Waiting for Spring to Spring

A couple of months seem to have slipped by since my last post; I have no idea how this happened, nor where time goes.

Weather here has been total pants. I’ve never know March and April to be so cold. To make matters worse, I’m still carrying a knee injury from they urn if the year – have now been instructed to rest for 3 weeks.

To cheer myself up, I’ve started on this crochet wreath for craft room. I was so pleased with how neat me base turned out, I almost didn’t want to cover it. I bought a styrofoam base from Hobbycraft, which means the wreath us lovely and light and will be easy to hang.

I am especially pleased with the big pink flower and the thistle. Should get this finished this week, although I need to set aside some time to clean my desk, as I have a few sewing projects I want to start.

What projects do you have lined up over the next few weeks?

Toodles xoxo

The Rain in Spain

Hello again, Oodlers. Since I last updated, I’ve spent a lovely few days in (not so) sunny Spain.

On the Saturday, we decided to explore Malaga a bit. I fell in love with the city, even though the weather was a bit on the chilly side (okay, I was so cold I thought I might die!) and we ended up leaving early than originally planned, just to get a heat on the bus. Some stunning buildings and we took in the Picasso museum as well. Next time my task will be to take only hand luggage but find space in it for my DLSR camera!

I’ve also managed to master bead crochet and made this necklace for a crochet group swap on Ravelry

The best part of the swap was that I managed to swap in person whilst on holiday, as by a total fluke, my partner lived about an hour away from where we were staying. We spent a lovely couple of hours chatting and drinking coffee.

Here are my lovely swap goodies.

The pincushion will be fab for when I start learning dressmaking (definitely this year – no excuses!), as I’m really bad for sticking pins in my trousers (well, jammie bottoms) and forgetting about them until they stab or scratch me later.

Toodles for now xoxo

I Get A Round

Hello again, blogosphere. I’m still hooked (pun intended) on crochet. Remember the Tucson Throw I did a few weeks ago? Well, I still had some yarn left, and a silver round cushion I got years ago in Ikea, so I though it crochet a cover for it. I used a basic granny circle pattern I found on Ravelry, but the best bit for me was working out how to shape the back to let my puffy cushion sit inside it nicely.

Futon on the spare room is looking very swish now.

I now have to work out how on earth to crochet a cover for the other cushion, which is a 5-pointed star shape!

Other than that, I’ve learned bead crochet. This only happened 2 days ago, so no photos yet! It’s actually ideal for taking to work or doing whilst watching tv, as you don’t need to worry about dropping beads. Stringing them is an utter pain though.

I completely forgot it was pancake day yesterday, so I think I may make sofficini (aka crispy pancakes) for Sunday dinner instead.

Anyway, must dash – need to string more beads for my current project.

Toodles xoxo

Simple Pleasures

One of my aims for this year is to take time to enjoy little things. I’m terrible for taking on too much, going hell for leather, then spending any spare time I have procrastinating. This year I’m going to relax a bit but try to be more productive in my spare time.

Something that gave me enormous pleasure was finishing my crocheted Tucson Throw.

It was a free pattern on the Naturally Caron site and my first big crochet project. I used Sirdar Supersoft Aran in Scrummy Plum, Kingfisher, Denim and Sand.

I decided not to put the fringing on it, but have some yarn left over, so I can always go back and do it at a later date. It already has pride of place on the futon in the spare room, which doubles as my craft room, so I’m looking forward to spending some chill time in there now.

Next up I’m making a cushion cover in the same colours. I love big projects but when they’re done, I really like to do some smaller things. I’ve also got the urge to pick up a beading needle again; I have a few unfinished objects to work on, so trying to convince myself to work on these before starting something new!

Another simple thing that makes me smile is my new egg chicken

I had wanted one for ages but couldn’t make my mind up between cream and patterned. It looks so much nicer in the kitchen than egg cartons lying around.

Better dash, my hook and needle are beckoning.

Stay warm everyone.

Toodles xoxo

Sneak Peek

It’s amazing how quickly we fall back into the humdrum routine. I definitely seem to have a bout of the winter blues this month, but hopefully with the lighter nights starting to come in, I’ll soon be feeling a bit more chipper.

I was going to post a work in progress photo of the crochet throw I’m working on, but as I’m going to finish it this week (feels like I’ve been working on it got a million hours), I thought I’d keep you in suspense…instead I’ll show you the yarn I’m using.

I really love these colours, as they’re strong, yet still somewhat muted.

I’m at that stage where I just want the throw finished and to start something else, maybe a bit of beading and a smaller crochet project which I can do simultaneously. I always feel like this with a project – I’m sure it’s because I hate that boring finishing things off part!

Anyway, better get cracking on, or it’ll never get done.

Toodles xoxo

What’s My Name?

No finished jewellery to show today, but I do have some name badges I made for the girls who work in a local tea rooms.  The original idea I had in mind for these just didn’t work well, but I am really pleased with the alternative I came up with – I think they have a really nice retro look to them:

I have some almost finished beady things too – really must get them completed -  I hate having stuff lying around that isn’t finished, but I also seem to lose some enthusiasm once I’m about 75% finished – does anyone else have this problem?

I haven’t been doing much beading for the last month or so, which is something that happens every now and again; time just seems to pass me by sometimes.  Luckily I have a week off work later this month, so I’m looking forward to some crafty time, as well as spending time with my lovely hubby.  I even bought a beginners lampworking kit a couple of weeks ago, so definitely planning to spend one day melting glass.  Speaking of lampworking, the wonderful Linda at Inside the Fire gave me these stunners.  I’m really looking forward to making them into something, but also a little scared I don’t do them justice!  The colours are so me – I am like a broken record, the amount of times I say “you can’t go wrong with black, camel and grey”.

Everything else in life is ticking along nicely.  As always, I have a list of things as long as my arm I want to get done…sometimes I even manage to tick one or two of the off the list.  I still need to do a lot of work on my website, and shift this blog over there, but hopefully in the next few weeks, I have that sorted.  At the same time, I also want to tackle all the crap I have in the spare room.  Do you ever feel sometimes you just have way more stuff than you’ll ever need or want – I am definitely feeling this at the moment.  Haha, if there is anything of mine you want – why not ask me.  You never know, the frame of mind I’m in at the moment, you may just get lucky.

Until next time…

Lisa xoxo

¡Hola!

It’s been longer than I hoped since my last post, but I do have an excuse.  Last weekend the hubster and I hit the sunny climes of Spain for a lovely long weekend, which just happened to coincide with my birthday.  It was really nice and relaxing (so relaxing in fact, that I have barely made a thing since I returned) – so much better than late February in Scotland!  On my birthday we went to a gorgeous restaurant called Oliva – the food was fantastic

I got some lovely goodies with my birthday money too:

A handmade leather bag from a wonderful shop called Manos – you can see the 2 leather work when you visit the shop.  The choker is also handmade and was from a boutique called (I think) Luisa Haan:

We’ve signed up for the next Tryst Craft Fair at the Dobbie Hall in Larbert, so I will definitely need to shake off my nonchalance and get making stuff.  I’ve also been aware that I haven’t done any beading for months; to be honest, I had sickened myself of it a bit, so the break has done me good.  I think it’s time to start again though.  I also want to get some polymer clay out and have a play with that…oh and my sewing stuff!!  I really love my job, but sometimes I wish I could take a year off and just spend all my time making things…well that will never happen, so I need to structure what time I do have a bit better, spend less time procrastinating (a.k.a. faffing) and more time making!

One thing I did do was make dinner on Saturday – spent over 10 hours cooking but it was well worth it.  I made lobster ravioli with lobster sauce, venison with cha-cha-cha sauce (my made up on the spot name for cherry, chilla and chocolate) on butternut squash puree, with fine beans and pancetta.  I really pleased with the sweet (mainly because I normally hate doing sweets).  I did this Pomegranate Meringue Rose Tart from Saveur, but made individual tarts, served with homemade pistachio ice cream, crystalised rose petals and pomegranate sauce.  The tarts looked exactly like the one in the picture, but I’m quite gutted I forgot to take photos – was too busy to think about it really!

Until next time…

Fabulous Fabrics

Greetings, oodlers.  Hope this week has been good to you so far; mine has been pretty good and to top it off, I’m away for a long weekend on Friday.

I took a trip, with my good friend, Lesley, through to Mandors on Sunday.  Mandors is a fantastic fabric shop in Glasgow -  those of you who know me in person, know I’m not much of a shopper, but I could seriously spend all day in there.  I was lucky enough to have an itison voucher, which saved me some money but still spent a fair bit (and could have spent way, way more!).

Would you like to see what I got?  If not, please look away now, because I’m going to show you anyway.

First I got this gorgeous (and very expensive) wool crepe.

The photo doesn’t really do it justice.  The feel of it is amazing and I can’t wait to make my 1950s stole from Decades of Style using it.

I also got this fabulous tulle with large velvet spots and some nude lining:

This is going to end up as a party skirt (my favourite item of clothing).

What do you think of this atlas oilcloth?

I think it will make a great weekend bag.  I’ll be using the weekend bag pattern from The Bag Making Bible by Lisa Lam.

Finally, some fabric for cushions:

I’m hoping these will be perfect with our sofa – they certainly seem to go well together in the photo.

So, my wallet may be lighter, but I’m really looking forward to using these fabrics to make (hopefully) wonderful creations.  The reason I am so keen to learn dressmaking is to have really well cut clothes in beautiful fabrics, not to save money.  I really want to move away from quantity and end up with a few really good quality pieces.

What skill do you want to learn in 2012, and why?

Lisa xoxo

A Bit of Burlesque

It’s been an eventful few days here in Oblibbyland – I now understand how my parents felt when they used to tell me time flies by as you get older.  Of course, when I was 7 or 8 I didn’t believe them, but these days I seem to blink and it’s 4 days later, and weekends just seem to be the shortest 2 days of the week.

On Thursday, Sigrid, Lesley and I started a Burlesque for Beginners class, taught by the inspiring, talented and fabulously funny Gypsy Charms from www.burlesqueandcabaret.com.  It was at our local town hall and I have to say, I’m well impressed with Falkirk Council for putting this on.  My only disappointment is that the classes only run for 5 weeks.

I was back at the town hall on Saturday with Fee, after popping into Sumo for some pre-theatre sushi…

…this time to see Circus of Horrors.  We had heard about their Fringe shows, so were excited to discover they were coming to town.  We must have managed to get virtually the last 2 tickets, which just happened to be in the front row.  The show was great, a bit like Cirque de Soleil meets Rocky Horror, but obviously on a smaller scale.

On Sunday, we did a craft fair as Ootemiso, our banner name.  It went okay, but I think in future we’ll stick to doing the Tryst Craft Fairs ones, as their timings suit us better and we liked that they have lots of variety, yet everything is hand-made.  I did however get a chance to try out my  new display idea, which I think looks really good .

’til next time…

Time for tea

I thought I’d show you this gorgeous vintage china cake stand my lovely friend, Jo, gave me for Christmas.  She made it herself and it’s so fabulous it makes me want to bake loads of cakes and scones.  In fact, I may just have to get some jam and clotted cream at the weekend and have a cream tea, using some of my loose leaf teas from Eteaket (my favourite tea shop).

On the craft front, I’m just beginning to get my motivation back after feeling poorly.  We have a craft fair on Sunday and I don’t have as much stock as I’d like, but I’m sure between Lesley, Sigrid and I, we’ll have enough stuff.  Progress with my Belle Ruffle wristwarmers has been slow – it’s definitely showing that it has been a long time since I knitted on 5 needles (I think I was 7 or 8 the one and only time I did it, and even then it may only have been 4 needles).  I’m now on “take 3″:

It was also my first time knitting on a circular needle, which took a little getting used to.  I’m now at the stage where I’m ready to transfer to my 4 needles.

On the fashion front, last week joined Polyvore – OMG what a time sapper that is, but so much fun; I am so looking forward to making new boards, hopefully with some clothes I actually own (and maybe even ones I make, once I learn how to photograph them properly for this).  I must limit my time there though, as I am looking forward to making lots of things in the next wee while.  I’m off fabric shopping next weekend, so will make something from my Sew What! Skirts book.

I’m looking forward to hearing about everyone’s crafty makes and bakes.

Speak soon

Lisa xoxo

p.s. thought I’d better put a little disclaimer here, after finding out about affiliate links.  I don’t use these – any things or places I link to are places I use, love and want to share with you all