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Saturday 18 September 2010

"late friday night"

It always seems late when I decide to log on - its been a grotty week and I have had little time to be creative although am constantly thinking about new ideas.

Last week I talked about wanting to knit a cushion - well I have managed to finish my first cushion and I am quite pleased with the finished design, its 50cm by 50cm knitted in double knitting 100% wool in pale grey and pink.

I knitted a few small hearts in pink and stitched them on afterwards. I did think about swiss darning hearts onto the cushion but decided to knit them and applique them on instead.




I am going on holiday on Monday so need to organise myself and get packing this weekend. I have been trying to decide how much knitting I can take with me and avoid looking too weird.

How trendy has knitting become! -  maybe I can pretend to be Julia Roberts or Sarah Jessica Parker when I am annoying sun worshipers with the clacking of my knitting needles.


      
This could be me next week

 


 



I'm not sure I really believe that Russell Crowe has started knitting - but he makes knitting look cool!





Well on that note I had better say goodnight I will be back in a fortnight hopefully tanned, refreshed and with lots of knitting! Sue x

 


















Sunday 5 September 2010

it's early on sunday......

oh wow! that cuckoo clock is just amazing. I want one!

 I should really be asleep but my head is buzzing with ideas from the creative crafts exhibition (although, like Sue says, it does seem that the cardmakers are planning to take over the world!) I bought some wool and a few bits and pieces. I've been lying awake in bed for the last hour or so thinking about knitting, I've got some neckwarmers to finish, like this one modelled by the lovely Laura. Some are for presents and some to sell in our folksy shop www.folksy.com/shops/sweetpeafamily. and at our upcoming craft fairs
 So much to knit and so little time, I'm hoping for a lottery win so I can give up the day job.

 I  ordered some wooden christmas tree tags and hearts from http://www.craftshapes.co.uk/, they arrived yesterday and am thinking about how to decorate and use them.

back to bed now I think, and try and get some sleep.

Pam x

"Its late on Saturday"

I have had a busy day, it started with attending the Manchester Stitch and Creative Craft Show which was fun, although, I think the world has been taken over by scrap bookers and card makers. I have to admit I am getting a bit hooked as I am planning to make my daughters wedding invitations and felt myself drawn to Martha Stewart edge punches and shape punches - a whole new creative world was opening up for me!

After doing some essential chores, chatting with my daughters and rustling up something for dinner I have switched back to knitting and even though I am half way through a scarf  I have been thinking about knitting a cushion, not quite sure on the design yet but hopefully will have decided by the morning.

I am also inspired by a purchase my daughter has just made, which is a knitted cuckoo clock, that really works.






I think its  fantastic- completely out of my league but maybe something to aspire to in the future!














As its very late now I think I should switch my lap top off and go to bed as tomorrow is another busy day -
goodnight Sue

Thursday 2 September 2010

"What shall I make next?"

Its Thursday evening and like Pam I have been thinking about the Sunday Craft Markets we have planned to do and keep wondering what we can make that's interesting, will we have enough stuff, will we sell anything - the list goes on!

I have been experimenting with bunting and instead of using cotton fabric I have used vinyl coated fabric which has worked well and will be great for in the garden - I will include a photo next time.

Also been making yoyo's which are made from circles of fabric which are then gathered - log onto Heather Baileys blog for a great tutorial and lots of ideas.


Yoyo's




I think they look very cute and am quite addicted to making them, I have got to think what I am going to do with them all now!









So far I have experimented with some little brooches and added buttons and also made some little key rings - I am going to have a go at embellishing a plain cushion with them next.



Most of our creative work involves knitting, Pam and I love using simple patterns and lovely yarns (we have drawers full of it!) then making each item unique by adding extra detail - buttons, flowers, stripes, pompoms etc
Cutey hat and boots
We adapt patterns taking ideas from 2 or 3 designs and create our own new designs adding extra ribbing, a turn up etc - every piece is different.
Neck warmer
Stripey hat and boots
We have also started to knit novelties we started with the chickens and have gone onto little monsters, eggs, cubes, Christmas trees and my last creation was a leg warmer for a lamp which my daughter commissioned !!!

cheeky chicken
cubes and monster

Lamp warmer!

I have added a few images but wish I had mastered the art of  arranging the images better, hopefully will look less disjointed with practice













Cosy eggs











                                                                                                                                                                      My quick blog has taken me ten times longer than anticipated so will have to quickly go and cook an interesting meal in ten minutes.

Wednesday 1 September 2010

5am "can't sleep" blog

well it's 5 am and I can't sleep. Sitting in the kitchen with a cup of tea and the dog, I'm thinking about knitting and crafts generally. What will my next project be? I've got so many ideas, but I'm on a mission to finish my christmas present knitting by the end of september - that's only a jumper for eldest son, finish a jumper for middle son and some socks for the husband to go! I think I'm being a bit optimistic.

we've also got some craft fairs booked so need to get things sorted for them, like making some more of these hair clips, modelled by Sue's lovely daughter Laura.
back to bed for an hour now, Pam x