WOYWW 388

WHO PUT THE COLOURS IN THE RAINBOW?

It's all about the colour today!

I bought a couple of half metres' worth of Christmas polycottons - honestly, it cost less than some magazines you can buy!  I was running out of suitable fabrics for the reversible doggy bandanas which have been such a hit!

This is Bruce!  He's the cute little dog of Caroline, my friend in band and doesn't he rock the bandana?! I couldn't ask for a better model huh?!  Anyway, I've been making a few more for various charity groups and presents as they've been very successful. That's pleasing :-D

Some ready for packaging - I used up some of the final scraps of the Scandi fabrics to make a patchwork one too.

I thought these were lovely but will put them away until the Spring....

The Greyhound Trust ladies requested some more hats and doggy snoods. My hubby has been a complete star and made the pom poms for me (I think he likes using the Clover pom pom maker, nice bit of technology you see!) I do love this chunky wool (James C Brett) it knits up really quickly and is the perfect thing to make whilst watching the telly :-)

But it hasn't all been about the crafting this week - G and I have bought a house!! Not in Wiltshire but back in our home town in Wales...it's been a bit of a shock to our family and friends but is a good decision. I can't wait to be back by the sea - though I think it's just as well that we'll have a guest room because everyone has said they're coming to visit. Julia and I have been brave and will be back and forth because she's too good a mate to not see frequently. Telling my friends in band was the hardest thing - it's been a big part of my life and I shall miss them all terribly. What other hobby could see you doing this for example:

We did a whole day of playing marches and other music in Tesco at Tidworth. As it's a garrison town, there's lots of military personnel in and out. Everyone really seemed to enjoy the music - it's a bit different eh?  We shall be back there twice (again at Tesco's request) to play Christmas carols and music in December.  

So, there you have it - my week in a nutshell: sewing, knitting, parping and house buying. You can't say I don't live a busy life!!

xxxxxx

WOYWW 387

WE'RE BUSY DOING NOTHING

WORKING THE WHOLE DAY THROUGH,

TRYING TO FIND LOTS OF THINGS NOT TO DO...

Oh yes indeedy, life is very full at the moment - I've felt a bit guilty sitting down and crafting when I should have been doing other things!  The important areas of the house are clean, there's been a fair few miles travelled to Wales and back and I'm trying to get items made that I promised someone. I'd like a Time Turner, that Hermione used in Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban - it would be really useful!!

This mess is evidence that I'd been rummaging through my stash to pick some fabrics for a tote bag...

I'm cutting out at one end of the desk while all the Christmas stuff is still piled high at the other...tsk tsk....

Making pockets and selecting trims (hey Shaz, your good work sorting out my ribbons has really paid off, they're still quite neat!!) The bag is under construction, lol!

What else has been going on?

I've cut out a few smaller doggy bandanas for terrier sized mutts - one of the players at band has a little dog called Bruce, so I'm going to give one to her to see if it's roughly the right size!

My fab hubby retired from work last week - it's early, he's not a pensioner for some time yet but he felt that he'd done enough. As he's worked since the age of 16, that's a fair few years' worth. Last Monday was the first of the new routine and, as it was the most glorious day, we went out for a walk and he took his camera...

The Kennet and Avon canal near Pewsey - there was lots of woodsmoke coming from the chimneys on the boats - very evocative.

The colours were amazing!

Backlit leaves and silhouetted branches...we were surrounded by gold.

I'm tempted to get this shot made into a 2,000 piece jigsaw for my brother - ooooh, that would be fiendish eh?!  Happy colours though - it has been the most beautiful autumn here, my favourite season of all :-)

Happy crafting everyone! xxx

WOYWW 386

WE GOTTA GET RIGHT BACK TO WHERE WE STARTED FROM....

Don't faint - there's something non-felty on the desk today!!

I'm drafting out a pattern that I found on Pinterest...but for what? You may well ask and then when you hear the reason, wonder if I've finally lost the plot.....

Julia gifted me some Christmas fabric from her mum's stash that she's been clearing recently and the spots/checks are from my supplies! Still any idea?

This may give you a bit more of an idea possibly. No? Well, let's carry on....

Of course - they're reversible dog bandanas that slide onto collars (not having a suitable dog on which to model these, I made do with a ruler!)  Whaddya think? I'm making them for a Rescued Greyhound trust that our lovely desker Sue is involved with.  I liked the pattern because it uses less fabric than triangular scarves that you tie and they were so easy and quick to make. You could have some for Valentines, Easter, summer...the possibilities are endless. But it's often hard to make something fundamentally boring look enticing for people to part with cash so....

A little work in Corel Photo and a bit of folding later, hopefully that's done the trick!

And some instructions always help!

I hope they raise some cash for a great cause!  Have a great week everyone :-D xxxx

WOYWW 385

ROUND LIKE A CIRCLE IN A SPIRAL

LIKE A WHEEL WITHIN A WHEEL....

It's been getting to be like Groundhog Day on my desk recently! But I actually did start making something else today - my friend Helen has asked me to make some tissue holders for her to give as little Christmas presents. Woohoo, something that isn't felt! To the Scrapmobile, Batgirl.....

Bright colours was what Helen asked for - I like a challenge! 

I haven't seen some of these for a while, they're like old friends :-D

Inside out...the one that I have turned out and ironed features a rather lovely lace trim that I bought from C&H Fabrics in Winchester last Sunday (I still miss Janet Fairythoughts when I go in the shop.....)

A bit of fun eh? I did enjoy running these up as they're so quick to make!

But is my felt obsession done with yet? Not on your nelly.......

Some more examples of what I made - they've gone off in the parcels now.

And as well as the lace I bought in Winchester, a few other things snuck their way into my basket. If that picture doesn't shriek 'Christmas' then I don't know what would.  Red stars with snowflakes next, I think......I can't seem to stop!

Thanks for all the lovely comments last week. Because of 'life' stuff, I don't think I returned all of them..sorry. This week isn't going to be better either as we have to return to Wales for the funeral of one of our oldest friends - it may be the weekend before I catch up, for which I apologise. 

Have a lovely week everyone - I'm sending hugs and big squishies to you all :-)

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WOYWW 384

IT'S THE SAME OLD SONG...

I feel as if I ought to apologise as I've shown you pretty much the same desk for the past three weeks! But there's been quite a bit to do as I want to send the things off to two different charities and want a goodly amount to put in each package.

It's a great pile of mess on my desk...felt, stuffing, embroidery floss, ribbons, bead box, finished items and an upturned orange plastic cup that I used as a circle template!

The pile is growing :-)

and a pudding is taking shape!

and the second type of bunting is finished - yay!  I also finished a crochet blanket and sent it off to Lilian B for something she's involved with, but forgot to take a photo before mailing it. Doh!  

But it hasn't been all nose-to-the-grindstone crafting. There have been some beautiful bright and cold sunny days here and on Sunday, Mr LLJ and I visited Mottisfont Abbey, a lovely NT property near Winchester. There was lots to see in the house but we concentrated on the gardens as the weather was so lovely....

I've decided that I'd rather like a Shepherd's Hut for my next garden - it was all lovely and snug inside, perfect for curling up with a book when you want to hide away....

A place for everything and everything in its place :-)  It was really atmospheric in there, I loved it.

The autumn colours haven't really got going yet but there were some beautiful things to stop and stare at:

The bark of this tree was like burnished copper, it was gleaming in the sunshine....

...and in the dark Winter garden, this tree almost pulsated with bright yellow...I spent ages standing underneath being surrounded by the amazing colour.

There were mermaid tresses undulating in the fast flowing chalk stream....

...and just a hint that the season is changing. We really did have a bit of a recharge of spirits there.

I may make something different for next week's desk but don't hold me to that as I'm really enjoying the felt/thread technology!!

Have a great week everyone xxxxx

WOYWW 383

I'LL SEW ON MY SHADOW ONE STITCH AT A TIME

There's been quite a lot of stitchery going on this week, in between the house hunting and celebrating the imminent early retirement of Mr LLJ!

Last Saturday was grim weather wise and so I felt no guilt whatsoever in spending most of the day playing nicely.  I'd seen some ideas on Pinterest for felt Christmas decorations and thought I'd have a go. Now I haven't done any embroidery or cross stitch for a VERY long time but do you know what? I have really enjoyed it!  I sort of winged the snowflake being good at eyeballing symmetrical patterns. Last time Shaz and Doug came to stay, they passed on some yarn and bead stash - so I dug a few little pearls out and:

...this was the result! Some of you saw this on FB but I'm sneaking it in today :-D

And here's the start of some different colourways with a nascent Christmas pud top right! That's going to have some holly leaves and red button berries by the time I've finished with it.  The grey seems a bit sombre at the moment but hopefully it'll look better by the time I've blinged it up and blanket stitched it. All these will end up in a charity parcel :-)

And finally, I bought another 20cms of Christmas wreath fabric to go with the spotty blue from my stash to make another couple of sets of bunting (I was trying to match the colours of the snowmen's scarves - it's as near as I could get!)

Hope you all have a great week!! xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

WOYWW 382

SO YOU HOLD ME CLOSE TO YOUR HEART

RED IN THE GREY...

You'd better sit down...I don't want you to have a shock.

There's been a whole heap of crafting going on this week - woohoo!!  It's the thought of trying to get some stuff done for a charity Christmas event that has spurred me into action. The poor old sewing machine doesn't know what's hit it!

The fabric from last week has been transformed into flags...this is the ONLY sort of ironing I enjoy :-D

I made four lots of these. I like the red and grey combo a lot - very Scandi!

Then I took the left over scraps and joined them in strips. then cut these into squares and joined them together in a mini patchwork, backed them with red felt and zigzag topstitched them to make some Christmas coasters...

All tied up with some festive ribbon from my stash.  And that's not all!

I'd seen some great ideas for felt ornaments on Pinterest and decided that I need to have a go - a bit of a challenge in fact. All the above came from the Range and was stupidly cheap. Look at that rainbowy gorgeousnessness *squee*

Now it's cooled down a bit, the conservatory is more pleasant to work in - great light for old eyes! I freehanded the pattern...

...and had a go at making this little bird, I need to add a ribbon hanger, stuff it and complete the stab stitching. I'm quite pleased with it!  I've been inspired by all the gorgeous embroidery that Sandy Leigh Johnson's been doing. There will hopefully be more on this theme to show you - I've got rather a lot of embroidery floss to use up!!!

Have a great week everyone xxx