Some 'Me' time . . . .

I've been spending a lot of time recently either making stock or doing some other business related stuff - I''ve been really missing some relaxing crafting, particularly my colour-knitting work.  Well, I can only wear so many pairs of knitted socks - I'm not an octopus, hehe :)  

With that in mind, I dug out this cute pattern for a fair-isle knitted mini-handbag which I purchased on Ravelry via Patternfish.com.  The design is by Megan Lacey.  I'm really pleased how it's turning out - fabulous little pattern for someone starting out on fairisle projects.  It's knitting up fast . . . 

It's called a Blue Jeans Purse but I'm using a different colour scheme.  I bought a bundle of very cheap acrylic wool earlier in the year, specifically for practicing colour work.  I'm  so pleased I did.  Here's the pattern  and the colours I've chosen . . . 

I was a bit haphazard about changing the colours to what I had, but it seems to have worked out well - nice to have something on the needles again . . .

It's lovely to see how the colours blend from one to the other, which I guess is the beauty of fair isle work as opposed to working with just two colours - I love both though :)  Two colour knitting (ie. Norwegian/Scandinavian styles create lovely stark, clear designs), but it's a lovely contrast to do something with more colour.  I might not be saying that when I'm tying in the ends though!

I finally dipped into my Kaffe Fassett fabric and made a little coin purse.  These chunky brass zips arrived in the post last week . . . 

. . . I was a little wary  of the weight of them, but they worked out well I thought . . .

Here's a better view . . .

I was pleased how the weight of the brass zip worked against the floral fabric and the tweed - some more  for the next fair I hope :) :)

Hope you are having a good week, creative or otherwise.  I have a little 'tweedie' commission this week, so better get my skates on, eeeks! . . . 'later gaters' ;-)

Alison x

I went to market and bought . . .

Pheeeew, I survived the craft fair and am here to tell the tale . . . . a few days later - but never mind :D

It was a pretty OK day for my first fair in almost a whole year - a few sales here and there - I haven't yet booked my Caribbean Cruise from my takings, hehe :)  Lots of lovely folk visiting the fair and I had some nice chats with both customers and other stallholders alike.

Here's the evidence - honest I was there (looking slightly goofy!) . . . 

Spot who didn't iron her stall cover - oooops!  It was lovely to see some familiar faces - the lady behind me used to be a work colleague and it was really nice to catch up with her - her Harris Tweed bags and cushions are really works of art.  We both have a love of fabrics and so had plenty to chat about.

My Craft Fair Assistant a.k.a. 'Little S' became incredibly bored after about an hour and a half - I think our business relationship is on the verge of crumbling LOL.  He was off on little jaunts whenever he got the chance but it gave me confidence having him around.  I also have to add that his cheeky grin must have charmed the customers as he sold one of my 'tweedie' mugs when I left him in charge for a few minutes!  He insists I'm rubbish at selling and don't talk enough - well he made up for my failings on that score :D

Towards the end of the day I took a wander round the stalls and bought . . . 

. . . a cute painted pebble by Di who organises the fairs along with her husband Mike, a  set of photo notelets by the lovely stallholder next to me whose name escapes me - sorry!, and half a dozen eggs from Di's friend who she was selling them for.  I was very pleased with my purchases!  We also bought some bread from the gentleman selling it at the entrance  of the market - how cool, freshly baked bread while you work :D

I think the owls enjoyed the fair . . . 

The two at the back look like they're having an indignant rant about something or other!  I went home with one less of them which was nice - not that I don't like them, but you know what I'm trying to say :) :)

Well, that's one craft fair under my belt - I hope to attend one a month over the Summer, so I'd better get 'tweedying' (at a lightly more relaxed pace!).  I'll post dates of any I'm attending here on my blog.

Bye for now

Alison x

I'm dreaming of . . .

. . . no, not a white Christmas, bit early for that, LOL :) I'm dreaming of being able to use these lovely Kaffe Fassett fabrics . . .

. . . aren't they lovely?  I've been drooling over them all month, but my stock-making list has kept me busy - well, quite busy.  The list of 'makes' I had planned for this month's craft fair is nowhere near as complete as I'd hoped.  May has been a busy month with one thing or another - it's school exam month in our house at the moment - day to day routine seems to have gone out the window.  Well, at least I don't have to sit the exams - I just have to watch teenage son angst over them - ouch!  Never mind, they'll soon be over and we can all breathe again :)  Normal crafting and routine will resume soon hopefully . . . 

Some more 'tweedie' mice have escaped capture . . .

. . . they were 'born' from remnants of some new 'scotties' (waste not, want not - every scrap of tweed is used here!) . . .

and some new 'tweedie'  owls have joined the gang - toowittoo . . wooooooo!

They're new kids on the block, so we'll have to test-drive them at the fair - it's all very experimental stuff!  Perhaps they'll bring some much needed wisdom to my 'tweedie' enterprise - I wish :) :)

My youngest kiddo has been driving a very hard bargain as my new 'craft-fair assistant' - negotations are ongoing as to terms and conditions, payment, commission, etc. etc.  If he manages to get up early enough on Saturday morning to attend the fair with me, I'll be delighted (and a little amazed!).  I'm still waiting for final confirmation of my table-booking, so it might end up pear-shaped at the last minute - who knows! (at least it's forced me to produce some new 'tweedie' stock - so it's all good).

Apologies  for being so absent this month - between crafting and general family day-to-day stuff, my poor blog has been neglected.

Too much tweed in this post!!!! Here's a nice pic of Other Half's birthday cake (Carrot and cream cheese - yum!).  No, I didn't make it but I can thoroughly recommend the Co-op one shown here . . .

I'd better keep it away from these naughty tweedie-mice - they love a few cake crumbs :)  I'll keep it somewhere safe, out of harm's way ;-)

Catch up soon after the fair (if we get there!!!!) Stornoway Town Hall if you happen to be in the area :) :) 

Alison
xx

P.S.  Some of these 'tweedie' creatures may make it into my online shops when they re-open after the fair - that's if they behave themselves :D

New 'tweedies' - busy, busy!

I've been so busy tweedie-making, I've almost forgotten to post about them!  Very intensive designing and making this week - but I'm pleased at how stock-making is going.  Here's a little preview . . .

Another little Scottie . . .

and another 'tweedie' matryoshka,  nestling amongst the daffies . . .

Please tell me that Spring is around the corner - apart from the daffies coming into flower, there are very few other signs of Spring - it still feels like Winter most days at the moment!

I'm like a cat on hot bricks today as I'm  awaiting a little consignment of new tweed in the post - sooooooooo excited - whooooop!  Also a little package of fat quarters of Kaffe Fassett fabric.  I've been using the lovely Kaffee Fassett fabric above, which I received from the very kind Gretchen about two years ago - I got such a lot of pleasure using it that I decided it was time to treat myself to some new prints.  They're just perfect for my 'tweedie'dolls :)

'Later gaters' - I think I hear the postie at the door!
Alison x

Squeak - eeeeeeeek!

Popped out to the garage this morning and  found these 'tweedie' critters scurrying along the edge of an old ladder - eeeeks . . .

Pheew, what a fright - they looked really menacing - up to no good obviously . . .

I seem to have a real infestation problem - wonder if I'll  find any more :) :)  Will keep you updated :D
Alison  xx

No, I haven't fallen off the edge of the planet . . . yet! :)

Well, hi there!  There really is absolutely no point in explaining why I've taken so long to get back to my blog - stuff happens :) :)  Just hope I haven't been completely forgotten about!  We've had some family health issues over the last few weeks, so no commercial work . . . everything just came to a complete halt, pretty much  - heigh ho!

Hope you have all been enjoying some crafty time in the meantime - I've taken to the knitting needles once more for some R & R.  I've amended my shop message from 'closed for Easter hols' to 'closed for stock-making'.  Perhaps I should  have said 'closed for sock-making, hehe!!' - here's the last pair I knit before we headed off for our Easter break . . .

These are the first socks I've made that are actually a snug fit - very satisfying to knit:)  I'm learning lots about stranded knitting and fair isle knitting - it's so ADDICTIVE!

We had some lovely weather over our Easter break and Other Half took this fab pic while he was out on a fishing trip with the boys and all my visiting nephews - they had a ball!  It almost looks surreal . . .

In contrast, the view from our hotel window where the boys and I took a very brief but enjoyable city-break in Glasgow - (a little 'recce' for when teenage son heads off to Uni later this year) . . .

Not the most beautiful of views,  but we had fun in the middle of the city, visiting Galleries, cinemas, shops etc. - all the stuff we don't do on the croft!  And not a sheep in sight - hurray :)  Must say that it was nice  to see the newly born lambs springing about next door on our return though!

Back to 'normal' life of sorts now, but we're all snuffly with colds and coughs this weekend - I'm taking solace in some fair isle knitting (NOT a sock - it's an experiment for something else!!)  I bought some beautiful Shetland wool which I absolutely LOVE!  It's quite reminiscent of Harris Tweed colours - lovely and subtle.  I bought this book as it has some very nice fair isle charts in it - just what I was looking for . . .

Some lovely charts to work from, and the beginnings of something experimental and 'knitty' . . .

Just to repeat - this is NOT a sock, hehe!  You'll have to keep a lookout to see if I manage to make something different with it :)  OK, the idea was 'sock-inspired' though, LOL.

Well, that's enough to be going with - sorry I've been unable to keep in touch over the last few weeks - unavoidable I'm afraid - I've missed reading all the lovely blogs I visit.   Hope to see a little more of everyone soon :)

'Tweedie' stuff coming up as soon as . . . . :D

Alison xx

A Little Waffle . . . .

In between  catching up on some domestic chores and preparing to embark on some stock-making, I've been experimenting on some knitted washcloths - just as an experiment in creating different textures, apart from anything else.  I got so frustrated at getting the crochet ones looking nice and square that I turned to knitted version patterns over on Ravelry.  I love the texture of this knitted waffle washcloth - it feels lovely and chunky and soft, and it's an easy knit - you can  find the free pattern here.  I used Lily Sugar 'n Cream cotton yarn for both of these ones . . . 

I was delighted how the heart image appeared magically on this one - such  a simple but effective idea.  You can get all sorts of images to try - I liked the sound of the dinosaur one for kiddies, very cute!  The heart pattern is  here.  They're great for a little 'knitty' practice and some 'brain-free' leisurely activity  if you're  watching the  'box' in the evening :)  Both patterns are free on Ravelry - what's not to like??? :D

I'm taking a little break from my blog for the next month while I get down to serious stock-making.  I'll be concentrating on my new designs, most of which I've already shown here, so  now  it's down to making, making and even more making!!

I loved doing an order of my little keyrings this week, so there will be more made of these I'm  sure . . .

The Scottie Dog keyring is a lot of fun to make - sorry for the terrible dark photo - another thing for the 'to do list' - improve my product images!! :)  He is far cuter in 'real-life' though - honest, hehe :)

Well, off I go - remember, I'd seriously recommend the washcloths for a fun quick make if you  need a quick, crafty fix! I'm off to immerse myself in some Harris Tweed for the next few weeks and I also have my eye on some cute fair isle socks.  Darn it, that sock knitting addiction just won't go away LOL :)

Cheerio for the next few weeks - I will see you around Easter time - before or after, I'm not too sure!

Alison xx