A bit of Sparkle coming to The Emporium tomorrow!

Anyone who saw me in The Emporium in Yeovil last Tuesday and Thursday will know that I was busily crocheting away whilst serving our lovely customers on the till downstairs.

I have finished it!

And here it is in all it's sparkling glory!

It is a square baby quilt/throw/lapghan measuring 39" x 39".  

I made it with Hayfield Baby Sparkle which worked up lovely.  

A soft yarn that is actually 97% acrylic and 3% polyester but feels rather like it has a lot of cotton in it.  

Everyone that saw it in progress commented on the sparkle in it - 

a lovely silver thread running all the way through.  It just gives it an extra bit of fairy dust!  

I'm really pleased with how it has turned out.  I think it looks nice and fresh.  A summery feel to it.

Wouldn't this be ideal for a baby gift?

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I have a little left over so made a little outfit for Barbie!

Doesn't she look pretty?!

Anyway both the blanket and the Barbie outfit are coming to The Emporium (link above) 

tomorrow morning (Thursday 30 March) when I do my next shift.

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Now what project shall I do now....?  

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Spring Lane times three

So here is the second clue for the Spring Lane CAL

 This one squares off the circles we made for clue one.

I confess I found the outside border just wouldn't work for me ... so it is slightly different from the pattern, but I don't think it matter too much.

Don't they look pretty with their square borders?

And then clue three ...

Making ten of these little ones!

My Crocus and Daffodil one is not made out of  Drops <3 You but Drops Paris which has slightly less yardage so I bought an extra colour (the dark green one) ... hence the variations on these little motifs. 

I particularly love the blues in these ones above.  

Don't they look fresh ... perhaps we should rename Ocean Road...?

And these shades just pop out ... and I love them!

Clue four is already out ... so I've got to get crocheting ....!

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Spring Lane Drops-a-long

So .... I've started hooking another Crochet Along!

This time it is called Spring Lane and is from Drops Design http://www.garnstudio.com/dropsalong.php?id=2
Using their gorgeous cotton range DROPS ♥ You #8. 

The suggested colours are so pretty ...

But, me being me, decided not to go for those colours!  

Although aided by the fact that they were out of stock when I looked!

So I decided to do not one 

not two

but three colour-ways

I just thought it made sense to make several and play around with colour!  I may even make one out of non-cotton yarn to see what that looks like!

Once I'd started the first motif I was whizzing away and loving it!

So ... wish me luck with my additional CALs 

(nearly finished my KAL which has over 500 stitches on the needles so one row takes forever and I have to concentrate!  And two CAL blankets just need their borders now...)

What do you think of the colours?  

I thought the top one looked like Spring with crocuses and daffodils; the second one I wanted grey tones with dusky pinks and apricots; and the third one -

well I just had to go with the blues, didn't I?!

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DeCluttering totals to date

2 x big boxes

2 x medium boxes

5 x bags

And in the back of my car a further two bags (yes I know I haven't dropped them off yet :-/) and another big box

Mixed Media!

I feel that I need to input some oomph into my makes and when Jonathan said that his sister was attending a Mixed Media Course near us.... well that got me interested!

https://www.craftcourses.com/providers/the-studio-heritage-crafts-somerset

 

So after a good browse at the website and encouragement from Jonathan I decided to book!

And, oh boy, am I glad I did!

So last Friday I attended the course and met the nicest lady, Constance, who was taking the course.  I'd already spoken to her on the phone and got that nice "vibe" and meeting her in the flesh just proved that she really was the loveliest person.

She taught both Karen and I about materials and bits and bobs we would be doing ... and after a morning of chatting ... we were let loose with the crafty bits ....!

I was in my absolute element!  Learning all about new techniques and experimenting away with paint, and crackle glaze, and heat guns, and fabric ... oh my gosh it was magical alchemy!

We also met her friend, Rosemary, who brought in this most divine caraway seed cake that we had with our cup of tea in the afternoon.  Rosemary runs the embroidery classes there.  Some of her work was on display, and she brought along a piece she was working on 

 ... and believe me ... it is all exquisite!

(Maybe I can do an embroidery course another time ....!)

The Mixed Media course is actually run in four sections with different techniques etc being covered each week.  I had only booked for the first one as finances are pretty tight and obviously needed to know that I would enjoy it (as if I wouldn't!!)

It really was a most exciting day!  It was also great to spend time with Karen whilst doing something we both enjoy.

And ... what's even more exciting is that Jonathan has generously paid for me to attend the next three sessions!  They are my Mother's Day gift!  Woo hoo to my wonderful man and for being a mum!  

  

 I can't wait!

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Happy Craft Month

The Emporium https://www.facebook.com/yeovilemporium/ in Yeovil are celebrating Craft Month 

... and my makes are featured!

https://www.facebook.com/yeovilemporium/photos/a.210541009019570.53676.172345822839089/1420021608071498/?type=3&theater

My taggy blankets are at the bottom second from the right!

I have quite a selection ready to sew up this week too.

It is so lovely to see lots of super handmade crafty things being sold in The Emporium 

and even nicer that they are celebrating us crafters this month!

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DeCluttering totals to date

2 x big boxes

2 x medium boxes

5 x bags

AND  in the boot of my car waiting to be dropped off a further two bags!