Making Christmas wreaths.

Last Sunday I did a mini course with Coralie (my daughter, for anyone who doesn't know me) We each made a needle felted Christmas wreath.

The course was held in Peterborough, in the basement of a lovely shop which I had never seen before, called Art in the Heart.  If you are ever in Peterborough, stop by as they have some fabulous goodies.  I could have spent a fortune but luckily for me, (or rather Simon), we arrived just as the course was starting and by the time it ended the shop was closing.

Despite the fact that Coralie claims she had told me it was needle felting, I was under the impression that we were making bog standard wreaths with foliage, pine cones and berries.  You know the kind of thing. You can pick them up in the supermarket for about £15.  Once I realised what we were actually doing  the cost made more sense.

To be honest I wasn't sure what to think as I have never tried needle felting.  It turned out to be a brilliant afternoon with my daughter and we both enjoyed it very much.  There were only 4 of us and the tutor, Eve Marshall, was excellent.  It tuns out that she lives a few villages away from me and she does lots of classes so I may have another go in the new year. 

Having never done any needle felting I was a little apprehensive as to how it would turn out and if I could actually get it done in time.  Well, I am actually thrilled with what I produced.  A bright, colourful wreath complete with a Robin (my favourite bird) and I made it all myself!  Here's a few photo's 

Here are the finished wreaths

The blue one above is Coralie's and the red and green one below is mine.  I have it hanging on my living room door.

The actual process of needle felting is fairly easy.  It is the artistic side of things that I would struggle with I think. It is very relaxing and you can do it whilst having a good old chat. Just don't lose concentration because it flipping hurts if you accidentally push the barbed needle into your finger!  Yes, I did do that several times.  I also broke a total of 4 needles!  Not to worry as Eve, says she factors broken needles into the cost of her beginner classes!!

So what do you think?  Have you tried needle felting before?  I purchased the materials to make a second Robin so I shall definitely be giving it another go.

K is for Knitting

A – Z challenge for today is “K”

Hmm this has been another hard one for me. I have come up with knitting.

My Mum was a very good knitter. A very prolific knitter too. She always had something on the go and knitted all our jumpers and cardigans when we were small.

She also got much joy out of knitting for her Grandchildren too. It was very sad when she finally stopped. It was some while before the Alzheimers really set in but I think in part it was because she found it harder to follow a pattern and that may well have been because of the disease.

My sister is also an extremely good knitter. She has produced some beautiful things. She is currently knitting for her new Grandson. I don't actually remember, but I assume that it was Mum who taught her.

I can remember Mum trying to teach me. She wasn't that patient with me! Thinking about it, I guess I get my lack of patience from her. Anyway, it didn't go that well. I did manage to knit a small red teddy bear in plain garter stitch to get my Brownie badge.

Over my late teenage years I did also knit a much larger teddy who I still have and when I first knew Simon I knitted him a jumper and a cardigan. If I remember the jumper turned out very large and he only ever wore it a couple of times. The cardigan was a belted affair and I think it came out OK but it wasn’t really him. He wore it about twice!

I had another go when I was expecting Sam and knitted some bootees. Then when I was expecting Saskia (my 4^th) I knitted a couple of matinee jackets and some bonnets that were fairly successful.

Then it came to a stop. Until around a year back when I decided that I wanted to try a different craft each month. I decided to try knitting first as I would so much like to be able to master this.

Over the year I have knitted a few things. I started out with simple garter stitch squares which have since been sewn up to make a blanket which Beanie now has. It isn't very good but he likes it! Sewing up is even harder than the knitting!

Then I made a garter stitch, cross over, 50's style, neck scarf. It was OK, but would have been way better if I had used the correct wool. I was just using up oddments that I had from somewhere.

Then I appealed to some Etsy friends for easy starter patterns. My friend Spinning kindly sent me a kit so that I could test it for her. It was for fingerless gloves.

My friend Liz has a brilliant pattern for beginners, one which you can find here: Mad Mum Knits  I purchased it from her and I made myself the whole set which I was very pleased with. Excuse me with my eyes closed!

I have also made Simon 2 cowls and the gloves and I made all the girls gloves for their Snowman present at Christmas. Please note, two of them have them on the wrong hands so you can see the seams!!  Silly girls. Doesn't matter much though as I know one of them will never have worn them anyway!

I am quite good at this pattern now!

Unfortunately that is as far as I have progressed. I like using the chunky wool as it grows quite quickly. I need to find an easy pattern for something that isn't a scarf or gloves as I think we have enough now!

Do you knit? Who taught you? What is the best thing you have done?

Jilly

Monday 5th January

I really want to get back into my blogging habit so even though I have nothing much to say I thought I would drop by.

We had a fairly normal weekend.  Saturday is always doggie kennel day so that was where we were until late afternoon.  We have just taken in 2 Spaniel puppies, they are 4 months old.  They are very cute and have probably already found a furever home.

The Spaniels were posted on the 3CDR  FB page and all hell broke loose.  People were just going crazy.  I found it a bit sad to be honest.  We have nearly 70 beautiful dogs and it is really hard work trying to find homes, along comes a puppy and everyone wants it.  

As you can see they are cute.

 

 

 

Saturday evening we were out to dinner at Gyll's house.  The usual crowd of us from the doggie rescue.  We are so blessed to have made such wonderful friends.

Sunday was a bit of a lazy day.  We took down all the Christmas decorations in the morning.  The house looks much lighter now.  Funny that. Then Simon pottered around in the garage doing whatever he does ou there.  I did a bit of Internet stuff and generally lazed around.

Today Simon was back to work so I can begin to get back into my normal routines.  So housework this morning including an absolute ton of ironing as it had been left over Christmas.

This afternoon was nice and relaxed and I did some computer stuff and also finished off a Hamma bead creation.

Simon got me some Hama beads and boards for Christmas.  (Perler beads to Merikans).  My children had these and so does Ellie so it seems like a childish hobby.  However, I have seen some really beautiful creations on the Internet and there are sellers on Etsy who do great work too.

I thought I would enjoy trying it out as another craft and another possible thing to sell if I get good enough.  Think it takes practise!  The ironing bit is a real skill I think!  I have manged to make a small dent in the middle of my peg board where the pegs have distorted from the heat. don't think that is supposed to happen!

It takes quite a lot of concentration but it is very relaxing.  It also takes a hell of a lot of beads.  Simon got me a tub of 4000 mixed colours and I had to buy more white ones at the weekend to complete my design.  Fortunately they are cheap.

This evening I have been doing stuff on my computer.  Listing new charms in my Etsy shop and catching up with other bits and pieces.

Tomorrow, I don't have too much housework so hopefully I will get more time for myself.  

Have you all seen that I have been updating my blog "Adventures with Tallulah"?  I have about 4 posts scheduled to go live this week.  Then I should be up to date.  Click on the tab at the top of my page to see it.

Photo 365 - 21

Quick one for today.  Look what the postman bought me..........  BUTTONS!

I love buttons.  I got these from EBay.  I want to try out some button crafts so maybe that will be next months craft challenge.  Going to sort that big bag now and see if there are any real special ones.

Photo 365 - 13

Another busy day.  Lots of housework today but I did find time to make a little purple brooch.  The bits and bobs came from a Crafty Creatives box. You can find out more about them on my Fabrilushus blog. Anyway, this is what I made.

It is purple felt.  It has a brass, filigree square with pink bugle bead in the centre.  There is a pink and black braid around the edge and it has bugle beads in each corner.  I am quite pleased with it and the photo doesn't do it justice.  Really must get to grips with my new camera.

Photo 365 - 9

I am not sure if I have mentioned here or not that one of my plans for this year is to try a new craft each month.  The month of January is knitting.  I am a novice!  Today's photo is an 8 inch knitted square! Completed this afternoon.

If you would like to know more about this knitting challenge and how I am progressing then please click on the Fabrilushus  tab at the top of the home page. Hints and tips welcomed.

More Show and Tell

I know I only just did a "Show and Tell" but  you may as well see what else I have been making and what is keeping me so busy.

Let's get started. I have made 2 new bags.  The first is my ordinary tote bag.  This one has a little yoyo decoration.

This one is a different design, sort of rounded and slouchy.  I LOVE this doggie fabric. This bag comes complete with one of my felt brooches which can be removed.

While we are on the subject of doggies I may as well show you a very simple make...... a doggie fleece blanket with knotted fringe.

I have made a few baby items this last week.  Here is a fleece burp cloth.

A Ribbon blankie for a baby girl. It has a lovely textured back.

I have made some little hanging hearts in baby fabrics and filled them with lavender.   Hopefully these will get baby off to sleep.

Key rings are something new for me and I have made 3 so far.

I have made 8 new felt brooches using a different finish to normal.  These ones are blanket stitched together.

Well, I think that is about it for March.  I have got other things that I have been working on but I will show them another day.  I am still in the process of setting up a new blog specifically for Fabrilushus.  I also have exciting news coming soon regarding another outlet for my goodies.

I will hopefully find time to do another blog in the next few days.