Easter Long Weekend

I realised that I forgot to post a picture of the last Pin Cushion of the Month.

This one includes the pattern and fabric for a pincushion, needle book and a wristlet. The fabrics are really lovely and the stitcheries are really simple. It also came with a little pink bird pin. This will be added to the pile to take along to craft camp. Speaking of craft camp, the forms are now available and the camp is on the 22 - 24 May. I can't wait and I am sure that it will be here before I know it.

I finished this stitchery.....
I really love how it came out. The colours of green and orange go so well together so now all I need to do is make it into a bottle bottom pincushion.

(29/10/09) edited to add - This stitchery was inspired by the lovely Cinderberry Stitches and it was made into a needle book.

This Easter weekend has been full of relaxation. I have been drinking lots of these...
The boys have been having fun playing with this (Guitar Hero: World Tour for PS3)....
And my sweetheart (aka the easter bunny) gave me these little treats...
And I have been doing some tidying of my craft area and continuing with the Hexagon blanket. So all in all, we have had a very relaxing weekend.

The boys are now on School holidays for 2 weeks although I still have to work my usual days and my sweetheart doesn't get holidays like teachers do. He will be having a very quite time at school over the next 2 weeks with only the admin staff there (most of the time).

8o)

There is a surprise at the end!

Well progress has been made on the crochet hexagon blanket with the completion of the first row and a half. 

I must admit that I find it a struggle to be random about the colours and placement of the hexagons. I am usually quite particular about symmetry and balance and this is a challenge for me, although I must admit that I do like how it is turning out and it is really fun and relaxing to make. Now that the pattern is in my head I can just sit and go without too much thought. I must admit that I have had to print an A4 size photo of Lucy's blanket to work out my colour combinations as I had started to over think them and was getting a little frustrated. It has made it so much easier to just look at her picture and know which one to do next.

Also on the crochet front I made another bag but this time in miniature. This is the perfect size to fit just my purse, phone and keys. I had been given 2 balls of chunky wool for my birthday a couple of years ago but hadn't come across the right kind of project for them. Well this bag was it and 2 balls was just the perfect amount without a single piece left over.

My 11yo  little guy decided that it made a better hat than a bag and I must admit it does fit his head pretty good.

I had a go at some book making last week. I was inspired by this post and when I went to Boarders I found that they actually sold Moleskine note books. When I saw the price and how they were made, I realised that I could whip one up myself. So this is totally handmade. 

I cut up an exercise book that was left over from my boys last year, found a piece of blue card and sewed them together on the sewing machine. It worked really well and I think that it came up not too bad. Some more of these may be in the making to sell at the next craft camp.

This is one of my WIPs. It is for another one of my Bottle Bottom pincushions. 

I used a transfer pen which I have found really useful although it does tend to produce a very thick line to sew on but I think it is not too bad.  It certainly makes transferring stitcheries onto fabric a lot easier and the one transfer can be used multiple times. 

(image courtesy of this blog).

And lastly I thought I would show you what's on my desk at work. 

This may come as a big surprise to a few of you but I must admit that I am a huge fan of Lara Croft and I have most of the Tomb Raider games and both movies. I am a keen Play Station gamer (when I have a spare few minutes) and when you live in a family of all boys you need to do something to fit in.

8o)

More Crochet

Well here we are again. I have finished my summer crochet bag and have put it to good use already. It holds all the yarn for my hexagon blanket. I had great fun making this bag and especially those flowers that just finish it off.

I was wondering how I was going to keep track of what yarn colour combinations to use for the hexagon blanket, so decided to do a colour chart, there are so many to choose from, I can't wait to start putting them together.Here are a small pile of hexagon centres that I have started. Isn't that a nice pile of sunshine?

The finished flower on my winter crochet bag. These flowers and leaves are so quick and easy to make that they really do become addictive. I had to stop myself from making more.

These are all the crafts that I will be teaching next term for the "One Week Wonders".

This fabric basket thanks to pink penguin turned out great I am definitely going to make more of these for myself. They are the perfect size for fat 1/4's and will look great in my craft cupboard.You will notice that I now have a nice set of matching items with the basket, thread bin, tape measure and little pin cushion.

I also had a fun time making some cards with some new papers that I got.

I have really had a productive week.

8o)