My Weblog

Challenges

My task for this months Mos challenge, was learning how to crochet. All I can say is, it's a lot easier to read a Japanese crochet pattern, than it is an English one, and it wasn't half as much of a challenge as getting my kids fed, watered and dressed for school in the mornings.

This little chap was remarkably easy and quick to do.

He's about 3" high and the pattern came from here.

ISBN 4 277 490395

This is a small book with only 12 patterns in it, but the instructions are very clear with lots of photographs, and it's cheap. A good introduction to the wonderful world of amigurumi.

We are off to Cornwall for the weekend, staying in a caravan. Heavy rain is predicted.

Wish me luck.

Scrapwork

I thought it was about time, that I started using some of the trillions of bits and pieces I have left over from other projects. This is going to be made into a wallet,

it's mostly hand-sewn, so it's something relaxing to do whilst watching Coronation Street.

It'll be made in the same way as the others, but a bit bigger.

If you're want lots of great inspiration for using up scraps, look no further than here.

On a different note this made me laugh today, poor Eda and poor Harvey.

Being Frank

Introducing Frank

made from nice, soft, snuggly towelling, ( which I never knew, was such a bugger to work with ).

Knitting

Well, the nights are drawing in and I'm thinking of picking up this again,

one day, it's going to be a jumper for Molly. I started it about a year ago,and anticipating my on/off relationship with knitting, I chose the bigger size, luckily.

For those of you without any projects to finish off  (does such a person exist ?), I highly recommend this book.

ISBN 1 904485 30 8

There are lots of cute patterns to be found ( 23 to be precise ), for example,

flower posies,

 

dangerous dinosaur jumper,

butterfly bag,

pretty mice,

jumpers galore ( love the hedgehog, or hedgecodge, as Molly pronounces it ),

doggie hat and scarf,

 

happy kitties,

and birds ( who look like they've just deposited something on someone's head ). There are also more sweaters, hats, blankets, a jacket and stripy socks.

Amanda you HAVE to get it !

Busy

Oh, I have been a busy girl now that I'm feeling better.

This one is winging it's way across the waters,

this teeny, tiny one has reached a special friend in America,

I've nearly finished a pink baby sockmonkey for a very cute little baby girl and I'm working on some elephant and pig softies.

I've also discovered this very wonderful site.

Can't live without us

Here's a little snippet , from a review of a new book on Picasso's relationship with women. ( Picasso: Art can only be erotic By Diana Widmaier Picasso.)

"Pablo Picasso had, shall we say, a rather paradoxical attitude towards women. Pablo the man was often cruel to the women in his life and was dismissive of female artists. Morever , his remark about women being 'goddesses or doormats'  has not exactly endeared him to the feminists movement. Not, of course , that he would give a toss"

Now, I've been thinking about this all weekend and whilst not excusing Picasso's questionable behaviour, I sort of think he was right when he made that comment.

When it comes to our relationships, we're treated the way we allow ourselves to be treated - act like a doormat, get treated like a doormat ,etc. If I 'd been one of Picasso's women, I like to think I would have been wiping MY shoes on him, by giving him a swift kick in the 'man-area'.

Here's a little mirror I have firmly stuck onto my sewing machine, to remind myself daily, of what I am.

I suggest you do the same.

(Normal crafting service resumed shortly, just had to get that off my chest !)

Fuzzy

I can't think of anything to say today, I have a head cold and my brain's a bit fuzzy (not much difference there then). I have managed to get this one finished though,

and look what I found last night.  Click on the 'sold out' category on the left and then on teddy/ nuigurumi at the top, to view this ultimate cuteness , particularly the nuigurumi section, (click on the little buttons to the right ) . The dolls and Zakka are worth a look too.

I think I found this site here -click on 'artists' at the top, but due to fluffy-headness, I really can't remember.

Happy looking and have a great weekend,  I'm off to try and work out how to make a tiny felt pram.

xxx

Sweet and sparkly.

Billy and Molly woke up very grumpy this morning,  the novelty of going back to school and seeing their friends again, has well and truly worn off.  They were not  happy bunnies to say the least, until -  HOORAH ! the postman arrived with a surprise parcel from Bertha.

There was lovely hand dyed wool felt , vintage buttons, some pretty pink thread ( which appears to have disappeared), a lovely card designed by Bertha and a wonderful pouch she'd made from vintage children's fabric. You can understand my delight,  but why the children's ?

Here's why..

That lovely little purse was stuffed, and I mean STUFFED with sweeties,

and Yes, I did let them have some for breakfast ( the sugar rush kicked in just as we reached the play-ground).

Thank you Bertha, you made my life that bit easier this morning, although probably not their teacher's

Here's a little bag I made this morning taken from craft book 7

It should have been quick to do, but because it's for my niece's 18th bitrthday ,

it had to have lots of sparkly bits.

I find the older I get, the more I like sparkly, glittery ,girly, things. I used to dress like a boy and adore punk rock as a lass, but now I think I'll probably end my days looking like this.

Craft book

Book 8

Dog ? or Zoo ?.  ( ?- Great title , makes no sense, but it's catchy )

ISBN4 7678 0135 4.

No patterns to speak of in this one, but lots of great photos

Here's a cutie,

and another

and another

and then some more.

A cute little penguin,

and a very very cute Mama and baby.

Speaking of  cute babies, CONGRATULATIONS !!, to Amanda and Steve, and what a lucky little baby to have a Mama, who can write as beautifully as this.-( my all time favourite post).

Teddy wallet

This is all I've managed to do over the last couple of days, due to the fact that I've spent far too much time looking at squillions of lovely blogs and websites. I'm really going to have to be more disciplined and limit my perusing.

Here ,here ,here,hereand here are just a few of the gorgeous ones I've come across.