New Pattern Finished

This is the Alphabet Upper case set, which is finally finished and on my site. All 26 letters in glowing colour!!!

Here are some Christmas themed words I made with them.

This Heart and the Star are free patterns on my site, at least, they should be by the end of today!

I have also finished the Lower Case set but you will have to wait a few months for these as "Inside Crochet" are going to publish them.

But I am going to do a Number set which will be available on my site as soon as it is done.

Word Up.

I have been working as fast as I can on these letters. Some are relatively easy, especially when certain parts are the same.

Some are not!

The "J" looks fine in this one but when I used it in "Jack" it was far too small.

After some alterations, I finally got it to the right size.

I also had to change the "A" for Alice.

I still have no idea when this lot are going to be ready. I was planning for the end of October but "things" happen.

Good things for me, bad things for you.

"Inside Crochet" are interested in some of my patterns. This is good for me because of the exposure and the extra cash.

But it is bad for you because you either have to get the magazine to get the patterns, or wait a further 6 months after it has been published for me to be able to sell the patterns on my site.

There is other stuff going on which I can't tell you about. Hopefully, if it works out, I will be able to tell you about it soon.

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.

Chatteris Craft & Lace Group Exhibition

As promised, pictures from the Exhibition. This is at Chatteris Library and is open during regular Library hours from October 4th to the 16th.

If you are able, you should really go and have a look. As you can see from the photos, there is a wide variation of crafts and lots of talent. You can also pick up a program for next year to see what we are up to. If not, I hope you enjoy the photos.

Better still, if you are able to go along between 10.00am and 1.00pm on either of the Friday mornings, there are demonstrations to enjoy.

Boo!

I worked hard yesterday! It was dry but dull, perfect for taking photos as you don't get shadows or areas of high contrast. I managed to take photos of all the individual letters I have made so far then sat watching recordings of Strictly (mmmm Matt Baker!) while I sewed them together into words.

I decorated the "Merry Christmas" with crocheted holly leaves and french knot berries, sewed a crocheted star and french knot baubles on the tree and am quite pleased with the whole effect. I have left the "Merry" and "Christmas" separate as I thought it would be easier to display.

I have also sewn "Peace" together and finished crocheting "Joy".

Of course, I now have to wait until it is dry again before I can take more pics but you can see my "Boo!"

I am going to put this on eBay at a starting price of 99p, so if you want it, go and see if you can get yourself a bargain. But be warned! This is the prototype, it isn't perfect and is made with different balls of bright orange which means that it is all different colours.But I don't suppose that will notice in the dark. Anyway, that is the reason I am selling it so cheap.

I have also had a couple of orders for names. Well, not exactly orders. I asked my neighbour if she would like some for the grandchildren.

I want some to display on the site and when I do the couple of craft fairs I have booked. Seems a waste just to make some names that are going to languish in the wardrobe forever after. By making them for her, at least they will get used.

Now I need to get showered and ready to go out. Our Craft and Lace groups two weeks exhibition at the Library starts today and I have offered to help put the display up. And I need to take my Clematis along.

I will take some photos for those who are not close enough to go and see it in person.

I am in the Paper!

This is from my book signing on Saturday.

I may not have sold many books but at least I got in the local rag! I had to use the one with Julie in it as she nagged me to send it to them. The other people are a lovely couple who spent ages chatting to me and looking at the scrapbook, then kindly agreed to pose for the photo

On Time!

I know I have been very bad lately and not been getting these calendars done on time - if at all - but I am hoping you will all forgive me. This months is a Sunflower which the birds "planted". The seed was from the food I put out for them. It had rooted on top of the weed membrane between the slate.

I carefully pulled it up and planted it next to the fence where there is some soil. I even re-routed the watering system so it had plenty of water. And this was what I got! As always, two versions of the calendar, one in wide screen. Enjoy!

More Noro Mitts

I couldn't resist. That yarn was so gorgeous that I had to get another ball. This one will match my winter coat.

I have also re-written the pattern so that it will better suit plain yarn or where the colour changes are more frequent. The Noro yarn has large sections of colour and I wanted the colour on the thumb to be in line with the hand. This pattern also means you can make all of the fingers and thum different colours.

If you want to make them prettier for a girl, just add a pattern for the cuff. You may need to incease a couple of stitches in the last dc round, depending on what pattern you use. The free patterns for both version are available on Rainbow Valley.

I Won!!!!!!

I didn't expect to, despite all of you telling me I should.

Yes, there was a lot of time, effort and work that went into it.

Yes, I am especially pleased with it and think it is the best thing I have ever produced.

But, the thing is, I know the standard of work that some of the other ladies produce.

That makes my win all the more special, knowing that I was up against some very steep opposition.

It really was fun to do. Sometimes it is nice to crochet "Just Because". Not because I had an order or because I was writing a pattern.

However, due to popular demand, there will be a pattern. I have even started writing it.

I did mention somewhere that I might consider a winter project. It was an off hand comment that was taken seriously. The problem is, I don't have time for one. I do, however, have a whole load of unfinished projects which got thrown in the wardrobe when I broke my wrist.

I really think they could do with finishing.

Do you remember these? This is going to be the first project I need to finish. Lots of the letters are done, I just need the photos and finish off the others.

Both of these are in yarn with a 3.00mm hook. The upper case letters measure 19cm tall. I have started working on "Nadolig Llawen" in thread and a 1.50mm hook. The upper case letters measure 11.5cm.

Also, I don't have the money for one. That Clematis was quite expensive to make with all the thread I used. And I have made the decision to learn to drive.

This will mean saving up as much as I can for the lessons - which, as anybody knows, are not cheap.

So, if anybody fancies a name or a "Merry Christmas", I am taking orders. And you can order them in the safe knowledge that you money is going to a worth while cause!!!!!

Finally Finished!!!!!!!!!!!

And I am so pleased! It has taken ages. When I started this "Summer Challenge" I honestly didn't expect it to take all summer. But there we go. I haven't even tried to work out how much thread and wire I have used.

I have written parts of the pattern as I went along, basically because I needed to. I had to make all six petals on each flower the same so I wrote the pattern on the first one and followed it for the other five.

It has been suggested that, even though not many people would want to make the whole thing, the pattern would sell for the individual parts to use on bags and clothing. Sounds good to me! First though, I need to make a scrapbook of it. A digi one of course, with lots of crochet bits added. Then, maybe I can convert that to a pattern book.

A long time in coming.....

......... but I have been busy with other things!

Its amazing how fast time flies. The summer seems to have gone in a flash. So, rather late this month, I have finally done a new desktop calender. The good news, however, is that I took loads of interesting photos over the summer and plan to make the rest of the years calenders well in advance.

I just need to remember to upload them on time. As always, there is a wide screen version as well.

New Mittens

When I was in Ely a few weeks ago I popped into my favourite shop - Yarn on the Square.

It isn't your run of the mill yarn shop, it it full of pretty designer yarns which are also quite expensive! Now I am not saying the shop is expensive but when you are used to paying about £1.50 for the stuff you normally use, anything over £5 is expensive. And, trust me, this ball was well over £5!!!!!

The problem was, it called to me. I saw it on the shelf and just couldn't resist the colours.

I have been thinking for some time about designing a pair of fingerless mittens that are worked from the fingers down and that only leave you one end to sew in when you have finished. I hate sewing up seams!!!!!

I was also planning ahead for a magazine submission. I figured the colours would look good in print.

So this weekend, I made the mitts. I have to say, I am really pleased with them. And that yarn is so warm and soft. So even if they are the most expensive pair I have ever made, I am just going to love wearing them! Unfortunately, I have since had an email saying that the new magazine is no longer going ahead.

Apart from the fact that I am extremely disappointed, I think it is a great shame. The UK could do with something a bit different in crochet.

The pattern for these mitts is available free on Rainbow Valley.

Lots of flowers!

This is what it is looking like at the moment.

There are six different flowers each a little bigger and a little lighter than the last one. I am going to be making another each of flowers two to four, which will give me nine in total. I think any more will spoil it. I can fill up some of the empty stems with fluffy heads. I also need to work on an opening bud and maybe make two or three of them. Then, if I have time, I might change the way I have done the buds. When I started this, September 16th seemed such a long way away. Now I only have 19 days left!!!!!

My 1st Flower

What you have all been waiting for - my 1st flower. The flowers on this clematis start off a gorgeous violet colour and gradually fades to a pale lavender before the petals finally fall off. The 1st flower is based on a newly opened flower.

I am using a technique called "Thread Painting". This is where you use two or more strands of thread/yarn together then change just one thread at a time to the new colour. This gives the effect of the colours shading from one to the next rather than an abrupt change.

I have used this technique a few times with gorgeous results. I am using DMC perle size 8, two strands at a time, in 208, 209, 210, 211 and white. This one uses just 208 and 209. I think the centre should be trimmed a little more though. The actual flower looks a lot neater.

Fluffy Heads

I have been taking loads of photos of my real clematis to try to get the crocheted one looking right. However, I do plan on using a LOT of "Artistic Licence". As I tell Mark when he complains I am not being accurate enough - "You are an engineer, I am an artist. So I can use artistic licence."

The centres of the flowers start off with a little cream in the middle of mostly plum. As the flower gets older the plum opens, revealing more cream.

When it eventually loses all of it petals, the fluffy head left is all cream. I made them with loop stitch, working round and round amigurumi style and keeping the loops to the outside. When it was finished, I trimmed them off and fluffed them up.

Leafing Through!

Or Through Leafing!!!! Either way, I have finished the leaves. All 270 of them! I have also made some fluffy heads and am now on the flowers. No pics of these yet though.

Look what I have got!

Books! Lots of them! Yes, my books have finally arrived and I have 3 boxes full to sell.

I did have 5 but one was all pre-ordered so it didn't take long to get those sorted out and the other 4 fitted into 3 with a few left over.

I have taken some to the Library and will be taking some to the florists later. I will be taking more to the Museum later on in the week.

Now I can get back to what I do best ~ crocheting.

My Clematis now has over 200 leaves on it. There are still quite a few to be made but I am getting there. I was hoping to have them all done and sewn on by the end of the month but I think I may have been over optimistic.

I really need to get started on the flowers soon, otherwise it will not be done in time.

134 leaves and 4 buds later................

Yes, that is how many finished ones are on here. I have finished wiring all of the leaves and sewn most of them in place. And I have made quite a few more. I started at the top with smaller ones as I decided it would be easier to make them and attach them as I go, rather than work out how many I would need and do them later. I can fill in all the other full sized ones later.

I also changed my mind about the buds. Doing them in the same colour as the leaves just didn't work out. You couldn't see them. So after a bit of research - sitting in the garden and looking at my favourite clematis - I decided on a paler colour.

Unfortunately, I already had it in my stash so I didn't have to go stash shopping. I think you will agree, these buds show up more.

Mark says "If you had done it like I thought you were going to, you would have finished it by now."

Hmmmmmmmmmm, maybe so. But........

"Yes Dear, but I have done it like *I* thought I was going to!"

Change of plans.

Slight change of plan about the Clematis leaves. I sewed on all the leaves I had finished, just to the end of the stems and not in place as I thought I could do that better when the leaves were attached.

Then I decided that the centre leaf should be a bit further up the stem than the others so started taking them off and re-attaching them.

Then I decided that the bet way to stiffen them was with florists wire rather than find something to spray them with. So I started taking them all back off - again - thread wire through the stitches and sew then back on.

Then I found a longer needle to thread the wire through with so I don't have to take them all off to do it, just the ones that need moving up the stems.

I started crocheting the new ones with the wire included. This means no blocking as the wire keeps the shape so I will be able to sew them on as I go.

It also meant a trip to the Florist as I am going to need a LOT more wire.

The original lot I got at our monthly "Craft and Lace" group when we did a workshop for table centres before Christmas. I asked if I could buy some of the wires used and she gave me a handful.

I went into the Florists on Thursday to ask if she had more or if she could order me a bundle. She very kindly sorted out what she had left and gave them to me. Apparently they are too thin for the flowers and don't support them properly. They are perfect for crochet though. Now I am getting used to it, these wired leaves are working up almost as quickly as the unwired ones. They take about 20 mins each. I still haven't finished wiring the ones that are all ready on there but it has been a bit hot to sit with that heavy thing on my lap in the evenings.

However, sitting out in the garden is perfect! I can rest the frame on the patio table to keep it off my lap and watch the birds fighting over the peanuts at the same time.

And I thought you might like this pic of Benjamin at the Chatteris Historic Festival this weekend.

Print Ready!

I am all excited!

My book is finally print ready. I just have to wait for the person dealing with it to go back to work after his hols to get things in motion to send it to print.

So, what started out as a personal photography project in January 2008 is finally going to be a book.

And more good news, I have managed to sell some to the local schools with payment in advance which means no more scrimping and saving to afford the publishing!

I was able to download a free trial of InDesign which, with just a little bit of cussing, I have learned to use just enough to produce a print ready version pdf to send to the publisher.

That program does some wonderful things and would be amazing for digital scrapbooking but £699 is a little out of my range for it.

Clematis Leaves

After taking a short break to finish off some items I found in the attic, I have got back to the Clematis.

Here is the first batch of leaves on the blocking board. It holds 38 and I am going to have the fill the board up a few more times before I have enough to finish. I have started sewing some on but just 12 don't look very impressive so you are going to have to wait until I have sewn a few more on before I take a photo.

I have been working hard on the book as well.

I have had it proof read and they found loads of mistakes. As it is all still on the computer it isn't major hassle to change them.

Just time consuming!

I now need to do all the technical stuff to get it "print ready". I am not looking forward to that as I have to learn to use a new program.

It should be going to print on June 28th - barring any major problems.

Back to getting it print ready!

Nearly there!

I am really excited!!!!! I am finally going to see my book in print. It has been a while coming because I have had to save my pennies to afford it.

And, of course, the reduced work hours meant a huge chunk out of what I could manage to save. Now I need to decide how many. The prices I have had mean that if I order 150 I can sell them for £8.95 each, 200 = £8.50 each and 250 = £7.95 each.

I have enough to get 150 and, with a little more saving, might be able to afford 200. Unfortunately, 250 is a bit out of my budget range. I also need to do a bit of market research to find out how many I could sell.

So, if you would be interested in buying one, please use the "Ask me, I might" button on the left to contact me and let me know. They will be £8.95 at the most. If I manage to sell them cheaper, I will give you a refund when the book is sent.

I am hoping to go to print before the end of the month which means they will be on sale by the end of July. I will keep you posted on any developments.