Making frenzy

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It’s the Knitting and Stitching show at Harrogate in a little over two weeks and we’d like more examples of our kits made up to show what they look like. Not difficult to do but time consuming so, some very good friends have been / are helping us. Sue has made a small flock of sheep and is now woking on a bear, Ann and family are creating an array of hedgehogs and Jeni came and helped out with a spot (or 64) of bunting making yesterday.

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Such wonderful friends, thank you all so much. I couldn’t do it without you.

Sweet sixteen

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There was a birthday in the house yesterday, our daughter is now 16 and yet it doesn’t seem 2 minutes since I was asking for help with the birthday bunting for her 13th birthday.

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Perhaps some of you remember it? You can read all about it here  Each time the bunting comes out (and that is regularly plus it has been loaned out too) I’m grateful for all the help and good wishes I had. We love to look at each piece and remember from whence it came. My plan for this birthday was to give a vintage twist to the birthday table. I’m not sure I achieved it but I do think it looked very pretty and that’s okay with me. I don’t have much pottery etc.that’s floral so began by raiding the garden.

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Lavender and orange Potentilla, two favourite colours of Charlotte’s, displayed in a sherry glass. I’d really had the idea of lovely soft pastels hmmm, not very easy in mid October but I did find a few late blooming roses.

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Originally I tried to display the roses in a pink and white gingham box with the use of an oasis but it didn’t work. I then resorted to the jam jar above but I’d cut the roses so short I still needed to use the oasis. Now the oasis was visible so out came the ribbon box – I’m pleased with the results, it’s just the thing. BUT, my favourite of all has to be the pink shrub in the tea cup.

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I’m well chuffed with this and so was our daughter. Next came the cake or cakes. Having decided to make cup cakes instead this year I wanted these also to have a vintage twist and shot out to the shops for a few flowery additions, as this isn’t the kind of thing I usually have in the cupboard. So cakes baked, cooled and blue icing added, I reached for the icing syringe.

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Now this is vintage and was given to my parents as a wedding present in the 1950s. On TV, everyone seems to use icing bags. I’ve never used an icing bag but I’ve been using this for most of my life, shame I’ve never improved my piping skills though!  Wiggly bits done, on with the flowers and ta-dah!

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Aren’t they fab? Hubby thought they, and the table, looked good and our daughter, through rose tinted spectacles, thought they looked professional! I’m happy.

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It was worth the effort. the table looked so pretty it was a delight to sit there and eat. Hubby normally only has one iced bun at a time, as he’s more of a savoury man but this time he had three! Praise indeed.

 

 

Are you celebrating?

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This is the question I was asked this morning by a neighbour. I think perhaps it has something to do with taking this photo.

Finally, I have finished my last piece of bunting. You may remember some heart bunting made from Blue Faced Leicester (BFL) fibre. Well, this was made at the same time and has then sat quietly in the cupboard waiting for another finishing off session. As it’s Yarnival tomorrow I knew I had to make the effort to finish so I could take it with me.

There are five strings in total, each 2.5m with 10 flags along each length. The flags are made from Manx, Jacob, BFL, Cheviot and Shetland so another all British offering.

Heart Bunting

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I began this set of bunting in August I believe. Although it’s not complicated to make sheets of felt for cutting up I just didn’t find the time to finish – looking back I seem to have had quite a few projects like this last year but at least they get finished eventually. It’s all made from British Blue Faced Leicester wool, the pink was hand dyed by me, do you think it’s bright enough?

The edges are hand stitched in plain running stitch with embroidery thread and each flag  has an appliqued heart. They’re machine stitched to the tape. I didn’t do running stitch along the top and I’m now wondering if I should have – opinions?

There are 12 flags on each set, flags are 12cm wide by 18cm long. I made sufficient felt for five sets but only three are completed as I ran out of tape. And yes, the yellow really is that vivid!!

Finished bunting

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It hasn’t been fantastic weather for bunting this week but here’s a few pictures of the finished butning.

Shame I couldn’t get of all of it into the sun but you can see from the last pic that they sparkle in sunshine so I know they’re going to look splendid by candlelight. Next and last pictures will be of the party day!

Sixty!

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I’ve done it, I’ve done it! You have to imagine the jig I’m doing at the moment in celebration of reaching this milestone. These are the final four.

All I need to do now is string them together – photos of that later. However, just 60 flags wouldn’t be enough would it? No, of course not which is why good friend Kate has loaned me these (thanks Kate).

Just need to work out where to hang them all and pray for dry weather for the birthday, then they can all flutter in the breeze.

Nearly there

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It seems like a very long time since I began my project to make felt bunting for my daughter’s birthday. After twenty I realised I was struggling and many of you came to my rescue -thank you so much.

These are my latest contributions from Susan Hibbert. They’re gorgeous with little bits of silk and stitch for added bling. I knew my daughter woule be very taken with the blue one and she is. Susan has also been involved in a very large project at work. The Yorkshire Agricultural Society have commissioned a piece of felt wall art based on a David Hockney image. Take a look at the website to see how it’s progressing.

I decided to go away and add up how many flags I had, expecting the total to be 50. Imagine my delight to discover that I’m actually at 56! Dashing off now to try and finish the last four – I hardly dare believe it.

Lucky me!

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I;m so lucky. Today I received two more pieces from my lovely friend Tracy. I’m not sure where Tracy has found the time but I’m so glad she has.

They’re very well made and have lovely beads hanging from the point. I think it’s time I went and got something to start stitching them all together. 🙂

New Batch

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Life certainly seems to be very busy at the moment but I have managed to make four more flags for the bunting.


Only after I’d made the brown ones did I realise I’d set my sights on not using any neutrals. However, my daughter came home from school and loved them so much that they get to stay. I’ll add some bling tobunting, felt, flags them which’ll be a nice little project for me whilst watching TV. Tracy has promised me two more (thanks Tracy) which means I now only have 12 left to make. Getting closer!

Crikey

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In just over four weeks I’ll be the mother of a teenager! How did that happen? Time definitely accelerates as you get older, I’m sure summer holidays went on for ever when I was a child but the summer holidays this year flew by. My ‘little girl’ is now 5’4″ (and still growing), has pierced ears and a rather smart bob and looks way older than nearly thirteen.

It won’t be long before she’s taller than me and I’m not at all sure how I feel about that. One of the most noticeable things about her development is the change in how she moves. It’s no longer the movement of a child, unbeknown to her she’s moving differently and even starting to gain a modicum of grace. Now that really is unbelievable for a child that’s always been rather clumsy and accident prone. Apparently some people can even injure themselves in bed – trust me I know.

I’ve also realised I don’t have enough jars for birthday party candles so I’ll be appealing to the neighbours for extra and I still have 18 pieces of bunting to make so I’m off to get some work done and hope to show some more pieces soon.