A Labour of Love!

So every now and then, I get it into my mind to make something that I have always fancied!... So on my week off, I decided to have a go at making a crochet version of a traditional Christmas decoration Paper Chain! I've not seen any on Folksy or Etsy, doesn't mean that there isn't...

But after the third day of making the Crochet Paper Chain.... I can see why I haven't seen any!  For some reason it took ages to make... I keep telling myself that it's because I was making up as I went along...

Anyway, I've made it now, and I have to say I love it!!

Would love some feed back on the colours.... xx

Project Runway... eat your heart out!

So being on the larger side of life, I was sick and tired of not being able to find the kind of clothes that I wanted to wear. 

My Mum has always owned a sewing machine and could always just 'run' up something at the drop of a hat!... curtains, quilt covers, tops, trousers, princess nighties for a little me who liked to run around fields when cammping with her grandparents pretending she was a princess in her special nighty.

Well I can't say I run around fields these days in my nighty, but I am sure my Husband can vouch for me 'acting' like a princess at times!

I ownded a sewing machine of my own, but where as I am sure some bargin sewing machines are great, this one seemed to hate me! Everytime I used it the darn thing it would snarl up, jump acrosss the table, and often snap the needles... so I didn't use it as much as I wanted to!

Last year, just after our first wedding anniversay, Martin and I found that we had some left over JL vouchers.  We decided that as it wasn't a huge amount, we would split it and purchase something that we each didn't really need but would really love to have.

Martin, went for a coffee machine, and I decided to put mine towards a new sewing machine.

I didn't want to spend loads, but I wanted one that if I needed to sew together anything thicker than a paper bag without making a literal song and dance about it.

After much research I went for Elna 2600.  Not because she (all my sewing machines have been girls) has pink and purple on her, but she was the best I could afford.  I have to say she has been my second best friend ever since I got her.  Apart from the usual mending bits and piceces here and there with her I've also made a few bags and tops!

So here are the photos of what Elna and I have made together.

These are just three of the summer tops I have made, I've also made a couple of smock tops, which are more winter tops and currently hiden away until it gets really cold!

I've loved making these tops, and have just made a fleece jumper for my Husband.  I am more proud of the top I made for my Husband.  It makes me happy to think that I have made something for him to keep him warm when I'm not with him to keep him warm! 

Designer Labels

I make a few items of clothing... from time to time... and I got to thinking that I should get some labels made to put on items that I make...

So I had some made.... what do you think?

I guess I wont be able to put them on earrings and the like... but if I made a bag or cushion, then I should be able to sew them in somewhere...

For clothes I had some made up just my name on it.. I have to say, having your own 'label' does make things fell rather 'finished' if you know what I mean?

I highly recommend getting some made up... I got these made from http://www.jjcash.co.uk/ I got 144 (yes that was rather optimistic of me) for only £17.00 free p&p... that's around 12p each... not bad eh? (other label companies available, I just was swung by the free p&p)♥

A Difference a Bead Makes!

Making something different that will catch someones eye is not always easy to do. Especially with so many clever crafters out there.

At the end of the day there really is so many different ways of doing something, with crochet for example we all use the same stiches... but its the way we put them together.

Colours I think are so very important too, they must got together, its ok to jumble them up, but the right item made in the wrong colour can really put people off.

So having decided on a colour range, which as hard as we try is not doubt going to be used already by someone else.  What we need to do is to make it a little bit differenent.

I myself like to use beads... I think they can jazz up anything.  So I thougth I would show a before and after of a pendant I have made.  Before I added beads......

And after... with beads.....

I hope you agree it does make it look that little bit extra special.

This Pendant is now availiable to purchase along with my other items on Folksy.com

 Hot Purple, Pink & Orange Beaded Pendant

Special Sundays...

I just love Sundays, but only when followed by a Bank Holiday Monday!

Have been extra pro-active today, embracing the extra time with the Husband... Slow cooker has been working over time this weekend, and has firmly secured a place in my heart!

Have let the dinner cook without any fuss while I crack on with new items for my Folksy shop, and lucky me I had an order come in this morning from an lovely Folksy buyer!!!

So hope all you lovely crafty peeps are having a lovely weekend... and good of the sun to show her face today!

ttfn
x

Can't keep a good Girlybunches down!

So my last blog said.. "it's been a while" and now I'm gonna say "it's been too long"!

I've had a bit of year that required me to direct my attention else where, but now I'm back in the game!

I pursued the craft fairs until the weather got too bad last year, mainly the cold! And I decided not to carry on with them this year. I did struggle be inspired when sales were so few and far between!

But then I got to thinking that really everyone was having a bad year! And I had been making a few sales! So a few weeks ago I picked up my crochet hook
And decided that it was time to create again!

I had also had a think about my outlets. My Mum has done really well selling on Etsy, Sweethearts and Rosesbut I alas didn't do so well!

So I decided to branch out my ideas and think of some new items to make. I still had desires to sell on Etsy, but I decided to look closer to home and listed some items on Folksy!

I was so pleased to get a couple of sale within a few of weeks of listing my first item! And so here I am! Again! With more gusto this time.

I've discovered the joys of twitter and all of the amazing crafty folk out there who are so supportive! I really feel that the crafting community is so welcoming! So I'll quit whittering on now and head off to my slumber!

Where I can subconsciously plan my next project...... That's not sleigh bells I can hear in the distance is it? Is it????? Ek!

It's been a while!

Sorry, it has been a while, but don't worry I've been busy!

Last weekend along with my lovely husband I had a stall at my very first craft fair!

Sadly it rained alllll day, but the people of Alton braced the elements and did make a couple of sales. Just finding my feet really so had to adjust a few things here and there, but all in all I was very happy with the way it went. We are going to have another go next month, so fingers crossed the sunshine will show it's face in August!!