Bloodstone Costume

My Bloodstone costume is in it's third phase. I have been faffing with and adding bits and bobs to my outfit for some time now, but with the addition of a new waistcoat last weekend I think I'm happy with the look (for the time being). Unfortunately I rarely manage to get any good photos of me as I'm normally the one taking the pics and Trav is enjoying himself far too much to stop and steal the camera from me. However last weekend at our very cold May Fest over in Yarmouth, I forced the camera into his hands and got a couple of photos.

Bearing in mind it was the coldest Mayday we have had in ages I was well wrapped up and normally wouldn't have the scarf and gloves on. My new velvet waistcoat (that has tails and I LOVE!!!) was a godsend for keeping me warm as the thread broke on my jacket button. I have added a red net petticoat layer in between my skirt and it's lining and then another black layer tot he lining its self. Wearing a double layer of tights is a must on a cold day! I wear red underneath and a patterned pair of black ones on the top. My Handfasting DM's are perfect with their red embroidered roses down the outsides and a embellished top hat finishes the look!

I'm the tall one in the photo  

From the back and with my velvet riding jacket off you can see the bustle my friend made for me which I love! it adds a real swagger to my walk and swishes beautifully :) The tails of my waistcoat do cover this but I don't plan to wear the waistcoat all the time, it will normally only be worn when I have to take my corset off after a long day of dancing. I spent 13 hours in my corset at the wedding we attended in April and the following day I couldn't feel my stomach at all, other than the pins and needles that plagued me for most of the day.

I can't think of anything I want to change or add to my outfit at the moment so It will stay like this for a while, I'm sure through that as I search through the charity shops piece of red and black inspiration will come to me and the costume will evolve again. 

Bloodstone Border is a Morris dancing team on the Isle of Wight that my husband and I belong to. Youtube us! We are well worth a looky-loo!

I'm not sure that I'm feeling alright ;)

I made a card!!!! Something that Is almost unheard of these days! I'm ashamed to say that last month I actually bought..... Yes bought a birthday card! How disgraceful!!!

I surprised myself, at how much I enjoyed playing with the paper pieces while making this card. Maybe my paper mojo is coming back?

I had to cut up so much paper for this one that I have enough to make three more in the same style, so as I enjoyed a little paper time. I think I'll do them quite soon as not to lose the momentum.

 I also remembered to get Trav to take a good photo of my seaglass mobile :)

 TFL

Px

 

Wot Ya Doin?

I've pretty busy of late making things, and for some reason or other I haven't shared many of these things on here. These items I have been working on haven't been your normal run of the mill crafting projects and maybe that's why until today I haven't felt like posting about them. But after a quick whizz about the house with my camera and a photographic round up of "new makes" I now feel ready for an unveiling.......... prepare yourself it's a little photo heavy!

First up is Glorianna, she is an OOAK (One Of A Kind) model.

I have a very clever friend who made all the fairies at The Old Smithy in Godshill she offered a few of us some evenings with her to show us how to make OOAK fairies. Yes I did say fairies....... 

Now Glorianna isn't much of a faerie I'm the first to admit that, but she is Fae, notice the three fingered hands (she also only has three toes on each foot) she has pointed ears and horns. But rather than being a faerie she is a guardian. I made her with the purpose of being a house protector. She stands by the main door into our home with a big stick and a bottle filled with a carefully cast spell. On her waist band she adds (or rather I do) little items she collects wherever she goes. 

During our workshop lessons we learnt how to make the frame of the doll, mould the clay to shape, bake and add pieces together (like hands to arms) we painted the features and then the hardest part for me..... we made the clothes and lastly we added the hair. I'm really lucky because even though I have now finished Glorianna my friend has offered me the chance to make a second model which I am starting this coming Friday. 

The next photo I want to share is of the two Spirit Dolls I made last month with some of my Wiccan friends. The red & orange doll is for transformation  and the blue & purple doll is for magikcal workings. We used a fantastic tutorial that we found on Pinterest although we did change the pattern for our Spirit Dolls so that they had their hands raised above their heads. 

The next share is something that I made last night at another Wiccan Craft evening with the same group of magikal ladies :) We had spend a good few hours on Sunday afternoon collecting seaglass on Binstead beach after seeing a stunning mobile (again) on Pinterest. then last night with copper wire and bending tools in hand we set about crafting ourselves our very own mobiles. sadly we haven't had any sun this afternoon so mine doesn't look it's best in this photo. I might have to have another camera session this weekend if the sun can be bothered to come out from behind those massive rain clouds.

 I have also become a little obsessed with beads!!!!! I think the shops on eBay love me at the moment as all I seem to have been doing for the last few weeks is making bracelets for myself and all my friends. I have posted a few photos of them on facebook and had some enquiries as to whether I was selling them? I decided I would and in 24 hours I had a nice pile of orders made up, parcelled and ready to post.

 I also ordered myself a watch face and beaded a suitable ladybird strap.

Then along with Sam and Bea, I made loads of pretty little beaded ornaments to hang on my twisted willow tree in the dining room. I think that Trav is worried about standing still too long in case I dangle some beads off him ;)

 Last but by no means least here's our latest photos of Bella and her brood. the babies are all growing well! They opened their eyes yesterday and today for the first time, that means it's not going to be long before they are up and running about causing chaos wherever they go :) 

Perfect!!!!!

So if you have managed to stay through all that, a great big thank you for reading :) I'm really loving Pinterest and all the amazing ideas that I'm finding pinned there on a daily basis. If you haven't tried it yet you really must!!!

TFL 

Px

JamTart Bag Completed!

 Here's a big TarrrrrrDar!!!! post for my JamTart Bag that I have finally finished! 

I say finially like it's taken me months to complete when actually its only taken me about three weeks, most of the first week I just sat and stroked the wool (it's so so soft) and the six circles that I had made. The second week I spent most of that with Bella and pups. So although it feels like it's been a never ending project it's probably been one of my quickest in actual hours spent hooking and sewing. I completed the two handles last night and then spent an hour or so adding a lining to strengthen them. This morning after my 6:30am "Bella needs a wee" wake up call. I coffee'd and sat down at the sewing machine, ready to add the handles to the bag. 

Now I know I'm not the neatest with the sewing machine but I'm quite pleased with how my handle attachment went. I had one scary moment when I realised that I might have to sew threw the pocket to attach one handle but a few pins to hold the pocket open solved this issue.

 

I even managed to sew in a straight line all long the top of the bag where I attached the lining! 

I'm amazed at myself :) 

  

Tarrrdarrrr!!! 

Here it is all finished and ready for work tomorrow morning :) 

 

The pattern for this bag can be found on Ravelry, it's named Wheels within wheels and is a free download :) 

I'm now thinking about my next project ........... should I start Menna's Beach themed ripple, complete my hexagon blanket or finish my slouchy bedtime hat???????

TFL

Px

Jam Tart Handbag Update

 My JamTart bag is almost finished. I have just two more jobs to do and I'm hoping to have them done by Monday so I can use my bag at work. I used a lovely selection of wool from my local fabric shop, it's WENDY; Sorrento which is a lovely soft mix of cotton and acrylic.

I made thirty jam tarts in a mix of my colours, adding a pastel miracle bead to the centre of each.

 I then set about turing each circle into a square by adding two rows of a soft acrylic grey yarn. 

 After adding a soft blue edge to every square, I then hooked them all together. 12 on the front, 12 on the back and 3 either end. I added a plain grey base in single crochet. I then increased the topof the bag with 5 rows worked in the round, to finish these I (after a quick visit to youtube for a tutorial) added a row of rope or backwards or crab stitch. 

 I then relocated to my craft room and measured the bag, measured it again, worked out the basic lining shape and set to cuting, pinning and sewing a pretty floral lining for my bag.

 It took me a total of two hours to make and add the lining to the bag. I'm quite pleased with how this has turned out and am pleased with how my sewing skills are improving :) My lining even has a pocket for my mobile phone.

 

So this is where I am right now!

 

Big work bag NO handles!!!!

My job for this weekend..... making two shoulder straps and sewing them on. 

 

 TFL

Px

Fabulous Fourty!!

Yesterday I turned FOURTY!!!!! 

Yayyy!!! 

I can now stop acting like a grown up and start just being myself ;)

I had a wonderful if somewhat tiring day that started at 1 minute past 12 on Tuesday night, when my lovely friend Sam insisted on me opening my Birthday present, a beautiful handcrafted leather bound wicca jounral, she had made herself. Just over an hour later my next birthday present arrived in the form of a cocker spaniel puppy. Bella had chosen my birthday to have her puppies on :) Over the next three hours she had another six beautiful babies in a range of Blacks, Goldens and a Black&Tan. 

The rest of the day I have to say was a little bit of a blur, I spent a few hours here and there curled up asleep on the sofa with the other cockers, while checking Bells and the pups every so often.  In the afternoon Trav came home early from work with flowers,cards and presents for me and I had more flowers delivered. 

In the evening we were joined my Sam and her family for a quiet dinner and Birthday Tiffin with sparklers

 Then it was early to bed after the excitement of the night before (not sleeping much over the past 48 hours while we had be waiting for the puppies to arrive).

Jam Tarts and Puppy Collars

So how has your bank holiday weekend been??? wet and rainy?

 SNAP!!! 

But I've been keeping busy with my hooking and rubbing Bella's huge puppy belly. 

First off I'm making a new summer tote for work (hopefully it will be strong enough). I'm using a super free pattern from Raverly called Wheels within Wheels, the lady who wrote the pattern says they remind her of jam tarts when they are at this stage and I can see what she means. 

They are lovely to hook a nice simple pattern to follow, and they are also very pretty!! I need to make 30 of them for the size bag I want and then I also have to make a base, handles and trim. I'm planning to work on this while I wait for Bella's first litter to arrive. 

This morning over my first cup of coffee I remembered that I needed to make some woolen collars for the puppies before they arrive, as I like to be able to identify them fromt he word go and knowing Bella she will have a litter of all black or all goldens just to be awkward. So I chose 8 nice bright colours that will show up well under the webcam (for the owners benefit) and made 8 (just in case) mini puppy collars that Bella happily modelled for me. 

I might not be about for a while as I'll be busy busy turning 40 and welcoming Bella's babies into the world :) 

have a great second week of the Easter Holidays

TFL

PX

My latest obsession BEADS!!!!!

Making wish bracelets!! Last week I ordered a small amount of silver spacers and miracle beads....... This week I ordered more and more!!! I'm totally obsessed with miracle beads they are just beautiful!!! I know they aren't Pandora's or blown glass, but I love that I can buy so many for so little and they look so so pretty!!! Ive been all over YouTube watching knotting tutorials to learn the tips and tricks. So far I have made more than enough for two wrists but I just can't seem to stop ;) I love the idea that you make a wish as you tie them on and when they brake your wish comes true :) I have also made some stretch bead bracelets with smaller miracles and little silver charms.