Speed craft

Back in October, wonderful mum and I went to Speedcraft at Debbie Bryan.  You may remember me posting about these events before.  5 tables, 40 attendees (1 man this time which was great to see), 5 x 50 minutes to do a craft, cake, coffee, cake, coffee, lunch, cake, coffee etc.etc.  Mum loved speedcraft and had booked us on to the one in April.  I will go, but I will miss her.

I'm not going to write 5 posts, I'm going to tell you about it all in one post.  I thought I'd made some notes about the tutor's names and websites, but I can't find them.

One of the tables was papercraft and we made 3d hanging decorations using sugar paper, metallic paper and vintage papers including old lace patterns.  Debbie is a bit fan of stitching so there is always thread on all the tables, we used it to add some accents.

I really like some of the papers used here.

Next we did wirework.  We started by scribing the copper circles using various tools, then made a hanger from a piece of wire.  I added tiny paper "bunting" and tassels to mine. I really like this!

It's about necklace size, maybe a bit longer (width-wise), but it's too delicate to wear, so I've hung it up in my craft room.

I did a different pattern on each side of the circle, just to try something new.

One table was weaving which I've never tried before.  OK, maybe as a kid, but I don't remember.  This was great fun, using all kinds of different materials from ribbons and lace to lengths of fabric and yarn.  

I just need to sew the ends under to tidy it up.  I could really fancy doing this again... the only problem is, what do you do with it?

As usual, Katie Almond was there to do ceramics with us.  Me and mum really had the knack of this by then, and we made our pieces in about 10 minutes, leaving lots of time for the delicate painting!  We were both improving too.  Above is the pre-baked piece.

And this is it when I got it back.  I didn't have a Christmas tree this year, so I propped it on my mantelpiece!  it will be the star of the tree next year.  

There was a fifth craft.  It was printing using acrylic inks brayered onto tiles and impressing stamps and tools into the paint before placing paper on top and making an impression.  Unfortunately, we hung them up to dry and forgot to collect them!  You're not missing much, printing is not one of my greatest skills!

beaded ornament

I only have one photo to show you of the beaded ornament I made.  I took about 10 but they all came out really badly.

This is the Georgian Bauble from Spellbound Festive Beading by Julie Ashford.  I've had the book a while, but always thought it was a bit hard, now was the time to try.  The bauble is 40mm so it's pretty small. I used size 11/0 and size 8/0 seed beads along with bugle beads and crystals.  

I'm really chuffed with how it turned out and it looks great on our over-crowded Christmas tree!

Speaking of which, I'd like to wish all of you who celebrate it a very merry Christmas and a happy new year to all!

I'll be back on Boxing Day with more crafty stuff.

Does this count as vintage blackwork?

I embroidered them a year ago, so surely that counts?  I did the blackwork portion of these sachets/ornaments back in November last year! You can read my posts about them here and here,  For those that don't know, blackwork is an embroidery technique done on even count fabric, such as Aida (as I've done here), or evenweave that you'd use for cross stitch.  It's made up of a series of backstitches which form patterns.  Traditionally it should be double sided.  Mine isn't and is a right mess on the back!

At some point over the past year, I sewed them up on the machine and all that remained to be done was the stuffing and closing the gap.  It took me about an hour to do all 10!  Why do I put these things off?

They are stuffed with lavender and backed in bits of old clothes, though the purple one above is quilting cotton as I couldn't find any old clothes suitable.  As you can see, they're pretty badly sewn up, very strange shapes, so I was obviously in a rush that day!

I hadn't shown you the one above in the original posts.  I finished embroidering it just after I wrote those posts and this picture has been sitting in a draft post ever since!  I did this one for my mum as it is Mackintosh-esque.  You can find the free pattern at Imaginesque

See what a strange shape this one is!  3 rounded corners, one pointy corner!

The Christmas ornaments are stuffed with a bit of fibrefill and shakily sewn up as before.  I'll put some on my tree and see if my mum wants to pretend she likes them so I can give a couple to her!

Backing these ones we have flannel pjs, quilting cotton, old top, old shirt of Mr CA, flannel pjs.  I have so many old clothes to be used up and this is the only thing I've done with them in about 3 years!

felt star

This little fella is from Stitched with Love by Mandy Shaw.

I used ordinary craft felt rather than the wool felt called for.  I can't see it makes a difference with something like this.  

The cute little motif is actually from the Christmas tags section, the star is from the tree decorations.  I blanket stitched around and kept to the red and white colour scheme as I think it looks festive.

He's naked on the back.  I used red floss, so does that mean this is redwork?

Counting reindeer

One little reindeer - quite a happy chappy...

Two little reindeer - the second slightly amused...

Three little reindeer - the third ate all the pies...

And who's this?

It's a really strange and slightly freaky looking Santa.  Of course.

Beaded Robin

I had a little kit for a cross stitch which came with a 3" plastic hoop for framing.  I didn't much like the project so had a quick look in my books for a different design.  I found one in Picture It in Counted Beadwork.  This little fella is made from size 11 seed beads.  The book said to use Mill Hill beads but I had Mikiyaji and they seemed to work just fine.  I've never done counted beadwork before, but it was simple.  I used 14 count Aida to go with the size 11 beads and it was simply a case of doing a half cross and threading on a bead.

Yes, I know, that hoop is not plastic, it's felt.  I didn't like this design in the hoop, not sure why.  Rooting through my drawers (of the chest-of-variety, I don't keep craft supplies in my (UK) pants) I found this felt frame that must have been free with a magazine.

Mr Penguin looks quite happy to be in it.  I did a running stitch round the circle and then blanket stitched round the edge.  It took forever.  Well, about an hour.

I wasn't watching my stitches on the back, but I think they blend in well enough.

Sick of Christmas decorations yet?  Tough...

pile of puds

Christmas is approaching fast.  OK, so not that fast, but it is if you have a craft fair at the beginning of December and sold out of your most popular stock.  

Yep, these little fellas were an unexpected hit last year.  They're hand sewn from felt with a blanket stitch and a little button and ribbon bow to represent holly.

They're pretty diddy, about 5cm so are the perfect size for your tree.

See? 

flock of robins

It's nearly Christmas.  There, I've said it.  I love Christmas, yet the thought of it so early in the year makes me feel a bit ill.  Christmas shouldn't start until December.  Says the girl who's been making Christmas decorations in November.  Though I have an excuse, I've got a craft fair at the beginning of December and need some stock.

Made from felt, hand sewn and lightly padded.  

This one looks a bit sad.  Poor robin.  Does 4 constitute a flock?

more more more

Don't you just hate it at this time a year when all the TV channels are just showing repeats?  Well that's what you're getting from me today!
 
 

Last week I showed you the chicken scratch lavender hearts I'd made?  The ones I showed you before were all embroidered with white thread.  This one was embroidered with a size 5 perle cotton in a variegated array of pinks.  I'm not sure it works as well as the white.

 

I also showed you some crochet snowflakes I'd made.  Well I made some more.  These have all been stiffed with modge podge after an initial blocking with half a can of starch!

 

The top snowflake is a free pattern from the wonderful Snowcatcher who has tons of free snowflake patterns on her blog.

I've just tried and completely failed to identify the other three patterns, clearly they don't look as they should, but if it's free snowflake patterns you're looking for, try my Pinterest board.  Good luck!

And last, but not least, I made more felt Christmas puddings.  These were certainly popular, I think I sold four! 

Little felt things

I'm back!  Do you want to hear about the nightmare that was yesterday?  I'd developed an abscess on the gap where I'd had a tooth removed.  Overnight it swelled up rather large and part of it turned black.  It bloody hurt.  I tried to get an emergency appointment at my dentists, and, get this... they don't do emergency appointments.  That's right, you need to schedule your toothache in advance...  I ended up at the emergency dentists at the walk in centre where I waited 2 hours and ended up bawling my eyes out in the corridor when both my cards were rejected.  I'm talking bawling, snot everywhere, uncontrollable sobs. 

I rang my mum to get her card number - no answer, my dad - no answer, my husband - no answer.  Finally my brother picked up and I used his card, rejected.  It must be the machine because there was money in all three accounts I tried, but by this time I was desperate.  To put this into context, this was an NHS dentist.  The work-shy don't pay, but the rest of us do - £17.50.  I was being kept from stopping my agony by £17.50.  Finally they agreed to see me but made me promise to go back in with the money, they were convinced I'd run away!

The dentist lanced the abscess and gave me anti-biotics, the relief!  I had to go into work after, I don't think I was the most productive member of staff yesterday!

I have today and tomorrow off work as a final push towards the craft fair.  I have been making progress.

This little matroyshka dolly (sorry, can't find the pattern anywhere) started life as a Christmas tree ornament.  I felt she was too big though so she became a lavendar sachet.

 

While I had the felt out I whipped up this little fella from a free pattern at BHG.There are tons of free patterns on that website... wonder if the Matroyshka came from there too.

 

These little puddings were inspired by about 2,000,000 pins on Pinterest, but I just winged it as they were so simple to make.  I ran out of brown and white felt though!

I also winged this little robin... spot the problem with him?  Poor fella.

 

crochet santa and snowflakes

Good afternoon ladies.  I've scheduled this post as at this time on Saturday I'll be at my parents house for my nephew's first visit to his ancestral home!  I'll be far too busy cuddling and kissing and playing with him to write a post!

Do you remember my crocheted snowflakes?  They look a bit better now, they've been blocked with about half a can of starch! 

Although it's a vast improvement, they're still too floppy considering they're to be hung on a tree, so I think I'll take Nancy's advice and Mod Podge them, maybe even adding in some glitter. 

They were made from free patterns, go to the original post for the links as it took me forever to identify them last time!   I crocheted up a couple more.  Most of the pins I have of crocheted snowflakes are from the wonderful blog Snowcatcher, where a free snowflake pattern is published each Monday, adding to the huge collection already there.  Some are too hard for me and I've been struggling - not because of the patterns I might add which are very well written, it's just that I forget that I'm not a pro-crocheter!

The patterns for these too can be found here and here.  Next up in the Christmas decorations stakes was a Santa.  Again, I used a free pattern, this time at the Sugar N Cream site which has a lot of free patterns.

He's rather odd looking, but also rather cute, I love his wire glasses.  I forgot to add a ribbon when I put the pompom on, but to be honest, he's a bit too big for a tree anyway.  He'll have to be a freeform Christmas decoration - though I wish I'd filled him with something heavy at the bottom as he doesn't stand up properly.  Clearly he's had too many sherries... 

One last thing before I go.  I've been getting lovely comments from a lady called Kerry who is a no-reply blogger.  I've gone into her profile on the comments but it comes up asking me to log into open ID.  Kerry, I'd love to reply to you but I'm not sure if you're the same Kerry who I talk to who's from Leicestershire, or another one.  Can you let me know?  If you're a different Kerry, can you let me have your email address so I can write back to you?  Thanks!  Oh - and I didn't bother with a crime number or claiming on my insurance as my car is an old banger anyway and it'll just put my premiums up.

an unfinished post

It's the project that's finished, not the actual post.  Unless I accidentally hit publish at some point.  Being away at the weekend meant that I couldn't take any photos of anything I'm making and as I'm getting up and driving to work in the dark, then driving home in the dark, weekends are my only picture-taking time!

I've been crocheting snowflakes.  I saw some on Pinterest, got out my size 10 thread and a little steel hook and got working.  Addictive.

This photo shows them unblocked.  Before pinning them out, they look a real mess.

 
It wasn't until I took the photos that I noticed that this little blighter is wrong!  See how he's got a deformed tentacle wing arm spikey-type bit? 

I took a photo of them blocking, though white crochet thread, on a white towel, in the evening gloom is perhaps not the best of photos!  I've sprayed them with loads of spray starch, in fact my can ran out and I had to order some more!  If that doesn't stiffen them enough, I'm going to have to think again.

They're all made from free patterns:
Left - arghhh, can't find the link!  sorry pattern designer...
Centre - by Maggie Weldon
Right - on the BHG site

This one is my favourite, it's another free pattern from Snowcatcher.  If you're interested in crocheting snowflakes, there are a ton of free patterns on Snowcatcher's blog and she very generously gives permission to do what you like with snowflakes made.  I'm going to attempt to sell them as Christmas decorations at the craft fair.

And guess what ladies?  As I didn't manage to get a photo of them blocked and hanging, you'll be treated to pictures of them again in the future, ooooh, baited breath all round!

For all you stitchers out there, there's an incredibly generous giveaway going on at the Victorian Motto Sampler Shoppe, go and check it out.  If you do enter, please tell them that I sent you!

Christmas Countdown - October

Once again I'm joining in with Allie's Christmas Through The Year.  Hold on to your hats as I've actually made some progress this month!

1, 2, 3 - travel tissue holders, blogged here.

4, 5 - linen bunnies, blogged here.

6, 7, 8, 9, 10 - Christmas tree decorations, blogged here.

11 - Needlepoint bookmark, blogged here.

12? - Possibly a Christmas present, though I'm not sure who for - bluebird, blogged here.

Bring on November!