Two Angels - angels & petals AND crafty angel

Art of Glass

Yesterday we held a Stained Glass workshop as part of our monthly programme and local lady Nikki Coombs came to show us how it was done.

 

Glass was selected form a range of suitable colours from which to create Dragonflies. It was then cut - a scary moment!, ground and welded by each of the group.

 

The level of concentration and lack of chatter had never been seen before!

Using the grinder to smooth the edges
 

Smoothing down the solder strips.

Seeing it all come together with the soldering iron.

Another one laid out and ready for soldering
 

Ta dah! Olive was the first to finish her Dragonfly.

And slowly they all started to emerge

Until we had a tree full of them.

How lovely do they look?
 

 
 
 
 
 

   

Keep it simple

A new craft book arrived this week and I love it.

Author Kelly Doust is a long time collector and recycler with some lovely ideas. What I like most about this book is it's simplicity. It's a big chunky book of over 250 pages with a wipe cleanable cover and clear fuss free instructions for all the ideas. The projects are very do-able with minimum preparation. The book is divided into seasons offering inspiration to suit the weather and the mood - woolly project for winter, fun and pretty ones for summer.

Coloured bubbles in our house this evening, my choice & I can't wait - just need to find the children!

Lots of lovely things to make and keep or gift.
 
 

Early days

The blankets for our blanket challenge are being designed and created as I type.

Last night at K&N there was much cooing over shades and designs and a fair bit of deliberation too regarding which colours to choose.

I did take a lot of photo's - but sadly they have disappeared into thin air! and I have only a couple to show you. I will take more as the blankets progress.

Anyone else want to make one???

For some design is half the fun.

 
 And it pays off too.

For others, speed is all important!

 
 

A perfect Saturday afternoon

As the weather changed and the rain came in a group of people gathered to drink tea & coffee and eat chocolate biscuits. Oh! and to knit & crochet flowers too.

 
 Decisions, decisions - what colour, knit or crochet???????

Crochet proved the most popular option with even those who'd never picked up a hook before rattling off some rather lovely flora.

The speed of some of those needles & hooks was quite amazing!

 And the results a lot better than my photography!!

Not bad for a first attempt  - you should be very proud girls.
 

Free pattern

For some reason, I was asked a couple of time yesterday for a tea cosy pattern. So I have found you one! It is a Coats Crafts pattern suggesting Rowan DK yarn, but obviously any DK will do the job.

It is a basic pattern, which you can adapt and embellish to suit yourselves.

If you don't want to knit it in stripes just cast on the 96 stitches and work for 15cm in any colour of your choice!

Click the link below and have fun!

http://www.coatscrafts.co.uk/NR/rdonlyres/F2C06817-9A6C-48B8-BC3B-E6C9995572D1/21249/Terrific_Tea_Cosy.pdf

Sheep everywhere

Where ever you go at the moment, there seem to be sheep. Inside the shop is no exception, we have some lovely sheep including this very pretty pin cushion, with free pins!

and these ever popular ceramic buttons & sheepy fabric.

and good old Shaun the sheep - cross stitch bookmark kit.

Don't forget to bring your fleece (ready spun of course!) to knit & Natter tonight. 7.30pm.

Pretty Flowers to crochet this week.

 

 These pretty flowers are made using the following pattern - perfect for a quick corsage.

1st round Ch1, work 15sc into circle. Ss into first ch.

2nd round Ch4, * skip 1sc, 1dc into next sc, ch1, rep from * 6 times more. Join with a ss into the 3rd of the first 4ch. Break off the first color.

3rd round Join the color you wish to use for the petals to first ch loop with a ss, ch1. Into same ch loop, work 1dc, 1tr, 1dc, 1sc, * into next ch loop, work 1sc, 1dc, 1tr, 1dc, 1sc, rep from * into each ch loop, making 8 petals. Join with a ss into first ch.

4th roundWorking behind the petals made in the 3rd round, make ss between 2 petals, ch 4, * 1sc between next 2 petals, ch3, rep from * to end. The ch loops made lie behind the petals of the previous row. Join with a ss into first ch.

5th roundMake the next row of petals by working 1sc, 1dc, 2tr, 1dc, 1sc into each ch loop. Join with a ss into first sc.

6th roundWorking again behind the petals made in the previous round, make ss between 2 petals, ch 5, * 1sc between the next 2 petals, ch 4, rep from * to end. Join with a ss into first ch.

7th round Into each ch loop, work 1sc, 1dc, 3tr, 1dc, 1sc. Join with a ss into first sc. Fasten off, darn in ends, and voilà ...a pretty flower, all done! But beware, making them can be addictive...

Continue in this way if you want to make more rows of petals.

ch = chain; dc = double crochet; lp = loop; rep = repeat; sc = single crochet; ss = slip stitch;tr = treble crochet

Ifound this pattern the other day on Rosehip's blog and just had to make this pretty flower. If I manage it I'm going to make enough to turn it into a summer scarf. I'm using Debbie Bliss Baby-cashmerino so it's super soft, but they work well in cotton too.

Love is in the air

Have you noticed all the birds fluttering their tail provocatively these past few days? Spring is definitely in the air. I collect my scraps of wool over the year and hang them out in a net bag. The birds take them to line their nests. I feel it's my contribution to keeping their eggs warm! It always surprised me that they select the Debbie Bliss scraps first. N0 they don't!! They couldn't care less who made it so long as it's cosy.

 

Talking of birds made me think of these pretty ceramic buttons. I've probably mentioned them before because I am a huge fan. Not only because the range is so diverse and every one of them gorgeous but because they are Fair-trade too. These little chaps are just crying out to be used on a springtime project. They are washable and priced at £4.25 per card.

What to do with a wet weekend

Oh dear! looks like another wet weekend in this lush and green county of ours.  I heard an interviewer ask a weatherman where he would go this weekend for the best weather and he replied 'Scotland on Friday (yesterday), West Wales Saturday & Sunday and anywhere but the West Country on Monday'. I can't say that filled me with any joy!! So, what are you going to do this weekend? Eating chocolate and watching a couple of dvd's whilst knitting or crocheting sounds pretty good to me, but what about the children?

At times like this, ideas books really do come into their own. Give a bored child an inspirational book to flick through and they'll soon come up with a list of materials needed - most of which you probably haven't got!

So, here are a couple of ideas using what you are sure to have to hand.

Peg dolls. You can't go wrong here. Children (and adults!) love creating them and then they can actually play with them too. Everyone has a couple of dolly pegs and some scrap fabric - but in case you haven't, I've put some kits together in the shop which contain, pegs, fabric and hair in it's own little storage bag all for £2.99 - bargain!!

Ever wondered what to do with the slightly sad veg at the bottom of the fridge? Be creative! If you choose your veg carefully you could roast the little fella whole and eat it.  Bound to appeal to boys!!
 

And finally, should the sun actually shine on us, a quick trip to the beach, between the showers, to collect some shells should get the creative juices flowing. However, if the rain never stops, I find pasta shells (or Penne for threading) make a good alternative. Have fun.
 
 
 

Cold windy weather makes us cross....................stitch!

 

On days like today when there really is nothing to persuade us to set foot outside, Cross Stitch is a great way to relax and create something that you can turn into a lovely card or picture to give or keep. This craft has undergone a huge revival in recent years and the designs the companies are producing reflect this. Appealing to a wide age range they include fun & funky images alongside the more traditional. The little kits pictured above contain all that you need to complete the design and are priced from just £1.90 which allows you to have a go, without a big outlay.