A crafty weekend ...

... so new stash needs new storage right?? My growing crochet supplies were getting really messy in a plastic carrier, so I decided to make myself some storage. I had this lovely Cath Kidston fabric in my neglected pile of fabric and found a pattern for a project bag on All People Quilt. I'd seen something similiar on etsy.com with a flat square bottom which would have been better, but this does the job just fine.

I also wanted to make a case for my hooks and in amongst my fabric I had a tote that I had started quite a few years ago, but never finished. So with a bit of reconstruction and some help from these instructions, I came up with a matching crochet hook roll.

I really enjoy sewing and must remind myself to do it more often, it was my number 1 pastime before discovering scrapbooking.

Onto a hat for DD2. She choose some brown wool, so last night I set out on making a Brownie Hat. When she tried it on this morning she declared it too itchy and not like the picture of the one she had seen in the Next Directory!!!

So I've claimed it for myself and added the flower this morning (DD2 hadn't wanted a flower on hers). That's my Sunday Morning look (weekend exhaustion)!!!

I had a parcel from Scarlet Lime, finally!!! Got my replaced December and the new January kit, so I might do some scrapping this week!!!

Lastly, I've had a lovely award from Lizzie - shall pick that up this week, thanks Lizzie!

Crochet update ...

... I have found the most amazing crochet blog - Attic 24. I have referred to this blog several times over the last few days and really need more colour in my life!!!!

I had already stitched the squares together that I has so far for my blanket, but after seeing a tutorial on Lucy's blog for crocheting them together I realised how dissatisfied I was with what I'd done. So I unpicked it and crocheted them back together. The results are much neater.
I've learnt a couple of things so far with making this blanket. Firstly, that I really shouldn't have got carried away with making totally blue squares whilst waiting for the brown wool to arrive, much nicer to have a mixed coloured square - I've got another 8 plain squares to incorporate! Also that I shouldn't have double crocheted a border around each individual square - uses up far to much wool! I'm thinking that I might end up making cushion covers, rather than a blanket.

I've also made my first hat. Quite please with myself as I didn't really follow a pattern to make it, other than for the first few rows to get me going. The flowers are also from a pattern from Attic 24. DD1 is tres pleased and had lots of lovely comments at school today.

DD2 has requested a brown hat and I've got some plans to make some fabric project bags, so a trip to the haberdashers is in order!

I fear ...

... I've combine the 1st of Jan challenges from The Studio and Stuck? Sketches for this one.

The Studio's challenge is to
- Make a page that includes a lot of “white space”.
- The subject of your page should be something that scares you; scrap your fears!
- Use 3 photos in the design of your page – but don’t forget that white space!

Another old kit, as still waiting for the postie to arrive!!

A little challenge to myself ...

... whilst *still* waiting for my Scarlet Lime kits I decided to challenge myself to make a LO with the first kit I pulled off the shelf. So out came January 2009 plus the addition of some other bits and pieces.

I've scraplifted a LO by Caroline Ikeji from Feb's Creating Keepsakes.

I've got 2 kids parties to attend today - wish me luck!!

Stuck? Sketches...

... whilst waiting for my Scarlet Lime kits to arrive, Emma reminded me of an old kit, so I thought I'd pull it out and have a play. I've used the latest Stuck? sketch.

My blanket is coming on slowly but surely. Even though I ordered extra wool, I'm not sure I've got enough for the design I had in mind - it may end up smaller than intended!

Hope you are all enjoying the sunshine.

First for 2010...

... my Jan Scarlet Lime kit has got lost in transit, so I've got to wait for it to come with next months. In the meantime I've had to contend with using up old kits (not a bad thing) - this was made with June's project kit.

Waiting for my chocolate wool to arrive before I can carry on with my blanket, hope it hurry ups.

The Studio prizes ...

... completely forgot to share with you the fabulous prizes I won from The Studio's Charity Cybercrop. My favourite parcel was full of Prima embellies and stamps, I especially love the fabric flowers. And how I adore Cosmo Cricket!!!! Have managed a LO since my post earlier, so shall share that tomorrow.

Circles and squares ...

... after mastering rows it was time to move onto circles! My 10 year old sister had asked me to make her this bag (her colour choice!) that she saw in the book I'd bought - Happy Hooker by Debbie Stoller. I can definitely recommend this book for beginners, the technique section is fab!
Next, granny squares. After making a sample square I decided to carry on and now there is a blanket in the making. I've got some chocolate wool on order to go with this duck egg blue - love that combo.

Decided to sketch out some combo designs and also a template for stitching the blanket together. 9 squares made - another 40 to do!!

In scrapping news, I have actually pulled some photos out which are now sat on my craft desk. Just need to get inspired to pull out some paper and then I might actually make a LO.

First finished item...

... I realised when I sat down to finish my scarf the other night that I'd actually done the stitching wrong, so had to unravel it all and start again. 24 hours later I had a finished item that I'm chuffed with! It's called a One Skein Skinny Scarf and it's lovely and warm, perfect for today. I would have taken a picture of me wearing it however as it's a snow day I haven't washed my hair and have stayed in my joggers all day!

I'm now half way through a bag for my sister, it's very addictive. If anyone knows of any good crochet sites/blogs, let me know.

Normal service has resumed ...

... I hadn't intended to take a blog break but on top of the madness of Christmas preparations DD2 got quite poorly with flu. Her temperature went over 40 degrees at one point so I called NHS Direct which led to being redirected to the Pandemic Flu line resulting in a prescription of Tamiflu for her. Fortunately she was a bit better the next day so we decided not to give her the medicine. It does annoy me that Tamiflu is prescribed for a 5 year old without a proper diagnosis being made and now DD2 is a 'Swine Flu statistic'. Anyway she recovered over the next few days and was able to fully enjoy the Christmas festivities.

So I have done very little crafting, nothing on my Xmas Journal - I may well continue with it, I shall at least put all the photos I took into one album.

I did manage a DT LO for Butterfly Crafts which went live on 1st January.

For the 1st of Jan 2010 challenge they have decided to do something a bit different and create a sketch for you to use instead of giving a challenge topic. So you just need to use the sketch for your lay-out and it can be on any topic you like

I sprayed a mask of glimmer mist for the circle which hasn't shown up well on the photo.

As you can see I've decided to take up a new hobby for 2010 - crocheting. I used to do other crafts until scrapbooking completely took over my life, so inspired by all the lovely hats, brooches and blankets I see on the internet I have invested in some hooks and wool! I started a skinny scarf over the holidays and just need to complete the edging, so quite pleased with myself.

Other plans for 2010? Well simply to keep the weight off that I have lost and to think twice before starting a scrapbooking class or project - I still have soooo many unfinished!

Happy New Year to you all!