When you've got a creative mind, it can sometimes be hard to focus and decide what to do at any given time.
There is so many things I would like to try my hand at, but lack of space is a serious issue, as is lack of money.
So I have to stick to things that are affordable and don't take up too much space.
I have a habit of wanting to try so many different crafts - in the past it was easier as we had a space room in the house but now we live in a teeny tiny flat space, or lack of it is a serious problem.
I've been wanting to try spinning and weaving for a while but know that having a loom, even a small one is out of the question.
I did however buy myself a lovely dinky loom from Create with Fibre
This little weaving loom is only 4" by 4" and is really great for a complete beginner like me. At only £14.50 it is a really great way to get into weaving. You can order one here
I also started collecting fleece and fibre with a view to doing some textile work but then I watched some videos on Youtube and decided I wanted to do some spinning.
Now as I said, we have a tiny flat so getting a spinning wheel is out of the question. So, I've settled on an alternative - I've ordered a drop spindle!!
Not sure how it will work out but I'm sure I will write another blog post soon and let you know!!
Hello again. If you remember in my last couple of blog posts I was waiting on a delivery of yarn so that I could finish a crochet bag - well it finally arrived and the bag is now finished.
I've added one of my fabric flower brooches to it as a decoration but it can be taken off and used elsewhere if desired.
Really enjoying making these bags. I find crochet very relaxing to do.
Been trying to think of something simple to make to use up the oddments of yarn and came up with these easy coasters.
Would make a nice wee stocking filler for Ssssh, you know when!!!!
Catch you later.
You may remember that I've been crocheting some funky bags recently. Crochet is my first love and it was the first craft that I learnt. My Nan taught me how to do it when I was around 9 or 10.
I started a new bag a few weeks ago but ran out of yarn and have been waiting for a new ball to be delivered. I order my yarn off Ebay - living on a small island means the choice available to buy here is very limited so I get stuck into online auctions.
It's like waiting for Xmas to arrive though as most of what I buy comes from China so delivery can take anything up to 6 weeks. Sometimes I even forget what I've bought so its a nice surprise when the postie turns up with all these little parcels!!
This is as far as we have got. I'm waiting on a ball of the pale blue so that I can add the handle and finish it off.
I've been waiting that long (well, it seems like ages!!) that I've started another bag using a cone of peach acrylic yarn that I had. The cone is that big that I'll probably get at least 2 bags out of it!!
Hopefully will get this finished by the time the blue yarn turns up!!
I'll keep you posted.
Crafting is at a bit of a standstill here at the moment. After the rush to get everything ready for the local arts club exhibition at the beginning of August, my creative mojo has gone on holiday I think.
The exhibition was not that well attended; there were a lot of events happening on the island that weekend so that probably accounts for why so few people came to see the exhibition.
Anyhow, everything has been packed away now but the urge to be creative must have got packed away too.
As you might know, in the past I have sent off parcels of handmade items to various good causes to help with their fundraising. Over the past couple of years I have sent items to Animal Free Research for them to sell in their two charity shops but unfortunately they took the decision to close them earlier this year.
I am considering my options regarding where I send items in future and will let you know what I decide but in the meantime I shall continue selling a few handmade items on my FB page and donating the proceeds to a local charity who are raising funds to get a dialysis unit here on the island.
Weather has been back to its usual dreary and dampness after a glorious run of sunshine which lasted about 7/8 weeks. Very unusual for us here on west coast of Scotland.
The nights are starting to draw in as well I have noticed so not be long before the lights start going on and the curtains get drawn mid afternoon!!!!
Happy crafting.
It is 2 weeks until our local Arts Club summer exhibition and sale and I'm starting to sort out what items I will be taking.
It's difficult to decide exactly what to take as the hall we use is quite small and therefore I am limited on the amount I can take plus we have to use the bus to get there so have to carry everything.
Also having to be there before 8.30am to set up makes it very difficult especially when you have health problems.
So it is time to make the decision on what and what not to take.
I've been doing some crochet this year so will have some crochet bags on display. It's been nice getting back to doing some crochet as I haven't done it for a while.
I will also have some more of my fabric bunting on show. These are great for summer parties or BBQ's - hopefully the great weather will last for a few more weeks, if not months!!!!
I've also been making some bookmarks. Various styles just to suit all tastes. They even gave me another excuse to use up some of my bead stash.
Still got a few more things to sort out and I've also got to tag everything so that's going to take some time.
So if you are on Bute then please come along to the exhibition and have a look at the art and craft work on display. I even did the poster!!
Finally another ball of crochet yarn arrived so I can continue with the next bag.
I had bid on several balls of bamboo yarn on Ebay and made a start on a new bag when the first ball arrived. It was a deep yellow and I have to say I am in love with this bamboo yarn.
It is so very soft and great to work with.
Then I ran out of yarn and had to wait for another ball to arrive. I had bid on several different colours so it was a wait and see which one arrived first kind of thing!!
Anyway, the day before yesterday the next ball arrive and this one was a pale yellow so I've managed to do some more to the bag.
Be interesting to see what the next colour will be!!
A big parcel arrived yesterday. When I say big, it was huge!
5 kilo to be exact.
I had seen a post in one of the Facebook textile and fabric groups I am in about a place where you could fabric remnants from and I though, why not?
Now this is where things got a bit out of hand.
The link to the website was there and it said you got a bag of assorted fabric remnants for £8. Well actually the postage was £8 - the fabric was free!!!
Who in their right mind is going to pass up a bargain like that?
I have to admit here that I am not a sewer by any stretch of the imagination - I don't even own a sewing machine!!
But it was too good an offer to pass up, right?
So, when I started to unpack the parcel I didn't know what to expect. All the fabric was white or off white but there was fleece, toweling, chenille, upholstery fabric, lining fabric etc - so many different fabrics.
Some were in quite large pieces, others were very small but it was a fantastic assortment and I was in my element.
I have no idea what I'm going to do with it all but I am sure I will think of something over the coming months.
If you would like a bag then check out the link here
If you do get a bag then I'd love to see what you make with the contents.
