Craft & Craft Space

I'm taking part in this years Blogger Party with My Desert Cottage it's the first time I have and I'm looking forward to seeing everyone's blogs, getting inspiration and hopefully meeting new people from around the world.

My 'creative space' is in quite some turmoil at the moment - I was meant to move and then things fell through so I'm in limbo (I hate it) so I have photos of my stuff all over the place - and the current 'craft space' is the coffee table in the living room - which annoyingly I have to tidy up before I go out... so I will be most interested in seeing other peoples space to get ideas for WHEN I FINALLY move.


My crafts
You will notice I do a wide variety of crafts and I'm always seeing new ideas to try, my list of crafting so far extends to:
Crochet, Knitting, Jewellery Making, Scrapbooks, Glass Painting, Sewing, Painting, Cross Stitch, Paper Crafts...



Knitting & Crochet - wool: technically my sisters stash (plus inherited wool!) but we share where we can.

Wool and bits stored in wicker baskets...we also have wool under the bed, in the loft and in a drawer!

These were hidden away, but now on display - vintage bone knitting & crochet needles & a wool winder

On display too, lovely colourful vintage needles - I'd like to think I'll never need to buy knitting needles again!

Crochet bits & bobs - I think nearly every drawer on this Victorian dresser is full of crafts!

Mabel Lucie Attwell

Sewing- I use to sew a few years back, then got caught up with other crafts, just doing bits here & there, but now I would like to do more, so I have the basic sewing machine which I've just been doing small items on, but I still do hand sewing.

I'm hoping to do more when I can, it's just finding the time & space!

An old chocolate box holds various small sewing, knitting & crochet accessories

Mabel Lucie Attwell

Once I get more into sewing, I'm wondering if I'll find this machine too basic, hopefully not for what I'll start with but if I do get into it you never know...

Recycled jar with added pincushion, filled with basic sewing kit

Pincushion made with left over vintage fabric & button centre

Books- oh so many crafty books! Probably a lot of ideas never put into action - sometimes it's nice just to read and admire (and you never know when an idea might come in handy- birthdays, Christmas!)

There are of course more books than this & also not forgetting folders of patterns, we have a large collection of vintage patterns inherited from my mom - the challenge now is deciding what to keep & learning to adapt vintage patterns for modern day use, although some are just nice to look at or things you wouldn't make nowadays!

DVDs- I don't really go for craft dvds, but Kirstie's Handmade Britain and other craft shows were great, in fact even put my name on a list for next year craft competitons at a local show - it could be anything from food, drinks to cross stitch or sewing in these compeitions...we'll see what the categories are for next year, but scary going up against other fabulous crafters and having your work critiqued!!!

Items round the home - just a few items I handmade / upcycled, now living around the house.

 Hand painted glass items - I have various bottles, jars & vases I have decorated

 This little mouse is filled with various herbs to deter moths. I have lots & lots of handmade lavender, hop, rose and anti moth sachets in amongst my clothes, wool & stuffed toys! It's a great way to deter bugs & keep things smelling fresh.

 I have made a mixture of scented & unscented sachets which I'll hopefully get around to listing on my esty shop soon. It's also a great way to use any scraps of fabric you have left over, or to practise new knitting or crochet stitches.

Right: hearts made with vintage French toile fabric.





Other items I have darted about the place are photo frames, a mirror, handmade flowers, various jewellery & hair accessories. I can't post it all, but when I'm setting up in my new house I'll take on board other tips/ideas I've seen and post again.

Speaking of ideas, I'll finish with a few works in progress / ideas I want to find time for!



Repainting this chest which was in the bathroom, it had a cork top which I removed, I'm planning to add a fabric cushion top so that you could sit on the chest. I'm also debating about any other decoration on the outside.

I plan to fill the chest with fabrics & wool - will have to make sure I make some more scented sachets to keep pesky moths away!

Other projects I have ongoing include making cushion covers, a skirt & I'd love to make a simple 1920s style dress. Big project I've yet to start with my sister is a patchwork quilt - if all goes well most likely be making two! There's a long list I'm sure in my craft ideas note book, as well as doing more on my family history research...if I could afford not to work full time I might just be able to get all this done!!! Wishful thinking....


I am also keen to do a craft swap or any sort of craft event  - not done one for a while, so if you have one planned let me know (although I might have to wait until I move, so anything planned for the Autumn should be ok!)

What's in a name?

What's in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet

Looking at other crafters, their blogs, websites, facebook names you come across some wonderfully unusal names. Some may be just random, some specific to their craft or something more meaningful.

The name change from Cheshire Cat Crafts to Painting Red Roses (on etys Painting My Roses Red) still has the Alice theme - childhood, fantasy, quirky and fun as well as relating to a more meaningful tone. Roses are a symbol of St Therese, someone my mom found great comfort in and by carrying on crafting as mom did the name ties in with these things close to our hearts.

Experience has shown that St. Therese's "shower of roses" is both figurative and actual. As she was dying in the convent infirmary, Therese could look out and see the rose bushes blossoming. She loved roses. She had thrown rose petals as a Child before the Blessed Sacrament. As she reflected on her quiet, hidden, and gentle life ending, she believed in faith that God had great things in store for her. She believed that her mission was only beginning as she entered the fullness of life with God. She explained: "After my death, I will let fall a shower of roses. I will spend my heaven doing good upon earth. I will raise up a mighty host of little saints. My mission is to make God loved..."

One does not pray for roses. Therese's message is about simplicity and love in the ordinary events of life. Trust in Therese is important, and when she wills, roses or their fragrance may appear. The stories are remarkable how roses have shown up in the lives and experiences of people, especially in the darkest times. The ordinary and constant way these roses and graces have shown up in people's experience is extraordinary. It is important to always maintain the rose of confidence that our All-Loving God hears and responds to our needs, according to the mysterious ways of His Love.

http://www.littleflower.org/abouttherese/learn/FAQs.asp#7th

Make Do and Create

Well it's one of those things you always say 'I'll use up what I have first' and then you go and buy yet more craft bits! Now I can't promise I won't be buying more, but I plan to use some of this craft stash to create and may be sell on my supplies that I have just never touched!

I was encouraged when I saw http://deezkatz.blogspot.com/2012/03/ideas.html blog about having so many ideas, loving lots of crafts and yet not getting around to using all those craft bits and bobs we all build up. Funnily I am in the middle of organising myself- I even brought some storage boxes:

One box is half organised with fabric/sewing bits, the other is yet to be looked at!  (bad photos due to my camera battery dying!)

Here's a few of the bits I still need to sort. My jewellery box...lots of beads!

More jewellery- some vintage pieces in there somewhere!

Originally all my craft bits fitted into this one cupboard...not anymore!!

So I do plan to work my way through creating with the items I already have and really looking at what bits I honestly think I won't use so I'll be looking to sell them on so keep an eye out for beads, fabrics, embellishments, possibly paints/glass paints and more!!

British Sellers On Etsy

Here are some fab British crafters selling their items on www.etsy.com they are all very creative and have some wonderful and unique designs ideal for gifts, the home and treats for yourself. Why not go and take a look...you never know what you might find!

Lets get crafting

I'm sure people out there who have crafting as a full business are already in full swing making items ready for December...

I have had a few projects I have finally got around to doing and I'm making my way to getting supplies and making gifts/new shop products etc. I'm also looking forward to the NEC craft show- great for your supplies and getting ideas or even finding new crafts to try!

It's always tricky thinking of new ideas for crafting, but I feel quietly confident about some of my ideas and I hope everyone else will like them too...so I better get cracking!