Well it’s coming up to the end of my two weeks off. Next weekend I will open up my craft cupboard again.
I’ve cleaned the house, done a bit of DIY and the washing and ironing is up to date.
I couldn’t manage to switch off the creative side of my brain entirely though.
I had an urge to try my hand at Irish crochet. More about this another week but in the mean time here is my first effort.
Nobody could ever accuse me of being too fastidious about housework. As I look around our lounge now I can see bits on the floor – mostly assorted crafting detritus – cotton thread, bits of material and the like. There’s dust on quite a few surfaces. The cushions definitely need a good old puff and pummel. Can’t see any cobwebs but that might be my eyesight!
From time to time, though, I look around and I can’t live with it any longer. So, for two weeks I’m going to pack up the craft room and get to grips with the washing, ironing cleaning and tidying. Before I touch another piece of material I am going to have a reasonably organised home. I’m not aiming for perfection, you understand, just an acceptable degree of cleanliness and tidiness.
This weekend I finished a bedroom cushion which will be going into the shop later today. Click on the ETSY logo above to go to my shop.
I thought I’d try my hand at something a bit more modern. After finishing the front of the cushion cover I couldn’t find anything for the back. I will be using cotton but despite a shelf full of different shades of cream/beige/taupe I didn’t have a colour that I really liked. So…something to finish off in a couple of weeks.
This weekend I have BIG plans. We have six whole days off work and we intend to fill them.
Mike and I are stepping outside again. We both like walking but we are, most definitely, fair weather walkers! The wet winter has kept us in but the time is right to break out. We’d planned to go Sunday but the forecast is for rain so, not to be deterred we have decided to go tomorrow instead.
I will be opening up my craft room later today to start on two wall hangings for Sophia and Louis. They will be one year old on 1st May and are being Christened on 4th May.
I’ve been scouring the internet and have been inspired by several things – cards, cushions, quilts and wall art. I plan to use (steal?) ideas from a few of the pictures I’ve found and make them into something new. I wonder if I’m being a bit ambitious and I’m not sure if I will finish on time, but as ever, I will keep you posted on my progress.
Have a happy Easter everyone.
It’s Sunday night so back to work tomorrow.
I didn’t get my cushion finished but I’m pleased with it so far.
In my experience there are three types of projects:-
1. The one that looks like a dog’s dinner until right at the end when it all comes together.
I used to make Christmas tree decorations that involved gluing fabric to polystyrene balls. They were awful until I covered the seams with some fabulous ribbon or braid and then they were transformed. This has taught me to carry on until the end no matter how unpromising things look part way through. Of course some things are a disaster from beginning to end but you have to persevere – just in case.
2. The one that works like a dream.
You know what I mean. You have an idea in your head and without any unpicking of seams or re-cutting of fabric it all comes together without a hitch just as you envisaged.
3. The one where it looks fabulous whilst you are working on it and then when it’s finished it’s just not right.
These are the most frustrating because it’s often my own fault when this happens. An embellishment too many perhaps. A colour added at the last minute that spoils the whole thing. Or a stupid mistake that means hours of work has been wasted.
Well I was really pleased with my partly made cushion yesterday and although I’d made some decisions I still wasn’t wholly confident with the flower. I spent an hour or so this morning experimenting with various options before putting another stitch in the cushion cover itself.
I’ve had moments of doubt and I did think I was heading along the lines of number 3. but in the end it’s all come together nicely. Just the pink petals to add to the flower shapes and it’s done. So…
One messy work room
One almost finished cushion
And one fairly successful weekend.
I’ve been looking forward to this day off work for a couple of weeks now. A whole day to spend in my conservatory/workroom to make things.
Now here I am but I don’t have any ideas – Help!!!!!
I did have a hankering to make a cushion featuring a guitar – I love my music – but I’m not sure whether it’ll work or not.
Last weekend I tried a wedding heart and it wasn’t a success. The red and white are too much of a contrast I think.
Now I’m not sure whether I should work with it or abandon it.
I started a black and white cushion last weekend too, but the black felt shed too many fibres onto the white linen mix making it look grubby.
I know this works as a colourway because monochrome is so popular but my fabric choice isn’t right.
So I ended the weekend with nothing to show for it and now, this weekend …. no new ideas.
So I’m taking a couple of hours off to watch Britain in the curling final.
COME ON LADS !
I’m enjoying my crafting so much at the moment I could happily spend all my spare time in my work room – well it’s our conservatory actually.
Sometimes, though, ‘real’ life has to take a front seat. Tonight I am ironing.
There’s all this partly finished stuff calling me though.
raggleberry 