Crochet Bling!

I've recently developed a thing for blinging things with crochet - to be honest, if you add crochet to it then it's better right? 

I've been working on clothing for a while (you will have to wait and see that) but this week I've been blinging a clock I bought from Ikea for my new studio (more about that next week!) 

I crocheted lots of flowers, using a fabulous pattern from ATERGcrochet on Etsy (I adore her patterns and they are well worth checking out. She also allows you to sell items made from her patterns which is truly awesome!) 

I used Rico Cotton Essentials in lots of different colours from my stash.  It has a lovely sheen to it and, being cotton, has some stiffness to it when worked up on a small hook.

Once all my flowers where complete, I glued them on, using pegs to hold them all in place whilst the glue dried and voila, one significantly improved clock.

Who knows what will get the crochet bling next? 

I Can Make That!

I use to be the person who said "I can make that!" 

All the time! I'd go to craft fairs and other such crafty places, spot something I like and think "I won't buy it, I'll make it." And did I? 99% of the time, no. Sometimes because I later decided I didn't really want it or because I just didn't have the time.  

A lot of the time it was because I just couldn't make it as pretty as they did. I didn't have the right colours or materials and when I put what I did have together it just didn't work.

Now I look back on these occasions, I realise that what I should have been doing is supporting the artist.  If I like it, I should buy it. I should take home a little piece of them and their creativity. 

At Woolfest last weekend there was the most beautiful stall, H-Anne-Made. Anne makes the most amazing stitched collage pieces and I wanted to take home every piece. She had kits. But it was the tins I loved. I admired the paper, the stitching and the lovely message 'a tin to keep my treasures in'. The thought crept in, "I could make that." I wandered off and continued shopping.  Later, I met Mr Bunny and hound myself telling him about the tin. I returned to the stall and had another good luck at it. I then thought to myself, " it's gorgeous. Buy it. This artist gas worked hard to make this and you could own a piece of her creativity. You won't make one and, if you did, it would never be like this one." So I bought it. And I'm so glad I did. I know that I would have been so gutted if I hadn't.

So, what am I trying to say? We each have our own crafts. Mine are crochet, felting and a teeny bit of sewing. I dabble in others but they are my main areas. It is ok, in fact it is amazing, to buy a piece by another artist because you are not only supporting them but also buying a piece of their creativity.  

Next time you see a piece and think 'I could make that' remember the tin! 

The Tin