knitwise

Yellow April...

After having been treated to a full beauty treatment and face-lift,  my sewing-machine deserved a new dust cover to replace her broken, ugly,  grey plastic one. 

As the April Project Spectrum called for yellow/orange this month,  the color was easy to chose...  I had originally planned a more sophisticated design in the line of a Haute Couture theme,  but I changed my mind as Spring is in the air and I came across this applique designed by Nancy Halvorsen in the Easy Does it for Spring book published by Art to Heart.

When he came back from school and I showed him my work,  my son laughed and said I looked a bit like this happy bunny when I am about to sew something...  I don't know if I should take this as a compliment on my enthusiasm!...

Pretty Flowers through the post...

I didn't have much time this past week to do a lot in the crafting department.  Hopefully,  I will be able to change that in the coming week should everything runs smoothly according to plans...   Finishing my April Project Spectrum is my priority number One.  It shouldn't take me too long, so stay tuned... 

I have been thinking a lot about the bag I am going to make for the The Big Bag Swap.  There is a big difference between making something for yourself or for somebody else (for me anyway...).  I am not usually a perfectionist and I can live with my mistakes,  but I feel that when you work for someone else,  a special effort is needed to achieve at least "near perfection".  So for this reason, I am a bit nervous...  I am also torn between the choice of a knitted bag or sewn one.  So I have decided to make both and send the one I like best (and also the one that fits my Pal's preferences.).  I have made a start on the knitted one which should take me longer to make.  This is a design of my own and I am working on it as I go along (so far, so good...)  Sorry, no pictures yet for obvious reasons...

I had more inspiration coming my way via the postman.  Caro has so kindly sent me a copy of the Special edition of Marie-Claire Idees packed as usual with beautiful projects.  I was delighted, but as a surprise,  she also included her hand-made flower pins !  They are so pretty,  I don't think I will ever dare using them !  Thanks so much Caro for your generosity !

 

Peace and quiet...

The Easter holidays are over !  The children went back to school today and peace and quiet returned in the home...  The house looks as if a bomb has hit it and the question of the day was  "Where to start ?"  It will be some time before I go back to my old, comfortable  routine...

So what are the plans now that I will have some time of my own ? 

As Joy is left waiting,  I will be able to start Saffron's back (as soon as my conscience is reasonably clear with regard to the housework...).  I have made a small start on my April Project Spectrum which, this month, is yellow or/and orange.  In a moment of complete madness,  I have also signed up for the Big Bag Swap hosted by Sandra.  I am looking forward to discovering who I will be making the bag for and to reading the questionnaire enabling me to see what her preferences are in terms of colour, style, etc...

As you can see, I have got enough to keep myself occupied for a while... and I am not telling about all the other projects queueing inside my head...

Happy Easter !

I have had suspicions for some time now,  but chose to make a nearly perfect impersonation of an ostrich burying her head in the sand...  Now that Joy's sleeve comes to an end,  I have to face the now obviously undeniable fact:  I am going to run out of wool,  probably in mid-second sleeve !  The options opened to me are:  contact John Lewis where I got the Yorkshire Tweed 4ply in the first place and ask them to look for the odd ball in the right dye lot that might have disappeared behind a shelf,  or stare forever at a one armed Joy, or rip it in an outburst of rage and frustration...

As if this wasn't enough for one week,  I have just learned this afternoon that my local fabric/haberdashery shop is closing down.  Not re-locating,  not selling to a successor... simply closing down!  I won't regret the knitting yarns (all acrylic stuff), nor the dress fabric (poor selection), but I will miss the 100% craft fabrics.  The actual closing date is not official yet I have been told: could be July or September with the good news that the prices will go down even more as we are nearing the Day.  Naturally I have started stocking up. One has to be prepared.... I haven't had time to take pictures yet, but I will show you some soon...

As you might have guessed, I am not a very Happy Bunny at the moment... Thank goodness, there is chocolate at the end of the week...  Have a Happy Easter !!!

Japanese fever...

Having read so much about Japanese Craft books across  the blogging community ,  I thought it was time I had a look for myself.  I ordered a couple from Kitty-Craft and I received them yesterday.  What a pleasure for the eyes !  They are written entirely in Japanese  but it doesn't cause much of an obstacle : the books come with full size patterns and drawn instructions simple enough to follow (at first glance...)

The first one is the latest Cotton and Paint magazine.   It is packed with adorable projects.  Here is a little selection:

The second one,  "Dolls & Dolls",  I bought because I couldn't resist their cute little faces.  Whether I am going to make one of these or not is another question.  I don't think I am talented enough to achieve the perfect facial expressions...  but I might use it for inspiration and the body parts are easy enough... 

And finally, I couldn't resist buying these little buttons !  A few ideas of how and when to use them have come to my mind... but for the moment,   I think they look rather pretty on my table...  Spring has come at last !

Enjoy your week-end !

Keeping my promises...

I have got my sewing-machine back and it looks brand-new !  I am so keen to try it out but the Easter holidays have started here and I don't think I will be allowed to make anything for two weeks with the children at home.  Never mind,  I can still dream and plan what I am going to present for my April Project Spectrum.  I have got to think Yellow/Orange...  Lovely bright colors for Spring,  which has finally started to show its timid face over here.

I have completed Saffron's first sleeve and very wisely put it away to concentrate on finishing Joy. So far, I am keeping my promises and to be honest,  until Easter is over, I won't be able to do anything more elaborate than plain stocking-stitch... so everything is working according to plan.