Handmade 365 + 5

Meh. Feeling grotty and sorry for myself. I have a sore throat and am germ-ridden courtesy of my kiddie. 

While she is at scuba training with her dad I'm snuggled up on the sofa with trashy Saturday night TV and some crochet. Just have to write up some notes for my P&Q Class tomorrow then I can wilt. 

And my handmade garment of choice for your desecration today...?

Socks!  Of course. I spotted this pattern on Pinterest some time ago and wanted to give them a bash. The actual pattern us a freebie via Ravelry but only for ankle length socks. I kind if fudged the longer bit by copying from the Pinterest plumbers photos. Joining the sole in was also a bit of trial and error. The result is a smidge too big but they're fine for slobbing in or wearing inside boots when it's really chilly. 

Right. Back to my Wonky Star instructions then more work on my Granny square waistcoat. This is my colour palette courtesy of Lucy (Attic24).  Fourteen gorgeous vintage shades if Stylecraft Special DK. 

I'm working towards an oversized sleeveless cardi type thing. Another idea spotted on Pinterest. Can't wait to get it finished. 

ttfn x

Handmade365 + 4

Day four. I dug out my denim jacket this morning and an old favourite was lurking on the front. 

Back in the ethel & edna days I made loads of these badges. Letters Bondawebbed to felt, a bit of free motion stitch then out with my badge making machine. Once they're all put together I add teeny delica beads stitched on by hand with a very skinny beading needle. I did try adding the beads first. The result was a pile of powdered glass. Oops. 

When we opened the shop I sold lots of them. Letters and hearts and even hot air balloons. I've not made any for a long time but maybe for the run-up to Christmas...  They'd be nice little stocking fillers. Hmmm...

I'm getting quite inspired to get sewing some actual clothes having seen Rachelle's first week round-up. I bought a lovely piece of Italian tweed from the fabric stall on our market today. Tony dies fave some little gems and his prices are great. 

I've been back on my Pinterest and looked at the Skirt Love and F-rock On boards.  Itching to get stitching.  And as I'm off tomorrow I may just have to have a little dabble. 

Ooh nearly forgot part two of my little review of Yarndale. 

Having spent all of our cash (no cashpoints at the Auction Mart) we decided to venture into Skipton town. The bus dropped us on the high street and we wandered along to Coopers cafe 

or, more importantly, the Open Studio event upstairs.  This studio belongs to Tracey of Handmade Over Yonder and Lucy of Attic 24.

This is the ever-so-slightly-star struck Mrs H sitting at Lucy's desk. It's a lovely bright space for such a small old building and the staircase...  Narrow and steep and twisty.  Only a fraction of the population could get up and down those steps. 

There were several lovely ladies selling their goodies beside Tracy. I bought yesterday's brooch from The Beady Bird. I also bought a fab bundle of Liberty loveliness from Tracy.  It's too dark to post a picture tonight but they are great. Teeny prints and some very old ones amongst them. Perfect for my titchy hexies. 

Well after that surreal little visit we toddled back into town for some lunch. After much indecision we did classic pub grub - scampi and chips. But we sat outside!  It was so warm. Fabulous stuff for the end of September.  I couldn't wait to get hooking so I cracked open my new Proknit hooks and some chunky yarn and started a huge foundation chain for a ripply idea I have. 

So - to sum up - Yarndale was fabulous. The weather, the food, the venue, the planning, the whole shebang was perfect. Next year we will be back as customers definitely and, who knows, maybe as vendors...

ttfn

Handmade 365 + 3

So although it's only my second day playing it's really the third day of Handmade365. Maybe I should photograph two items one day to catch up. 

Today's little treasure was only purchased at the weekend but I loves it. My precious. 

It was made by The Beady Bird and purchased from her whilst I was in Skipton this weekend. She was selling her goodies from The Studio shared by Lucy (Attic 24) and Tracy (.   ). 

And why was I in Skipton?  One word. Yarndale. 

This amazing little woolly shindig was dreamt up by Lucy and six of her Knit and Natter chums and developed into a fabulous yarn festival. 

Three Sewing Shop hookers (me, Sandra and Laura) sallied forth, spent a night in Keighley then caught the train to Skipton. At the station a special bus was waiting to pick us up and shuttle us to the sheep pens at Skipton Auction Mart. Cute. Inside it had been yarn-bombed, as had much of the venue. 

How fabulous is this?!?  What a spectacular entrance. Crocheted bunting from literally all over the world. 

Everything about the show was perfect. Even our sausage sarnies for breakfast at the auction cafe. The ladies who fed and watered everybody there deserved medals. They worked so hard and the food was scrummy. None of your pre-packed, over-priced NEC fayre. It was 'real' food. Yum! 

Highlight of the day?  Meeting the lovely Lucy herself.  Sandra almost shed a tear, she was so overwhelmed to meet her.  And she is such a humble, 'normal' person to chat to. She still doesn't seem to know quite what an effect and influence she has on the world of crochet. 

Sandra made her day (I think) by being the first person to ask for her autograph. It was fab to see all the blankets, cushions and other work we know and love from Attic24. And even the green cord Boden coat was there!  

Despite it being a busman's holiday, we did shop. When you're a yarn addict and surrounded by stalls what's a girl to do?  

These chaps weren't for sale but I did buy some alpaca yarn...amongst others. 

Other faces from the show:

 

We persuaded Mr Hillard to drive over and meet us for tea and a catch-up which was fab. We've really missed him since our weekend away. 

He truly 'kept it real' this time - pasty and mushy peas for lunch!!  Sauce bottle on the table. Mugs of tea. Tee hee. He did look fab in his purple tweed waistcoat with matching man-bag though.  We let him autograph our bags as well. 

Can't wait to get him back to Lichfield for a workshop or two. 

Right.  I'll blog Part two of our adventures in Yorkshire tomorrow. 

ttfn x

Handmade 365 + 1

October 1st saw the start of Handmade 365 over at Ted & Agnes and I decided to sign up and play along. 

Basically you have to wear something handmade every day for a year.  Not necessarily made by you but crafted by some clever creative bod and not a sweat shop in The Far East.  You take a photo of yourself wearing your daily creation and then you can share your pictures with #handmade365 on Instagram, in the group on Flickr, on your blog and anywhere else you fancy. 

I failed on Day 1!

In my defence we have been revamping the shop so we have been closed for two days. I have worn joggers and t-shirts whilst on my flat-pack building, shelf-humping, fabric bolt shifting, yarn re-arranging marathon. Lovely clothing, jewellery and accessories would have git trashed. 

But today I'm on it. 

Today, in honour of the new, improved shop re-opening I'm going to treat myself to a spot of Rob Ryan. Or put another way, the weather has turned crappy overnight and I need warmer clothes on. Either way you look at it I'm rocking my cord Clothkits skirt - as made by me!  

This is the fabric on the front of my beloved. Unfortunately my boudoir is so dark this morning the flash keeps cutting in and reflecting off the mirror. So here, instead, is a shot of my lap. 

ttfn xx

New Baby is Born

As I think I may have mentioned, my latest 'ethel & edna' creation is a shop.  Well now I can introduce the newest baby the shop website.  Please pop over to have a little look.  I'll be adding pictures and online shopping very soon but let me know what you think so far.

Sorry it's a really short post but it's a tad busy here in the Sapre Room on my day off!  BT need chastising (don't get me started), house needs sorting before my sister and 2 nephews come to stay for a few days and I have a brother to visit in hospital.

There is a shop blog if you want to keep up with what I'm doing in my 'real life'.

ttfn
xx

Exciting Times Ahead...

Well it looks like 'ethel & edna' may have to be in moth-balls for the long term.  It's not that things didn't work out it's just that another, bigger. more exciting project has come my way.  I'm buying a haberdashery shop!!!!!  Can you believe it?!?!?!  I am so excited.

It has it's own blog and I'm giving everyone a step-by-step report on how it all grows and (hopefully) flourishes in the coming weeks , months and years...  Please pop over and follow me there as I think 'ethel & edna' posts are going to be even more intermittent than they have been.  Yes - that is possible.  I am really going to do my damneddest (sp?) and post every day for The Sewing Shop.  So many lovely people are already following us there and they are all so excited for us.

'e&e' will still be ticking over.  Any bits that I make I will sell through the shop.  We'll have a website and sell mail order as well as through the shop premises.  Any other ideas people may have will be gladly considered.  We've had some fab suggestions already.

So thanks for being there all this time.  I'm not disappearing completely.  It feels sad enough saying au revoir so I can't wave 'ethel & edna' goodbye.  Pop over to The Sewing Shop and we'll pretend we're back in the spare room.  :)

ttfn
xxx

Tigerlily Makes...

Well, the small person started Big Big School today.  How can she be old enough to go to high school already?  It's all gone to quickly.

Anyway, normal routine can resume - whatever normal routine was...  I've been having some technical glitches (computer crashing when I try to use any photographs) so this won't be a long post, but i just had to share.

Tigerlily Makes is moniker of local feltmaker Lisa.  She has just moved to a new craft unit where she will be running not just felt-making workshops, but inviting other textile bods to come and teach their technique to people.  And if you follow this little linkette you'll see that yours truly is to be counted amongst these talented people.

You may have seen some of my campervan canvases before on my blog, Flickr, Facebook, etc.  Well I shall be teaching how to make one of these appliqued panels but with a twist.  Using photo transfer techniques, we'll be personalising the pictures so that the faces of your choice will be smiling out through the windscreen.  If you've always fancied owning a van but could never afford it well here's the next best thing.

The workshop is on Sunday 13th November, so plenty of time to finish this and possibly make more for Christmas presents.  It will held in Lisa's studio at Curborough Craft Centre near Lichfield and includes tea/coffee and scrummy cake plus all the materials you will need.

  

If you are interested then click on the link and contact Lisa directly to make your reservation.

Right.  I'm going to quit while I'm ahead ie before the computer crashes again.  Will post again very soon with news of my latest craft show, plans for a future one and the results of my dying session (Mmmmmm....).

ttfn
xx