Oscar blanket - with hearts

My colleague Lucy has just had her first baby - Oscar - congratulations Lucy and Martyn. This is a small blanket for the gorgeous O and I hope he likes it!
I was a bit carried away so also made some little felted hearts - Mummy, Daddy and baby size.... I've no idea what they will do with them!

Two Tone Shrug

Here's the latest shrug from my needles - a Christmas present for Mum. It's Stephanie Japel's shrug from 'Fitted Knits'. My first attempt at 'top down' knitting and it's so easy. I used one colour, rather than two as the pattern suggests and instead added some gauzy kid silk haze to the edges for a delicate look.
I'm really pleased with it and Mum is too. More pics on Ravelry.

Joanna bag

I've mentioned my friend Jo before, and this is a little beaded crochet bag I designed for her as a gift. It's lined with vintage silk kimono fabric bought on my recent trip to Japan.
I origninally planned to stay for a month in Oz with Jo and Rod but quickly pined for for Japan. Jo was unstinting in her support of me and insisted I change my plans and instead return to Japan, for which I will always thank her from the bottom of my heart.
Thanks Jo x

Itty Bitty Bags

Here are some little felted handbag keyrings which, I will admit, I'm really pleased with. These are the first items of my own design and creation that I have ever sold!
It feels amazing when people like what you have made so much that they are willing to pay actual, real live money ! Admittedly these were sold to friends, so perhaps they were being kind but, either way, I'm really thrilled and hope to make more to sell.

Mine, all mine

My first adventure in lace knitting - behold the 'wave scarf'. I'm really pleased with this because, despite my angst about tackling lace knitting, it turned out to be really easy and created something I really love.
It's turquoise because I love the colour and it's become one of 'my colours', it's soft, beautiful alpaca yarn which is so warm and snuggly.
It's also special because it's rare that I make anything for me. Somehow I seem to make things for everyone else and can't even remember the last time I did something for myself. I guess it's because I truly love making gifts and really get a kick out of designing something with another person in mind - considering their likes and styles, what they might love and enjoy. Trouble is I forget to include myself.
So, 2008: the year of making for me! Watch this space and you'll see more stuff just for little old moi.

Birthday bag

After the success of Mum's last bucket bag made using this pattern, I decided that her birthday was the perfect time to make another, more lightweight one.
In lively pinks, muted golds and deep mulberry this has got a pink polka dot lining, and is edged with a cute little ribbon I bought in Japan.
Mum loves it and was delighted to swap all her stuff over from her other one which has been worn to death.

I may have to make a new one for each season...

Columbia, with love to Rupert and Michael

Columbia is a special bear with connections to two very dear and beautiful friends Rupert and Michael, both of whom I lost recently. It is still hard for me to believe that they are no longer here.
Columbia was Rupert's childhood bear and looked very tatty and bruised, I was asked to give her a whole new look with a Dorothy-style dress, complete with ruby slippers.

So, with love to Michael and Rupert, here she is looking fabulous.

Strawberry forever

Having made a cactus for Rod in Sydney, I felt it only fair to create a strawberry for Jo, my lovely friend and Rod's lovely wife. In case you can't tell, this is a celebration strawberry in honour of Jo passing her driving test and is designed to hang on her keyring.

I know what a big deal it was for Jo to pass and this is to say a big huge congratulations!

Cactus Boy

In Australia earlier this year, I stayed with dear friends Jo and her husband Rod. I don't quite know why, but I was inspired to create this little cactus for Rod (really, I don't know why). Anyway, I had fun doing it and Rod likes it a lot. When he first saw it, he thought that the little pink flower on top was a reference to his own red hair - sheesh - sometimes a cactus is just a cactus... I'm really not that deep after all.

It's been a long time baby

I know, I know, I know - it's been nearly a year since I last posted to this blog. It's bad but, in my defence, I have 2 very good reasons. Firstly I went on a big trip to Japan and Australia so I was away for a while and THEN, a few weeks after I got back, I injured my head quite badly so have been not in a good state for many, many months. Getting back on track now, so the time has come to show the fruits of my creative labours. Again, I suggest you settle down and have a browse (upwards) to see what I've been up to.

I promise that I'll be a better and more regular blogger.....honest.

Techno Mum and her bag

OK this is the last post of all my Christmas makes and it shows a gift being used - the biggest compliment of all.It's Mum and her bag....and don't they look well together?
I had forgotten that it would match her coat - genius!

Not sure how long it will be before I next post as I have lots of plans for things to make and do ..... but it all takes time.

So tune in next time when I shall return with more productions from my new creative room 

A bag for Mum

I bought a bag for my Mum a few Christmases ago. It was back with large pink and green flowers, embellished with beads. It turned out to be a huge hit and went with her when she and Dad went on their big trip to Hawaii, San Francisco etc. It still looks good but I thought it was time for another one. So I took a pattern and tried to do something different.
This one is grey wool fabric, with pink felted applique flowers, pink lining and dark pink velvet trim. Complete too with a mum-friendly mobile phone pocket - it's got a velvet trim stipe so she can find it easily!
I really enjoyed making it, even if it did take a while and will definitely make some more but will use pattened fabric next time as I'm too lazy for all that applique!
Mum loves it and it's already in use - and the pocket is perfect for her NEW mobile phone......and ipod in it's new case. Just call her Techno-Mum.
 

Claire Christmas Stocking

A few years ago I made personalised Christmas stockings for each person in my family reflecting each different personality. It was fun to do and started a new tradition (can you have a 'new' tradition?!). Anyway, it all gets very mysterious as, under cover of darkness, we each secretly pop a little gift in the stockings hung expectantly on our door handles.
So the exciting news at the end of last year was that my other brother David and his lovely girfriend Claire got engaged - so she's now his lovely fiance and Stephen and I gain a new sister - yay!
Of course this can only mean one thing - Claire needs a stocking. And I, of course, am happy to oblige.
It's made with felted fabric (see ipod post) and lined with lilac linen fabric with a tiny flower motif (you can't see it in the pic). Also trimmed with a dark pink silk binding.
We are all looking forward to a fab wedding in the south of France (mais oui!) and Claire is all excited about hanging her stocking on the door handle next Christmas. Congratulations David and Claire!

Lisa bag

Lisa is my brother Stephen's very lovely and talented girlfriend (who also happens to make the most AMAZING and delicious chocolates -mmmmmmm - go Lisa!).
Anyway, I knitted this little zippy bag for her as I was insipred by the green and pink flowers on the piece of vintage fabric used to line it. This gorgeous fabric came from my Grandma some years ago and I've always loved it and wanted to do something nice with it.
The stripes are shot through with some sparkly green yarn and are different on each side. I've enjoyed making these zippy bags - I was inspired after my friend Melissa gave one to me last Christmas and it's been the most useful thing I've ever had! I've got plans for loads more, so watch out people you'll probably get these next Christmas too......

Stripey ipod cover

My Mum joined the ipod generation in August when we bought her an ipod nano - she loves it and uses it all the time. Makes her look very on trend!
Ipods are delicate little petals so I made a little felted cover to protect it when she carries it around in her bag.
I felted two merino wool jumpers to use for the cover and lined it with a pink satin fabric. It was quite fiddly but I'm pleased with the way it turned out ....

Liz zippy bag

More Christmas cheer - this time it's a knitted zippy bag for my wonderfully creative friend Liz. Green is one of her favourite colours and I wanted to have some some interesting contrast so I lined it with a dark pink raw silk fabric.
Liz is very happy with it, and it was fun to make....so everyone's smiling.

Christmas cheer - Martina brooch

This is the first in a series of 'catch up' posts, so grab a cup of coffee and settle in for a while. I haven't been able to post for ages as I've been working on Christmas gifts....and couldn't reveal them till now!
Here's a brooch I crocheted for my friend Martina. She's my oldest friend in the world - she was born 3 weeks after me and we've been soild friends forever, spending time together as babies, children, teenagers and now as big grown ups.
This isn't the best photo in the world.....taken as it was at 1am in a hotel lobby over Christmas as I forgot to snap it before giving it to Martina. But she likes it a lot so I'm pleased, I promised her I'd post it, so here's to you M, have a wonderful New Year filled with fabulous happenings x 

Meditation Cushion - Crochet

Finally I'm back! It's been a bit of a creative desert for a while but now I'm back on form with a special cushion made for my friend. Crocheted in the round with lots of different yarns - mainly wool and silk. I'm pleased how it turned out as I didn't know what would happen...it evolved! Delighted to say that Berni thinks it's great. Happy meditating.............. 

Turtleneck Shrug

This Teva Durham shrug is from 'Scarf Style'. I knitted it for my Mum at Christmas and have only just got round to posting it here. I loved it when I first saw it in the book and wanted to make it for myself ...I still will, perhaps in green. But will make the sleeves shorter as they are rather on the long side - just the size for apes I reckon. Mum loves this and wears it a lot - especially when walking as her arms get chilly. She also wears it as a scarf with the sleeves wrapped round her neck - versatile or what!!

cupcake

My friend Berni turns 40 soon and I thought I'd make her a birthday card with a difference.....ok so I know it's not a card as such but I've attached my message on a cute little label and I thought this would be fun, funky and memorable!
It's a knit and crochet combo (more crochet than knit - yay!) and was a cinch to work out. I guess I should have written a pattern as I was making it up but I plan to create a whole crochet cupcake and will record that for posterity - watch this space.
Meanwhile, Happy Birthday Berni and enjoy your real birthday cake x