Crafty Crafty...

Well, I thought I'd give an update on my craftings since my last post...

I've been crocheting like a good'un!

In my last post I made reference to the huge amount of wool sent over by my sister... Well, I have been working my way through it!

I made a hat and scarf for my sister. However, my niece was rather enamoured of said hat, and repeatedly modelled it at school. I must admit I quite like the fact that she's so taken with it... So pleased in fact that I made her one of her own! This one is slightly smaller (being only 8), and is shades of pink and white. Not sure of the reaction to it yet, it is en route! I have to confess that this is the only piece of finished crochet so far, and the only things I haven't taken photos of... Oops. I'll have to get big hedgehog (hint hint) to take some photos and post them instead.

I have also managed to get through ALL the coloured wool I was sent. My plan is to make a big old granny square blanket. My efforts so far...

Once I get more coloured wool, I will be adding to this - it needs to be at least 6 times the size I reckon. Mmmm toasty warm!

I have also made one side of a cushion cover. Again, made with 'sister wool'. I'm actually quite pleased with it. I just need to do the other side, then I have finished article number 3!

Other than that, I have made a start (finally) on some Valentine's Day cards and things. Still a LOT more to do, but again, it's a start!

Any thoughts are always welcome!

Peg xxxx

Inspired by Kojak

Well...

I haven't done any form of update for some time, so figured maybe I should.

I have been inspired to write by a couple of things - firstly, I have been looking at lots of lovely crocheting and crafting and lovely homely blogs, and it's all very lovely. This year, I really want to make more effort to do more myself - more crafting, more baking, learning to sew, make soap and candles and all sorts of lovely things to make people smile. It's all about lovely.

Second, I nagged my sister at Daffodils and Dandelions into blogging again... She hadn't posted anything since November you see, and although I talk to her every day, I still enjoy reading the comedic descriptions of her adventures and misadventures. Her latest in particular is the inspiration for the name of this post - think Kojak, think bald...

What I have been up to isnt a great deal if I'm honest. My attempts to grow veg failed miserably. I managed a whole cherry tomato. No courgettes at all, very disappointing! However, I'm going to plant things at the right time of year, so I may have a bit more to eat come summer time!

I didnt get any decorations, jewellery or cards done before christmas, so no update there either! However, I did make a couple of door signs.

One was a VW camper van, and the other a sign for 'Sebastian' (requested to include the lobster namesake from Little Mermaid, and a reference to boxing. Below were my creations...

Slightly less recently (but still more recently than my last post),

I made a couple of other signs, for new babies.

Quite simple, but still quite pretty.

However, my newest/rekindled obsession is crocheting. I'm not that good, and I can't follow a pattern, but I do enjoy it. I don't understand plans or instructions AT ALL - my Dad taught me, back to front (I'm left handed, he's not) and we know none of the terminology so what I can do is very limited, but I do my best. My brother-in-law came over last week to do some work in my Dad's house, and brought with him 'a few bits of wool' from my sister, that she wouldn't use. Now, when you hear 'a few bits', you assume a few bits....

I admit the picture is terrible (my normal phone with decent camera is broken, and I'm stuck with the old one 'til upgrade time!), but you get the idea. Rather a lot of wool... So my plan is to make a blanket. It may be hideous, but fun all the same. If I get it finished I'll show you!

Toodle-oo!

Peg*

xxx

I'm making a start...

In my last post I waffled a bit about how I'd love to live in the country, and have chickens and veg patches, no neighbours and a quiet, peaceful life. Well, I've made a start on it. Kind of...

I've started to grow my own veg, which is no mean feat seeing as I have NO outside space to call my own. As a present, my lovely hairy faced boyfriend (JTM) even bought me a mini gardening tools set and a tiny watering can to aid me in growing my windowsil garden!

I have tomatoes growing in one windowsil - some of the plants are up to 3ft tall now. No signs of fruit on them yet, but they're growing!

In another windowsil, I have 3 courgette plants. Didnt realise when I planted them that you get on average 15 courgettes per plant. Oops - there are only two of us in my house... Looks like my dad will be getting some! They've flowered a lot, now there are the first signs of baby courgettes growing. Even JTM is impressed with watching them grow.

In yet another windowsil I have the seedlings of bell pepper and cayenne pepper plants, basil, baby leaf salad and parsley.

Today I made some cheese and herb mini scones, using my own basil and parsley, and if I say so myself they are quite tasty. Although it slightly defeats the object of making mini ones when I eat 6 at a time... Ah well, the thought is there! I also made a salad, using my home-grown baby leaf salad leaves, and I made home-made vinegarette dressing to go over it. Also yummy.

As, at the moment, I am still a good way away from my dream home in the Irish countryside, I have been working on getting the country cottage look in my town centre terrace... I have been decorating! My kitchen is newly wallpapered - it's all very twee, but I really do like it. I've also bought a mini dresser to go on the wall, stolen an egg-chicken from my Dad for on top of the microwave, and made plans to get some curtains for the windows. The final stage (eventually) will be to get some tiles for the splashbacks and the floor, and actually finish it off! One step at a time though...

So there are my updates. My life isn't anything at all wild or exciting, but I dont really want anything like that. I'm going for the simple life... I reckon I'll get there! Any helpful suggestions are very welcome too, I'm only just starting!

Not too good at this...!

I haven't updated this for some time, partly because I haven't been doing too much in the way of crafting, and partly because I have been rather preoccupied by one thing and another at home.

I made a large ammount of jewellery a couple of months ago - someone had arranged to throw me a 'fimo party', a bit like an Ann Summers party, but not nearly so risque! Well anyway, I'd made about 30 pairs of earrings, a few bracelets, necklaces and rings...

...a selection of greetings cards, a couple of door signs and my friend Steph (Jinx Designs - it's another blog, check her out, she's very good!) had provided me with some earring holders which were very pretty. Anyway, it transpired that the party was cancelled (2 days before it was due to take place, grumble grumble), so the stock went in to the gift shop my friend owns. Turns out that bracelets sell rather well, so I need to get on with making some more!

A colleague at work has asked for a couple of birthday cards too in the past couple of months, quite nice if I do say so myself...

I also made a VW Camper Van for a couple of friends of mine

who got married back in May. They hired Billy the Rainbow Camper Van for their honeymoon, and had asked me to make them a miniature for the top of their wedding cake. In the end they had a tower of cupcakes, but I still wanted to make the van for them. It turned out surprisingly well, it was a pain to make!

On a side note, I have become slightly obsessed with moving to the country. I have been spending my evenings perusing Right Move trying to find my dream home (with the emphasis on dream, as its not going to be reality any time soon). Not much joy on this side of the pond, so I moved on to http://www.daft.ie/, where I found a few dozen places that I would LOVE to live in - 4 bedrooms, detached, big gardens, no neighbours, near to small village shops. Love it. Now all I need is to find a way to make it happen!

Any ideas welcomed!

That's all from me for now...

Peg

A few examples... Name plaques

Here are a couple of examples of the type of signs that I make. They sell for £15 each (£17.50 for those with boxes), and have gone down pretty well with the recipients as far as I have been informed!

Above are bedroom door signs. Originally made as examples for display in Mootiful Gifts (http://www.mootiful.com/), they have prompted a few more orders over time.

My very first door sign commission. This was a request from a friend to give to her nephew.

'Hannah' and 'Laura'. These were ordered by the same person for 2 sisters, so they had to be a similar style but couldn't look the same. They have matching trinket boxes to go with them!

This is a sign commissioned by my friend Gail for her niece. The brief was 'she likes fish and giraffes'... this is what I came up with.

This was also for Gail, for her friend Laura. The brief? 'She loves pigs'!

The final image is a plaque requested by my driving instructor to give to her new Grandson, her 'Little Soldier'.

I though I would have a go at this, as my oldest sister (www.daffodilsanddandelions.blogspot.com) is fast becoming a huge fan and recommended I set up my own blog to spread the word about me and my crafting creations...

Introductions first...
My name is Leonie (or Leonie-Grace if you're checking my birth certificate!), although no-one apart from my Nan (on my Dad's side) calls me that. My dad and my brother call me Pin, although no-one can remember why any more... My biggest sister, her hubby and 2 children call me Peggy/Peg/Pegster, depending on how good a mood they are in. My other sister calls me Onion, my Grandad calls me Ionie, some of my uncles call me Nooch, some of my aunties call me Oonie (I say some of because I have 30 or so of each!), my Nan on my Mum's side calls me Amie (the name of one of my cousins, but I always know when she means me - maybe because she calls my cousin Amie 'Mary', who is another of my cousins, who she calls Kerry, who is another of my cousins... I have 30 odd cousins, so you can see where this is going), my friends call me Loni, my boyfriend Jake (who I call Boyfriend) calls me Girlfriend and my parrot calls me Cheeky Good Boy. I live in Cheshire with the previously mentioned boyfriend and parrot and I like to craft!

I have a love of fimo (I say fimo as it's quicker to write than Polymer Clay, and fimo is readily available in my town so that's what I use most, but I'm not a clay snob). I make pretty much anything you can think of - cards for any occasion, door signs, plaques for special occasions, cake toppers, jewellery (although that is still a fairly new addition to my repertoire), Christmas decorations, key rings, small ornaments. Just not faces...

I will be adding more shortly, (possible even later today), but just for right now I'll say goodbye!

Peg*