Thursday, September 30, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Super-crafty school holiday studio goings-on.
I made a lavender bag.
I'm reworking the Homespun project into a simple little project/kit, to be released alongside the Kiss purse kit. Both should be ready early next week.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
A great day for it.
The finished Boteh Scarf was very well received by my soon-to-be-birthdaying sister.
Mid-laundry-hanging, I was spontaneously inspired to photograph these little dresses. It's best to photograph things before too many run-ins with kid and/or front-loader and these have each seen a few rounds already.
The denim dress detail was featured in my yo-yo post but the green (felted wool) one has thus far slipped through the photographic net.
I finished a prototype of a wallet (on the request of my sister-in-law) but I wasn't 100% happy with it. I had to unpick and redo the binding twice before I bit the bullet and hand-stitched it.
Now I'm not happy with the finish and I don't think I have the time to develop the design into something machine-stitchable and pattern-writable. It needs a LOT of development.... but it'll do as an "OFMSIL" (Only For My Sister-In-Law.... yes, the category range of OF's is broadening...).
There was also a bit of pottery action in the garden (and it's an activity that will ONLY EVER be in the garden.... clay everywhere!).
And there was a fair bit of creative gardening going on.
I hope you had a lovely weekend.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Special Delivery
These new leather bag straps from Clover are lovely. Just gorgeous. Beautiful quality leather with "antique brass" fittings.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
So I finally did it.... this week.
As I mentioned before, This week I joined Facebook and Twitter. You may have noticed a bit of new widgetry about the blog and website (or not).
I can see why I avoided all this social media hoo-har for so long.... what day is it and how much time have I spent in front of the screen????
And my goodness, this week I even updated to the "new" Blogger editor (it's not exactly new anymore, is it?)
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Another workshop Scheduled!
It'll be fun. I'll supply the patterns, interfacings, bag bases, magnetic snaps ....and some yummy snacks. You provide the fabric and the desire to finish a bag in a day and go home feeling very clever indeed (with a new bag and a new skill set).
There'll be a maximum of 6 people in the class, so that's oodles of personal attention from me as I teach you all the tricks to making your bags look super special and well-finished. I've had some great feedback about this class - if you'd like to join us, you can book HERE.
In other news, I'm trying to work my head around Facebook and Twitter. Apparently I should have been doing that years ago. I'll be updating both with workshop and classes as I see windows of opportunity to run them, so stay tuned!
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
A spot of crochet action
...between page loads today.
I finished a wash cloth (yep - I finished the whole square!). Who'd a thunk it?
Monday, September 20, 2010
Go on.... give us a kiss!
It can also be a wristlet... and a little bit shabby chic.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Friday, September 17, 2010
Yo Yo Maker Tutorial
Here's a remake of the video promised yesterday. It shows how to make yo-yo's (Suffolk Puffs) using the (Clover brand) Quick Yo Yo Maker.
Check yesterday's blog post (if you missed it) for ideas on how to use yo yo's for all sorts of embellishments and hair ornaments.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
You may have noticed....
I discovered that with these little gadgets, I could make perfectly uniform, evenly gathered yo-yo's - without having to think about it - and I could stitch them onto everything.
And stitch them, I do.
I also combine them with buttons and hair ties....
...and hairclips.
I particularly like doing lots of arty-farty free-machine embroidery all over the top of them - this time to tart up a simple A-line dress. ( It kind of takes the lolly-sweet out of them and makes them a bit funky, don't you think?)
Until recently, I only stocked the small and the large sizes (but I secretly owned all the other sizes). I've now added the EXTRA large size (which makes 60mm yo-yo's) to the shop.
I promised someone a visual tutorial (yes Chrys - that'd be YOU!) - AND I MADE A VIDEO - but I'm going to have to edit or re-shoot it. I think it could be made better. Stay tuned, folks!
My Creative Space
And I don't think I'll be going with the working title for this one.
Kirst's is where it's at today. See what's happening in the creative blogosphere over there.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
On the way to work this morning....
Sunday, September 12, 2010
A slight change in plans.... OR... How to spot a knitter with a background in Millinery.
I've now extended the theory to include crochet flowers and slip-stitch chain detailing on knitwear.
...and the unravelling of sleeves and blocking-the-bejaysus-out-of-the-garment to reduce the dodgey "make one stitch" increases. A few little stitches with a darning needle can work a treat, too.
But it still looks wonky.... and not at all like the sleeved tunic I thought I was making.
A good knitter would have unravelled and started again at the first (garter-stitch-edging-on-the bodice-gone-wrong) mistake, but I ploughed on.
I was on a mission to learn all the techniques that the pattern was introducing and calling the result a "toile". It was a practise garment that would be snagged and paint-spattered too soon to worry about little or large imperfections. Serious OFMK knitting.
There was a little issue with the size. I wanted an oversized tunic, but probably one that would fit within the next year or two.
Perhaps I should have done that gauge swatch...?
I'm assuming that by the time the girl fits into it, she won't like it. This run around the backyard (with the dress falling off the shoulders) will probably be one of its few outings.
Luckily, I learned a lot on this much-embellished sows-ear OFMK toile.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Not your average garage sale
There isn't a broken toy or old pair of shoes in sight. There are river stones and fake turf.... xmas decorations by the ton....
Razzle-dazzle musical notes....
Ribbons and bows and glittery bits....
Garlands and artificial flowers and vases and platters and....