WOYWW and the Spice of Life

Firstly, a BIG sorry for not posting regularly since Christmas, or visiting all you lovely peeps, too. I'm not sure where time goes, but tempus certainly fugits around here. 

Anyway, down to business (wondering about WOYWW? - click the button on my side bar to find out more, and enjoy a worldwide crafty tour).

Variety is the name of the game, chez Flutterbies. This week I knocked out a couple of cards -

A new home one, for DD1

and a birthday one for a friend

then made a bead/wire birthday gift to accompany the card. Having enjoyed my first attempt, I'll try some more.

Not bad from a broken necklace and wire scraps

Another birthday gift, but I'm running out of yarn (grr!!) so will unpick a bit, and give them a red toe.

Alongside these, my first fair isle attempt is coming along, but went on hold until I bought new needles for the sleeves, this afternoon. I have got several sets of double pointed ones, but all too small. If I get it finished in time, I'll post a pic next week.

Rosie, cat-napping

In the meantime, I will try to visit as many WOYWW desks as I can, and hope you enjoyed your virtual cuppa here, with me.  Have a great week, Chris xx

WOYWW Pt 2 - January Projects

I've split this week's post, as it covers from New Year. You can see the first instalment, posted last night.

January crafting was very varied, which always appeals to my flutterby nature.

My two DDs' birthdays were last month (35 and 33 - 'No ', I hear you gasp, 'surely not!! You're FAR too young!!' Afraid so). Anyway, I'd picked these beauties up in our recycling shop several years ago, hoping to turn them into trinket boxes. They are beautifully made, by Windsor and Newton, the artists' paint people. The outsides were nicely varnished but had their logo stamped on, and the insides were quite rough.

So, I stained the insides, quilted the lid inside with French Navy silky fabric from the stash, and lined the drawer insides with it, too, making a ring holder for the top long section (unfortunately, ran out of the fabric for this, and had to substitute a similar colour cotton. But that's what you get when you're tight stash busting!).

I was able to disguise the logo by adding shell embellishments. I had thought of decoupaging the whole of the outsides, but knew the girls would prefer an uncluttered look. I'm very happy with the results and, thankfully, Jen and Kate were, too. Not bad for £3.00 each!! They did get a cash gift, too, so I'm not that mean!

DH raised his eyebrows when I said I loved socks (his hearing's not what it was - haha!) These are the latest, his stripey ones in 4 ply, proper sock yarn, done on 4 needles and the others, in 8 ply, done on 2 needles. I find the first type more satisfying, as they magically grow, complete, with no sewing involved, but the second are quick, being thicker and just two needles, but you have to sew up the backs and sides of feet.

The final January project was another hat for Mum. I'd done a blue one for Christmas but, subtle as ever, she hinted she'd 'quite like a red hat'. It doesn't look it here, but this is a deep, cherry red and, thankfully, she wears it happily.

Now to decide on a project just for me - before anyone else gets a chance to ask for something !

I hope to visit everyone at Julia's for WOYWW over the next few days. Thanks to all who pop by here and leave a message. If you have time and are not too exhausted at the end of this, you might like to read part one, dated yesterday. Unfamiliar with WOYWW? Click the button on my side bar and be prepared to be wow-ed with some amazing stuff.

Hugs and blessings, Chris xx

WOYWW Part One

Sorry for the absence, but it's taken me a while to get back into gear, since Christmas. I seemed to lose my oomph, and needed to go back in my shell for a while. So, I caught up with a Wasgij (jigsaw), a Christmas pressie from DH. If you haven't seen these, they're quite a challenge (well, to me, anyway) as you don't do the picture on the box. In this case, it was what the lady behind the counter could see.

The box -

The lady behind the counter -

The (almost) finished puzzle -

It was good fun, and made a nice change from all the frantic Christmas crafting. Since then, I'm feeling much more myself, have got back in the crafting saddle, and will post the results in WOYWW Part Two, tomorrow. 

Night night, Chris xx

WOYWW Kitty Hide and Seek

She might be an old lady (18) but Rosie still has her mischievous side.

Don't see why the humans should have all the fun on Christmas morning! Now you see me, now you don't.

Bet you can't see me now!

Oh, ok - it was me nesting in your hexie project!

No cat in this one - just a new pair of house socks I've begun for DH.

It doesn't seem a week since the last WOYWW (click the button on side bar to find out more). I hope you've all caught your breath after a lovely Christmas.

I've promised myself not to buy more stash this next year, until I use the piles of stuff here already. However, I couldn't resist 5 different balls of sock yarn at House of Fraser at half price. The colour above is not very macho, but I'm making them up for DH. At 6'2" and over 20 stone, no-one ever doubts his masculinity and he couldn't give two hoots what colour they are, anyway!! LOL Neither of us ever use slippers, so house socks are ideal indoor wear.

I'm also gritting my teeth to finish the hexie quilt before starting anything else, so am flitting between that and the socks.

Hoping to visit all the WOYWW desks over the next few days. I did manage to visit everyone last week, but some were very late, I'm afraid.

New Year hugs and blessings, Chris xx

WOYWW Christmas Eve

Giving myself a good talking to tonight (Tue): "Right, woman, no-one (except you) expects all the gifts and cards to be hand made (some would probably prefer bought stuff) so STOP WORRYING!!!! What's finished is fine, and what's not, doesn't matter. The two girls (and their Step Mum, for Pete's sake!!) don't even know you were planning mini travel albums for their New Year Barcelona trip. Do what you can, but don't stay up all night, then forget it!" Watch this space next week, to see if I manage to complete them.

Ok, now I've got that out of the way, deep breath, glass of something nice, and catch up with my bloggy friends.

This Christmas has been a real exercise in stash-busting, including the cards. Over the years I've been given lots of cast offs from crafty friends, and this time, managed to make them all without buying anything new. However, I much prefer to give a Christian, Christmas message, rather than just robins and tinsel. So, I prayed, sat down at the keyboard and typed this straight off, having never done anything like it before:

Please excuse the smudge, it was on the lens, not the insert! Do feel free to use it, if it helps, another year. This way, I've used up all the odds and ends, but hopefully shared my heart, too. The glass is now empty, so I'm off upstairs again, to see how much I can get done before bedtime (10.30pm, I promise). Tomorrow, there are just a few last minute touches to gifts and, in the evening, I'll take Mum to her midnight Mass (well, 9pm).

Hope to see you over at Julia's for a virtual mulled wine, over the next few days. New to WOYWW? Click the button on my side bar and pop over for a whistle-stop, worldwide blog fest.

With love and blessings for Christmas and the new year, and thanks for all your friendship and encouragement. Special thanks to Julia, for organising our weekly gatherings.

Hugs, Chris xx

WOYWW Minions

I finally finished Dave the minion for DD2's pressie

The pattern came from here and I made him more festive by turning his cap into a Santa hat. The pattern was straightforward to follow, but working with as few as 6 sts over 4 needles took some doing, and not a few expletives (cough cough!)

I then decided to go the whole hog, and make her a minion card, too. I'm sorry, I can't remember where I got this idea - I think it was a WOYWW post last week and, if it was, please remind me, and I'll gladly give credit where it's due.

On Monday I did a second workshop for my prayer group ladies. We had a great time, and this time they learned how to make book page trees. Here's Pam's

It doesn't show clearly, but they just sprinkled a little glitter on the outside folds, which worked well.

Anyway, having wasted spent so much time on DD's card, I really need to finish the others today and get them in the post - or, I suppose I could always save them for next year!!

Hope you all have a fab WOYWW (click button on my side bar for details) and I'll meet you over at Julia's, over the next few days, for a virtual cuppa. 

Hugs and blessings, Chris xx

WOYWW Short and Sweet ...

... and I'm not talking about me!! LOL!

Suddenly realised it's gone midnight (Tue) and I haven't written a post. Our house is only small, so no room for vignettes, dioramas, or other large scale decorations. So it's just a tree with a few little pretties hung around the place

and some festive cushion covers, which give instant ho-ho-ho, without taking up a lot of room. Note one cat asleep on Mum's stocking

before finally settling down on one under the tree

I'm just making sure Santa doesn't forget me!

Nothing much to show on the crafting front - the minion now has all his limbs, but no clothes, and the Christmas cards should be finished this week (I'll post pics next WOYWW). 

Anyway, I must go up to bed before DH comes looking for me. Catch you later at Julia's for our weekly cuppa and catch up. New to WOYWW? Click the button on my side bar to be transported across the globe, looking at some amazing crafting. 

Have a great week, folks. Hugs xx