Weddings and Blankets

Its a lovely day for a white Wedding :) Wishing William and Catherine the best of luck for the future and hope they have a long and happy life together. It would be great to see a popular couple have a marriage that lasts the ups and downs of life, and fingers crossed, doesn't end up like so many these days, in the divorce courts. I'm not the most outwardly expressive of people but I am a true romantic and that's the part that appeals to me in all this.

Its great also to see so many people out and about and smiling. How many large crowds lately have been about protests for this and that. Yes, there are a lot of people 'dissing' the day and the wedding etc, but for those who are looking forward to the day and the youngsters who are experiencing something like this for the first time then its a fabulous memory for all.

I'll be sitting on the sofa, and here comes the crafty bit... knitting, while I watch the wedding, its build up and the proceedings up until the balcony scene.

The blanket mention in the title, is from some of the girls I've been teaching knitting too at school. I was never sure that it would be well received, but I've a small handful who turn up on most sessions and are slowly but surely building up their skills. One of my year 7's brought a blanket in on Wednesday which was completed by herself, her cousin and Nan over the Easter break. So many of the girls have said that they are working with mum's and nan's on the project which in itself is lovely. Its a fabulous blanket done in bright chunky squares, and it will be great for a very big dog!!!

I'm going to switch between working on my blanket for baby Fin next door, my Chunky scarf and if I am bored knitting, I'll do some crochet as I'm going to do a pink, cream and purple blanket for Ellie who is the baby on the other side, next door lol.

Keep smiling xx

Hours spent listing on Folksy...

Hi again, Just spent my morning listing the flowers on Folksy. Will include a few pictures with this so you can see what I've been upu to lately. Trying not be distracted by Misty chasing something that I'm sure could sting her!

Also used a couple of interesting sites. The first it to hopefully help me publicise my Folksy items. Its called Stumble Upon and I can see it using up any time I don't have something else planned, as going on your interests it takes you to random sites on the internet. Once you've favourited a site it will show it to fellow Stumblers. So thanks to the poster on the Folksy forum for that one :)

I really need to go and get some lunch, so will be back later to see what else I've been creating lately. Have a great Easter weekend x

Invasion of the Flowers...

I managed to get my flower magnets completed last night, and they are currently taking over the front of my fridge as a test of their strength. I am going to take some pictures for Folksy in the garden today seeing how the weather is still fabulous... see if I can make them look like they are growing in my garden lol I'll get the photos on here later today. Very difficult to focus on inside work when the weather is like it is.

Something totally different, and back to the main reason I started this up. I managed to design an aeroplane outline for a commission for a button picture. I'm looking forward completing this one, and seeing how it turns out, as its a total change from the usual heart pictures I do.

Enjoy the sunshine :) x

Holiday Spends and Winding lessons!

Hello, a much chilled and relaxed me greets you tonight. Although I am a lot poorer for the experience!
I went away to Shropshire with my mum last week. The second day in and I dragged her to WonderWool Wales in Buith Wells (http://www.wonderwoolwales.co.uk/) . Now this is the biggest wool show in Wales I believe and I knew I was going to be tempted, but not how tempted I would be. I was good and managed to buy nearly all my wool from the sale bins I found though lol but a Swaledale felted bag appealed too much and I bought the wool and now have a scrap of paper with the pattern (and the lady's number should I get stuck) on to do. I loved the idea that she only had a few sheep so could say which ones the wool actually came from in each of the varieties she had. Undyed Swaledale is gorgeous and I can't wait to have a go at it. Its on the bottom left of the picture.
The week also proved that I have a thing for green at the moment, and the bag of wool I dragged home is mostly green wool of the pale green/mossy green variety. I'll get a pic and stick it up soon with the weeks purchases on. Apart from the Swaledale I was also taken with a big batch of something cheap in off white with a black thread through it, fancy having a go at a patchwork blanket with it, so will be fun to see how it knits up as its full of slubs and then about a 4 ply in other places! Bottom right of the picture lol

The week was a learning curve in winding wool skeins. Wow is that monotonous work, but its easy to watch films and chat while doing it, which is a good job as I had about 25 to do...
Oh, will be back later, tea and tv calls.
http://www.colinette.com/ Well the second place we went to on holiday was Colinette, which is a small industrial unit in the middle of the Welsh countryside! The wool on the top right is the 15 balls I bought from there... which was all in Skeins. I have bought wool in Moss green and New Meadow green which I think they don't do any more. They are both gorgeous and plan to use one set in the lounge and the second in the dining room. Also bought some to wear if I can make something using the 5 balls of Art which is an Aran weight wool.
Do think that the photo doesn't show the colours very well, the bedding is Lime green, which on here looks mint green so guess its not the best when you use the flash.
I also bought some wooden needles on holiday which are fabulous to use, hoping to get more as they are easier than plastic or metal ones.
Picked up more information about the Woolsack Olympic cushion project http://littlehoundalesknits.com/WoolsackOlympicProject.aspx and I'm very interested in having a go at making a cushion for an athelete at the games for them to take home as a momento.
Oh dear, seems wool is starting to take over my life :)

Today's Creative Pictures

Hi There, just wanted to update this with a couple of pictures of the flowers I finished at the weekend for Mum and the Star I've made for a friend of a friends birthday.

These are my trial flowers which I've finished off with buttons. There will me more coming to Folksy soon, as I think these will brighten up anyone's 'White' goods!!!

These photos are how the star would be displayed if it were going on Folksy for sale. I love the Macro button on my camera now I know what its for! Any picture I do can be personalised like this one, which I think makes it really special.

You can find me at www.folksy.com/shops/CharleesAunt if you're interested in seeing more.

Best go now, have a good week :) x

Star works too!

I've been commissioned to make a 30th present, which is a black, silver and white star with carefully chosen wording round the edge.
The star is complete, its a mix of buttons and beads this time, and with the points of the star needing a bit of thought... Its really tricky to make rounds work in points! But I think I've cracked it. The finishing touches will go on tomorrow morning along with the photos so I hope that it looks like a winner.
Thinking of putting my Folksy shop details on the back of the frame, just in case the recipient wants to have one made, or anyone else who sees it? Maybe the email address I've set up for the business too.
This weekend has been a battle of wills... the work will, the creative will and the gardening will. I have tested the new fence colour I got last week and I'm loving it. Cuprinol Shades in Willow. Lightens up the garden so much, and will look fab with flowers growing all over it when the sunflowers and sweetpeas get going. Just hoping that the cold air tonight doesn't cause too many problems. I've brought the tomatoes in just in case :)
Short post tonight, not done too much creatively today. Will hopefully get another button pic done this week before I have a break and focus on the softer side of my creative elements for the next week or so. I want to crack into a new field. I will get the new pictures on here asap. Have a good week :) xx

This was Sonia's birthday present x

Where did that week go???

Wow, where did March go? I blinked and missed it obviously.
A week flies by, so quickly in the job I do, and everyday is a blur sometimes, but you also cram in a lot of different things. It didn't help that I had a migraine yesterday and an MRI today either.
I have squeezed in a little bit of Reseach and Development of a new product for Folksy though, and I'm very pleased with how they are turning out.
Decided I needed something I can make relatively quickly and in larger numbers, and sell for a lower price than the pictures. One reason to do this is to fill up my shop, but another is to actually draw people to the shop and see the different products I'll have on sale.
So, my designs will be posted over the weekend, and I've already decided that the proto types that are on the fridge next to me will be my mum's mothers day gift... she's already tried the, 'I don't want anything' role, but you don't have a mum as Amazing as mine, and not treat her for Mothers Day. Just wish I had the money to spoil both her and my Dad more often!
As for my button heart pictures, there are going to be some new designs going up very shortly. I've prepared outlines for a star (a commission for a 30th birthday present) and a bird (just new idea by me) and I am hoping they will sit nicely with the Hearts and Owls that are already on the site. I also have a commission to do an aeroplane for a 1st birthday, so these will keep me out of trouble for the next few days for sure.
Along with all of that, I've bought the paint for my fence outside and a mini four tier green house that I'll be constructing tomorrow too... although looking at the weather forecast may keep the plants indoors until after Monday. Its all go in the Aunt's household at the moment, and due to all that, I'm shattered so off to bed.
Goodnight and Keep smiling :) xx

Here are the three pictures currently on sale in my Folksy shop www.folksy.com/shops/CharleesAunt