A few years back I began making fabric covered Easter eggs to decorate the 'wiggily' willow branches in our conservatory. It's been 4 years since the last batch which are quite frankly beginning to look a bit tatty. So, time to get the polystyrene eggs out and begin crafting some new ones.
Here's the first one which I made last night/this morning. The egg is about 2.5" tall but the overall decoration measures 10" from tip of hanging thread to base of tassle.
I really like the style of this one. In the past I've used more pins, beads & sequins to hold everything in place - like you do with Pinflair eggs - but I'm very pleased with the outcome of this one. I'll have to make a few more in coordinating colours to use up some of my patchwork cottons!
I didn't have a filigree cap for the top of the egg so I crocheted something similar out of embroidery threads with my wee metal hook! It's only a teeny thing and my eyes were burning while I made it (and that was using the magnifiying glass on my daylight lamp!!)
The tassle was easy enough to make and although this one is less than perfect, it'll do. I used about 1/2 a skein of embroidery thread wrapped around a 2.5" piece of card. There's a wooden bead under the 'bulb' of the tassle to give it its shape which I then covered with a fabric yo-yo (of sorts) and then chain stitched around the edge to tidy it up.
Everything used was from my craft stash, apart from the polystyrene eggs which I bought in January from e-bay.
I've got a few needle felted eggs which Katie & I made in January. I must take some piccies of them and load them up. They're really sweet. Katie is quite the dab hand with a felting needle!
Toodles xx Bernie xx
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Fabric Covered Easter Egg
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Swap: Christmas Decoration on CTnY
As it's been received I think it's safe to update this post with the who, what, when and why of this photo.
We had a Christmas Decoration swap over on the Crafty Threads n Yarn forum and this was what I made for my swap pal, Jacky. If you scroll down the post a bit you'll see the fairy hanging on Jacky's tree (as well as her two beautiful dogs standing in front!)
It's basically a spare wooden curtain ring, over which I crochet some DB Aran Tweed. The fairy is made as all my fairies except I didn't use floss or flowers for her dress - it's made from a piece of a fleecy scarf that I picked up in the Charity shop.
Her boots are needle felted and she's holding a little wooden heart (button). There was a bit of foot stomping when I sent her off so I've got another one in the works for Little Miss CB!
Monday, June 25, 2007
Felted Crochet Flower (Rose)
I've been trying to make my 'perfect' rose ever since I started crochet last year.Every now and then I would pick up my hook and some wool and play, but never achieved anything satisfactory. In fact, I've got a bagful of 'roses' in the knitting box just waiting to become broches, be stitched together into a bag or even embellish a scarf.
But this latest effort, this little blue rose, has got to be my ultimate all time favourite.
I was not convinced that it would felt and shrink how I wanted it to but boy am I pleased. Check out the before and after photos - it has shrunk to about 1/4 of its original size. Now I just need to remember the pattern and write it down, so I can make more in lots of different colours.None of the free flower patterns out there really grabbed my attention or fit the look I was after. And I guess I could have purchased a pattern, but I was determined to do it myself.
I know it's only a little slip of a thing, but it's another notch on my 'things I can do' list! Am I mad to make such a fuss over this? Maybe. Is it cool to create something from scratch? Definitely. With my hook or needles and some wool, I can conquer the world (or at least make it prettier!).
Monday, April 30, 2007
Crochet: Iced Donut Anyone? !
Enjoy!
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Amigurumi Monkey - VOTE NOW!
Here are the suggested names for Mr Monkey:How to vote:Malcolm Monkey
Melvin/Mel
Charlie
Minus
Arnold
Cheeky
Darwin
Monamikey (pronounced mun-amee-kee)
Bobby the Boy Monkey
Vince
Post a comment on this post with the name you choose and also your prize preference eg: craft stuff, yarn stuff or monkey love!
Some simple guidelines:
- The prize will be either craft stuff, yarn stuff or even the monkey. The winner can choose.
- The winner will be the person whose name receives the most votes.
- Only one vote (comment) per person.
- Anyone can vote but no anonymous comments please.
- The voting will run from 13:00 GMT today (Tuesday 16th January) & will close at 13:00 GMT (Saturday 20th January).
- I will contact the winner and post the results on this blog by 9am GMT on Tuesday 23rd January 2007.
Happy voting everyone!
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Innocent drinks & age concern FINAL UPDATE
They raised the sum of £110,000 through sales of their behatted bottles for the charity Age Concern in the UK. How cool is that! I wonder how many little hats I can whip together for next year's campaign.
If you're interested in taking part, here's a link to information about the drinks company campaigns.
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Amigurumi Monkey - Help me name him!
Introducing my Amigurumi Monkey! I used the translated Japanese pattern which is available here. Doesn't he look like a real boy monkey!
I added chenille stems (pipe cleaners) to his arms, legs and tail so they can be posed. The wool is Wendy DK which I used to make the doll adapted from the Crochet Me Amigurumi sprite pattern. Sadly he has no name as we can't agree on names here in Craftybernieland.
So here's the thing. If you fancy a chance to name this little monkey (and win a little giftie for the New Year), leave a comment with your suggestion for a name. You can enter as many times as you like but please enter only one name on each comment.
Shortly after the 31 December 2006 (which is also my birthday by the way, hint hint), I will run a poll with all the suggested names and the winner will be the person who's name receives the most votes. How does that sound? I'm in a giving mood folks so take advantage while you can.... :)
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Crochet doll - Sprite in Craftster Challenge
I've entered my crochet doll in an amigurumi challenge over on Craftster.
If you get a chance, you should check out the other entries. There's some really cool amis, including sheepy type dogs, a chicken, some froggies, a turkey and even a 'winky' (yes a 'winky')! Enjoy! ;)
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Crochet: Amigurumi - Pucker up 'Puffagami'
I don't know. But Puffagami has. Big juicy luscious pink lips! She's looking for a loyal companion puffer fish and has puckered up nicely hoping for a snog.
I made my 'puffagami' with 'Dory' from Finding Nemo in mind. This pattern is a total original. No help whatsoever. Nada! And all made this evening.
"...Just keep swimming swimming swimming...What do we do we swim, swim, swim..."
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Innocent Drinks & Age Concern (update)
Just an update on the Innocent Drinks Age Concern 'supergran 2006' campaign. Amazingly, they have received well over their target of 175,000 woolly hats.In fact they've received 220,754 hats, and counting. If you click on the title above, it will take you to the 'hatometer' - there's a flashing bottle and everything! :)
Monday, November 27, 2006
Crochet Doll - Sprite
She's crochet using the Wendy DK that I bought in the LYS the other day!
It took me hours to attach each strand of yarn for the hair. The bunches were Little Miss CB's idea.
I always find it tricky attaching the arms and legs. I hope the arms are in the right place now. Just need to sort out the legs.....
....... and to find her a face.
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Innocent Drinks & Age Concern
I crochet these little hats for the Innocent Drinks Supergran 2006 campaign.
Every winter, Innocent Drinks raise money for charities that help elderly people stay warm during the winter. Lots of little woolly hats are knit (or crochet) and stuck on their smoothie bottles. For every behatted bottle sold, 50p is donated to their chosen charity Age Concern.
The behatted bottles will be sold in EAT cafés or Sainsbury's between the end of November and Christmas 2006
To view more pics of little woolly hats visit the Supergran 2006 Flickr Pool.
Saturday, November 18, 2006
Chemo caps
Someone I met on a UK knitting forum was taking care of the baby blanket side of things, so I decided it would be worthwhile investigating other areas or departments in the hospital that might need or appreciated some knit/crochet garments.
It turns out there's a need for chemo caps for ladies. At the moment, they are limited to velour or turban style caps which aren't necessarily that appealing to some women. So, I'm going to organise a few samples and send them to the hospital.
I don't yet know how many will be needed, whether it will be an ongoing project or a one off and whether it will become a group effort rather than an individual simply making a handful of caps. Whatever happens, it should be a positive experience for everyone involved!
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Crochet: Donut, anyone?
Of course it had to be food. Especially as I have such a special relationship with sweet things! At least this one won't add pounds to my hips. (Although buying yarn to make more might help me loose a few pounds - from my purse!)
Little Star Afghan
You have GOT to check out these star shaped baby blankets. They are just sooooo babylishiously fab!
The pattern is available from www.angelfire.com
I found a Star Blanket Along on Crafster and this blanket is one of many beautiful finished blankets posted there.
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Crochet: Beaded Pouch
I wanted to make something a little special for a special little someone and I came across this pattern for a crochet beaded pouch/amulet. Isn't it cute!
I used 120 DMC glass beads (40 each of Lilac, Pink, Lt Pink), Perle crochet cotton #8 and a steel crochet hook. The number on the hook is '8. 
I got it in Spain about 5 years ago and I'm not sure what the equivalent size is in the rest of the crochet world.
To make the tassle, I used a piece of cardboard 3" tall and wrapped the cotton around about 20 times, embellishing it with 48 beads.
There's something quite satisfying about making amulet purses whether beaded, knit or crochet. They're quick little 'tween projects and they make nice gifties. I hope my pal likes it.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
September Bag KAL: Finished!
Here are some pictures of the finished crochet bag from the September Bag KAL. Although the challenge was to knit a bag with some colourwork and felt it, I decided to crochet mine using 'Tapestry Crochet'. As I've mentioned a lot lately, this is a technique I learned from Debbie Stoller's SnB Happy Hooker book.
The bag is simply two crochet squares with a basic flower chart worked in.
I really enjoyed the colour work and wouldn't mind doing more again in either a knitting or a crochet project! It did take me a long time to chart out properly but once that side was done, the rest was easy.
I was surprised how differently the crochet bag felted compared to the knit bags I have made. It seemed to lose more width than height, which I have found is the norm when I felt my knit bags. Must be something to do with the way the stitches are constructed. The bag started out as 9.5 square and lost about 2" from the height and 3" from the width. The strap was 59" before felting and 50" after.
I didn't have anybody in mind when making the bag but I made it in Miss CB's favourite colours in case she fancied it when it was finished. And she likes it. She was all 'oooh' and 'wow' when she saw the flower pattern appear.
The strap is long enough for her to carry the bag across her body, keeping her hands free for the things that 9 year old girls need to do. Hope you all like it.
Enjoy! X Bernie X
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
September Bag KAL: Teaser photos
This tapestry crochet is fun. But I really must give intarsia a go sometime soon.
Enjoy the photos!
Monday, September 11, 2006
September Bag Me KAL & 'Granny's no square'
Now, technically it should be a knit bag with some intarsia on it and I had planned to follow these instructions like a good lickle girlie. But as I am happily riding the crochet train at the moment, I decided to crochet a bag using a technique called Tapestry Crochet (which is basically intarsia for crochet).
There are loads of tapestry crochet patterns out there and I am going to keep this one a surprise until it's finished.
Originally I was going to use the 'Granny's no square' bag from the SnB crochet book as my bag for the September KAL but that would be cheating. I'm guessing that crocheting in circles with different colours of wool doesn't count?!?
Anyway, for the SnB bag, I am using a combination of Debbie Bliss Merino aran and the usual feltable wool that I get from Knitshop.co.uk. I am hoping that when the bag is felted, I will have a very colourful bag with lovely colourful circles. Did I mention this is a bit of an experiment??? as the SnB bag is made with Berroco Suede and therefore not a felted bag.I've never felted crochet work before. Should be fun. =^.^= In the meantime, I leave you with a piccie of my progress on the 'Granny's no square' bag.
