Weaving tips — making tassels
Obviously these little tassels are useful in various crafting situations, not only in weaving, but I decided to post these for the DIY weaving project.
Weaving tips — making knots
Whether you have purchased my little weaving kit, or are just doing your own thing, at some point you will probably need to join 2 threads together. This little video clip illustrates a very simple and neat way to do that. You can leave the 2 ‘tails’ a little longer if you wish and then neatly weave them into the back of your work when you’ve finished — or otherwise you can trust in the strength of this knotting method and snip off the little ‘tails’ whilst the work is still in progress.
The kit for this mountain inspired weaving is available in my Etsy store at the following address:
DIY twig weaving kit
DIY arty bag for kids or adults
I have really enjoyed doing a trial run for this carrying case as it brings back fond memories of when my daughter was small. She had one of these for those occasions when either we went visiting ‘adults’ or when we went to a restaurant where she preferred to doodle rather than eat. I reckon this idea saved a lot of restaurant tablecloths from getting scribbled on!
This sewing project is a bit more complex than most of the kits I have produced — it takes a bit more skill, though a novice stitcher will probably cope well enough if they take it slowly, one step at a time. If there is some help to hand, all the better.
Basically the kit consists of all the elements needed to produce a simple carrying case for some paper, some coloured pens and a few pencils. Of course, for the painter or sketcher, the spaces will be useful for the appropriate tools. All the pieces of printed cotton fabric and felt are pre-cut and labelled — you’ll find a zip for the pencil case; some yarn for the tassel, and if you ask at the time of purchase — either a cross-stitch chart or a set of felt letters to personalise the bag with the name of your choice.
For more details follow this link >>>
Some of the other colour choices as you can see in the gallery below.
Orange & green with ladybugs
Grey melange with forest friends
Red & green with owls
Personalise with a name
Discount coupon
So even though the Spring Sale is over, I think I have yet to meet someone who doesn’t like a bit of a bargain, so maybe this will be of interest to you. Using the coupon code HAPPYCHOICE2020 you can get yourself a 10% discount in my Etsy store on the item (or items) of your choice. Just add in the code at checkout to benefit. As the code suggests, it is valid for 2020, so keep it safe somewhere, just in case!
Go for it >>> HAPPYCHOICE2020
Mamma Cool
As something a bit different, I have created this sweet little Afro-theme ornament. I just love her beaded dreadlocks and bright multi-strand bead necklace.
I have prepared about a dozen kits for anyone who might be interested in a simple sewing and crafting project. All the textiles used are original African printed cotton fabrics which have been recycled for these kits. Personally I associate black people with a vibrant and colourful cultural background, so I hope I have managed to capture this in this little doll.
Christmas elf & Miss Pumpkin
Might seem totally out of season right now, but oddly enough, these little kits are proving to be popular during this moment of ‘closure’ and uncertainty. Quite a few people have been turning to creative activities as a source of calm — even those who wouldn’t normally pick up a needle and thread, have taken on simple projects as an escape from distressing news and an uncertain future.
These little kits are ok for young stitchers too — maybe with a little help from someone more experienced, so if you want to know more, follow the link to my Etsy page for pricing details of the kit contents.
Click for Miss Pumpkin kit details >>>
Click for Christmas elf kit details >>>
Specs’ keepers renewed
The biggest surprise of the past couple of weeks has been the interest in my specs’ keepers. They are one of those accessories which disappear off the scene for awhile, and then for no apparent reason — return. And that’s what’s happened, and I have found myself stringing beads for hours on end for this seemingly simple creation.
Not that they are difficult to make, but when you no longer have nimble fingers, can be very fiddly and a source of great frustration, plus the occasional cuss, especially when — as happened to me today — all the beads fly off the thread into every corner of the room. Would you believe I have just found a dozen beads caught up in my hair too!
So for those who are looking to keep their goggles to hand, back in my Etsy store, as of today, a couple of new summery colours, and as usual, the possibility to contact me with your own colour choice. Use the personalisation box on the listing page to let me know.
Coffee pot sewing kit
At long last I have managed to add a couple more of these sewing kits to my Etsy store. This particular kit has been surprisingly popular — partly because of its simplicity that even a beginner can handle quite confidently, but also because of the mix of different elements and methods required to complete it.
Anyway, for those of you looking for a fun project — maybe even as a gift for someone — here’s the link to the Etsy listing…
Felt Dala horse
Many of us have become aware over the past couple of months, either through personal observation or via the media coverage, that the period of lockdown seems to have had a positive effect on our environment. Animals have been leaving their natural habitats to venture into city centres, no longer clogged up with traffic and pollution — and have provided a spectacle that very few of us have ever seen before, and are unlikely to ever see again. We have seen levels of pollution drop (though I fear only temporarily) and for those attuned to these changes, the air will have seemed sweeter and the skies much clearer.
Whether it has something to do with the current coronavirus problem and the changes mentioned above, that I can’t say, but certainly I have been feeling a need to simplify my life and remove some of the ‘sophistication’. I’ve been looking for greater contact with the ‘basics’, doing away with empty ambitions which only take me further from my roots and the people and things I love most.
Sadly, I can’t just retire to the woods and ignore all my connections with modern society — but I can concentrate more time on those creative activities which soothe my soul. Strangely enough, technology features quite importantly in these activities, because it has given me a way to connect with family and friends and to admire and be inspired by the creativity of people around the world.
So using this new world as a starting point, I will be applying myself to newly found handcrafts — and honing my skills in old favourites. Here’s hoping that there will be occasions to share them with new and old friends both virtually, and in person.
Red rose of San Marco
A special day in Venice today — not only is it the day that Italians celebrate their Liberation at the end of WW2, but it is also the day for loved ones — a day to present your love with a red rose — ‘la festa di San Marco’ when under normal circumstances the city would be alive with courting couples walking the streets and when one of them at least would usually be holding or wearing a red rose bud.
This year, 2020, is a bit different since we are all living under a cloud of restrictions in an effort to stop any further spread of the coronavirus which has wreaked so much damage (and continues to do so) around the world, leaving thousands of lost lives in its wake — there will be no celebrations for either the Liberation nor loved ones.
So here is my offering — a red rose for you to stitch. Not an easy pattern, but the time it will take to complete it will undoubtedly remind you of these difficult times. Pick up your pattern and colour chart from the download link below.
Rose heart cross-stitch
1 file(s) 15.42 MB
Made by Hand
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