Quilling with the WI

On Tuesday we held our first proper meeting of Gowerton WI where we had a quilling demonstration. I was expecting it to be quite old fashioned, but the work we were shown was amazing. Especially the 3D work. We even got to have a go ourselves - here's my gift tag.




I remember trying quilling when I was younger and making plenty of flowers, but none fringed like the one above. It has really inspired me to get back into crafting and I have found some really gorgoeus quilled pieces on the internet and already have some ideas. So the day after our WI meeting I stopped by Hobbycraft and picked up some supplies. Apart from the book, quilling is a fairly cheap craft to get started with, especially as you can start with cocktail sticks and pins and don't really need the tools (although they do make it a lot easier).


  

As always I am looking forward to getting started and will definitely be adding a new quilling board to my Pinterest account. Stay tuned for some quilled projects in the future. 

FO Friday: Nannie McZee card

It's been a while since I've done anything crafty - let alone finish a project! As last Sunday was Mother's Day, I wanted to do something nice for my Mum as she has been so great with looking after Evie while I'm at work and helping out in the house. I looked everywhere for a card that would fit, but none of them were 'right'. So I decided to cross stitch one.

Here is a card for our fabulous 'Nannie McZee' (a play on Nanny McPhee).




And for that truly professional (personal) touch.... no card would be complete without a maker's mark.

FO: Stash Busting Block No. 1

My challenge for January (& February as it's turned out) was to use my yarn stash rather than buying anything new. I haven't had much time for crafting (or blogging) lately as I've started easing my way back into work and pretty much have no free time. So I have just about finished my first block! Yup, it's taken me this long to knit six 3" squares.

I need more practice on cutting cubes, and the squares are a bit too big which makes the cover a bit loose.



 

But it's not too bad for an off-the-cuff projects with no pattern.

Evie Makes a Valentine's Card

I am really looking forward to Evie being old enough for crafting and making and cooking, but I couldn't resist making this card for her to give her daddy on St Valentine's day.

We were going to try getting a hand print, but Evie was more interested in eating the paintbrush and I was a bit afraid it would all go horribly wrong. Instead I drew around her hand to make it into a rosebud.

I did let her hold the paintbrush to sign inside the card though. :)

WIP: Stash-Busting Blocks

This is a very quick post just to prove that I am still about. As part of my January challenge to use up the yarn in my stash I am going to start knitting some blocks for Evie to play with. There are loads of patterns out there, but my plan is to just knit a load of 3" squares, then sew them all together and stuff them with a foam cube.

In an attempt to get this project started, here is the first block. Nothing dramatic, just a simple stocking stitch square (try saying that quickly!) to get me going.




I am hoping to include some patterned squares containing letters, numbers and maybe some pictures, so if I do design anything I'll try and post the patterns here.

I do hope that this project will get me back into knitting as I feel a bit lost without a big project to work on, having finished Evie's Red Riding Hood.

WIP: Tree Blossom Fairy

I haven't had as much time for knitting and crafting as I'd like this last week. Mainly because of work committments, Evie being awake a lot more, and planning my birthday celebrations!! Yes, it's my birthday tomorrow, and today is my last day in my twenties. And I don't feel a day older than 17.

I will say my twenties have been pretty great. I met my current husband. I graduated uni. I moved into my house. I got married. I gave birth to my daughter. I've made some great friends. I've met some amazing people.

So all I can really say is - Thirties, you've got some living up to do! :D

Onto crafting news, I have finally finished all the knitting for my first fairy, just need to find the time to sit down and sew it all together.

Hopefully it'll be ready for FO Friday.

FO Friday: Red Riding Hood

It's finished! The duffle coat from Debbie Bliss' Ultimate Book of Baby Knits, was finally finished on new year's day. It's a lovely coat and a great fit for Evie. I made the 3-6 month size and it does have a bit of room to grow into. The knitting (all garter stitch) was very straight forward, unfortunately my making up needs a bit of work - but I won't let this put me off. The yarn used - Debbie Bliss Rialto DK - is lovely and soft and I love the colour. Plus I have 1 and a half left over balls of yarn, so may make a hat.

I am  so pleased with this. I love the hood and cute little pockets, and will most likely make it in the next size up. (I would love to try and scale it up for me, but I think that's a bit beyond my skillset at the moment.)

Now off to Tami's blog to see what everyone else has been up to...