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

A handmade wedding

5 years ago today me and Mr Bunny got married! It was an amazing day, in the Lake District, which we shared with our friends and family. 

Being the crafty soul that I am, where I could, I made things.  I made my own invitations, order of service, seating plan, thank you cards, place settings, menus - pretty much anything I could get away with! You can see just behind the owls in the photo a menu card poking out!

Where possible, I bought handmaid items. Custom made corsets for my bridesmaids ( to go with the bargain skirts and wraps I picked up in the sale), handmade soap for gifts, hand made chocolate hedgehogs for favours from a gorgeous chocolate shop in Windermere. We even had a souvenir  plate made instead of a guest book!

I thought I'd share a few photos of that special day with you all.

Until next time.

Sarah x

The dreaded 'C' word!

The dreaded 'C' word has been popping up on Twitter and Facebook this week!  As the summer holidays draw to a close (not that we have seen so much of the summer) some of my favourite crafty magazines have been asking their loyal readers what they want to see in their Christmas editions.

But it's only August!!! I hear you all cry at the computer. And I feel exactly the same.  I hate it when the supermarkets begin to stock their festive ranges in August and, on a recent trip to a local crafty/homeware/vistor attraction, was riled to see them announcing the arrival of a mystery man (the display consisted of a dressed up mannequin, wearing a red suit surrounded by wrapped up boxes and snow sporting a large cardboard box with a question mark on it!  Can you guess who it is?!) 

Now don't get me wrong, I am no grinch and I absolutley LOVE Christmas, but I like it to start in December and be 4 weeks of excited preparation.

However, when you have handmade goodies to make for gifts, you need a little bit more that 4 weeks to make it all.  And so this week I started to think about who I was, and wasn't, going to be handmaking gifts for this year and what I was going to be making.  I have narrowed down my decision making to three key questions to ask yourself when handmaking gifts for Christmas.

Box with Gift courtesy of Robo Android on Flickr

1)  Will the recipient appreciate it?
I am not going to spend my time knitting/crocheting/sewing for someone who doesn't really appreciate it.  Now this doesn't make them a bad person, it just means they don't get it!  For example Mr Bunny actually said to me yesterday 'I don't want any handmade stuff for Christmas!' He is very supportive of my crafting and can see that lots of people appreciate it but, he doesn't want.  So therefore, Mr Bunny and a few other people will be getting money for Christmas this year.

Clock courtesy of wiwin.wr on Flickr

2)  How much time have you got?
I am knitting one scarf for Christmas this year and I have already cast it on.  I know that it will probably take me until Christmas to complete it so I have started it now.  Most other people are going to be getting small, quick items probably knitted or crocheted.  Mitts and hats are great for this as they knit/crochet up quickly. 

Money courtesy of Community Friend on Flickr

3)  How much will it cost?
For me, this is an important factor.  I do not have, as Mr Bunny often reminds me, a £50 tree in the back yard (although I wish I did).  So I don't want my gifts to cost too much in money.  By making smaller items, such as mitts and hats, you can afford to invest in a nicer ball of yarn as you won't need as many!

I have indeed asked myself these three questions and have drawn up a list of recipients, gifts and in some cases yarn (a good excuse for a yarn destash!) that I will be using.  Some may say my list is a bit ambitious and I do have a backup plan if I run out of time (Gift vouchers are wonderful aren't they?!) but I am determined to get these made and the sooner so what am I still doing here?  I have Christmas presents to make!