52 Week Scrap Challenge

I've decided to join in on the 52 Week Scrap Challenge, which I found on And Sew We Craft Together. It is going to have an idea each week for something to sew out of scraps; and I think all sewers have box of scrap material left over from other projects. Not promising to join in every week, but it seems like a really nice idea and way to share, as there is a linky page to post your finished sewing on.

My other reason is that I have just committed myself to three Christmas craft fairs (sorry to mention that word so early). I know once I'm back at school time will be really limited, so I thought if I could make a few Christmas decorations I will feel that I at least will have something for my stall.

I didn't completely follow the instructions on Samilia's Mum. Most of my scraps seemed to be in long strips, so I sewed these on to a piece of fleece, and then used this to make the hearts.

I particularly like the lime green material, as this was a bit of the shirt that my husband wore when we got married.

I also sewed the hearts wrong side out, and then turned them. This probably made it more work. My other recommendation is to make the ribbon or cord for the tie longer than you think. This makes your decorations much easier to hang. 

I really like them and am going to make a few more in some sparkly white material I have, with a mix of blues.  Looking forward to seeing what next week's challenge will be.

"Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend"

Meet Audrey and Marilyn. Thank you for all the wonderful suggestions for more tiny icons. (I still have a few in mind.) I've been dithering with what to call this post, and toyed with "Breakfast at Tiffany's", but you get the idea.

I have tried to give these dolls authentic outfits, and they both have long elegant gloves and shoes, as well as a little bit of bling. They are doing their fashion shoot in my daughter's Greek Temple, which she made as a school project.

I did think Audrey should be a bit more gamine and sylph-like, and compared to Marilyn she seems tall. That is why Marilyn has decided to stand on a clothes brush. Although actually Audrey Hepburn was slightly taller than Marilyn Monroe. 

This Marilyn is also a bit larger than I wanted, or as my husband said it isn't in the right places. But I am still very fond of her. He has just looked over my shoulder as said Marilyn looks more like Bette Midler (humph!).

So meet Marilyn number two. This second Marilyn has a bit more of a shapely or buxom figure. (I am trying to be very careful how I phrase this post, as I gather the words you use in posts can bring you up in certain search engines.) So there will be two Marilyns in my shop, and I will have to work on a polite way to distinguish them.

To the Handmade Mondayers I just wanted to mention the 52 Week Scrappy Challenge, which I have written about in a separate post above. Sounds like fun!

 

Moonlight

I should have gone to bed, but I have been sitting in the back garden trying to photograph the moon and the clouds, which are particularly beautiful tonight. Something quite relaxing about waiting for clouds to get in the right position. There really is not much you can do but sit and wait.  

Hubby is sitting indoors, but telling me I won't be able to get a good close up without a tripod. "Back seat photographers" is what I say with derision!

Goodbye Cricket Class!

Each class in my school is named after a mini-beast. The really nice thing is the children take that name up with them as they progress through the school. So most children will be in that class for seven years. Last year I was in Caterpillar Class, so you can probably imagine what I gave them as an end of year gift. I also gave them the butterfly to go with their caterpillar.

So it has been worrying me a bit, as this year I have been working in Cricket Class. Not an easy job to make a cricket. There are a few crochet patterns available for crickets and grasshoppers, but I couldn't find any knitting patterns. Perhaps I have been watching too much Apprentice, but clearly there is a gap in the market!

So last night I sat down and set about making Charlie the Cricket. I decided to just go for it, so I have made this first little fellow without making many notes. Really speeds up the process, and although he is going to be wrapped up, I had then to make a duplicate, this time writing down exactly what I did for the pattern. 

I will probably make a few more. I've knitted him in a traditional cricket green, but a bit of reseach shows crickets come in many different shades. 

Will anyone want to knit a cricket? He can be a pal for my stag beetle, which seems to appeal to certain type of small boy. 

And for a sneak clue to the class I will be helping in September Click Here.

The Blueberry Clutch Bag

I am not very good at evening bags. I tend to have just one handbag that is large enough to contain absolutely everything I could possible need, and that goes everywhere with me. So when it comes to special events, I have often put thought into dress and shoes, only to find I have totally forgotten about a bag, and have to secrete the few things I might need for the night in my husband's pockets. 

So that is what put me in mind to design an evening bag. But the other thing was this lovely sparkly wool. I can't even tell you the maker, as I found it in a bargain bucket, and just loved its deep blue and sparkle.

This is my second design, as I started off doing something similar but with cables running down both sides. But in the end I undid this, as I thought the wool was pretty enough in itself, and didn't need too much fancy stitching.
 

The pattern explains how to sew in a lining. This helps the bag keep its shape, and I think the glimpse of a beautiful lining fabric also makes the bag much more glamorous. My lining is a beautiful piece of Thai silk. If you want to knit a larger bag the pattern also explains very simply how you can do this.

Tarka The Otter

This photo was taken by me at an Otter sanctuary in Suffolk.

I keep meaning to write about our Easter holiday, and post a few more pictures. I have also been trying to get to the end of reading "Tarka The Otter" by Henry Williamson, so I could write about that at the same time. But I had to wait for Frankie to finish it, before I could even start.

We were staying for a week in Skirr Cottage, in North Devon, where Henry Williamson lived while he was writing the book. As you can see it was very old and beautiful. I did think it would be rather wonderful for the whole family to sit in the evening reading this classic together in the place it was actually written (possible with me knitting an otter), but perhaps my children have got a bit old for that, and at the time I was concentrating on my shells and didn't want to start a brand new project. So Little One got her hands on the book first, and although I think she found it quite hard going at times, did get to the end (she is 10 years old).

Now I have finished reading "Tarka The Otter" as well. I had always thought it was a children's book, but in fact it was intended for adults. The descriptions of nature are beautiful, but also it doesn't pull any punches.  But I guess nature can be cruel. It reminded me a bit of Watership Down, although the animals are much less anthropomorphic (Do hope that is the right word!).

Lady Gaga - Tiny Icon

After Little One said my Cherry Fairies reminded her of Lady Gaga, it put in my mind to have a go at making the lady herself. I have had great fun with her. Her phone hat is sewn in place.

I have thought of a few other fashion or pop icons that I might have a go at making. If you have any suggestions for other Tiny Icons I would welcome them. Some ideas I have had are: Marilyn, Madonna, or Audrey. As you can see I am not very up-to-date. Lady Gaga is heading off to Etsy.

I have made her a little velvet bag to live in, with her name hand embroidered. I thought the deep burgundy suited her. I am going to put a tutorial on shortly on how to make these simple little bags. I've only made tiny ones for my toys, but guess larger bags could be useful for all sorts of things.