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.

I suppose it is quite a basic book, more for beginners I suppose. I didn't think of that as I'm quite a beginner! Bollocks, hope you can exchange it. Hopefully they'll be ok with exchanging because they still get your money.

Well yes, I just don't know what to swap it with.
I don't need another 'generic' crochet book, there was a good book abotu making skirts, and some about crochet finger puppets, or crochet and knit flowers. Or do I get a general craft one?
I don't know!
I will exchange it for something mroe expensive I think to alleviate my guilt for taking something back to a shop in dire straights. The staff have a collection table going at the front of the store for the children whose parents have lost their jobs

Dammit.
They won't accept refunds, which is to be expected really. So I have copied made notes on the bits I do like (which to be fair there are a few, I like the soap, and the aprons especiaclly). the staff just said ebay it, so I shall!
(Unless any of you lot want it?)

Well, have had sort of an okay day, DD's are climbing the walls with cabin fever though after being quaratnied with Impetigo.
Am going to take them to the park to run around during school tomorrow morning to get a bit of fresh air as their faces are clearing up, but DD2 has to wear gloves as she has bitten the top layers of skin off her thumb
I did manage to get 2 things nearly finished for the swap though, and sorted a load of fabric so it is out and ready for cutting when I get a chance.

I have a big pile of black jersey fabric waiting for me to make a dress out of it (I was going to do the one in that Weekend Sewing book but never got round to it)

I promised to make something for the MN christmas secret santa and am sgtarting to get tense as I haven;t had an email yet, but I have those amazon vouchers so can always send them if I only have time to get a few things done.

I find myself wanting a big crochet project to concentrate on though, I have a gorgeous pattern for a hooded cardie from Inside Crochet but I need a lot of yarn to do it, and not got anywhere to buy it from, and I need it cheap, any sales/ideas?

Hello

Not really done any 'craft' this weekend, but have stripped floof boards and painted shelves and things, feeling really inspired with the house now though

Tempted to to the crayon cakes. Can you use an oiled bun tray or paper cake cases?

Don't use paper cake cases.
I used silicon trays for chocolates. Or use normal metal baking tray tins with fairy cake indents. You don't need to grease it as they should just pop out when cool, but use non-stick if you are worried.

Thanks

I got CountryLiving magazine (yes i know) this weekend and they have a 'how to' make paper dove tree decorations that are really pretty, will see if i can find it online anywhere.

Like the name change Alice.

Sounds like you are nesting.

Watching Fireman Sam for the 6th time today. Ho hum. At least I've managed to cut out some more stuff to sew. Limoncello and Christmas pudding vodka are fermenting nicely. They smell yum.

I'm doing mini chef sets for the DSs and a friend - just sorting the applique bits for the aprons with the help of DS2. His pox are drying up nicely. DS1 had a night of vomiting over the weekend so I'm catching up on washing. Am thinking that maybe it's DS1's immune system having a battle with the pox. He's pretty touchy too. Spot watch later!

How's the pox in your house, Jack? Am also awaiting the MN secret santa email...not much time is there?

Still on pox watch here, but the skin plague seems ti have cleared. DD1 has a snotty nose but no other symptoms so if she is still clear tomorrow I'm sending her into school!

I hope not Locks!! I am only 5 weeks pg!

It was all stuff on the to do list and organised before i fell pg, so obligated to do it.

I remember using an edging sander at 7mths preg - probably not the most sensible thing I've done but it HAD to be done!

Have you started feeling ick yet?

Yes. Mostly because i am so tired i think. I had typical morning sickness on saturday. Woke up, went to the bathroom, was sick then fine, but mostly just feeling so queasy. Eating little and often does seem to help though.

Ginger nuts Alice, helped me with the queezy.

My knitting is coming along well.
I've made something for my secret santa pressie tonight too, and it's all wrapped.

Jack, where did you get the silicon trays from?

I know who was my secret santa because of a bit of a mix up. But i can't help but go 'Ooh, i hope they are my secret santa' when someone mentions it especially if they have made it, until i remember

Was going to get stuff posted today til i realised it is pension day at the post office so that will be a nightmare!

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeebay!

I am Mrs Smuggy Smug

Today, I have made
A photo calender for my mum, with 30 photos that she can flip through and choose whichever one she wants (total blue peter cardboard job, but it looks cool)
A glasses case for my mum as well.
The wristlet for my sister from grey trousers is all done, strap and all.
Pencil and pad holder for friends DS
My bamboo crochet hooks (sooo nice) arrived today so I made a new crochet hook holder as well.

AND I have made candied orange peel as well
Oh yes, I have earned my wine tonight!

Also did a little something for my swap, not veyr christmassy but that's because my christmas fabric still hasn't arrived

Well done, Jack. DD back at school, then?

Oh well done!

I did have a go at crochet years ago, and I've got a couple of hooks, I might have a try soon.
I think little toys and ornaments look better crocheted than knitted for some reason and I'd love to make some amigurumi.

This evening I shall work on my knitting. It's coming along, I hope it's finished for Christmas!

How could you tell?
She was only in morning nursery but it meant I could get household stuff done then so I could craft this afternoon while they played 'princesses and policemen'

I just can't knit. I mean I can but it takes aaaaaaages. I love how fast crochet stuff comes together though!

I've started on the first of my quilts

The panel I'm using for the front has been given a border. The fabric has been cut up for the back (into squares & rectangles) and I'm getting through sewing them all back together!!

My dilemma now is how to quilt it.

Added to my list is another George Pig Dinosaur and a Dolly Cot Set.

Very cool panel. I keep putting off learning to quilt with various excuses (no walking foot, no space to pin out quilt etc etc) but I really should try a doll one...maybe

DO you have a pattern fora george dinosaur or do you wing it? I have made a teeny one out of felt for one of the toys but DD2 loves dinosaurs.

I just winged it and drew a rough shape on a piece of paper. The trickiest part is the mouth.
dino

Hello everybody. Sorry I have been absent, not been very crafty and then a badly timed migraine scuppered today's plans. Luckily it's eased off now enough so I'm not dreaming of dying! Everyone has been very productive, well done Def need to get my arse in gear and get some more crafting done before time slips away from me. I did learn how to decrease stitches in knitting so I could get rid of the extra stitch which mysteriously appeared in the scarf I'm making DD

That panel is very cool dizzy. My MIL has provisionally offered me her sewing machine if she gets the new one she wants for Christmas and that has a walking foot so I'll brave some quilting I think.

People who crochet, is this a good tute to learn how to? MIL threw some crochet hooks in with all the knitting stuff she gave to me and I thought I'd give it a go. Especially seeing as Jack says things come together quickly. Knitting is sooo slow!

Right am off to relax this migraine hangover away. Hopefully will have something to report tomorrow

Char, am about to email you.

Hope your migraine clears!

Okey doke, Jack