Etsy Experiments

Another day...another stash issue. The fabric stash this time. I was still in the mood for a sorting out cupboards etc, in addition I was also looking for the little bag that contains the other bits for the sewing machine like the zipper foot and button hole maker etc. I suspected it was buried within the fabric stash somewhere. 

I had also taken the time this week to have a proper look at the Etsy website. I'd only really been on it when search results took me there but never stayed long. Anyway I have other reasons for investigating its potential but we'll not go into those today. However, I did discover that there are lots of people selling hand sewn finished items on it at various price levels. 

Well as two plus two equals eight, I added my fabric stash and Etsy together and began sewing. In short I produced these two items yesterday (made solely from things I already had, I am proud to say)...

The top one was made from a little Indian tunic that Child #2 wore to my friend's wedding about 5 years ago. I loved the colours and design so much that I couldn't throw it out so its been sat in the stash ever since (I really won't mind at all if it doesn't sell). The red one was just one of my Abakhan shopping trips from that long ago that I don't remember when or why I bought the fabric. At least it has a use now anyway.

So I listed the red cushion yesterday on Etsy...$0.20 for 4 months - much cheaper than Ebay anyway. They take 3.5% of the sale price which I think is reasonable too. We shall see what happens. Worst case is that I end up with a few more cushions I guess!

I know I wasn't suppose to start new projects yet but I am discounting the above as they were made to sell...so technically 'work'. ;-)

Oh...and I did find the sewing machine accessories too...result! 

Back soon.

Trick or Treat

The nest love Halloween. Child #1 likes the dressing up side of things the most - ever the theatrical one of the family! This is her (a Zombie school girl apparently)...

And this is her with her fellow trick or treaters before they left...

Child #2 likes the dressing up part (but chose to do this at a friend's house - typical of Child #2 so I don't have pictures!). She also went along the zombie school girl route - I guess its an obvious choice when you the majority of the outfit to hand every day.

Child #3  went for a more cheery look...

He's in this a little for the dressing up but mostly for the sweets! I took him and his friend out (in the rain!) for over an hour collecting sweets. They loved it. I don't remember much about Halloween from my own childhood...maybe it wasn't a big deal in the 80s or maybe its a north/south thing but people around here make an effort. Fairy lights in windows, pumpkins outside, cobwebs etc etc. Kids are welcomed by adults (of all ages) dressed up as witches and vampires with bowls of sweets or other such treats. There is a lovely atmosphere outside too created by little groups of children running from house to house, followed by less enthusiastic but generally happy parents keeping watch. Even the rain didn't dampen the spirit! 

So, once the sweets had begun to run out we went home, where Child #3 began the best part...eating the sweets! I too had a few left over from the supply I bought to give out...I 'might' share them.

Child #2 finally returned in the evening with a mountain of sweets (at the envy of child #3), I'm sure she will be sharing too though.  

After an hour, my favourite part of Halloween occurred...the sugar low. Child #3 sat, snuggled up, almost asleep and very very quiet. Happy Halloween!

The Stash

I love half term. I like all holidays, of course, because it means life slows down a bit for a while and we spend time, together and apart, doing the things we like rather than things we have to do. Half terms, however, tend to be more productive because they are only a week long, so we make the most of them.

The first thing I did yesterday was replace the zip in child #3's favourite ever PJs. These were a Christmas gift from his Auntie and he wore them as much as possible since the day he got them until they fell apart. It was nearly summer by then and getting a bit too warm for them so they sat on the shelf waiting to be repaired until yesterday. Replacing the zip was a little more complicated than I had anticipated but I got there in the end...

One happy dinosaur again...I think he got his PJs on at about 6pm yesterday too, without being asked to of course.

After lunch it was time to face a fear. I had put it off for as long as I could but I knew I had to do it. I took Child #3 back to the skate park! I think, despite pestering to go, even he was a little apprehensive about it. I sat watching him intently for the first 15 minutes but he was ok. He fell off once just turning a corner but got straight back on. We stayed for 90 minutes, even by the end of it, every time he went up the ramp he fell off a week ago my heart missed a beat and my stomach flipped. He was fine, obviously, and this time we drove back home without a detour to A&E.

I was in the mood for a bit of a sort out yesterday and consequently, after fixing the zip in the morning, I sorted out the little basket that sits on the shelf with cotton reels, tape measures, pins, buttons etc. This then led to sorting out the sewing box (because I had to put some stuff from the basket into it), and then this led to sorting out the 'work in progress' box because I knew there were things in there that were from finished items rather than in progress ones. While I was at it I decided I may as well round up a few similar things from around the house (like the left over Emily Peacock kit supplies etc etc). Inevitably this resulted in a few bags of wool that needed a home in the stash cupboard. Here I hit a problem. There was no room (whatsoever!) in the stash cupboard.

I figured I could just do one shelf, which would then make enough space for these new items. It didn't wok, there was only one solution...to sort it all out. So this is it...this is 'The Stash'. This may also help you understand why I think I may have hoarding issues...

Child #3 was minding his own business (writing his Christmas list with aid of toy adverts) however he looked over when I took the above pictures.

"What are you doing?"

"Just sorting out my wool."

"Why is it all over the floor?"  (having wandered over and looked at it properly)  "AND WHY DO YOU HAVE SO MUCH??!!!"

"Er...well...I..er"

"Do you want me to help?"   "Because you can't do THIS on your own, can you?!"

"That would be great"

"...right then" (as he stood there looking confused, scratching his head and frowning)

It was one of those 'who is the child and who is the adult moments'. Child #3 and I often find ourselves in this situation, stood by lots of mess, not knowing where to begin, but its usually in his bedroom facing stacks of toy cars or lego. This one was new.

So I explained the principal - that we were going to bag it all up so that wool of the same type was together. He was a little confused about wool type to begin with - i.e. surely cream wool is just cream wool...why did it go into different bags but he now understands the concept of cheap wool and expensive wool, and he loves the feel of mohair (luckily I managed to convince him a mohair scarf was really not the thing for boys to wear in the end). He was genuinely a big help and I think he did quite enjoy it...

Within an hour or so it was all sorted, and nicely fitted back into the cupboard! So now I am on a strict wool buying ban (unless it is solely to use up existing wool)...let's see how long that lasts...I know my weaknesses!

Right...I'm off to knit then.

Cath Kidston Shoulder Bag

I really was on a roll yesterday. After I finished telling you about the cushion and tunic I carried on sewing. Do you remember when I bought these?...

Well, the 'Sew!' book came with a kit to make the little bag featured on the cover. Consequently the remainder of yesterday was spent making it. It didn't take too long either (which is good for someone that has 'issues' with finishing things). At 3pm it looked like this...

These were taken between sometime before 5pm...

I stopped for some dinner and then finished the whole thing, apart from the button holes by 7pm. I decided to do the button holes by hand partly because I knew that finding the right bits for the sewing machine would be a mission given the current state of the stash cupboard. This is where everything goes - I say everything, but its currently full to the brim and therefore everything that doesn't fit is scattered around the house somewhere. I occasionally worry that when I'm old I will end up on one of those hoarder fly-on-the-wall documentary things, having to climb in and out of rooms containing bags of wool, fabric, paper, buttons, beads and anything else I that I cannot bear to part with, stacked to the ceiling. I do hope not anyway!

So, back to the bag, by about 9 ish it was finished...

I was quite proud. I don't do that much sewing because I'm often too lazy to get the sewing machine out and faff about with things when I can, instead, just grab some wool and a hook or needle and get going but I think I should make the effort to do more. They do make for quick 'finish in a day' projects too!

In Bloom Cushion

Look...!

It's finished,  whole 2 months ahead of target! I admit that I did get a little obsessed with finishing it though (noted by Child #1 'that's all you ever do these days!'...a little harsh I felt really, I did go to work, eat and sleep too!) Anyway, that's another finished project and now my two Emily Peacock cushions nicely brighten up my window seat..

However, not only did I finish the cushion but, since I had the sewing machine out, I figured it would be a good time to finish this one too...

Always handy to have a new summer top when snow is predicted I find! (Serves me right for leaving it unfinished for 4 months I suppose)...I'll just have to layer it for the winter!

Right, I'm off to carry on being productive...on a roll it seems. 

See you soon.

Hooks and Ripples

Hello! Well a whole week has passed since my last update and I'm pleased to say that Child #3 has almost completely recovered and is pestering to get back to the skate park. We don't have many plans for this half term yet but I will muster the courage to take him back there at some point I'm sure.

This week has been busy but thankfully I now get a week off to do what I like with. Work was a little stressful due to the end of year audit but despite a last minute hiccup it all went ok.

To keep myself sane during the audit I did make sure that I spent a bit of time each evening working on either the 'In Bloom' kit (which will be finished way before Christmas now) or my new project. I was itching to start this one since the Knitting and Stitching show when I bought this gorgeous, soft and bright Alpaca wool...

It was only £2.20 a ball from a little company called 'The Crochet Chain' in Essex. They have also been really helpful since then when I need to buy a bit more, so I will definitely be using them again.

Another reason I wanted to start this one was to try out my new hooks. When I learnt to knit about 5 years ago I initially used metal needles but then saw some bamboo ones in the shop and had to have them. Since then I've never knitted with anything other than wooden needles. When I started crocheting this year I went and bought some wooden hooks however someone told me that metal hooks are easier, especially with the smaller sizes, but I still didn't want to hold a metal hook. Then I found these at the show...

Best of both! Having tested them out I do agree that the metal hooks are nicer to use too. I didn't have a specific design in mind for the new wool and I did spend a bit of time on Ravelry trying to find some inspiration but in the end I decided to do some more ripples with this one too. It's just such a relaxing and therapeutic pattern and I wanted to perfect it too as the ripple blanket does have a few mistakes (especially at the start!).

I made a start, but it will take a while as I'm using a 2.5mm hook so these ripples are much smaller but so far so good...

I will keep you posted with our half term antics this week...keep reading!

BMX 1 : Child #3 0

Well the day started well. It was sunny and warm for this time of year and consequently I was awake quite early but the wonders of technology mean that I can do my weekly shop under the warmth of my duvet at 7:15am while I wait for the heating to come on at 8 ish.  I was feeling quite organised today and 3 of us were out shopping in Chester by 10am with quite a random list to buy. Cushion inners, a bread knife, and beads amongst other things.

I promised child #3 that we would shop in the morning and BMX in the afternoon so while he ate cheese on toast I managed to finish this (that's why I needed beads)...

So there it is...another finished project. This does mean, of course, that I can now begin another (I finished the Vivod decoupage too remember). The next project will use the rather gorgeous Alpaca wool I bought last week which I have been itching to use ever since then.  I just need to decide exactly what I am doing with it but I think it will be another crochet project.

After lunch, with new wool in tow and a BMX, child #3 and I set off to the usual skate park where I knit/read etc and he throws himself off ramps. Literally today. All was good...I watched him riding around, in between testing crochet patterns and talking to the rest of the nest by text. All was good until child #3 misjudged the ramp, and landed head/face first on the concrete almost under the bike and apparently knocked himself out briefly. Within 20 mins we were both in an ambulance back to Chester...child #3 far less impressed by this ambulance than he normally would be by emergency vehicles. Smiling was clearly not going to feature any time soon either....

No smiling....sympathy please!

We spent a couple of hours in A&E...not bad really I guess. I think we would have waited less had child #3 not concerned the staff by falling asleep so much and refusing to smile or walk unless coaxed into it! So the rest of the day was taken up by child #3 reading and reiterating the 'Head Injury (child) Information' leaflet the doctor gave him to anyone that would listen. His somewhat superficial grazing also seems to have earned him explicit use of the TV over his sisters - which he is milking entirely. He also, of course, has me wrapped around his little finger and attending to his every need...and then some.

Boys will be boys I guess!