Inspirational Colours

I have an Ikea tray in my Kitchen behind the sink it sits....

The new yarn I am working with, Caron Simpy Soft, Aran weight and super soft and not as stretchy as some acrylics this one is more cotton like, has all the colour almost exactly so i will be making a stripy blanket with these shades

What stitch to use?..... 

Poppy's Retreat

Poppy's retreat was a fab experience we had a wonderful time and laughed all weekend the food was plentiful and fabulous, the group wonderful and so much fun

Thanks for asking me Helen and Peter and Poppy of course to be your crochet designer for the 3 day event

Chris a friend and student for the weekend,  modelling my Camper coat at the retreat at....

Poppy's Holmfirth 

a fab crochet retreat we had a blast

a riot of colour hey?

As was the weekend we filled the crochet lounge with every colour going 

 Louise and one of the fabulous bowls made by the hubby of one of the group Janet

Made for Poppy's Holmfirth

 some part made motifs 

 Kathryn Middleton..affectionately know as the Duchess  lol

Update: I'm just adding this a fabulous Poppy's motif being made into a blanket by Lorelle, love it

The girls and boys from RUNNING STITCHES.

If you follow my blog you will already know that Anne Purdham an on line friend on Facebook and who runs the Facebook group RUNNING STITCHES asked if she could use one of my flower patterns, she had made and wore a flower bra in the race and was on the cover of a local newspaper last year, with a fabulous picture. 

I told her the pattern and all rights was hers and the groups to use in what ever way they could to raise a few extra pounds for the race, some donated and bought a copy of the pattern and made their own flower bras, some bought the pattern and made pairs of flowers for those who didn't crochet and sold them......

But didn't they do well? I hope Stylecraft yarns will give them some publicity too as Stylecraft yarns were used for most of the flowers.....perfect yarn for that flowery bra don't you think?

I donated a the flower pattern to this group of girls and some boys called Running Stitches a few months ago, so they could sell the pattern and make the flowers to wear in the KIRSTE 5 MEMORIAL RACE......next year we have a new idea for the flowers...so watch this space!

The Kirste 5 race was yesterday and what a fabulous day they all have the sun shone and all the girls and boys and children and even a a dog or two raced, one call Benji wore his crochet Flowers with pride....the pattern and making of the Kirste 5 Flower raised a extra pound for the Charity......not exactly sure yet how much but i will add this figure when we know.

Some of the fantastic pictures I already have to share with you, what a line up girls...

ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS DARLINGS

Anne is number 33 crossing the finish line with her friend and I believe shaved a couple of minutes off her usual time..well done Anne

Even super woman Amanda Stevens was there complete with her flowers bra and head band

Benji ran too with his flower......he donated generously and and loved the race

 sorry girls don't have all your names yet but you all deserve a gold medal

we mustn't for get the running though....so impressed with you all well done and i promise to be there next year to cheer you all on.

 I think there was around 30 members of the group who took part complete with their flower bras.

this is Graham, Annes hubby, even he was game enough to wear Annes old flower bra from the yer before, she insists he was happy about it hehehe...well done Graham

I don't have all the names but i will add them as soon as i do and I'm sure there is going to be lots more pictures to come..some official ones too thanks to all, so pleased i could play a teeny tiny part in raising some extra pennies for this Fabulous cancer charity KIRSTE 5 MEMORIAL RACE

A piece about the Kirste 5 Memorial Race HERE from the ECHO Newspaper

FABULOUS FELTY FUN AT FIVE THIS MORNING

Dug out the CROCHET felted ropes and chains l made a few months back l have a few flowers and rings some where but where escapes me for now!!

Added the felt beads some wooden ones and crochet balls to the chain not sure how l would fix them all in place but definite potential!!

Embroidery and bead work needed to give some depth can see this will be an on going playtime!!

TUTORIAL ONLY NOTES REALLY!!

Been asked to do a tutorial for the felt beads....but they are so easy to make l was happily shocked!

There are lots of good tut's out there telling you very hot water is needed!!

l use barely warm water most of the time......microwaved it once to warm it up but found it worked just the same when cold...

But l did add quite a lot of Fairy washing up liquid to the mix..maybe a little too much but once l had made a jug full l wasn't going to waste it lol

Then l sat with a tray and kitchen roll for drips and a spoon to fish them out of the hot soapy mix but again a table spoon of soapy mix was more than enough for a single bead it really soaks it up fast so l added a wrapped roving bead to a spoonful of soap mix mostly

Next BE GENTLE....now that was important if you aren't the beads can get creases in them you can't get out...BUT you can cover with another layer of roving so not a loss if it happens

Tried different ways of making the soft dry bead shape but the most successful was to pull the roving into long strips and wind it like a tiny ball of wool...keep the ball even and then to make the stripe just wind a teeny tiny amount of what ever colour you want the stripe to be around the bead

Add soapy water as described and GENTLY massage to start to get the bubble going then roll between your hands in different directions

only takes a few minutes and the firmer it gets the harder you can press

Then rinse in cold water and roll again and leave to dry

and above all ave fun lol

Barbara..yep you can use gloves some think it helps with the agitation but lots of hand cream after work for me hehehe

PEBBLES BEADS AND RELAXING IN THE SUNSHINE

INSPIRATIONAL FELT BEADS..link to the artists in' Wonderful Creations' on side bar

What soapy fun l had today.....stripy beads are the results

A few small pebble beads...now what to make with them?

Sleeping on that one!!...great fun and real easy to make.....bit addictive though!

Mr T is one chilled out cat!!!

Relaxing on the end of the bed and taking the rays

We had another beautiful blue sky and lots of sunshine again today......although still cold and frosty

POLYVORE..fab new site to play with

New site to play with called POLYVORE where you create a new outfit fun site can see a lot of hours of playtime here hehe...Thanks A Bun Can Dance for a fab link not quite worked everything out yet but already had fun xx

FAB AUCTION LAST NIGHT THANKS KAZ

Had a great time and thanks again Kaz for telling me all about the auction stayed till about 8.45 to see what a couple of bigger items went for...if l hadn't spent up this month (shed etc) l would have spent a lot more can't wait till the next one!...OOOOPS I'M HOOKED!

Managed to get all the enamel l wanted in 2 lots.......can't believe l went knowing what l wanted and there it all was....thanks Angel hehehe....

Not old enamel but it was exactly what l wanted for the kitchen and the shed storage

Enjoy the next 20 weeks James

sorry photo deleted

Not the best photo but James enjoying the next 20+ weeks now you have evenings and wkends off the hard bit is over now the fun really starts

ART FROM THE HEART WKEND...FAB TIME

didn't notice when l took it but Dy has a star over her head...A REAL STAR she is lol


santa insisted...hehehehe



Studio full of inspiration..l'll be back but l have decided to take the next couple of kits...so l can get my ART FROM THE HEART FIX...exciting



THANX THANX THANX THANX THANX THANX.....l've had a wonderful wkend with Dyan and friends....managed to go straight to the area Hornbeam but had to phone to find the studio and really got lost finding my BB (The Sherwood BB was brill)...now l know Harrogate intimately hehehehe

Started off with a christmas tree book and moved on the technics mirror (got to do a techniques weekend)...love Dy's products love her enthusiasm...my hero love her work

Then we did a christmas album a tin a jgsaw ATC and lots of techinques included so much info The studio is brill huge space filled with stunning work...a feast of information inspiration A TRUE TREASURE

Santa was very generous and l arrived home with lots of goodies to play with (that l know how to use aswell) and a small blue machine that l know will get lots and lots of crop use l'm sure..bit of a treat but it was on offer so santa insisted l had one...lol

The journey home should have been about 3hours...went great no probs on time sailed thought Leeds M62 no probs then l got onto the M6 junction 21 AND SPENT THE NEXT 2.30 Hrs getting to the next junction....ggggggggrrrrrrrrrrrr then off at junction 21 and well l wont bore you with my tour of every town in the area trying to find my way home....arrived about 11.30 and fell into bed after doing a 7.30hr journey...remind me never to go on the M6 again!!!

ADVENT CALENDAR....FINISH TODAY!

Not happy with the colour of the numbers on the b/w one and of course they are far too big so adding red ones and smaller should be finished today along with the pink/lime green one too and maybe even the 3rd bright colours one

Have a fun day all