Is it Spring Yet?

Happy Easter! It's a deceptively sunny day here, the light is streaming through the window (or it was, the cloud has just come over as I type- typical) and it looks like it could actually be warm . Nope, it's still very cold with quite a breeze blowing. Come on Spring! I'm going to be optimistic and say that it's just around the corner.I can't wait to get back out into the garden again without dressing like I'm taking a trip to the arctic.

I've been keeping myself busy crocheting a baby blanket (nope, nothing to declare!) which is for someone to give to someone else. I am doing it as a favour as I really do enjoy it and am having the cost  of wool covered. I have sooo much left to do!

Look at all those ends that need sewing in! ugh! I think that is the worst job. Still, it's fun and is keeping me warm at any rate!

I've been listing again on Etsy, including one of the glass pendants I showed last week. Hopefully I will list two more during this week. The photos are links to my shop :)

I hope everyone is having a great Easter and, of course, Handmade Monday!

Spring Signs

Well I though I had better post again as it has been a while. I've been keeping fairly busy, experimenting with my kiln (more failures than success but still loving it) making lots of phone calls (I've heard "the number you are calling is unavailable" way to many times) and reading online tutorials for everything! I've also been adding to the epic bedspread project with a little "help" from my dog.

A first for me was planning ahead and sowing some sweetpea (one of my favourite flowers) seeds for next year. Now normally I'm not the most organised person, my mum said my middle name should have been Later, so this is a first for me. I have loved seeing the new signs of life springing up while everything else is cold and dark and it helps to remind me that Spring isn't too far away. I hope they survive over the winter.

I made some black and white beads the other day and thought I would wrap a piece of silver wire with thinfire paper and place between the layer of glass to make a hole. They looked ok, a bit of cold work is required to get them the shape I want but when I turned them over I found a dirty, yellowy mark in the glass. Nooooo! I *think* it may be because i glued the paper to the silver with prittstick as that was the only thing I did differently...more experimentation needed I think. I'm also thinking about glueing on a bail and forgetting about making a hole until I can get myself a drill... lots to think about.

The beads on the front...

The beads on the back, complete with manky yellow.
















still, waste not... I decided to make myself a necklace and bracelet.

Not too bad from an experiment gone wrong. :)

Have a great week!

Ps.. if you get chance watch Love on the Transplant List (it should be on iplayer) It's a documentary about a fellow CF patient and her wait for a lung transplant. I advise watching with tissues as it's very emotional but well worth the watch and highlights the importance of organ donation and what a difference it can make to someone's life.

LH
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Handmade Monday- I'm back at last!

 Happy Handmade Monday everyone! Be sure to check out what everyone else has been making this week.

 The past two weeks have been the sort of fortnight where I haven't been able to get much done, I haven't been able to get anything started (or finished) I think it's because I have been on extra antibiotics which always slow me down a bit (and give me very freaky vivid dreams). So I have spent most of my days doing crafty things as well as visiting my aunt in hospital. My aunt is fantastic, she is in her eighties but is so full of life and has a wicked sense of humour. It's been a shock seeing her so poorly and is strange being the visitor and not the patient. Getting used to visiting times is odd as we don't have them at the hospital I go to.I hope she is out and back home soon.

I made the most of the lovely weather we had to get out in the garden and take some photos. Here are the results :) They aren't great but remind me of the sun!

I have been doing a little bit of experimenting with my kiln trying to form a hole in glass while it is fired. For my first attempt I soaked a cocktail stick in kiln wash and sandwiched between the glass...

 It didn't work but I like the pieces I made. I then got some advice from a very helpful person on the frit happens forum and tried wrapping the cocktail stick in thinfire paper. Success!

I'm not that keen on this, I must admit I was learning a technique rather than trying to make something I like. I used all the scratched pieces of glass that I couldn't break... it saves wasting them!

I still need to work on this technique but at least I have a good idea what I'm doing  now :)

I've also been adding to the Epic Bedspread Project! I wasn't happy with what it was looking like so I have started again... hard work! here is a close up picture...

And the a pic of the width...lots to do yet!

Glass

It's Handmade Monday time again and this week I thought I would show you my very first glass pendant. I finally got to buy a kiln after an age of saving, it is something I have wanted for a long time and it felt brilliant to get it delivered. I've just got to find a good name now for it :) My mum has suggested Trevor after my dad, as it is full of hot air and takes ages to do anything (we love you really dad!) but I'm not sure... one to think about I think! I have to buy some cutting tools as my skills in that area are none existent and snapping down the score line with my hands isn't producing the results I want (and I'm probably risking my skin!)... so a pair of running pliers are on the 'to buy' list.
I'm fairly chuffed with how its turned out, I think I'll have to read up on how to minimise air bubbles but other than that I'm just happy it came out the kiln in one piece. The colours are inspired by my football team (Blackpool) and I'm going to hang it from a necklace as soon as I've glued a bail to the back of it and wear it on match days for luck (could of done with that Saturday!)

I also have this picture of some crochet flower pin board pins, I made them a few months ago but have only just got around to photographing them as they have been pinning bits of paper to the notice board in the kitchen.

Have a great Hand Made Monday everyone, I'm off to have a look at what else has been made this week.

LH
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Tomatoes!

Its a bit windy here in Blackpool because of the tail end of hurricane Katia (just how do they come up with the names?) so I have decided to stay in an do a bit of blogging and crochet. I did venture out this morning to pick some tomatoes from the greenhouse, some have fallen off because of the mouldy, furry stuff that seems to have infected the plants but the green ones should ripen up on the window sill. I have had quite a good amount this year and less have split which I think is due to me watering them less but more often.

 Here are the rescued tomatoes on the windowsill :)

I went to visit my bf in Warrington Friday night and Saturday we went to The Blue Planet which is an aquarium at Ellesmere Port. I thought it was quite expensive but at the same time I guess it is costly running a place with so many tanks and animals to look after. I did have a great time though, the sharks were fab and I got to stroke a ray (lucky ray *smirk*) which was strange- they are rough on the back and very smooth underneath. I love how smiley they look :) I have read some bad reviews on tripadvisor about Blue Planet, some saying that it doesn't take long to walk around, yes that's true if you walk past everything and just have a quick look, but if you stay a while at each tank, read the information and just watch the animals then you can be in there a good few hours.

I have made some progress with the Epic Beadspread. It really isn't coming together as fast as I would hope but its fun and that's all that matters really. This photo shows what I have done up to now, I still have to sew everything together and do the edging and seeing it laid out like that made me realise that if I'm going to make it 6 big squares across and down that it is going to be huge!

I've been doing a lot of thinking this past few days after all the furore over at folksy and the enforcing of THE RULES. From what I can understand, they are tightening up on what is and what isn't classed as handmade and what can and can't be offered for sale on Folksy. Now I can understand that if a person buys a necklace from a shop, adds a few pounds and puts it for sale on Folksy, then that is wrong (and I'm not saying that has been happening)  but there have been some lovely shops that have been told their items aren't handmade enough to be listed.The thing is I can't see the reason they have to be de listed after November and that's what is making me a bit wary of listing anything else, when I make I have an idea of what I want to do and then it sort of evolves into something else, I don't sit there and think, 'I must not make the pendent the focus of attention because it is mass produced and that isn't allowed' I just make what feels right.
I was attracted to Folksy because it seemed a friendly place and was British based, I just hope it doesn't become elitist with a 'mine's more handmade than yours' attitude.There is also no way I am reporting items I see that I think (and again it seems such a fuzzy area) don't completely comply to the handmade criteria. I had my first sales on there Tuesday and I was really happy to be there until it all kicked off this week...I think the way it has been handled has been awful and there are some people who have  had shops on there (and selling lots and paying the commission and listing fees) for years, who must be very, very upset.

Anyway, after that rant I am off to have a look at all the talented crafters at 1stuniquegifts. Have a brilliant Handmade Monday everyone.

LH
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Home and a BIG thank you

Well first of all I must say a BIG thank you to Picto who was lovely enough to mention that I was in hospital on the crafts forum, it was such a lovely gesture and one that made me all smiley. When the news is full of horrible stories, it is really lovely to find out that someone has done something just for the sake of being nice and wanting to make someone happy. So Picto, I hope you are reading this! BIG MASSIVE THANKYOU!!!  I would have PM'd you but I'm not sure you can do that with blogger.

Well I'm home, only 4 more days of treatment to go then hopefully free for three or four months. It's so good to be home and back to posting blog updates using Sparkly Dave ( the name of my laptop- is it weird that he.. I mean it.. has a name?) Being able to post on my phone is fantastic but nothing beats being able to type out in real size and comment on peoples blogs, something my phone isn't great for.

I'm back to looking after my little veg plot and my tubs full of tomatoes from which I got five today though  I'm a little worried as they seem to be full of grey, furry stuff :S I'll have to have a look on the internet to see the possible causes.I have to be careful with mouldy stuff because of the bad lungs but I'm being careful. I'm really happy with what I have managed to grow so far, I've taken some pictures of what I have managed to harvest up to now which I will show when I can stay awake long enough to download them!

I've just completed a birthday commission for a friend of my dads wife's birthday, he wanted something colourful so I made a necklace and earring set using Swarvoski crystals, I'll post a picture for handmade Monday.I was really pleased with it and he liked it too :) Felt really good to make and sell something again, it's been waaaay too long :)

I have once again indulged in my wool buying habit and am planning on adding to my beadspread after my nap this afternoon, I've decided instead of it being monochrome, it will have a little bit of colour here and there, to be honest that wasn't some deliberate change to the design to make it look better (tho I think it will) more because I got bored of making black and white squares over and over and over....and over...and over...

Anyway, time to go, I want to catch up on blogs before I dose myself up this afternoon.. (for any pwcf  reading.. 3gm Ceftazadime 4 times a day and 5ml of tobramycin once a day, at 10am, 2pm, 6pm and 10pm...zzzzz)

LH
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Epic bedspread project

Wow, finally I am free to take part in a Handmade Monday ! Have been so busy these past few weekends with trips to the Black Country Living Museum and Windermere Airshow, I haven't had much computer time.

I would recommend a trip to the BCLM, it's a great day out if you are into history and are interested in how people lived in the past. What I really loved was how it wasn't like a regular boring museum where you look at things behind glass, instead you walked around a village, all set out as it would have been years ago, there was even a working pub and a fantastic fish and chip shop which sold the most gorgeous, traditionally made fish and chips. You could go in the houses and there were people in character that gave talks. Here are some photos-

I also visited Windermere for the airshow that was put on there. I must admit I'm a bit of an aeroplane geek and jumped at the chance to see the only flying Vulcan Bomber. It was a beautiful setting and seeing the Vulcan against the backdrop of mountains was amazing. It was so loud and as well as hearing it, you could feel it! When it first came into sight the crowd went 'OOO' as one and when it left everyone clapped which I have never seen/heard happen at an airshow before.

And now on to the crafty stuff! I've been crocheting now for nearly 3 months and fancied a bit of a challenge. After taking a look at the ace attic 24 I found this bag pattern and decided to give it a try. I decided to line mine and add press studs and  I'm fairly happy with how it turned out since I've never done anything like that before and the lining was something I really had no idea how to do. I must admit the press studs are in the wrong place and the handles are a bit wonky but I'm a bit in love with my new bag.

I also decided to make myself a black and white bedspread.... I think its going to take me a while! Only 35 more of these squares to make...

Have a great week!
LH
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Shaolin Warriors

Last night I went to see the Shaolin Warriors perform at my local theatre. It was the best show I've been to for a long while. Take a look at this youtube video for an idea of what it was like- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7VhLwAlqRc
I went with my sister who is massively into martial arts (she's a black belt ) and my mum who loves anything with a bit of action :) I couldn't take my eyes off the stage from start to finish, they were so skilled and fit, I have no idea how they manage to move like they do.
 I love watching any form of talent or intelligence, there is something fascinating about watching someone (not in a weird stalkerish way)  do the thing that they are good at, perhaps its because I haven't found the thing that is my talent yet (if I have one!) that makes seeing people that have discovered theirs so appealing.... anyway, if you have the change to see the show go and see it!

It's Handmade Monday so I thought I would share some of the things I have been making this week. I've been teaching myself to crochet for 5 weeks now and thought it was about time I ventured from making squares and tried to be a bit more ambitious. I found a tutorial on youtube (what would I do without it ?) teaching you how to make flowers... I got a bit carried away and have made tonnes...

A few of the tonnes I have made

Some are a bit irregular, with differing amounts of petals which I don’t understand as I'm doing the same thing every time so surely they should be pretty uniform? It must be something Im doing differently but I haven't worked out what yet. Still, the ones I’m happy with have been turned into brooches.

Crochet Brooches

I’ve gone a bit crochet mad this week and even crocheted with two pieces of lace that I bought on a whim a month or two ago and had no use for, I embellished the black one with a white plastic bead and some silver seed beads just to set it off a bit. I’m really happy with the black one and will definitely be listing it in the shop if I can stop myself keeping it. I’m not so happy with the white one, I don’t know why, as you can see I’ve started to add a bit of embellishment but it just doesn’t feel right… I ll have to work on it.

My last bit of crochet to show you… the squares I am sending to Africa. The yellow one was knitted by my mum, I have to teach her to crochet soon as its much faster than knitting. A few posts back I said how it was a shame my practice squares were going to waste, well it was Picto who mentioned this charity . It such a good idea and a lovely way to help people that need it.

I’ve made a start on Christmas decorations (ahh! way to early to be thinking about that!) and have made these. I used normal string to hang them at first but thought that was a bit boring so I’ve threaded seed beads onto beadalon which I think adds a bit extra.

Have a great Monday!

LH
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Sneeze Tuesday and flower looms.

Have had a busy few days and now I'm sat in bed (yes very indulgent but there is a reason for it) surfing the net, looking at blogs and ordering crafty things.
Went to clinic Wednesday for the end of my treatment, all went well and they were pleased with me, my lung function is about 42% which is the highest its been for a long while and my weight is stable. So all in all a big Yey! At the hospital they have a place where people set up stalls and sell things ranging from AVON products to books and jewellery. There are usually two different stalls everyday of the week and Wednesday there was a stall selling knitty type things to raise money for the baby unit. I saw some wool and a crochet hook, crochet is something I've wanted to try for a while so it seemed like fate, I left with two balls of wool and a 4mm hook and all for £3 . Result! I've borrowed a book from the library and have just about learnt two of the basic stitches, my dream of making lots and lots of crochet flowers seems a long way off...I can not make head nor tail of how to read a pattern but I suppose that will come in time, not for the first time I am trying to run before I can walk.
On Friday I went to Manchester again, this time for non medical jiggery pokery. I went to see a gig, the first one for aaages and it was great. It was The Kills who were awesome tho the support band was a bit meh. It has put me in the gig going mood and now I have a list I want to go and see. There is something about live music that I love, the way you can feel the bass go through you and how you can hear every nuance of the voices.. it's just so thrilling. While in Manchester I had my very first Krispy Kreme donut,  how have I gone through 29 years of life without experiencing something so gorgeous? It was a taste sensation! The best thing of all was that I had it for breakfast which makes it even more indulgent. I think I'am going to have to buy a box full of them and nom the lot :)
I got back home Saturday ( just in time for Doctor Who- I'm loving this series and the end of the episode made me go :0 I wont spoil it in case anyone reading hasn't seen it yet ) and continued my crochet practice, I've made a square up to now which I'm proud of :) I'm sure there is a charity where you can send squares of knitted or crochet things and they turn them into blankets for people that need them... something that I'm going to look into I think.
Now why am I in bed? Well I got home Saturday and went to bed feeling fine but when I woke Sunday I felt rotten, all snotty and sore throaty.I tried to ignore it and do all the usual things I get up to but I still haven't shaken it off so decided that today I was going to do nothing but chill out and relax. Staying in bed is the only way I can do that without being tempted into doing things.  I've let myself have my laptop for the internet and I have the tv and books but anything else is staying downstairs. I've dosed myself up on paracetomol which is keeping my temp down and am keeping my fingers crossed it doesn't go on my chest.
I've ordered a flower loom! ( I'm a bit flower obsessed at the moment- it must be the season) and am feeling impatient for it to arrive. I want it now! I'm trying out different crafts in the hope that I 'll be able to offer more choice in my shop. Plus flowers are ace and I decided to treat myself so I don't feel sorry for myself having a cold :)

Hope everyone is having a non sneezy week.

LH
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