This is impressive, Tif the star of dottie angel blog has decided to create a challenge. She will use and buy secondhand and handcrafted goods for a year.  Check the few below who have made a good start.

Abigail’s Pocatello

Mum design

May the cloth be with you

I love the idea of it and am thinking about it, but worried I won’t keep it up.  Please send me ideas and advice if you’ve started with dottie’s challenge.

Two weeks to go and only a few last things to do.  I’ve collected tea cups, tablecloths, ribbons, made baggage tags, and created mini bunting.  I’m not sure what’s left to do apart from get married and have a good time.

I am very pleased with my flower jars, they are by Leifheit and are just great.  After the wedding I am going to have to start making jams and preserves to fill all my lovely glasswares.

Its not quite as perfect as the large bunting, but it will look cute where ever I use it.

My partner in crime at work had a little baby a few weeks ago, so I got busy creating the prefect little shoes.  I regret not taking any nice pictures before giving them.  Here they are being modeled so beautifully though.

To think I thought they were to small.  As these where so greatly received I thought I’d make a pair for my next door neighbours who’s just had a baby as well.

Another day another project!

I love having time to myself and making gifts.  I’m going to make a series of egg cosies and then some coffee pot cosies and knitted tea cosies all with cute creatures on.  This is the first one some am still trying to iron out any issues, though I think it worked quite well.

On the front I have a big easter chick, the same design as on some of my cards and on the back a baby round chick.

I’m going to create a few with hearts and flowers and a few aimed at boys to.  If you’d like one, feel free to ask.  I also am willing to create custom made designs.

Spring is here, the clocks have changed, the evening are getting lighter and its been a weekend of spring cleaning, sorting things for  carboot sales and listing on ebay I felt I should get some crafty bits done.  Three weeks off work just doesn’t feel long enough to get my massive list of wedding and crafting jobs done.

Finishing knitting, making cards & felting!

My first task in progress is a present for a friends baby, I’ve been meaning to get it finished for ages.  So far I have a lion, next comes the acacia tree and maybe a giraffe.  I’ve used African printed fabric to add a traditional element to the project.

I’m thinking of making a series of smaller ones, for cards or to be framed individually.   Lions, giraffes, monkeys, hippos etc.  What do you think?

I’m posting all my wedding updates here as I have forgot the login details to my wedding website.  Hopefully I’ll remember them at some point.

Here are a few pictures I have found that have inspired me for the wedding,

I am loving these silly little salt and pepper shakers, not sure if they are good for a wedding, but cute anyway.

My mother in law to be has been busy.  She has made me lovely bunting from a variety of fabric, even Cath Kidston could sell something so pretty.  I’m going to string it around the outside and a little on the inside of the venue and possibly some on the table edges.

What do you think?

Having never made a sock monkey before I thought I’d give it a go. Plus the guy I worked with challenged me to see who could make the best.   He’s not quite as cute as I hoped, but I’m sure number two will took better.

What to do with a bit of wool?  Knit baby booties is the answer, or at least what I did.  These cute little things were a present for a friends baby shower.  It took me a while to get going and get them right, but I think they looked great in the end.   A touch small though.

This is how I packaged them up, so cute!

I’ve been a busy bee in the build up to Christmas. Homemade gifts are so precious and I thought I’d give one or two a go this year.

Knitting is my new found love, though I’m still a beginner and have to put hours into my new hobby. Unpicking rows, starting again and missing stitches. So the items I made are pure labors of love, and the people who will receive the I hope will be very happy.

I neck scarf in a lovely fluffy in warm 100% wool.

A little difficult to see but I had a go at crocheting flowers for a finishing touch. This took a while as i find crochet terribly difficult. I am pleased with the finished results and i hope the new owner will be too.

A few more presents have been made but I don’t want to spoil any surprises, so watch this space.

Lino prints take time and patience, carving out each layer, adding colour and then printing it all stage by stage. My latest creations loaded to my Etsy site and are a series of flower prints. Flowers I love, poppies and magnolia, that are the essence of springtime. The images vary in colour, so each design is quite original.