When in doubt, doodle!

My plans to do more embroidery were halted when I sat in front of my fabric and threads and had a complete mental block! So I did what I always do when I'm thinking about things, which is doodle. I'm not even aware I'm doing it half the time but when I'd finished this particular doodle I thought it might have some potential as an embroidery so I gave it a lick of paint to see how it would look in colour. With a bit of simplification I think it might work.

It's not a great photo as the light was so poor. It's freezing today so to cheer up my little studio I hung some crocheted bunting in the window.

My blanket still isn't finished! I'm starting to hate it (or at least the making of it!) particularly as I've told myself I can't start anymore yarny projects until it's done. Each row takes me an evening and then  I have to sew in the 120 ends before I start the next row! At least I can console myself with the lovely colours waiting in my basket to be used.

Organising...

My poor studio has been sadly neglected of late and had become a dumping ground for all sorts of things as I tidied the house in the run up to Christmas. So yesterday I decided to give it a much needed sort out and  reorganise all my bits of crafty equipment to encourage me to be more creative in 2013.

I've moved all my woolly supplies and crafty books into here so that I've got everything under one roof. I've also unearthed my embroidery supplies and spent a very happy time winding all my threads onto cards.

I have plans for stitching some little birds, leaves and fish and displaying them in embroidery hoops so I played about with some ideas before resuming my tidying!

I've now got an organised studio and am all prepared for a creative 2013!

Inspiration

I was delighted to find a much wanted book under the Christmas tree yesterday. "Mark Hearld's Workbook" is a fabulous collection of his rich and textural art. I love the way he uses collage and linoprinting in particular, and after 3 weeks of complete creative lethargy I feel inspired to get back in my studio and make some marks! Hopefully I'll have something to show quite soon.

I've also returned to this blanket after weeks of shameful neglect! I've managed to track down all the colours I need to finish it and am aiming to complete it before term starts again in couple of weeks!

Small changes

I used to make a lot of my own clothes, but haven't done so for years. I recently bought some lovely fabric with the intention of starting up again, so naturally I turned to the blogging world for inspiration. I discovered two blogs in particular which have fired me up to not only make my own clothes, but to refashion old clothes. Refashionista and Charityshopchic both take charity shop finds and turn them into  stylish, original clothes. I have therefore decided to make an early New Year's resolution and not buy any new clothes for a year (with the exception of underwear and shoes!), and instead make my own, or alter old ones.

I made a small start yesterday by taking this plain but well worn cardi and adding a little embellishment.

Ages ago I bought some crochet cotton and a teeny weeny hook but couldn't then decide what to do with it.

I decided to add a little crocheted hem to the cardigan.  I started by doing blanket stitch along the bottom and then did two rows of double crochet followed by a simple scalloped edge. The stitches were tiny and took longer than expected and by the time I finished I had abandoned my plan of going up the button band and around the cuffs as well!

 

I'm now looking for some little green buttons to replace the existing ones. Very small changes indeed, but it's a start!

 

 

Stripes

Inspired by Mrs Thomasina Tittlemouse and her stripy mug cosies, I have been looking for things to cover in crocheted stripes. First up was the jar that holds all my hooks...

I already have a stripy case for my iPad (husband also has a Celtic inspired green and white case for his iPhone, which strangely he seems to have lost!) and I am now looking for anything else that doesn't move that can be given the crocheted treatment!

Little wren

I've just delivered this painting of a little wren to its new owner.

I should be taking Mabel out for a walk now but it's pouring with rain and she's looking very coiffured after a visit to the groomers yesterday, so we'll wait for the rain to stop so she can keep her 'salon' look for one more day!

Christmas craft fair

I took some photos of the craft fair all set up. Please excuse the poor quality pictures - my iPad didn't like the low lighting! It all looks very festive, and the beautiful handmade soaps means it smells lovely too! It's open tonight, all day Saturday and Sunday morning at 92 Nunney Road in the lovely town of Frome!