Christmas Countdown

I love the countdown to Christmas , the last couple of years we've had a small cheap advent calender that was a string of little felt trees with a pouch for a chocolate at the front, but it was really only small enough for 1 chocolate. With 2 children last year we managed to squash 2 in each tree but it's seen better days and is falling apart now.

I thought I could make one, okay I thought about it weeks ago, had a plan and promptly forgot about it. 

I remembered yesterday when I couldn't find any chocolate advent calenders in town. 

So last night I made this.

 I used an old picture frame (I seem to have a few old fashioned frames knocking around) and strung 4 lines of string at the back. Then sat for the long hall making 24 small bags with numbers patches on the front. I just used a fabric pen to write the numbers on (eventually I may embroider over them so it looks better) and picked a selection of 4 styles of fabric which were in my stash. I wanted to make bags big enough to fit small lego toys, sweets and crafty treats in them. The little Christmas pegs were ones we'd made last year to hold up cards ( I'll show you how another time) and I've still to fill a lot of the bags but I think it works well.

I was worried this morning when Maisie asked if she had a Moshie Monsters advent calender, but when they saw this set up they were really excited and began working out who'd open the first bag. Lucas got to pull out the first treats(Mint chocolate trees) and with that the countdown begins :-)

How did your countdown begin?

Amanda.x.

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.

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.

December 1st - So it begins.

 Merry December 1st, in my house this is officially the start of Christmas in that the decorations begin to appear around the house. Hubby doesn't like it looking too Christmassy so early, so I tend to start with just a few pieces and build up until Tree time.

I've had these tiny silver angels for a few years bought from a little gift shop in Carlisle, their little metal bodies shine against the lights.

 My crocheted snowflakes, I have a few of these in various sizes so they tend to appear and move around normally ending up on the Tree.

 This year is the first year that we've had a fireplace, which is wonderful.  I've found the children looking up it with my sons Thomas the Tank Engine Torch, to see if they though Santa would fit down, they're still not sure that he would and have decided he'd probably come in the front door using his magic key,like in our other house(oh the lies we tell).

 Maisie and I spent today making paper chains, I wanted to do Christmas crafts and focus on making things for Christmas rather than everything being bought, my Mum still has things we made as children and it gives me a really warm feeling when I see them at this time of year. I bought these paper chains from Marks and Spencer for £3.50, I could have cut the paper out and got some pritstik but she was too impatient and  wanted to be making, it's rare at this time of year to get time together to just enjoy a simple thing like that so I wasn't going to argue.

 These are my new Christmas lights, waiting to go on the Tree I love the green/blue colours. Behind is the children's Playmobil calender, they have a chocolate one too but I liked the idea of them building up a winter scene which they could get out each year.  

Have you started your Christmas build up yet, or are you a last minute person?

Love Amanda.x.

Country Living Christmas Show, Glasgow.

Well I've been so busy with shop job work I've not had the chance to blog about the wonderful 

Country Living Christmas Show which was held in Glasgow, they do quite a few shows all over the country.

This was extra special though as my friend Catherine Ball was having a space there and had asked if she could take some of mine and another friends stock too. This post shows that stand and gives you links were you can buy from these lovely ladies, but I'm going to do some other posts showing stands of note.

 This is Catherine unpacking stock quick as possible as it was selling out quickly, I loved her space using antique furniture, especially the letterpress tray she uses to display rings and small items in.

 You can see some of my stock here, my crocheted covered tea light holders sold well.

 The drawers attached to the wall worked really well showing off the pieces but making them very shop-able, Catherines pieces are all unique and incorporate laces relief texture or are stitched, which is beautiful.

To keep up with Catherines latest news and products click the link here, Stitched Ceramics.

 Above you can see her amazing hand stitched vessels, I love the flower design.

 I think my crocheted pieces work really well along side the textures of her ceramics, here you can see my Hurricane Lamp, I've only made the one so far, but think they could make lovely wedding centre pieces.

 Showing my pieces here, tea light holders, purses, cosy cups; it was great to hear feedback from customer at this, and other stalls. I'm thinking of going back next year but with my own stand. 

Below is a suitcase of treasure from the other seller in the stall Natalie from Flossy Teacake, she is certainly a crafter to watch out for. Her work has instant appeal styled from her childhood memories, using mixed media, she creates amazing 3D models of buildings and townscapes. 

Click the link for her facebook page, Flossy Teacake.

The atmosphere around all the stalls was amazing, and it was great to see that even in the grim economic climate we currently have people still treasure the quality and uniqueness of the handmade.

Hope to be there next year,

Amanda.x. 

Five Pom Pom Rings.......

Okay so there's six rings but I wouldn't mind an extra one, would you? As a crafter I love crafting gadgets and pom pom makers are top on the list of cool ones, these are just examples of the ones in my local 

wool shop but they can bought in other styles, sizes and shapes. 

Yes shapes the one at the bottom makes heart shaped pom poms. I have some basic round ones already but pom poming is addictive and easy for all ages so if you're stuck what to buy for your niece or crafting friend for Christmas, one of these and a ball of basic wool will score you high brownie points.

That's if you don't keep it for yourself.

Happy Yuletide.

Amanda.x

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

Four tweetie birds on a T.

This t-shirt is so cosy, I adore those button eyed birdies, tweet tweet and has been hand embellished by iEllie over on Folksy. This would make a lovely unique give for any lady.

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.

And the Needles are out

I'm ashamed to say I haven't done any knitting all year, crochet having taken over my crafting time, making crocheted brooches is such fun but sometimes the end design just needs two needle love instead of one. 

Hence the needles are out, but not just any needles these are the beautiful Cath Kidston needles in a roll my Boss bought me for my birthday, I can not believe that from all my family & friends the only crafty gift I received for my birthday was from my Boss, the fabric as usual with Kidston items is lovely but what's surprising is the quality of the wooden needles provided they are a dream to knit on.

This is the start of my Autumn/Winter range of wrist warmers, a simple pattern that I hope works out as I've designed it myself.

The yarn I'm using is Wendy Allegra, bought from my LYS(Local yarn store) in Carlisle called The Superior Sewing Centre, the staff their are very helpful and don't mind at all that I often go just to visit their stash and stroke it a little.  The Allegra Yarn is 32% Alpaca, 31% Acrylic and 37% Polyester, making a wonderfully soft but hard wearing yarn, and comes is lots of beautiful colourways, and look how beautifully retro the label is.

Knitting with this is is very easy giving a lovely result, just look at how fluffed up it is, but unlike some other yarns of this mixture it holds it's fibres well with no splitting or pulling of threads.

I can't wait to see the end result.

So what's on your needles this week?

Amanda.x.

RE inspired

Something I discovered recently is that I want to make pieces I'll love making & selling them would just be a way of sharing those finished items with others; rather than making things that I think people would like and would need to buy.

This came to me at the Love Christmas Farye I did just before Christmas, I'd worked my socks off making stock which I thought would sell great on the night, rushing designs(especially jewellery) and producing high street style pieces, which I sell at a low price.

Wow, did I get a kick in the butt, did I sell any of those? Err, no I sold the items I'd made unhurried and uncaring of what I thought people would want but where I found joy the process of making them.

Hmm, having a major rethink 6 months into starting in business is maybe not the best idea but better now than later.

So re-evaluation over I needed inspiration for a new collection of country cottage/nanna inspired homeware I'm developing, which just happens to coincide with me doing up my entire house.

See number 9 in my goals for the year.

Previously I'd discounted ideas thinking people won't pay what it would take to make that, blah blah, now I don't care, I'll make it & if it sells it sells, but at least I won't feel like a sell out.

As a crafter my problem is never coming up with something to make but what will I really enjoy making, you have so many fragments of ideas floating around in your head but if you pick the wrong one then you'll lose momentum and never finish. Lucky for me I was invited on a girls road trip to Corbridge about an hour away, this small beautiful village boast an amazing array of boutique and antique shops but we'd drove all this way for one shop I've wanted to visit since looking it up in an article from Red magazine.

The shop is called RE. And boy it did not disappoint.

An amazing place the staff/makers even let me take photos for this blog, so look in on them either in person or through cyberspace they're worth the look.

Below are just some of the beautiful items on display.

RE guys your products are beautiful, staff friendly, shop inspiring, and didn't put a major dent in my purse. Thanks for a lovely visit.

Thanks Amanda.x.

Hanging on to The Last of Summer.

Hi these are 2 little necklaces I've made & listed in both my MISI & FOLKSY shops so lets see which sells first. They close with sleek, super strong magnetic clasps with are great if you have trouble with doing the catches or children that pull your necklaces.