Last Christmas...........

.....I had a full set of Clover Amour.

My son connived with a friend. I had half the set from him and the other half from her. I would show you the full set but they are scattered about in various projects, as any good hook should be.

This Christmas, my son bought me some beautiful hand made candle stick holders.

Not that I plan to use them for candles but they will make beautiful bud vases for when I finally get all those crocheted flowers done.

So, I treated myself. A new set of Clover Amour, thread ones this time, in pastels to match the bright colours of the larger sizes. The only reason you get to see the full set is because they only arrived last Friday and the projects I am current working on are yarn not thread.

Soon, they will be scattered about in various projects.

And did you know, they come in bigger sizes now!

Deck the Halls!

Is it too soon for the "C" word?

Not if you are a crafter! We have to think about it extra early to get everything made in time for Christmas.

And certainly not if you are a Designer!!!! We have to get our seasonal patterns out in time for you Crafters to make them in time for Christmas.

Here is my 2013 Christmas offering - a Holly Wreath.

This Holly wreath is designed with the beginner in mind. It uses all dc (US_sc) with some shaping and short rows.

Materials: DMC Petra size 5 in Green (5500, 5700, 5905) and Red (5321), toy stuffing, red and yellow bells, 25cm (10 inch) florists ring for making wreaths, electrical tape. The thread is used double thickness through out the pattern. Equipment: 2.50mm hook, needle for sewing in ends. Tension:  (UK terms) 24 dc and 30 rows to 10cm using a 2.50mm hook.

The pattern is available on Rainbow Valley.

As promised......

Dry this morning do here is a quick photo of the new version of the "Merry Christmas"

I had to use the fence to pin it on as I don't have any where else big enough!!!!

I have left it in two separate words so that it can be displayed in which ever way you prefer.

Merry Christmas!

I finally finished it!

And it is rather large which was why we had problems finding somewhere to hang it straight!!!!

I do need to double check some of the letters but, even if I get the pattern finished before Christmas, I doubt I will sell any as people will not have enough time to make it.

Still, it was never intended as a Christmas pattern. I just made the "Merry Christmas" to design some of the letters for the main pattern.

This was part of my display at the weekend. I didn't really expect to sell much but I was pleasantly surprised. It wasn't a fortune but it does mean a little less to bring home and stash back in the wardrobe. I am leaving the display up until Christmas and may get a few more sales. Also, we have invited other people from FenVAC to add theirs.

Its December!

And I am on time for once with the desktop calender. This is one of the photos I took on the weekend. There were loads of people there. The switching on of the lights is a very popular even in Chatteris. I was lucky enough to have permission to go up into the top floor of a building opposite to get these photos.

All I need to do now is to find some time to go out in the dark and take more photos of the lights and my X will be finished for my A-Z. Again, I have been ever so nice and made a wide screen version as well. I use a wide screen in work and have to admith that I hate the way it distorts everything. And while we are on the subject of December, the Advent Calendar is now active.

Go and see what treat is in store for you today!

Chatteris Lights

If you are in Chatteris there is lots going on this weekend.

The lights are being turned on so I plan to get the "X" for my A-Z. Ofcourse, Chatteris lights are always a big event and all the usual stuff like the funfair, FenVAC Open Studios and the Gables Christmas Bazaar are also planned.

And if you are not in Chatteris this weekend........

Why not??????????

Don't you just love it ..............

............ when a plan comes together? Hmm, maybe I have been watching too many re-runs of the "A-Team" But still, I have finished my new Christmas Lanterns Pattern on Rainbow Valley, complete with better pictures!

And to celebrate, I am giving some of the prototypes away. On offer I have one each of the Angel, Candle, Stocking and Christmas tree lanterns.

They do not include the tea lights, you will have to supply them yourself. I also have a copy of the pattern to give away.

However, you are going to have to work for them by entering a a prize draw. All you have to do is add a button or link to my Christmas page on my site, then leave me a comment on this post to tell me you have.

You also need to let me know which one you would prefer to win. The more I see of Ravelry, the more I love it. I have sold 12 patterns in the last week - which is really good going for me.

I have also had about 130 downloads on my Christmas tree pattern. And I set up my very own group< on there.

Do you Ravelry?

I didn't but I do now!

I actually joined in August 2008 but got so confused with the place that I gave up. And, just afterwards, I started the new job which took up lots of my time.

However, I have recently been re-investgating and found it a wonderful place!

Ravelry is a site for Knitters and Crocheters. It has an ENORMOUS data base of patterns which is continually added to by its members.

There are groups and forums you can join and lots of help pages.

If you are a designer, it is even better. You can add your designs to the database all for free. You can get linked to your patterns as the designer which allows you to do all sorts of things with them. Quite what, I haven't found out yet because this takes a little while to do.

However, with 1000's of users all over the world, its a resource worth using.

So, as if you can't gues, the reason I haven't been about as much recently is that I have been busy adding all my patterns to Ravelery. I started with the Christmas ones and have been doing bits and pieces of the other - both free and for sale.

Before you get linked as a Designer, it is a bit long winded as you first have to add them as project, then add them as a pattern to be able to use the photos from the project.

However, it is worth it. I have sold 4 patterns in the last 3 days and all of them have been recently listed on Ravelry.

I would like to think this is no coincidence!

The other thing I have been doing is working on some new patterns. One, a free pattern for these Christmas trees is finished. Click here for the Christmas Tree Free Pattern.

The small one (about 11cm tall) is made with Dmc Petra size 5 and a 2.00mm hook. I added brads for the decorations when it was finished.

The large one (about 16cm tall) is made from DK and a 4.00mm hook. I threaded the beads on the yarn first and worked them in as I went along.

I am about to add the pattern to the Ravelery database and, if you do make them and are a member of Ravely, add them as a project. Of course, the other thing I have bee working on is those lanterns. I "borrowed" this lovely tree to take the photos. It looks so much better than my cupboard under the stairs!

As promised........

Photos of the new lanterns First of all, here is the Candle. I wanted something relatively simple as some of the more complicated things I was working on just weren't going right.

I was pleased with the way this turned out, simple but effective. Again, please excuse the bad photos, take with the IXUS on ISO3200. But you should be used to them by now! As soon as I am able to get a decent evening, I will go out and do the decent ones on a long exposure. I just have to wait tuntil its not too windy.

And here is "SnowStorm", although I am not quite sure if that is the right name of it. Any suggestions? It is the same as "Starburst", made with 11 motifs in the smaller size bangles.

This weekend I bought some new candles, just under £5 for a pack of 6 in Wilkinsons. This is roughly the same price as you can get them on eBay and you don't have to worry about the postal strikes. Something else I have been doing recently is re-investigating Ravelery. I joined over a year ago and got so confused with the place I gave up. Now, whether it is me or them I don't know, I am finding it a bit easier to negotiate.

I have been adding some of my free patterns to their database and, when I work out what I can and can't do, may add some of the ones for sale. In the meantime, if anybody wants to add me as a friend I am Enfys on there as well. Just one more thing I couldn't resist showing you, I bought this cute little phone sock in Peacocks, only £1

Angels and Stockings

This can conjure up the most peculiar images but I assure you it is all perfectly innocent! The thing is, I finished the prototype of the Angel lantern last night and am so pleased with this one I couldn't wait to share.

Again, really rubbish photos but the Ixus on ISO3200 is so much easier and quicker than getting out the tripod etc for times exposures. She does need a little tweaking here and there but, on the whole, I am really pleased with her.

And here is the stocking.

I just need to write the patterns for this lot now then get on with the next one. I forgot the hanging loop and there are some ends need sewing in but the photos show the main bit. Any suggestions for what you would like to see?

Let there be light!

Here is my latest lantern. This one took a little working out, especial for how to get the light inside, but has come out well. Again, both photos are quite bad as the wiere taken with the Ixus under the stairs. Some stuff it does really well and I love the ISO 3200 setting but it is so noisy. When I take them for the pattern I will be using the DSLR and timed exposure. They should should come out much better.

The third photo is to show you the difference in size. I am planning a few more the smaller size and one more the larger size.

We spent Saturday in Ely. It was a bit stressful because I discovered that I only had one earring in part way through the morning. If it had been any but the pair I was wearing (Marks lovely anniversary pressie to me) I wouldn't have cared. We spent the rest of the morning retracing our steps but didn't find it. However, when I got home, there is was safe and sound on the sofa. My dear son had interrupted me in the middle of putting them on!!!!!

New shoes!

I have been looking at this pair of Sketchers trainers for what seems like forever! We go in the local shoe shop regularly. Benjamin goes through his shoes so fast. Every time we go in I look at them but never seem to have quite enough enough money for them. However, last time we went in to get school shoes, the Lady in the shop offered to put them away for me. So I tried them on and paid her a deposit.

I did regret it afterwards as my hours had just been cut and nearly £50 is a lot of money. My lovely red ones are wearing out. They are looking old and tatty and getting a bit thin on the soles, so I need new ones. I went and got them when I got paid this month. They are soooooo comfy. And I love that flowery lace.

Now this is a really rubbish photo. I took it under the stairs using the ISO3200 setting on the Ixus. On a lovely sunny day it is the only way to get a photo to show you. This is the first of the lanterns I have made, "Starburst". I have crocheted stars in to childrens wire bangles and them crocheted them together to make a ball. There are 11 motifs in all. This lantern is going to be one of the bigger ones, the others I have in mind will be totally different unless I do a "Snow Storm" one with snowflakes instead of stars.

First Day at School

It doesn't seem all that long ago I was dressing him in a school uniform for the first time to go to Ysgol Sant Baruc in Barry. It was actually 7 years ago. This week he was all dressed up ready for his first day at Senior School.

He didn't like the feel of the collar but, after telling him it had to be done up, we finally got him sorted. Apart from the silly face, I quite like this picture. Now all I have to do is try to get into some sort of a routine! I know I wasn't going to mention the "C" word again but, when you design and make things for that particular season, you have to start early.

I had an order for a set of Christmas Tree decorations which I have been working on.

Unfortunately, I have run out of one colour I need and my supplier is also out of it. I ordered 3 different coloured balls from her about 10 days ago. Two arrived two days later but the one I REALLY need was out of stock. If it doesn't arrive at the beginning of the week I am going to have to phone and find out how long.

Hopefully, if it still isn't in, she will have some in smaller balls. It ends up costing more but will mean I get it quicker and can get the order done.

Of course, while I was making up the ones I do have the thread for, I kept thinking "There is an easier way of doing this" and have ended up re-vamping some of the pattern.

Silly really, as there wasn't anything wrong with the original way its just that the pattern was written over 3 years ago and my designing and pattern writing has evolved a bit since then.

I really ought to be working on new patterns, not revamping old ones, but I am having difficulty coming up with something different for this year.

I was thinking of lanterns. Now that you can get those LED battery powered tea lights, it would be perfectly safe to use lanterns made from cotton. They don't get hot and I used them last year in paper lanterns at the home with no problems what so ever.

Now to come up with some original and quirky designs. Maybe a Santa head? And a Christmas pudding? I am open to suggestions!

That C word

I know its early but........... I have started thinking about Christmas! The thing is, when you make stuff you have to start earlier. And, when you design stuff for other people to make you have to start even earlier!

Now, I promise not to mention the C word again until December! Well, I will try very hard not to anyway!

Its me again!

This time my crocheted Tree Angels are the free project on the Advent Calender - so go and take a look! And if you haven't seen what else is on offer, why not????? There are loads of lovely free projects to choose from.

I am running very late again. Every year I promise myself I am going to get those cards done early. Every year I don't.

And this year is worse than usual. I haven't even made enough so need to get on with them!

But, I am going to cheat a little. I usually make far too many and have a very nice little stash of cards bulding up. Of course, I can't normally use them as I sent them to everybody last year.

However, this year both Mark and I have new jobs. This means I can use up some of the previous years cards.

Less for me to make and some space in the filing cabinet all in one go!

What a result.

Window No.8

Its me again! I hope you enjoy this Crocheted Bow. I made it for Scrapbooking. It didn't occur to me to use it for Christmas Parcels!

Window No. 2

Is me! I told you it would be. You can make these Lucky Pennies into Flowers or Stars.

I did originally intend to make a new one every Christmas for Benjamin but......... There is still time to catch up.

Christmas Frames

I have finished the Christmas Frames.

I have decorated the tree with ribbon, beads and bells so that it tinkles. This is the landscape version - done in gold trimmings. The Angel and the pressies are from my Christmas Earrings pattern. The mistletoe is something I designed just for these and will be adding to my site as a free pattern asap.

This is the portrait version, all decorated with silver trimmings. The star is from my Christmas Earrings pattern. However, you can use the free one on my site just as effectively.