Crochet, Crochet, Crochet

The crochet bug has bitten. I started mucking about with various granny square variations (like I usually do) but decided I wanted a project.....so after a search I found this wonderful blog and this pattern for a bag http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/crochet-bag.html

I this realised it was posted on Ravelry and there were conpleted projects for me to browse too.

After just 1 day I completed my bag. I decided to turn it into an across the shoulder style.

After a bit of thought I decided to line it. I added 2 internal pockets and after firing up the sewing machine I ended up with this.

 All I need to do know is find some sort of magnetic clasp and it can be used.

 I'm considering making another one but this time after crochetting to the required size I'll continue to crochet half the row to form a flap over.... wathc this space...

After the success of the bag I checked out Lucy's other designs and fell in love with her ripple pattern. I had a look on Ravelry to see what others had made and loved the blending of the colours in this blanket http://www.ravelry.com/projects/KnitKnatKnotUK/neat-ripple-pattern I intend to use a mix of my stash and buy the colours I don't have. I'm going to try to keep the cost down by using DK acrylic yarn. I have a couple of shops locally that sell different brands at about £1.50 a ball.

I've made the width big enough to fit across a king size bed and I will cycle through the colours of the rainbow before repeating the colours....so after green I'll start on yellow. Oh....I don't have any yellow wool....It looks like I'll have to buy some...what a pity :D

Weekly Challenge #64

Weekly Challenge #64
It took me a little longer to finish this challenge than I wanted but it really was challenging (doh).
If left to my own devices I would always use lots of curves so to stick to straight lines was difficult. I finally decided to go down the kaleidoscope route.

Well....it's certainly different!

Missing the point

Hmmm. I seem to have an issue. Not the fact that I'm losing big chunks of time Zentangling but more worrying that I'm losing big chunks of time scouring the internet looking for tangle patterns/tutorials/videos etc. OK Sue. Less time googling, more time tangling!

I DID manage to finish a tile tonight though. I even went as far as starting another. Far too tired to finish it. My manager would not be a happy bunny if I called in tomorrow due to lack of sleep....it's a nice thought though!

Weekly Challenge #63 Fengle

My first challenge and it most certainly was! I think I need to practice more with this one but I love the versatility of it. I ended up doing 2. The first was a bit of everything but the second one just refused to let me do anything other than flower like zentangles.

Discovering Zentangles

This weekend I went to The Stitch and Craft show at Olympia 2 with my daughter Nicky in search of a new hobby and inspiration. After trawling through 3 floors I have to say I was a little disappointed. Everything was very similar and there wasn't much new from last year and then.....
On the bottom floor, tucked away in the back corner was a small stall. It was filled with the most intricate artwork I have seen in a long while. Nicky literally dragged me over to have a look. The lady behind the stall was just about to give a demo and I have to say that none of us who watched could believe how easy it was. When it came to the end of the demo most of us forked over our cash to buy the beginners pack.
Zentangle is a form of art, relaxation and stress reliever all in one :) The premise is simple: Draw a square (for instance) partition bits off and fill in the gaps with repeating patterns.
So... Nicky and I went home and tried it that very evening.

This was my very first effort. We were both very impressed and went on to do a more complex shape.

And one more for luck.....

I have to be very honest and say I didn't draw the clock. it's a stencil I bought at the show but I think it was very effective.
I took full advantage of the fact that it was Mothers day today and Zentangled pretty much all day long. Before I upload the finished result I better explain that I have an issue with going slow with new crafts. An example of this is when I started patchworking. Most people start off with a simple, sedate 9 square patch. Me? Not a hope. I decided I liked the look of the Mariners Compass. The result was a disaster. I didn't pick up patchwork again until very recently and I've just finished the top of a quilt for Nicky made from lots of 5 inch squares in a straight line. See. I can learn a lesson.
Anyway..... I thought I'd go for something a little more complex and detailed with shading and everything and produced this...

Am I thrilled? You bet I am! It just goes to show you need no artistic skill to produce something quite stunning. I may even get it framed.

Monday again. Where did the week go?

At last we got a non rainy Sunday so I got to go to a boot sale. Yayyyy :)

It was a bit dissapointing but I managed to snap up a few bargains.

I stuck to my mission of filling my walls with artwork.

This lovely collection of quite large prints cost me the princely sum of £2.50. I think they were originally illustrations around a map (there are outlines of a country on the bottom right corner of pictures 3 and 4)

More art.........

This time old colour book plates. Some of them have quite a lot of foxing on them but I think they are just beautiful and they are themed on London (where I live) One is of Greenwich park - 5th one down(Very local) This was my big spend of the day at £12

 I'd better get framing.

Last batch of art was a framed set of cigarette cards. The series is 'Cries of London' and date from 1912. I was chuffed to get it for £5

My last few bits were a lovely necklace for 10p

I also got 2 scarves for 50p each....

The last thing I got was a book on ornaments. Not the dust traps that sit on the mantelpiece but scuptural ornaments. The illustrations are wonderful and the plan is to colour the plates and frame them. The problem with that is when it comes to it I can't actually bring myself to deface a book! I have a complete set of Cassells Illustrated History of the World upstairs and I get as far as chosing the plates I want to frame then....then.... nothing. I can't do it!

Can you imagine these lightly watercoloured and framed though?

The book is from the 1950's and there are lots of them on the market but....but.... arghhhh

I'm such a book wuss!

I shall sit in my craft room with my watercolours and my scalpel and not come out until I deface a book....

It's going to be a long week.....

I may need a food parcel!

Linked with Magpie Monday over at the wonderful blog of Me and my shadow

Magpie Monday

It's been one of those weeks where it seems someone has been in and nabbed all the good stuff before you. I have been in and out of charity shops more times than a fiddlers elbow. I didn't even make it to the bootsale because of torrential rain. I tell you it's enough to make a girl cry. However.......

God bless the auction!

I found this wonderful little box a goodies and got it at a knockdown price of £12. I honestly expected to pay at least double for it.

All nicely laid out......

The odd looking object at the back is a silk purse that has seen better days. I reall have no idea what I'm going to do with them but they were so pretty......

Item 2 I bought for Nicky (actually I bought the pill boxes for her too but I'm sure she can share!) It's an original publication (advertising booklet) from the 1960's for Carnaby Street and cost a whopping £15. A bit more than I was happy with but Nicky is over the moon. She's going to frame it.

Although I said I got nowt from the charity shops I did eventually find this picture for £3

It'll join my husbands nautical wall.

Last but not least is this material i got for £2....

There is tons of it. I'm intending to make a bag (eventually) and maybe have a go at freehand machine embroidery or beadwork. I have buckets of beads so that's the favourite plan so far.

Update on the cardigan from hell...... 24 cm done....22 cm until the underarm dec....arghhhhh

Linking with Magpie Monday over at Me and my shadow