Faux Terrarium

So excited to be able to announce and share a new addition to my Etsy shop-the Faux Terrarium!

They come in a jars (in a variety of sizes) and have small stones and a faux succulent. That means no worrying about insects, and no worrying about maintenance!

I myself have one sat on my desk and not only is it aesthetically pleasing, but is quite soothing to have at my desk as a reminder that life isn’t all about pen, paper, laptop, and staplers!

These would be the perfect gifts for congratulating exam results, as a housewarming gift, or for birthday and Christmas presents!

Feel free to take a browse on my Etsy store for full pictures and the other products 🙂

 

A Little Something Different…

Starting a bullet journal was one of the best things I ever did. There’s so many different types of diaries, and notebooks, and spreadsheets that I’ve had and tried and because things are always changing or they require too much of a routine, they’ve trailed off and been left unfinished and unused. The bullet journal gives me the chance to work at my own pace and makes the whole thing relevant and practical. The idea to start one came from Pinterest, and I began adding to my own bullet journal board with inspiration and ideas and worked from there.

My first issue was finding one, although as it turned out, it wasn’t much of an issue at all. Usually notebooks with a nice front and elastic to keep it together is pricey, but as luck would have it a trip into Morrisons allowed me to find a dirt cheap £2 notebook that was exactly what I wanted. The front began to bore me after a while so I simply painted it and stuck things to it to really make it mine (see pictures below).  They aren’t perfect but they suit me, and allowed me to be creative with paint freely which I’ve not had the chance to do for a while.

I have a personal journal, and one I have started for our upcoming holiday to Florida for keepsakes and planning. I’m quite happy to eventually start putting up some of my pages and potentially upload them to my YouTube also. I feel like decorating the front really gives them a sense of personality and belonging and constantly makes me want to pick them up and work in them.

There is no real right and wrong way to have your own journal but I wanted it to look the way the ones I had seen did, and for that I needed to do some looking around (again, Pinterest was my go-to, as well as YouTube).

My favourite inspiration sources in particular were:

Pinterest: https://uk.pinterest.com/ParkerandMe/bullet-journal/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leLTEwGYgew

All in all I’ve found it’s been a nice place to wind-down and express myself as well as keeping track of the things that I’m usually so busy I lose sight of. I’m particularly interested to see how the tracker for my moods develop to maybe encourage myself to make more of an effort to source any issues or patterns.

So if you’re looking for something to develop at your own pace with anything you want to give yourself a small, safe, creative place to collect yourself, then definitely begin a bullet journal!

Christmas Crafts!

So I’ve finally found the time to sit down and do some work on some Christmas sewing and crocheting for the Etsy shop! It’s been so long since I’ve sat at my desk to do something crafty as I’ve been so busy engaging with my new University course (which I am so so happy on (see here for my other blog). I enjoy every minute of crafting, and with Christmas being my absolute favourite time of the year the two combine couldn’t make me any happier! The sewn table runners are now up in my Etsy store as you should see from the previous post, and I’m hoping to have the blankets done soon too!

Christmas is Here!!

I am so excited to announce that the Christmas items are now up in my Etsy store! At present there is only one style up in the shop but there is another on the way. It’s handmade, a patchwork, quilted, and not to mention gorgeous! The price includes delivery and is a great price for a handmade Christmas piece. It measures around 2m x 30cm and is an ideal size for the average dining table.

Christmas on Etsy!

These are some new colour scheme options for the blankets on my Etsy store, just in time for Christmas so get ordering to have them done in time and ready to wrap. In my mind the colour schemes run left to right and a new scheme starts on each row, however there is nothing to stop you deciding you would like a different combination or even different colours altogether.

Maybe you have an elder relative who would like something different and a bit more special this Christmas in the colours they would love, or a relative who lives away or is at University and would like a handmade touch of home. Whoever this gift may be for it is a lovely keepsake and is a beautiful, thoughtful Christmas present.

I make bed runners for all sizes of beds, and blankets for all ages at varying prices. They are all great value for money given the careful effort and time taken to put into these beautiful woolen items. I can adapt very well to requests and I am quite happy to work with you to get the design and colours you would like to make the item perfect.

If there are any items you would like to see in my Etsy shop and don’t see please feel free to message me on here, comment on this post, or contact me via the shop.

Please give this post a like, me a follow, and feel free to visit my Etsy shop to have a look around, and I hope to hear from you soon!

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Handmade Halloween Crochet!

I know it’s been a very long time since I’ve updated my blog and it does feel good to get back to it! I’m pleased to be able to give you the link above to my Halloween crocheted wreath video. It isn’t a long video nor is it a tutorial, it’s simply an update to show you all what I’m getting up to in the crochet aspect of my life, and just to get everybody excited about our nearest themed calendar date!

I love the idea of wreaths and they are a lovely handmade touch for anybody who loves Halloween, or who’s having their own Halloween party. I am already excited about making Christmas wreaths as they’re so lovely and the entire concept of December entirely is something close to my heart.

This wreath will be in my Etsy shop as soon as it’s finished and I will link the actual item eventually below, but for now I will still post the link for my Etsy shop below so you have the option to follow my shop and keep up with my items so that when it is up, you can view it. Unfortunately I’ve left it too late to take any real orders, although if they come in early enough I may be able to get it done. However, in the current situation, I intend to put this one wreath up and hope to have the delivery as next day to ensure it arrives in time. It is a lovely item and is one that can be used over and over again.

I would also really appreciate any interest that can be generated around my YouTube channel and a like on the video, and to subcribe would really help me out. Any constructive feedback or comments are also welcomed!

YouTube Channel

Etsy Shop

 

 

A Little Treat for All Crocheter’s!

Please note these designs and photographs DO NOT belong to me! Full credit is given to the lady in the links below!

I am so so pleased to be able to share with you a find of mine from yesterday! I was scrolling through my Instagram feed, and saw a beautiful picture of some custom made crochet hooks. They had my attention straight from the off, I have honestly never seen such beautiful creations before, and then I continued to read the post beneath it. It’s with a heavy heart that I share the story with you, this lovely lady had unfortunately had a few of her custom designs stolen by somebody else who was passing it off as their own.

As a ‘handmaker’ of all of my items that I sell and keep for myself, I can fully appreciate how heart wrenching it is to have somebody not only take an idea or design you’ve created, but to also make a profit on the back of your hard work. What goes around, comes around, and hopefully the lady will get her comeuppance one day.

BUT-To the good stuff, where you can find the incredibly talented lady:

Etsy Shop: www.etsy.com/uk/shop/TheCraftyTash

Instagram: @thecraftytash

I myself will be purchasing from this shop very very soon hopefully, the hardest decision will only be whether to have a custom one, one that is already up in the shop, or both!

Please also if you see any of her designs on another platform that doesn’t belong to her, then please report it on that platform, I’m informed that the issue is coming to an end but it can’t hurt to keep an eye out!

I’m on YouTube!

I am so very very proud and excited to reveal my first proper YouTube video!!

For this video, I’m simply discussing what my latest project/theme is, how I set up my ‘desk’ before I begin, and just generally the decisions and changes I make as I’m going along. There’s also a few bits of me crocheting, some parts at my own pace, others are slower so that you can see what I’m doing.

Tutorials are something that I’ve considered for stitches, but have not yet pursued, so if you would be interested in seeing those then please let me know!

It was just a try out of YouTube and the videos really, making it was incredibly time consuming but so worth it when it was done!

Please do take a look, and like, and share: https://youtu.be/voy8ffJAWqE

We’ve Had a Makeover!

I am so pleased to share with you a new look that my shop now has, and I can honestly say I absolutely love it. I think it gives a more professional feel whilst still being so homely and inviting.

Please feel free to take a look at my new shop! I’m also hoping to have some Christmas items up soon too, so please make sure you favourite my shop to keep up with that.

Etsy Shop

 

Comfort Blankets…

As usual, I’d like to give you a little background on this item… My auntie got in touch with and explained to me that a lady that she worked with had recently had a baby, and wondered whether it would be possible for me to create a small (in her words, ‘two DVD cases sized’) comfort blanket with her name on. I immediately agreed as I have made comfort blankets previously, and adored making it.

However, she had forgotten the name of the baby, and needed to contact the new mum to double check on it’s spelling. In the meantime I wanted to practise styles and getting the name stitched in correctly. Then came the idea to simply make a trial comfort blanket, and give it as a gift to a friend of mine who had recently had a baby called Freddie. Hence, the lovely comfort blanket at the very top was created, and I absolutely adore it.

For all other items including the comfort blanket above, or to share it with others you know may be interested, please click here to see it in my Etsy Shop.

I will also be publishing another post in the coming week to show the second comfort blanket being made for my Auntie in a pink colour also!