Can I pull up a chair?

Well crafty darlings, it is years and yet seems like a lifetime or sometimes just weeks, depending on where my head is at.

What dramas there have been...illness, divorce, relocation, a complete change of life. There were times when I didn't think I could make it. There were times when I almost didn't. But here I am still crafting away, older and wiser.

Do you mind if I come back and rejoin you crafty women? I would so love to pull up a chair and sit down with my latest project for a cup of tea and a good natter. Would that be ok?

Is anybody there?

It has been a long time and much has happened...some good, some pretty awful. But I just had an urge to blog today. I have looked at this blog from time to time and feelings have moved from stress at not being able to blog to nostalgia and a yearning to be part of this little crafty blogging community again.

I don't even have much to show you for I have been quite ill and this time my crafts couldn't save me. But I will tell all in time.

I hope all you crafty ladies are happy and healthy and full of wondrous creativity, as you were when I left.

Little grey

Happy Tuesday ladies and thank you for your lovely responses to my previous post!

 

Well all the decs are now gone :( . I'm always sad to see my tree go but actually it is sort of nice to get back to normal. The boy is totally blissed out with his presents, especially THE Lego camper van. It was the only thing he has evr asked for, as he usually says that he will be happy with anything Santa brings (yes he still believes in Santa!!). This Lego set is for a 16 plus years so we thought it may take him a few days to finish.....

 

Lego camper van - the beginning.....

 

 

Five hours of solid Lego-ing later.....

 

So all done in just five hours. Now he just spends a lot of time looking at it!

 

But enough of the Lego! Let's get to the really interesting part, which is about what I have been making!!

 

We got a new baby boy in the family a few months ago and I decided to make a blanket (no surprises there). What I did though was to try out a different colourway. This blanket is grey and a sort of off-white and I think it looks rather Scandinavian. I love it but I'm not sure the new mama likes it so much...ah well. What do you think?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Have a lovely week! xx

 

Oops! Forgot to say that the basic hearts pattern came from here at  Ravelry

Next year...

OK, so it's been a stressful week...

The gifts you lovingly handmade for friends and family...

didn't go down quite as you'd hoped....

and then the family gathers for lunch...

and the in-laws arrive...

things get a little crazy...

It is enough to make you...

Don't worry, next year will be different.

Next year I will be ready...

Happy 2013 everyone!

Peace on earth

I just wanted to pop in briefly to wish each of you blessings for the season and I am parcularly thinking of those who are alone and those who are parted from loved ones at this time.

Love and peace for 2013 xxx

Here come the girls!

Hello crafty ladies!

 

First of all I would like to extend a huge thank you to all you lovelies who left such warm and encouraging comments on my last post - much appreciated!

 

Secondly, I have been crafting madly and have something to show for it. I have quite a stash of vintage fabrics and I have some gorgeous little girls in my family. Add them together and you get an idea I had for some cloth dollies. As you may know, I love cloth dolls of all shapes and sizes and yet I have never made one before. Soooo, I did lots of research and had some ideas and came up with these girls....

  

I got ideas from various doll makers online but ultimately just made my own pattern from a sketch and then embroidered the faces freehand so they just evolved! (To be honest, I think one of these dollies is a bit of an ugly sister but hey, it is the beauty within that counts so she is staying!).

 

I sewed the dolls by hand and it was pretty quick really. The hair took AGES though (which is why I am not keen on beheading 'homely' dolly and giving her a make-over). I have pulled at the hair all over to ensure that it is pretty much little-girl-proof.

 

The boy was quite impressed despite them not being made of Lego. He named the one above (with the Scandinavian look) Lizzie, which I think suits her just fine. She is going all the way to South Africa where I hope she will be much loved and played with. I got a sneaking feeling that the boy quite wanted to keep her but then he manned up and asked for a Boy Scout doll!!!

 

Anyway, I have been enjoying all your lovely Christmassy posts and will be back soon, hopefully with something to show. If not, then that is ok too!

 

Have a lovely week xxx