Spooky Goings On... How To Make a Wreath

It's October and nearly time for Halloween. It seems to be getting bigger and bigger each year, though we sadly don't get any trick our treaters down our street. I thought I'd make a wreath with this lovely  spooky fabric, bright orange with black pumpkins and black with sparkly silver cobwebs. I also picked up some orange ribbon with black bats.

I had some black pipe cleaners in with my felting stash so borrowed them for this project too and some small wire clippers so I could clip the pipe cleaners in half to use as wires to connect the fabric to the wreath base.

I scrunched up a strip of orange and black fabric and tightly wrapped a pipe cleaner around it.

The wreath base I used has 2 concentric circles, so I connected my little wrapped 'bows' each circle, packing them in quite tightly.

To sit on my wreath and add the spookiness, I wanted a big spider. I made 2 pom poms, tied them together and trimmed the bigger one to make it flatter underneath. I used my glue gun to stick 4 long pipe cleaners to be my spiders 8 legs and 2 large googly eyes. I used yarn to tie the spider to the wreath and hid the knot under the fabric 'bows'.

A long piece of ribbon tied to the frame as a hanging loop and a few more pieces to make bows. I'm really pleased with how it's turned out.

It's actually quite heavy, the frame I used was 14 inches, so quite big.

I thought as I'm talking Halloween, I'd show you these lovely pumpkins and gourds, all different shapes and colours, they make good decorations.

Anyone else making any halloween preparations?

Take care
xxx

Holidays are Here

School finished here on Friday, over a week before Christmas. I do think it's a bit early, I'd rather have the holiday start a little later then return back to school a little later too. I can imagine having little ones to entertain this coming week before Father Christmas visits, could make it a long week. Imogen is 14 so I'm not needed much now days when it comes to entertaining! I'm hoping we'll be doing some baking together during the week, maybe watch a couple of films together and I think we may treat ourselves to lunch out one afternoon as well.

When we drop Imogen off at her drama group this afternoon, it's going to be a trip to the supermarket to pick up a turkey, gammon joint and some other bits and pieces. Hmmm, I usually try to avoid Saturday afternoons at the supermarket, but it needs to be done.

I have been doing some more felting. I made another couple of trees to stand with the one I made last week.

I made a wreath, not a Christmas one. I'd made a hedgehog and needed somewhere for him to sit.

I covered a polystyrene wreath with roving then played about making little flowers.

It took a few evenings and I'm not sure if I'll still add some more flowers to it.

I don't think I'll be doing much more crafting between now and Christmas. I do miss having a bigger project on the go like a blanket, it's nice in the evening to have a bit of crochet or knitting to pick up, but I'll have to wait until after next week to sort something out.

Right then, off to face the hoards at the shops...

Take care
xxx

Halloween Felting

I'd like to thank my new followers for following me, it's always good to see that people are interested, just like when I receive a comment, it never fails to make me smile. I have a very quiet life really, struggle quite a bit with my disability and day to day tasks, so it makes me feel like I have friends out there in the big wide world. Not that I would want you to think for a moment that having a quiet life doesn't mean that it's not also a very happy one, content to share my life with my family, I've always been a very homely girl and feel I am very lucky in so many ways.

Anyway... I had a lovely delivery through the post the other day.

It was very well packaged

Lots of lovely bulbs. A couple of packs of Alliums, some tiny Snowdrops, Tulips and a free packet of Crocus bulbs.

Straight into the garden and the Crocus bulbs have been planted. Andy also dug up our Hot Lips as its getting a bit large for the bed and moved it into a pot, I hope it continues to thrive, it has such beautiful flowers.

On the crafting front, I've been busy doing some felting. A little kit for Halloween.

 I sat with it on a tray on my lap, stabbing away with my needles. It's very rhythmic and therapeutic, as long as you keep your fingers out of the way!

A little wreath for Halloween, a couple of pumpkins with leaves on a vine.

It was made in an evening. Firstly the wreath, the leaves are cut out of felt, a small piece of string to hang it with.

It's hanging in the middle of the mantle.

It's made me want to do some more felting, though I think I may have to buy some new needles first as I had a couple of snaps.

Take care
xxx

Change in the Weather?

It has been so unseasonably warm, I wish we'd waited a bit longer to change to the winter duvet. Instead of snuggling up under the quilts, I'm throwing open the windows and sticking a leg out the side to cool down... what's that all about?

The weather boffins say it won't last though and things are set to start cooling down. So here's my winter snowman wreath

I've seen a few christmas wreaths with these lovely snowballs. This is inspired completely by the wonderful Sarah and her blog Repeat Crafter Me. She makes such gorgeous things and is very generous sharing her patterns too.

Having a wander around town, I spotted this lovely cookbook from Nigel Slater... nourishing for the soul as well as the body...

It's the second volume of his kitchen diaries, definitely a curl up by the fire and read kind of book

I'm certainly ready for it to get a bit colder (hope I don't regret saying that), lots of hearty winter recipes ready to try out... and Christmas... well I just love Christmas...

Take care
xxx

A little more Christmas and a Bunny.

It always seems like there're weeks to pass until Christmas, then before we know it, it's just a couple and I still have lists of things to do. Oh how I wish I could be more organised, maybe that should be my thing to work on next year.

I'm trying to keep a bit more on top of things and last night made a little something for Imogen's stocking, and here's another Christmas wreath.

Not such traditional colours this time. I really like it, especially the big pom poms. I enjoy making them as it's easy to whip up without thinking about it too much!

 I have to show you my new little bunny rabbit.

 It's just so sweet (perhaps because it's really meant for a child) and sits on my hearth.

In an evening when the lamps are turned on, flames put on the fire and candles lit, he sits and glows.

Adding to the cosy feeling in these cold winter evenings.

Have a lovely weekend, keep nice and warm.


Take care
xxx

Staggeringly Beautiful

Should I apologise for that title, oops, I couldn't resist it!

I am very excited about this though

I do rather like stag heads, and had my beady eye on a lovely wooden one for the conservatory last year, but was unfortunately vetoed by my hubby as he really doesn't like them.

Then he saw this little one, actually a Christmas decoration, and swooped it up for me. I love it and he sits proudly above my door so every time I lift my head up I see him and smile, even Andy is growing to like him!

I've been busy crocheting a new wreath for Christmas. A nice simple one with just a bit of Christmas ribbon.

I should be making more for Christmas, I'm starting to feel a bit overwhelmed by how many things I should be doing. I have started a hat, but I'm not sure yet if I'm going to like it, have to see how it goes.

I did have a moment of extravagance the other day... it was a special offer, end of line. There wasn't much left and it looked a bit lonely, so home with me it came.

Not sure yet what it's purpose will be

Something warm and cosy.

Take care
xxx

Circles

Thank you for all your lovely comments wishing Imogen well, it's so lovely to think so many people who we've never met have sent such kind wishes. Also, thank you for the lovely comments about my chair, I was blown away by them, thank you for being so kind and encouraging and such lovely people.

So... as well as going round in circles, spending the afternoon with Imogen in hospital having her leg brace removed and a cast put on instead, I also appear to be making them!

I gave you a peek a while ago

 I'm really pleased with how it turned out

This flower was an extra one from a throw I made a while ago.

 It was so simple to make and such a good way to use up oddments of yarn. I'm planning to make another one with felt flowers soon.


My lovely husband recently bought me a copy of Natalie Clegg's Hip Crochet. It's a lovely book and has lots of very do able projects in it.

 I've been feeling very inspired by all the gorgeous crochet doilies I've seen in blogs and the internet, so this seemed like a good place to start.

It's a beautiful gypsy table cloth, but I've used the pattern motif and just made one, a doily. I love it and plan to make more in the future and join them to make a runner.

I definitely want to make more doilies, I was surprised how quickly it made up (I have yet to block it) as I had visions of a tiny hook and many painstaking hours with fine cotton... my eyes aren't as good as they were! But it's 4ply cotton which still makes delicate looking work.


Take care
xxx

Christmas countdown and sticky fingers!

Hello, how is everyone? Thank you for all the well wishes, I have my girl back home again. She had a wonderful time dry skiing, canoeing, rock climbing, shelter building, night orienteering and more! Not bad for a primary school trip! Unfortunately she was very poorly when she came home, but is feeling much better now :)

Is everyone busy making preparations for Christmas? I've been busy making some bits and pieces, though unfortunately my to do list is far longer than my actually achieved list (and I have a feeling it may always be that way)!

I bought a gorgeous little owl yesterday, I just wish I could have another one facing the other way as they would make such a lovely pair.

We've put our wreaths up near to Imogen's countdown (27 days, though only a couple until she can have her advent calendars).

Imogen was helping me with another project I'm doing, and Daddy decided that she was missing out an important childhood experience... Do you remember getting sticky fingers at school using glue and peeling it off like a second skin? Well Andy went the whole way and painted Imogen's hand with glue...

I'm afraid I was a bit of a spoilsport and it was washed off before it had a chance to dry properly (because he coated it with so much) because it was teatime!

Maybe another time :)

Take care
xxx