What a Felting Friday!

After a reasonably busy Thursday I needed a day to relax. I haven't done any wet hand felting for ages so I decided to set the scene, I picked a perfect project and spent the day ruining a beautiful hand-knitted by myself some time ago Alchemy mohair shawl with soap, water and some serious rubbing action.

Lack of studio and a designated place of work meant that everything had to be set up on the kitchen table...

BOX OF TRICKS

 

 

 

 

THE TABLE IS SET

BEFORE LAYING OUT THE WOOL TOPS

AND THE FINISHED SCARF
I'm very pleased how the project turned out. It was a lot of work, patience and mess to clean up, but so worth it. I know how it works, yet it never ceases to amaze me like a wonderful magic trick.

What to do on a Monday?

I work just off Totthenham Court Road, and that in itself is reason enough why I don't venture out shopping in West End. I'm there 5 out of 7 days of the week, and don't relish shopping trips when West End is full of weekend shoppers and tourists.


On Monday, now on my week off I decided to go on a wonder in Covent Garden. My main aim was beads and other little bits from The Bead Shop in Tower Street. Of course I got more than I went for and feeling the surge of energy decided against going home and went further instead. I walked lots in Covent Garden, browsing all the lovely little shops, ended up in Strand (I always get lost in Covent Garden!) From Strand I wondered to Trafalgar Square, Regent Street and off to Carnaby Street.

The day was absolutely gorgeous, sun shining making the flowers on the back wall of Liberty's come to full bloom.

After a good couple of hours in Liberty's - haberdashery department mainly - I decided reluctantly to make my way home. With Oxford street still packed I ventured through the backstreets of China Town and Soho towards Charring Cross Road to get a bus home.


I managed to finish a little project on the way back, another one of many bracelets is completed.






I think I might have got them out of my system now for a little while and I can start knitting again, that is of course if knitting will have me back despite my fling with crochet. Only time will tell...

This Need for Beads...

... has taken over the last week of my life. I'm off to Covent Garden in a moment to source some lovely materials for all the ideas buzzing in my head. Before I go though I'd like you to take a look at what I have been up to last week.

This is my first ever beaded crochet bracelet you've seen in previous post and another one that is already adorning my friend's wrist - belated birthday present that's put a smile on her face.

Mrs G in action

...and the bracelet is ready!!!

This will be one of my favourites. Love the vibrant colour combination for summer!



This pink, lilac and pearl white is for my mum. It's very muted and classy, and bigger beads in the middle add extra style.

And finally here's something I'm experimenting with at the moment. I'm trying to work out how to use the beaded tubing to create ear-rings and rings. Ear-rings are already a clear idea in my head, but the ring needs further work. At the moment it's far too bulky to wear on the finger so I will have to use just a section of tubing for the top ant attach to some sort of ring base. I have a few ideas, but too early to share.

Have a wonderful bank holiday. If you're not going out why not crochet a beaded bracelet. Here's Bees workshop to get you started. I'm off for my fab supplies. Covent Garden here I come!

Bracelet Extraordinaire!

Another Sunday, another fabulous day and another creation I am ever so proud of!

Last Sunday four of us have gathered for a creative workshop taught by lovely Bee of chaincreative. Sarah, Stacey, Aveen and yours trully decided we can master the art of tubular crochet with beads. Ha ha!

Not one to be beatten easily I must confess this tested my patience a little bit, but with Bee's mantra in my head -"it's easy once you get going" - I have set out to succeed. And succeed I did, although i will let you all be the judges of that. All I say is my work colleagues were impressed.



Workshops with Bee are always an event I look forward to and then regret they end so quickly. But after every single one of those I left with a new skill which has completely hooked me.


The Bead Crochet Workshop was no different. The day was beautiful, hot, glorious sunshine, the surroundings were cosy and peaceful and Bee was her usual enthusiastic self , spurring us on and not letting anyone give up. What better way to spend a day than rummaging through colourful beads, picking colours for a project and then turning them into a wonderful piece of jewellery.


Girls, this really is my idea of a perfect Sunday!

This is my first attempt. I'm planning a few more for sure. I already threaded beads for one more and I don't think I will be stopping there.









I finished my bracelet at home on Sunday evening after the workshop and I have been wearing it every day since...

Say YES to a cup cake!

It's official. Cupcakes are all the rage! They are fashionable, they're in, they're it! Why are they the sweet of the moment? Maybe because they're easy, maybe because they're bitesize or maybe because they're delicious and oh so pretty!

The art of the cupcake is getting popular and fast. It's such a simple piece of sponge that's pretty fool-proof and yet offers the huge potential to make it look like a cute little work of art. Is it any wonder we're all doing it?

Not one to let any trend pass her by, yours trully has rolled up her sleeves and got stuck right in. I bought the most delicious cupcake receipe book with the pictures just asking to be licked. They are from the hummingbird bakery. If you have never heard of it follow the link and let temptation guide you.

So there you have it - my humble attempt at the cult red velvet cupcake. You have to trust me that underneath all that buttercream icing the cake is surprisingly bright red! I think I might have to work on spreading not slapping the icing at random, keep the sugared rose petals and skip the chocolate shavings, make it neat next time.

I'm happy to confirm that in spite of slapdash decorating my red velvet cupcakes have passed the friends and family taste test!

To finish off I'd like to show you something absolutely stunning. It must take indescribable patience and precision to come up with these. Betz White I salute you! Before you ask yes they are knitted cupcakes. And, although you can't sink your sweet tooth in their luscious gorgeousness, these you can keep and admire for ever... so go on say YES to a cupcake...

The images is this post are borrowed from:
OBI'S SISTER

Leeloo Dog Blog

BOHEMIAN MAGIC

Betz White