Random makes

These are a few of the projects that retirement has allowed me the time to to indulge in. I enjoyed painting the pumpkin and was sad to see it mush. The flamingos were made from a pattern I purchased and were a request from my grandaughter . They were simple and resonably quick to make.

The cactus  was one of those I can make that moments when I had seen several in gift shops. My daughter requested one for the nursery. I just need to sit it in a more colourful but childproof container. 

I love hats and decided to make a hatstand in the style of some vintage ones that i came across on ebay. I enjoyed the process and was able to source a forties dolls face and trimmings to use. Tge candle stick was quite expensiv , which was suprising as they had been easy to find in charity shops until recently.  

 

 

What I've been up to

Had a hectic run up to Christmas punctuated by flu and other winter bugs. Although I haven't been keeping up the blog I have been busy on the craft front.

In a bid to have a handmade Christmas there has been alot of knitting.

This proved to be my nemesis. This is a pic of the jumper
 being blocked

Hats galore 

A puffin for one of my grandchildren who loves birds 

chunky jumper for a trendy boy 

mittens for every outfit 

Joined a rock group

Not a band sadly! The rocks I painted have been found but not appeared on the local group which is ok as someone must have decided to keep them. I have painted a few more and have varnished them ready to hide.

I have been reading some negative press about this new trend but feel that as I am not taking rocks from the environment, using harmful paints and not adding collage which could could cause wildlife injury and I am leaving them in urban places and not littering the country side that I am being responsible.

My health has been compromised by use of solvents and so have substituted all nasty products and so hopefully I wont encounter any further health hazards whilst painting.
I have chosen to paint a few characters from my childhood which has offered me the opportunity to revisit the stories of my youth . Ive just reread Emil and the detective as well as the family from one end street and just william.

You can see the cardigan that I have been knitting for one of the younger members of our family in the background. 

This rabbit took only a short time to complete 

Milly Molly Mandy -yes I'm that old !

A few sketches before I committed to the rock painting 

Progress with journal entry - still not finished this page 

On the needles

I am currently knitting a cardi for Evi my grandaughter. She is a curly haired bundle of fun who looks adorable in raspberry colours , which is the colour I have chosen for this latest knit.

I have also been playing in my journal on another page. I am doodling a lot of flowers at the moment but my garden is looking a bit washed out.

I have dried a few of the hydrangrs and have them in different rooms. They have so far maintained their colour lets see what they lok like in the autumn.

Knitting part two

I have completed two cactus as requested by daughter number three.I will make a few more using some different stitches and combinations. Struggling to find the small pots but going to check out ebay later.

The first of many

Knitting

I learnt to knit when I was in primary school.The first item I made was a knitted ball. By very clever rolling I was able to hide the holes and the fact that I gained at lest 3 stitches every row.

I was determined when I found I was expecting my first child to knit a layette and I managed it. I still have all the knitting patterns and pictures of all three of my girls wearing an array of hand knits.
They have spent a lot of time laughing at the photographs of themselves thro' the eighties sporting what would have been very chic when I lovingly crafted them. The various outfits, glasses and hairstyles sported by their adoring parents I can't begin to justify!
My hand knitting is pretty average but I love textiles and have to say I possess a large stash of wool which I have sworn to use before purchasing any more ..... unless I really need to.

I love sewing and I love knitting but I hate sewing up my knitting , which is puzzling but true.
I have been knitting in the evening but of late have struggled with the light as my daughter's colour choices for our grandson have been darker colours . I bought a LED light and this has been a real boost.

Something I am working on , which hopefully will be a quick project!  

A navy jacket using a 1940's pattern . The buttons are vintage from the forties. I have a large button collection and I have to force myself to use them on projects. Feeling pleased that I am sticking to the plan and using up my resources.