Post-Christmas blues - or purples, or reds...

Having done quite a lot of making for Christmas, I feel a bit crafted out and lacking inspiration. I was given a fab book called 'crafting creativity' which has lots of ideas so I may try a few to get back in the groove. I've made a resolution though to start making presents for next year much earlier - it was a bit a rush this year.

The handmade presents included two felted pots that I'm secretly rather proud of. But in the rush to finish them in time I forgot to take a photo which is annoying. They were made from a woollen cardy I found in a charity shop, lilac and heavily cabled. I felted it in the washing machine and it went so stiff! The two front panels I made into the pots so they ended up with cables running around the outside, and I lined them with some fabric I stashed a long time ago because I loved it. Then they were filled with homemade truffles - lovely and messy to make - mmm. I think I'm going to use the back of the cardy to make a bag, but I'm not sure what to use the arms for, they have cables running down them and are too good to waste! Some small purses maybe.

Stephanie's crawling!

Stephanie has learnt to crawl! We thought that extended carpet time at Grandma's might do it, and sure enough, as soon as we got there on Christmas Eve she was away. She is now crawling around on the wooden floor at home as well, much to Hannah's bemusement. They follow one another around the room, Stephanie crawling over to see what Hannah's doing, Hannah shifting herself and her toys away, Stephanie moving over to where she's shifted to, and so on ad infinitum. Amusing for us, but Hannah gets so cross! A new dimension to the sibling relationship, methinks.

Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas.

Esmerelda and Nesbitt

Esmerelda (the tall pink one, since renamed Polly Allheart) and Nesbitt (stripy aardvark-like one) have gone to a new home. These are sock creatures, which I create in aid of Max Appeal. Usually I recycle old and odd socks, but these two were specially made from socks provided by their new owners. I wish them a long and happy life, and I know they are well loved.

Pelmanism

I feel like I'm in a giant game of pelmanism (pairs to you and me - my grandpa always called it pelmanism) at the moment - there are one half of several pairs of gloves and shoes hanging around, and a whole pile of single socks, all tiny (therefore belonging to the two younger members of the family). I wander around the house spotting one sock/glove/shoe, and then thinking, where did I see the other one?

I know what to do with the socks - if their partner can't be found they find their way into my bag of old and odd socks, to be made into sock creatures. More about that another day.

Frosty mornings

We saw these webs whilst out yesterday - me and my stepdad went mad trying to get the best shot! Anyway this is my offering. Cool spiders, being able to do that (cool too with all that ice on your house). I love this sunny frosty weather.

No sleep...

We don't get a lot of sleep round here. Hannah, our eldest daughter, has DiGeorge Syndrome, which is a genetic condition, hence my interest in special needs. She finds it incredibly difficult to settle herself to sleep and wakes up frequently during the night - she has only just stopped getting up tonight, and I am waiting for her to be fully asleep before I go to bed. We are a slightly chaotic family due to a chronic lack of sleep!

We live in a small two-up-two-down mill cottage in between the Peak District and Manchester in the UK. I say small, it's not that small really, but apparently it counts as small in the grand scheme of things. We would love more space but can't afford it, and anyway we like it here, we have great friends and neighbours, a garden and a view of the hills. What more do we need?!

I love all sorts of craft, particularly anything textile, and am currently dividing my (small amount of) craft time between knitting, sewing sock creatures, embroidery and making felt toys. I also enjoy painting, sticking and colouring with Hannah (and anyone else who happens to be around). As I say in my profile, I find that crafting helps me cope with everything life throws at me, and that's been quite a bit in the last three years. Major thanks go to my sister for teaching me to knit - I've always dabbled in sewing, but the knitting thing is more recent, and very therapeutic. I am known locally for taking my knitting everywhere with me in case I get a chance to do some while the children are asleep.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy reading my musings on life and attempts at various crafty things.

Hi there!

Hi there and welcome to my new blog!
Look out for more soon.