New Skills and Old Habits

 While trying to tame my craft stocks in the Getting Sorted stakes I decided to tackle some of the yarn mountain in the loft. Going up to Christmas I’d looked at some online tutorials (as you do when on task avoidance) and found some good ones on crochet.

My nan taught me to crochet when I was little, but I’ve only ever to be able to go round and round with added corners to make blankets…

There is, however, a limit to how many doll’s blankets you can make and pass on I’ve found. So, I bit the bullet and tried going back and forth instead. My first two attempts were hats - I’d show you if I’d been organised enough to photograph them! Then I moved onto a cowl with this lovely soft chunky wool.

Then it was hand warmers - 

 Think I’m (sorry about this) hooked….. I've even seen a pattern for socks - must get that...

As far as old habits go I still need to practice sorting and throwing out… I’ve started with the spare bedroom drawers.

I wish I could say that I instigated this myself but it’s down to the fact that a spot of decorating is afoot so they need moving and that would expose the amount of random stuff inside! Hey ho… tidying alert….

From this... (excuse the foot in shot!)

To this...

Sigh.. just the rest of the house to go then...

And Finally - yes I hope so..

 Okay, I know it's January and this should have been written almost a month ago, but as I mentioned last time the events of the end of the year caught me out.

This then is a sort of rapid romp through what I intended to write with photos showing some of the ideas in their making stages as I had to speed up to get them off to the right people and places as I went along!

The idea of making so much for the festive period is twofold. Making something specifically tailored to a person and spending time and care on it can make a gift special, it can also cost far less than a hastily bought 'pressure to buy' present. 

Here's the last elephant to see out 2022 (even if it is 2023 now) - good thing he's got a good memory aided by my notebook and photos!

Month 12 - Bite 1

With my Card and Present Lists all present and correct the countdown is on. Obviously the more time I allow myself, then the easier and cheaper things will be. Well, it should work like that, if everything goes to plan (you know there's a 'but' coming now don't you?)

Best laid plans and all that means that this is more of a list than a blog in an effort to note all the 30 bites for the final month of the 12.....

I did at least manage my first bite which was to stock up on stamps. If I'm honest this belongs to earlier in the year. Once I heard that the price of stamps was going up I took the precaution of buying ahead to make sure that all my Christmas posting would be at the pre-price rise level....

Month 12 - Bite 2

My husband always buys too many cards - not dozens too many, just a few. I'm off into the loft to find out what's up there from last year so that I know exactly how many I need once I've used up his 'last year's stock'.

                                                   

Month 12 - Bite 3

Now to make the rest of the cards I need.....

If you remember I went on a fern picking trip and pressed the ferns when I got home. 

These are now nicely dried and have worked well so now all I have to do is dress them up with some sparkle and a star, mount them on Christmassy backing paper and pop them onto card.

Apologies for the lack of before and after photos from now on... with the clock ticking I took shots when I could so that I could get the finished products in the post or wrapped or.....

Month 12 - Bite 4

For family I tend to make different cards to the ones for friends. For the children I found a few wooden letters that I bought a while back at really silly sale prices.

For each of them I'm decorating their initial by pasting on Christmas tissue paper left from last year and attaching a hanging string before putting them onto the card. That way they get a card and a decoration too!

  

          

Month 12 - Bite 5

Other family cards get the handmade treatment too..

A spot of simple cross stitch embroidery with sparkle and beads always looks effective and is pretty quick to do...

                               

Month 12 - Bite 6

Following on from the Christmas card stock I rummaged around in the loft to unearth the bags and boxes from previous years.  We tend, as a family, to recycle these between ourselves. I can't tell you how old some of these are, but it becomes a kind of game when giving presents or bags for each household to try and remember who gave which to whom the year or two or three before!

                                       

Month 12 - Bite 7

This particular box deserves a bite all of its own.

It's been going back and forth for a number of years. At first it was from my niece to me for a birthday when she filled it with bath bits and treats. The following year I returned it to her so she could fill it all over again. Then we moved on to vouchers to fill up my e-book. That was when my sister took it over and so she fills it each birthday and Christmas with a selection of goodies and after each celebration I return it to her for the next time!

                                 

Month 12 - Bite 8

And onto the other 'gift wrapping'. I found some origami pages online a year or so ago and by downloading free wrapping paper designs and printing them I can now make up some small gift boxes ready for little treats.

                                  

Month 12 - Bite 9

I also watched an online tutorial for making drawstring bags. Last year I made one or two so this year I'm using some of the fabric I got in the sales in January to make some more.

Month 12 - Bite 10

Enough of the wrappings! Onto the presents...

First up more makes using the sale fabric. Little fabric storage boxes - thank you online video tutorials!

 

Month 12 - Bite 11

Once again the fabric and tutorials come to the rescue with these rather clever bookmarks...

 

The joy of these is that they are light and slim so don't I won't need to pay much for posting them....  One or two of my friends and I swap little gifts like this - either decorations, coasters or the such like each year that fit into the letter or (at the most) large letter category. We usually send handmade things and try to think of something new each time so these fit the bill beautifully.

I've sent them mounted on photos of one in use on a book page as with the third photo above.

Month 12 - Bite 12

On the subject of posting - I need to check the last posting dates to make sure I can use second class posting to get my cards and presents to where they need to be (especially with the strike situation this year)...

Month 12 - Bite 13

One of the collections I made earlier in the autumn was of leaves. This was for a special project. I used them to make leaf prints and used these to illustrate a calendar for a nature loving friend. 

I matched each leaf to a month - mind you it was a challenge with some months. 

Where there was a simple shaped 'growth' - the acorn cup for October's oak print or the seed 'wings' for September's sycamore I printed that too...

Month 12 - Bite 14

And so onto decorations. Not the shiny expensive shop bought stuff, but the handcrafted (and extremely cheap in most cases) ones...

Firstly I'm returning to those craft kits that I found languishing in a box. The first was so quick and satisfying that I don't know why I left it so long to get on with it!

Month 12 - Bite 15

I've sewn quite a lot of these over time. They are quick and simple (and have sold really well at Christmas Fairs in the past, but these are just for us).

 

Month 12 - Bite 16

This one is folded rather than sewn - I'm making some extras so that next year they can be attached to card to make more Christmas Cards!

Month 12 - Bite 17

While sorting the decorations I found a number of these plastic baubles that were all faded and flaky so I'm recovering them with strips of spare fabric!

Month 12 - Bite 18

These are for wrapping as mini wreaths to hand from the tree...

Month 12 - Bite 19

More for the tree - some wet felted balls with added beads and bells from chocolate treats!

Month 12 - Bite 20

Remember those pine cones I collected?

They've been dried so that they open out and I'm ready with some ribbons and sparkle to glue gun them into hanging decorations.

Month 12 - Bite 21

This one I've been trying to get around to for ages! I saw it in a magazine last year and just had to have a go..

The idea is to use up some more of my yarn scraps making pom poms (a very soothing exercise) and then tie/sew/glue them to a polystyrene hoop to create a fluffy wreath with embellishments of ribbons, bells, small felted balls - you name it get it in there.

Month 12 - Bite 22

Just finishing off a scarf and socks for my sister and that will be that!

I know they look odd like this - once the heel is knitted in they turn out more like these!

That's probably enough for one post - a bit rushed, but done thus far.....

Sorry - looks like there'll have to be one final, final post for 2022 before it's done.....

And a final round up..

 Happy New Year!

As it happens I haven't quite finished with the old one - yes, even over a week into 2023. Lots happened at the close of 2022 which rather got in the way of me catching up with all the missing posts for the year.

So, this post and the one or two following will need to rely on that notebook of mine and the photos taken at the time to race me back up to speed.

To Month 11 then - here's a random mix of the final Bites for the month.

Month 11 - Bite 23

Having passed on and sold a lot of books and DVDs earlier in the year I've now found a small stash of more. Not enough to warrant posting them off to a buying website I came across this just round the corner from where I live,,,

Sorted!

Month 11 - Bite 24

A friend has decided to raise some money from gifts that she might have received for Christmas and her birthday by asking for cash instead to be donated to her chosen cause.. Great idea - she's using JustGiving, but other sites are out there too.. another idea to consider.

Month 11 - Bite 25

A regular email arrived recently from a charity shop I often drop stuff off to as well as a newsletter from a local charity. Both reminded sponsors/contributors about registering the fact that they are taxpayers when donating. This is a great way of bumping up any donation by a comfortable percentage as an additional amount can be claimed back by the charities concerned. I need to double check I've ticked that box so they don't miss out.

Month 11 - Bite 26

Knitting carries on apace ready for Christmas, but I have had time to add in some extra hats and scarves for the library warm rail so I must find time to drop them down as the temperature plunges.

Month 11 - Bite 27

It's nearly time for the Advent Calendars to make an appearance. Each year my sister's church does a reverse Advent Calendar. Instead of receiving something each day - a chocolate or far more extravagant gifts in some cases (!) - you put an item from a wish list into a box to be delivered before Christmas to make someone festive period a little easier. The list contents range from foodstuffs to essential household items - a tin of soup or a toothbrush for example. It's a really simple way to countdown to Christmas without adding to the more 'grabby' side of it.

Month 11 - Bite 28

One or two of our neighbours live alone and are generally fine, but just recently one has had a long drawn out bug and another a trip to hospital for planned surgery. Time to pop in or message them to make sure they've got the provisions they need or to have a chat to break up their time at home until they are fit and well enough to get back to normal.

Month 11 - Bite 29

While I was in the charity shop the other day I started browsing the Christmas card selection. Many of my cards I make, but when I run out of time (or inspiration) it's the charity versions I turn to. Why not use something I need to get into something that helps others too?!

Month 11 - Bite 30

Planning time now. The festive season is fast approaching and I need to start looking at the gifts I need to buy. Out with that list I made earlier in the year of Christmas card recipients so I know how many I need and a new list for presents to buy is about to be made.

By pooling out thoughts on who wants what we can make sure that the money we spend as a family goes into exactly what's required with no waste or doubling up... We've also still got time to get the requested items before panic buying and lack of time intervene...

Phew! - Sorry about the whistle stop trawl through the notebook, but I'm now only a month short on my blogging target...

From finishing to starting..

 Okay, the finishing off is well underway so what's next?

Month 10 - Bite 24

Just so I don't get stale and revert to slumping in front of the TV, undoing all my good work, I must think of what else I want to try.

I want to carry on with the hobbies and pursuits I enjoy - and add to them...

There are so many things I'd like to experiment with and discover that the task in hand for this bite is to begin to list and research them. I've started learning Italian so the next step is required to make sure I'm better with the language for our next trip in the Spring. Then there are other crafty pastimes to explore - my crochet skills are so basic that they need some work. Then there's the music that I've ignored for quite some time. My guitar and concertina are gathering dust and certainly aren't earning their keep in my home.

On this tick list item then is the planning to see where I can commit some regular time to one or all of these to get them underway and where I'm going to find the information to polish the skills.

Month 10 - Bite 25

While I'm in finishing and starting something new mode - both at the same time - I want to look at what keeps me warm. I'm going to raid my yarn stash to make something warm. Will it be a hat, or a scarf, or a cowl, or socks? Let's return to this later and I'll show you.....

Socks it was then!

I don't want you to think that I've abandoned the 'learn/try something new' idea - I've attempted a different way of joining the heel and toe seams.

My next adventure will be into the world of crocheting a scarf - I've only ever done squares and blankets before - so going back and forth in rows could be a challenge!

Month 10 - Bite 26

Finally, I know I'll need help with some of these bites. Bite 26 is to give me time to find out where I can get some of that help. I know that my spinning group will assist and I also want to explore any courses that are free or cheap locally so that's my project for today.

Naturally, joining a group of like-minded people should be fun and supportive - I also think groups like this gathering together has got to be good for the energy bills! After all, we'll all be using one heat source (not just the hot air of our conversations either) by not using all those individual homes during our time together.

Most of all I'm looking forward to the fun bit (oh, and the tea and cakes that such courses/groups excel in!).

This Little Piggy... and a few quick bites

 Month 1 - Bite 19

Today I've tracked down a piggy bank. It didn't have to be this little chap, a box or tin with a slit in the lid would have served the same purpose, but as I had a ready made money box why not use it?

This needs a place near to the front door where coats come off and pockets get emptied. That's so that any loose change I find has a home.

Month 1 - Bite 20

I know this won't take long as I had a prune of all the household linens not long ago. Time to empty the airing cupboard and sort through all the blankets, bedding and towels - I know there's still more than I need in there and with some looking a bit past their best a sort out is on the cards. Any unnecessary spares are going into a box for the loft - I've got plans for them!

Month 1 - Bite 21

While near the front door, piggy bank in hand the outdoor 'stuff' rather loomed into view. This isn't all of it either!

There are more coats, scarves, gloves and other outerwear than can all be worn in one season. Rationalising this is called for. The spare items can go off to new homes (our local library has a rail for people who need them to help themselves).

Before parting company with any of these or replacing them in a more orderly fashion checking all the pockets is essential. As with the bags there's bound to be tissues, old face masks and so on that need to be sorted. Who knows, there might even be some coins for that piggy bank?!

Festival and family

It's been another full on couple of weeks, but all great fun. The Exmouth Festival coincided with my family visiting so there's been plenty to do.

I was able to put some of my work on display at the Blackmore Theatre and it was good to get one or two items finished in order to do it!

Here's a picture I finally completed - it's called 'Heartfelt'. I'm rather pleased with it as I hand felted the background and topped it with a ceramic button I made a while ago. I know the photo is on a bit of an angle, but any other shot I tried to take reflected either the rest of the bedroom where it now hangs, or me taking the picture!

 

I also hung a couple of scarves I made a while ago from bamboo poles as wall hangings. These I spun  from sari silk. It always amazes me how a ball of random fluff can end up looking like this once it's been spun and knitted.

I had some of my hand spun, knitted and felted bags on display too.

As well as this bag made from some thicker sari silk.

Once that was all up and on show other than a spell of stewarding on the Monday I was able to spend time with my sister, mum, niece, her husband and my great nephew. Graeham and I had a full day's digging on the beach on the holiday Tuesday while Finn directed operations and gave out spades. He'll make a great foreman when he grows up. Then the action moved on to Crealy the next day with the weather still with us. Thursday saw mum, Judith and me eating ice cream on Budleigh beach and then on Friday we all met up for scones and tea before they had to get ready to head back to Surrey.

On Sunday it was back to the Festival withthere workshops at Seadog Gallery. I took the wheel along as well as a couple of drop spindles and some chopsticks (yes chopsticks) so that anyone who dropped in could try their hand at spinning some merino and silk (yes with chopsticks) to make simple bracelets. 

The sun shone, sandwiches and scones were plentiful and it was a lovely day in Anna's garden. I had time to watch Hayley teaching others how to craft mosaic panels and even got to try making a felt flower in Natasha's workshop.

So, from then on it's been back to the day job, with plenty of writing to get to grips with! 

Today we've been shopping for fabric. A bit of household sewing to do - I'll show you when it's finished....

Phew.... Time for tea I think - and an evening of football......