WOYWW

 Good morning all!

This week I am sharing a few more twiddle muffs with my WOYWW friends and anyone else who pops in to see what I am up to.

The very lovely LLJ gave me a big bagful of chunky yarn which I have been putting to good use in making some Christmas/Winter themed Twiddlers.

I shall pop them up to the hospital once, or should I say "if" lockdown ends.

I thought they might cheer someone over the festive period - especially if they have to stay in hospital with few visitors.

And then, I found a lovely pattern...

https://www.lovecrafts.com/en-gb/p/busy-little-bears-knitting-pattern-by-dollytime

I made one of the little bears - she is about 5 inches tall and has been standing guard by my sewing machine. 

Admittedly it hasn't seen much action. My latest attempt at making a Christmas card was a near failure when I managed to stitch a little collage to the front of a CLOSED card, rendering card and almost the collage useless!! Brain fade due to lack of real creativity in lockdown, I think.

I won't give up! I keep dabbling and one day I WILL come up with some worthwhile cards but I may be at it for some time. lol.

I hope you are all keeping safe and well. There still seems to be far too much Covid going round.

All we can do is follow the rules.

xx Jo

WOYWW

 Good morning to all my lovely WOYWW buddies and anyone else who drops in to see what I have been up to this week.

It seems to have been quite a busy crafty week with one thing and another.

I will whizz through my photos so you can see what has been keeping me busy.

Max wanted some beige cashmere scraps dyeing so that she can use them to add to her felted artwork.

So, I brewed up a panful of green dye for the largest amount and then had a light bulb moment for the small amounts. I popped them in a small microwave pot with water/dye and gave them a quick 3 minute blast in the microwave. Perfect! Quick, easy and little mess. I shall be doing that again.

I made the little net bags to pop them in so that I could fluff them up with the hair drier and then leave them to dry overnight in the  airing cupboard. That way I didn't  end up with multi-coloured fluff scattered everywhere!

Here are the results...

Next, I had to make a new baby girl card  and a boy's birthday card .....

The designs are fabric. The dinosaur is just cut out from a piece of printed fabric and each piece is Bondawebbed onto the background. The elephant is my own design with a hand embroidered name.

And lastly my latest twiddlemuffs. Just in case you don't know about them. I make them for patients suffering from dementia up at our local hospital. They are good for keeping hands busy and to hopefully stimulate a conversation. They are easy to knit and I like to create colourful ones with a theme - hence this week we have seascapes, a flower garden and Shrewsbury Town Football club.

If anyone has a friend or family member who would like one let me know.

AND last but not least, the lovely LLJ sent me a huge bagful of chunky yarn to use up for twiddler making.

It's totally brilliant and will keep me going for months! Thanks lots Jan - you are a treasure.

Well that's it for this week.

Keep well and stay safe.

xx Jo

WOYWW

Just a little twiddlemuff to share with you this week.

I still have loads of chunky yarn oddments to use up so I went back to a favourite seaside theme for this one. I rather like the little crochet fish and the tentacles dangling out of the fishing net. 

I don't want it to be scary to a confused soul so I didn't add further details to the "creature". 

I have posted a few lavender bags out to those who said they might like them. I hope they arrive safely and that you enjoy the fragrance!

Have a good week all.

xx Jo

WOYWW

Today we are "in the pink"!

I picked a tiny posy of sweet peas as a little birthday celebration photo for LLJ and also in memory of our Mum who would have been 99 this week. Both ladies love sweet peas. Their fragrance filled my kitchen and it really was just a few stems.

I've made a few more masks for family and friends. Now we are wearing them for outings/shops etc we will all need one to wear and one to wash and a spare one in case we are caught short (lol I'm not sure that's really what I mean!)

My latest twiddler is a lovely rosy pink affair with bobbles, hearts and flowers. Plenty to twiddle and stroke.

And lastly - why is it that my nails grow beautifully during July and then it is a all downhill after that, as they split and look a real mess by the Autumn?

So that's my "pink" for today.

The year is ticking by too fast. It is unlikely that we will be able to meet up at a WOYWW get together anytime soon. We will have to make do with our desk share each Wednesday.

I hope everyone is well and keeping safe.

xx Jo

WOYWW

A really quick post today to show you 4 cheery twiddlemitts all ready to go to our local hospital

I took a bagful last week and had a hilarious time trying to park in the drop off zone...

The only parking space was a very tight one and I squeezed my car into it and opened my door. It was a really tight squeeze and as I tried to ease myself out of the car, I dropped my car keys.

So, I had a minutes panic when I thought I couldn't get out and neither could I move my car as the keys had fallen under the car beside me!!

Luckily, I manged to squeeze sideways out of the car and ease my fat bum through the gap. It was even trickier bending down to pick up the keys. I bet the folks on CCTV had a good giggle!

That's it for this week. Sorry it's so short.

Have a great week everyone. I hope the gales are not too fierce where you are.

xx Jo

WOYWW

Good morning all.
The magic porridge pot that is my wool bag has suddenly been replenished!
I can't resist a bargain - the random wool was on sale and it's perfect for my twiddle mitts, so, I stocked up ready for when I have a dull moment and feel the need to twiddle.
Also, Annie sent me a link to the stork/flamingo pattern. I thought they were cute so may give it a go.

I just wish I had snapped a picture of my desk last Friday.

Max needed a costume for a 90s party so she came here, armed with a bag of fabric.
It was a delight to see her set to  and create a wonderful skirt with flouncy net edging and big glitzy bow. She used an old skirt as a pattern - sketched what she wanted and the using her fabric - and my stash and machine, created the perfect outfit to wear with my favourite 90s shoes!

Of course, I had fun looking after Ben and just popped in now and then to give -  technical advice.

It's lovely to see how she works - don't know where she gets it from- !

We had a chuckle  because she said "That's the dress I drew when I was 9 - remember when I said I wanted to be a dress designer and we made up a company called "Sprint and Sparkle".
Maybe that's where Tilly Tea Dance will go next!

Have a great week all.
I will be round to check out my WOYWW buddies desks later.

xx Jo

WOYWW

Good morning to all my blogger friends - WOYWW or others. Thank you for popping in to see what I have been up to.

Maybe you will remember that Annie put a picture on her blog last week,  of me sorting through some lovely fabric samples Margaret sent us.

We challenged each other to come up with a few different items.
I did manage a little afternoon crafting one day last week and this is what I came up with.

It's an A5 journal cover...…

I have lots more little pieces so I need to get my head round a few other items - I bet Annie has been busy and probably has made loads of lovely things - you know what she is like!!!

This is the latest bagful of twiddlers for the local hospital.

And here are some of my Chocolate orange Christmas pud covers - all ready to donate to the charity that Graham does voluntary work for. They made a useful amount of money by selling             them last year.

The tiny, beady stars are Christmas decorations made and given to me by one of my oldest buddies. We called to see her in Ruthin yesterday and she showed me lots of amazing crafty items that she had been busy with. She is a quilter so had a beautiful baby quilt and a fab tweedy quilt which looked so cosy. Pity I didn't think to take photos!!

So that's what has kept me out of mischief recently.

I hope you are all well and keeping cosy in this chilly weather.

Have a great week.

xx Jo

WOYWW

Good morning all.

I took a few quick snaps on my workdesk yesterday before my playmates arrived - I have to snatch my moments these days!!

So, today you can see some of the little inspiration packs that I made up for Tilly Tea Dance workshops. She has had lovely feedback from everyone. I think they all appreciate having created a finished, mounted and framed needle-felted work of art by the end of the session.
Then, Max gives them all a tiny pack of useful bits and bobs - rovings, yarn, curls, silky bits etc ready to use next time they pick up their new hobby!
It's fun choosing toning colours to pop in each little bag.....

Lastly, here are the latest twiddlemuffs ready to go to the hospital for use with patients suffering from Alzheimer's. Annie gave me some little letter tags and dominoes which I stitched on a few of them. Also if you look carefully there is one of her tiny blue bears peeking out of a pocket!
Thanks lots Annie!!

So, that's it for this week.

I hope you are all well and enjoying what appears to be the last bit of the lovely weather.

xx Jo

WOYWW - April 5th

Good morning all - and a beautiful, sunny April morning it is too!
I love this time of year - everything is beginning to grow and blossom.
The swallows are back - well I saw just one on March 31st, so they are here somewhere.
The robin sings his little heart out from about 6am till 7am each morning.

AND today is April 5th - the day we celebrate the life of a very special Dad who we lost 28 years ago.
On my table is the beautiful carved owl he made for me - one of three, as he made one for Mum and Annie too. He was the best Dad anyone could wish for and a great role model in how to live our lives and how to treat others. He holds very special place in our hearts.

AND lastly here are my ten twiddle mitts ready to go to a new home.
If anyone wants one, let me know. Otherwise they will go to somewhere local.
What do you call a host of twiddle mitts?
A twoddle? A twizzle?
I have had fun trimming them up with chunky hand stitches etc.
Never a dull moment when there is a twiddle muff to trim!

Have a fab week all you WOYWWers.

x Jo

WOYWW

 Good morning all - welcome to my offering for WOYWW today!

As you can see, the old knitting needles have been busy twiddlemuffing. I was given lots of lovely wool, so I decided to use it for a  few more of these little mitts - they will be going to the local hospital for use with patients who have dementia.

AND this is is going to be one of six little patches in the centre of a cot quilt. It is my first attempt at this sort of patchwork and I am really quite pleased with it. I am not usually very good at cutting and sewing accurately so it was quite a challenge for me. I hope I can manage five more without losing my patience!

Well that's it for today.
I am  having fun playing with Ben today.

Have a great week.

x Jo

WOYWW

Good morning all!
This is my desk today until Maxine arrives to sort and clear. She has had 2 fab days at Acton Scott and has 2 more this weekend - then we will get our room in order!

We really need to make space as she has this new toy to play on

We decided it would be handy if she had one of her own and I found this one on ebay. It is really brilliant and the seller packaged it perfectly and even included some books and some wool.

My only crafty activity for this week has been the finishing off of a couple of twiddlemuffs and some picture mounting for Tilly.

Well that's it for this week - I hope I can get round your desks a bit faster this week.
Thanks for calling by and leaving lovely comments.

Have a great week.

x Jo

WOYWW

Well who stole last week then?? It doesn't seem five minutes since I was posting myWOYWW post a week ago - Must be a sign of old age creeping up on me.

I seem to have had a busy time but not much crafting.
I blame the Olympics - watching it - not taking part -lol!

I treated Ben to a doll and a pushchair this week - he loves it - he's called Tom.
I thought a nappy and matching bib would be useful so spent a while making these two.
Note how girl centred dollies are - why don't they show a boy holding the bottle for dolly??

I have managed another Twiddlemuff and Annie delivered four to the local nursing home for me so hopefully they will be put to good use.

I have also been helping Tilly get together her latest shop stock.
This week she is working as "artist in residence" for a day at Acton Scott museum so that will be fun.

So, that's it for this week.

Thanks for calling by.
Have a great week.
x Jo

WOYWW

Well - at last, a bit of crafty activity from the Twiglet work desk!!

 

 Firstly, my wool rovings and yarns all laid out ready for wet felting.

I haven't done any wet felting for ages so it's fun to have a dabble and just for a change I raided Tilly's stash of gorgeous yarns and rovings!

Below are the dollies' clothes mentioned last week. Apparently they were well received by Ben's little friend. Her mummy is expecting a new baby so she is dolly mad at the moment and spent ages changing dolly's nappy! I think I shall be making a few more of them for other birthdays coming up in the next few weeks.

These are the latest twiddlemuffs...

Some are going to a local residential home, so I am sure they will be well loved and twiddled.

Today, I will be hosting Maxine and Ben. She is so thrilled with the response to her "Tilly Tea Dance" creativity but with success comes more hard work, so she will be dumfing and stitching while I play diggers and dumpers!

Have a great week everyone and thanks for calling by.

x Jo

WOYWW

Well it's been another busy week here.
I even managed a bit of time at my sewing machine making a set of dolls clothes for one of Ben's little friends. I made a top, skirt, cardi and nappy BUT forgot to take a photo! I might ask Tilly Tea Dance to post one on her blog as she now has the outfit.
I have also been helping my friend gather the fabric and bits and bobs to make a quilt for her newest grandaughter. She did an amazing job and sent me a photo today of the finished item. What a labour of love....

My twiddlemuff knitting is still ongoing and I used up some oddments to make 3 more for the local hospital.

Meanwhile, Tilly has been using my desks for more crafty creations. She is busy organising more workshops and creating beautiful little pictures and brooches for local shops. AND I have had fun keeping Ben busy - we had his cousins to play today and, once he got used to them, he really enjoyed sharing his toys with them!

So that's it for this week.
Have a great week and enjoy your crafting.

x Jo

WOYWW

Good morning all!

It's a bit overcast and gloomy here but still quite warm.
It rained overnight so it's a bit too damp for outdoor play this morning - maybe that means I can potter quietly and craftily indoors!! I fancy doing a little bit of wet felting using some new natural pre-felt. (I might update this later if I manage to finish any)

My table has lots to snoop around for you today. Just bits and bobs that keep appearing as I tidy drawers and cupboards. AND my latest unfinished twiddlemuff - yes I know I said I would give it a rest but Karen at the hospital was so pleased with my donation of footie twiddlemuffs, and the rest, that I thought I might make a few more when a find time.

Here is the link to the media release about the footie ones..
 http://www.sath.nhs.uk/media/news_archive/2016-07-July/160725-STFCTwiddlemuffs.aspx

And lastly - just look at this little beauty...

It is the Tom Thumb fuschia that LLJ brought for me last year.
It is packed with tiny blooms and looks a real picture! Thanks Jan - a perfect specimen - and so is the fuschia!

Well thats it for today - it's now pouring down so I shall finish baking my bread buns and get felting!
Have a good week. Thanks for visiting and for your lovely comments.
Join us all blog hopping around the globe over with at Julia's Stamping Ground - so good to see you back there Julia!!

xx Jo

WOYWW

 Just a few jolly pictures to brighten a rather gloomy day!

Firstly the lovely ATCs I have received over the last week or so...
I love the way they are all so different and each one a tiny work of art.
Thanks lots to our WOYWW friends from around the globe.. Cardarian, Sharon K, Lisa D. Laura and Elizabeth. They really are beautiful and I now need to make a little book to keep them in.

 Here are two little pals who have been having a snoop around my untidy work table today!
We are calling them Izzy and Ben because they are a little gift for Ben's bestie Izzy.
Ben has a set that like to hide in the pockets on my red cushions and he loves them.
(I think he would quite like these two as well so I will have to put them up out of sight!)
Oh - and of course, all credit must go to Flutterby Patch - the creator of the little knitted dolly pattern.

AND lastly, my Shrewsbury Town Footie Club Twiddle muffs.
(So glad I didn't knit England ones - oops!)
They are all ready to go to the hospital along with the final bunch of about 20 normal ones.
Now I need to find something else to keep me busy - a little dumfing maybe?

That's it for this week.
I am sending a special hug to Julia and a big thank you for writing such an amazing blog yesterday. We are with you all the way and willing you back to good health blog buddy!!

Thanks for calling by.

x Jo

WOYWW

My work table is looking a bit dejected today.
I have been painting frames for Maxine's "needle-felted garden" workshops.
Each little frame is painted and waxed and has a little piece of linen, all ready for attaching a little finished "dumfling" to.
The rest of the bits and bobs are left overs from other activities. Do you like the printed cards? They are prints of Maxine's finished needle felted pictures. She has about 6 different ones and they make a colourful display on her table at craft fairs etc.
The cash box looks impressive doesn't it!! Unfortunately it's empty - just a handy place to keep a float for workshops etc.
Now here is what I have really been spending odd hours on.....

My addiction!

AND now that it has moved into the realms of themed twiddle muffs.....

On the left is one finished one and the other muffs are ready to sew together and trim up!

The wool was supposed to be for the footie muffs but I just couldn't resist the gorgeous colour in that random ball - so I guess I will still be knitting muffs tfor a few more weeks yet!! All in a good cause.
(Just in case you don't know what they are.... they go to the local hospital for use with patients with dementia/Alzeimers).

AND the owl...
Well Ben loves him and loves the little chair that he can climb onto so I often go in the lounge and find them both sitting together on my chair!!

Well that's it for this week.
Join in with our WOYWW fun over at Lunch Lady Jan's blog.
Here's hoping that Julia is recovering well and able to check out a few of our desks and make sure we are all behaving ourselves! Best wishes Julia, if you are having a sneaky peek at my desk today!!

x Jo

WOYWW

Another week another WOYWW! Pop over to Lunch Lady Jan and join in if you like sharing your craft fun with others.

It's been a wet week and of course there has been footie to watch so I have had a little bit of time for crafty activity.
Shrewsbury Town Football club donated a few items for me to use to trim my Twiddlemuffs.
I added a few bits and bobs that I thought would make the muffs more interesting to a footie fan.
Here is what I came up with.....

Then I chopped up a pair of old denims and added these to a different one - a zip, buttons and a little pocket on the back.

I have had lovely emails from the hospital so I will be knitting a couple more footie muffs and then taking a whole boxful for them next week. I will try and take a photo before they go!

AND here are the last couple of ATCs - some lovely work with velvet from Diana - Velvetmoth and a beautiful little ATC from Lynne Mizera in Canada. We have had such lovely little works of art sent to us - many of them coming across oceans to reach us! Thanks lots both.

So that's it for this week.
Sending all our love and best wishes to Julia and the hope that she is feeling a bit better each day.

Have a great week everyone.
Thanks for calling by.

x Jo