Thursday, September 28, 2023
Done At Last
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
Monkeys
Monday, September 25, 2023
Flowers
Mmm, a bit skinny for a bracelet. The pattern is easily adapted, I just used 5 lilac beads on each row instead of 3. I had to do 30 repeats of the pattern instead of the 24 I usually do. The bracelet is not smoothly round, I think that may be because I used different sized beads. But I like the way the daisies stand out, and I don't think the odd kink will be noticeable when the bracelet is worn.
I played thread chicken with my Olympus thread:
One reason I end up with cardboard rolls with tiny amounts of thread on them is that I like to be sure there's enough for a project when I start. I decided to risk it, though it would have been a nuisance if I'd had to rethread beads!
Saturday, September 23, 2023
Delivered
I finished crocheting the necklace. Yesterday I delivered it to the gift shop, along with the bracelets and a few necklaces from stock. The gift shop is next door to the coffee shop where we hold the knit and natter on Fridays, so I went to show the ladies the beadwork before I went to the gift shop. Maria was very excited, says that's just the craft she's been looking for. She's going to go to the bead shop today and get supplies. I'm happy to help her if I can, though all the information needed is on the internet.
Thursday, September 21, 2023
Working On A Necklace
Wednesday, September 20, 2023
Two More
Monday, September 18, 2023
Two
Well, I've crocheted two bracelets, but it took way longer than I anticipated. I am out of practice!
Saturday, September 16, 2023
Back To Beads
Wednesday, September 13, 2023
Abundance
Sunday, September 10, 2023
King and Prince
The would be teacher who wants puppets sent me a picture of the princess and frog, but not the king and prince, so I had to wing it. How to distinguish the monarch from his offspring? I thought a beard and wider crown would do it. Here are all the puppets for the story together:
Thursday, September 7, 2023
Another Story
Wednesday, September 6, 2023
More Lavender
Monday, September 4, 2023
Sold!
I sold the fingerless gloves that I showed in the previous post, just as well I finished them in time for the market. I also got an order for a pair of gloves, those ones with half fingers - fingertip-less gloves? I'll have to see if I can find a pattern, or adapt one. I was wondering if Jane Eborall's top down gloves would work. The gloves will be delivered at the next market, so I have a month. I must do the rest of the tatted lavender before I start spinning.
I sold a puppet and some jam, and spent a pleasant Spring morning at the market.
Friday, September 1, 2023
Just In Time
Wednesday, August 30, 2023
Book Two
I've finished the set of puppets for the second trainee teacher. Left to right we have Scout the shark, Silas the sea otter, Sadie the sealion and Eric the elephant seal. The teacher is going to collect them from me at the market on Saturday.
Tuesday, August 29, 2023
This Is Where I Came In
Two years ago, I was asked by a trainee teacher to make puppets for a story telling project. Following that, I started making my bath puppets that have been so successful! Last week I was contacted by two more would-be teachers. One of them also wants puppets, specific ones to illustrate her story. The other one wanted a monkey puppet and a story board with felt animals that would stick to the board. She needed hers promptly, so I made it over the weekend. Luckily I already had a monkey puppet in stock.
It was quite good fun to create. I'm hopeless at drawing, so I looked online for a cartoon version of each animal and then printed it out to use as a pattern. Of course, even I can manage a snake and a spider!
PS My photo resizer stopped working, so I downloaded another one. I haven't altogether got the hang of it and haven't been able to put my name on the photos. I'll get there eventually.
Saturday, August 26, 2023
Unsuitable
Wednesday, August 23, 2023
Sample
Tuesday, August 22, 2023
Scarf
Monday, August 21, 2023
Ten
I've done ten 'bunches of lavender' for the order. I still have five to do. I've made a start by tatting the butterflies:
Wednesday, August 16, 2023
Sewing
I also got around to making the second blue skirt at last. No, I'm not going to put tatting on this one, which is going to the lady who gave me the fabric. She also gave me some lining fabric last week, so I used some of it to line the skirt. The colour in the photo is way off - the lining is actually a paler version of the outside blue. I hope this skirt will fit.
Tuesday, August 15, 2023
Spearmint
Monday, August 14, 2023
More Lavender
Saturday, August 12, 2023
Cleaning X Rays
There were quite a few comments on the previous post, thanks, so I thought I'd write more about the cleaning of x-rays. I was advised to soak them in a bath of water with dishwashing liquid and bleach added. Apparently, on some of them the ink will just float off, some need rubbing and some won't come clean at all. Mine required rubbing with a sponge.
Wednesday, August 9, 2023
Butterfly Sample
Monday, August 7, 2023
Better
The market on Saturday went much better for me than last month's market, so that's good. I took along my spinning wheel and some of the multicoloured carded batts, because they're so eye catching, and indeed they did start conversations. Since then I've spun the batts, so that I can finish knitting the scarf.
I've sold all the fingerless gloves, so I need to make some more. A yarn customer said she's keen to see solid colours plyed together, so I thought I'd kill two birds with one stone, spin some 'barber pole' yarn to show her and knit gloves with it too. First step is to dye the solid colour, jade in this case:
Wednesday, August 2, 2023
Puppet Parade
After a few days at the sewing machine, I think I've filled the puppet basket enough for Saturday's market table
Monday, July 31, 2023
Puppets In Progress
Saturday, July 29, 2023
Knitting
Thursday, July 27, 2023
Plying