I promised a bit of a photo gallery the other night, to show that I haven't been a lazy ass lately and I've been quite busy just not good enough to post the results on here.
Two themes can be covered, one is my contribution to the Woolsack Project (http://www.woolsack.org/) and the other is my button hearts.
So, first of all Woolsack. I've now attended and helped at two Woolsack Stuffing events. The first was at the British Wool Weekend that was held at the Harrogate Showground, and the second was at the Knitting and Stitching Show held at Harrogate International Centre. Unfortunately there is photographic evidence for both lol http://www.woolsack.org/node/35
http://www.woolsack.org/youth In the first even I took my cushion and mums, and stuffed and finished them off. In the second I knitted two smaller squares to be part of a multi effort cushion to help make enough to send to the Youth Winter Olympic team who were about to go out for training.
Having bought pot luck bags, the colours had come back on both as 5 balls of the turquoise and 1 of pink each. I've since bought more real British wool in other colours that I'm using for a second cushion, and if I get time, third. Mum is just sticking to this one, unless I can persuade her otherwise! Mine is the one on the top in the cable stitch... I challenged myself to the cabling, and was pretty pleased with the finished result!!!
The second item I want to post on here is a picture I made with a bit of a difference. Again the Living North Christmas Show was an inspiration and I decided that a picture didn't have to be all buttons to be special. So this time I mixed buttons with stitching and pretty fabrics and had a go at a Scandi themed picture. Let me know what you think... its in the Gallery now for sale!
I'll be back shortly with some of the Christmas projects I've been working on :) x
Wow, can't believe its taken me so long to get round to doing this again! Once I got back to work its been none stop... I have managed a few little projects, so I'll post details of those later in the week, but otherwise Charlee's Aunt has been a very frustrated crafter!
To the point where I even suggested to someone who's set up as a professional educational crafter that if they had any jobs I was interested... was shocked that her reply was, send me your CV its possible right now!!! I've been asked to do some workshops at the local gallery with kids, so I'll see how that goes, then I may be tempted to take it further. Watch this space!
On other ideas, I'm going to set up a 'Stitch and Bitch' style group in Thirsk over the next month or so, well attempt to anyway. See if I can get a few people interested in Knitting, crochet, tapestry etc together once or twice a month either at mine, or if I can get a small group together in the local library or gallery space.
Have a lovely new year, and I wish everyone the best with their projects and plans for 2012 :) xx
I've been wondering for a few days now how to screen the empty stove in the sitting room, as I found it quite depressing. Although I noted that a few friends on Facebook were resorting to lighting their stoves today as the weather has turned rather autumnal and chilly.
I worked out the size of the window in the stove, and using a piece of card to create a screen which I then covered with a small piece of my statement wall paper from the study, 'Sanderson, Dandelion Clocks in Blackcurrant', which reflected the colours I wish to use in the lounge in a summer colour scheme eventually when its finally decorated. I'll use red to cosy and warm it up in winter and lime to cool and brighten things up in the warmer months.
Anyway, back to the screen. Once covered with the wallpaper, I thought that it needed a little more interest. I've used some of my buttons to highlight certain points and pull a few colours and ideas together. I'll be using wood as a natural element within the room so popped a bit of that in there too, with a silver heart to keep the theme of hearts going throughout the scheme of decoration.
I referred to the fact that even though I'd not created anything out of buttons lately, I had still been creative. I've completed 3 projects in the last couple of months that I don't think I've mentioned on here.
The first was a cushion for my close friend Anna. She's a fan of purple and so when I saw this kit I just had to have it. I'd knitted it up fairly quickly as it was done in strips and then sewn together for the front. The back was done in one piece. Although it was man-made fibres it was lovely to work with and I think the end result was rather nice. I stuffed it throughly and its made a very soft and welcoming cushion, which Anna really likes.
The next pieces I have been working on are the blankets for the two neighbouring babies. I may have mentioned that I've babies on either side of my terraced house. Ellie is now 7 months old and Fin is 5 months old. I couldn't resist making something for them, and so I chose to make a blanket.
I took the traditional route, and have made a blue buggy blanket for Fin, and for Ellie I've had a go at a crochet blanket out of 42 'granny' squares which I then joined together with double crochet and edged neatly finishing with a picot edging. I chose purple and pink for the blanket, and joined and edged it in a green that her room is painted in, which is a great contrast. I've really enjoyed working on these two projects and think the pictures show that.
Its really brought home to me how much I enjoy creating things for other people and not only that, but I enjoy making homeware more than clothing. Its given me lots of ideas for myself and others for future pieces. I've some great wool to make a joint knitted/crochet blanket with and then I've several other designs I'd like to try too.
My next main piece will be a cushion for the Olympic Woolsack project which is now part of the cultural olympiad for next year. They are hoping to create 20000 cushions from British wool to give to all the participants of both Olympics and Paralympics next year. I'm hoping to create at least two and the first is underway currently! http://www.woolsack.org/
I can't believe its been so long since I've been able to write this... time has flown by!
Main problems for me have been the sudden speed that took over as the end of term drew near. It was like all I could do was work all hours to keep up with where I needed to be, and even then I still have a few bits left over to sort for next year!!! That's before I start my 'holiday' work lol
But before then I am going to have a few days of being very creative and try and get my mojo back. One big boost for that was selling an Owl picture in the local gallery http://www.moonmeadow.com/ Apparently it was the last purchase two regular buyers made from the gallery before emigrating to New Zealand!!! I hope it's gone with them and is speading the word far and wide :)
I haven't stopped being creative while I've not been on here. I've handed the blue heart that was on Folksy to the Gallery to keep my work in there, and I have everything crossed I am able to be creative again now I've managed to get rid of a lot of stress recently.
I've been knitting and crocheting a lot, as I find both very relaxing and rarely sit and do nothing even if I'm watching tv etc. I've just been putting the finishing touches to two baby blankets. One knitted for the little boy next door, and the other crocheted for the little girl on the other side of me! Fingers crossed they are well received...
I am also working on my Woolsack Cushion project, which is my next WIP to finish, then I think I'm going to look at making something for myself. Mum was shocked at the multiplying wool stores I now have all over the house and is supplying more boxing for me to keep it safe in as she's working down her stash by making small crocheted blankets for my school project for the Dogs Trust! I have been investigating other charity projects lately as I like the idea of helping others, and I'm probably going to do a wrap for www.irhh.org/wrappedwithlove and I'm also thinking that knitted mice could be fun for http://www.battersea.org.uk/about_us/whats_new/cat_knitting.html Will post any completed projects for either on here.
Next year at School I'm considering renaming the 'group' I'm running Creative Wool Crafts and see if I'm allowed to do some Yarn or Pom pom bombing in the school site to make things a bit more colourful!!! Lets see how far my good will with the head goes :)
Best rest now and get some sleep as I'm off to http://www.mainpinecompany.com/ tomorrow and I'm very excited. How I wish I could afford a kitchen made by them... maybe investigate a mantle piece instead lol Love their recycling wood philosophy. Enjoy and keep smiling :) xx
I don't usually think about the way my pictures are designed as the heart and start were pretty straight forward shapes. Then came the plane request - thanks Debs! I needed to make a shape that although simple, was easily recognisable as a plane, so I started to scout about the net looking for pictures.
This weekend so far I've been doing exactly the same. I've been doing the first sketches for potential pictures I may try and create out of buttons. An artists suggestions are a great place for me to start, and Bridget at Moon Meadow Gallery came up with a big list for me to try when I was last in there. Transfering those ideas into pictures/shapes I can then create out of buttons is a whole new experience. How do I get the fine lines, the grace of insect wings and the solemnity of the moon to transfer? It is going to be a challenge, but I'm quite interested in it now I've done my sketches. Luckily she wants another heart too, so I've just the question of do I create another, or shall I just give her 'Blue Love'?
Other artistic things I've been up to this weekend are all woolen. I've been making up the lovely blue blanket for Fin next door, and I'm working on a fabulous cushion for a friends birthday. That's the key thing to finish this week, preferably before Friday if I can!!! Best get knitting then again later this evening.
The one thing that may put a big welly boot of trouble into the next 7 days of planned 'Work' and my pleasurable work is that I've toothache... lost a filling in the week, and I'm hoping I can last out till next Monday to have it repaired. It's not played up until today, so will see what the week brings.
Keep smiling and enjoy the sun (it is coming!!!) :) xxx
Whoop, whoop, whoop!
I popped into Moon Meadow Gallery (http://www.moonmeadow.com/?page_id=41) today to have a look about, and see how my work was doing. I've had 3 pictures in there for a while now.
I snooped about and couldn't see any of my work... being me I naturally assumed she'd taken them off and put them somewhere for me to collect. I went down, and saw Bridget and asked in a small voice how the button pictures were doing.
"Ooh, I thought it was you, I was going to ring. Two have sold!" My face must have been a picture as she said that lol
So these are the two pictures I have sold in the gallery. The first multi coloured one was the first I did, and the second 'True Romance' was done around Valentines day, hence the red theme.
I've not got a long list of suggestions and ideas from Bridget as she'd like some more pieces doing when I can, including hearts. Therefore I may take my blue heart down that I've on Folksy as its ready to go... or I could just done some new pieces!!
Very happy about this. Means I'm now selling commissions regularly, and in the gallery every now and again.
Keep smiling :) x
