My Owl for the Owl Swap

Yvette has already done a lovely blog post about the owl needle book I sent her as part of the Owl Swap. Yvette's blog is really worth a look - she makes some fab things, so pop round and have a look at what she's been up to.

I feel a bit naughty blogging about the owl I made too, but it's one of my 50 Things so I want to keep a record of it here. I really enjoyed making it - as you can see from the drawing that I made, the finished result is not too far away from the design idea - this happens so rarely it's always thrilling when it works out! And the actual cutting and sewing went without a hitch too - very rare!!

It all came together so well that I've decided to make a couple and put them in the shop - I listed the first one this morning and here it is. I've tweaked the design a little bit - I've lined the outer with felt to make it more sturdy and so that there's room for more needles - and it has turned out very nicely, although I think I prefer the chunkier stitching on the first one.

I've also been working on improving my photos for the shop and for the blog - I am always totally blown away by some of the brilliant images that people create to show off their crafting. I am never entirely happy with mine so I am going to work really hard on that over the next few months. No more pointing and clicking for me!

It's been a long time without posting - thanks to everyone who checks back here occasionally with absolutely no reward! I have posts to write on storage, on tutorials, on Works in Progress and an update to my 50 Things list. I also have a new cupcake needle book to show off (you can see it on Etsy if you want a peak!). And I am very excited that I'm going to be taking part in a fab sounding Time for Tea Swap being organised by Vonnie round at Blotted Copy Book (ace blog - go round and visit immediately). So I'm hoping to be back with another post very soon.

My Owl Swap Goodies Have Arrived...

There was much excitement when my Owl Swap parcel from Yvette arrived yesterday morning. He's called Edwin (which is a funny little coincidence as that's the middle name of one of my sons) and he is already right at home with us. I love the choice of fabrics and the colours that Yvette has chosen - I don't think you can beat grey and yellow together...very classy indeed. He's soft and squishy too, which I always like in a plushie - he has had lots of cuddles from Danny and Tom - no doubt I will find it difficult to keep him where I want him! I can absolutely see why Yvette said she was finding it very hard to part with him.

I was also really lucky to receive lots of lovely crafty bits and bobs - some yarn, a gorgeous piece of hedgehog fabric, some pretty little ribbon roses and a very very inspirational piece of green flower braiding (I already have an idea about what to do with that!). And Yvette had made a gorgeous card too. Really - participating in these swaps is always so fantastic. Thanks Yvette for all the lovely goodies and thank so much to Apryl for organising it. You can see what all the other owl swappers have been up to at the Owl Swap Flickr group.

Owl Swap Update and Crafteroo for Comic Relief

I had an email from my owl swap partner today to say that my swap parcel is on it's way - how exciting! I wonder how long it's going to take to get here from the USA?

Amazingly I finished my owl swap gift way ahead of schedule (early last week I think) but I haven't managed to get it all wrapped up and posted yet. The weather has made it a bit tough to get to the Post Office this week, and I was waiting for a delivery of something extra that I wanted to include in my package.

I didn't think it would be giving too much away to give a sneak preview of what Yvette will be getting... To be honest it's just an indication of how bad at drawing I am!

The other thing I wanted to mention is the Crafteroo shop for Comic Relief on Folksy. Generous folks from the Crafteroo forum are donating handmade items which are being sold for the Comic Relief charity. Great idea! Pop round there and have a look!

50 Things Challenge Update

*I've just realised that I missed out the brooches I've made from this updated list. Doh! It's now accurate.*

Another break from blogging - this time because my entire family has been struck by a horrid lurgy over the last few days... The boys both have terrible coughs, I was in bed with flu for a couple of days and now Mr Seasonal Matters has taken to HIS bed. I haven't done any crafting at all since last weekend when I finished the little purple booties - I just haven't had the energy, even since I started to feel a little bit better.

So I thought that now might be a good time to update my 50 Things list with what I've done and add some more projects to it. I think it will be good to have the motivation!


Update on progress:
1) Blue floral hairclips . Completed and sold.
2) Neckwarmer/scaflet in RYC soft tweed. Completed and listed on Etsy.
3)Pink wild rose hairclips. Completed and sold.
4) Tweed corsage. Completed and listed on Etsy.
5) Present for friend's new baby. Done - must post!
6) Crochet flower brooch made using Colinette Prism in Cezanne. Completed and listed on Etsy.
7) Crochet flower brooch made using Noro Silk Garden. Completed and listed on Etsy.

8) Brown and turquoise slouch bag. All cut out and ready to be sewn.
9) Crochet hairband for me to use when gardening. Started - about 1/3 crocheted.

10) 1 pair daisy hairclips for Molly
11) 1 gold slouch bag
12) Lily pad needle book.

New Stuff:
13) Owl related item for Meridian Ariel's Owl Swap. I think I have decided what to do - now I just have 2 weeks to make it!
14) 1 pair of merino wool booties to sell on Etsy. Inspired by my 1st booties, but in slightly chunkier yarn so should be nice and quick to crochet up. I really want to do a pattern to sell too, but I am not sure about my pattern writing skills yet..
15) A birthday present for my SIL. Not quite sure what I'm going to do yet and wouldn't give the game away on here anyway..
16) Another slouch bag using some of the gorgous Kaffe Fasset fabrics that I picked up in the Cottonpatch sale.
17) A bag commissioned by a friend in the style of this pink spotty one that I made and sold last year.

I think that will do for now. Instead of feeling inspiring this post is now making me feel positively overwhelmed so I think it's time to take a break...

A quick post before I go to bed...

This is only going to be a short entry because Mr Seasonal Matters & I have just had a chat about our garden plans for this year & now I need to REST in preparation for it!

I am also dead keen to push off to bed and finish off Our Mutual Friend - which has proved to be a riveting read. I used to think that Dickens was ludicrous but I have recently developed a taste for the stuff... That should keep me occupied for a few years!

Back to the craft!!! I've been crocheting away and I've completed a couple of new brooches, using a different pattern to my usual. I think they are gorgeous & it's really nice to have a change of style. The purpley one is made using Colinette Prism in Fruit Coulis (great yarn) and the second using something by Noro that I've forgotten the name of (woops). Sadly, these weren't on my "50 Things" list so I need to do some updating... I've also got 3 other brooches all ready to be listed in the shop which I made sometime last year but somehow never got round to putting up for sale.

Other progress to be reported: I've made a start on one of the slouch bags, decided on what I'm going to make for the new baby present, and I made a great find of some gorgeous woolly tweedy material & great buttons at our local Oxfam. Oh yes, and my Ravelry invitation just came through so when I get a chance I am going to be having great fun on there. All in all I've had an excellent few days.

I've also just found out who my partner is for Meridien Ariel's Owl Swap - it's Yvette. I've just popped round to have a look at her blog & I think we have a fair bit in common, and it will clearly be a really good experience. Hurrah for swaps, and for Apryl for organising it.