Patchwork baby quilt

A friend of mine had a baby last year and this is for him, once I get it backed!

New Year -and crafts aplenty!

Well, the blog kinda fell apart towards the end of the year. Must try harder! Crafting for Christmas was what kept me busy at the end of the year, and my internet time has focussed more on Facebook, where I have found some old friends and kept in touch with newer ones.

I did a major effort to make gifts for family this Christmas:
Mum - crocheted shawl
Dad - knitted cabled hat (to match gloves I made for his birthday)
John - knitted rib hat
David - crocheted bath mitt (didn't know what he would wear)
Kirsty - crocheted neck warmer and knitted hat with cable brim
Craig - knitted rib arm warmers and matching hat
Steph (my niece) - knitted eyelash yarn neck warmer (never again!)

Also made for others:
School fundraiser - 6 crocheted neck warmers
Poultry Keeper Secret Santa - 4 knitted mini stockings stuffed with spices
Crafts Forum Secret Santa - crocheted neck warmer
Craft Group Secret Santa - 3 crocheted bath mitts (for younger members) and crocheted string shopping bag
15 x Snowman Soup in a mug for the kids at school

For me:
A crocheted Christmas Tree with glass bead 'lights'

Since Christmas I have made, by request:
Crocheted mittens with a fold back top to let the fingers out for Kirsty to match her Christmas presents
A knitted hat/ balaclava for David
A crocheted neck warmer for my sister, she doesn't like scarves

I am also knitting a lace pattern scarf for myself. My first lace pattern garment, apart from a baby hat, and I'm really pleased with how it is going.

Two websites of note for the yarn crafters out there:
Bargain yarn: http://kempswoolshop.com/
Fantastic pattern selections: http://www.ravelry.com/ (you have to sign up, but it is free - and worth it!)

Chicks and baskets

I finally remembered to post a pic of the chicks. I got 9 hatched out of the 12 original eggs, very happy with that. The chicks are very cute and being cochins are fluffy right down to their toes!

At the Eid Craft Group last night I showed some of the members how to make woven baskets using newspapers as a sample material. The end result was four complete baskets and plans to make more from other materials.

This and that

Well the eggs are now in their 4th incubator since incubation began, after candling I am down to 9 eggs out of the original 12, not bad for posted eggs - they are due to hatch on Thursday, hopefully the chicks will find their way out of the shell. Let there be lots of girl cochins!

John has netted over the top of my veg patch as one of the exchequor leghorns started flying up and over the netting sides, ratbag! I was going to clip the wings of all three (they all look the same to me!) but he came up with the netting solution (which is actually better).

I've learnt another new craft (what again?). Last Thursday night a friend showed me how to do iris folding - something I had seen but avoided because it looked complicated. It isn't! If you want to make cards and/ or pictures that look good but are easy to do, this is for you. Have a look here for ideas and instructions: Iris folding . For these two I used the inside of used envelopes, lots of patterns and shades of blue in them!




Anyway, back to the other crafts, I have a basket to make and the willow is finally soaked enough ( I think). Pics of basket and chicks (god willing) will follow to bore you!

coiled rope planter

Today I made my second rope basket. I am using it as a planter and I'm really pleased with it. The whole thing is made from beach combings. The base is a bucket lid, the sides and bindings are rope. I have lined it with a rabbit food bag and it's now home to a lavender plant.

Busy days and cake recipe

Been a busy few days - work, won't go there but safe to say a bit hectic!

Wednesday night was Eid Craft Group and Elizabeth, who started it last month, came for a quick visit with her new baby boy Holden - born the night before! We had a record turn out with 12 folk there, mostly new faces! I started a pale blue crochet jacket for Holden using this pattern: Baby It's Cold Outside from here Crochet Pattern Central a website full of free crochet patterns.

Thursday night we went to see Craig perform in the annual drama festival. The drama group he goes to had 3 entries over the week; Juniors on Wednesday, Youth on Thursday and Young Adults on Saturday. Craig was in the youth play 'You can't trust them' about a girls campsite in the 70's that is invaded by boys trying to deliver a love letter for a friend. Of course the boys had to be in disguise - as girls complete with dresses, 'padding' and wigs! It was hilarious and very well done and well received by the audience. Prizes are awarded tonight so hopefully the group will be successful.

Friday was John's birthday so we went to the Mid Brae Inn for a steak night meal which was very good. Pity for them it was quiet (good for us!) but there were a few other things on too.

Today I have made a beef in wine casserole which is torturing me as I type, John's not home yet so it's waiting in the slow cooker. I have also got 4 boiled fruit cakes in the oven, John's favourite so a late birthday cake. One of them will go to work with him on Monday for their afternoon tea break and another will come to work with me on Friday for Comic Relief (it has cherries on top). I promised the children I would make cakes for them to sell and this one is for the staff room.

Boiled Fruit Cake Recipe (for 2lb loaf tin)

12oz dried fruit
4oz caster sugar
1/4 pt water
4oz margarine
1 tsp mixed spice

8oz SR Flour
2 beaten eggs

Put first 5 ingredients in a pan and bring to the boil. Simmer for 20 mins and then allow to cool. Add flour and eggs and mix well. Place in lined tin and bake for 1 1/2 hours at Gas Mark 3, 325 F.

I never make just one, and I use all kinds of fruit. The ones in the oven have cranberries, raisins, sultanas, apricots, nectarines and pineapple in them. Very easy recipe to do, let me know if you try it!

Scarf and hat

I've finished a scarf for Craig in Mistake Rib, a stitch a friend introduced me to recently. Then tonight I made myself a hat using the same stitch and Pampas yarn with 10mm needles - a nice quick project!

More for the shop

My latest contributions for the Crafteroo Comic Relief shop:

Scarf for charity

I've finished a crocheted scarf and it's going to be for sale in the Crafter...oo Comic Relief shop. All items are hand made by Crafter..oo forum members and all proceeds are being sent to Comic Relief. Why not have a look and see what else is there?

New Craft Group

Went to a craft group tonight, the first time it's run. Only five people turned up as the threat of snow put some people off. We had some nattering time, homebakes and cross stitch, knitting and scrapbooking were the crafts of the night. If you're in Shetland, why not come and join us? Bring something you're working on, need help with or look for inspiration:

Eid Craft Group

Beanstalk and bag

2 sewing makes.
Finally, a picture of the beanstalk I made for the school panto:


and a photo of a bag made for me by my secret Santa on http://www.craftsforum.co.uk/