New Crochet Magazine

Have you seen the new magazine Simply Crochet?

It is produced by the same people who make Mollie Makes and Simply knitting. I received an email in November to say I could subscribe to the first 3 months for £5 so I thought I would give it a go!

It is full of crochet patterns, ideas and advice and is produced in the same colourful and familiar way that Mollie Makes readers are used to.

There are a range of patterns: clothes, both dinky and full sized, accessories, jewellery, furnishings and a toy dragon!

I suppose it has left me wondering whether it is really offering me anything more than I could already find for free on your lovely blogs, but I have 2 more to go before I need to decide whether to continue a subscription.

Have you seen it yet? What do you think?
Becky x
PS I am using my new Xmas pressie to do this - after agreeing to not buying each other too much for Xmas my husband surprised me with an ipad mini! I'm struggling with the blogger app a little and have no idea if the photos are where I want them to be in this post so I hope it's ok!
PSS Sorry, all pics at the end and apparently nothing I can do about it! How annoying!

Pinspiration

Pinterest.
I'm hooked. Sometimes for hours! I just can't help myself. (I just popped over there to grab the Pinterest button to link this post and lost myself for another 10 minutes!)

There are so many inspiring images on there and lots of links to free patterns. Here is a round-up of some of my favourites...


Crocodile stitch booties - from BonitaPatterns, Etsy


Apparently there is a similar pattern on Ravelry for free.


knitted snowmen

I'd like to come up with a crochet pattern for these.

Pine cone elves

How gorgeous are these?! I fancy making these with a Nordic twist.

free pattern for mini star bunting

What a great idea for Christmas bunting.

knitted owls

Owl puffs! Pattern available on Ravelry.

crochet pear coasters

Handspun art yarn - Etsy

Beautiful art yarn. I hope to be able to spin like this one day! However, many seasoned spinners look down on this inferior type of spinning! I just LOVE it!

Such sweet little needle felted matryoshka.
Just a few of my favourite pins. If you'd like to see more you can click the Pinterest button in the sidebar.

Pinterest have just introduced 'secret boards' that you can share with your chosen friends only. I would, of course, share them with all of you but I need some ideas for 3 new boards. Any suggestions?
Have a good week,
Becky x

Inspiration!

I have been visiting your lovely blogs in a vain effort to catch up on the last couple of months and you have all put me to shame, you have been so busy with your making and I have done pretty much nothing. But, in my defence, I have had little time or energy to be creative. I have thought about it lots, though, and bought many things to inspire me when I finally find the opportunity to make 'something'!
The first source of inspiration is this one...

a new book about felting by Gillian Harris. She offers some great new projects and ideas which I'm keen to try. It was Gillian's first book that really inspired me to start felting and this one is no disappointment.

She doesn't go into the basic techniques as much in this one, presumably because most people who buy this book will have already purchased her first book and have all the information there.

I love the way she has used the roses on this bag.

Sweet slippers!

I'd love one of these!

I have also replenished my supplies of merino wool tops and have bought a brightly coloured unit to keep it all in! Chances of me ever destashing are impossibly slim!

Finally, something I have coveted for quite some time...

a spinning wheel! I chose it for my birthday and my family all kindly contributed to it. It isn't new, but a secondhand wheel that I bought on ebay. It took me a while to find the right one that someone was willing to post and that another bidder didn't gazump me on! Can you believe that after looking for weeks, the day after I bought this one two were listed by a lady in Cornwall! The air was blue here for a while! However, this one (an Ashford Traveller) is in lovely condition having hardly been used and, after a clean, wax, oil and general bit of maintenance, is now sitting quietly in the corner of the lounge waiting for me to master it! Mmmmm, will take some time I think (and patience - must stop swearing at it!). Think of all the yummy yarns I can make and crochet and felt!

Next post - WIPS - this will either encourage me to finish them or depress me further!
Here's a little sneak preview of the first piece of felting I've done in months...

Becky x
P.S. Have you entered my giveaway yet?

Monthly Make 2012 and Time to Craft!

I hope you have all had a wonderful Christmas.
After lots of preparations, celebrations and entertaining (thank goodness for the dishwasher!) I have finally paused for breath and a bit of crochet, felting and blogging.
Aaaahhhhhhh..... there's the the pause...... and it feels good! Even better when accompanied by by a fresh latte and homemade lemon cake!

I've joined Annie The Felt Fairy 's Monthly Make 2012 and joined the flickr group to share our makes.

I'm really excited about it! I have loved following some other blogger's monthly makes and I'm sure it will motivate me to get creating!  Why don't you join us - the more the merrier!

I have made a little more progress with the Japanese flower cowl, 14 flowers so far (almost!) and I'm aiming for 20-24. Here it is with 13 flowers (no. 14 still on the hook!).

I have a new winter coat that it will look amazing with if I can get it finished before Spring!

I also want to get this done so I can go back to my little (hem, hem) ripple crochet blanket. It has been weeks since I have added any new rows and I'm really quite missing it. Too may projects, too little time.

I received two new crochet books for Christmas. I knew they were going to be good as so many of you have recommended them on your blogs and given me a sneaky preview into their contents.

I haven't seen this scarf in any of the previews however and have completely fallen in love with it.

Yesterday a spot of wet felting was done and it did feel good to get my hands all soapy with the fluffy stuff. I forgot to share my new supplies with you, didn't I?!
Here are my lovely new fibres.

OK, in the bag doesn't show off their beauty at all so here are a few pics out of the bag!

Spring Green - a merino tops and silk mix

Strawberry Sundae - a merino tops and silk mix

Raspberry Chocolate - a merino tops blend (good enough to eat!)

Lagoon - a merino tops blend

White, turquoise, deep turquoise and citrus merino tops 

Damson - a rich purple dyed merino top

All gorgeous. I haven't used any yet, I'm saving them for some special projects - don't know what yet! I also couldn't resist this Gillian Gladrag kit which had been reduced from £25 to £16.

She is a brilliant felter. I have one of her books and follow her blog - quite inspirational.
Yesterday's felting was a little experiment I have wanted to do for ages. My Mum's birthday is mid-January and I noticed that she has a raggedy old cover on her new iphone so I thought I would have a go at felting one. What do you think?

I used a blue shell button and elastic for the closure. The lining is bright pink like the ring around the turquoise spots. It's beautifully soft and quite thick so it should protect the phone well.

Well, I have rambled on for long enough now, thank your for your patience and well done for making it to the end of this blog post!

Hope you are all finding some post-festivities time for a little crafting too!

Becky x

Mollie Makes Magazine

I found a brilliant new magazine this week. It's called 'Mollie Makes' and it's packed with super ideas for a range of crafts.

It was the crocheted apple covers that caught my eye on the shelf. Absolutely gorgeous in a pretty pointless kind of way!
The magazine came with this free gift which I am looking forward to making.

This first issue cost £4.99 but it has an offer inside for the next 3 issues for only £5!

I love these little eggs, an idea for next year's Easter tree perhaps.

But my very favourite idea in the magazine is this one. This is my absolute dream. I am desperate for a vintage bike with a wicker shopping basket, but to have this piece of crochet on it is just amazing.

What an stunning idea - a crocheted frock protector!
I LOVE it!
ABSOLUTELY!
UNRESERVEDLY!
Guess what my next project is going to be?!

Becky x