Crafting chat

[JackBauer]

Hi,

I know that a lot of you are busy crafting for christmas as should I be but I need to offload and thought it would be nice to have a thread we can offload about crafty stuff/other stuff/whatever amongst like minded fidgety fingers!

I spent today at teh soft play with DD's. DD1 has a friend in her class she has been begging to have over for lunch, but I don't really know her or her mum (they are 3) so we decided to take them both to soft play for lunch. It was fun, and she is lovely, but it meant I felt really awkward getting my crochet out in front of a relative stranger.
My mates are used to me doing crochet while talking to them but I thought she might think I was being rude, so I got nothing done. It was so weird sitting there doing nothing!

I have also been offered a job interview tomorrow for a low paying job I neither want, nor can afford to take with nursery fees etc so I have said I will go but now I don't want to.

On the plus side I have finally found a coat for ridiculously tall DD1 here considering she has just grown out of her 4-5 yr one I have to get a 6 yr olds size for her

And breathe.

There is a fabric shop on the corner of my street so I can't even pretend the remnants were from my stash - they are new remnants.

Made spoon fairy with DD today!
...in the manner of ELC Make A Spoon Fairy Kit, which she did at a birthday party - so we bought a cheap wooden spoon from Tesco to make another at home. Bought it months ago, finally did it today, and of course it looks much nicer than the one from the kit

Every year I plan to make Christmas decorations and do precious little in time, so I'm planning to string up some wooden shapes in a garland soon. Trouble is the lovely and cheap supplier of shapes I used last year seems to not be doing it anymore, so got to find new ones.
More time on ebay!

Very jealous of the plans to make own clothes - I think that's way beyond me.

Thell - have you tried making salt-dough decorations.

It is just flour, water and lots of salt dough.
mix it up, roll it out, cut out shapes, poke a hole for string - I think you cook them - can't remember or leave to air dry.
PAint, add glitter et voila!

ah the magic of instructibles

IF you are good at fiddly sculpty things you could do angels and all sorts.

Marking place on thread. On DH's laptop for the next few days while mine is fixed so won't be around much.

Also here.

This is different recipe from the play dough recipe, don't know if you could cook the play dough.

Envious of both the fabric shop at the end of the street and the moss green jersey...

Yes, stop gloating steaknife, some of us live in a town where the only decent fabric shop has a large sign no the door that say s

'NO BUGGIES ALLOWED'

I have a good recipe for christmas decorations last year, mix equal parts of apple sauce (has to be bought as homemade stuff is too runny) and cinnamon, mix to dough and cut as normal and leave to air dry, they smell gorgeous

Added something else to to do list. Damn those magazines. I have a subscription to sew Hip and Inside Crochet and I keep seeing lovely things to make. And then I feel like I have to make them to make the subscription worthwhile.

Not a very productive day here today, will say no more as don't want to bring negativity to the thread.

I have a fabric shop a few minutes away from me which although quite old-fashioned has some nice things. I spend the rest of the time coveting Kokka-style fabrics online. Also covet a remnants bin

Anyone following Handmade Holidays on Sew Mama Sew? I am enjoying it although it's adding a lot to my to do list!

Hopefully tomorrow will go better. Happy crafting to all

Hope today went a bit better Char.
Not much done here today, finished BIL's hat at playgroup (where DD2 managed to last the whole 2 hours without biting anyone, even when they pulled her hair. A new record) but not managed much else.
Must do some sewing tomorrow. Will go to park with DD's in the morning so I can stay in and sew guiltfree in teh afternoon while DH is working.

Must stop reading sewmamasew, it does not help with the unfinished list of things to make...

Am wishing I hadn't put off making the doctor's appointment. Yesterday I cried so much that the skin under my eyes is raw. DP sent me to bed in the afternoon, think he had had enough of me. Was awake almost all night. Today I am still exhausted and just feel wrong. I feel like I'm drowning. I told DP how I felt though which made me feel a bit better.

Anyway, hope everybody is getting on well. Glad you managed to finish BIL's hat and that DD2 didn't bite anyone. I have been lucky so far that DD has only done a bit of hitting and shoving, although I'm sure she'll pick it up soon! I have designed an embroidery today which I don't have time to sew but hopefully I'll start making inroads into my list tomorrow.

Charchar - sorry you are not feeling well. I hope you have a better weekend.

We went to the beach yesterday collecting more shells for my christmas wreath. DD ate sand.

I made a christmas tree embroidery on Thursday night. My frst embroidery for years, but a little old lady had given my mum two biscuit tins of threads for me - yay.

I have scanned it and tidied it up to make it into a card - it is on my profile.
It took me about three hours to stitch, with much unpicking but I am pleased with it.

I was planning to cut a dress out last night but ended mning and watching Children in Need. Might try again today.

Hope you all have lovely Saturdays.

Char, why did you put off the appt? If you are feeling down ina 'cyclical' way then cancelling it when yo feel better isn't going to help (but I know you knwo this)
Glad you told your DP, please go and see someone soon though. DH used to send me to bed when I was down but he said it was becuase he thought I needed 'out' of a situation and some time to myself. Maybe your DP is just unsure what to do but is trying (in useless man fashion, obviosuly)

Steak, that card is cool, looks highly labour intensive as well! What are you going to do with the shells? Are you going to glue or thread them? We have a lovely local bay but never know what to do with teh masses of shells we bring home. Once you have painted them a few times you get bord of that, so the girls just 'plant' them all over the garden.

Anyway, Dh has had to take the car so we are stuck near the hosue today, all still in jammies but are going to get girls dressed in a minute and take them to the loca park to jump in puddles, then we can have a daybath, lunch and a dvd while I nit comb (lovely) and then I shall get some wristlet's made.
I think I have settled on teh fabric, I have an old pair of lovely soft jeans that have given way betweent he thighs (after numerous patcching) so am going to chop the legs and use that, then I can practise my embroidery.
Have started my mums hat today, got 4 done now, brother, his gf, BIL and other sisters BF. One sister has alpaca wrist warmers and I made the other a hat for her birthday a few weeks ago so am going to make a moebius scarf for her from same yarn.
Then I have a ruffle blanket to make from inside crochet which I am going to kmake with a white base and blue, red and yellow ruffles along it.
Am very chuffed with myself too as have figured out how to make a blanket of motifs in crochet without cutting and starting a new motif everytime!

I know, just embarassed. Will definitely go on Monday. Sounds like you've been very productive, glad it's all going well.

Thanks steak, your card is lovely

DD appears to be feeling a bit fragile today, she's getting her 2year molars so she's curled up on the couch. Might try and get some sewing done before she perks up.

Jack - I'm going to glue them onto a cardboard circle. Any old excuse to buy a glue gun. I thought I might also spray some gold for festivness.
I have seen some lovely drift wood shapes but I couldn't find enough of the right kind of wood.

I think the embroidery would be quicker if I wasn't so out of practice. I didn't use complicated stitches.

Mobious scarf sounds good - have you seen the crotchet coral reef project?
I'll find the links and post them later.

Ooh yes, love the crochet reef. I actually started making hyperbolic balls for DD's after seeing that, they are lots of fun, just crochet a flat circle an inch or so wide and then start 2dc'ing in every stitch, it can take awhile but makes the cutest fluffy curlie balls like this

Argh, just looked at the sew mama sew blog and am having craft envy! I can't even sew that well. I have a sewing machine (it's my mum's) but I don't know how to use it properly. I'd like to do a course or something but can never afford it. Still, my list of book marks is ever expanding. I'd like to make some sort of project book where I can keep all the ideas. What do you guys do?

Char char, sorry you are feeling overwhelmed. Hope you get to the drs.

I am constantly tired at the moment, and have even been given some sleeping tablets by the doctor, which are fine while I take them, but they are only supposed to be a temporary help.

Hope the doc helps CharChar. That drowning feeling is bloody awful.

Frumperlicious - are you sticking with this new name now? Is that because it reflects how you feel? Hope you too start to feel brighter soon.

I finally managed to get to the shop today to get my essentials for the Christmas swap and prezzies. DS2 has been pretty rough this week - poss pig flu - and it was driving me nuts being housebound with loads of time while he slept but not being able to get on for the want of some chuffing zips.

No excuse now. Oh bugger...list suddenly looks reeeedicuuuulous. Best get on.

Not permanent Knotty, just a reflectionof how I feel (tired, grey, frumpy clothes and hair ). Will be better soon I'm sure

Where do you get zips from? I ams tuck with Dunelm's rubbish (overpriced) selection, oh how I miss woolies!
Anywhere online I can get batches for cheap?

Am on third attempt for mums hat, once with doubled babypink yarn, once with single pink and now with one pink and one white fluffy yarn. Can't be arsed to start again so will carry on with this...even though I think I need to make it bigger round the crown, aargh.

Got no sewing done today either. Dammit.

Right - DDs pinafore now has buttonholes and trim, I just have to get her to sit still long enough to mark the buttons on the straps then sew them on and ta da!

Last night I cut this dress out of the green jersey I picked up the other day. Am doing the mid length one but not sure whether to add the cowly bit or no - probably will. Sewn most of it just the neck, arms and hem to finish off. Very quick and easy to do.

I have enough fabric left to make a wrap top for me so have cut up the old top to make a pattern. Also decided that the green and red brocade I got to finish off stockings will be better as a skirt for me.

Feeling quite pleased that from six quids worth of remnants I'll get a dress, cardi and skirt. All in festive green and red too.

Good news on the glue gun, my mum has one to lend me.

Found a christmas craft book in the library yesterday. It has a nice mix of ideas, including some paper tree stars that are very pretty and easy.

So, how did you lot learn to sew/use a sewing machine? I can sew competently though not with any finesse, can just about make my sewing machine work but it's a bit rough and ready.

Did you do any courses? What's the best way to get started? Where do you buy fabric from?

Hi Frump.
My mum taught me.

Courses can be good but if you don't mind making mistakes then teaching yourself is a good a way to learn as any.

Sorry got to go DD is having a hissy fit.

Thanks guys, will be making my appointment in the morning.

Sorry you're feeling so tired Frumperlicious, hope you feel better soon. I am going to buy a big notebook I think to keep all my ideas in as I have so many I lose track. I taught myself to use my sewing machine using tutorials on the internet and lots of practice. I'm not brilliant but enough to get by, although I am a bit overambitious. I would love to do a dressmaking course as I find adult clothes a bit intimidating. I may look for one once DD2 is older (v much in the future as I'm still pregnant!)

I get my zips from my local fabric shop, they don't seem too expensive but not too sure of the going rates! Have you tried ebay Jack?

Wow steak, you sound very productive! That jersey dress sounds lovely, you'll have to post a pic when it's finished.

Right, am off to go and poke my sewing machine in anger. Blardy thing is sewing intermittent loose stitches and fiddling with the tension doesn't seem to be helping. Need to get it sorted as I'm hopefully going to make my first draft of DD's Christmas dress this afternoon.

Just finished off MIL's birthday present, I made some cards from the girls which I'm quite proud of, will post a pic later.

Steak, you are putting us all to shame!
Finished my mums hat after restarting it from scratch at 9pm

I did learn to sew at school and my mum always made her own clothes, plus my sister does costume deisgn, but I retaught myself a few years ago with a hand powered singer (made a few skirts and some very rough and ready sofa covers) and then DH bought me a brother machine for my 30th birthday [loser]

I fixed the random tension problem with my machine by hoovering it. It had gathered dust inside and after a good hoover it hasn't buggered up since....

Cut out a few wristlets but DD2 got poo everywhere so not got machine out yet as am whimpering on sofa after the trauma. I did find a pair of grey wooly tweed trousers I bought for £4 from asda and have cut them up for the wristies as well so the pocket for the trousers is a pocket on them. will add pick to explain. I get far too muhc of my fabric from old clothes or the sale rail

Yay for finishing your mum's hat I've drafted out a pattern for DD's Christmas dress, decided I don't like it and have, erm... sat down to MN for a bit

I would love a new machine. Mine is MIL's old one and although it runs it's very basic. Also I don't have the instructions. Did you open yours up to hoover Jack? I don't know how to do that on mine. I think it probably is a bit dusty though tbh.

I buy old clothes to make into new things all the time. I love trawling the charity shops and sale rails for nice fabric. Having the pocket built into the wristlet is a really good idea, I may have to copy.