Archive for the ‘New creations’ Category

It’s been a while

Thursday, October 8th, 2020

Well, it’s been too long a gap again between posts. I have been keeping busy though, honestly.

Once a little relaxation of the covid restrictions came in people were contacting me about making memory bears. I don’t know if the strict stay at home period allowed people time and space to sort through their loved ones clothing was what generated the enquiries. It is a privilege to be trusted with these items. Sometimes I take longer to start cutting some of the items as I need to be sure I am not going to waste them.

In the evenings I have completed a colourwork cardigan for a Christmas present, a crocheted cowl, and now I am moving in the direction of Christmas themed gifts.

Oh, I forgot. My embroidered coin purse was falling apart. I made myself another one and remembered why it had taken me so long to do so. You need three hands to keep the fabric in the frame while stitching into place.

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Bosie Quilts

Friday, July 10th, 2020

Once I finished doing the mini quilt swap I had all these ideas in my head for quilting. I started by doing a simple stripey quilt with fat quarters. I then made my own jelly rolls from stash fabrics and made two stripey quilts. All fabrics used were bright and floral. The pictures I took are too big to load up here. I decided to call them Bosie Quilts. Bosie is a Doric word for hug. I got the idea from a group in the borders who were making quilty hugs to gift to people. I gave these 3 lap quilts to the local community volunteers to gift to people needing a bit of a lift.

I was checking out the quilting groups destash page on facebook and saw a panel and co-ordinating fabrics for the Hungry Catterpillar. Instinct made me buy it, but what was I going to do with it? I remembered an original member of our local craft group, living in the village now, had a preschool child. Messaged her to see what her son thought of the hungry caterpillar. His favourite books at the moment. Well that was a home for that quilt. It was a bit of a hit as she sent photo of him sound asleep in bed cuddling it. Again picture I have of the quilt is too big for here.

Next I looked around for another pattern style. I liked the childs quilt, saved to many pinterest pages, of the elephant blowing hearts from it’s trunk. Was unable to find pattern. I turned to the UKQU facebook page to ask for help. Very quickly I got assistance to the pattern with the elephant blowing paisley pattern shapes from it’s trunk. I simply adapted it to use hearts. When I shared the quilt top after fusing and before stitching someone in the village commented they loved it with a big gif. As I quilted it I decided she should have it. I got to know her as she took a stall at our craft fairs a few years ago. She was in extreme sheilding for multiple medical conditions.

It has been fun. I have challenged myself. It has kept me busy and I have been able to give to others. To give something that I hope they will use and enjoy.

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Well, Hello

Monday, August 27th, 2018

It has been a while. Many things have happened since the last post, including lost passwords etc. Admin is not my strong point.

I’ll endeavor to post a bit more frequently and catch you up with what has been happening. The biggest news was probablt the phone call late last summer from Laura at Ralph Lauren EU. Yep, you read that right. Bit of  stressy time for me. I like time to make my bears and by the time they decided on what they wanted, the deadline was tight.

In the end the bears ended up in Christmas windows in Glasgow, London and Rome. I got to see the Glasgow window. The head man at Ralph Lauren did send me professional photos of all the windows early this year though with a wee thank you letter. I was so excited.

They came back this year for more and gave me a nice long period to make them in. Should be finished soon and on their way to London. Wonder where these ones will go?

Glasgow window

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Sweater Bears

Wednesday, July 27th, 2016

I have had a fascination for some time with bears made from felted knitwear. My intention was to start with a felted aran jacket I had of my own but the pattern is very intricate and I couldn’t decide which bits to use.

I have long appreciated the Burra Bears of the Northern Isles. When a textile artist I follow posted that she had sweaters she had felted was anyone interested in purchasing? I couldn’t resist a wee peek. I managed to purchase some fairisle type patterns.

I searched my patterns to determine which would be most suitable to this very thick fabric. I think I settled on the right one. They are fully jointed and as a wee personal and individual touch I have give each one a cowl scarf which is secured by large, vintage buttons. Genuinely vintage, from button stashes of previous generation.

One was given to Parkinson’s UK for an online auction in Aberdeenshire. One is in my Folksy shop (link on right of page), another is In Hellygog at Logie Steading, outside Forres. The 4th is still here with me. I have another two cut out ready to assemble.

I would like to offer this as a service to anyone who has accidentally washed a loving sweater at the wrong temperature. If you would like to turn a ruined sweater that lurks at the back of the cupboard into a living, cuddly object, get in touch.

 

sweater bears

 

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New Venture

Sunday, May 31st, 2015

IMG_20141103_174916At a Christmas craft fair last year I discovered a charming and whacky business called Hellygog. In 2 days of freezing cold in a garden centre we chatted a fair bit.

A few weeks back I was contacted by Jude of Hellygogs. She and her husband were opening a shop at Logie Steading visitor centre (IV36 2QN) near Forres. A well established centre offering shopping, eating, heritage centre and riverside walks, this was a favourite with us to take the parents to when they were up visiting. It therefore was an inviting prospect for me to participate.

Jude was hand picking items from the crafters and artists she has met over the years. She had fallen in love with a crochet dragon doll I had on my stall last year. So much so that she eventually bought it.

She asked if I could possibly provide some crochet dolls and some bears. While pondering what fabrics to use for the bears I received an email from Johnstons of Elgin to say that they had placed bundles of end pieces of fabric in the shop for sale. As we were going to Elgin anyway that day I persuaded husband to go round that way. One touch of the cashmere bundles and I knew the bears for Hellygog just had to be made in cashmere, it’s so soft and tactile.20150526_194022

So, 4 completed bears and 4 dolls later and we take a trip through to Logie Steading. What a wonderful place Jude has created at Hellygog. Although the crafters rent a space she has mixed everything up so that everywhere you look in the shop there is a feast of creation to view. Even on the third time round the shop you are noticing things that you didn’t pick out on the first two walks round. I really do wish her all the best with this shop. If you ever find yourself on the Forres to Carrbridge road please pop in. In fact if you are up this way on holiday it would make a good day out doing the walk, take a picnic, browse the shops in the steading.

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Saltire Ensemble

Tuesday, March 24th, 2015

saltire cardigan and bag 003I bought this wool on a visit to New Lanark Mill. I purchased what I thought I needed to knit my Saltire dress, using the Rowan pattern for the Union Flag dress but only using the Saltire section. Anyway, somehow I miscalculated (not on purpose, honestly) and after knitting the dress discovered I had bought twice as much as I needed.

The plan then was to knit a cardigan but I couldn’t find a pattern that I liked. I am now at that age where I have discovered the joy of 3/4 length sleeves and loose necks. Fell in love with this Drops pattern (www.garnstudio.com). It had more fairisle pattern than this but I took some of it out and left what looked like Saltires.

With the left over wool I just had to have a new bag, as one does 😉

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Mothers Birthday Card

Saturday, March 21st, 2015

mothers flower shop 001 First project from the book purchased at the quilt show last month.

Mother knows I am knitting a garment for her and she picked the shade. No matter how fat I knit though it will never be ready in time.

So, rather than go buy a card I thought, ‘why not make her one of the buildings from the book?’

I swithered about which one to do as there was a hat shop and she does like hats. However, being that it is a birthday I reckoned a flower shop might go down quite well. The top window is a bit squint but it really is not easy turning under and appliqueing such small pieces of fabric. The fact I picked tweeds to work with didn’t help with the bulkiness. On the whole I’m quite chuffed with it

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Spring Inspiration

Monday, February 23rd, 2015

Took my mother to the Spring quilt show at Ingleston on Friday. Given that she has had a recurring virus over the winter, we decided not to battle with the morning rush. We got there late lunchtime and found a place in the canteen to leave the chauffuer, otherwise known as my husband. Bought him an overpriced cup of tea and left him in the company of some quilters with his book and newspaper.

Didn’t find the exhibited quilts terribly inspiring this time. It happens, we can’t all like every technique. I did find some seaside fabric which can be hard to come by. There is no firm project in mind but I get an urge every so often to do something So couple of fat quarters added to stash.

Thought I was being rather frugal, even when I found the bookshop. Then, right up on the top shelf was a book I just had to have. SO many projects that I wanted to do. That led to purchsing needles and some hand dyed embroidery threads.

First project has been chosen. I find paper piecing frustrating at times but the category I am entering in the local craft competition calls for patchwork and/or quilting. This project fits the bill. Scraps of fabric looked out. Diagrams drawn and numbered. Just got to get started now.

 

 

 

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Did get some creating done

Monday, February 16th, 2015

Finished Daisy tie quilt 003This quilt featured in the Fabrications Quilting For You magazine that I picked up at one of the quilting exhibitions in Ingleston. Can’t remember if this was the reason for buying this issue but it eventually shouted to me. After one of my mothers recent fabric destashes I decided to have a go at it. I took it along to the craft group I go to in Buckie and one of the girls loved it so much she asked if I would scale it up to fit her king sized bed. I am still working on that one!

 

 

 

 

dolphins at play

dolphins at play

This quilt has been on the go for a very long time. It was on of those projects that I would get a block on and forget to go back to it for long spells. Eventually I got to the point where lot’s of hand quilting was what I needed  to sooth me and this was the perfect piece for that. The waves in the water print provided plenty of scope for free quilting. I have never done so much quilting on one piece before. It was worth it though as it really makes the water stand out. This now hangs in my bathroom which has one long window in the corner. This quilt provides another window for the room.

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Brown Bear

Monday, September 16th, 2013

Brown Bear 005Brown Bear 006

Meet  Brown Bear.

       He has been made in the Brown family tartan.

       He is currently on his way to England where

        we believe he will shortly depart for Canada.

        An adventurous bear right enough!

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