Monday 10 October 2011

Another Christmas and crochet post!

 
I can't quite believe it is Monday morning again! Time seems to be absolutely whizzing by at the moment... We had quite a lazy and relaxed weekend here, which was nice as my week had been quite busy with various things. 

Had a lovely trip to Bath on Monday for a spot of fabric shopping (my favourite kind of shopping) and a general wander round the shops. It was the last day of the beautiful weather and wearing a t-shirt and flip flops it felt like July rather than October... just gorgeous! Sadly it is now cold, grey and miserable here, Summer has definitely gone for this year!

I do like shopping by myself. I can spend as long as I want pondering over fabric choices, umming and ahhing to my hearts content, no one looking bored or chivveying me along. I stocked up on lots of basic colours, some fabric for a new commission, and some lovely Christmassy fabrics too (more about those in a bit).

I then had a quick trip to the indoor market to the haberdashery stall - where I bought up a load more of their Christmas red and white twisted cord....


It's not the same as normal baker's twine, it is thicker and made of a man-made fiber but it is so very festive I love it. I'd bought a small amount a few weeks ago and was really relieved they still had some left. Not sure what exactly it will be used for but it will be fab for Christmas decorations and garlands I'm sure!

I also treated myself to my first Christmas decoration of the year... I really wasn't intending to, but Rossiter's already had their Christmas shop open and I couldn't resist this little one...

a cute little Gingerbread House for the tree...


...these tins also found themselves a new home too :) I can never have enough tins, especially such pretty ones!

Lastly these bargain paper chains also came home with me...
I'd seen them here before but at £6.95 plus delivery they were a bit pricey. So when I saw them for only £3 at the market, I snapped them up!! Going to have lots of fun making these up in a couple of months, I remember doing them with my brother when we were small!

So apart from shopping, I also was working hard last week on more Christmas products using some of the new festive fabrics I got in Bath... 


 Little fabric covered buttons for all those Christmas sewing projects! They come in sets of two like so...


and are £2.95 plus delivery per set, or £8.00 for all three sets. You can find them here :)

Also, matching handbag mirrors! How cute is the reindeer fabric? I am in love!



They are sold individually for £2.75 each, or both for £5.00 :) Find them here... I loved making these - so hopefully they will be popular over the next couple of months!

I'll be doing a couple more designs too similar to these very soon - just waiting on some more fabric to arrive in the post! Ordered it last Monday so I'm really hoping it hasn't got lost somewhere, I'm impatient to get going on them.

Gosh this is turning into a super long post isn't it??!! Last thing to tell you, I promise... is that I also started blanket number 2 on Friday evening. I'd put it off all week, one as I had lots of work to concentrate on, but also, I was dreading the first couple of tricky rows of my granny stripe. I was following Lucy of Attic 24's pattern, and taking her advice, did attempt a little practise piece at first. Glad I did as something just wasn't clicking... I couldn't understand why I didn't have enough stitches, when I know I made my starting chain the right length! Frustration and lots of it occurred, but then suddenly, it all became clear (somehow)! After only two rows of my tiny practise piece though I became impatient and decided just to go for it.

Miraculously, it seemed to work, the count was right and my new blanket was born :) All weekend I worked away on it, stripe upon stripe, ignoring all my other work and household chores completely! I am well and truly loving this blanket already, even more so than my granny squares. It seems much simpler for a start. Less ends to weave in, and I like the way there is no joining needed, you can get a feel of what the blanket will be from the start. It is very quick. Each double stripe takes me just under an hour so it will definitely be a faster project than my last.


Sadly though, I have to limit it to a weekend/evening only project even though I would love to work on it all the time. Still I am really surprised how quick I managed to do what I have so far... 16 stripes in total, love love love it! :)



Anyway, that's about all from me for today, though just before I go, I must mention a couple of wonderful giveaways that are going on at the moment. Firstly is Heather's from The Patchwork Heart who is holding a scraps giveaway - what a great idea, I could do with doing a similar one myself!!! If you would like to be in with a chance of winning a parcel of fabric scraps and sewing bits and bobs, pop over to her blog to read more :)

Also, Andrea from Fin and Gabs is holding a wonderful Halloween giveaway... a set of three fab handmade decorations to decorate your home this Halloween so make sure you also pop across to her lovely blog and enter too!

OK, right I'm definitely off now to get on with something useful... have a lovely week all of you, thanks for visiting as always - and for making it to the end of this super long post - back soon xx

p.s apologies for some of the rubbishy pictures in this post, the light today is awful!

19 comments:

Pipany said...

Ooh, a lovely blog Jenny. I really like shopping on my own too as there is no pressure. Lovely tins and twine. Looking forward to seeing what you do with it x

greenrabbitdesigns said...

Shopping by yourself is wonderful and you certainly bought some great things Jenny! The twine is lovely and your tins are so pretty.:)
What a fabulous start to your blanket, the colours are gorgeous, I especially love the way all the purple shades melt into one another. :)
Vivienne x

Anonymous said...

What a bargain price the paper chains were, I paid full price for mine last year! Great finds, sounds like you had a lovely day shopping x

somewhere on the avenue said...

The fabric you bought is fabulous, especially the reindeer, really unusual.. Shopping on your own is heaven, spending hours doing nothing but sighing! x

Gill said...

I love shopping on my own too Jenny and Bath is one of my favourite places! I'm hoping to get there in the next week or so and will be checking out the indoor market and Rossiters

Helen Philipps said...

This post is just full of gorgeous things, Jenny! I love your Christmas purchases, and your Christmas makes are so pretty....am thinking I must have some of those adorable red and white buttons. And your new blanket is just gorgeous...the colours are really delicious, especially the way you've arranged them. Like you I try to confine myself to 'work crafting' during the day and 'other crafting' in the evenings and at weekends. That's the plan I've had for quite a number of years, though sometimes the things I do for fun end up being work projects later. Thanks for an inspiring post. Have a great week. Helen x

Maria - A Playful Stitch said...

What a great interesting lovely post! Where are those tins from?! I love them! Your buttons and mirrors are great... and loving your blanket!!! Looks like it's working up really quickly! Can't wait to see more pictures as it progresses!

Maria x

buttonboxcards said...

Jenny-i love theses mirrors they are fab!! DO you make them with a machine? like the badge machines we use but with mirrors! Looks great xx

Biba said...

Gorgeous crafting, both the Christmassy gifts and the crochet!

Emma Thomsen said...

Oh Man! I am feeling so Christmassy now, woohoo! And I looooove your blanket - your eye for colour rocks!

Anonymous said...

Love the buttons and mirrors. Ive experimented with fabric buttons but find putting the fabric onto them to fiddly. maybe im doing something wrong. great post by the way x

Unknown said...

Supadupa post pips! Totally a girl after m'own heart! Shopping on y'own is the bestest! The crochet blanky is looking amazing shugs, good work! Tis so addictive mind! Loves Ionwen X

Crafts @ Home said...

What wonderful finds and makes, I love the look of your new crochet blanket :)
Sue Xxx

Anonymous said...

Lovely Christmas items! I too am working on a granny stripe blanket. Yours is looking really great, such a nice colour selection. My progress is slow going as I fit it around other projects, but I hope it will get done before deep winter sets in!

Lady Jane said...

Nice! All nice. I'm coming to Bath to visit my daughter soon - would you mind 'sharing' where the good shops are for fabrics and other sewing goodies? (Please!)

Anonymous said...

Where to start commenting... your Christmas work is looking lovely, the tins are gorgeous and the blanket too. I saw that Helen had bought a gorgeous mushroom button. :)

Pomona said...

What lovely things you have made - I really like the fabric (and the tins)! I am sure that you will do well with all your makes - I can imagine that the blanket is very tempting - I often feel like that about my knitting, and have to set rules as to when I can sit down with it!

Pomona x

♥ Mary Janes TEAROOM said...

Hello Jenny...
I'm doing my much needed catching up today!....Who would believe we were basking in the lovely sun less than 2 weeks ago?
I love everything in your post as always...your pretty Christmas handmades in those lovely fabrics and your wonderful finds....love those vintagey paper chains...and I feel my crochet envy returning...gorgeous!
Hope you have a great weekend,
Susan x

Sandra (Cherry Heart) said...

Christmas and crochet, two of my favourite words! Love your blanket - gorgeous colours!

S x

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