawings into softies instead.

Tomorrow is for starting my MOS sock monkey, I don't know if anyone else is the same, but I always seem to leave things til the last possible moment, and then I'm rushing around like a headless chicken.

Speaking of headless chickens, I got a fantastic one in the post this week.

Confused ?, Puzzled ?, Worried ?.

I'll show you tomorrow.

kkomegii

No time to craft again today, computer problems - hence poor quality photo (grrrrrrr), but just had time to do some quick sketches of what I hope to get started on tomorrow. Children permitting.

Little animal purses very much inspired by this site.

Thankyou everyone for all your lovely comments over this past month, you are all so lovely and friendly and encouraging. :)

Madeleine

Just time for a quick post today, I've been doing a google search on Madeleine, but unfortunately her site is down at the moment and I can only find this link. ( Sorry link won't work properly,click on crafts directory, then textiles then scroll thru' the pages) The quality of the photographs really doesn't show the beauty and detail in Madeleine's work,  her tiny perfect stitches have to be seen to be believed .

She is also great fun and I am going to try and nag her to start a blog next time I see her.

The technique is very easy, just find some wool blankets from the back of the cupboard or jumble sale or charity/thrift shop. Tear or cut  them into smaller pieces ( mine are usually about 20 x 40" ), and then dye them with an appropriate dye. I use Dylon multi purpose dye.

If you dye one piece at a time using the same pot of dye, each piece will be a lighter version of the last . Just top your pot up with boiling water when necessary. I normally get 3-4 pieces from the same pot.

For the bird picture , you start off with your main piece of blanket and build up your design in layers using any stitch that takes your fancy. In other words you make it up as you go along.

The birdy piece was embellished with sequins and beads, but this one I left as it was ( for a change ! ).

I plan on doing something like this with the children next week, it's a perfect project for them as the blanket doesn't fray and they can use big darning needles and inexpensive wool to sew with.

That's it , as you have probably noticed, I'm pretty crappy at explaining things,so if none of this makes any sense, let me know.

Have a great weekend, I'm going to paint my toenails and put my lippy on, before heading off to a party at the pub tonight.

YIPPEE !

Yuk and yikes

This week I have mostly been re-decorating our sitting room - yuk !

This is something that I have managed to put off doing since we first moved in 6 years ago.  Now the children are at school full time , I have run out of excuses and it has to be done .

I did suggest paying someone to do it,  but my husband fainted,  so I took that as a no.

Everything has needed intensive stripping  (boring),  sanding down  (even more boring), and loads of preparation before the paint can go on -MEGA MEGA BORING.

The children start their six week summer break on Friday (yikes), but, happily, this means I have my excuses back . Thank God for kids.

No time for crafting, but here is something I did on a  'Recycled Blankets'  workshop a little while ago.

It was run by a wonderful local textile artist called Madeleine Millington ( what a great name ).

I'll write more on her and the how-to's tomorrow, in the meantime, I have to go wash out the paintbrushes (borrrrrrrrring ).

mini bag

Well, I had a go at making the mini bag and I tried to make it simple and unfussy. Honest, I did.

But, Juju sent me a lovely goodies package a little while ago and I just had to use the pretty fabric and then I had to use some braid that matched perfectly and then the ' flower ' thing happened again.

Seems like I don't do simple and unfussy.

I made this version very mini  -  just big enough to hold my Sobranie cocktail cigarettes and silk headscarf.

(In my fantasy life )

Twist and shake

It's been another gloriously hot day down here in Devon. Far too hot in fact, to do the ironing, vacuuming, cleaning or any other type of housework.  My house looks like a pigsty, but it's a very sunny pigsty -so who cares ?

It's not too hot though, to lie in the garden looking through Japanese craft books,

and it's not too hot to make a summery scarf.

In fact, it's perfect weather for it.

Just fold a pretty piece of fabric in half length-ways and with right sides together, stitch all the way round leaving a small gap to turn the right way and then slip-stitch gap. 

Wash or wet thoroughly and then holding both ends, twist and twist and twist until it sort of twists in on itself .  Tuck the ends in to stop it unravelling and put it in the sun until completely dry ( I left this one for a day).

Finish off with some beads and sequins and there you go - something to wear whilst you're making and shaking those cool,cool cocktails .

I'll post photos and ISBNs of some books tomorrow, but for now..

make mine a Mojhito.

Monkey business

Who's this trying to escape ?

It's Poorly Poppy !

She doesn't want to stay with us (can't say I blame her).

She wants to go and live with two very sweet little children called Brooke and Cameron and their Mummy and Daddy.

Even though she's only a few hours old,  Poppy has an opinion and that opinion is  -

To get her sweet little a*s outta  this place as fast as she can.

Good Afternoon Ladies

I'm Johnny, I am named after the elderly gentleman who lives nearby and who can be seen walking up to the village pub at 12 noon (precisely) for his daily pint.

Even on baking-hot days, Johnny is always immaculately dressed in his suit, scarf and hat and greets me with a hearty

" Good afternoon young Lady, what a beautiful day ! ".

It's the " young " lady bit that makes me Love him.