Looking back to Christmas & a big yay for 100 posts!

Wow, Christmas was a busy time here at Craft Matters Towers! I've been absolutely shattered since Christmas and it's been hard to pick up a crochet hook or plug in the sewing machine. But all the hard work was definitely worthwhile. Another Christmas project I signed up for was the Crafteroo Secret Santa Craft Swap organised by Vonnie of Blotted Copy Book. I stalked my Secret Santa partner - Helen from Kitty Ballistics Creations - for a little while and managed to work out that she liked the colour teal (which made life easier because it's one of my faves), and she needed a new pin cushion. So, in my ever-literal way, I made her a teal pin cushion! The base of the pin cushion is crochet and the top is foundation pieced patchwork (you see, I have learned something on my patchwork course..). I also made a sort-of-matching needle book and sent some lovely pins in a cute tin, some pieces of wool felt (Kitty Ballistics creates lots of very witty felt creatures like these...), some vintage thread, and some choc & posh tea bags. It was great fun putting it all together, and I think I am going to make more of the pin cushions - they combine two of my favourite crafts, which has got to be good. From my Secret Santa (Jane at Hooked Yarn) I got some fabulous goodies... She made this wonderful bauble which I absolutely love, as well as a very pretty red crochet angel, a handmade notebook, some choc (yes!), teabags, and a star-shaped cookie cutter. Judging by the great appropriateness of these gifts I know that Jane has been paying very close attention to my various posts and online activities! It was lovely to receive such a beautifully wrapped, thoughtful gift. So thank you Jane, Helen, Vonnie and Crafteroo for all the Christmassy fun and inspiration. And YAY! this is my 100th post. It's taken me a long time, but I got there in the end... It's amazing to think how much my crafting has changed and developed since I started blogging. I would never have believed that I would be writing my own crochet patterns for a start. Post number 101 will be the BIG CELEBRATORY GIVEAWAY! So don't forget to check back very soon.

An update after a long long break...

It's been so long since I've blogged that I actually had to think to remember my blogger password. It's been been a tough couple of months in our household, with illness and a very very sad bereavement. As a result I've just got utterly behind with blogs & forums, and my online life in general. What I have managed to do is a bit of crafting - it's been so good to sit down with a hook and a bit of yarn - crochet and reading have been my saviours at times like this...

So, I'm just to try and get back in the swing of things for now & post a few pics of the things I've been working on. In the mean time, to all my friends in the craft blog world - I am so sorry to have been out of the loop for such a long time, but will be back reading, admiring and commenting very soon.

A couple of log cabin-style patchwork needle books. Made with Kaffe Fassett fabrics, vintage buttons and crochet closures.

A couple of new designs for brooches/corsages, based on my tiny crochet flower pattern. The yarns I've used here are Debbie Bliss Cashmere Cotton in the 1st pic, and some of my favourite Mirasol T'ika 100% cotton in the 2nd pic. I love those colours, and I've actually made something that isn't purple..



An old favourite brooch/pin design that's always sold well for me on Etsy (thanks to all my lovely buyers!). I think the yarn in the 1st picture is Debbie Bliss Rialto, and the 2nd is some RYC yarn, but I have no idea which one... I really need to get more organised with my stash storing!

There's a few other things to come, but that will do for now.

Hats, hats, hats...

I've been horribly absent lately, but for a good reason, I promise. I have had an order for lots (well, lots for me!)of sunhats via my Etsy shop. They are off to the Aardvark Tea Room and Craft Gallery in St Leonard's on Sea, here in the UK. It looks like a fabulous place (I wish I lived closer) and I am very excited that they wanted to order from me. It seemed like such a great opportunity that I agreed to come up with half the order before I go camping tomorrow. So I have been working very hard to get 5 hats made (including working out a smaller pattern for a different size hat) in the last week. And here they are! I feel pretty proud of them. They're all made with preloved fabric from a pattern I developed myself. It's a real lesson in not giving up hope - I developed the pattern and did all the work early last year and haven't had any interest until now. I apologise for the rubbish picture by the way... I was rushing to get these into the post this morning and couldn't come up with anywhere tidy or with good light. I had really hoped to get a pic of them all hanging on our washing line - I think it would have looked really cool - but sadly it was chucking it down here this morning!

The other exciting news is that I won Blotted Copy Book's Duelling Crafters competition! It really means a lot that so many people liked what I made with my dad's tie. I've blogged my business card holder before, but I also made a needle book for my sister's birthday. She was so pleased with it that she had to call me from a rehearsal to tell me about it. There's still quite a bit of fabric left (they made ties big back in the olden days!) so I am going to try and come up with something else too. Thanks Vonnie for running such an ace competition - I look forward to the next one. And am now trying to avoid your Bake Swap, which sounds fab, but not good for my diet!

Hedgehog Needle Book

I've been working hard getting various things finished recently so I haven't had much chance to blog - even this is going to be a short one! Never mind - it's the thought that counts...

I've recently decided that one of the things I want to specialise in the shop is needle books. As well as more complicated ones like the owl and cupcake versions I want to make some simple (but pretty!) ones like this.

Isn't this fabric gorgeous? It has cute little hedgehogs all over it, and at the last minute I decided that I'd pick up on that image and embroider a little hedgehog on the inside cover. Really pleased with how it turned out! The needle book itself measures about 8cm by 6cm and is lined with felt so there is plenty of room for storing lots of needles whilst still being small enough to fit into the dinky category! It's turned out so well that although part of me wants to keep it for myself, it will be appearing in the Craft Matters Etsy shop very soon.

Of course, all it's done is make me want to do is write a crochet hedgehog pattern. Hmmm. And I'm supposed to be making needle books. I wonder if I can come up with something whilst I'm on the train to London tomorrow. A weekend of parties and friends ahead of me. Hurrah!

Update on the 50 Things Challenge

Originally uploaded by Craft Matters

Thought it was time for an update on how I've been getting on with the 50 Things Challenge as a quarter of the year is all over with (how did that happen...?). Here are some more bunnies (my latest "thing")! Yes, you've seen them before - but they do demonstrate that I can crochet the same thing in lots of different colours.. So - to the list:

1-7) They're all done!

8) Brown and turquoise bag - all done and blogged about here. Not sure what I'm going to do it - wondering about listing it for sale on Etsy in a 'prototypes' section of my shop.
9) Crochet hairband for me to use when gardening. All done but I hate it! Like the pattern and the yarn, but hate the way it looks on me... so it will probably never see the light of day...
10) 1 pair of daisy hairclips for Molly - not done, but there's a birthday coming up..
11) 1 gold slouch bag - almost done, but for some reason haven't got round to finishing the fastening.
12) Pink cupcake needle book - another prototype.
13) Owl needle book for Meridien Ariel's Owl Swap

Originally uploaded by Craft Matters

14) Blue cupcake needle book - for sale on Etsy. Pictured here because I don't think I ever blogged it.
15) Wallet/purse using Kaffe Fassett fabrics for my SIL's birthday
16) Prototype bunny
17) 8 more bunnies...
18) Placemats for our dining table using thrifted fabric
19) Gift for the Time for Tea swap - which I'll blog about as soon as I know that Izabela had got her parcel

Plans
20) Stuffed toy - preferably made with sewing machine, and probably for a present
21) New wallet for me using a pattern of my own design (I hope)
22) Another owl needle book
23) Another cupcake needle book
24) Crochet and fabric coaster for sale in the shop

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.

Prototypes and Being More Organised!

Have I mentioned before how much I love my needle book? Err - yes! About 100 times... It's just my favourite thing - practical, pretty, cool and always easy to find in amongst my crafty clutter. Recently I've decided that I would really like to extend the range of needle cases and books that I sell in the shop. I have a sweet little one using some yummy Kaffe Fasset fabric currently available, and they've been good sellers from the start.

So, I've been experimenting with something slightly different and here's one of my prototypes! I am really pleased with it - it's one of those projects where the finished product is actually fairly similar to how I imagined it might turn out. The foundation is thick pink wool felt. The cupcake case is a scrap of fabric recycled from an old Gap shirt, and I've crocheted the icing, using lots of different height stitches to create a swirly effect. I've added a red button for the cherry and some tiny beads for hundreds-and-thousands (sprinkles!). The pages are going to be creamy white felt, but I have to confess I haven't sewn them in yet...


Thinking about the usefulness of my needle book and reading Caroline's recent post on the subject of the Really Useful Box, makes me realise that my crafting experiences would be so much more fun if my various stashes and bits & bobs were better organised. What do you do to keep all your crafting stuff under control? Give me your tips!

How did I ever do without one...?

Here's the first needle book I made myself back when I was starting to craft with any kind of seriousness. It's the most useful piece of equipment that I have - no more hunting around for my fave needles through the various boxes and tubs that make up my 'storage system'. It's practical and pretty too because it's made with my favourite Liberty tana lawn fabric - I really love it & have no idea how I did any sewing without it. It makes me feel very professional too! The ones I have run up since have sold well in the shop too, so I am obviously very fond of making them. The later versions have little ribbon and button closures too & I like finding just the right button for each scrap of fabric.

A more fiddly needle book I made recently for the Fairy Tale swap is this little lily pad (my theme, chosen by Lottie, was The Frog Prince). I think it came out pretty well although I now wish I had made the lily a little bit bigger (sorry Lottie!!). It's made almost entirely with wool felt - dark green on the outside, light green on the inside and the white flower. When I was making the flower I got to thinking it would make a lovely hairclip - so I am hoping to try that out when I get a chance. I think I am slightly put off by the fact that I HATE cutting felt - it always seems to go wonky - especially when I am cutting teeny tiny bits... I expect my hard-living 20s did for some of my fine motor skills. Of course felt is so lovely to sew that as soon as I get the cutting out of the way I forget all about how annoying it is & come up with lots of lovely new ideas for it. I am currently working on a very cute little Xmas pudding and a lovely little Christmas stocking - prototypes of decorations I hope to sell in the shop. Great fun!

Some more broches & stuff to get organised..

Some crocheted brooches

I've been crocheting away & have loads of brooches ready for when we get round to opening our Etsy shop. We were planning to open around now, but the death of my dad plus our plans to move up north mean that all that has had to be postponed. I guess the upside of the delay is that I will have a fair bit of stock to make the shop look nice & busy.

Some pics:

I call this the tweedy one... It's done with Rowan Felted Tweed in Bilberry. I was really lucky & got a whole load of Rowan yarns for £1 a go just before Christmas when our local John Lewis store moved premises. This kind of being in the right place at the right time rarely happens to me so I bought as much as I could manage to carry.... The beads in the centre are faceted glass beads in amethyst which I got from Beads Unlimited. I haven't got vast experience of buying beads but they have some lovely things, seem to have some ethical standards & very fast delivery, so I have been really impressed by them.

This second brooch I call the fluffy one. Again made with some bargain yarn (this time it's Rowan's Kidsilk Night in Fountain). I love the fluffiness & the little bit of silver running through the yarn. The beads are amethyst again, but this time just plain round glass.

There seems to be a bit of a purple theme going on - I have to confess that it is one of my favourite colours. I must try & expand my repetoire a bit but could also do with John Lewis having another crazy sale...

Being a bit more organised..

I tend towards the disorganised although I hate the feeling of out of control-ness that comes with that so am also addicted to lists & frequent attempts to rearrange and reorganise stuff... One thing that I know drives my partner nuts is my terrible tendency to leave needles lying around in places that are meant to be secure but aren't. Needles then end up on the floor to be picked up by kids, knelt on, stood on... So in an attempt to stop that kind of thing and get a bit more organised I decided to make myself a needle book. It needed to be small enough to fit in the pocket of my jeans & cute enough for me to want to use it. This is what I came up with. And I must confess I am feeling pretty pleased with it. The insides are pure wool felt which makes it all very straightforward to sew, and the outside is my favourite fabric of all time (until next week anyway) - some Liberty paisley lawn. I bought this on ebay eons ago - it's too small to do much with so this seems a really good use for it. Since I took these photos I have also added a little purple ribbon loop & a button so that I can keep the thing closed if (when) I leave it lying around.

Here's a green one I made with the loop attached - you can just see it on the left there. This green fabric is gorgeous & is another one that I have had lying around for ages - so long in fact that I have no idea where or when I bought it. I think it came from a remnant bin though. The intention was to use it for cushions I believe, but I never got round to making them. These are pretty quick to make & I am thinking people might find them pretty AND useful, so I am hoping they will be in our shop too.

I've spent some time today making a fresh Indian pickle using seasonal veg which has turned out very well indeed. I will try & blog about it on our Seasonal blog when I get the opportunity. We will be having some of it tonight with lamb shanks braised in yogurt. Delicious...