New skills galore

So recently I've been trying to master ye art of smocking, I couldn't get my head around it at first but with the help of a very patient teacher I finally got there. Here's a few pictures of the smocked cushion I created. 

I smocked a square panel of plain fabric initially, went for a pink and green theme to match my room. 

Then I joined it into some bias binding and the outline of fabric to form the front of the cushion. 

And voila! I'm absolutly in love with it :)

Pitter patter of teeny tiny feet...

Don't worry though, it's not me who's expecting, but my good friend from work. One of my other friends spotted a cute turtle photo-prop for baby photos on the Internet which looked gorgeously cute but wouldn't have made a very practical gift... So I tweaked the idea to make a fully functioning baby blanket. 

I started off using crocheted hexagons to form the turtle back. 

And then moved onto created the wrap around part of the blanket in stripes. It went well until I realised obviously the side of the shell isn't straight so it started to pucker! I just went with it...

And it kinda worked out in the end. Pretty chuffed with it! Now working on a few more surprises to add to the handmade hamper I'm making her, never had a baby close enough to make for before so I can't control myself :)

 

Easter came early..

It's nearly that time of the year where we gorge ourselves on Creme Eggs and cheap Easter Egg chocolate. Learning from past mistakes I've started early this year and decided to make some little treats to sell at The Moon on a Stick on Newland Avenue. 

They're cute little crochet chicks made a bit more kookie using bright rainbow colours :) I made the pattern myself - pretty much making it up as I went along - I always work best that way. 

Each chick harbours a hidden creme egg and - if I may say so myself - look very cute! Well chuffed with the way these turned out :)

No rest for the wicked...

This week saw me work a LOT and take a well deserved mini break in Liverpool as well as make a few little bits! 

Me and mummy Wilson too a trip to Liverpool for a couple of days to do some well earned shopping and see the infamous docks, which were not what I expected. We looked out onto the Mersey with a yummy costa hot chocolate, perfect day!

Whilst I was here I obviously sought out any haberdashery that Liverpool had to offer and bought some gorgeous yarns and a beautiful length of birdie ribbon :) 

And in any 5 minutes I had to spare here and there I managed to knock up some pretty sweet phone cases. Quite chuffed with how they turned out. 

Now to put that yarn to good use so I don't feel too guilty for buying it...

New Year, New Written Contract...

As we all know I am hideously bad at keeping my blog updated, so this is me making a written pledge to update this at least once a week....! I promise. 

Speaking of contracts.. I've started the year on an amazing high, I was promoted in my job to Assistant Supervisor and currently have something else in the pipeline too... Don't want to jynx it though so I'll do a big reveal when it's official :)

As for crafts I've been doing all sorts over the last couple of months. There are lots of baby bumps in my life at the minute so my current project is a baby blanket inspired by a tortoise shell for my friend. Here's how it's going...

As well as this I've developed a Yorkshire inspired range for my shelf at The Moon on a Stick I on Newland Avenue. I loooove the unusual sayings us up norf have adopted and have developed them into embroidery and crocheted pieces. Here's a few photos...

I've also got back on the bunny bandwagon and learnt an amazing new craft of cross stitching on crochet. When crocheting in the round it creates small squares - just like the cross stitch mesh you'd use normally. I'm waffling anyway so here's some pictures so you can see for yourself :) 

Introducing the minion army

I've been a busy bee recently, I was asked to make two minions (from Despicable Me) for a friend which I absolutely loved doing! Little did I know how much they'd take off, for the last month or so I've been taking orders for small minions, big minions and even purple minions. And I've loved every second of it! I'm currently working on an order to send off to my friends brand new shop in Nailsea called Ewe Knit. Here are a few pictures :)

Cuddly Toys

I've been pretty awful at keeping this updated recently but it's only because I've been so busy! 

I'm currently working on a collection of new products ready for a market in September (ages away I know but it takes me so long to get myself in order!) I found a pattern for cute little crochet animals recently as have put my own individual spin on it. Let me know what you think :)

A special baby boy bunny to celebrate the birth of the royal baby, fit for a (future) king :)