Tuesday 20 August 2013

Somerset Place - Guest Blogger.

Hello Lovely people!


The picture above makes me very happy indeed! It's playful, bright and cheery and is a photo of a little flowery project I was rather occupied with last week.

I don't know if you remember a couple of weeks ago I mentioned that I had written an article for the lovely magazine, Artful Blogging.


I was totally thrilled to have been part of this magazine and to get involved with the amazing people at Stampington and company, the people behind the wonderful publication. 

It was a few weeks after I had finished my Artful Blogging post that I was approached to write a guest blog post on the 'Stampington and company' website. I jumped at the chance!
Along with many other publications, a shop, website and studio, Stampington also has a terrific blog called 'Somerset Place'.



It was for Somerset place that I worked on this fun, flowery project and created a little 'how to' blog post for them.

I made my usual step by step picture post that I am ever so fond of. Showing my method to faux flower fabulousness!

Here are a few of the pictures from my tutorial/ guest blog post:


It was a fun project to make. Nothing too complicated and an ideal evening project for a night in front of the television.
Here's another little glimpse at my finished creation:









Felt, woollen and pom pom flowers!!! In bright and bold colours!



A very happy project! the flowers now sit on my chest of drawers looking rather perky and pleased with themselves :-)
Here's a link for those of you that want to check out the blog and the full post over at Somerset Place and maybe give making some fun fake flowers a whirl!!

Until next time, keep crafty!




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Thursday 15 August 2013

A Work In Progress

Hello there!!! How are you all?
I'm sat here with a large mug of coffee, the sun is shining, windows are open and a lovely cool breeze is blowing through the apartment. MMMMMM Summer mornings!!!
I have a bit of a morning routine that consists of bumbling out of bed (late), making a coffee and sitting sleeplessly surfing the internet, reading the news and checking my emails.
This morning however, I was up out of bed extra early after having a phone call from my clever little sister. She had just received her 'A level' results and found out the she has successfully gotten into university! Now that's amazing news if ever I heard it!!!! Im so very very proud of her and so excited for her moving to another city later in the year to start her new adventure!!!!

So I'm up out of bed a little earlier than usual and thought I'd come and share with you lovely people.
I'm currently working on a new project and enjoying it immensely! I say a new project, It's actually an old one. A project that has been hibernating for over two years in a plastic bag behind the sofa. It feels like a new project though as my energy and enthusiasm towards it is brand new and fresh.

Shall I show you what it is?
Its this scrummy Japanese Flower blanket which I'm hoping to finally get finished so I can fully enjoy it's beauty!!!


These pictures make me extremely happy!!! YUMMMMMMMMMY COLOURS and SOFT SOFT  YARN!!!!

Now I can't take responsibility of this project. It's actually Dennis' blanket that he started a couple of years ago and forgot about. It was only recently when I was having a big sort out at home (we are getting ready to move apartment in October) that I came across this lovely project so bright and luxurious that I knew I had to do the good deed of finishing it.

This isn't my first venture with the Japanese flower pattern, I actually started a little blanket with the pattern using stylecraft acrylic yarn a little while ago. Rather like Dennis I lost interest in this project and it didn't amount to much.


The difference between my version Japanese Flower blanket and Dennis' was the yarn. He had started making his with 'Drops Alpaca' and it's because of the luxury of this yarn that I couldn't let this project continue to live in a plastic bag.

For those of you that don't know this yarn, it is simply delicious!!!!!


It's a dream to work with, comes in a fabulous selection of colours and is the softest most silky smooth texture when worked up. 

I got to work on this blanket, picking up where Dennis had left off. It's such a pleasure to make. It's slow work but the quality of this yarn and colours that Dennis chose make it well worth while. 

Luckily Dennis saved the labels for each of the colours of yarn. So once I was finished with the yarn I already had, I could easily purchase some more in the correct colours from the DROPS website.

Here are the colours Dennis had picked that we are using for the blanket, a really great combination of bright and dark tones:


















The blanket was about halfway complete when I got my hands on it! So I've got the other half to finish.


It's going to take quite some time to actually finish this blanket, what with the many colour changes and the endless amount of ends to sew in. I'm positive it will be well worth the hard work when it's done. 


Not only is Dennis super happy that his lovely project is finally going to get finished, but I'm thrilled that it will be a fabulous finished blanket that we both worked hard on. I think that's rather special.

I'll keep you all updated on my progress.
Until next time.... Have a lovely day!!!

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You can read an updated and revised version on our new blog.

Click here to read this post in full at it's new home!