My to do list of 2013:

To Do List:

• Do a cross stitch
• Get a new job
• Make my 1st sales on Folksy or Etsy
• Rekindle my love for origami
• Read more
• Go on a high ropes course
• Keep some plants alive.
• Commit to A Make a Month
• Make bottlecap magnets
• Make a cosmic t-shirt with bleach!
• Update my blog more
• Go to a craft show
• Add more to this list!
• 
  

Mushi Monster

If you already know me, you will know I'm like a 2nd Mother to my little sister Sienna... For those who don't know me... Sienna is my 6yr old Sister. She is a gorgeous little girl who is full of personality and quirkiness & I adore her right to my very core. I was there at her birth, I have changed her nappies, done her night feeds, soothed her fevers, watched her grow & become a very proud second Mum.

For about a year now Sienna, like most children, has become scared of the dark, but only around the house. Now, I've been through all the obvious ideas... a torch, encouragement, stories about the dark, a step so she could reach the light switches...nothing worked. Recently we have just ignored it hoping she will grow out of it, but last night I came up with an idea... It's probably already been done (I will google it in a min), but I'm hoping it will work. A monster of her own. A good monster, that scares any bad monsters away!

I told her this evening about my idea & she was very excited, especially when I told her how we were going to make this monster magic... (Secret I can't share!). Together we chose a sewing pattern, Picked out materials & put it together. She even had a go at threading a bobbin, which she loved!

This is Mushi:

Mushi still needs some more stuffing, stitching & the special magic ingredient, but fingers crossed, we may have found the answer!

Have a look at the original sewing pattern here... Revoluzzzionary Monster

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!

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!

Teacup Candles in progress...

I'm rather excitable today... had my first go at candle making! Found some adorable cups & saucers in local charity shops and after seeing ideas in magazines & on other blogs, I decided I'd give it a go!

I wasn't quite brave enough to put a dye in since they are my first ones, but I did mix in some fragrance oil... what's the point in unscented candles!

Here are some pictures of today's adventure:

Keeping the wick in place...

Pouring the wax...(& making a mess)

Got my wax from this great shop www.whicksandwhacks.com, they do lots of candle making bits at really good prices!

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

Olivia the Bat

TGIF!!

Yet another week has flown by, yet this week has been slightly more stressful than most!

Fugly now has someone to keep him company though :)... Meet Olivia... 

Olivia is a little shy but loves fruit trees, singing & warm nights.

She doesn't like small spaces, cats & early mornings!

Find this fantastic pattern here by Luciana Jorge.

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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SatsumaPumpkin!

Okay, so it's got nothing to do with knitting but I made the cutest Satsumapumpkin that I had too share!

Only one slight problem... It's too small to fit a candle in! Will be shopping for Pumpkins & Oranges on Sunday!

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!

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?