Morris Style Cross-StitchT

This cross-stitch is from a book on needlepoint that I found in a charity shop for £1.50! I love Morris and the book has patterns for needlepoint based on many of his designs. For some reason, the owl one really appealed to me and I decided to use the chart as a cross-stitch pattern. It is coming on slowly, but I have come to realise the size of the project as this little section has taken hours and there are at least 4 owls! I have not lost interest in the pattern though and am slogging away through it. That is not to say that it won't join my list of WIPs eventually, but I hope not. I have a huge pile of cross-stitch WIPs and really should attempt to finish them before starting a new project. I just can't resist though if a pattern excites me!

So, true to my word, I have been crafting! My craft room is nearly sorted - just waiting on some shelves - and then I will be making a few cards too. I have been cross-stitching even while I wasn't able to access my boxes, but I have really missed beading and card-making. I am looking forward to being able to post even more makes very soon.

Life Changes

Well, it has been an age since I posted on here. I have been making things but not consistently, and anything I HAVE made has gone on my Facebook page rather than my blog. Life has been funny lately. I finshed my job as a WeightWatchers leader yesterday, after nearly 21 months. I will now have time to craft more, until I find another job. I finished WW because I can't control my weight unless I can concentrate completely on myself. Much as I have loved the members and clerks at the meetings, it was physically hard work and took up the majority of my time and emotion. My son is looking forward to spending more time with me (he is nearly 11, so that will change soon no doubt!) and I hope to have more energy and verve. I am determined to update this blog more regularly and be a more active member of the crafting community. I would love to design more beading patterns, and set up an online shop selling kits for them.

Christmas Cards For 2011

This is the card I produced this year. There were others, but this one was my favourite! I used ProMarkers for a professional look, but made sure that the label on the back told people that they were 'hand drawn, coloured, stamped and finished'. The design of the pudding was my own but it was very simple. Despite being simple, imagine how long it took to make 80 cards...

It was so nice to get my mojo back for a while. I have also started beading some bracelet kits - and I will post pics when they are finished. Despite my mojo raising its head above the parapet, I am not ready for designing again, so I ordered someone else's designs in kit form.

It Has Been A Long Time!

This is what was sent to me by my Crafter...oo Secret Santa - a lovely felted, silky scarf, a gorgeous butterfly brooch and a christmas tree decoration. All beautiful, so thanks to my santa! I sent my present off today so I hope that the recipient likes it. I stupidly forgot to take a photograph of it though...doh!

Disappointment For a Fellow Crafter...oo Member

Isn't it awful when we get bad service? With the internet now available for practically anything you wish to buy, you would think that many companies would up their customer service. But it seems that this is not always the case. A fellow Crafter...oo member recently had terrible service and she has blogged about it here...Domestic Kat.

I have experienced bad service, from a Folksy seller, and it does leave a nasty taste in the mouth. However, I do feel that there is absolutely no excuse for this from established companies.

These beads were made by a Gold member of mine at WW. We discovered a shared interest in jewellery making, although with different media. Last week, I went to her house, along with several other like-minded people, and we had a 'show and tell' session. She wanted to buy a bracelet of mine and I wanted some of her beads...so we did a swap - like the days before money! She calls herself 'Purple Duck'. As yet, she doesn't have a web-site, but I hope that she will set one up soon.


This piece is from Bead and Button magazine. I fell in love with the pattern when I saw it and HAD to make it. Once I got my head around the instructions, it was easy to make, although it looks much harder. I love peacock colours and I think that they suit the paisley pattern beautifully. I do intend to turn it into a bracelet but am a bit stuck as to which finding would be the best.



This bracelet is from the current issue of Bead magazine. It is really pretty and an easy pattern to follow. I am making another one in pinks and black.



This bracelet is a 'flat cellini' stitch. I am not 100% happy with it and cocked up the clasp somewhat. I think that the wave in the pattern is not obvious enough and I will be sticking to tubular cellini stitch in future - the results are more interesting.



And finally, this bracelet is also from Bead and Button. Again, I am not 100% happy with it, but not through anything I did wrong. I just don't think it looks as good as the ones in the magazine picture. Maybe my colours needed to be more diverse - contrasting instead of toning. What do you think? Comments very much appreciated.

Bracelets Galore

I have been a little busy. My beading mojo is back!

A Few Things

I have not been a very busy crafter lately, due to lots of reasons. I have been quietly crafting away though, doing the odd bit of cross-stitch or a bracelet.

Two bracelets that I have made are based on the design that I had published in Bead magazine. I just played with colours and I love the results, although I didn't follow my own instructions for the pattern! Once a pattern changer, always a pattern changer. They will be going in my Folksy shop soon, and I hope to be able to spend more time on stocking that up in the near future.

I also bought these hairgrips from Vintage Violet - a fellow crafter and friend from Crafter...oo. She is absolutely fabulous and a totally original crafter. I am in awe of her cross-stitch designs, especially her Tardis one. I was very lucky, because the grips had expired from her shop and she then offered me a discount on the original price...I do love a pretty bargain! Maximum Rabbit Designs

I'm A Knight...

Max's theme this half-term is 'castles'. So, what else would you expect but to have to make a medieval costume . I didn't help myself by leaving it to the last minute and having a mild panic, but I think that I came up trumps! Max is certainly chuffed with the outfit...amazing what you can do with Kanban card and an old pillow case!