2025 - No Craft Spending - We WILL bust my stash and make pretty things!!!!!

CraftyRach

@Soontobeoap WOW, photo of the week! Loving the granny square bag! 👏

greentiger

@soontobeoap and @BridgetTheCat, the blanket is easier than it looks -  it’s crocheted in parts and put together a bit like a jigsaw and finished off with the border.   The original also has a fringe, but that, I could not face!     If torpor hadn’t struck, I’d have expected it to finish it in 6 weeks!   Still glad it’s out of my sight now, for a few months.

 

Well done on sorting out 2 sets of stash, @soontobeoap.   Can you come and do mine too?   I love your little button elf!

 

@emsi_b, you have been busy too!   I need to get to some stamping for a change.   A couple of years ago, I bought a stamping press so that I could easily line things up.   The box has not been opened.   Thanks for the prompt to sort that stash out – I think a lot (all) of my ink pads will have dried up!   I bought some masks umpteen years ago, and they are lurking somewhere unused yet.   This is getting embarrassing!

 

Sadly, I haven’t seen GBSB for many years.   The promotion for it has become less and less over those years, which is a shame.   I really enjoyed Patrick’s input.   I think I’ll try to get it on catch up.

 

@CraftyRach, your cards are fantastic – no wonder you had one picked out for special attention.   Lovely wee cardis.    How is your grandson doing?   It’s amazing that the other boy’s name rhymes.   When I was whizzing through pics only, I thought they must be for twins!

 

@daisy_1571, your cutting table sounds wonderful!   Great idea re pasting tables, btw.   I have a drop leaf table.   It took me ages to get one (on Gumtree) that was fairly narrow when closed, with long drop bits.   The craft room is also a guest bedroom, and there is a lovely comfy sofa bed in there, where I can do some hand sewing/read crafty books etc.  Unfortunately, at the moment it is really just a big fat shelf.    I’ve never really got sorted after moving into this bigger room!   I have given a lot of card making materials (unopened, *sigh*) to my daughter for the library.   I’m in the middle of sorting out fabric for her too.   They have just opened a makers’ space which I know has a 3D printer and an embroidery machine is coming ….

 

KajKita, Your needle felting pic is great.   It’s something I’d like to try, BUT because of what I’ve said to daisy, I will NOT.   Give yourself a pat on the back for persevering with the crochet.    Before you know it, you’ll be an expert.

 

Your crochet roses are lovely, @Auti.   Good decision re the preventative chemo – just be prepared for there being times when you are very tired.   Don’t go it alone, accept any help that’s offered.   It’s 16 years since I had a mastectomy for a fast growing breast cancer., followed by aggressive chemotherapy and radiotherapy.   I’ve had no medication since.   It took me 6 months to begin to feel normal, but that was MY journey.   Other people’s tales are their tales, everyone’s treatment is personalised, no one has the same experience.   There are a lot of professionals/experts you can speak to and are ready to talk with you about anything, no matter how minor you think it is.   And needing rest can mean crafting therapy time.

 

Since I last visited I have

·         repaired the lining on a sleeping bag

·         made the top for a baby girl’s playmat (no pic until all finished) – baby turned out to be a boy, oops!  

·         sewn 6 cup cosies

·         crocheted 4 scarflets from 1 x 100g ball of wool

·         10 Christmas cards,

·         our anniversary + 2 more

·         5 cards with dogs, then forgot I’d made them!

·         friend’s birthday card + 3

·         I knitted 3 ‘Izzy’ doll bodies, but I am not ‘feeling the love’ to finish them (no pics until the

 

 

September’s Plans

·         baby BOY playmat

·         birthday gift bag

·         4 scarflets

·         sheepy hat

·          ‘Izzy’ dolls

·         5 Christmas cards

·         sort out fabric stash - keep (catalogue?) /donate to library

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Auti

@greentiger - thank you Yes it will be crafty time - I have a variety of things to do with some mindless but focus (crystal art small and large projects) through crochet big/small/new types, card/box making, cross stitch - to learning how to use my weaving loom to make bag straps (I have an intricate crochet bag on the go), oh and chainmaille lol.

if I don’t fancy any no stress - its winter(ish) so fluffy programs on tv - I like ‘how to’ programmes or wordy game shows and cars. Just dont want to be grumpy too much so that is my target - have got it sorted that the days I am likely to feel worst child is at school and weekends should be better - I am positive (a smile person) and I think realistic so we shall see

Nearly finished some more crochet flowers to send to a friend - will post soon

CraftyRach

My baby grandson was born 19th August (8 days late) and he is just AMAZING! 😍

He is loving the ABC blanket I knitted, and has also taken claim of the “alpine stitch” blanket I crocheted for my neighbour 🙄. I’m going to have to get a wriggle on making a replacement as she is due anytime now x 

Auti

Finished the flowers for my friend and they have just been posted - they were great fun to do and I have the same ones to do for me Hope everyone is ok - my child off to high school tomorrow, so grown up!

greentiger

@ Auti, I'm very happy to hear you've planned how you'll approach your down days.   Having a variety of things to do is a great idea, as sometimes you may find it hard to concentrate for any length of time, or find yourself losing interest more quickly than usual.   The fluffier your TV programmes are, the better - I would drop off to sleep for a few minutes and lose the thread, lol, and have to try to guess what had happened.   Your positive attitude is a BIG bonus.
Your tulips are beautiful, lucky friend.   I hope your own are just as pretty!
If your child has the same approach to life as you s/he will love the challenge of high school.  

Congratulations on the safe arrival of your grandbaby, @CraftyRach.   He clearly knows how to enjoy a cosy, soft blanket made with love.  Those wee feet are adorable, btw. 

Soontobeoap

A little cheat here as I did spend £1.50 on the wooden hanger. I made the clay Isle of wight at craft club and used sea glass to complete. Already had paints and sealer.

It was gifted to the girl who donated the sea glass to craft group after collecting and then using it for her wedding decorations.

Auti

@greentiger - understood about positive attitude (first one today) just to navigate environment - very different - in an overstretched, everyone in together place with staff doing their best. I will know for next time what to do and put things in order for me

I am good and wait to see developments - they will be sorted. Child had a good day at school and is happy (he has great faith I will sort anything but accepts it is to the best of my ability and may not be exactly what he thought he is awesome I left after he went and got back a little before he did.

Crafty bits, after all crafty stash! Am now doing the backstitching on a plastic canvas Santa free gift that came in  a mag (not mine) that I found in a charity shop for 50p! You roll it round and stitch it to making hanging tree decoration - have a recipient in mind so be a pressy too!

Hope everyone is ok and thank you for posting - makes me feel safe and calm

greentiger

@soontobeoap, what an original idea, your Isle of Wight is!   Well done.

 I’m glad your son was happy with high school, @Auti.   It’s such a different environment and it is so big!   That reminds me that here in Scotland, high school is often referred to as ‘the Big School’, lol!    That Christmas tree ornament sounds interesting; do let us see it.

 I’ve just finished my 6th scarflet and hoping to get 2 more from that ball of wool   They are so quick to do, I should have managed to get more things done by now.

 Oh and I have a RED ALERT for all of you.   If you see a crochet pattern for a hungry caterpillar toy set, DO NOT buy it.   I did for £2.65 – then £499 was taken from my account and then they tried to get another £2000+, but the bank spotted the unusual activity and stepped in.   They are working on getting the £499 back to me.   In the meanwhile they cancelled my card and have put a temporary block on the account.   The bank has been very helpful.   They said to avoid buying anything on facebook marketplace.

CraftyRach

Have made a few cards recently:
1) the arrival of a baby boy for my nephew
2) “thinking of you” for a dear friend 
3) anniversary card for my sister

I also managed to crochet a replacement blanket for my neighbour (baby not arrived yet) 

I thought I had used the same pattern as the previous one, but I must have done something different? I like it just as much - a happy accident 😊
 

Projects 37, 38, 39 & 40/52 ✅