Very local-centric post quickly, just to say that Mandors in Glasgow are starting their own craft group from this Sunday! I am going to try and make it along – will I see you there?
Posted under general crafty updates, recommendations
This post was written by Vonnie on September 29, 2009
Firstly I’d just like to say what an amazing and wonderful bunch of people I am HONOURED to have as readers and therefore as friends. I was gobsmacked by the response to my last post and I’m truly overwhelmed at the outpouring of support and experience that came from you all. Thank you, all, from the bottom of my heart 
OKAY! Now we’re done with the schmaltzy PDA I can show you what I’ve been doing while I’ve not been doing anything. I know this won’t come as a surprise to any of you, given that I have four children but I’ve been indulging a lot in that naughty S word…*
…SHOPPING. You filthy minded scamps. What else did you think I was going to say? 
So. My good friend Evelyn posted photographs of her gorgeous daughter Esmé over a year ago and of course being me my first response was, “ZOMGshe’sgorgeousEvelynWHEREDIDYOUGETHERDRESS?!!” Evelyn graciously directed me to Cindy’s shop on Hyenacart but alas, she didn’t have any fabulous technicolour dreamdresses available in stock. I bookmarked the store then completely forgot about it until a couple of weeks ago when I was clearing out my email, I found an exchange between Cindy & I. I decided to drop her a quick line to see if she was still making the dresses and oh FRABJOUS day not only was she making the dresses but she had space for me to place an order. Hooray!
I thought Greer was probably a little young for the full twirly dress effect so I got one for Erica and one for my niece Bailey. My sister Stephanie and I have a pretty good deal going, I give her Erica’s clothes once she’s outgrown them then she passes Bailey’s clothes back to me for Greer. We have just acquired a new niece last week when my stepbrother and his girlfriend had a little girl so no doubt these dresses will be passed on to little Maissie too! Anyway, I digress. Point is, beautiful dresses of wonder arrived this afternoon and I immediately stopped what I was doing to make Erica put hers on. It’s so colourful it has immediately washed away bad mood (I was really irritated today because it’s been raining constantly for months and I need some sunshine!)
I think Erica likes it.
What do you think?
*That reminded me of a story. When I was in Primary 3 (so 6-7 years old) I remember grassing someone in my class in for swearing. The teacher asked me what the swear word started with and my precocious little reading mind went into overdrive and I said, “It began with an S.” The teacher had a think and couldn’t work out which particular profanity had been levelled so told me to whisper it, so I whispered, “shit“. She gave me into trouble and told be it didn’t start with S, it started with Sh! Isn’t it funny the things you remember?
Posted under for the kids, recommendations
This post was written by Vonnie on September 3, 2009
As promised, here is my belated 100th post giveaway entry!
I’ve been trying to come up with entry criteria but due to lack of sleep thanks to a very cute little girl I haven’t got the imagination. So! I recently finished reading The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
With that in mind, to enter this giveaway I would like you to recommend a book to me – it can be any genre at all – and tell me why I need to have this book in my life. If you’re not a literary type then feel free to recommend a website that you think I need to see.
In return? One of you lucky types will win four stitch markers, a pair of gorgeous pink resin knitting needles (made by Kerry at PennyDog Jewellery) and the knitting bag made by me and embellished with a removeable needlepointed flower brooch by Debbs for the Crafteroo mixed media craft challenge (with apologies for the picture of the bag, it’s not the easiest thing to photograph!).
Go!
Posted under recommendations, site stuff
This post was written by Vonnie on May 26, 2009
Okay okay so I know that none of you have particularly been awaiting this moment with bated breath but it’s a big day for me! The ever lovely Amanda from KitschyCoo kids asked me at the end of February to test a pattern that she’d designed. “Sure,” says I, “No problem.” Hmm. It’s only six weeks later and I’m finished…
This was the first KitschyCoo pattern that I’ve sewn. I also have a coat pattern which I’m hoping to sew up before Christmas, but I’ll admit happily that my novice sewing skills really put me off even though when I flicked through Amanda’s instructions it all looked straightforward. I shouldn’t have worried. In the end, the actual construction of the entire garment was done in less than an hour and believe me when I tell you I’m irritatingly meticulous and therefore slow. The one thing that held me up was that no matter how hard I tried I could not master the buttonhole function on my sewing machine. TURNS OUT that’s because I’m missing a vital part from my sewing machine accessories – namely a buttonhole foot. Doh!
Anyway. This jacket (which is fully reversible by the way) has been semi finished for over a week and yesterday Kat came to visit and whilst Bob kept us supplied with tea and cake Kat did it for me showed me how the buttonhole function works. So! I’m proud to unveil my version of the KitschyCoo matinee coat.
Side one -
Side two -
Erica absolutely loves it. It took a bit of bribery with a new nightie to get her to take it off! I’m extremely happy with the way it’s turned out and I’ll be making another one very soon so that she has a spare when this one is in the washing.
We also owe a wee thank you to Sam from Incy Wincy Stitches. You might remember that in this post I’d mentioned the first hat and booties set was going to Sam and in exchange, Sam sent up the gorgeous blue bag that Erica is clutching in these pics. It’s a crocheted clutch and was filled with hair bobbles and slides for Erica which she was just thrilled with. All in all, a very happy wee girl yesterday – just look at that smile! (She was actually laughing at Nairn and Findlay who were hanging out the window shouting to her)
So what do you lovely lot think? A passable first attempt at following a pattern?
In other news I’m looking for a little bit of input from you lot. It’s Erica’s 2nd birthday in less than two weeks, then Findlay’s 8th birthday five weeks after that. I’d really like to make each of them a handmade gift but I’m looking for suggestions. What are your go-to handmade gift ideas for children? Or as a parent, what would you really be happy for your child to receive?
Posted under for the kids, recommendations, sewing
This post was written by Vonnie on April 22, 2009
I was having a discussion the other day about the blogs that I read and my method of reading. Suffice to say if your blog is on this list then I read it. If it’s not, leave me a comment with a link and let me investigate! I read every single entry on my list and I try to comment on as many as possible because as bloggers I believe we thrive on complete strangers commenting on our work! So in that vein, I’ve picked five blogs that inspire me for the inaugural “We love your blog!” award. I think you should all go and read these blogs with a nice cup of tea and a slice of cake, remember to leave nice comments too!
1. Carina’s Craftblog – Written by the fabulously talented Carina Envoldsen-Harris, this blog is one of my favourite reads. Go! Look! Be dazzled!
2. Incy Wincy Stitches – Sam Gillespie chronicles her textile work and button making skills with an added dash of family life. Her French Knot Sheep have already been picked up and featured on Craft Gossip.
3. Kitschy Coo – Amanda has a shops on etsy and folksy selling her well-executed childrens’ clothing patterns and designs. Her blog chronicles her adventures in parenting whilst running a business, with humour and points of interest thrown in.
4. Beads by Laura – Laura Sparling is a UK-based glass artist with a penchant for knitting. Her cupcake beads have proven to be highly popular of late and her work is in demand. Check out her blog for musings on wool, on glass and on salad cream (seriously!)
5. Little Cotton Rabbits – Julie Williams creates the most fantastic knitted toys and her photography is just to die for. Her blog shares insights into her life with two children, one of whom is Autistic, whilst keeping up with demand for her toys.
I’ll be back next week with some more crafting and baking, including showing the 1.2kg of wool I dyed by hand this week. Have a lovely weekend everyone!
Posted under recommendations, site stuff
This post was written by Vonnie on February 14, 2009
It’s my first wedding anniversary today! (And even more sickening, it’s the fourth anniversary of our first kiss. Awwww!)
I was a very precocious child and an early reader, the first book I remember being obsessed about was a beautifully-illustrated copy of “The Owl and The Pussycat” which has been lost in aftermath of growing-up-with-three-siblings. Bob gave me my present last night and I’m so absolutely thrilled, it was so thoughtful and just perfect. He picked a print by an American artist called Tanya Newberry and here it is (click the image to go to Tanya’s etsy shop):
Isn’t it gorgeous? I had a flick through Tanya’s blog last night and her work is beautiful – definitely worth a look.
This last year has been action packed for us. There’s a lot that I don’t post here but I’m sure my extended absence last year may have given up that things were going on – in our first year of marriage we have had to deal with so many stressful issues that could have driven us apart but which have brought us closer. The next year is going to be another eventful one for us with the birth of our fourth (and final!) child but I can’t think of anyone else I’d want to share this with. Here’s to the next year and beyond!
Posted under recommendations, retrospective
This post was written by Vonnie on February 8, 2009
I’ve mentioned before that I am a member of Crafteroo which is a UK-based craft forum, and how inspiring a place I have found it to be. The forum has liased with Folksy to open a shop for Comic Relief. It will be stocked with donations handmade by Crafteroo members and all proceeds will go to Comic Relief. Folksy have generously agreed to waive fees for these items meaning that all your money will go straight to the cause.
Please click on the photograph to go to the Crafteroo store for Comic Relief on Folksy and check back regularly as more items are being added on a frequent basis. I will be donating an item in collaboration with Kerry from PennyDog and I’ll let you know when it’s there!
Posted under general crafty updates, recommendations, site stuff
This post was written by Vonnie on February 6, 2009
Some of you will remember that I’ve blogged before about the work of Kerry Wilkinson from PennyDog. I’m a huge fan of Kerry’s work and her latest effort is making me antsy because she hasn’t listed them in her Folksy shop yet.
LOOK! Pink and sparkly, combined with knitting! Oh the glee, if you could only imagine how happy these knitting needles make me!
Kerry assures me that they’ll be available in her shop soon priced at £8 a pair.
Posted under recommendations
This post was written by Vonnie on February 5, 2009
