And I'm off!

I said I wanted to learn to Crochet.

Well.......

I did!

And all by myself... well just a little help required from some youtube videos.

So I now know how to start from my slip knot, do a chain stitch and turn back.

I was going to make a scarf. A nice simple start but as you can see from my picture, its getting shorter and shorter at the end. I don't know why thats happening. Can anyone shed any light?

But other than that I am very happy with my first shot at Crocheting.

I am awaiting an arrival of a huge crocheted blanket, courtesy of my Nan's 86 yr old friend! Shes a mean crocheter and works like nobodys business. I can't wait to get it and when I do I'll be showing it off on here.

A cupcake, an Owl and some fabric

As I mentioned in my last post, I have been asked to make some Cupcake decorations.
I'd done other cupcake stuff before but not hanging decorations.

So I thought I'd have a play around before doing the real thing and this is what I came up with

I'm quite pleased with it, especially for a first attempt. After I've done this order, I plan to make a few more of these.


Then on to the next big thing..... Owls!

He's looking a bit scrunched up due to being hugged to death by middle child. I quite like him too. I've started on a pink and purple one but I can't decide if it looks a bit urm..... odd shall we say.

Now I need to pick some bones with a certain lady.

Mrs Katy from I'm a Ginger Monkey. I wish she would stop linking fabric shops. My poor purse cannot take it anymore! I gave in to one of the links, a shop online called Fabric rehab (there really should be a fabric rehab) and I bought these little bits

I think this fabric will turn into doorstops. I love the pink and green combo.

This I have no idea what I'm going to do with but it was an absolute bargain. Its lovely because its quite thick.

And as for this, well it seems most people with a fabric problem has caved and bought this fabric. It is gorgeous. The only problem is that its rather thin and see through, so I'm not entirely sure what I will do with it. I guess it would make a good lining for a bag but then it seems a bit wrong to hide it that way.

I'm sure I'll find some use for it!

I'm going to post my Owl Swap gifts next week so I'll be able to show my little creation when its arrived at its destination!

Just a teensy weency look and a PIF

I was very excited last night.

The children were in bed by 6:15pm, I wanted to tidy up and be ready for 9pm.

I wanted peace, I wanted chocolate and more importantly I wanted a good view of the tele.

Why?

LOST of course!

Yes, this mad but brilliant show is back after a long year off. And I have been looking forward to it so much.

I don't think I've enjoyed any tv show as much as this. The actors are fantastic and even when you tell a non Lost watcher about the story line and it sounds a bit far fetched and silly, it really isn't.

I don't know what I'll do when it finishes. All these other American tv shows like 24, CSI, Bones, House and the likes just don't do it for me.

I'll just have to pray they bring Friends back ;)

So

what I actually came here for

Here's a sneaky look at my owl swap gift. I thought last night that I would make a start on it but to my suprise, I actually finished it! Not like me at all. I absolutely love it and I'm going to make some more for Folksy I think, but not until my swap partner receives this.

I've also been commisioned (I never like using that word) to make some Cupcake hanging decorations. I swear, the world is going cupcake crazy. They are everywhere. Them and Owls!

I'd originally left this post here but I completely forgot about the PIF I have signed up for!

Anna from Sew What has started a PIF that I have put my name down for. Now I have to admit I was a bit dim about PIF's. I didn't really know what they were about but after a couple of emails with Anna, I now know what I'm doing.

So basically, in PIF style I need to PIF 3 other people and in turn, so do they. I think Anna is PIFing 9 people in all, 3 in Singapore, 3 in Austrailia and 3 internationally (I think thats right, Anna if your reading and its wrong please let me know). Now I am not going to do that, purely because I just don't have the time. But I will PIF 3 other people. I will do it like Anna, so one in the UK, someone else in Europe (not UK though) and the last anywhere else in the world.

We have 365 days to PIF so lots and lots of time but the condition is that you PIF too, oh and also you have a blog. Anna made this point in her PIF and I think its a good one.

So if you'd like to sign up to the PIF, email me on MeeCrafts at googlemail dot com. I have also pinched Anna's PIF badge. I haven't a clue how to do it as a button so if anyone could enlighten me I'd really appreciate it!

I think thats it for now. Happy PIF ing!

Snow report

I thought I would share some of L and M's holiday pictures and at the end I'll show a sneak peek of my Folksy stock.

This is part (for goodness sake) of the 50ft cliff L fell from. When describing it, he said he was hanging from a young tree at one point, a'la Indiana Jones and the tree snapped. I'm not surpised holding his weight!

Here is M all kitted out

And a view shot. Not bad is it?

They both enjoyed it, depsite the drama of the "scary mountain" (named by M) and other events.

Did I mention that M lost her first tooth while they were there too. Well the first night actually! She has a nice little gap right at the bottom now.

So, onto the Folksy stuff. I'm not as far on as I'd like to be at this point, but I've made a start and thats given me some motivation to keep going. You know what its like when you lose a bit of crafting mojo.

This is one of the hanging decorations I'll be selling. I have some other hearts, all different, animals and other decorations.

I have plans to do some door stops and little softies, although I'm still a little unsure about selling softies. The issues that are happening in the US with handmade items are worrying me a little. Until it is dealt with, like other handmade sellers, I will unfortunately not be able to sell those kind of things to US peeps. Its very sad. There are so many unbelievably talented crafters out there.

I'll stop going on now. You all know about it.

I have no idea when I will get this Folksy shop up and running, but I hope it is very soon. I've been talking about it for far too long now and not doing anything about it.

This week I shall aim to blog another item for the shop. That will give me something to work against and I have to make a start on the Meridian Ariels Owl swap! I'm looking forward to this one. I have so many ideas in my head, I just don't know which one to pick.

Actually, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth

although you would think so.

Our disc drive went kapput on the laptop so its had to have a trip back to Sony to be repaired.

BUT

not before a system restore which meant backing up everything.

Enviromental issues must all come from our house. That great big gap in the ozone layer, well we probably doubled the size of it last week.

Backing everything up took 3 solid days. Yes thats right folks thats 72 hours of the laptop being on, day and night.

I actually thought the laptop would melt at one point it was that hot.

Anyway it is back now and all is well and I have internet connection.

Hurrah!

I've also spent a few days in York at my parents with the boys as L and M jetted off to a very cold Austria again for fun and frolics in the snow.

We had drama the week before when I trapped M's finger in our gate, resulting in a trip to A&E, a suspected small break and bandaged fingers, a day of vomiting, missing school and thats not to

mention middle child losing his beloved stinky bunny.

And just when we thought all had calmed for L and M's trip I get a phone call from L the first night they were there to say that he had fallen 50ft off a cliff.

We like to be boring in this family. Can you tell.

By some miracle he hasn't managed to break a single bone and only came out of it with a brusied shin but he was stuck at the bottom of this cliff for almost 2 hours. Not even the rescue team could find him. They were just about to send out the helicopters to come and find him when some shouted that they could see him and alerted the rescue people.

Nightmare.

Oh and I have just had a phone call to say that they have landed, all the bags have been collected but another drama unfolded today on the slopes. M had her rental skis stolen so L has had to cough up almost £80. Thats a nice end to your holiday isnt it.

So I have had what you may call an eventful fortnight. However this will end now and life will resume its normal dullness.

I will also resume sewing at some point as I'm not really on track with my Folksy plan (suprise suprise).

I would like to ask you a little favour though.

I could really do with an excellent tutorial on binding.

Now when I say excellent what I actually mean is simple with big pictures and clear instructions. Theres too much fluff in my head to deal with fiddly, long tutes.

I've been doing a bit of binding and to be quite honest its not very good.

Well in all honesty its utter crap. I should think my dog could do a better job.

So thats my favour.

If you know of a good tute, throw me a link over and I will be forever grateful.

I'll hopefully post again on Wednesday with some dramatic photography of the 50ft cliff and some other bits and bats.

The giveaway prize

I forgot to show you what I sent to Jill for winning my giveaway.

There was also a runner up prize but that hasn't been sent yet so I'll show that one later. So if your reading Jennyflower, its on its way very soon. I haven't forgot about you!

I made a smaller more square version of the soft storage box. They are so useful.

Then a little (well its not that little actually) felt corsage. Now I found a link to the pattern for this on Whip Up but at the moment I cannot for the life of me remember the name of the blog (apologies blog and pattern owner) and Whip Up isnt working either.

And finally I also sent some nice shiny metallicy coloured thread. I know Jill likes her silks and shiny things.

Ok, I'm off to get some work done.

New Year, new look

Happy new year to you all.

Heres to fantastic 2009!

Did you celebrate, have a party or just a quiet night in?

Living next to the local pub, we had to endure 5 hours of a not so great singer belting out some cheesy tunes and killing some very great tunes.

She successfully woke up middle child with her screeching so it was nearing 2am when we finally got to sleep.

At least I saw the new year in. Personally I'd have prefered to see it in watching the back of my eyelids, but never mind.

So, any resolutions?

I never make them and if I did they would be broke in no time. Just call me Mrs zero willpower!

I am however going to be stocking up ready to open up a Folksy shop.

I will do this. Last year was too hectic but hopefully with middle child increasing his preschool days and small fry getting a bit bigger, I will have more time to get things done.

Thats the plan anyway.

Oh and thats not to mention a possible mum and toddler group that I may be opening with another mum!

Gluten

for

punishment.

Happy new year!