Swirls and Ruffles - the final results

On my last blog post I showed some WIP's using some new techniques I was experimenting with - swirls and ruffles. Once I'd got the set made up I started turning them into all manner of things from hair accessories to purses. The pics below are pics from a recent craft fair, followed by a showcase of my finished work:

The Craft Fair - All Set To Go and Praying for Sun!!

Not sure I'll give the great outdoors a go next year - but its been a good experience. Have 1 more outdoor event to go. The craft fairs are then stacking up for the Autumn, so I'm making a list and prioritising which ones I really want to go to. There's a lovely vintage event coming up at Burlsedon Brickworks that I really like the sound of. Its a fascinating place - an abandoned brick factory being brought back to life by dedicated volunteers with an interest in  industrial archaeology. Their latest project involves getting former workers together to do some form of living history. Its a good day out, with lots of hands on stuff to keep the kids happy, trains, a bookshop full of inspiration for crafters with an interest in vintage and of course an onsite miniature railway.

Spirals Showcase!

Am already getting orders for this little coin purse - available from my Folksy Shop as a custom order - click on the photo to visit the store:

Sneak Preview of Listings to Come!

 Am planning to write up some patterns for spiral designs once my daughter is back to college and Mum's Taxi can have a bit of a rest! Its going to be challenging to explain the spiral process, I had to hunt through several blogs and how to sites before I found one that "clicked" for me.

 A-Listers

As well as doing fairs and some teaching, I've also been trying - badly - to do the A-Listers Daily Listings Club on Folksy. Last week was manic as I had tax courses and a very short notice all day training to write and deliver. It was the first one in 3 years and I loved it. It was also a bit of a test for me as to whether I can physically cope with the demands of work again and I think I did ok all in all. And my crafts became a source of relaxation again, which I really appreciated. Am hoping that I won't go into my usual "September Slump" and have a bit of relapse - apparently its all to do with atmospheric pressure and most people with similar spinal issues experience it, so I might just have to accept its going to be a regular thing. Once I get the business established I can then plan around anticipated problem areas and ensure my workload is realistic!

Here's a mini showcase form the A-Listers - Cirles and Spirals

Laura Faye Crafts - Clear Resin Pendant

Falling Dew - Universal Jewellery

Esme Dodswoth - Round Pink Glitter Necklace

Averil Pam - Polymer Clay Layered Pendant

 

 

Gimme that Thing - Charcoal Grey Flower Ring

Crochet Techniques

I've been doing much experimenting with crochet this past week - and over the weekend I was looking around for inspiration for a craft fair - I wanted something a little different and eye catching. I'd been having a go for a while at trying to create spirals and ruffles but was never completely happy with them. So I decided to try google images and see what I could see. Sometimes I find it easier to search that way as you can actually see what you want. With the help of some fab pictures and the odd blog I finally cracked them both! As you can see from the pics the majority are still WIPS - mainly needing some ends sewn in and the bag of course needs to be lined.

I started off making some very simple spirals in 2 colours - just to see what would happen:

Decided that they looked like treble clefs if you joined 2 together so have started on a shabby chic musically inspired brooch

Some edging, crochet net and a suggestion from a friend and a simple spiral can easily become a retro snood...

Thought hmmmm what about bigger and invented a coin purse, complete with safety strap - am going to have a go at a few more colour combinations and also write up the pattern for this one.

Then a bag, very 70's retro but ideal for the minimalist!.....

And am itching to get commissions finished so I can do a scarf and a blankie..


As for the ruffles, I came across an entry for "hyperbolic" scrubbies... I knew what a scrubbie was but had no idea what hyperbolic meant... but it turned out to be "simples" - its basically when the circumference of a circle doubles or more in size with each row you add to it. The edges then start to "run away" from each other producing a lovely waved effect. The more rows you add the crinklier your work gets.

I also found that thicker yarns (DK) on thin hooks (2mm) upped the "crinkle factor" whereas 4ply yarns on the same size hook made for a smoother curve. Have started on brooches but also have some other ideas such as ruffly hats if I can sort out how to join the basics pieces together.... I do love playing with freestyle crochet so am sure there's a solution somewhere!

My 4ply ruffle is one of my favourites and has made it into my Folksy Shop as a very pretty brooch. I went out into the New Forest on a cheer me up mission with a lovely friend a few weeks back. She's a camera nut and helped me take some sunset pics

The one above is a favourite and very atmospheric. Whilst I was odds and ends hunting to have a go at ruffles, I came across a range of 4ply yarns in "sunset shades". With this pic in mind, plus many other beautiful Hampshire sunsets - across the Solent as well as the forest and even from my very urban back garden, I created this lovely little brooch. Its an ideal way to take these bright and hopeful colours wherever you roam:

Tequila Sunset Brooch - Bits and Bobs Crafts

Joining the A-Listers

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What's in a Heart? = Folksy Friday

For today's Folksy Friday, I'm featuring hearts as my theme. So I got to wondering what the heart symbolises, is the meaning the same now as in the past. What about if hearts are different colours than the traditional red. So I spent an hour or so wandering the internet reviewing info on a wide range of sites - some very informative and interesting and others as clear as mud and gleaned the following info:

What do hearts mean?

We use the heart in many ways to act as a symbol for many words, even though in modern times it is often a symbol for the commercialism of St Valentine:

 

The simple heart says "I love you" or "I love this" or "Sending you lots of love". Its originis come from ancient times when the heart was thought to be the centre of the soul and controller of all emotions - that's why we "give our heart" to someone or "Put heart and soul" into something.

However change the colour of the heart and you change its meaning:

Black  -  hard heartedness or evil intent


Yellow hearts - lack courage


Purple hearts in America are a symbol for bravery - an award for valour in wartime


White hearts  - purity and innocence


Whilst many believe the green heart is a symbol for envy, in ancient cultures green is the colour of nature, of balance, unconditional love, forgiveness.

The heart with the arrow is taken to mean "love struck", you've been hit with one of "cupid's arrows". However the original symbol has Christian origins - the heart pierced was an ancient symbol for Christ - who gave his heart by chosing to die on the cross. There are many instances where new cultures adopt symbolism from others and perhaps this is one , maybe the heart pierced had a pagan meaning - or perhaps we've taken a Christian symbol and brought it into modern popular culture and changed its meaning? 

Finally this is the broken heart - a sign of sorrow, adandonment, the end of a relationship. Its a powerful symbol that says a lot without words about our state of mind.

What else do hearts say about us?

Doodling hearts is a sign of being in love or having a romantic nature

Dreaming of hearts can be sign of love or stress - it depends what your heart is doing in the dream - racing hearts mean stress. This is giving me images of hearts with trainers on going for a jog lol!

Adding flames to a red heart and gives a symbol for passion


So next time you're doodling a heart...... will you think about what it really means?


I crocheted this heart as a way of acknowledging the work and progress made by myself and a group of other ladies across Hampshire. We did a confidence building course and ended it off with a Gala Night, which we organised. Each lady had a goodie bag - and I crocheted and knitted keyrings. I'm now selling off the surplus ones in my Folksy Shop - to purchase a keying, please click on the photo:

What do you think the Fabulous Folksy Makers are saying with their hearts?

1. Polly Krafts                2.Clarkie Designs         3.Pants and Paper
4. Sow's Ear, Silk Purse    5.Murano Magic           6. Photography by Gail Griggs

A bit of sunshine!

For most kids the school holidays have finally started today but although there's none of the dreaded wet stuff down in Hampshire, there are no reported sightings of the rare yellow disc in the skies. It seems to be hiding under its big grey duvet again. Its really muggy and humid today and totally energy sapping. I feel I would be much happier laying on a beach somewhere being fanned and served cocktails by a George Clooney lookalike - can't afford the real thing lol!

But the skilled gang at Folksy have been working hard to create all sorts of lovely things that remind us of the sun (click on the photo to visit their shop):

Bits and Bobs Crafts - Sunflower Brooch

 

 

Bedecked Beads - Fimo Sunflower Necklace

Blooms Art - Spring Daisies Print

Today's lack of sun has at least meant I've been working hard - got lots of research sorted this morning that I've been putting off, taught a 1 to 1 lesson and have been off browsing in yarn shops - red yarn for a commission, which lead to a bargain ball of a soft green denim knit yarn. I then wandered into a couple of charity shops and after being fleeced by my daughter for a dress I now have to let out - they never listen do they! - I found a tunisian crochet hook and a technical knitting manual and all for £2.50 total so am quite pleased with myself there. Next step is to start covering some caravan cushions before getting the needles out and starting on the red bolero!

NEW!

There is a free pattern to download HERE for the first of my festive range, an irish crochet rose:

If you don't want to make your own, it is available from my Folksy Store, simply by clicking the image

I designed this little brooch yesterday. I've been toying with Christmas ideas for a while and made some lovely baubles, which I'll show you later in the week. The Christmas decs are in "the dangerous cupboard", which means trying to get to the tinsel I want to photograph them against could end in serious injury! am sure we all one :-). Once I'd finished it, my thoughts turned to charity makes as I've not done any for a while and I thought that this rose would be ideal as you could pick and choose the colours to match their logos. Additionally they are quick and easy to make up, so they could easily share the pattern and get their supporters crocheting them up.
Also it would make a lovely wedding favour - crocheted in the wedding colour schemes - for lady guests... the possibilities are endless...

My next projects

Have 2 projects on the needles this week:

The first is a baby jacket in a lovely lemon cotton yarn, which is really soft and a joy to knit with. I'm basing the design on this 18th century baby vest I discovered on my wanderings across the net

I've decided to make the jacket with a cross over front for extra warmth and have devised a cute little edging pattern using interupted stocking stitch checks. Have also chosen a simple cable pattern to achieve the textured effect. This is my first piece of clothing I've ever designed from scratch and I'd totally overlooked the maths involved! So the poor brain cell is not happy with me at all :-)

I've also started playing with ideas for the little yarn craft boxes - am experimenting with crochet, knitting and tunisian crochet, straight and mitred squares to see what will work the best. I'll also need to experiment with the best way to stiffen the boxes once they're made. I wonder if I can make a patchwork one that uses all the different techniques?  Am thinking they'll make quirky christmas decs, perhaps gifts too if I fill them with lavender or maybe cinnamon and maybe even gift boxes? Will really have to play over the next few weeks I think!

I also had some lovely feedback today when I went to hand in the "Mrs Beeton Scarf" and collect some craft items that were being stored for me following a craft fair. It was a real confidence boost. My "posh" business cards arrived today too so now need to consider what to do about a marketing strategy to get my name known locally

Have completed Strawberries and Cream

Have finished the pretty little Strawberries and Cream bag and dispatched it off to its new owner too :-)
 Eventually I decided to make the handle by crocheting a dc stitch over the strip of fabric, knotted at both ends. I then sewed this into the top of the bag securely. Was such a simple ideas and by using stripes of both red and cream wool I achieved quite a stylish handle. I enjoyed making this little bag so much and have received alot of good feedback about it so will be having a go at a larger version soon for my Folksy Shop.

I even made a little butterfly bag charm so that the little lady who will be having this bag for her birthday feels really grown up :-) I made sure I worked the beads into the design so that there's no way little fingers can pull them off and pop in the odd places young children seem to favour!

Take a look at my charity makes page

Have uploaded photo's and linked to knitting, crochet and cross stitch patterns for a range of items I've designed  to my Charity Makes Page for the Pulmonary Hypertension Association UK's blue lips appeal. My designs are also featured in their summer news letter - I'll post a link to a scan of the page once I have a copy :-)
I got involved with this because a really good friend of mine who has a similar spinal condition to me was diagnosed with PH in the summer and was very fortunate to still be with us. She's really helped me learn about my condition and has kept me sane when things have looked bleak and frustrating - so I just want to do something in return. It would be great to see some other crafters getting involved and making some of these items and perhaps even running a "Pucker up for PH Event"!

Conquering Strawberries and Cream

This is not a diet tip :-)..... I love Strawberries and Cream far too much to conquer them.
Its simply the name I've given to my little curved bag and am happy to report its almost there. I played around with various ideas for the side panels and spent much time "crocheting in reverse" until I stumbled upon a creative solution:

By increasing evenly across the rows and increasing the gap between the increases once per row I ended up with these pretty little fans. I was then left with another minor problem - how to shape the curved centre to the bag - so after a bit of fiddling around I hit upon the idea of crocheting straight rows across one of the straight sides of the fan, shaping the inner curve as I went....

The test was then putting it together to see if the idea worked and made up a front for this pretty little bag and this is what I ended up with, having crocheted around the "neck line" to pull it all together:

And as you can see I also played around a bit more with the idea of a flower on the front and have changed the original design slightly to turn it into a patch pocket. The back is nearly finished so onward and upward for an evening working out the handle - probably pretty little crochet beads - thank you Pam for your suggestion :-). Will also crochet a strip to form the sides of the bag to give it a little bit of depth. Have enjoyed making this one so much am considering making a much larger adult version for my Folksy Shop

Biscornu

Have you heard of the "Biscornu Craze" that's sweeping through the cross stitch world? Instructions and pictures can be found on Biscornu Basics. Having made some in cross stitch in the past - tiny little ones as brooches mainly, using both cross stitch and black work - I tried some time back to knit one! I ended up learning to make a mitred square first and then joining them and crocheting a border and was reasonably happy with it.

But recently my thoughts have turned to crochet. I was playing with an idea I'd seen a picture of - making a granny square and using it as the basis for a "log cabin" patchwork. So I made 16 and joined them and having run out of yarn was a at a bit of a loss as to what to do next. So I made a large granny square in white, using odds and ends of the left overs from the patchwork - and again I ran out, just as I got to the start of the edging for the for the front.... So I thought it would probably make a pretty cushion cover for a little girl's bedroom.... but then the biscornu bug "bit me" and I decided to play!! As a result, I have now ready for stuffing a beautiful patchwork cushion in biscornu style! I did a "test stuff" using a standard cushion and it works beautifully.... so next step is to do battle with the sewing machine tomorrow, finish it off, write the pattern up and post it here as a freebie!