WIP Wednesday - Wingspan and Bunnies

This week I've finished a project (yay) and have started 2 new ones.

Last week I posted about the tunisian crochet wingspan shawl I was working on for my mother-in-law for Mother's Day and it is all finished and blocked. All I need to do now is sew in the ends and it's good to go!

I loved making the wingspan so much that I started one for me! This one is smaller, so more if a scarf/shawlette, and is in a beautiful merino and cashmere blend sock yarn I was given in a swap. I have chosen knit stitch which us giving a lovely smooth fabric rather than the bumpy reverse stitch I used for the first one.

The second project I'm working on I only started today. I've not been able to work due to a migraine that started yesterday and which was aggravated greatly by all the headlights whilst driving home on the motorway last night. Despite painkillers and a very early night, it was still going strong this morning and so, unable to drive, I've spent the day in bed with the blinds closed alternating between sleep, taking tablets and eating very small amounts of food.  I'm pleased to say this has helped a lot and I am able to do a little more now (like blogging!) So, where is this going? Well, unable to focus on the teeny tiny stitches of my sock yarn shawl, I started work on a bunny my friend asked me to make for her. The pattern us pretty easy to follow and I've finished the ears and have started on the body.

What have you been up to this week!

Until next time

Sarah x

Craftiness!

OK, so my New Years Resolution to blog more regularly has kind of gone out of the window but hey, they were meant to be broken weren't they??

So, what have I been up to? Well this week I've been working on the tunisian crochet version of a wingspan shawl for my mother-in-law for Mother's Day. The yarn is James C Brett Woodlander in shades of pink and is working up really nicely.

The other big task I set myself this week was to wind all my skeins of gorgeousness into balls so that I might actually do something with them. I've spent many nights sat with yarn wrapped round my knees winding and winding. It has been worth the effort as I can now just grab the yarn and work with it.

I've also been working on a range of crocheted earrings made in cotton thread on a tiny 1.5mm hook. So far I have flowers and mini granny squares. These are going to be for sale in my Folksy shop very soon.

In other crafty news, my rag wreath workshop has now sold out! I am so excited and pleased about this as, to be honest, I though that there may only be me, my mum abduction a few friends, but there are people I've never met coming and that is pretty awesome. I'm going to be teaching another workshop at Cedar Farm in June were I'll be teaching people to make suffolk puffs and then we are going go decorate a tote bag with them!!

I hope your week has been full of craftiness!

Until next time,

Sarah x

Words of Wisdom - Genius!

Today's Words of Wisdom come courtesy of a genius (in more ways than one) - Albert Einstein! This quote speaks to me in so many ways and gives us food for thought.

Everyone is good at something.  We know that we aren't all great academics, some of us are good at maths, some at English, some people are great at sports or art and some have amazing social skills.

We often measure everyone against the same standards (currently I feel, as a teacher, that all children are being measured against academic standards and the other talents and skills they have ignored) and, when we don't feel like we measure up, it can make us feel stupid!

We forget to look at each others individual skills and to appreciate them and to remember that we are all a genius at something!

Spreading the Crochet Love!

Today I have been spreading the crochet love at the Creative Stitches and Hobbycrafts Show at Event City in Manchester.  I was one of a number of volunteers teaching people how to crochet and knit on the Craft Club stand and encouraging them to add a link to, what will hopefully, be a record breaking chain!  (Find out more about that here!)

I've had a fabulous day and met some amazing people.  I've taught a few people how to crochet, helped some out with crocheting in the round and turning chains and generally chatted to people about knitting, crochet, sewing and craft in general.  I really enjoyed passing on my skills to other people and have now been inspired to get my crochet workshops up and running and, hopefully, set up my own Craft Club for children in my local area.

Knitting and Crochet on the Craft Club Stand

Whilst at the show, I had a bit of time to look around.  I took in a fashion show, showcasing designs by students from Liverpool, some gorgeous knitwear and rather fabulous hats.  I admired costumes from Jane Austen adaptations and some amazing quilts. 

However, the most impressive exhibition for me was the knitted aquarium.  It is truly amazing and if you get chance, you must see it (the pictures below really don't do it justice!)  It has been knitted and crocheted by volunteers and then put together to create a scene.  The outside is the beach, cliffs and seaside complete with a pirate, fisherman, puffins, sandcastle and Punch and Judy.  Then you walk inside to an underwater, with special effect lighting, to see fish, jelly fish, sharks and other underwater creatures.  Every time you look at it you see something different and I could have spent hours looking at every little part.  Best of all, it is all in aid of the RNLI and is raising money for them.




The Beach

No trip to a craft show would be complete with a bit of a spend.  I treated Mr Bunny to a goldfish keyring from the RNLI stall at the knitted aquarium and myself to 2 skeins of alpaca/blue faced leicester DK yarn and a beautiful wooden heart shaped shawl pin from Ruth and Belinda, and an embroidered tree patch made by women in Afghanistan. 

My purchases

It has been a long day but I have enjoyed myself so much.  I can't wait to volunteer at the next show!

Until next time.

Sarah x