Take one a day

Day 14

Do you believe in coincidences? In the trashy crime novels I read - there guilty secret's out - there's no such thing as a coincidence.

Several strange things have happened to me while on Flickr. I know we're back to yesterday's post but this is spooky. Several weeks ago I posted a picture of a white blanket I'd crocheted and listed.

Then Gabylight  posted her blanket to show me she'd done something similar. Then she posted a beautiful shawl. The background duvet is exactly the same one I have from IKEA.  A coincidence, yes, but it can be explained as two people having the same tastes.

But when this happened this morning I can only put it down to some sort of telepathy. I've always liked the work of Peregrine Blue. She has an Etsy shop. Her newly posted photo really sparked something this morning.

I visited her blog Por Amor Al Arte to see here wonderful fibre art pieces. It reminded me of the work I used to do. I studied Embroidered Art at O level, Textile Art in college but for some reason, (well - work, family etc, etc)  I'd never carried on. OK, I've had the odd flirt with cross stitch, sewing, crochet but never used those crafts to express myself. Looking back over this month's projects I've realised, as Lolly Rotten did, that this is not the real me. There's too much cute.

After looking at Flickr I had a quick check of my blog and found that while I was looking at her blog Peregrine Blue had left a comment on my Yoyo page. This is what she said,

 'so impressive, addiction or not you are on to creating something very original'

Now that is spooky! It's also a kick up the bum. I need to find my voice in the mayhem out there. Since finishing work I have been revisiting old skills and trying to learn new ones. I now need to put these together and find my expressive side.

I then wasted the best part of the morning looking for a simple crochet hexagon pattern to use as a backing for my African flowers. I finally found one after wading through the mud of an internet search. It was written in American terms which is fine, so was the African flower pattern. I can translate. Except this pattern  also included invented terms that were probably significant to the person who wrote the pattern but not to me.

By this time I'd had enough. You know what? I'm an intelligent person so I wrote my own. I've spent today trying it out.

Thank you to Knitter Gal for asking what I did with the back of the pincushion I listed today. Without that question I would have made the backs the same as the fronts.

This pretty pincushion is listed on Folksy and Etsy It's made from organic cotton, my favourite. The African flower motif is on both sides.

My Folksy July Jewel today is Damselfly Gemma The yummy colours of these gorgeous earrings remind me that I've still to finish Bill's friend.

Happy birthday, Gemma!

Take one a day

Day 13

I love Flickr. There's a whole world out there full of wonderfully creative people who are willing to share their work, lives, thoughts with you. I just love clicking my way through Explore. It can get mesmeric. You never know what will turn up with the next refresh.

My contacts are people with the same interests or are friends, relatives and people who, quite frankly, have a weird take on life. My favourites are special to me. This is why I don't understand it when you get your favourites favourited en masse by somebody you don't know and has nothing to give you back.

'Block them!' I hear you shout and I just might.

This is a very roundabout way to tell you about today's project. It's back to crochet for me. The other day one of me contacts Knitter gal posted a photo of an African flower hotpad. I'd always wanted to try this particular motif. These are my attempts. In order, starting with the first.

 





Those of you who have read my blog before will know that I suffer from crochet motif addiction. This is one that I will indulge in after this month is over. If I keep going I might perfect it.

Note to self - organic cotton is great but for this try something with really vibrant colours.

Today I've listed a little blue gingham house on Folksy. It can be used as a door hanger or as a wall decoration. The little red heart has been left open at the top. I use mine to post messages in.

Today's Folsky July Jewel is Lampwork Beads by Jo

I love these yummy red beads. I can think of a few things in my wardrobe that they would look great with.

Take one a day

Yesterday Steve off of ArtySandp asked me if I was counting. The answer is, 'Yes!!!!' He's set himself a challenge too. Check it out here

I sat in the garden at lunchtime putting the embroidery on today's project - a red gingham hanger cover.

For some reason I felt really tense. I was worried about making a knot to start, concerned about my stitching and finishing off. Why?

The wind was whipping about the fabric and the thread so I decided to use an embroidery hoop, something I don't normally do. I felt more relaxed about the whole thing, enough to let my mind wonder. The last time I'd attempted to stitch on gingham had been in Primary school. It was in the days when girls had needlework and boys had, whatever manly thing they decided to do. Supposedly it was woodwork but they often had rugby training.

Our needlework teacher was harsh. Stitches had to be even. Under NO circumstance should you knot your thread. The back had to be as neat as the front. You had to rip out anything that was not up to her exacting standards. We made table mats, coasters, table runners, aprons and initialed hats for cookery.

Little wonder that I tensed up today but you know what? At least I now have a very critical eye. My work might not be perfect but I darn well know what's wrong with it!

I enjoyed it once I'd put the ghosts of the past to rest. I made another.

 Does that count as two days? Am I counting?

Today's listing on Folksy is a pink pincushion

It's similar to the one I did the other day that said 'Pin here.' I might do one that says 'Hurt me!'

Today's July Jewel is getting increasingly difficult. I'd like to show my favourite item first. It's by With Hugs and Kisses. It would be perfect in a child's room but hey, I can see it in my kitchen!

It makes me smile.

I'd also like to send real hugs and kisses to two from Folksy who are not having good times at the moment;
Lilac Elephant

and O'Blue Trashion

Lot of love!!!

Take one a day

Day 11

I've tried really hard today to get my little, knitted doll finished but I've had one of those days. Why we haven't got caller ID, I don't know. It started off with the now all too common, "I'm phoning you because you have a fault with your computer." My answer of "Tell me the name of your company," was shouted down by the person on the other end.

Next to follow, "Are you aware of the council's scheme for providing solar panels?"

The agency phoned asking about my availability this week. I thought that one was quite funny as they haven't found me any work in the last six weeks. I told them I was available every day. They won't phone again!

I answered a knock at the door and the double glazing salesman actually backed away. He must have heard me growling!

So my poor day project is almost finished but I had to take photos before it rained again and we lost the sun completely today. It's almost there. I have to sew on a few bows and give the little lamb a decent face and Bill can have another friend.

Excuse the ends and the murky, grainy photo. I promise that tomorrow I'll post a better one.

Today's listing is a mellow, yellow pincushion. It's a differnt colourway to the pink one I finished yesterday. You'll find it on Folksy

You may have noticed that my vintage tablecloth has been used today. It's been well loved in a previous home. I found it at my local charity shop. I was going to cut it into sections and use them for cushion covers but I can't bring myself to take a pair of scissors to it. For now I can put up with the small sections of wear and tear.

My Folksy July Jewel today is from Lynwood Crafts

This hand felted brooch is only 6 cm high but an incredible amount of work has gone into it. I love the tiny daisies, buttercups and yarrow. It lives up to its flower meadow name. Simply beautiful.

I going to finish sewing on arms now. I'll have to think of a name for her. Any suggestions? Be polite!

Take one a day

Day 10

I've just come back from a girlie day out so my mind is in pink and sparkly mode.  It's such a shame that I listed something on Folksy today that is beige. I shall post the picture at the end and keep it small. Not that it isn't lovely. It's a set of coasters that's already listed on
Etsy and they always make me smile.

A quick project today. Before I left this morning I found two pieces of material that I hadn't placed together before. The pretty floral and lace contrast with the signage. It's something we talked about today. Are we becoming such a nanny state that all our actions have to be directed? Do we have to be told what to do in any given situation?
If the answer is, 'Yes!', then this pin cushion is perfect for the needleworker who needs instructions.

I did warn you that it was going to be pink!

I've been shopping in Cardiff which is something I like doing - a lot - you might have realised. We ended up in the perfumery department of my favourite shop. There are certain perfumes that I love and others - OK it's Angel - that I cannot have anywhere near me for fear of an asthma attack.

I like;
Marc Jacob's Daisy
Eau de Cartier
Issey Miyake

I wanted to try the new Swarovski perfume but it was chained down. It wasn't bling enough for me to force it off the shelf. I felt a little let down. It had one crystal on the top but I'd like crystals all over if I'm paying good money for it

When I got home I quickly flicked through Folksy's July Jewels and found this by The Whimsical Wren

This wish upon a star Swarovski crystal necklace is what I want to see draped around a bottle of perfume of the same name. Take note!

Now for today's listing. It's a set of coasters made from organic cotton. They's super absorbent and, as I said, they always made me smile. For that reason alone I've decided to go large!

Have a great week!

Take one a day

Day 9

It's a short one today. I've been awake since 5.00 and up since 6.30. I know for some people that's not early. This was my normal alarm time when I worked but hey, it's Saturday. The rain was hammering against the bedroom window this morning. At some stage you have to decide whether to lie there or get up and do something useful.

Yesterday on a Etsy thread The Sequinned Sheep (isn't that a great name for a shop?) mentioned finding an earwig in a hole in the middle of her bread. 'There's only one thing worse,' I wrote, 'and that's finding half an earwig.'

This what she said,

At the table on a ship having dinner a man breaks apart a biscuit and two weevils come out - one is really big and fat and one is small and thin, and the captain says: "If you had to eat one of those, which would you choose?" and the man says: "Well, I suppose I would eat the big fat one" and the captain says: "No, you should always choose the lesser of two weevils..."

That's what I chose this morning. The lesser of the two weevils was getting something done and that's the reason this is a short page.

This morning I made and listed a sunburst pincushion. Crocheted from organic cotton, it's on Folksy and Etsy

Those of you who have read my previous post, 'A Yarn', will know the problems I had making the sunburst blanket. Having used white for the pincushion I think the colour works well but I am glad I used the limited dye colour for the blanket. The white gives it a fresh, clean look while the cream is more mellow and rich.

My Folksy July Jewel today is Carol's Crafts fruit salad polymer clay bag charm. It looks good enough to eat doesn't it?

I hope you're all having a lovely weekend. I'm off to bed now!!

Take one a day

Day 8
(that's over a week)

The sun came out this afternoon. Yeah!! We decided to pay a visit to the only decent wool shop in the area. I didn't actually buy any wool because the organic cotton was right next to three caged parrots. No, this is not a joke. They have three cages in the wool shop with a parrot in each one. I feel like breaking into a Monty Python sketch but I won't. These parrots were very much alive. Noisy and throwing sunflower seed cases around.

I did buy needles. I have tested them and they have earned the right to stay in my sewing box. They're sharp, they have big eyes and I love them.

We parked the car by the beach and walked across the promenade. We tried to walk but the wind was so strong. This is what the sea in Porthcawl liked like.

This is July and the best day we've had so far. Just after I took this shot I had to run up the beach to escape from the next huge wave.

Still in birthday mood we headed for Mumbles. There's a great place there called Verdi's. They sell the best ice cream.  I think I was heavily influenced by a thread on Etsy today between CTMercandile and Teabreaks of Gweddus Art . Yes, there actually is a place called Mumbles. Catherine Zeta Jones has a house there. It's got a yacht club and here's the proof

And this is my toffee crisp sundae and Beth's cookie crunch sundae,

 All of this meant that I hadn't actually made anything. I had listed before we left.

It's the scarf I finished yesterday. You'll find it on Folksy and Etsy

My quickly rushed project tonight is a fat fairy. Fitting, I think after all that ice cream.

OK. I know she's not finished. I know she's having a bad hair day. I know Beth's been laughing at her but she has feelings too!! She's a prototype and as such she leads the way for the more polished, glamorous fat fairies to follow.

Over at Folksy it's getting harder by the day to pick a favourite but this pendant from Blue Daisy Glass
is so unusual. It's incredible that you can do this with glass. I have a friend who loves statement pieces and this really does make a statement.