Unravelling my WOYWW!

Today my work desk has been cleared and room tidied. I am having a break from sewing and "dumfing". This week I have been knitting. It all started really well. I made two gorgeous litle lilac shrugs for my great niece and her baby sister who should arrive mid April.

Then we had our visist to Much Wenlock ( see previous blog) and I bought a great little pattern and wool.

I decided to practise the pattern with remnants and knit the smallest size for the new babe.

Now, I can knit but I am not a brilliant knitter and fancy stuff takes a little while for me to master! The frilly bit on the bottom of this cardy was unravelled 4 times on Sunday!!!

Eventually it dawned on me that, if I start on a sleeve and master the pattern there - then I would only be unravelling 35 stitches instead of 122. I know! Common sense! Planning and forethought and all that!!! I just assumed I would be able to do it and then got frustrated when I couldn't, so common sense went out of the window.

Well, as you can see, I have managed it. It needs the final touches and I think it will be lovely.

The wool on the right is Crofter. I am planning to use that next.

Having just read Wipso's blog and seen all her neat and tidy shelves I thought I would swing round and show you one of mine. Nowhere near as organised as Wipso but I know where everything is so thats OK.

Now I am going to sort out a couple of extra prizes to add to our ever growing giveaway. Don't forget to join in - this week is the last week.

Oh and I will pop over and see what Julia and the rest have on their WOYWW.

Have a great day!

Much Wenlock and its woolly wonderland.

We were on a search for some wool for knitting and for "dumfing".
Last year we called into a super little shop called Ippikin in Much Wenlock and loved the range of textured wools and yarns they had in their tiny Alladin's cave of a wool shop.
So, with an hour to spare on Saturday afternoon, Wipso and I took ourselves over there so that we could stock up.








Much Wenlock is a quaint, little place. We parked just a stone's throw away from the High Street, with its beautiful Elizabethan buildings. Ippikin is next door to this magnificent property.




We must have spent about 45 minutes deliberating over the goods. Gorgeous, richly coloured wools and fabulous silk yarns called to us from the shelves.


A very helpful shop owner pointed us in the direction of the wools we wanted and the bargain bin too. HE was so well informed, we even asked if he too was a knitter! Actually he wasn't but certainly knew a lot about the stock.
I came away with some Crofter wool in pinks and purples to knit a cardy for my great nieces. Wipso came away with wool for dumfing her flower pictures.
Of course then we had to check out the coffee and cake at the tea shop nearby followed by a quick tour of the art gallery. Sadly, no textile work in there. I wonder if we should offer them some!!!!

Waste not want not - upcycled sweater creations!

I still have a stash of felted sweaters that need upcycling. They sit in a bag for life and occasionally call to me from the corner of my sewing room!

Today was one of those days.

So out came the pale turquoise, embroidered sweater by Jackpot.

I have already made a little lined bag using one of the sleeves.

Today I used a little of the other sleeve to make a phone cosy.

Wipso said her phone is not out of use long enough to need a cosy but some folk like to pop their phone/camera or ipod into a little pouch when carrying it round.







So with a bit of ingenuity, I made a little cosy using the cuff from the sleeve for a turn over top.



Its lined with bright pink cotton fabric and looks rather cute, I think.

Then, of course there was just enough left to make a little heart-shaped "dumfling".







Its now a little brooch, embellished with silk, wool and beads.








Now I was on a roll, so out came a scrap from the tweedy blue/grey sweater that I had used for another bag, now in the blog shop. I dumfed an oblong piece with silk and wool and then beaded it up.





How's that for upcycling?
I will probably pop them in the blog shop later - if Wipso will allow it!!!

Happy 101

Well thanks Wipso for my Happy 101 award.

Now I have to think of 10 things that make me happy.

In no particular order.....

1. All my friends - I have some brilliant ones who have supported me through good and bad times.

2. Bestest friend of all - Wipso. Such a caring, wonderful sister - I am so lucky to have her but happy to share her with ALL the folk who love her to bits like I do!

3. A gorgeous ,talented daughter who shares my sense of humour and makes me so proud to be her mum.

4. The view from my windows over the Welsh border hills.

5. Nature in all its aspects but especially our birds and a starry sky on a frosty night.

6. Crafting - I am a Jack of all trades, master of none but thats great cos I am never bored and always have something on the go!

7. Live music - well any music really.

8. Books - especially ones that are so good I don't want to put them down.

9. Painting my nails bright red.

10. Dancing round the kitchen to my favourite pop music - well I have to get my exercise somehow in this cold weather!!

I am supposed to pass this on but might give it some thought. I don't want my hard working blogger friends to get blogged down in blogging blogger awards!

WOYWW

Whats on my desk today? A total mess!

Wipso and I sat with my daughter M crafting whilst the men were at football.

We laughed non stop for nearly two hours and during this time M beaded up the tiny "dumflings" she had made earlier.

When I came home, I scattered them over my table so that the glue would dry, now that some are mounted on cards. Thats what you can see in my photo.

M has always loved joining in our crafting sessions - she has a great eye for colour and texture and really enjoyed using the embellisher to create these delicate little scraps of wool, silk, lace and yarn.

I am under strict instructions as to which colour/type of card to mount them on so will be busy doing just that today. Then I will bag them up, ready for the blog shop.

Thanks Wipso for all the hilarity last night - I would share it with you all but it was just too silly and possibly too rude for this blogspot!!

Have a great day. Think I should pop over to Julia and the rest of the WOYWW bunch now before I get busy.

PS

Julia asked how big these little dumflings are.

Well they vary but I suppose between 2" and 3" long and 1" and 2" wide.

At the moment they are just card toppers but we might make a few of them into little brooches.

Julia thought they would make nice additions to bridal bits and bobs.

If anyone wants these little dumflings then contact us via the blog shop.

Thanks for the comment Julia - food for thought!!!