Monday 30 September 2013

Work in Progress

After spending a good deal of the summer with a bad back and unable to make any headway at all I am finally back into the swing of things.  Hurray!  So I've started with a few new products which you might like to take a look at.  Some are carrying on the vintage theme of the map and music products that I have been making and some (shock, horror - it is only September!) are for Christmas!!!  So here they are ...


Domino Brooches

More domino brooches
Yes - you're right I did feel the need to arrange my dominoes in order in each row as if playing dominoes!  But, these brooches are quite small (approx 3cm x 1.5cm) so you could wear a few at a time and arrange them, domino fashion!  Light bulb moment - I shall go and try it out at once!


Coin Brooches
Finally, I have taken the plunge with my coin stash and made some penny brooches.  Some are date side up (tails) and some heads.  Quite interesting fact: if you're looking for specific dates you won't find any after 1967 as there were none minted later due to impending decimalisation!


Bikes on the road

Bikes in the country

Living in bike city I decided to make some bike cards.  I have made a few before but now have a couple of variations - let's call them urban and rural!  Which is your favourite?


Reindeer and mini snowflake cards

I know it's still months till Christmas but I have been doing some advanced making with these really cute reindeer and mini snowflake cards (& bigger snowflake cards as well - incorporating some lovely buttons!)

Snowflake & button cards


All these items will be available at my next event:
http://hippystitch.blogspot.co.uk/p/events.html 
and also at Blossom Street Gallery & Framing, York.  


You can find out more about Blossom Street Gallery & Framing here:
http://hippystitch.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/blossom-street-gallery-framing-york.html
and here
www.webayyork.co.uk/Blossomstreetgalleryandframing 

Monday 23 September 2013

Learning to Crochet

I thought I'd tell you about my crochet experience which began this summer and is still going on.  In July, (after the Yarnbombing in Rowntree Park - http://hippystitch.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/york-yarnbombing-event-rowntree-park.html), York had a Festival of the Rivers - http://www.yorkfestivals.com/rivers-festival.html.  I went along and happened upon Ruby McGrath of Frank & Olive.  If you haven't heard of Frank & Olive here are the details ...


Ruby makes fantastic, colourful crochet garments, accessories and home textiles (not to mention a full workshop programme!).  At the Rivers' Festival she was doing crochet sessions.  How could I resist?  She showed us how to make granny squares - something I've wanted to make for years and never quite got round to.  I came away inspired to continue so take a look ...


Granny square under construction


Completed granny squares!
They're not perfect but I'm definitely getting better and Ruby was a great teacher.  Thank you Ruby, for a new skill!