Creativity Challenge - Progress report 1

So far, so good.

We've all got off to a flying start and managed at least 30mins on the 1st and 2nd October. 

I have been making bracelets from my immense stock of Liberty bias tape. I think this one's my favourite this time.

It would make a good choker as well. All the others are pretty too (I don't think I've come across a Liberty print I don't like yet). So far, some have charms, others I am still deciding what looks best.

 

I have also been playing with my new bread machine - bought as a "moving to a new house" present to myself (I've had one before but we've been without since the last one broke about a year ago)! I used the 'dough' setting to do the time-consuming bit and then shaped the dough into rolls ready to be baked in the oven. 

These are a blend of 1/3 white and 2/3 wholemeal flours with a little bit of ground seed mix for added interest. Heather and I were waiting for them to bake so that we could eat them with our homemade tomato soup. So I forgot to take a photo before we ate the two middle ones!

They were very yummy though!

Heather has been busily varnishing, painting, cutting and sticking. She's nearly done and would prefer to show the finished article rather than stages! She expects to be finished today though....

Mum has been busy too. She did some Free Motion Quilting on the 1st and blogged about her efforts yesterday.

It's such fun to see everyone's progress!

30 Days of Creativity - days 9 & 10

A combined post today for the weekend's creativity. I've spent so long on the computer over the past week (writing blogposts and promoting CraftFest) that it seemed only fair to let my other half have a turn! So I had a good day crafting while watching the tennis from the French Open.

I have been making things ready to sell this weekend - a teddy bear for Tasmia Trinkets and Charms (but more on that when it's finished!), elephants and bracelets.

Saturday was bracelets day. Working with gorgeous Liberty bias tape; adding chains and charms. Part of the challenge is selecting the fabric to work with - they are all so pretty!

Here are the bracelets that I made...

... all of these will be available for sale, somewhere, at some point soon. Eeek! That was a bit vague wasn't it! :o)

On Sunday, I made some elephants...

... ready to become sets of three when I've made the other sizes.

I've also been finding "creative" promotion opportunities for my business. I have broken my target of 100 Facebook 'likes' and think I may finally be getting to grips with Twitter (up to 63 followers this morning).

So I think that may mean it's time for a giveaway - I'll have to see what I can find for an appropriate thank you!

30 Days of Creativity - Day 3

A very quick post today as I'm going out later. I needed something quick to make so I'd be ready to post it this morning, so I decided to teach myself something new.

That seems like an odd choice, I hear you say!

Normally, I would have to agree with you. On this occasion, however, I had already done the research, bought the materials and chosen my favourite tutorial. 

And what was my craft of choice? I wanted to make a hemp bracelet (having recently bought some hemp cord). 

Apparently this tutorial uses a macrame stitch. I wouldn't know about that - I just like the pattern (more research needed... maybe there are dozens of stitches I can learn....on reflection, I need another hobby like I need a hole in the head...).

It was very easy. I like easy. It makes a change from super, crazily, ludicrously, excessively fiddly (which seems to be my default setting when choosing projects)!

Here are the photos:

Red, white and blue. The colours of the weekend. I hope all my UK readers have a lovely time: enjoying their extra days off whatever the fickle British weather throws at us.

Happy Jubilee weekend everyone!

Online selling

I promised to let you know what I'd been up to once motivation returned. So here goes....

I have started selling on Folksy! Yay!

I was going to post this when I had finished the slightly tortuous job of listing all the items I've made. 

But I have made a sale! Only a small one, but a sale is a sale. 

So, since the shop is out there already, I can't really hide it from you anymore, can I?

So far there are notebooks...

...hairclips...

 ...and bracelets.

I'll let you know when I've listed the other bits and pieces. And I suppose there should really be some bears on there somewhere....

I'd really appreciate it if you could visit the shop and let me know what you think!  

Here's the link to my new Folksy shop.