Suze H

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Wednesday 29 February 2012

Birthdays and guilt


A couple of my friends have had birthdays this month and at a loss what to get them, they each got some hand-made jewellery. 

AJS, the friend I made the cuff for (see the last post) absolutely loved it.  It looked lovely all wrapped up too:

AJS is a graphics designer and artist and her presents are always so beautifully wrapped, I wanted to do her proud.

My other friend, V, turned 50 a couple of weeks ago.  She doesn't like anything fussy, be it clothes or accessories, so I wanted to make her something I thought she'd actually wear, so she got a crochet and beaded necklaces, which fortunately she really liked:

Poor HP has been a bit neglected recently, what with me shut away in my craft room making presents and rehearsals for the spring play, so I made him some cupcakes at the weekend:
 
You can't really see in the picture but these had green icing, with silver glitter and sprinkles.  I really want to upgrade my camera, but I've got other things I need to save up for first.  May go on the birthday and Christmas list.....

I've been feeling really guilty about how many WIPs I currently have.  I made a list on Sunday and there are 13!  Really, 13!!!  That's pretty bad!  Some only literally need to be sewn up or have buttons added.  I packed away everything when we moved last March and I'm still unpacking my stash boxes now.  I think I've got all the unfinished projects together and am determined to finish them all before I start something else.  I've got some gorgeous rainbow yarn to make a jumper which I can't wait to start so that's my incentive.

First up, I'm going to work on my short sleeved cardigan as this will be perfect for the spring and summer months:

Again, the piccie isn't great, but it's a gorgeous green with flecks and the style is very me.  I just need to make it up, finish the neckband and edging and add a button.  I have a different project for tea and lunch breaks at work - something that's easy to pick up and put down - and that's a short sleeved jumper.  I've lost quite a lot of weight since I started it, so it will either have to be worn with a belt or I may give it away *sigh*.

Monday 13 February 2012

Finished cuff

I finally finished the black cuff for A's birthday at the end of the month and I'm very pleased with it.  It's the first one of its kind I've ever made, so I was a bit worried how it would turn out. 




I'm not sure the pictures really do it justice.  It was a real labour of love, but I think the birthday girl will like it.

Tuesday 7 February 2012

White February

Most of the country seems to have had snow, even here in Cambridgeshire and we often escape it.  My folks didn't get any in the West Country though and my Mum was most disappointed.  Not much fun getting into work on Monday, but it sure was pretty on Sunday when the snow was all fresh and unspoilt.  Managed to get out and take a few piccies around our village.


 The church looked so pretty but sadly my camera just didn't do it justice.
  
This weather is the perfect time to wear two of my Christmas break knits - a glitzy and a loopy scarf.  I got the yarn as a pressie and it was good fun seeing how they developed on the needles; very simple to do but very effective end result:


As the weather was so bad on Sunday, I decided to stay in and get on with some crafty bits.  I made HP a lemon drizzle loaf (a bit of comfort food in winter is always a must!) seen here before and after drizzle has been added:



I also decided to crack on with a friend's birthday present.  Her birthday is at the end of this month and the time is just creeping up on me.  She really wants a black cuff bracelet and I must confess this is the first time I've made one.  I made the 'frame' out of 20-gauge wire:

and then started the knit section of the bracelet with 28-gauge wire which wraps around the frame.  She wanted something quite simple, so I've added just a few black seed beads to give the bracelet some texture:


I'm a bit worried that the knit section is too long for the frame.  Wire always ends up so much longer than you think it will when you knit with it.  I'm hoping I can wrap it enough to look okay - we'll see.
I'm hoping to get it finished this weekend but attaching it is the fiddly bit so that may take some time and if it is too long then I may have to start afresh!

I also made another pair of stud earrings (sorry the photo quality isn't very good)

I may have to put some of my crafting on hold for a while as I'm in a play in May and I have a lot of lines to learn.  Very exciting but very nerve-wracking as it's my first big part!

Hope you're all keeping safe and warm in this cold weather.