Craft Fair at Brookside Garden Centre Stockport

Just over a week ago I saw that there was a craft fair on at Brookside Garden Centre in Stockport. As its not too far away I decided to go and have a look. I have been to this garden centre before and its great if you have children as there is a miniature railway that runs around the garden centre and its quite realistic with a bridge and a little set of crossings all really cute. I say its great for the children if you go but I did count more adults on the miniature train than children!! hmm reliving childhood. I was tempted myself but managed to contain myself although I may have a go next time lol!! There are a few piccies at the top of the train and a little signal box.

Anyway to the craft fair which is why I went in the first place. I have been thinking about selling my knitwear at maybe a craft fair which is why I went along as well as the fact that I love to see what crafters make. I don't have any pictures unfortunately but the crafts were varied and were absolutely lovely and also there were fudge and sweet tables. There was a lovely stall that sold wooden letters that you could use for bedroom doors and you could have any colour and combination made. There were a couple of knitting stalls one with baby clothes and one with knitted animals, there were jewellery stalls but believe it or not there were no card stalls. I was really surprised as I had originally gone there to buy a card and there are usually lots of card stalls. It was a lovely craft fair under a big marquee and looked well organised and there were plenty of people walking around so I hope the crafters made a few sales. All in all I was very impressed to may think about doing some in the future although it won't be quite yet as I'm now saving pennies as my dryer broke the other week and then the washing machine broke this week believe it or not and then had problems with my lights in the kitchen. Well they say it comes in threes so I hope thats my lot for a while lol!

I have also been busy knitting and have finished a lilac dress set with hat and stockings and have also been knitting some hats in the form of frog, pig, panda, puppy so will post piccies soon.

See you soon.

Craftchick.

New Baby Set

Hello, well I've finally sewn up my pink and white baby set. It has little stocking leggings, a pinafore, a white jumper and a hat. It is knitted in double knitting acrylic wool so is easily washable. Sewing in the ends was a labour of love but I do like the striped leggings. The hat has a ribbon trim that can be tied to tighten to fit.

I'm now sewing up the same set but in a lilic and white colour combination.

I went to Ikea on Saturday for some more material for when I start sewing some cushions. It wasn't the usual Ikea that we have been to before and this one was huge. Is was so big we got lost! lol Anyway after using my pathfinding skills we found the material section. A few of the ones I wanted weren't stocked so was a bit disappointed but the material I did get was very reasonably priced and feels really good quality. It was novel having to cut my own pieces, not done that before. After having the material weighed and priced the girl said we just had to take it to the tills. Easier said than done lol!! After what seemed like a 26 mile marathon and three floors we finally found the tills lol. I loved loads of the items in there but was definately all shopped out by the time we reached the exit.! I've seen two lovely book shelves that I want in pine to go in my new craftroom.

Hubby said that I can have the back bedroom instead of the boxroom that I have at present because well as a crafter I am sure you will understand there is just not enough room in my boxroom. He says that he will put all his games and videos in the boxroom instead. So now I want to redecorate the back bedroom add a couple of bookcases, get rid of the single bed in there which is not used anymore and maybe put a daybed in there. Well I can dream for now as I will have to save the pennies up first. Anyway the big move is this weekend hopefully so I will have more room to set up my sewing machine.

Hope you like the piccies.

See you soon. Craftchick

Cat Baby Set

Hello again above is my finished baby set, finally done the sewing up!

I've been busy today doing the sewing up of my little cat/tiger baby set. It has been knitted in double knit wool white and grey and consists of cardigan, trousers, boottees and hat. The hat has little cat ears on it. The pattern is from babydollhandknitdesigns.co.uk who does lovely patterns for dolls and babies. Its taken ages for me to do mainly because I have put it to one side as I hate the sewing up part! Anyway I told myself that I should get on and jolly well finish it today - actually I used it as therapy as my dryer broke this morning - lucky me not - so spent the morning looking at dryers and prices and when they can be delivered. Needless to say my washing is now on an airer stand at the moment until I get a dryer. I'd forgotten what it was like not to have a dryer. Still on the positive side its saving me money on electric lol!!

I'm now going to do more sewing up a two little pinafore sets, one is in a bright pink and one in a lilac colour they each have a pinafore type dress with a little jumper and stockings. Loads of ends to sew in so I'm going to have to grit my teeth on that one. So more piccies soon.

Anyway its time for the handmade monday at http://www.1stuniquegifts.co.uk/blog/2011/02/handmade-monday-5-welcome/ again, the weeks just seem to be flying by this year, so please use the link and have a look as loads of crafters are joining in. Its a great and easy way of having lots of different craft blogs to look at all in one place.

Off to make tea now hmmm lasagne tonight me thinks.

See you soon Craftchick.

New Cushions DVD Arrived Yipppee!!

The cushions dvd from Debbie Shore has arrived. Well it actually arrived yesterday. I had just put the dishes in the sink to soak for a few minutes when the postman arrived. Realising it was the dvd I rushed to the door and ripped open the envelope lol!!

I put it in my computer and thought I'll just have a quick look - well an hour and a half later I was still watching and the pots were still in the sink!. Its a brilliant dvd. Loads of little tips and in plain english no posh sewing terms that I don't understand. Its given me loads of ideas so have spent the last few days looking on the internet at material. Its been quite a while since I bought some material and my haven't the prices increased. I used to pay the price for a fat quarter and received a metre in my day. Anyway went onto the trusty old auction site and have bought some material to get me started. I have decided to do a simple envelope cushion. Don't run before you can walk I'm thinking so zips are out for the moment.

Hope to receive the stuff next week to once done I'll post some pictures. Have also been looking at pin cushions too as there will be scraps and have been asking on the sewing forum what would be the best filling. I've had a few answers of sand etc. If anyone wants to leave any ideas I would be grateful.

Well I'm off to finish tea now we eat late here due to work commitments and I'd better not let it burn again!!

See you soon.

Craftchick

Thanks

Hello, thanks to all the crafters out there who have had a look at my website this week. Its nice when people appreciate what you do.

I look at a crafts forum quite a lot and saw one of the crafters (wendy) who is doing a handmade monday on her blog at http://www.1stuniquegifts.co.uk/blog/ where crafters can put a link on her blog and people can have a look at all the different items and blogs and what other crafters are up to. As I'm a bit of a technophobe I got it wrong (a typo I think very embarrasing as I have been a typist for 30 years eeek!!!) but lovely wendy emailed me to sort me out lol!! Thanks to wendy and I have now learnt how to link as well!.

I hope you take the time to have a look at her blog its really good and has links to lots of crafters so there is loads to look at. Also I have just seen that she is appealing for any information on her granddaughters stolen rabbit. Please pop along to see if you can help. Its awful to think that people can steal family pets knowing that it will distress the children living there.

On a crafting note I'm still waiting for my cushions dvd (2 days) being a bit impatient lol. How many of us crafters out there I wonder order something and want it yesterday because they are so excited - is it just me who is like a little child thinking its Christmas or does anyone else feel like that? Hoping it comes in the next few days so I can start.

And lastly, I'm still sewing up the little tiger suit so it shouldn't be long now before I have some piccies.

See you soon.

Inspired!

Hello I have just popped in to show you a couple of pics that I have taken of some gloves that I made for a lady. She liked my navy blue gloves and asked if I could make her a couple of pairs, one she wanted using browns and oranges and the other pair anything goes so here they are.

I was watching create and craft last Thursday actually I was looking to see when the next knitting shows were on and as I turned on a programme with Debbie Shore was just starting showing her dvds for sewing. I am not big on sewing as I used to see it as a chore mainly because my mum was a tailoress and I used to see her sewing at home all the time as a job but I was really inspired so much so that I have bought one of her dvds for making cushions. I thought maybe I should dust off the old sewing machine and do some cushions for my front room. She also has dvds for roman blinds and curtains and one all about sewing machines so might be building my dvd collection up. Anyway can't wait to receive it in the post.

Whilst on air debbie gave out her website address and I think its really worth looking at its www.shortcutstosewing.co.uk. There are sewing tips, a forum and some links too and it looks as though debbie pops in quite often to the forum herself to help answer questions etc. You should watch out for her shows on create and craft I can't wait for the next one as I find it leaves me wanting to get out my sewing machine straight away and start having a go! lol. At this rate hubby is going to think I'm becoming a domestic goddess!

I've not been doing too much knitting of baby outfits in the last few weeks as I have been knitting the gloves above. They are knitted in double knit wool and are done on straight needles and are fairly straight forward to knit but are time consuming when sewing up especially the rainbow coloured pair. Different colour for different lines. So glad they are done now as sewing up is the only part of knitting something I don't like.

I've also sent off for a collection called The Art of Knitting. Its one of those series things that you get every week and teaches you how to knit and has patterns and free wool etc. I started on The Art of Crochet last year. Its great, it gets delivered every month and when binders are due they send them too although the price for them is added on. Its not the cheapest of things to buy as there are a lot of magazines in the series but I enjoy it as although I've been knitting for ages there is always something you can learn or a different way of doing things that you never thought of.

Anyway enough warbling for now. See you soon.

Quiet Sunday At Home

Well as the heading says its been a quiet weekend for a change. In fact I've not even been out of the house! I've been busy knitting and spent loads of time looking on ravelry and at peoples blogs. You think I'll just have a quick look and before you know it three hours have gone by. I've seen some lovely things on the net on peoples blogs and on ravelry especially some toy patterns.

I've also started watching create and craft again. I used to watch it when I did cardmaking but stopped when I finished my papercrafting. Then I saw an advert that they were doing knitting shows so I have started tuning in once again. If they are on in a morning I watch on my freeview and if its in the afternoon I watch on my computer. Its lovely to actually see knitting on the tv although they don't teach techniques etc you can see the books and whats in them and also the wool up close. Some of its really nice. I am thinking of maybe joining the club again to get my 10% off items for the knitting. They have also been showing loom knitting which looks quite interesting too.

I'm making progress on my tiger suit and am on the trousers at the moment. So loads of sewing up will need to be done soon. Thats the bit I hate. I much prefer the knitting to the sewing up and finishing off. Still you can't have one without the other.

Oh well I suppose I can't put it off any longer I need to go and do the tea and some housework lol! See you soon.

No change there then!!

Well its been a while again. Quite a while in fact but I have been busy and have lots of knitting candy for you to have a look at. Finally a picture of the sailor suit with a hat I was warbling on about way back in August last year and some other items I have since knitted. I'm still busy trying to get rid of my cardmaking stuff. Its slowly selling very slowly but its going for next to nothing these days which breaks my heart when I know what I've paid for items - anyway at least someone else is getting a massive bargain.

I've not been to any shows of late back playing up a bit so haven't been as mobile but am thinking of going to the g-mex at the beginning of February this year as its not far away so hopefully will be able to get there. I was thinking of going to the knitting show in Harrogate but with all the bad weather decided against it. Its a long drive and the weather that weekend wasn't too good.

Anyway here is my first picture. Its of the sailor suit, hat and bootees I finally finished last year after getting the last button - I was very lucky there. So here it is.

Then I knitted a sailor dress in navy and white with pleats on the skirt part also in double knit.

Then there is the little trouser and jacket set with hat. I've never made tassels before even after all these years so it was good to learn and now that I realise how easy they are will probably be putting tassels on everything lol!

Then I knitted a white dress set like the previous coloured ones with

roses on the dress as below

and then I decided I needed a change from the baby clothes and decided to go into toilet roll covers. I found some knitting in lace that I have had for years in a lovely rainbow colour. Having not knitted one before I didn't realise again how easy they are to do although I did have to revise up on the knitting in lace until I realised how to knit with it again.

Then the awful weather set in and as usual I couldn't find my gloves. Every year I buy a pair and every year I put them away carefully for the next year and yes you've guessed it the next thing they have disappeared! So I thought well I've loads of patterns must have one for gloves so had a look at an accessories book and hey presto found one for fingerless mittens and full mittens so knitted them with some leftover wool and then I knitted a hat to go with them and had just enough wool to finish them.

So thats it in a nutshell for now plenty of pictures of knitting with plenty of different colours.

Both hubby and I have had a quiet Christmas and New Year and I'm back at work on Tuesday. It seems to go so fast every year. So onward into the year ahead. Hopefully it will be a better one - a lottery win would be nice (dream on) but you never know. I'm sure I will be back with plenty more knitting soon hopefully it won't be 6 months this time but like I said in the heading no change there in lapsing with the blog lol!!

I've already got two more sets on the go but have to sew them up yet which are little dresses with stockings and jumpers and I've also just started a little tiger suit this week in grey and white which is coming along nicely. Still haven't finished my jumper so will have to have a go at that soon as otherwise it will be next year again before its done.

See you soon.

Always check before you buy

Well I am of course referring to buying buttons for my little romper sailor suit that I have finished knitting. I actually finished it a few days ago but due to the above i.e. not checking when I bought the buttons I bought 10 when actually I needed 11. Not a problem I thought as I bought them from my local village shop and they don't sell that many so went back on Saturday to buy the one I needed and yes they had sold out!!! but the lady very kindly said that she would try and get some more in so the dilemma now is as I have already sewn on the buttons for the back opening if she can't get any more what do I do for the bottom buttons - will have to panic when it comes to it. Unfortunately I can't take the buttons off that I have already sewn on as they are very well sewn on if you know what I mean and I probably would end up ruining the baby grow. So fingers crossed that she can get some more this week. If not I can feel a design feature coming on lol!!

So to keep you amused I have instead uploaded some pictures of mine and hubby's day out yesterday. He had seen advertised a transport and aviation fair at Manchester Airport and as its not too far from us he wanted to go with me in tow (payback for all the craft fairs I've taken him to lol). It was absolutely throwing it down when we arrived - I mean Noah would seriously have been in his ark. Anyway we parked the car and waded to the fair. It was at the viewing point and in a hanger that has concorde in it. The stalls were all under the wings of concorde. I actually quite enjoyed the fair and then we went to the viewing points to look at the planes. Hubby had his binoculars and camera and looked the part and I had my bored face. Well I stuck it for a couple of hours and then made my excuses - back was aching- and went back to sit in the car. I bet you are thinking its boring to sit in the car while hubby is viewing planes well nope as I had stashed my knitting bag in the car just in case. So hubby was happy viewing the planes as the sunshine came out and I was happy merrily knitting away in the car and no-one who was passing even gave me a second glance. I even managed to nearly finish a knitted sailor dress I had started as hubby didn't come back to the car until hm hm gone 7pm.

Anyway it turned out to be a lovely afternoon for the sunshine and I saw a few planes but most importantly got loads of knitting done in the sunshine and in public.

So here are some of the hundreds of pictures he took and I do mean hundreds. In fact I said that anytime he wants I will take him and he can stay for the day and I will pick him up later - much later lol!!

See you soon.

Two new dresses

Hello I'm just posting my two latest knitting projects. I've been quite busy of late and have done two little baby dresses. They are the same pattern but one has been done with fairisle hearts and the other is plain. They knitted up quite quickly and the patterns are once again from babydollhandknitdesigns.

I'm now onto a little blue romper suit for a boy with a boat motif on the front so will post piccies when I've finished. Its knitting up quite quickly so it shouldn't take too long.

See you soon.