work in progress - birds, scarves and cakes...

So its been 2 weeks since my last work in progress update...and i seem to have a few projects on the go!
Firstly, i have completed the robins which i posted last time, they have now had their tails added, and are up for sale on Folksy (click on link to see my store)

I wanted to update my store, and as Folksy had had a make-over i needed to get a new shop banner. As i am a complete technophobe, i got someone to design one for me and im very pleased with the results and adds a proffesional touch to the store...



I have started knitting a new scarf, which will be lovely and thick, snuggly and warm, in colours of greens and purples, i may in fact have trouble letting that one go!!

I am just waiting to buy 1 more ball, when its back in stock, before i can finish it. With this one i tried out a new stitch, a drop stitch passed on from Tisha (thanks for that!),, and was so quick and easy!

Another scarf i have on the go is not knitted but crocheted! This is a first for me, and im excited about completing my first large crochet project, as i only started to teach myself a few months back...

At the weekend, me and Hubby attempted to make our very first Christmas cake. It was great fun and exciting to do, recipe again passed on from 'the fountain of knowledge' Tisha. As it took so long to cook, the hardest thing, was sit there, whilst the gorgeous smells wafted in from the kitchen!

So the next couple of weekends we will get the marzipan and icing done....
So be sure to check back in, to see how the finished cake turns out.......

WIP Wednesday no3

So its that time of the week to let you know how the knit/crochet has been going...

Ive been concentrating on my little crochet robins, and they are coming along really well.

Unfortunately the fun crochet section seems to go really quickly and all the fiddly embellishments and sewing seem to be slow going, but they are reproducing well and so far i have completed 6!!

I just need to get the ribbons attatched, so they become hanging decorations and then they will be available to buy on Folksy.

I have a feeling that next weeks post may be pretty similar as i have become quite obsessed with making these little birdies.............

Days Out...

So i had 2 days out last week and an extra day off work - well it was my BIRTHDAY :)...

Firstly me and hubby went for a trip up to London. I wanted to go to Camden market as its been a long while since i last went, and i love the place and have been going since i was a teenager (so thats been a little while now!)

I love the bustle, the atmosphere, colour, smells and eclectic mix of people. We spent a few hours walking around the stalls and stopped for a chinese.. We managed to get a few more chrissy presents (not many left to buy now!) a hat each to keep snuggly warm in winter and i got another pair of gloves, and yes i know, you fellow crafters will but tutting as i could have knitted myself some!

Next we ventured to the centre of town, to check out the christmas lights around oxford/regent streets.

Not as impressive as they used to be (am i showing my age again!) but still bright n sparkly. I couldnt pass by without stepping into Libertys, i think Hubby was a bit stunned at the prices, but i had to check out the haberdashery department, but all i could afford to do was just stroke a few of the Rowan yarns!!

I also HAD to pop into Zaras as its my fave clothes shop and we dont have one in our local town, and i had to treat myself to a t-shirt of course! We also couldnt resist stepping into Hamleys. Its a bit of mad world in there, its a total theatre and hits all your senses, but great fun!  We carried on to piccadily and ended up in Leicester square where we ended the night in a cosy Italian restaurant...

My second trip out was to a local craft fair near Guildford. Neither of us had been before so didnt know what to expect. We enjoyed it, but could have been to alot better, and quite frankly i think it was a bit costly to get in for the size of it! Dont think its exactly going to encourage every-day-people to be a part of the craft world, putting a high price tag on it just make it for the elite, which i dont agree with. After the show, we went on to Godalming, which ive never visited before. We had a trawl round all of the charity shops, and ended up in a lovely little art shop, which was a right little treasure trove of craft goodies.......

WIP wednesday - but actually on tuesday!!

So i've cheated and actually written this on tuesday, but that's because its my Birthday on Weds, and i'll be having a nice day out in London! :)

So this week i have been continuing with the 'crochet birdies' and the pink one is finally complete!

The sewing seemed to take forever this time, so the novelty has obviously worn off quickly lol...

Never-the-less i'm enjoying doing them, so ive got another one on the go already, and this time ive decided to do Robins for Christmas (even tho i dont normally have anything to do with the C' word!) i did think they would be kinda cute!  I just need to get some black thread to complete the eyes and brown ribbon for the tails!!

Thats all ive managed so far as i have been at work every day, but check in again soon as im having 2 days out this week, so it'll be fun, fun, fun....

work in progress wednesday -WIPW

Had a trip to Oxted on-route to visiting my mother-in-law, and took a look in the factory shop. Not sure if it was wise, but i came out with a big smile on my face and a big bagful of yarn. They had lots of different fancy yarns, with 5 balls in each bag for a bargain price, so really how could i resist!!

So today is wednesday and my day off from work, so its my craft day.

With so much yarn to choose from, there was a whole host of ideas to get going on, but i was good and continued with one of my projects that i have started, and i wanted to complete my pink birdies...

                      

I havent managed to complete them yet, this is still a "work in progress", mainly because i need to purchase some large sewing needles as this yarn is too thick to fit through the eyes of the needles i have.

I had some luck at my local charity store today, as i spotted a wooden box just being put out on the shelf. It is beautiful and has 3 tiers which open out. This is going to be my little sewing box to keep the little bits in......



Blue birds completed - new birds in progress

So my 'bluebird' decoration has been completed and i'm very pleased with the outcome, and proud of my accomplishment, as i've been learning crochet techniques along the way. I had crocheted 'small circles' before when making flowers but i needed to make a much larger version.

Then i needed the technique to do a small traingle for the beak, and thanks to 'youtube' vids i was able to pretty easily.

Then out came the traditional knitting dolly, so i could knit the cord for them to hang on.

Lastly, my sewing skills were put to the test! For those of you who know me this is not an area i excel in nor enjoy, but i managed fairly easily, tho i guess it helps that the stitches cant be seen in the texture of the yarn. I found various ribbons to use for the tail and embroidered around wooden donut beads for the eyes. For the finishing touch i added bells at the bottom.

I have now been inspired to continue making more of these, as it was something different for me and a learning process, so i will try another colourway and im even thinking some robins for xmas decorations could be fun!!

The work goes on....

With endless problems raising their head in the day job and all those other things that life throws in the way, crafting has unfortunately taken a bit of a back seat, but the creativity has never stopped, the work has still been continued even though its slowly but surely!
Firstly, ive still be knitting away in my spare moments and thankfully its something that i find very relaxing.
At the moment on my needles is a pink scarf, in a lace pattern. The only problem i have, as i'm knitting in the evenings in front of the television, is i'm getting distracted and keep forgetting which row of the pattern i'm on!

Susan has got up-to-date with completing the embellishments on my previous scarves. So my black fluffy scarf now has marabou feathers around the edges

The blue 'wave' scarf has blue/clear beading across the bottom waves to add a touch of sparkle and glamour.

And the big cable - small button scarf now has the colourful wooden buttons to embellish the cables.

I also have a new project on the go.  I had the desire to make a hanging, decorative piece, made up of crocheted birds. I have been learning on the go with this project as crochet is a new, and self taught skill. With the aid of youtube 'how to' videos ive learnt to do large circles and small triangles.

Ive brought out the 'knitting dolly' to knit the cord to go through the centre, i have the bells to go on the bottom, i just need to source something to make the tail feathers. This is a fun and quirky project for me and im hoping it will turn out how i envisaged.

All these items are up for sale on 'Folksy' , so check out the threads n shreds store now.....

Pink fluffy scarf...

So it's been a while, as I was away on holiday, sunning myself and then caught up in the tangle of work issues, and every day life - but have been able to do a bit of knitting on the side.

Its been a little tedious this one. Although straightforward to knit, as there were no fancy stitches used - the yarn spoke for itself

I did have to take care so that the ends did not get knitted in and did actually stick out for the " fluffy " effect! But it did seem to take ages, and I could not wait to get on with the next project...
The " pink fluffy scarf " is on Folksy to purchase...

For my next project I have chosen a dip dyed, lovely pink yarn that I purchased from ' Tiger'. This time I will use a lacy pattern, and will use larger sized needles to give a more open effect...

Quick trip out...

The two of us popped out for a quick trip to the local exhibition centre 'The Lightbox', to see the POP ART exhibition...

The art was a little disappointing for me, as it was not the obvious, blatant images that i would associate with that movement, but there was a section of 60's clothes and artifacts that were pretty cool...

Upstairs, we found a smaller exhibition, a selection of photographs of Paul Weller by Lawrence Watson. I found these photographs quite impressive and for me as usual i like the black and white portraits as i think they are more edgy and give off more of a 'mood'. I was surprised to learn that Paul Weller was born in Woking and 'The Jam' were formed in Sheerwater secondary school !!!