Sad news & a chance to help a charity

Hiya everyone - long time no see.

I haven't posted here in ages (I've barely posted on mine own blog too) as RL has been giving me a good kicking recently.

My mum was diagnosed with lung cancer back in April - containable but not curable, they said so we were hopeful that with the right care mum would have at least a few decent years left. That was until we discovered it had spread to her brainstem. Mum fought bravely, never once complaing or feeling sorry for herself but sadly on 17th November the cancer won. I feel like such a hole has been left in my life & can't see it ever being filled.

My sister Laura, who has been thinking about doing something mad for charity for a while, has booked herself a solo skydive for 7th February 2009 (the day after what would have been mum's 57th birthday). To help her reach her £1000 target I'm running a prize draw on my blog to win handspun yarn, hand-dyed spinning fibre (also fab for wet felting), stitch markers, etsy gift certs & a project bag - all prizes donated by some of the lovely ladies on the ravelry UK Spinners forum. Every £2 donated gets 1 entry into the draw which is open until 21st December & is open to everyone, everywhere. Full details on the prizes & how to enter can be found on my blog.



Left to right - me, mum & Laura

A bit fed up ... No, not about dog poo this time

I don't know who put the sign on our front door that said 'All bugs please stop here' ... but thanks very much !
We spent Saturday afternoon at the out of hours doctors surgery at our local hospital after a terrible night with Boo's croup. How busy was it ? If you don't go in with something you certainly come out with something with all the coughing, spluttering, sneezing and breathing going on.
The croup has subsided but Miss Boo has been left with a horrible irritating night time cough. Sleep? What's that ? Everytime we nod off another coughing extravaganza kicks off. The whole house stinks of Olbas Oil - which is actually quite comforting. Mr Boo will come back from his travels, open up the front door and think he's stepped into the local chemist. What with the pong and the various bottle of Calpol, Nurofen, cough linctus, the inhaler, the steam breathing cup and the giant bottle of Olbas Oil.

You may wonder what the above photo of 'Charlie' the Springer has to do with all this ? Nothing, absolutely nothing but all will be revealed (possibly) in another post soon. That's all I'm saying.


Miss Boo was an angel in her nativity play and wanted wavy 'Angel' hair so we put lots of little plaits in damp hair and Voila ! Isn't it fab ? Very Pans People/ Legs and Co. for those of you who can remember them.


I just love it ! How much hair ? I've been toying with getting it cut shorter but not now, it'd be criminal.
A few odd bits and pieces. Another hair clip zipper pouch for a friend at school and a little hanging for Miss Boo's teacher as an end of term christmas gift. I'm going to make something else too and just thought something handmade would be a bit more special. She's a lovely teacher and Miss Boo loves her.



It's made from a Mohair and Wool wrap that I found in a little charity shop in Cornwall and then I felted it. The colours are wonderful, a mixture of blues and greens and it's a shame the photo's don't do them justice. It's sooooooo soft too.

Short post tonight as most of my time has been spent de-lurgyfying Boo so not a lot of crafting or otherwise going on. I've got my last event on Sunday, it's a traditional Christmas Market within the grounds of Heckfield Place, Nr Hook, Hampshire if anyone is local. It's all in aid of Naomi House, our local children's Hospice which is such an important cause. It sounds very festive with lots going on such as Head Chef cooking demonstrations, Heckfield Place History & Garden Walks, Wine Tasting plus lots more so if you are in the area please do come along and support it.

www.heckfieldplace.com
www.naomihouse.org.uk/

The Whizzz 'To Do' List

I'm having a stall at DSs school Christmas Fair on Saturday so I need to :

• dig out my notes of what sold well last year
• price up some of my bits & bobs
• make a few cheaper things (memory wire bangles, phone & bag charms etc)
• collect lots of pound coins & change together
• when complete - pack all stuff into plastic carry box ready for Saturday!

Thankfully I have enough 'stock' so am fairly organised as far as general stuff to take is concerned! It's always a mad few hours though & I have learnt that all stock + table cloth must be kid-mess-proof !!

Anyone around???

Come on ladies...I thought I'd give this blog a bit of a kick and post my to do list this week.

I have set a goal of 8 cards to make. 7 Christmas and 1 Birthday card.

Here is the first one!

Despite having a hectic week ahead, I have commited myself......come and give me a boost and show me what you want to achieve this week!

new crafters forum

there is a new craft forum called crafteroo - it's only a week old and very friendly - there will be a few familiar faces too ! i've tried to add a link but it doesn't seem to be working for me today!!!
will try again tomorrow x vInTaGe VioLeT x

A parcel from America.

Well I got a parcel from my swap parcel in America and here is what she sent me (the cat doll), how gorgeous is that!! Dd loves it (of course, she's 'borrowed' it) and it has joined various Gingermonkey toys on her bed, she still sleeps with that lavender mouse that GM made for me. I have parcelled my swap up now I've just got to make the trek to the post office and await with baited breath the arrival of it on the other side of the pond. Thanks M.

Inbetween battling with my doll swap (the hair required tackling a sewing needle and I think you might have guessed by now that handsewing is not my favourite activity), I knocked up a cotton shopping bag. I'm heartily fed up of carrying around a plastic asda 'green' reusuable bag, so I crocheted my own, much better looking alternative to put the 'green' carrier bag in!!. It's fine for lighter shopping but I fear 4 pints of milk may end in carnage!! By the time this photo was taken it had been used for several weeks and I can roll it up and just stick it in my (not exceptionally big) handbag. Soothing therapy and usefulness all rolled up in one little package, bliss.

Inspired by a conversation on a crafting forum (and those responsible for it's inclusion here.... you know who you are ;-) ) I just had to have this charming late 60s pant suit as pattern of the week, I culled it from a dog eared booklet in a collection of patterns that my mum gave me. I do love this booklet in a deeply unironic way, not only does it include bikinis and a knitted all in one playsuit (the joy!!), it also has a crocheted mod wedding dress, complete with cloche type cap. Really it's enough to make you hyperventilate!!

New swap at Mee Crafty

Hiya
Just wanted to let you all know that I'm doing another swap.
Its a 2 week sign up and a month project, so lots of time.
Here
x

Candy Challenge

Well it seems like it's taken me forever to get round to doing this & all I have come up with is this simple bracelet. These beads just remind me of wrapped sweets!

Cupcakes, Candy and Ice Cream- A Craft Challenge

Cupcakes, Candy and Ice Cream- A Craft Challenge

Who can resist the lure of freshly baked and iced cupcakes, sticky sweet candy, and ice cream melting on a hot summer day? This challenge is to craft something with a cupcake, candy or ice cream theme an essential part of summertime and of childhood. Knit an ice cream cone, paint a cupcake, make a card with candy shapes, create jewellery in candy coloured tones, or create softies in candy coloured fabrics. If you need more inspiration feel free to sit down with a bar of chocolate, or a bowl of ice cream, or a handful of your children’s gummy sweets, essential crafting materials most assuredly. So have fun and try not to get too much of a sugar high.

Yet another giveaway!

Blimey, its like them buses that Jill mentioned!

Mee Crafty giveaway

GIVEAWAY...

See my blog...

http//chickadeecards.blogspot.com

Pratchgan WIP

I've finally managed to get up to date photos of the Pratchgan-in-progress.

I was in two minds whether to post them given the shocking state of my carpet in said pics but meh - I've seen worse.



I was also tagged for a meme again t'other day & in return I have tagged GingerMonkey, Whizzz, lucykatecrafts & Meridian Ariel so check your blogs guys :0)

A nice lining (in honour of Chrissnow)

Along with attempting to finish all the other things in my UFO bag, I have used MILs old curtains to contain some of my needles, hooks, spare balls of wool and other assorted crafting paraphenalia. Now as I may have mentioned, I do love a nice lining and this lovely granny print is no exception, am not mad about dusky rose velour but the lining just makes me feel all warm and happy and it is (dons halo) recycled (the bag that is, not strictly speaking, the lining). And while I am not absolutely in love with the outside, I think if I decorated it with some crochet flowers made out of cream coloured crochet thread, I could rather like it.




Onto one of my neglected UFOs, I have a vintage pattern fetish, which I may have mentioned before and which is indulged quite frequently, yes I am that annoying woman taking up all the counter space with the pattern book in your local age concern! This early 70s Patons pattern is one of a huge book of 60s and 70s patterns that my mum gave me when I first started to knit and crochet and I started it an age ago, in a fit of boredom, I picked it up the other night and started on the increase rows, heaven knows when it will actually be finished, probably in time for my dd's 21st I should think but, I am rather pleased with the way it's going.

Mind you, looking at these photos it looks like I am going through a deeply pink phase, must root out that teal wool to counteract the overwhelming girliness.

Today I turned a corner....and a heel.

Well the lurgy finally caught up with me, so to while away the hours, I've done some more work on my WIPs for GM and Miaou and finally picked up the socks that I chucked onto the UFO pile sometime ago in disgust. I have made some very simple socks before but I have never turned a heel, so when heel turning time came on these I cocked it up royally, so fed up was I with the whole process that I hid the offending item at the bottom of my knitting bag with visions of ripping the whole lot out 'at some point'.
Because I needed to unearth the bottom of said bag today to look for a knitters needle, I happened upon them and decided to sit down and try and work out how to actually turn the flaming heel for once and all, and you know what, once I actually stopped to look at it properly I could see clearly how it was done. And voila.... I did it, I turned the heel and the switch in my head that insisted it couldn't be done.
I've knitted this in cotton for a purpose, so that I can swathe my manky old feet in half a jar of foot butter at night, slap above mentioned socks on and wake up with delicate, smooth as a babys bottom tootsies. Am enjoying it so much now that I have plans to knit socks for just about everyone I know, yes beware, if you have the misfortune to know me then you too could be the recipient of a pair of cotton bed socks and if you're really lucky a jar of foot butter for satisfying slathering!

dizzyday's vintage swap from vInTaGeVioLeT

here's what i made for dizzyday - i loved making this - vintage buttons and vintage postcards , my favourites! - these swaps are really helping my creativity !

Mee Craftys first blog swap

Okey dokey folkeys
Here is my first swap and its all about dolls.

All the details you need to know are on there and the cut off for signing up is on Saturday 19th April, so a week from tomorrow.

I'm going to create a little picture to go on my blog to slightly advertise it and do spread the news so we can get lots of people taking part.

My vintage swap for Gingermonkey (the woman with good fabric taste.)

Drum roll please.... I have at last finished my vintage swap for Gingermonkey. In truth I doubt I could actually claim that the amiguiri owl is vintage but it was crocheted with charity shop wool (courtesy of The Garden House Hospice in Hitchin, which incidentally is an absolute treasure trove for wool and needles). I am much more pleased with this amiguiri owl than the last one, mainly because I stuffed him with a lot of stuffing (he's very firm but, as a result rather large!) and I popped a couple of curtain weights in the bottom so that he stands up better, he still topples over a bit after a while but I didn't want him to be so heavy that he caused injury if thrown at someone!

The sachets (one for GM and one as a thank you for nbg) I feel are much more in keeping with the vintage theme, you don't really see them about much in these supersonic high tech days and they are basically my MILs old curtains cut up and used as an inner lining with a couple of filet crochet panels sewn on top. Filet crochet is also one of those old worldy things that you don't seem to see much of these days and I love doing filet crochet, it feels really calming and I really enjoyed making them. And although I have done filet crochet in the past, it's a long time since I picked up a small steel crochet hook (always small steel hooks for fine crochet) and a bit of cream coloured thread and actually done some, I even enjoyed sewing the lining and I am not a lady who enjoys hand sewing much usually. Although I popped a couple of rosewood balls in with the stuffing so hope the recipients like rose, still I'm sure if not they can find someone to gift them to.

Enjoy!!

Vintage Swap - Whizzz & Nbg

I thought I'd post the photos of what myself & Nbg swapped in the Vintage inspired swap.

Nbg sent me this wonderfully sparkly crystal (Swarovski if I'm not mistaken) necklace in my favourite colours of the moment - purple and green. Thankyou so much Nbg!

The word 'Vintage' said pearls to me, so I made a necklace and earrings using white freshwater pearls and crystals in a 'dusty vintage' pinky colour for Nbg.

My vintage treat from Gm.

I'm obviously a lucky, lucky girl this week, I got paired with Gingermonkey again for our MN vintage swap and this gorgeous bag with two lavender mice is my reward. Of course darling daughter has snaffled one of the mice to stash in her vest drawer, she abides by the mantra 'what is yours is also mine', I will get my revenge by spending her inheritance on fancy fabric! The gorgeous bag is now living in my handbag and keeps together my tissues, lippy and compact because I love the idea of nonchantly pulling out a bag made of gorgeous vintage fabric to retrieve my 'nose blowers' (copyright dd), plus it means I can easily find those bits and bobs that would otherwise entail a 15 minute hunt throught the warzone that is my handbag.

Last week I finished my first attempt at amiguiri, this owl was featured in Crochet Today last year, I'm fairly pleased with it but my next attempt will involve more stuffing, I think. That aside I was rather chuffed with her obvious delight at receiving it and it hasn't left her bed since.

Another kind mner, this time Nbg, offered up some leftover fabric on our craft board and kindly said I could have it. It's perfect for lining bags, I do love a nice lining in a bag. Of course dd has her eye on it to make flowers with, so I might save her a square!
This week I've mainly been finishing my swap(s) for Gm, which are nearly done, of course I need to go to the habby stall at Hitchin market (it's my new addiction) for a couple of things and then, I'm done. Will blog results at the weekend, hopefully, along with a few photos of our growing button collection (courtesy of every charity shop within a 20 mile radius of us).

Sneaky Peeks...

A little teaser pic for Jacqui. My Vintage swap creation (which is being posted out tomorrow)

It's made from vintage 1950s fabric, some old liberty print fabric, vintage mother of pearl buttons (thank you - Vintage Violet!) and some other ingrediants. I hope you like it, Jacqui!!!!

Inspiration- a Challenge

What inspires you?

Music. Colour. Sound. A walk in the woods? The crashing of waves at sea. Beautiful blogs. Etsy creations. Old photos.

This week’s challenge is to find something that inspires you. Find something that inspires you, a tree, an orange, a single bead, a doll, a painting, or the view out of your bathroom window. Sketch it, photograph it, document it in some way and then craft something with that inspirational item in mind.

Happy Crafting Ladies,

Meri

The Easter Swaps in all their Glory

I've been surfing this blog plus our own ones and I think that I've collected pictures of all our swaps to each other.

I've saved them here so I hope we can all see them.

I say that we were all very lucky.

A present from the delightful Gingermonkey and a ramble.

Thought I 'd show you one of the things that I've been up to in the last few months, here, modelled by my very own handsome ds (it's in the genes you know!) is the cuff that he nagged me to make, it took me longer to thread the beads onto the wool than it did to actually knit it but it was my first real go at knitting with beads and it was blissfully easy. It's a pattern from the ubiquitous Debbie Stoller, think it's the Stitch 'n' Bitch tome. Unfortunately he showed it to his mates and now they all want one!! They're Emo's you know!

As part of the Emo thing, he's had me rooting about in charity shops for suitable t- shirts (which is obviously a real hardship ;-), he really wanted a Slipknot t-shirt and I explained that you can't always find exactly what you want , it doesn't work like that. And would you believe it .... after a few weeks of dedicated charity rummaging, yes I found one, along with a couple of punk rock festival t-shirts and one with nirvana type doodlings on. You can crown me queen of the charity shop rummage if you want. While I was there I picked up the 2mm needles I needed for the cuff, I'm sure I have some but they're currently in hiding. Of course, he's picked up the charity shop habit now and can be found amongst the boxes of old LPs , searching for hidden treasure, when he's not mugging old ladies , of course.

On to this delightful chick, courtesy of the divine Gingermonkey, it was my swap in return for my knitted breast, sorry I meant cupcake. To avoid the hassle of prising it from the grubby mitts of my dd, I waited until she went to school to take this photo, it should be noted that she's also appropriated the lavender sachet that went with it (which I was going to scent my undie drawers with) and put it her wardrobe to make her clothes smell nice! I got my revenge by nicking one of the chocolate eggs that came with it.

The Happy Book Challenge

OK, the challenge is ... are you brave enough to share some pics of your sketch books/source books?

I have blogged some pictures from my source books here - I collect pictures of images that inspire me. I'm inviting you to share some pics of your own so we can marvel at the creative process! Meridian has set the ball rolling here but would love to see some more pics.

If you can show a sketch and also the finished object, even better! It can be fascinating to see how these things change and evolve.

Here's a pic from one of my happy books to get you going ... !

Blog Spot!!

Just been blog hopping and came across THIS fabby post.

Just yummmmm

Swap from JeanGenie to Whizzz

The postie brought my Easter swap parcel from JeanGenie yesterday & here is what it contained :-

A cute lavender scented Egg containing smaller eggs

A lovely card (sorry forgot to include it in the photo)

A box of really scrummy Thorntons chocs (sadly now only the wrappers are left!)

The eggs are currently hanging in my conservatory near my beading table & smelling lovely. Thankyou JeanGenie :-)

I received my Easter swap from Fiona (Fubsy) yesterday, and what a lovely gift it was too.
I opened up my package to find a beautiful little egg cosy with the most pretty embellishments, including twinkly crystals, on the top. It's just too nice to use and so will sit in my cabinet on display.

Fiona also gave me a sweet little l'occitane soap and some Kernow (Cornish) choccy bunnies. If you look very carefully there is one missing already - now how did that happen ?

Thank-you Fiona !
I have been rushing around today and just finished a biscuit making session with Boo so I am going to sit down this afternoon with a cuppa and a choccy bunny.

Fiona asked me to blog my easter swap gift to her too. I'm sure most of you have seen this on my blog before but here it is again.

don't panic this is only a test

just trying to sort the blog out and tinker with it... i think i have sorted out the everyone posting under fubsy thing.... i think... and jsut tinkering with new title image but not got the colour right yet.... it should all be tip top tommorow.


meri

Easter swap from VintageViolet to JBR

I got this on Saturday, and really needed the boost it gave me! Megan made it for the nursery - my baby is due in 8 weeks - and so I love the personalised '2008' in the corner! The colours are so vivid, and the buttons so cute - even my son, normally too cool to show enthusiasm, was impressed!!! Thank you Megan, and for the little Easter basket - you are ace - here's a big kiss {Mwah!}
JBR
xxx

Easter Swap to Ranting Housewife

A bit late posting this pic - sorry!!!!!

Here's my swap prezzie for the lovely ranting housewife (well, her little 'un). I made a lavender sachet too...but being my hugely useless self, I can't find the pic I took. Hmmmm. Best go and have a cup of tea and some cake to make myself feel better!!!

And finally ...

... at last I have pulled my finger out and become part of the MN arts and crafts blog! Hello everyone.

I know, it was AGES ago now, but Meridian challenged us to produce something recycled and blue. I had two denim pinafores and a denim skirt in a corner that dd2 had grown out of, and I had been wondering what to do with them for ages … here was the inspiration! I decided to make a patchwork bag, but when I cut out the squares I discovered I actually had enough for two bags (well, I did once dd2 presented me with a pair of jeans she had outgrown too!) I like the frayed look of denim so made the bags with the seams facing outwards. Before making the bag up I sewed round each square to ensure that it didn’t fray right back to the seams. Note I said "bag". I made dd1's bag first. Poor dd2 is still waiting (oops)

Ravelry swapsies

The parcels have arrived & finally have something I can blog!




This was the ”I’m just sending this box so my partner can have cardboard for their boots and I was guilted into putting stuff in it” swap - you have to be a Discworld fan to understand the humour in this. If you're not a fan go read some of Terry Pratchett's fantastic books & you soon will be.

I've blogged it in more detail on mine own blog & I hope to be adding more WIP pics of the Pratchgan there very soon too.

GreebosWhiskers to Dior

Here is the lovely present from GW! I have posted more stuff about it on my blog. It it REALLY cute, so thanks to GW. The Creme Egg didn't last long I'm afraid...

Whizz Swap Glimpse - postage delayed due to 2nd round of pox

Whizz...your, ahem, "treat" is ready however I have been prevented from getting to the PO due to 2nd round of chicken pox blighting our homestead...

It will get posted at weekend...

In the meantime, here's a little taster...can ya gis wot it is yit?

Vintage Violet got her Easter swap!

So for my Easter swap to Vintage Violet I made a cross stitch Easter bunny card and a little bag, sewed to close with blue ribbon...

...which held some chocolate eggs and lollipops.












Glad you liked them VV!
JBR
xxx

Easter swap for Vintage Violet finished!

Until she gets it in the post, here is just a sneak peek at the Easter themed things I made for Vintage Violet!


I chose Spring colours and spent ages faffing with little details... I could have spent ages longer but if I don't get this posted before the end of the week I will be late with it! Hope you like it Megan, I am such a novice compared to most of the folk on here!
xxx

Easter swap - received from Whizz...

this beautiful earring and bracelet set...aren't they lovely?

there was also a gorgeous keyring which the smallfry love so much thay have ferretted it away and won't tell me where, when I get it back (AND I WILL, you hear me kids?!) I will photo and post it...and some delicious mini creme eggs - you should try these, they are MUCH nicer than the big ones which have far too much goo in them for my liking...these mini ones are perfect goo to chocolate ratio

whizz...yours is in progress and will be posted as soon as is finished

THANKS AGAIN!

Finished My Swap!!

I have finally today finished my Easter Swap so it will be whizzing it's way to Miaou in the morning.

Here's a sneeky peek!!

Here's my Self Indulgence

Today I hid myself away in the conservatory, put on my MP3 player with it's eclectic range of music and rifled through my beady stash. I have a couple of lovely focal lampwork beads made by Tania Grey so I decided today to stop just looking at them and to actually make something!

This focal is a whopper, a really heavy encased bead with swirly purples, green leaves and tiny pale purple & white flowers. I put it with lilac opaque, lime green and clear seed beads and it's just for ME!

(sorry if the colours appear wonky - I am having trouble with my PC monitor)