On creativity & such...

I love Christmas. It gives me the opportunity to try and give things to people who hopefully will appreciate them. Consequently, every year I attempt to make something and this year has been no exception!

 Here's a quick photo of what i've been up to prior to wrapping! Sumptious dyed silk scarves, a dyed silk cushion (the owner is very pleased - she's taken it already) and four cosy felted merino scarves.

 Here's a close up of one of the dyed silk scarves.

 Felted merino wool - grey, white & black with some angelina fibres to give it a little sparkle!

Felted merino & collinette yarn. Very entertaining to make - and very very warm!

Have a fab Christmas all!

Ooooh! Indigo!

So I've never done any indigo dyeing.

Until today! My guild arranged a dyeing day - so I toddled along with some yarn and some fabric.

Lots of fun was had!

The dye bath.

Out and dripping on the line.

Hanging out to dry - still folded.

Lovely yarn and yep - my fabric in the background!

I suspect there may be a cushion coming out of this....

Such a pretty sky this morning!

This was the sky early this morning (before 6?) prior to me getting ready for work. Very pretty!

I'm part way through making my next project. More experimenting! I do hope this one works the way I *think* it should. It may not go entirely to plan (something I anticipate), but I'm hoping the end result will be worth the hard work I've been putting in!

After this I shall be getting my head down for the next piece of coursework. Genesis, Milton and Blake here I come!

Hmmm. Definitely an experiment!

Am not 100% happy with my new scarf yet. I think it needs something... I'm just not sure what yet!

So I've put it aside for now and warped up another experiment. *crosses fingers* Definitely looking forward to getting it started.

In other news I will be looking forward to glamorgan wsd meeting this month!

Lets try this again...

Quick update take two - being as the pictures vanished no matter what I did!

I've taken some very quick snaps of my father's scarf. The picture does not do it justice - but this blog just won't do what I want today!



Next scarf is plotted using yarns I really shouldn't use in a warp - ever! Here are the yarns ready to be used.



All warped up and waiting...


I'm part way through weaving it, and despite many a setback, I'm getting there and loving doing it! Still got quite a way to go before it comes off my loom though...

Sooo

What have I been up to?

Well, I've started a latch hook rug for my ickle nevvie. It is a Christmas present! I thought I would get it started now... Hopefully it will be a pirate skull and crossbones rug. Or possibly a floor cushion! It's great fun and I am thorougly enjoying what I've done so far.

I've also warped up my new toy - my Ashford Knitters Loom. Currently it has a scarf for my Dad on it - more Christmas presents! The warp has been a bit of a pain though. Yesterday it snapped. 3 times! I felt like taking it off the loom asap. But I've persevered and I'm getting somewhere. Slowly!

I went to the Stitch Pontypridd group last week in Clwb Y Bont. It was good to be surrounded by other people crafting. I'm hoping to go again this week. Maybe the scarf will get finished! *crosses fingers*

I've gone a bit crazy ordering stuff this month. So shortly I expect all my goodies to turn up in the post! Definitely looking forward to getting more crafty stuff done. I'm hoping that my next project will include some lovely yarn I bought at Wonderwool but couldn't fit my reed! So hopefully my new reed will manage to cope with the chunkier nature of it.

I also joined the Online Guild of WSD. I realised that as much as I love Glamorgan Guild, meeting more crafty people could never be a bad thing - so I sent off the cheque and have dipped my (virtual) toe into their virtual world.

Gosh...

I've been very, very busy - alas - not with crafts!

Currently I'm devouring books for my literature studies - so that is taking up my time like you wouldn't believe. Fortunately, that piece of coursework is due in soon - so once I get cracking and get it down on paper... err... virtual paper that is - I can get back to getting some crafting done.

I do have plenty of inspiration at the moment. I wove some lovely material which I intend to use to make a cushion cover. I also took some amazing photos of some of the lovely plants we have in my house. As soon as I can manage it - I'll be posting them (technology not being cooperative. Grrr!)

Sunny Days Scarf

Sunny Days Scarf, a photo by jewelrhi on Flickr.

My yellow hand dyed and stitched scarf! So pleased with them all!

Pink Haze Scarf

Pink Haze Scarf, a photo by jewelrhi on Flickr.

My pink hand dyed and stitched scarf!

Halycon Blue Scarf

Halycon Blue Scarf, a photo by jewelrhi on Flickr.

My blue hand dyed and hand stitched scarf!

Wheeee!

Had a fab time at Wonderwool on the weekend and bought a lovely little knitters loom from P&M Woolcraft so I can do some portable weaving in the near future once its all set up - which it almost is! Once I get time I'll be warping up asap! I also purchased some fab yarn (which will shortly be used on my loom) from snowberry lime which appealed to me as it was a) yarn, b) sparkly and c) has small beads and gemstones spun into it. It doesn't get much better than that! Next up will be stitching my labels onto my scarves before a final check that they're done and I'll submit them tomorrow! *crosses fingers*

Phew!

Well, time does go exceptionally fast doesn't it? April already! So what have I been up to? Well, I've been doing some experimental dyeing for silk scarves - with a technique based on shibori. Very challenging - but lots of fun too. So much so - that I've ordered more dye and more material for dyeing already! The new dyes are more concentrated - so when it comes to using them the colours may be more vivid. Hopefully in the next few weeks I will get them done too. Next up - finishing off the hand stitching required on the side of my first lot of scarves. I'm hopingn they will be finished in time to be exhibited. *crosses fingers*

Phew!

Well, what a week it has been!

Crafting-wise I've been stalled on jewellery as I haven't yet ordered a replacement part for a piece of equipment. That's something I will do next week as soon as I can.

I did however finish off my bag! It looks amazing! I'm really eager to make another - similar design but a bit bigger and in different material. I've already got the handles for it - they turned up in the post yesterday!

I want a bag big enough to hold an A4 folder. If I can do that - I will be more than happy.

I will post a photo of my new bag as soon as I can. It's very pretty indeed!

Next week in class I intend to sew on some beads onto my dyed silk dress that I had made up for my cousin's wedding. I have a few ideas of what to do after that....!

Right...

Let's try again.

As I was a bad person and didn't update for far too long - I've deleted the old entries and am starting again on this here blog!

So. Craft-wise. I need to get a few pieces of equipment for both jewellery and weaving. I am doing a lot more designing at the moment to get some ideas ready for when all my tools are sorted.

I'm also taking a look at some of my technical books to gain ideas and inspiration. I know what I hope to create on one of my looms, and I have quite a few plans jewellery-wise.

Next week I hope to finish my bag I've made via my sewing class. I have to decide what project I will do next there too.

I've also started attempting to do some stained glass for the first time in... well... years. Whilst my first go was not perfect - I do know what errors I'm making and I just need to practise, practise, practise to improve!