Bad Timing....

I have been busy this last week preparing for a wild west party! We were all set to go, until the party girl woke up this morning with the tummy bug that's been doing the rounds at school. Thankfully she's perked up a bit this afternoon. We've re-scheduled the party for next week, the question is do I keep the wanted posters, tepee and saloon door up for a whole week?

I have also been busy making these, for a beautiful baby girl who was born last week. I think I made about 4 pairs, until I was happy with the design. I wanted to make sure they were comfortable. I'm really quite chuffed with them, if they prove to fit well and stay on baby's feet, then I am hoping to make some to sell. I might have a go at matching bibs as well.

I would love to start making things to sell again, I haven't done anything since Christmas. I have set myself a goal this year, to focus on just one thing. In the past I have gone through phases of making different things, and consequently when I do craft fairs, or put things in the etsy shop, they look like an odd mish mash. So this year I am working on lots of ideas, and exploring possibilities, but I'm not selling until I've worked out what it is I want to concentrate on. My problem is I enjoy too many different types of crafts, and I can get bored too easily.

My husband has also been busy, on my website, you can now buy direct without going through ebay!!! I just need to work on those kits, to fill it up.

A Birthday Present

About a year ago I bought a Japanese craft book that had some felt cakes and pastries in. They are so cute and I have been wanting to have a go at making some for my daughter for ages. Now seems as good a time as any with a birthday looming up. Well, as I never like to make life easy for myself I thought I'd design my own (rather than follow the book?). I searched flickr for cupcakes, and found a wealth of photographs to inspire, here are some of my favourites:

• Kitty cupcake
• Pastel Hues Cupcake
• Tea Party Cupcakes

Don't they look delicious!! Using these and some other photographs as a starting point, I have been working on a variety of prototypes. Here are a few:


You will not believe how many bun cases I have knitted in my pursuit of the perfect cupcake. I've tried 1x1 rib, 2x1 rib, frilled edges, plain edges and many more. Nearly there now, just got to work on the icing. When I have figured out my perfect cupcake I will share the pattern here with you. In the meantime, my daughter will have so many prototypes, she could open a cake shop.

P.S. I haven't forgotten the felted flower tutorial I promised, I'm halfway through the instructions, and hope to get it posted soon.

The White Witch

Morning, just a quick entry today. I have a big list of things I want to get done , unfortunately I'm still in weekend morning mode (not dressed yet)! It was National Book Day on Thursday and at the Infants school all the pupils had to go dressed up as a book character. E is really into 'The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe' at the moment. So we decided on the White Witch, the beautiful crown was a Christmas present I bought from a craft fair, and she already had the white fairy costume, so I felted the cloak for her to finish the outfit off. I used merino wool with bits of silk noil and wensleydale curls on the surface, the whole thing is felted onto cotton scrim. It's difficult to see on the photograph but I shaped the cloak so the collar sticks up and the cloak comes in slightly at the waist. E is in character here, hence the scowl.

Have a good weekend, bye

Buttons

If like me you have a thing for buttons, you have to take a look at this.
www.youtube.com