My Crafty Beginnings

I learnt to knit first, it was the beginning of my adventure with craft, I was about 5 years old and I bet if my grandmother had realised that I was left handed she wouldn't have been so quick to offer. Next I learnt tapestry on that plastic canvas that you can still buy, my Aunty Gay taught me that. From then on there was no stopping me!

These days I am proficient in many crafts, but my main pleasures are:
Patchwork (I prefer hand piecing for personal items but use the machine for kids quilts)

Quilting (again I prefer hand work but will machine quilt for less precious items)

Embroidery (my Aunty Gay gave me a hand learning this after the plastic tapestry lessons, since then I have learnt from books with some classes in Hardanger)

Parchment Craft was a split second decision when I spotted a starter kit with a wet and cold weekend looming ahead of me. Now I am a registered teacher and have had patterns published in Parchment Craft Magazine.

                       

                                                      A PARCHMENT CRAFT CARD

Knitting and Crochet, what can I say....easy to do when watching a movie and they keep me toasty warm in winter.

Bobbin Lace, my newest craft and possibly the hardest. I owe this talent to a patient and knowledgable lady called Helen. She gave up many an afternoon teaching me to 'cross and twist' in the correct order.

I used to sew clothes when I was younger but this dwindled away with the advent of mass produced and therefor cheap clothing however I have had my interest renewed by a stall at a local market. The
stall sells retro items from the 50's (I am the proud owner of the grooviest LP Record drink coasters!) and her clothing was fabulous, Betty boop t-shirts, a-line aprons and high waisted pencil skirts! I can see myself whipping up some one-of-a-kind outfits in styles not seen for many years!

My current project is these Amigurumi mushrooms, I like that they are quick to make and can be used for many different things, I currently have them adorning my coffee table nestled amongst leaves and twigs, however the next baby born can expect a multi coloured mushroom mobile!

            

MY FLOWERED MUSHROOMS - The crochet pattern is available as a downloadable file from my Etsy shop called My Gorgeous Home

With an unseasonal wet and cold weekend ahead of me I think it is time to snuggle up with my next project!

It's almost finished!

It is 45 days since I started this blanket and I can't believe how fast it has grown. I also can't believe I have completed 154 squares in only 45 days! That is a testament to how interesting this pattern is to work on.

This pattern was originally for a cushion cover that I spied in an Etsy shop called Dada's Place. She has a fantastic blog at dada4you this blog is well worth a look. Since then a pattern has become available for a baby blanket using the same squares. Some sharp eyed readers noticed in last weeks blog that there was a yellow square in my layout, there is one yellow flower that I added, I just thought it would be cute to have one odd flower hidden in the blanket.

I still have the edging to do and will need some time to play with colour and stitches but that is always the fun bit isn't it.......isn't it? Hmmm well that remains to be seen however the excitement of a nearly completed piece always makes my thoughts turn toward my next project...........

Lately I have noticed rather a lot of crochet bags, is that my subconscious telling me I should make one or are there just a lot of bags in magazines at the moment? I do also have a Hardanger piece that got  temporarily shelved so that I could make my beautiful rug, but to be honest I don't feel inclined towards that at the moment, it is at a rather intense stage and I feel like doing something more free and creative. It's interesting how my emotions affect my choice of craft. Sometimes I love nothing more than spending hours of intense effort creating one special piece, but that isn't how I feel right now which means I have the rather indulgent pleasure of looking for something new to create!!

Why not click over to my Etsy shop My Gorgeous Home for more ideas and inspiration!

Happy crafting!