job done! (well, nearly)

Well, at last I have completed the pendants I started what seems like weeks ago.

Actually, it probably was weeks ago!

I always underestimate how long it takes to make things – and how much life seems to get in the way in between.

For instance, yesterday was an inset day at lad’s school. This necessitated me either a) being a good mum and providing some entertainment, interaction and activity for lad, or b) doing my own stuff and leaving him to fester in front of telly / computer / ipod for most of the day.

I plumped for the former. Because not only  do I like to think that am I a good mum, but I also enjoy lad’s company.

And I figure that in a few short years he probably won’t want to be seen dead with me, so I should make the most of him while I can.

Anyway, as I had hinted yesterday, I did manage to finish most of my new batch of pendants this week.

Apart, that is, from the owl ones.

Because I stupidly didn’t resist the urge that should be resisted at all costs. Namely, the urge to prod at things that have been glued before they have had a chance to set properly.

Consequently I find myself having to re-glue half a dozen owls, instead of showing them off here and listing them in my shop whilst lad and his dad are out on their bike ride this afternoon.

Ah, well. Worse things happen at sea.

And lad, at least, thinks well of me – as evidenced by the abundant hugs I got yesterday.

And that, to me at least, definitely indicates a job well done. ♥

jumping through hoops

I have been cracking on with my new batch of pendants this week.

They always take longer than I think they should. But that’s because I am always looking to try and get them absolutely perfect.

To this end, I have made a slight adjustment to the design this time around.

You may remember that I ran a giveaway to win one of my pendants a while back – this one, to be precise:

The pendant was won by Sue, who writes the fab blog 129 twig and vine (do pop over if you haven’t already).

It was great that Sue won, not only because I was already a fan of her blog, but also because she took the time and trouble to both let me know that her prize had arrived safely (which took a while – she lives in rural Vermont, USA) and to give me a bit of useful feedback.

Sue mentioned that the the toggle fastener was really tight and tricky to open when taking the necklace off.

So I had a rethink and invested in some new bits of kit…

(Sorry about the crumbs in the photo above – they’re not my breakfast toast, but bits of wood from “roughing up” my pendants prior to glueing!)

I have been attempting to master the art of working with jump rings.

Fiddly isn’t the word!

I have a gadget (that ring thingy in the photo above) to help open and close them. But if anything has indicated that my eyesight is deteriorating, this has.

And it’s so easy to mess them up!

So that instead of nice perfect little silver circles, you end up with useless squashed bits of metal that look something like this:

So anyway, the point of all this fiddling is that now my pendants’ fasteners, instead of looking like this:…look like this:

The new arrangement means that it’s much easier to manoeuvre the toggle clasp and hence easier to put on and take off the necklace.

I would actually much prefer plain ribbon ends, rather than the embossed version you see here. But I can’t find any at the moment. I’ll keep looking. If you see any, give me a shout.

I think that all this jumping through hoops will be worth it in the end…

I’ll show you the rest of the results tomorrow! ♥

ric rac rocks!

I went to sewing class today.

My plan to play it safe and rediscover some confidence in my dressmaking abilities was a good one.

The pattern pieces I had drafted were correct, and my fruity skirt is, as you can see, well on it’s merry way to completion.

But as is my wont, I can’t just keep things simple.

I have already decided to relocate one of the two planned pockets from the front of the skirt to the back. But I’m never that easily satisfied and more is always more…

So I think I’m going to add some ric rac.

I’m not quite decided on whereabouts yet.

Perhaps along the line where the yellow and green fabrics meet following the line of the hem, to disguise the join:

Or possibly peeping out around the pocket-edges:

Or maybe even both. I do love a bit of ric rac!

I was actually sent some yesterday.

It came wrapped around a little parcel from Rachel containing my new pocket mirror (to replace the previous one I dropped during a clumsy moment in the bathroom).

And of course, Rachel being Rachel, it was wrapped in a fabulous piece of vintage fabric! So much nicer than bubble-wrap, don’t you think?!

Whilst thinking about what to do with my ric rac, I idly googled it.

I spied a mention of ric rac flowers. Which of course warranted immediate further investigation.

I was led straight to a brilliant little tutorial over at Craftiness is not Optional.

So now, Rachel’s ric rac has been transformed into this!

Perhaps I should make a green one. I could wear it as a brooch to go with my skirt.

I told you ric rac rocks! ♥

pom pom pom

I have a new addiction… making pom poms!

When I went to a festival the other weekend there was a fabulous kids’ area, full of crafty goodness to which I was drawn like a moth to a flame.

Officially I was there to help lad to decorate his magic staff (a branch stripped of bark with a potato peeler) as he can be a bit craft-phobic and often needs a bit of creative encouragement.

However, I wasn’t that keen on creating a magic staff of my own.

So once he was suitably engaged with his, I found myself earwigging what others were up to – and consequently ended up re-learning the art of pom pom making.

And I found that I loved it!

There’s something almost hypnotic about making pom poms.

For those of you who don’t know, here’s how you do it.

1. Cut two circles the same size out of cardboard. The size of the circle will determine the size of the finished pom.
2. Cut a hole in the middle of both circles, so that each looks like a ring doughnut. Put these two discs together.
3. Cut a long-ish length of your chosen wool.
4. Wrap the wool around your discs evenly, passing the end of the wool through the hole in the centre of the cardboard each time. When you run out of wool, cut another bit and just carry on wrapping. Keep going until you’ve wrapped the wool around enough times to almost fill in the hole in the centre of your discs.
5. Using sharp scissors, snip the wool all around the outer circle edge by inserting the lower scissor blade in-between the two cardboard discs.
6. Cut a length of wool and, without disturbing your snipped bits of wool, tie it around the middle, pulling it tight between your two cardboard circles in a double knot.
7. Remove the cardboard discs, then fluff-up and trim your pom to ensure it’s nice and round.
8. Marvel at your creativity.

There’s a how-to with diagrams here if you’re in need of further guidance.

When I saw some cheap, bright-coloured wool on offer in a charity shop in town the other day I bought a bit, so I could have another go.

These are my first batch. I love ‘em!

I am now on a quest to find the bestest, brightest, most fabulous jewel-coloured wools at the cheapest price so that I can make poms galore!

I’m not sure what exactly I will do with them, what with woolly hats not really being an option as it’s almost summer, but I’m sure I’ll think of something…

square deal

I got a parcel in the post yesterday. Always cause for celebration!

But this one, although small, was anticipated with particular joy as it came from Pomme de Jour.

If you haven’t come across Tanya and her amazing emporium before, pop over to her shop or website and take a look. She stocks an amazing collection of colourful vintage finds from France, which are guaranteed to make you smile.

My parcel certainly did! Much needed on this cold, snowy, wintry day, I can tell you.

I took advantage of a generous 25% discount deal and ordered one of Tanya’s amazing charm packs of 1970s cottons.

And look what I got…

They look so pretty all laid out on the floor that I don’t want to put them away.

As yet, they are not earmarked for any particular project.

But they are so gorgeous that I know I won’t be able to leave them alone for long.

Tanya even included a little free gift – enough of these pretty hexies to make a pin-cushion…

Now that’s what I call a square – or should that be hexagonal – deal! ♥

gifts from those who are gone

The process of clearing your parents’ house is a long and sad one.

My partner’s dad’s home is at some distance from us, in Dorset. So, unlike when my own parents died, there is a lot of travel involved.

It is hard on everyone.

Some of the contents of the house are already finding their way back to us. Although tinged with sadness at the reason behind their arrival, they can also bring a smile.

Like photographs.

Grandpa was hardly ever without a camera in his hand. And he liked nothing more than to film or photograph his grandchildren.

There was a set of pictures on Grandpa’s wall that I always coveted.

They were taken when Nanna and Grandpa stayed at our house to look after lad, whilst we were away celebrating my birthday. I mentioned them to my partner and he brought them back with him.

To honour their arrival and make them more at home, I decided to make a little fabric-based change to the orange pine frame in which they were housed.

So now we can all look at the pictures and remember lad when he was little, now that he isn’t so little any more.

And we’ll remember Grandpa, who took the pictures… and Nanna, also gone.

And we’ll remember all of the gifts they gave us.