You're Never Alone With A Clone...

Do you remember the little knitted dog set I made just before Christmas?  Well here it is together with the real dog it was based on...

I just love it when I get feedback on something I made!  Now I have to make a second one, exactly the same.

Do you fancy having your pet immortalised in yarn?  Look no further, I can do that for you!

Transformations & Toadstools

For the past few years, this has been my work station, although not usually quite so messy as this!  Under that heap are two boxes of fabric, two boxes of yarn, so deeply buried that I can't remember what is in the yarn boxes. There are three bags of yarn that I use most often, a wadge of felt that I am currently using, two boxes of habadashery, a couple of books, a few magazines, and several wips.  It's awful, I know!  The only plus side is that it's right next to where I sit on the sofa and everything is within arm's reach.  But it has reached unworkable proportions - and something needed to be done!

I'm a firm believer in everything happening for a reason, and last month events seemed to fit together like clockwork - it started when I made the decision to quit my day job, followed by my son announcing that he was moving out.  Which meant there was a room going spare....  I have worked very hard over the past couple of weeks, painting the walls and door and assembling and placing new furniture.  The room is so small that I cannot get far enough back to take a decent photo, but this will be my desk and those shelves are waiting to be filled tidily with all my clutter craft materials and books.  There are shelves under the desk, one of which is just crying out for the sewing machine.  I'm aching, tired, but very pleased that it is well on it's way.  Now comes the long process of sorting through my stashes and being ruthless with anything that is never used. 

Did you notice that the new rug has buttons on it - buttons! 

I did take half of yesterday off though - a trip to the tip and a second coat of paint on the door were enough for me, and so I could spend a little time on the toadstool which has been sadly neglected over Christmas.  I think one more afternoon should see this completed.

Organised Chaos

Today the world gets back to normal after the long Christmas break - I love Christmas, but would be the first one to say that it goes on for far too long.  Our tree has been taken down, cards recycled and the huge surplus of chocolates, sweets, cakes and alcohol has been condensed into one unhealthy stack in the kitchen. Time to get on with real life once again!

I have spent quite a few hours over the break decorating my son's old bedroom - he had it painted dark brown and beige, so it took quite a bit of covering, especially as I want it to now be white and pale blue. Yesterday saw the last few brushstrokes on the walls and it is now ready to receive the new furniture which should arrive within the next few hours. As well as being a spare bedroom, this will now be a craft room with a desk, and lots of storage space for all my stashes - yarn, fabric, beads etc.  Hopefully this will free up the rest of the house and my family will not have to look at great heaps of it all any longer!  It also means that if I start a project, I can leave it out until the next day rather than have to pack it all away time after time.  My sewing machine might actually get to see the light of day too!

So today will be spent constructing flat-pack furniture and doing as much as I can to get it sorted as I am absolutely champing at the bit to get on with this new chapter in my life!

Here's To 2015!

Today is the last day of 2014, and I for one will not be sorry to see the back of it.  It's been a complicated year, with the bad far outweighing the good at times.  There have been losses and gains, some very big changes, periods with very little work, some with too much, catching up with old friends and saying a sad goodbye to others. 

2015 looks to be very different compared to the past few years - I'm striking out on my own work-wise, which is both scary and exciting.  Not having to do the regular hours at a 'proper job' will make a huge difference to how much I can achieve at home - for the better I hope. It's risky but at my age, if I don't do it now I never will!

I hope 2015 will be better for everyone - here's wishing you everything you wish for yourselves.  Happy New Year!

Hello Bear!

This is a little knitting kit that I got given for Christmas - very cute.  Not sure what to do with her now, but I'm sure we'll find a space!

Now that Christmas is over, it's time to get things done with a view to being unemployed freelance; first job is to get my son's room re-decorated and re-furnished in order to get my crafting materials organised.  I've painted the door so far, does that count?

Shiny!

Here is the completed goldfish purse - I want to say that was fun, but towards the end it really wasn't!  Each sequin has been laboriously handsewn in place, and I'm not sure just how many of those sequins are now scattered around our living room!

He has a cotton print inner, and there is a hint of stuffing between the felt and cotton to give it a nice rounded fishy shape.

Like that.

One of those projects that will remain a one-off - I'm really pleased with the result, but not sure I want to do it again...unless you pay me of course!!

And finally, may I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a healthy, Happy New Year!

2014 was not one of my best years in some respects - months of building hell next to our house, lack of painting commissions for the first part of the year, misery at the day job culminating in handing in my notice, the loss of a good friend, and quite a lot of irritating things to deal with.  But it did have it's very good points - the release and good reception of the Nudinits animation (two and a half years hard work!), catching up with some old school friends in the summer, and some very exciting changes for the new year - going totally freelance and finally realising my lifetime dream.  Thank you for sticking with me through it, putting up with the moans and wails, sharing the good bits and giving me the impetus to work hard in order to have something to show you all.  Here's to 2015!

At Last!

This little scarf has taken far too long to complete - it kept getting sidelined while I got on with other more pressing commitments.

It's been knitted in a sweet varigated wool in autumnal shades, which works well with the lace pattern giving a wavy effect.

It has a double rib section through which you can thread one end of the scarf and make a cravat kind of affair round your neck, keeping everything warm and toasty.

I like this pattern - I think I shall make it again in different yarns.

Currently on the needles....nothing!  Suffering withdrawal symptoms, but my hands are still busy sewing what feels like thousands of sequins on that felt goldfish purse.