I like Big Bears and I cannot lie

In the Summer(what we had of it) I wrote this post on a wonderful shop in the Lake District called Temporary Measure, as it says in that post I had my eye on the When I was Bear book for Lucas' birthday.  I did indeed order the book, and he loves it like I thought it was (although not as much as Fireman Sam but that's 4 year olds for you). I also purchased the pattern for the Big Bear and the Rabbit too.

I hope to have these both in my children's stocking for Christmas. 

 Sorry for the appalling photography, the light is awful here at the moment.  It's been lovely to get crafting again, I feel as if all my inspiration and creativity as been sucked from me of late. It's nice to just concentrate on the click clacking of the needles and see a project grow.  I'm not normally a knitter but a crocheter, however I've enjoyed the challenge of actually sticking to a pattern. 

 I'm using size 6 needles and Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Chunky (Aran), I don't normally use this yarn as it's quite highly priced(about £4-£5 depending on where you buy from) but I found a bag of 6 and half balls in a charity shop for £4 and who could resist that. I didn't know what I'd use the yarn for at the time, but as soon as I got this pattern I knew it was perfect to become A Very Big Bear.

So far I've completed the head, ears, both legs and the body.  I think with the size needles I'm using and my tension it will knit up bigger than the largest size on the pattern, the head easily fits over my very chunky hands.  I'm hoping to finish the arms tonight and then get on with the stuffing. 

I think he'll be a very big bear indeed, just perfect for big boy cuddles.

Are you making something for your loved ones this Christmas?

Amanda.x.

Fairy Tales in Photos

Last month Hannah who I've worked with for several years got married, her lovely Husband to be had proposed while they were in New York a city they both adore, and the wedding was New York themed.

  We wanted to get them a special gift from everyone at work, they were going to New York and Las Vegas but also wanted to fly over The Grand Canyon but didn't think they could afford it; we decided to give them cash.

But really... cash just isn't a special gift to me, I know that will help them do something special, but I love finding gifts more, and we had a bit of funds kept by for some presents too. 

As a couple we knew (my sister is her friend,so we had a spy in their mist) they liked unfussy, simple design elements in bold colours. These Rob Ryan mugs seemed perfect.

But we wanted something special to them, a gift that showed we all really thought lots of them as a couple. We wanted something designed just for them, I'd never commissioned my own piece of art before and I must say it was very daunting. Doubly so as the finished piece wasn't for me. 

Originally I'd had an idea of making something embroidered with words to make up a picture of the New York skyline or a big apple (New York, get it), but I knew I'd never get it near finished in time for their wedding. So instead we'd started to look at sites which made personalised prints.

A friend on Twitter(love it) recommended Photofairytales . I contacted Sarah to discuss a commission and was pleasantly surprised at the price for a piece she designs ( I can't put it here incase the bride and groom read) making it a very affordable and special gift. I had a very definite image of what I wanted and was surprised when the first prove came through and she'd got what I wanted straight away. Communication was very easy and I was able to feel confident about the design process, adding Example in at the last minute as they Facebooked meeting him while on honeymoon.

It's wonderful, containing things special to the happy couple, and permanent reminder of their life together, wedding day and honeymoon. 

They were over the moon with their gift, as was I with Sarah's level of customer service and design. 

Thank you for a lovely canvas, made by someone who truly cares about their work.

Amanda.x.

Why I'm a bad crafting blogger?

Because I keeping making things and not showing the process before it's done.

I got this far on making Maisie a crochet cardigan before going "Bugger I should have blogged that", and there was plenty to blog as it's the first crocheted garment I've ever made. 

A quick run down would be I picked the pattern, printed it, started the first line of cardigans bobbles and decided I didn't like it, threw pattern away, and made up the rest. 

I got this far before even thinking to try it on Daughter.  

Yes I'm that type of crafter, but thankfully it does indeed fit and looks quite cardigan like.  

I have the yoke to finish and Maisie would like little sleeves added.

I may have to try and work out how I made it now, so I can write it up as a pattern.

 Also another crafting success but forgotten in the blogging write up was my little Mistletoe brooch, it took few goes to get this right, the hardest bits being the little bobble berries, they can end up looking quite big or messy. The brooch is now for sale in my Maisielu shop here.

I think it would make a nice gift for any Winter loving friend or relative, I have one on my jacket and it gets lots of comments.

Thank you for reading,

love Amanda.x.

On the First day of Christmas my true love gave to me...

A Beautiful craft book and a cup of tea.


Now every year my family seems to forget what my biggest hobbies are and never buy me anything craft based for my stocking, I ask for wool and they just chuckle, a jelly roll got me strange looks, I even have a huge Amazon wishlist of crafty books they could easily pick from.
But no every year I get told I'm hard to buy for, and I kind of understand it, if you're not craft orientated then how do you know where to start. Well start with a nice craft book, even if the projects aren't something they'd make straight away craft are beautiful to look through for inspiration. 
I was lucky enough to be sent Stitch! by Cath Kidston to review, and if you have any friends into making things then this is the book to buy them for Christmas. 


STITCH!
This book is a new look at needlepoint and cross stitch which often get thought of as old fashioned,but is probably one of the simplest ways to embroider on cloth, and one I learnt early as a child.
The projects use a lot of Kidstons iconic patterns as well as sticking to to basic designs for beginners. Most of the projects are quick to make and low cost.
Not all the projects are roses and dots though, look at this stunning Cowboy, this will look great in my sons bedroom.

The layout of the book is clear and simple with stage by stage instructions being very easy to follow. It would make a great book for a crafty teenager to have a go at and there's some makes in the book which would be especially suited to a young crafter, such as the badges below.

I especially liked the Union Jack pencil case, I think this may be my first new year project to sort my crochet hooks into, the colour ways can easily be adapted to suit your tastes.

If you do choose to buy your loved one this book it should be accompanied by a cup of tea and a good couple of hours to plan their next project.

Which is happily included in the book, as there is nothing worse than getting a beautiful new book only to have to wait till the shops open before you can make anything.
This book contains a giveaway project to make a lovely new purse for yourself too.
The book retails at £14.99.

Enjoy your first day of Christmas, was it a snowy one for you?
Amanda.x.

Roses are red,pink,blue,orange,green...

So it turns out there are some great benefits to Maisie being at school, and that's getting some crafting time back, and boy have I being making the most of it. Below is my rainbow of Rose corsages I've been working on, they look so pretty, but I'm not sure if they need leaves before I put them in the shop.

What do you think? Maybe felt ones with fabric trims, hmm.

Would you like to see any different colours?

I'm also trying to work on a crocheted jewellery range, more on that soon.

 

The wool I use for these Roses is Rico Creative Cotton, which is a beautiful fibre for crochet, it doesn't split and glides through your fingers. 

I've been using this cotton for ages, collecting a little range of colours but thought it was a little expensive in my LYS at £2.50 per ball, & had my fears confirmed that I'm being locally ripped of by those smiling old ladies when I Googled it and found this lovely shop, First4Yarns selling it at £1.50. And what's worse is that I always read Attic 24 blog and Lucy had previously blogged about this yarn & where to buy it from.So I have now learnt my lesson, even though I'm a crusader for buying locally I think with this yarn I be getting it from First4Yarns. Look at the lovely pile I've still got left, sat there in all it's yarny goodness.

This brings me to my other exciting news, on the 4th October I'll be running my first craft workshop at Weft Studio in Carlisle, on how to make these Roses and after that date I'll publish the pattern here for you all to have a go.

Love Amanda.x.

GIVEAWAY-the best things in life continued

As discussed in the last post sometimes the best things in life are free, so to help with that the lovely folks at CSN Stores are partnering with me in a give-away for all my readers, for a £40 gift certificate to use in any of their UK websites. 


CSN Stores has amazing online stores where you can find anything from lights and furniture to cookware and baking products, I particularly love this vintage Victoria & Albert Museum cake stand, which would be my most wanted Summer essential for my home, although I'd have to learn to bake he cupcakes to fill it.

To enter just leave a comment below saying what your favourite Summer essential would be, it doesn't have to be from the CSN site but it may give you some great ideas for if you win the competition. 
The winner will be drawn at random on Sunday 13th June.
Good Luck
Amanda

sunny stock

my crafting mojo has been a little lacking of late, too much household tripe and sick children, but then it arrived a little package in the post from CandyTiles2 on Esty, i tried to link but couldn't figure it out, if anyone could let me know?

this birthday gift to myself has rekindled my crafty vibe and got me thinking that it will soon be teacher gift time, where parents need that small, perfect and reasonably priced item.

These are now for sale in my Folksy shop at http://www.snowflakeunique.folksy.com.