30 Days of Creativity - Relax

Day 7: Relax!  Do you relax to create or create to relax?


I have to be relaxed to be creative. Whenever I'm stressed I have no motivation at all! I find when I'm stressed I tend to sit on my laptop searching Pinterest for inspiration or generally watching telly, but when I'm chilled I'll always doing something crafty!

Grrrr

Am I the only one that loses their creative flare when life get's stressful? The past 2 weeks have officially been a nightmare & not once have I picked up my knitting needles! To be fair I did make a tape measure brooch, but that seemed to use up all my inspiration.

Also, having no internet sucks. Almost as much as having no internet & no TV, as I'm sure I'll find out this weekend. Look's like I'll be knitting, candle making & working on my costume all weekend!  Although, on a lighter subject, I am welcoming the new month with open arms. I love December. It means family, fun & love & also it's the month of my birthday & Christmas... woohoo! And this year it's finally my 21st. The big one. My very own Mad Hatter's Tea Party... at a night club... with a silent disco! Couldn't get more random if I tried.

30 Days of Knitting...The Answers

30 Day of Knitting

Day 1:


What was your first finished project?

My first project was the Chocolate Gateau Slice!

It seemed to take forever, my knitting was still slow & there were a few dropped stitches by the end, but I made it! It now takes pride of place on my cake stand in my room.

Day 2


What is currently on your needles?

At the moment  there's a little bat on my 4mm's and a heart on my 3.25mm's... will hopefully both be finished off tomorrow! Eeeeek. I only tend to have one or two projects on my needles 

at a time, otherwise I'll never get them finished! I get very easily side-tracked!

Day 3

Do you have any other WIPs (works in progress)?

Well I started two hamsters, a basic one & a skeleton one... they fustraited me though, so they ended up in little zip-lock bags in my knitting basket! I only tend to take on projects that take a few days. Generally, the easier the better!

Day 4

How did you learn to knit?

I was taught to knit about 2 or  3 years ago by my great great Auntie. My Aunties are very thrifty ladies  & I loved their outlook. They keep those forgotten crafts alive!

Auntie Eddie & Auntie Dot

Auntie Eddie was a dab hand with knitting needles & Auntie Dot with sewing needles. So week upon week for about 2 months Auntie Eddie taught me to knit. She was highly amused at just how terrible I was and how long it took me to pick up, but we did it! She would pick up my dropped stitches for me and taught me the different stitches... & that's when I fell in love with knitting!

So many crafts... so little time!!

With all the craft ideas popping up & watching Kirstie's Homemade Britain, I thought I would make a list of all the crafts I would like to try! There are so many lovely projects I see on other blogs and think 'I'd love to have a go at that', but never get round to it... so I'm hoping making a list up will make it a less daunting feat!

• Knitting
• Crochet
• Amigurumi
• Cross stitch
• Stained glass
• Scrap-booking
• Patchwork
• Applique
• Paper Marbling
• Decoupage
• Quilling
• Card Making
• Felties
• Candle Making
• Altered books

I covered a fair few crafts in art & textiles at school & also in my Art & Design BTEC at  college, but we only briefly touched on some crafts and techniques. So I want to -put my time into each one. Find out what works for me & what just doesn't! If any one has any hints, tips or wisdom... please share... I could do with all the help I can get!

Pussywillow & Purl on Facebook...

Hello all! This week I'm shouting about my new facebook page!

Pussywillow & Purl on facebook...

It's all rather exciting... I posted my first to items for sale yesterday & will hopefully be adding more today or tomorrow!

Go check it out & give me your feedback, good or bad, it would be much appreciated & if you have your own facebook shop... send me the link :D

Happy Stitching,

Jade Sophia x

WIP Wednesday - Little Bats

As asked by my 6yr old Sister...I've begun knitting up a girlfriend for Fugly, since apparently, he's lonely!

I love this pattern, it's so quick & easy! Although, I have slightly altered the pattern for the wings, to make it as one piece. May also have to make them some little feet to hang them up with. I'm sure they're not particularly happy sleeping on their backs!

She just needs some stitching, stuffing, a name & a pretty little face!

Little Fugly getting excited!

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Remembrance Poppies

Remembrance Poppies

I'm currently making up some knitted poppy brooches for Remembrance Day. It's a special one this year... 11th hour on the11th day of the 11th month in 2011. It doesn't take much to remember those who fought for us and are currently fighting. So wear your poppy proud!

Knitted Hearts

Knitted Hearts

I found this adorable free pattern on the MochiMochiLand website (click picture for link) & had to give them a go! Still fairly new to knitting so decided to skip out the felting part. Here's my results:

Here's my first attempt... also taught myself to mattress stitch too, so the seems are lovely & neat. Seemed a little plain when I finished it though, so I added a cute heart-shaped button & some wool to hang it up with! 

After making that one, it was so quick & easy I wanted to male more. I had the idea of making them as Christmas decorations for my friends & family. I might even spray them with some festive scents!

Fugly the Bat

So here's Fugly... He's not the cutest of creatures, but he makes up for it with personality.

Likes... Sleeping, berries & nattering to himself.
Dislikes... Moths, loud noises & windows.

May tweek the pattern a bit & make him a little friend!

Well it's Friday already! Where does the time go?!

I've had a rather unproductive week so far, since I'm a poorly bunny. Actually been reduced to wearing earmuffs 24hrs a day to stop my ears hurting! Stupid ears!

Anyway, enough with the grumpy stuff... I only have one FO project this week & that's my first heart. It was super easy & didn't take up too much concentration!

I will be making some Christmas themed ones over the next few days as little gifts...

Find the pattern here. It's another free pattern from the amazing MochiMochi Land.

My Lemon Drizzle Slice is also coming along nicely... just need to make it up now & decorate it! Roll on the weekend!



Check out Tami's Amis for more FO Friday projects!

30 Days of Knitting - The Questions!

30 Days of Knitting

Here are the questions! Enjoy!

Day 1: What was your first finished project?

Day 2: What is currently on your needles?

Day 3: Do you have any other WIPs (works in progress)?

Day 4: How did you learn how to knit?

Day 5: How long did it take from the time your learned how to knit, to finish your first project?

Day 6: What is your favorite piece that you’ve knit?

Day 7: Your least favorite?

Day 8: What’s your most challenging project?

Day 9: What fiber or yarn do you love working with?

Day 10: Do you have a favorite pattern or designer?

Day 11: Do you have a “Knitter Hero” or someone that is just way too awesome for their own good? Do share!

Day 12: Where do you keep your stash? Post pictures!

Day 13: Do you have yarn that you love but can’t find a project for?

Day 14: What’s the worst yarn/fiber that you’ve worked with and why?

Day 15: What was your least favorite pattern and why?

Day 16: Have you ever had a knitting related injury? 

Day 17: Have you ever had a project that you loved become ruined? What’s the story behind it?

Day 18: Do you knit English or Continental?

Day 19: Do you watch movies and/or listen to podcasts while knitting? What are your favorite things to knit to?

Day 20: Do you knit in public? Was anyone offended/incredibly happy/curious that you were doing so?

Day 21: Do you knit gifts for friends and family for the holidays or birthdays?

Day 22: Have you ever stricken someone off your to-knit-for list because they didn’t appreciate/take care of your last knitted gift to them?

Day 23: If you had the supplies (and patience) for it, what project would you start today?

Day 24: Have you ever made your own pattern or dyed your own yarn? How did it turn out?

Day 25: Do you have a knitting book or a place where you keep patterns, ideas, size measurements? Post a picture of it!

Day 26: Have you ever been a part, or wanted to be a part of a knit-a-long? What was it? If not, why?

Day 27: How do you acquire most of yarn? Online retailers, local yarn shops, swaps, or large chain craft stores? What’s your favorite?

Day 28: Do you do any other crafts besides knitting? What are they, and did learning to knit come before or after learning these other crafts?

Day 29: Do you have any tips, or things that you’ve learned from knitting?

Day 30: What’s your name on Ravelry? If you don’t have a Ravelry account, why?

Knitted Cakes...

18th October 2011

Well it's already midweek. The weeks go so quickly now, but I've been rather lazy with my knitting the past few days. My Lemon Drizzle Slice is coming along nicely just the sides to knit and make it up! So hoping it will be ready for FO Friday

14th October 2011

Happy Friday people! Glad the weekends here even, even if I’m stuck working.

Been a busy bunny this week… Finished off my chocolate fudge cake, made & finished my carrot cake, in just 2 days & also started on a lemon drizzle cake! Plus I got my first 2 orders in!

So here’s my week in knitting:

Noodle, my naked rat enjoying some treats. Although they had to be taken away from him rather quickly since he tried to smuggle them into his cage!

Patterns: 20 to make: Knitted Cakes
Needles: 3.25 straight

9th October 2011

It's taken me quite a while to get the hang of knitting a pattern, but with a couple of repaired drop-stitches, here it is, my first successful pattern complete:

Now just to finish decorating it!

6th September 2011

So I have begun a new project...

After seeing some adorable knitted cupcakes in a haberdashery window, I had to go in and ask if they had a pattern! I'm not a great knitter... previously I'd only just managed to successfully knit a 10x10cm square! So this was going to be quite a challenge, but I had my mind set!The lady at the counter introduced me to a book.

I read the patterns inside and decided to take the challenge! I'd never followed a pattern before; It looked seriously complicated, but I left the store with a new book & a new hobby!

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Hello World :)

Hellew people! I'm Jade Sophia...20...Quirky...Ditsy..Sleepy...Odd...Bubbly...I guess that kind of sums me up, but I'm sure me friends would add things! So for my 1st post I thought I ought to explain just what I plan on blogging about! I have quite a crazy life, seldom does a week go by without some kind of drama. So look out for life updates! I also have some pretty quirky hobbies, which I like to natter about :)

• Knitting
• Art
• Bellydance
• Reading
• Sleeping

I'm a very creative person... my day doesn't seem quite right without some kind of creative output!