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.

Jack i was thinking the same yesterday, that perhaps something edible for him. DH's grandad (who died 18months ago aged 96) used to enjoy the port and cheese we sent him, even when he needed help to eat/drink it

Shortbread - easy and yummy.

He doesn't eat edible's I sent him coconut ice last year and he didn't eat it 'as he wasn't sure what was in it'
I am pretty sure it is my evil aunt nicking everything though, she takes all the paintings we send 'not to clutter up the place'
My mum has said he doesn't want anything as it would only be a waste of money
In fairness to him he is 92 and lost his wife of 73 years last year so has pretty much given up

We had genius idea though and have collated a load of little videos of the DD's and us along with some bike vids (he is a big petrol head and loves hering about DH's bikes) and am burning them onto a dvd to send to him with a card.
Shall get DD@s to make a card later as well.

Oh bless him. I'm sure the dvd will be much appreciated.
We're doing something similar for the grandparents.

(S'me, Knotty, in Christmas attire)

i could see through the disguise. It is me btw SparklyAlice

Good name changes!

I didn't block the sweater vest as Debbie Stoller says only do it with natural fibres and the vest is acrylic. So that saved me a job.
I did cut my hair and done loads on my painting by numbers though.

Romantic evening today, but then DH is away for 12 days, and I'm going to do loads of making.

I've decided to knit a sweater for my nephew's Cristmas present, with a pattern I've done before, so not too daunting, so will buy the wool tomorrow at the market.

My lovely mum has gievn me some extra money...so now I want my new fabric! BUT I have also spotted this crochet book, what do you all think? Worth it?

Hello everybody! Firstly congratulations Alice How did the honeycomb go?

Hope DD2 is better soon Jack. I improvised with hair bands too, never had something go down so well! The DVD is a great idea for your grandpa, hope he likes it.

Unlucky on the illness front Knotty, hope DS2 feels better soon and DS1 doesn't get it.

Hi wasting, well done on the painting by numbers Does your hair look nice?

I nearly poisoned myself with crayon fumes last night but it has resulted in some nice rainbow crayon cakes so that's another present down. Making some little handbags for the girls tonight and reorganising my to do list.

That book sounds really cool Jack so I'd think about it. You'd get a lot of projects out of it too. I want this book, it looks really fun.

God you lot are prolific! I barely have time to get anything done!

What are crayon cakes?

How come people are saying what they've done for the Christmas swap, isn't it supposed to be secret (unsure of etiquette).

I've nearly finished mine, just have to 'embellish'. Hope no-one is expecting anything too professional!

Started on a pair of mittens for my friend's DD. Better crack on.

Crayon cakes are here Bumper, good one for getting rid of broken crayons. I talk a lot more than I craft, unfortunately!

Hi Bumper, I am okay as my swappee isn't on this thread, unless she's lurking

I probably won't end up using that though as I have changed my mind about 60 million times already

Knotty, hows the pox house? I bought cbeebies mags today and the Polar Express dvd so that will give me a few hours to procrastinate tomorrow...

I don't know what crayon cakes are but I make crayon fruit and letters with a silicon moulds from ebay, I juist buy cheapo crayons and use the stubs I have, take the paper off, and break them into the moulds, then stick them inthe oven for 10 mins, and then leave to cool outside. Very cool. But don't stir them or they all go brown

Wasting, MN haircut?

Bumper, nobody is expecting a professional highly polished thing (I hope!). Part of the joy of this crafting is the uniqueness and 'handmadeness'. Just created a new word there, good enough for Shakespeare good enough for me, and in true crafting tradition. Not that I'm comparing myself to the genius Mr Waggledagger.

Awaiting DS2s plunge into poxdom. He's itchy but can't see any pimples yet. He's also complaining of a hurty thigh - think he's after a day of dvds.

So no crafting today. Very frustrating. Must do some tomorrow or I'll be stuffed at Christmas. Quite appropriate really.

Charchar, thanks for the crayon cake link - something I can do in limited time. Also tackles the European broken crayon mountain in our house.

You've also inspired me to cobble together some quick beanbags. Thank you.

I am also waiting to see if DD1's little spot wil turn into Impetigo...am keeping ehr off school just incase.

weird xpost with Char there, hadn;t refreshed thread in awhile!

Knotty, if it helps, the crayon things literally take minutes, mine cooled in about 10 minutes outside so they help break them up and sort them and then it's 20 minutes while you have lunch, and straight after the new crayons are ready, have saved me many times. My only problem is DD1 likes to mix colours

I don;t want 'professional' things, I want things that look like people have spent time making them just for me!

does anyone fancy cutting some letters? I've started a thread for an order.

I have done the crayon cakes for dd too and they are so handy. I bought silicone moulds from the pound shop. It's difficult to find cheap crayons though.

The crayons sound fab, I shall have to have a go at those!

Not the MN haircut Jack, no. I've got curly hair and the short layers wouldn't help.
I snipped the ends off each ringlet in turn and it doesn't look terrible.

Been to the wool shop and bought wool for a sweater for DN and a scarf for me. They were giving a free scarf pattern away, and the mohair was on sale.

I've also got a crafty part of my SS present to do. Need to get a move on with that!

I have no local yarn shop anymore apart from the one in town, where if you aren't a 60 yr old women you get glared at until you leave.

I went to Borders this morning and bought this new craft book. Like I need more projects

Might have to use almonds after all on my food stuff. Pistachios are over £8 a bag bollocks to that!

We used to have a fab shop, but it closed down and moved into the market. It's not massive and it's all Sirdar, and only opens Tues, Fri and Sat, but it's better than nowt.

I started on the sweater last night. Soooo good to be knitting again.

(Your link doesn't work, Jack)

Link Fail

That book looks really nice Jack.

It does have rubbish reviews on amazon but was under a tenner in amazon so I have treated myself. Haven't opened it yet, it is sitting in the kitchen until I get a bit of quiet time!

Ooh I borrowed that book off my friend recently and really liked it. I have a local yarn shop, the woman does classes on spinning your own yarn which I'm going to look into. It'll probably shut down before long though, not many people go in there.

I am not impressed with the book.
For a tenner it did not have enouhg 'original' stuff [picky cow]
Am going to take it back later and exchange it, if I can, what with Borders closing and all that.
Shit.