Resolutions

One of my new years resolutions is 'more craft' and,  along with that, 'more craft blogging'.  With that in mind - here's the first of 2011, a couple of recently completed projects:

Super monkeys!  These were made for brand new twins.

Tiny Owl: with her cute pink legs.

Super Monkeys are crocheted, I'm getting more confident with my new skill (gained in 2010 thanks to the guidance of CH) and have a lot of projects that I'd like to undertake.  The tiny owl is needle felted, my first attempt!

Project wish list - if only there were more hours in the day!

As a start to the year here are some of the project ideas that are swirling around in my brain: storage cubes for the front room, a giant cushion cover for my giant cushions, a new cooking apron, a crochet frog for Freddie, crochet giraffe and elephant for Alex and Dominic, a table runner for my new grown up table, needle felted farmyard, lavender bags for my wardrobe...

Guest Star

This time I'm featuring a guest star - my good friend Ellen who has taken up crafting in a BIG way while she's been on maternity leave.  Here's her first sewing creation:

I love the Wizard of Oz fabric.

For some brilliantly simple ideas and projects I can fully recommend the brilliant 'Yeah I Made it Myself' which is currently on loan to Ellen:


http://www.amazon.co.uk/Yeah-Made-Myself-Fashion-Domestic/dp/0297851179

Adventures in applique

I've experimented with applique in the past - making a variety of cushions and motifs...

I recently attended an excellent Ministry of Craft workshop 'Free Embroidery and Applique'

http://www.ministryofcraft.co.uk/

which opened up even more possibilities.  We learned how to lower the feed dog on the sewing machine and use a darning foot to gain complete freedom to move the needle in any direction.

This owl was made at the workshop.  He looks like he works in a bank!

Next step:  buying my own darning foot and experimenting even more.

Sylvanian

My love of all things  woodland continues lately.  Seeing Toy Story 3 made me want to go and find some old friends in my Mum's attic, and the Bank Holiday weekend gave me the time to do so.  Amongst other treasures (some of which are currently being washed) I found my Sylvanian Family collection.

Mouse Children

Owl Family

My mind is now turning to how I can utilise them and make something...so far I've got plans to get them in to the garden for a photo shoot and possibly make some bottle top brooches from the results.  Continuing the small animal theme I continued this weekend with my newest hobby - crochet, and had a crack at my first amiguruni, a tiny mouse. 

I would normally give this mouse a name, but since she is gift for my (as yet unborn) niece or nephew then I will leave that to them.

Twit Twoo

My craft endeavours have been owl themed of late, I made an owl cushion (Oliver) as a gift and have been making lots of these tiny owls.  They're very quick to make which suits my impatient nature, and I've now got owls brightening up my flat!

There's been an enforced hiatus on recording my work due to a stolen camera, I've been able to resume blogging thanks to DP's generous loan.

Beat the Blues

I can't take any credit for the pictured work this time...its all the work of the ladies who attend Beat the Blues stockport - a support group for those experiencing post natal depression:

http://www.beattheblues-stockport.co.uk/page2.htm

We've worked together for three sesions, making felt in the first one and turning it into jewellery in the following two.  Feast your eyes...

Brilliant Charity Shop Find

I bought this big pile of patterns recently for the tiny sum of £6.  I'm not sure I'll make any up, but I love the fact that they're obviously collected over a lifetime.  Some of them are priced in Shillings.