Handmade Monday.

Arggh! As if it is Monday again today! This is my third week on Handmade Monday already - how time flies when you are very busy! There are a lot of great crafty blogs up already, so go get looking at what everybody has been up to - or even contribute yourself! :)

Last week I mentioned my plans for the week ahead. I was feeling a bit under the weather this week so I am behind on what I had planned, but there were some unforeseen extras that made up for it.  

Where to start! Where to start!

So... I didn't get any baking done and I didn't start my new illustration, BUT I did get my hair chopped and I did get my entry form from our local Art Gallery for their annual Open Art Exhibition in Rotherham. Due to moving to new premises, the competition is a little later than last year so I already have my artworks planned out. I cannot give away much yet but I love bird watching and I love F1, so there is a hint of what is to come.

Despite not feeling on top of my game, I did manage to visit our local RSPB reserve, not only once but three times. I am still a newbie bird watcher and when my neighbor told me about how good Old Moor was, I went along to find out for myself. There are so many different birds living in a fantastic and protected area and it is the kind of place you can go to and always see something new! I think I fluked it on Tuesday with the weather, NOT A DROP OF RAIN ALL DAY! I saw lots of birds I had never seen before, yet when someone pointed out to me five Black Tailed Godwits, I could not spot them at all! Here are a few of the birds I did see though...

A couple of weeks ago I applied for a volunteer role at Old Moor and on Thursday (a dry day until I stepped off the bus and the heavens opened!)  I went for an interview aaaaand I finally got to see the Black Tailed Godwits, not just five - we saw 28!!! Yesterday I went for a little taster to see how I would get on. As it was pouncing down with rain all day, plans changed slightly and along with another volunteer, I went on a walk to find some Yellow Wagtails and Little-Ringed Plovers. We didn't see any but it was a great little wander despite the cold and wet. Typically, there had been sightings of both birds and a few others that I am yet to see but they were obviously hiding when we were out!!! I cannot wait for next Sunday to start properly- hopefully a little bit drier too!

Are any of you RSPB members? Which reserves do you visit?


I made a little RSVP card for my best friends wedding - I love classic and simple designs and that is what I went for. I am so excited for the wedding it is unreal!

I received an awesome parcel this week too. I say awesome - it was 5 metres of toy wadding. Toy wadding I will be using to stuff some gorgeous red material that I own. I have some new templates - so think along the lines of my little bunny (and owls) and little duck, but in the style of some beautiful red birdies :)


What shapes would you like to see from me?

Aaaaand finally - here be my knitting update!

This week I learned stocking stitch. My Mum always says that it is really hard to get right but somehow I managed to grasp it really well. I am so happy with this length of knitting this week :)

 I then started to learn to rib and it looked good - although the tension wasn't great - until I learned the Moss stitch and it all went wrong!

Well, that is me done for another Monday! This week will be filled with bird making, bird watching, a catch up over coffee tomorrow, a new illustration and some baking (yes really! I will! I promise!)


Have a great week guys and gals X 

Handmade Monday - A Revamp and Some More Knitting.

So this is my second Handmade Monday and after the feedback on my first blog, I feel very welcomed :) Thank you to everyone who left such lovely comments - I have replied to you all where I can. I cannot wait to see what everyone else has been up this week.

If you are reading this and have no idea what I am talking about, get yourselves over to the utterly brilliant Handmade Monday blog and see what 'artist/designer – and general dogsbody' Wendy has put together so that like-minded artists, designers and crafty peoples can share their wares.

This is what I have been up this week.

I decided to take the bunny I made last week as a belated Easter and get well soon present to a different friend. My friend absolutely loved it and it made me so happy to see his reaction over something that I had made.

Sooo I had a new gift to make for my friends birthday and came up with something a little similar but different fabric (I also forgot to spritz the padding with perfume!)
  

Last night I was tidying up my wardrobe and found these little beauties. They are between 6 and 8 years old now. I still have a tonne of felt left from school but just not the time to do anything with it.

Every time I see Jan's feltings at http://www.lovemakethink.com/, I wish I did have more time to felt.

Aaaand here is my knitting update. Thank you for everyone who left an encouraging comment about it last week. This week I have been attempting stocking stitch. It is not looking too great at the moment but I am sure I will crack it with a bit more practice. At one point I got so confused that I managed to invert the pattern (cue my Mum coming to the rescue!)

 
This week I have a new illustration on the go, a hair chop appointment, a bit of much needed baking to do and a couple of trips planned to Old Moor. I hope you all have a fab week planned too :)

Let me know what you think! X

 

Handmade Monday - Easy to Make Gifts and Knitting.

How are you this afternoon?

On Saturday I came across a website full of fantastically amazing handmade goodness in the form of Handmade Monday. Here's my little contribution that I made today.

I drew the design freehand on doubled up fabric scraps. I cut out the shapes and sewed them up but left a small gap at the top. I then turned the fabric the right way round, stuffed it with plenty of padding that had a squirt of my favourite perfume and the sewed up the top. I did the same for the two ears (minus the perfume) and sewed them in to place. I sewed on odd buttons for eyes and glued on a small amount of stuffing as a little fluffy tail.

And hey presto! A lovely handmade gift for my friend's birthday. It could be used as a pin cushion or a hanging decoration for the house or even car.


Here are couple of other handmade goodies that I've been working on.

There are two things I love; birds and making pin cushions. A while ago I made some Owl pin cushions which I came across again this morning. 

On Saturday my Mum started to teach me to knit. I'm great at the knit part, but find the pearl part SO confusing. Here's a sneak peak of what I've learned so far :)

What do you think? X