Showing posts with label cotton. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cotton. Show all posts

Tuesday, 20 March 2012

Five Reasons

NOT to craft when you are cranky:




1. You are more likely to get frustrated with your work. 


The piece may end up being thrown across the room or worse, become a WIP that never gets finished. 


2. Your mood shows in your work. 


I don't know about you, but if I am in a particularly bad mood when crafting (especially if working on an Amigurumi piece) my mood is reflected in my work. See example below. 








Poor Nana here was supposed to be all cute and sweet. She ended up looking like a deranged old zombie with bad fashion sense instead. 




3. If you prick yourself with a needle; instead of quickly drawing in a breath and sucking the injured finger, you may be inclined to swear - loudly. Not so good if the kids are about. 


4.  Your colour choices will be affected.


5. You are much less likely to be able to concentrate on that difficult pattern you have started for the first time (or remember to write down what you are doing if you are designing a new piece). 




That said, I found a fabulous quote from the amazing Melody McDuffie yesterday: 


"Crocheting apparently, for many of us, generates a healing sense of peacefulness akin to that produced by meditation. My theory is that, like meditation, crocheting requires a narrowed and disciplined focus that results in a quieting of the mind. Therefore, when it is engaged in regularly, it eventually produces many of the same results as daily meditation: reduced stress, an enhanced sense of well-being and self-esteem, an easier acceptance of life's vicissitudes, and an attitude of greater compassion for one's fellow beings.

I know I'm going way out on a limb here, but think about it this way: it would explain why, at least in my experience, crocheters, as a group, are among the world's kindest and most generous-spirited people."


I know many crafter's whose sole reason for crafting is to give to others, to charity, the less fortunate and family or friends. Others craft to help support their families by selling their patterns or finished items. I like to support all of these crafter's alike where I can. Even if it's just a 'shout-out" on Facebook. Art and Crafts of any medium are implicit in the growth of our heart, spirit, family and society. All I will ask of you is to love your fellow artisans. 


Happy Crafting. 






Thursday, 8 March 2012

Life is a Beach!

Well, on Tuesday my plans all went out the window! I WAS going to post the pattern for the Crazy Square. BUT! The kids were going nuts, the weather has been awful here and the poor little loves have been stuck inside for too long.

Today is my "kid free' day. Thursdays are the day when both of my children are off with their Daddy and I get a WHOLE DAY to do anything I want/need/could be bothered to do.

I live in the most amazing area, where beach, bushland and farmland meet. There is never a shortage of placed to walk, hike, ride or just admire.

This morning I decided to go for a walk. The sun (briefly) came out of hiding and I thought a walk along the beach would be nice. It was beautiful however - very different to how our local beach usually looks.




Where this driftwood, seaweed and water is; there is usually perfectly calm seas and sandy white beach. 





Apparently there were swells of 12-15ft. Not hard to believe if you saw it. Of course, with swells so big, the surfers were out there having a ball. I was too scared to look. Every time one of them caught a wave I held my breath, prayed and turned the other way. 

Though the sun disappeared behind the clouds very quickly, the rain did not come. YAY! So I thought.... A bush-walk would be nice. 




The fungi on this sculpture looks like the Hyperbolic crochet we all love - or the Hyperbolic crochet looks like the fungi? Either way, it was spectacular. I walked for about an hour and came across all manner of natures goodness; flowers with petals that look like feathers and native birds in [what appeared to be] the throws of a mating dance. All along this particular track there are carved sculptures and the sound of the ocean crashing against the cliffs was entirely soothing and refreshing.

After all of this walking it was time for some retail [?] therapy. I add a "?" because my idea of 'retail' therapy is a trip to the local thrift stores to see what I can find. Eight vintage pattern magazines and a whole heap of neon - nylon mesh ribbon was purchased for the grand total of $8!!

Sorry. I know. All of this has nothing to do with crochet. I'm getting to that part.
So, I WAS going to post the pattern for the Crazy Square on Tuesday like I said. When I got home I decided to tidy up and then post this afternoon except, when I went looking for my Pattern Diary it was missing!

I searched in every room of the house. High and Low. Then I found it. Under the lounge. With pages torn out. The pages with the pattern that I was going to post on Tuesday that I wanted to post (albeit late) today! Not only were the pages torn out, but also shredded! My little girl must have got hold of it while I was in the shower yesterdayand decided to play a fun game [she LOVES the sound of paper tearing!] while Mummy wasn't looking.





With embarrassment, I offer you my deepest apologies for my failure to upload a new pattern today.

On the upside, the neon- nylon mesh ribbon (or whatever it is called) will have a new purpose soon. Can you guess what it will be from the hint in the photo above?


Until next time....

Happy Crafting!




Sunday, 26 February 2012

For Kirralee ....










A few weeks ago a friend of mine (Sharon) asked me to create a mobil for her 15 year old niece. Kirralee has a severe aquired brain injury and unable to move, she is bedridden. For years Kirralee's mum and faithful Aunt have searched for a mobil that would be suitable for her age, so she would have something beautiful to look at. Alas, most mobils are aimed at babies.

Sharon  sent me a picture of Kirralee's newly decorated bedroom. Full of bright colours against cream walls, with the most beautiful quilt on her bed. A few nights of dreaming, a number of hours crocheting doilies and several DAYS of experimentation to make them stiff enough to hang, and this is the final result.

I sent pictures of what I was doing to Sharon as work progressed in the hope that she would think that this could be perfect for Kirrillee.

HUGE smiles on the day that she messaged me to say that she LOVES it! :)

You can make a similar mobil with any doilies you have laying around, or you can make them especially for this project. The pattern and instructions will be uploaded for you soon.

Maybe you could gather your supplies while I upload the pattern for  you.

I used:
  • Yatsal Super Value, Craft, Crochet, Knitting 100% Cotton 6 S/3  (I can only tell you what is says on the label, but it is equivalent to a 4ply/#10 cotton ) in 4 different colours - or more if you wish!
  • 2.5mm/USC Crochet hook
  • Wood/craft glue and Water (equal parts)
  • Sewing pins
  • a soft, flat  board or matt (I used a couple of the kids foam flooring matts)
  • Cling film to keep your matts clean and to ensure that the doilies dont adhere to the surface.
  • approximately 1.5 metres of fishing wire for each strand of the mobil.
  • beads
  • sewing needle
And lots and lots of PATIENCE!!!!
Here is the pattern and instructions