tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25904403173304001262024-03-14T07:41:47.806+00:00The Crafty CactusA place to share my finished craft projects, general ramblings, cool things I've found online, and other such bumpf.Ribshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07419544527212631083noreply@blogger.comBlogger94125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590440317330400126.post-27362931638242297992010-12-08T10:27:00.000+00:002010-12-08T10:27:01.052+00:00Linocut printing without cutting lino (tutorial)<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_sIhiXQwfMM0vUlsPvEcTKI9LtRYyQV_AxnYJ9O4wFmoPTqsxb3ePyQ9S6rEfX-UaXHUUni6PDz2dV5ssYUNF3PIv5vYnOeonpv-uRGsLHS7hsntYa5r88LOMBJa5zBJoeRViTgXSvBU/s1600/IMG00049-20101208-0909.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_sIhiXQwfMM0vUlsPvEcTKI9LtRYyQV_AxnYJ9O4wFmoPTqsxb3ePyQ9S6rEfX-UaXHUUni6PDz2dV5ssYUNF3PIv5vYnOeonpv-uRGsLHS7hsntYa5r88LOMBJa5zBJoeRViTgXSvBU/s320/IMG00049-20101208-0909.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ta da! Two "linocut" cards for your viewing pleasure.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-size: small;">Every year I want to make my own Christmas cards, but never actually get round to it. I then spend the rest of the festive season wishing I had got my arse in gear. This year I have finally done it and made not one, but four different designs! This is a tutorial for the technique I hashed together</span> for my first two designs. I may or may not do further tutorials for the other designs depending on how the mood takes me.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It's my first tutorial, so please bear with me. The photos are awful, but I had only a camera phone and a toddler "assistant" at my disposal. Feel free to ask questions if it doesn't make sense. And if you're a bona fide linocutter, I apologise for bastardising your fine craft.<br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Equipment & Materials</u></span></div><ul style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">Foam tray</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Greaseproof paper or tracing paper</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">HB pencil</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Sticky tape </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Pointy implement for poking said plate</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Acyrlic paintor ink</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Paintbrush </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Random vaguely Christmassy yarn and embroidery thread for embellishment</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Can of hairspray or other cylindrical object</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Blank cards</span></li>
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</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u>Step 1 </u></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6lh2aANGIek/TP9R_dvDUyI/AAAAAAAABO4/bUN763oLyNI/s1600/IMG00035-20101208-0836.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6lh2aANGIek/TP9R_dvDUyI/AAAAAAAABO4/bUN763oLyNI/s320/IMG00035-20101208-0836.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Foam pizza base thingy and a foam plate.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Spend a lot of time thinking about what you could use instead of lino for linocutting. Waste more time googling linocutting kits and recoiling in horror over price. Finally remember that the pizza you had two days ago had a foam plate and root through rubbish bin to retrieve it.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><u>Step 2</u></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6lh2aANGIek/TP9S1P08pFI/AAAAAAAABO8/wcGkSTXyVHM/s1600/IMG00036-20101208-0842.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6lh2aANGIek/TP9S1P08pFI/AAAAAAAABO8/wcGkSTXyVHM/s320/IMG00036-20101208-0842.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Robin card sketch.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Having already had your "ah ha!" design moment in the shower, sketch your design on a random piece of paper. It doesn't need to be a work of art - simple and bold is the way to go. Then draw round your card blank and be happy that fortune has smiled on you and it will fit on the cards all nicely.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><u>Step 3</u></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqu7haTG5LXmeVed9_AN3LcHhkDLBa_-UaKanWIzDIMdT8-o_D9WzXvhWcnIw7qvwJp2pNdxVEHbaMHxfk_PF3bf5yJB1ysCJ14x9-EDvXzmBrZQMlbcWXu18vjm_xrJDLDkPC3cHgeiA/s1600/IMG00037-20101208-0847.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqu7haTG5LXmeVed9_AN3LcHhkDLBa_-UaKanWIzDIMdT8-o_D9WzXvhWcnIw7qvwJp2pNdxVEHbaMHxfk_PF3bf5yJB1ysCJ14x9-EDvXzmBrZQMlbcWXu18vjm_xrJDLDkPC3cHgeiA/s320/IMG00037-20101208-0847.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Design traced on to greaseproof paper, minus some details.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Trace your design on to the greaseproof paper that you've liberated from the kitchen. Make sure you cut off only the small square that you need so that there will be a funny and not really usable shape for any future legitimate cooking purpose. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><u>Step 4</u></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6lh2aANGIek/TP9Tp72y9lI/AAAAAAAABPQ/LS9WVDHGm0o/s1600/IMG00039-20101208-0850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_6lh2aANGIek/TP9Tp72y9lI/AAAAAAAABPQ/LS9WVDHGm0o/s320/IMG00039-20101208-0850.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Transferring the design to the foam plate.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Stick your greaseproof paper to the foam plate with the tape. Scribble over the design to transfer it to the plate. It helps if you have turned the paper over first so that you are not simply obliterating your efforts.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><u>Step 5</u></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6lh2aANGIek/TP9X_p1QhwI/AAAAAAAABQQ/-7KGUScCOvk/s1600/poking+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_6lh2aANGIek/TP9X_p1QhwI/AAAAAAAABQQ/-7KGUScCOvk/s320/poking+4.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to poke? Yes, siree!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Grasp your poking implement - I used a blunt probe from my old Zoology dissection kit - and carefully poke around the design. Once you've gone around the whole thing, gleefully poke, poke, poke in all the white space and squash it down with the handle of your poking device. This step can prove satisfyingly annoying to your other half who is playing an equally annoying racing game on the PS3.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><u>Step 6</u></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMRkWiRGeGIOvc3lxza0_ODl77XhBL0Ga80AYH1Fas1DbiX-TPHCtnNgUWEWUVRitwO3LeulnX4undKfwgITje3J6kgVfw5_igNVENgwwTupCeHvG8su0sreWPUjowWXZUqTbDFUv2Sp4/s1600/IMG00052-20101208-1008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMRkWiRGeGIOvc3lxza0_ODl77XhBL0Ga80AYH1Fas1DbiX-TPHCtnNgUWEWUVRitwO3LeulnX4undKfwgITje3J6kgVfw5_igNVENgwwTupCeHvG8su0sreWPUjowWXZUqTbDFUv2Sp4/s320/IMG00052-20101208-1008.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ink up your block. I used acrylic paint.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Cut round your newly created printing block and tape it to the table. Carefully apply paint with paintbrush and lay a piece of scrap paper over the block. Squash it down with your fingers, being careful not to move it. Then roll over it with your can of hairspray (no, don't bodily roll over it while holding the can...).</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><u>Step 7</u></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6lh2aANGIek/TP9TxoedubI/AAAAAAAABPg/w3pNz-VUXx8/s1600/IMG00043-20101208-0900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_6lh2aANGIek/TP9TxoedubI/AAAAAAAABPg/w3pNz-VUXx8/s320/IMG00043-20101208-0900.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carefully does it. Ooh the anticipation...</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Peel back the paper and behold the wonder that is your printed design! If you're happy with it, repeat step 6 with your blank cards. I managed to eke 19 cards out of mine, but after that the printed image was getting too fuzzy. </span><br />
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<u><span style="font-size: small;">Step 8</span></u><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGId30dOwtRiAYhKHF3by8h6ewKnA6rFAQ-D0CVUec7w3FXmY7GzYDqHlGwMip9vAMyVeBUlSpBs0lAmcm3fXWky2n0xVck7MxtuVYRj82eP2Soyk4bldBbJLT6a8aXex7Qc-PyPQsLjo/s1600/IMG00041-20101208-0857.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGId30dOwtRiAYhKHF3by8h6ewKnA6rFAQ-D0CVUec7w3FXmY7GzYDqHlGwMip9vAMyVeBUlSpBs0lAmcm3fXWky2n0xVck7MxtuVYRj82eP2Soyk4bldBbJLT6a8aXex7Qc-PyPQsLjo/s320/IMG00041-20101208-0857.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Embellish away, my friends!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Once the cards have dried, embellish them however you see fit - I used a red ink pencil and some sparkly yarn from my stash for one design and some embroidery thread for the other.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><u>Step 9</u></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dither about how to print the greeting inside and wonder if you will actually manage to post them before the last posting date. Finally decide to use some proper stamps and then wait impatiently for them to arrive in the post. Continue waiting and start waking up in the night panicking about it. [Note: still waiting...]</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And there you have it. If you try this out I'd love to see your efforts.</span></div>Ribshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07419544527212631083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590440317330400126.post-18033377774827873952010-05-26T07:30:00.001+01:002010-09-20T09:58:31.148+01:00Ceiling trapdoor TV<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_AUiE0TVwTfa-w2psFLJLdFbduPJWKxq92Sh7uUWuSULK_pCvhNpmkmQzgFCkXlsl7zOjEPW0Pi2ezGN57ZTSgnO41QJduMS42xl_Tf2uI05FjKyhwrO9tmRRW1rUo5E8u5GWIchaRys/s1600/trapdoor+tv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_AUiE0TVwTfa-w2psFLJLdFbduPJWKxq92Sh7uUWuSULK_pCvhNpmkmQzgFCkXlsl7zOjEPW0Pi2ezGN57ZTSgnO41QJduMS42xl_Tf2uI05FjKyhwrO9tmRRW1rUo5E8u5GWIchaRys/s200/trapdoor+tv.jpg" width="161" /></a></div>How's this for a neat way to hide the TV when it's not in use? Not to mention a sure fire way to keep those sticky fingers off your flatscreen.<br /><br />This one is part of a bedroom remodelling carried out by <a href="http://www.dpcincorporated.com/">Dijeau & Poage</a> construction company in San Francisco. Reckon you could do it yourself with a bit of thought and careful DIY though. Just make sure it's really, really securely fixed up there...<br /><br />(via <a href="http://www.unplggd.com/unplggd/look/secret-hatch-reveals-bedroom-tv-117618?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+apartmenttherapy%2Funplggd+%28Unplggd%29&utm_content=Google+Reader">Unplggd</a>)Ribshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07419544527212631083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590440317330400126.post-40377565551530205892010-05-25T14:27:00.000+01:002010-05-25T14:28:00.180+01:00Keeping bath toys mould-free<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000BR9DNC?ie=UTF8&tag=rambliofacact-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B000BR9DNC" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkW0vT2z5lDVtRz7cv-HmqvSdhE2qco78zgIsX35_GtaxSV7dc90TKcG_odcWzGH1KAVlaRbBTfxKwHxCIZV0xWCPnqe2iR773Pcf6dPrZfTG63czytPPQo-MwiT5cCgZhPD31yKEXGc4/s1600/514hCEwt9cL._SL160_.jpg" /></a><br />
This is not something I'd normally post about here, but when I was bathing my son last night I was reminded of the endless experiments we ran to stop our bath toys growing that scourge of the bathroom, black mould (mold). Mr Crafty Cactus reckons this is something that other people would like to know and I think he's right*. <br />
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I've always squeezed out all the water from the toys after a bath and that is important. However, it's not enough to stop the mould. Keeping the toys in a net to dry doesn't seem to make much difference and as ours kept falling down, I have abandoned it. Our toys now sit on the windowsill, usually lined up neatly by Mr V (anything to avoid getting out of the bath).<br />
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I tried using a weak disinfectant solution on the toys when they got mouldy. It made no difference to the mould and just served to worry me further. I didn't want Mr V ingesting mould, but I certainly didn't want him ingesting disinfectant. Those toys went in the bin (one by one, so they weren't missed).<br />
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Finally, Mr Crafty Cactus became interested. And of course solved the problem, so as to gain maximum smug points. What did he do? He first boiled all the toys in a large saucepan. I've got one I keep for dyeing things, so he used that. Then he made sure that each toy was full of water and microwaved them for a bit.<br />
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He did this a few months back and so far, no sign of the black stuff. I've continued to squeeze all the water out of the little blighters after each bath, but otherwise we've done nothing else. Problem solved. Hoorah.<br />
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As for non-slip bathmats, we just take ours out and lay it over the tub, sucker side up when it's not in use. No mould there either.<br />
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<i>*I do have a slight concern that we are the only people worrying about this. Are we?</i>Ribshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07419544527212631083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590440317330400126.post-31767609329081357472010-05-15T07:51:00.001+01:002010-09-20T09:58:31.149+01:00Amigurumi cacti in crackle glaze pots<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVsCq9D-_9EChL7EBG_tmUwxHggXXokjTwgzixgYKqIDXOWNOwqOD5IhGKqvtQFqoLIYbeJs8q6Ya08WeM-D4FR40armItHF8kDScGIsor3WeHdC_cLsLjmWP9tHb_IYgbqvVMHIK-K8M/s1600/ami+cacti.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVsCq9D-_9EChL7EBG_tmUwxHggXXokjTwgzixgYKqIDXOWNOwqOD5IhGKqvtQFqoLIYbeJs8q6Ya08WeM-D4FR40armItHF8kDScGIsor3WeHdC_cLsLjmWP9tHb_IYgbqvVMHIK-K8M/s200/ami+cacti.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Julie over at <a href="http://www.gleefulthings.com/blog/?p=265">Gleeful Things</a> created these adorable amigurumi cacti for her mother and grandmother. I really should get round to making some myself - I've been thinking that a selection of ami cacti would make a great header.<br /><br />Julie also did the crackle glazing on the pots - have a go yourself by following <a href="http://www.gleefulthings.com/blog/?p=252">her tutorial</a>. <br /><br />If you fancy making your own ami cacti, there's a free pattern for a similar cactus over at <a href="http://amigurumipatterns.blogspot.com/2007/11/thank-you-little-cactus.html">Ana Paula's Amigurumi Patterns & Random Cuteness</a>.Ribshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07419544527212631083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590440317330400126.post-62325622980587027642010-05-13T18:01:00.001+01:002010-09-20T09:58:31.151+01:00Pixellated PacMan cufflinks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEndot-TiqkOVKZsQOHxGXlT30Kl4u6BrzoHDEfjLqwxCbxEBLKYfvSlglxPLQoQWxwRob-XfGv6e0PPfI5aZjOsCz5G5i2xLPTHfWdnSh3Djc8NrTQo7HmMJMmblgOvJmyye2U-lUvjM/s1600/pac+man+cufflinks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEndot-TiqkOVKZsQOHxGXlT30Kl4u6BrzoHDEfjLqwxCbxEBLKYfvSlglxPLQoQWxwRob-XfGv6e0PPfI5aZjOsCz5G5i2xLPTHfWdnSh3Djc8NrTQo7HmMJMmblgOvJmyye2U-lUvjM/s200/pac+man+cufflinks.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Novelty cufflinks are nothing new, but these pixellated lovelies are surely something else! I love the idea of geek-chic things like this, things that most people won't notice that you can wear safe in the knowledge of your own geek supremacy.<br /><br />Perhaps Mr Crafty Cactus needs some of these for Fathers' Day. If you or your man <strike>want</strike> need some of these, amble over to <a href="http://www.makersmarket.com/sellers/1162-beaujangles">BeauJangles' stall on Makers Market</a>. The <a href="http://www.makersmarket.com/products/1244-space-invader-cufflinks">Space Invaders</a> are pretty neat too.<br /><br />(via <a href="http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2010/05/dress_shirts_rejoice_at_geeky.html">Craft</a>)Ribshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07419544527212631083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590440317330400126.post-16569808302276986082010-05-10T14:24:00.001+01:002010-09-20T09:58:31.152+01:00Fabulous fireworks print chair revamp<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqRAN6Ue_rNA38EbAXjYx-N6tDH_Cj5N8rK6viguR9tXNW3Wmm_zC9UiPzvJhDZJ49eTLiZtGZleLy3AzH1bu4Z1CLNBdTNgEce8jsEHwwLPEqgp8Bzghyn71EDAEOfNbYZGeImFu48ug/s1600/midcentury-upholstered-chair.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqRAN6Ue_rNA38EbAXjYx-N6tDH_Cj5N8rK6viguR9tXNW3Wmm_zC9UiPzvJhDZJ49eTLiZtGZleLy3AzH1bu4Z1CLNBdTNgEce8jsEHwwLPEqgp8Bzghyn71EDAEOfNbYZGeImFu48ug/s200/midcentury-upholstered-chair.png" width="167" /></a></div>I just love furniture revamps and here's one that features the lovely <a href="http://www.fabric.com/home-decor-fabric-retro-fabric-cool-fabric-braemore-calliope-collection-braemore-fireworks-natural.aspx">Fireworks print fabric</a> by Jessica Jones (of <a href="http://howaboutorange.blogspot.com/">How about orange...</a>). This top job was carried out by Melissa Swanson - <a href="http://tossingpaper.blogspot.com/2010/03/makeover-chair-edition.html">check out her blog post</a> for the full details.<br /><br />And don't forget to pop over to <a href="http://howaboutorange.blogspot.com/">Jessica's blog</a> while you're out and about - it's one of my RSS reader favourites.Ribshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07419544527212631083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590440317330400126.post-36947486475526398642010-05-10T14:10:00.001+01:002010-09-20T09:58:31.153+01:00Minesweeper pillows with sound effects!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9E1B0KMvGNAzUmituOpX_GmEHT7Td4-WKa49X94JLE5gb5xwWmiuKj2Dl1Z2JQTYhydk_DEjPCHV7qSu8vY3Kj2kTJi-vOXNQi6X-EXKiWdrDUDxLF301YB-3mNM-k8oFOPHX-QxEwI/s1600/minesweeper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9E1B0KMvGNAzUmituOpX_GmEHT7Td4-WKa49X94JLE5gb5xwWmiuKj2Dl1Z2JQTYhydk_DEjPCHV7qSu8vY3Kj2kTJi-vOXNQi6X-EXKiWdrDUDxLF301YB-3mNM-k8oFOPHX-QxEwI/s200/minesweeper.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Everyone has wasted hours playing minesweeper when they're supposed to be doing something else more productive, but few people have gone to the effort of bringing the game into their real lives. Meet <a href="http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-your-own-sound-effect-minesweeper-pillows/">instructables member BritLive</a> who crafted these fabulously geeky pillows.<br /><br />What I like about these is that inevitably some people who come round to your house wouldn't realise what they were. So, in effect these pillows would act as geek radar. And even the non-geeks would surely be amused by a bomb explosion upon sitting.<br /><br />(via <a href="http://blog.craftzine.com/">Craft</a>)Ribshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07419544527212631083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590440317330400126.post-67905099827853919072010-05-09T10:07:00.001+01:002010-09-20T09:58:31.155+01:00Omlet's beautiful Beehaus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1yLqG0UakVswnMilDFf95LYcyA6VGVbh8JFcdVerGX31cAWQATJX1tN7jyncdMzVg09LaBNVrGPL6oQEz2f75mW9X7DHo3BhoULPblwAC5rK9aBaB3XqlcaFcW94G9uOp65HC5FVz3bw/s1600/beehaus.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1yLqG0UakVswnMilDFf95LYcyA6VGVbh8JFcdVerGX31cAWQATJX1tN7jyncdMzVg09LaBNVrGPL6oQEz2f75mW9X7DHo3BhoULPblwAC5rK9aBaB3XqlcaFcW94G9uOp65HC5FVz3bw/s200/beehaus.gif" width="200" /></a></div>I knew we could trust <a href="http://www.omlet.co.uk/homepage/">Omlet</a>, the people behind the <a href="http://www.omlet.co.uk/products_services/products_services.php?view=Eglu%20Classic">urban henhouse Eglu</a> to come up with something equally cool for the wannabe bee keepers among us. And I just knew they'd give it a good name and they have not disappointed on that front - meet the <a href="http://www.omlet.co.uk/products_services/products_services.php?cat=Beehaus&subcat=Bees+and+Honey">Beehaus</a>!<br /><br />Now, I don't profess to know much, if anything, about keeping bees, but I was very surprised to learn that one Beehaus could produce 1,400kg of honey a year. That's a lot of sticky stuff. Omlet do suggest that you take honey instead of wine to dinner parties and with that volume to deal with, you'll definitely need to come up with some kind of plan to get shot of it.<br /><br />Of course, you could sell it to help pay back the £500 plus start up cost. By my reckoning, you'll be laughing all the way to the bank once you've flogged 250 jars. And you'll still have 2,550 left to find homes for.<br /><br />(via <a href="http://www.wired.co.uk/wired-magazine"><i>Wired</i> magazine 06.10</a>)Ribshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07419544527212631083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590440317330400126.post-75221039905176631662010-05-09T10:06:00.001+01:002010-09-20T09:58:31.157+01:00Knitted antique chairs by Melanie Porter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyKtD9lBE2J-PPzQFr4rUxuDY56yYJ-EsphWgSkMy2Ek7GB8bsb5ZQHamVjdf_ARWC0McNKkt163ZXhoFmknS2J-ZVwcYe9l42RNEkI6qlOdEhna5RHmlOk_W-tMIn-ck2_llm7DWCY-8/s1600/melanieporter+chair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyKtD9lBE2J-PPzQFr4rUxuDY56yYJ-EsphWgSkMy2Ek7GB8bsb5ZQHamVjdf_ARWC0McNKkt163ZXhoFmknS2J-ZVwcYe9l42RNEkI6qlOdEhna5RHmlOk_W-tMIn-ck2_llm7DWCY-8/s200/melanieporter+chair.jpg" width="171" /></a></div>Here's something that appeals to two of my favourite things at the same time - old furniture and fibre-art. Ex-knitwear designer <a href="http://melanieporter.co.uk/">Melanie Porter</a> finds old chairs in auctions and markets across the UK and gives them a new lease of life through careful restoration and reupholstering before she covers them with handknitted panels.<br /><br />I've chosen Henry (see left) to demonstrate Melanie's talents - a fine chair who's on-trend to boot. Alas, there are no prices on her website, so I suspect that means Henry won't be coming to live with me. But perhaps he or one of his friends could <a href="http://www.melanieporter.co.uk/showroom.asp">come over to your place</a>? Melanie takes commissions too, if you've got an old Bergere<i></i> that deserves a facelift.<br /><br />(via <i>guardian weekend</i> magazine, 08.05.10)Ribshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07419544527212631083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590440317330400126.post-89349124360494108922010-05-09T10:05:00.001+01:002010-09-20T09:58:31.158+01:00Lufdesign's leaf cable ties<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge8wJYIwMTm8DcolUICzZxNh5PHz3p_8PU4LvYhdan-S2BIILqIw-JxPf-An8Yy5-6byWVAEH7_HhTmj58nDxvc_43Qcncmd1NyKYWvztHnI8HEGz_q3e5jl51z55Gju697Qtd9urFEw8/s1600/leaf+tie+ipod.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge8wJYIwMTm8DcolUICzZxNh5PHz3p_8PU4LvYhdan-S2BIILqIw-JxPf-An8Yy5-6byWVAEH7_HhTmj58nDxvc_43Qcncmd1NyKYWvztHnI8HEGz_q3e5jl51z55Gju697Qtd9urFEw8/s200/leaf+tie+ipod.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">How about this for a simple, yet brilliant idea? Cable ties with little leaves on the ends, making them both functional and attractive. With these babies on-hand you can prettify your copious cables and give up on the much harder task of hiding the messy buggers.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The Leaf Ties are the brainchild of Korea-based <a href="http://lufdesign.blogspot.com/2010/04/leaf-tie.html">Lufdesign</a>. They weren't originally planning to sell direct to the public, but because of the happy problem of lots of consumer interest <a href="http://lufdesign.blogspot.com/search/label/store">they are shipping via airmail</a>. If you're quick you might just grab some for yourself...</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">(via <a href="http://blog.sub-studio.com/2010/05/lufdesign-leaf-ties.html">sub-studio</a>)</div>Ribshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07419544527212631083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590440317330400126.post-47526167556994900842010-04-21T08:21:00.000+01:002010-09-20T07:14:40.184+01:00Fairy cake semi-failMr V and I made some fairy cakes today (mini cupcakes). They taste great, but my attempts at icing (after Mr V had gone to bed) aren't quite so great:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwHBMfwNNSxOIdFWsZ1UfGdPGi8dde7dU3bwbTEmtZXRSVhcfd7H6cLLHxzQPPgJq5ruLZDbynhmd8q0rOmeb1ksxSBLsNGHgVJxYBHf4-rxn18skc_jKs87_qN5GwafpjgZBfxtF_hEM/s1600/fairy+cakes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwHBMfwNNSxOIdFWsZ1UfGdPGi8dde7dU3bwbTEmtZXRSVhcfd7H6cLLHxzQPPgJq5ruLZDbynhmd8q0rOmeb1ksxSBLsNGHgVJxYBHf4-rxn18skc_jKs87_qN5GwafpjgZBfxtF_hEM/s200/fairy+cakes.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><br />I iced them all and then tried to put the sprinkles on. Turns out that doesn't work too well. I had to poke each tiny sugar star into the icing. So, next time it's ice-then-sprinkle, ice-then-sprinkle, ice-then-sprinkle etc, etc.<br /><br />The recipe is from <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1843404419?ie=UTF8&tag=rambliofacact-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=1843404419">Easy to Make! Cakes and Bakes (Good Housekeeping).</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/e/ir?t=rambliofacact-21&l=as2&o=2&a=1843404419" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> First one I've tried from there, but so far, so good...Ribshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07419544527212631083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590440317330400126.post-39702161218547370412010-03-31T07:44:00.000+01:002010-09-20T07:21:06.951+01:00Rabbit RattleMy friend has had her baby and while I haven't given her the presents yet (Mr V and I are holed up with a bad cold), I can share my latest makes with you because she hasn't mastered being online and breastfeeding just yet. First up, a crochet rabbit rattle.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKmeCWbIKlm_8e7hxya4aU2XFygDeceDDp2_iSsvyr8PFhbufKC2BxxMijA7c399vLMKhcduZd8g1Rf9Xoz28C98391PkS2mhHGqo67O5prICg0Czfnwp1cM0V9ISsJsY373X3mXfrH3E/s1600/29032010+147.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454685586228345970" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKmeCWbIKlm_8e7hxya4aU2XFygDeceDDp2_iSsvyr8PFhbufKC2BxxMijA7c399vLMKhcduZd8g1Rf9Xoz28C98391PkS2mhHGqo67O5prICg0Czfnwp1cM0V9ISsJsY373X3mXfrH3E/s320/29032010+147.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 320px; width: 256px;" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkiyQqMNrlnzE6N8i_1PfTx4X0kNBNYibO1d-l7ZNRRLHlPMiicwrVHO_ox0RQlbqJCsRoVQZdQJyWIZs88S4r_BP16kl8NtwQSXlYtiWDG8yGpuuWO7JoiYjy-fO6BcCXohSLRJpdBg0/s1600/29032010+148.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454685721185103426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkiyQqMNrlnzE6N8i_1PfTx4X0kNBNYibO1d-l7ZNRRLHlPMiicwrVHO_ox0RQlbqJCsRoVQZdQJyWIZs88S4r_BP16kl8NtwQSXlYtiWDG8yGpuuWO7JoiYjy-fO6BcCXohSLRJpdBg0/s320/29032010+148.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 320px; width: 240px;" /></a><br /><br />Over-reaction Man (new name for hubby, hereafter known as ORM) took the photos outside for me. I think the one in the tree came out best, but it makes the rattle look deformed, hence sharing both images. (Side note: if only the weather was like that now - it's hideous outside today, storm central.)<br /><br />The pattern was from <a href="http://www.crochettoday.com/">Crochet Today</a> May/June '09 by <a href="http://vickiehowell.blogspot.com/">Vicki Howell</a> and should have looked like this:<br /><br /><a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3464/3403628709_1ec05f1d72.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3464/3403628709_1ec05f1d72.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 500px; width: 333px;" /></a><br /><br />Mine came out quite differently, as you can see. But as <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0761139850?ie=UTF8&tag=rambliofacact-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=0761139850">a wise woman</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/e/ir?t=rambliofacact-21&l=as2&o=2&a=0761139850" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" width="1" /><br />once said: "There's no such thing as the crochet police". So there.Ribshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07419544527212631083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590440317330400126.post-32594260145015502162010-03-21T09:12:00.000+00:002010-09-20T06:58:18.711+01:00I'm back and I'm crafting againI'm not going to apologise for not posting - it seems every second blog has such a post - but suffice it to say that I'm back and I'm making stuff. Not right this second, of course, but later today and yesterday and no doubt tomorrow as well. I can't share what I'm making just yet, because it's baby stuff for my friend whose due date was yesterday. Hopefully soon!<br /><br />Little update on what's happening Chez CCL: we've moved down to the Kent coast. I feel like I've come home (I'm from East Kent originally). We've rented a lovely large top floor flat which overlooks shared private gardens for local residents only (how posh!). I've <a href="http://www.wolfplain.co.uk/">set up my own business</a> and am working from home. Hubby has got himself a swish job in the Big Smoke (yes, where we just moved from, doh!). And Mr V has settled into nursery after several false starts - he only goes three afternoons a week, but that's enough for now to give me time to get my work done.<br /><br />All very exciting. Hopefully some crafting news soon :)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcFFLGr5Mr3KHoq0jZH2hV9caaU0wIcUhSVeN4TTe7ykU_hTsCNcQ1S41mpiQ5s8Bpokoan6mpeSyMOyRPff_CSSEdifjyaBQtEpR0bpv1NoNNbOIACYBj-m7qcwBsv8uN8lcsbklbV8g/s1600-h/4404688056_3d039aa001.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451022993555857026" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcFFLGr5Mr3KHoq0jZH2hV9caaU0wIcUhSVeN4TTe7ykU_hTsCNcQ1S41mpiQ5s8Bpokoan6mpeSyMOyRPff_CSSEdifjyaBQtEpR0bpv1NoNNbOIACYBj-m7qcwBsv8uN8lcsbklbV8g/s320/4404688056_3d039aa001.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 320px; width: 240px;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Photo of a local park back when we had snow (taken by Hubby).</span></span>Ribshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07419544527212631083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590440317330400126.post-45633464664398473562009-05-10T10:12:00.000+01:002010-09-20T06:58:18.718+01:00The Saga of the Broken BackDue to popular request - well, OK, just Lauren then - here is the saga of my broken back.<br /><br />Shortly after I started my new job in central London, I rediscovered the "joys" of travelling on the underground. For some strange reason I just didn't enjoy being packed into heaving carriages like a giant sardine, nor did I relish being late for work every damn day when we were inexplicably held in the tunnels. So, I hatched a plan.<br /><br />Having seen lots of people with very cunning folding bikes on the train into London (yep, we chose to live in the sticks), I thought that I should get me one of them. After a day's careful research I decided on a badged Dahon (or perhaps it's de-badged), which is basically a really good folder, but made for another company and sold cheaper. Just 100 Great British Pounds later and I was the proud owner of said bike.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhohLgpbpDQtwbrTH5WeH74Vwxw7LaNuv4DizSxHK1MA1FDhCwAMlqviiEJRgmRJbOBwyFhQ-rXX9kJlT7SLN9086RBvd-nwQG2jChaMrPptemrEUdzFKvb0VvShEl2uShTQPaYPF8NoJw/s1600-h/0997450_k4_HW05.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334124822058383266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhohLgpbpDQtwbrTH5WeH74Vwxw7LaNuv4DizSxHK1MA1FDhCwAMlqviiEJRgmRJbOBwyFhQ-rXX9kJlT7SLN9086RBvd-nwQG2jChaMrPptemrEUdzFKvb0VvShEl2uShTQPaYPF8NoJw/s200/0997450_k4_HW05.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 149px; width: 136px;" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW7G_Jg4dwqBfkEaL70LKwemznIUwtlACCUPtgFtV9nsdhfAQodSYpc087MA0HwImLLzQ9hEJZAjHqPW-KvJFEhkinxfkvAqZ5pXtYXZTcbkc4yaUL5-Kqh4byT7nya_COJkU9cuHn3tk/s1600-h/0997450_k2_FS04.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5334124815914889186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW7G_Jg4dwqBfkEaL70LKwemznIUwtlACCUPtgFtV9nsdhfAQodSYpc087MA0HwImLLzQ9hEJZAjHqPW-KvJFEhkinxfkvAqZ5pXtYXZTcbkc4yaUL5-Kqh4byT7nya_COJkU9cuHn3tk/s200/0997450_k2_FS04.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 150px; width: 146px;" /></a><br /><br />I merrily cycled from London Waterloo station to work each day for nearly two weeks. It took me a while to learn the route, but I was starting to get confident and would bore anyone who took even a vague interest with tales of my travels. But alas, this biking mania was not to last.<br /><br />On March 3 I was patiently waiting to cross the road to my office, when traffic came to a standstill and a nice lorry driver beckoned me across. Across I went, but sadly did not have the sense to check the bus lane first. Bam! I was hit by a moped and deposited rather unceremoniously onto the tarmac.<br /><br />I knew something untoward had happened, because I could hear myself moaning very loudly, but was powerless to shut myself up. Lots of policemen turned up - rather an excessive amount actually - and I was eventually taken to hospital.<br /><br />To cut a long story short, I have a compression fracture of the 11th thoracic vertebrae. I can walk, talk etc, but I'm not allowed back on the bike yet, nor am I supposed to pick up the baby. I have been doing that lately quite a bit though and everything still works.<br /><br />Silver lining to this was that I had to stop breastfeeding at night and within 3 days of Dad being in charge, VV started sleeping through the night. Who knew it could be that easy! After nearly 11 months of next to no sleep I am now a new woman, albeit one with a sore back. Hoping to get back in the saddle soon - the bike fared much better than me and is sitting, folded next to my desk at work, begging to be let out again.Ribshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07419544527212631083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590440317330400126.post-28312378844069522772009-05-06T14:52:00.000+01:002010-09-20T06:58:18.725+01:00Baby Cardigan<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsVPtES2YNp4Gk2AV198mfU6SmsvpZQXCMeO5k753WktBDnJ7FFINOMKDbMWsFi2b_qYeCl8oAiRFVHZ6PJachvg5fIv24C934esn4TtCkPR5TUGCPCaAe0Lf2ZjEDdsJT0vA75F4Bt1o/s1600-h/cardi.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5332708583335320802" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsVPtES2YNp4Gk2AV198mfU6SmsvpZQXCMeO5k753WktBDnJ7FFINOMKDbMWsFi2b_qYeCl8oAiRFVHZ6PJachvg5fIv24C934esn4TtCkPR5TUGCPCaAe0Lf2ZjEDdsJT0vA75F4Bt1o/s200/cardi.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; height: 150px; width: 200px;" /></a><br /><br />It's been a long time, I know, but at last I am proud to present a finished project - a baby cardigan. "Baby" being the operative word, since it's tiny and much too small for its recipient. Damn and blast.<br /><br />Still, I am rather pleased with how it turned out. I made it from <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1904485871?ie=UTF8&tag=rambliofacact-21&link_code=as3&camp=2506&creative=9298&creativeASIN=1904485871" id="lnx0" name="evtst|a|1904485871">Baby Crochet: 20 Hand Crochet Designs for Babies 0-24 Months</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/e/ir?t=rambliofacact-21&l=as2&o=2&a=1904485871" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> by Lois Daykin. It's the first garment I've made and it was pleasingly easy to do. Lot of ends to weave in (why I leave them all to the end, I don't know), but no actual difficulties.<br /><br />I blocked it - another first for me - but even that sneaky stretching didn't perform the much needed miracle. Ho hum, next time I'll check my gauge twice and then still use a larger hook to be sure.<br /><br />If there are any readers left out there after my four-month hiatus, hello! My new job is going very well, as evidenced by a total dearth of posts. Had a horrible cycling accident shortly after I started and broke my back, but that's healing nicely now, so no long term harm done. Sounds worse than it is/was, honest!Ribshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07419544527212631083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590440317330400126.post-10621300567036346462009-01-07T17:55:00.000+00:002010-09-20T06:58:18.732+01:00Change is a-comingI've been thinking about the form this blog should take, because changes are afoot in the cactuslover household - I'm going back to work! Not only that, we're moving to the UK and Hubby is going to stay at home with VV.<br /><br />I'm both excited and scared about going back to work after nearly a year of being at home with my lovely VV. I'll miss him like crazy, but I'm looking forward to having some brain exercise.<br /><br />All this means that I will have way less time on my hands for crafting. Boo! Hiss! That's been true for a while now, since VV got mobile, but it'll be evenings-only come February. I can see crochet becoming even more attractive to me, since I can be sociable (and watch TV) while I do it.<br /><br />So, either my blog goes all quiet for ages between projects (rather like it has since Christmas, while we've been packing and organising) or I go to plan b. Plan b is to continue blogging my creations, but also flag other cool craft stuff I come across. That should keep the tumbleweeds at bay.<br /><br />I've been wondering (from the start, really) whether I should write more about the happenings in my life, but my internal jury is still out on that one. Whatever happens, things will change and change is always interesting. Stay tuned!Ribshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07419544527212631083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590440317330400126.post-40520816015112818762008-12-21T14:16:00.000+00:002010-09-20T06:58:18.742+01:00Someone might actually be reading this!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZjdg-AvHX1s2vgn4Irnhv2yxlvpYagOaSjf9HW9ZZnnUeey05mqGdoi31QsfZ7mfua1Hp42EXhKeEFRyWkKTjVZmgNUNLTLU0Gvr4Wm-rCg1WhSWwGsYHaNTN9md_KwFufJCL96iDkvw/s1600-h/uberamazingblogaward1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 125px; height: 117px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZjdg-AvHX1s2vgn4Irnhv2yxlvpYagOaSjf9HW9ZZnnUeey05mqGdoi31QsfZ7mfua1Hp42EXhKeEFRyWkKTjVZmgNUNLTLU0Gvr4Wm-rCg1WhSWwGsYHaNTN9md_KwFufJCL96iDkvw/s200/uberamazingblogaward1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5282311674844980386" border="0" /></a>Perhaps because I am still stupidly chuffed about this and thus haven't quite got over it, it's taken me a whole 18 days to get round to reporting that <a href="http://lloydandlauren.com/about-us/">Lauren</a> mentioned my blog when she received the Uber Amazing Blog Award. This means that someone (ie Lauren) actually reads my blog and she isn't family or anything!<br /><br />The rules of the <span style="font-style: italic;">Uber Amazing Blog</span> award state:<br /><ol><li><span style="font-style: italic;">Put the logo on your blog or post.</span> (Check!)</li><li style="font-style: italic;">Nominate at least 5 blogs (can be more) that for you are Uber Amazing. <span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;">(Check!)</span></span><br /></li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">Let them know that they have received this Uber Amazing award by commenting on their blog.</span> (Will do)</li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">Share the love and link to this post and to the person you received your award from.</span> (Likewise)</li></ol>So, what are my fave reads? Before I name names, let me say that I am a Google Reader addict. I'm currently subscribed to a somewhat ridiculous 92 blogs (and I'm massively behind on my reading - 769 unread items to be precise!).<br /><br />But of course I don't read them all religiously. Most of them get a quick scan before I'm on to the next post. But there are some that I always read and if time is tight, like it has been lately, I'll cherry-pick the following:<br /><br /><a href="http://lloydandlauren.com/">Lloyd and Lauren</a> - the minutiae of their daily lives brighten up my breakfast every day.<br /><a href="http://www.thehookandi.com/">The Hook and I</a> - Amy is a crochet genius, blogging from the far reaches of Alaska and by all accounts, a mean cook too.<br /><a href="http://thismamamakesstuff.blogspot.com/">this mama makes stuff</a> - tftcarrie refashions thrift-store finds with great style, often for her children who must be the coolest kids on the block.<br /><a href="http://laughingpurplegoldfish.blogspot.com/">laughing purple goldfish designs</a> - more great crochet, with a thrifty-twist.<br /><a href="http://www.joleo.co.uk/todayweare/">Today we are...</a> - seamstress joleo hails from south-east England and her blog helps me feel less homesick.<br /><br />So, there you have it. All of the blogs I love have one thing in common - personality. They are all written by people who tell you a little (or a lot) about their everyday lives and I like that. Craft and/or real people = happiness, at least for me.Ribshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07419544527212631083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590440317330400126.post-43258566852189613832008-12-06T07:10:00.000+00:002010-09-20T07:05:05.098+01:00Matryoshka Keyring and a Daft Badge<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35kSMLEJzwl4xChVBPkidU5KKzw5MySIMk0fm9nRBXg8OFxU3dydLggWm3tgzydlt2ZJwkZzXY3Zubx8en8Vdb5jYL8t-kTf1toOEJRMVOUj1ZAkWcB6zKd49T4ajasNYnSeaQ2O5lf8/s1600-h/011220081281.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 139px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35kSMLEJzwl4xChVBPkidU5KKzw5MySIMk0fm9nRBXg8OFxU3dydLggWm3tgzydlt2ZJwkZzXY3Zubx8en8Vdb5jYL8t-kTf1toOEJRMVOUj1ZAkWcB6zKd49T4ajasNYnSeaQ2O5lf8/s200/011220081281.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276579286313222626" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I made this quick keyring to go with <a href="http://craftycactuslover.blogspot.com/2008/11/boxy-matryoshka-pouch.html">the Matryoshka pouch that I made the other day</a>, which is now lined:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8mkMOD-YS8eo_JnXh3IBjMjEaQ-So6cj8x1y6NlJU1C6pj9HF5u150sUHvLhPuv4EAAgIZq80j1EVU8IzxvOxJGjrJRV_wIrF2BENPwk8WCE8xWb9-sRUXWqxWFi76o0D90YhPiBSsNA/s1600-h/011220081278.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8mkMOD-YS8eo_JnXh3IBjMjEaQ-So6cj8x1y6NlJU1C6pj9HF5u150sUHvLhPuv4EAAgIZq80j1EVU8IzxvOxJGjrJRV_wIrF2BENPwk8WCE8xWb9-sRUXWqxWFi76o0D90YhPiBSsNA/s200/011220081278.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276579292035682210" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The lining isn't exactly professional, but it's not too bad and doesn't catch on the zip, at least. To make it, I just followed the <a href="http://threebears.wordpress.com/2007/10/15/little-boxy-pouch-tutorial/">directions for the pouch</a>, but omitted the zip. Then it was a <strike>not quite so</strike> simple mater of sewing it to the outside (I used dark thread in the bobbin and light up top so that the stitching didn't show too much).<br /><br />Since this was a birthday present for my oldest friend (we've known each other since we were babies, she's not that old) and she's about to go on maternity leave, I wanted to make her something baby-related too. So, here's the daft badge that I whipped up:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOE60xD02Zt_5PmqG5RPC_Mh4kXBCxvKVgrSjiw9bGCwNZAW56vUyqEBakZXKJ1u6NApqwOUBCQA7HM-gpNuF0TK1NH52OH6Rj2tXJRWFUnIRrvIv-NP1JpPUnd7jiYeqPOKzmcQIoyFg/s1600-h/011220081276.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOE60xD02Zt_5PmqG5RPC_Mh4kXBCxvKVgrSjiw9bGCwNZAW56vUyqEBakZXKJ1u6NApqwOUBCQA7HM-gpNuF0TK1NH52OH6Rj2tXJRWFUnIRrvIv-NP1JpPUnd7jiYeqPOKzmcQIoyFg/s200/011220081276.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276579290726311330" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I used scraps of fabric, some cardboard and a safety pin to make it, along with the lettering stitch on my machine that I've been dying to try out. The lettering is on some bias binding and I've zig-zagged the edge of the middle layer of fabric. It's all stuck together with iron-on hemming tape, although the base fabric (some orange needle cord left over from a dinosaur I made for my nephew) is attached to the cardboard with stitches, as is the safety pin (not shown).<br /><br />As I was writing the card it suddenly occurred to me that "not long now..." could be misconstrued when sent as part of a birthday gift :)<br /><br />PS Please excuse photos - had to use the camera phone at night (which is pretty much all the time here in Finland).Ribshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07419544527212631083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590440317330400126.post-63640745769725723302008-11-29T06:34:00.000+00:002010-09-20T07:05:05.098+01:00Patriotic Baby Booties<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGeRtNFfZa-iimRt914cqhxnu9Qf1idWYOVBJA2WxsyI6jvBFxD9MnbCbIpLcjd105RI1h7uBS2zQVCzcFbI43bQ8sHev-iLRIFRdrts5of3MsT-gH-tGixEOMXBv-4fcVHssH4uEs6N8/s1600-h/DSCF0655.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGeRtNFfZa-iimRt914cqhxnu9Qf1idWYOVBJA2WxsyI6jvBFxD9MnbCbIpLcjd105RI1h7uBS2zQVCzcFbI43bQ8sHev-iLRIFRdrts5of3MsT-gH-tGixEOMXBv-4fcVHssH4uEs6N8/s200/DSCF0655.JPG" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273970126232059554" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />These have to be the fastest booties I've made so far. The Hubby announced that his friend had just become an auntie and since he also knows the friend's sister and husband, could I make something for them? The catch? Just two days before the friend came to collect the gift before making the trip to Amsterdam to visit them.<br /><br />I took a chance and made a start on some booties I've not made before, knowing that this could very well end in boots fit only for the tiniest baby ever (I crochet very tightly). I don't know about you, but even if a pattern works out really well, I always want to try something new when I pick up my hook. I even get bored making the second bootie of a pair. I chose the "victorian aster baby's booties" from <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1904991645?ie=UTF8&tag=rambliofacact-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=1904991645">201 Crochet Motifs, Blocks, Patterns and Ideas</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/e/ir?t=rambliofacact-21&l=as2&o=2&a=1904991645" alt="" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" border="0" width="1" height="1" />, but left out the aster flower adornment and the second row of embellishment around the top. These were for a boy, after all!<br /><br />I used some white yarn form my stash (Red Heart Dallas) and worked my little (OK, freakishly long) fingers off. I didn't quite make the deadline, so Hubby's friend had to play with VV for 20 minutes while I finished them off (I don't think either of them minded). I added a bue ribbon to make them a bit more boyish. It was then that we noticed I had made very patriotic Finnish booties. And when I quickly wrapped them in some orange tissue I had (in yet another stash), we realised that was a very Dutch colour to choose. Almost as if I had carefully planned it all.<br /><br />The booties looks a little Wellington-boot like to me, but I think the shape is good for fat baby legs and feet, so they might actually stay on. And they are probably too big right now, which is an achievement in itself.Ribshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07419544527212631083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590440317330400126.post-22969552913665899172008-11-24T07:27:00.000+00:002010-09-20T06:58:18.772+01:00Boxy Matryoshka PouchFinally made a start on my Christmas presents, with this practice boxy pouch:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihM8_I1CupXf_bVTo1P5oIScvf6XlxaYoqal1SzgXxz6qKJn3OLOCkUgkXIztEGVd6DJvQ7iyexAurnEnxlkXjRPw7dGVTx9jTgjkJbY746S-8mkls8_hMuAE_7X3dMij1rWrdZFXL63Y/s1600-h/DSCF0620.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihM8_I1CupXf_bVTo1P5oIScvf6XlxaYoqal1SzgXxz6qKJn3OLOCkUgkXIztEGVd6DJvQ7iyexAurnEnxlkXjRPw7dGVTx9jTgjkJbY746S-8mkls8_hMuAE_7X3dMij1rWrdZFXL63Y/s200/DSCF0620.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272122805035927682" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I used <a href="http://threebears.wordpress.com/2007/10/15/little-boxy-pouch-tutorial/">three bear's excellent tutorial</a> and fabric from Japanese specialist <a href="http://www.nuno-plus.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=14_5&products_id=119">nuno.plus</a>. I found the ebay version of the nuno.plus shop quite by accident and only noticed that its the same shop mentioned in the tute later on. Yet another spooky coincidence.<br /><br />I think I'm going to do lined versions for the actual presents, but in a non-properly way, just by using two pieces of fabric together. That will still put the seams on view on the inside, but it will make the pouches a bit stiffer and it will keep the make-up time short.<br /><br />Right, better get on with them then! Now that my get-up-and-go has come back (it went away for a week or so, I know not where, hence the silence), I'll be in a veritable making frenzy. At least that's the plan...Ribshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07419544527212631083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590440317330400126.post-4296579029456193472008-11-11T08:05:00.000+00:002010-09-20T06:58:18.780+01:00Pass the Pigs - crocheted!Brigitte over at <a href="http://littlegreen.typepad.com/romansock/" class="f">roman sock</a> has made the most amazing crocheted version of Pass the Pigs, which she's named Pass the Piglets. Look at how detailed and cute it is:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXwM1YnSe7UekTLK7mVQgaLP4v2cNXS2SBSYoge4kc929iXLYOFUalOQ6Ny4Iwi62myM7v9xGUE5Ol4U4G_xYv3o3h_dUol2iawKc7-JefCusN97ZhYqMUuUM53d1S9KfdytrhZ6ydsls/s1600-h/6a00d8352f394169e2010535e0706e970b-320wi.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 148px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXwM1YnSe7UekTLK7mVQgaLP4v2cNXS2SBSYoge4kc929iXLYOFUalOQ6Ny4Iwi62myM7v9xGUE5Ol4U4G_xYv3o3h_dUol2iawKc7-JefCusN97ZhYqMUuUM53d1S9KfdytrhZ6ydsls/s200/6a00d8352f394169e2010535e0706e970b-320wi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267312170931319090" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz479flMFLmexdmEikEmUJbwykVXa9Vi6pQDPDVCRja6gGN0unf32Le8GMuuKs8PERUpo1m0twqtd5hUsY9ztUPc2cN1ZI3OLZPdmXI5NMVwcsvwo_fK_5lYcs2oY0br6uFaEOReMTiKU/s1600-h/6a00d8352f394169e2010535e0738d970b-320wi.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz479flMFLmexdmEikEmUJbwykVXa9Vi6pQDPDVCRja6gGN0unf32Le8GMuuKs8PERUpo1m0twqtd5hUsY9ztUPc2cN1ZI3OLZPdmXI5NMVwcsvwo_fK_5lYcs2oY0br6uFaEOReMTiKU/s200/6a00d8352f394169e2010535e0738d970b-320wi.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267312178984046226" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Strangely, rather than spurring me on to make fab handmade Christmas gifts myself (as is my plan), it's thrown me into the doldrums. There's no way I could make anything that cute, dammit. And certainly not two things exactly the same - none of my booties have really been true matching pairs so far...<br /><br />Hopefully Pass the Piglets has the opposite effect on you, so <a href="http://littlegreen.typepad.com/romansock/2008/11/its-a-tribute---this-isnt-the-greatest-game-in-the-world.html">go and check it out for yourself now</a>. I'd certainly love to receive something like this as a present: Brigitte's friends and family are lucky indeed.Ribshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07419544527212631083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590440317330400126.post-18188380184886961962008-11-06T18:47:00.000+00:002010-09-20T06:58:18.787+01:00Thread-Catcher Cube<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQpuSifn_T2QcO9r3Ox69Ub3f0Hzi9LcaTCT4kr_hgtf2ruF0PXVat7juUXK_xXplicApxXsTkMyoDH5muuld2KBZXSGbrRmbcBRum1krOLNUp219zsgnpATc0y_1Q-eZ_UiOO3XsgrM/s1600-h/DSCF0613.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrQpuSifn_T2QcO9r3Ox69Ub3f0Hzi9LcaTCT4kr_hgtf2ruF0PXVat7juUXK_xXplicApxXsTkMyoDH5muuld2KBZXSGbrRmbcBRum1krOLNUp219zsgnpATc0y_1Q-eZ_UiOO3XsgrM/s200/DSCF0613.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265618450370196546" border="0" /></a><br /><br />"What's this?" I hear you ask. "A slightly wonky fabric cube, in a cute colourway?" Well, yes, but that's not all...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXlC423cIcMznxIoDUEAlY_fZF1J84RJjJFQJZvLclpXjNIJ7R6REXdzaRuQFdMHLBIGM9KzAvrvBy7d6tym574TSsojnzK5GyuQk9MKj4s7bLht7QhoCmfTpfICmeHSoHi0lK2O92bfw/s1600-h/DSCF0617.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 152px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXlC423cIcMznxIoDUEAlY_fZF1J84RJjJFQJZvLclpXjNIJ7R6REXdzaRuQFdMHLBIGM9KzAvrvBy7d6tym574TSsojnzK5GyuQk9MKj4s7bLht7QhoCmfTpfICmeHSoHi0lK2O92bfw/s200/DSCF0617.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265618977668305154" border="0" /></a><br /><br />See that stuff on top? That there be threads, caught neatly by this, the all-new, ingenious Thread-Catcher Cube<span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-family: webdings;">TM</span></span>!<br /><br />I had a "eureka!" moment when I was clearing up after a sewing session the other day and noticed that my trousers had threads stuck to them. It was but one small leap from that to a custom thread-catcher, with fleece as the grippy fabric of choice. The dotty fabric is a tea-towel, the fleece from an old top.<br /><br />Up until now I've been chucking the threads in <a href="http://craftycactuslover.blogspot.com/2008/01/origami-boxes-made-from-magazines.html">origami boxes made from magazines</a>, but now I'll use the cube ("Use the cube, Luke, use the cube...").Ribshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07419544527212631083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590440317330400126.post-45943178210512152292008-11-05T20:05:00.000+00:002010-09-20T07:14:12.112+01:00From Runner to Clutch<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTHp_OaT_37fShbE_VQqIVt4mSukiyqKBC2OE4UG0QqxqyG8XUMAljQTXZXFwzo-yZoBqlvy1dFcn6S_YICWUQ-gobrkTh8hG1xND8KZkDkKnuK-pmtu0IIuYmqHNgQKu0oaFgqrdsmHU/s1600-h/DSCF0606.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 124px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTHp_OaT_37fShbE_VQqIVt4mSukiyqKBC2OE4UG0QqxqyG8XUMAljQTXZXFwzo-yZoBqlvy1dFcn6S_YICWUQ-gobrkTh8hG1xND8KZkDkKnuK-pmtu0IIuYmqHNgQKu0oaFgqrdsmHU/s200/DSCF0606.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265267427786532386" border="0" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFADnjQOVKbHHDwJKEDk-P6QT5X9VF3ulRAbIIlmiAOsmbBx8VzskovcgZ5yrubs5MB10RexiN7cRudHNXWrCnL-QbtYokoEGWALl2e_3QCBDjmYZ4fKrDzUUuhotyNFTXZhioxzDuyXY/s1600-h/DSCF0607.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 126px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFADnjQOVKbHHDwJKEDk-P6QT5X9VF3ulRAbIIlmiAOsmbBx8VzskovcgZ5yrubs5MB10RexiN7cRudHNXWrCnL-QbtYokoEGWALl2e_3QCBDjmYZ4fKrDzUUuhotyNFTXZhioxzDuyXY/s200/DSCF0607.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265267431959310850" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This clutch bag started life as a table runner, which I <a href="http://craftycactuslover.blogspot.com/2008/07/new-fabric-yay.html">bought back in July</a> with a load of other fabric. As soon as I saw the runner I knew I wanted to make it into a bag, but it's taken me until now to get round to it.<br /><br />I used a pattern from <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1840923687?ie=UTF8&tag=rambliofacact-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=1840923687">Making Handbags: Retro, Chic and Luxurious Designs</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/e/ir?t=rambliofacact-21&l=as2&o=2&a=1840923687" alt="" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" border="0" width="1" height="1" />, finally assuaging the craft book guilt I always have when I've bought a book and not made anything from it.<br /><br />I'm quite pleased with the way it looks, but in reality it's a bit soft and squishy, so I'm not sure it will be all that great in use. And the question is - with or without the tassel?Ribshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07419544527212631083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590440317330400126.post-8617850863626518182008-11-04T10:28:00.000+00:002010-09-20T09:37:56.262+01:00Mohair Capelet<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5BPp4wQ3hgLK5ab2Ocvhj1ZzfJdFCQXMYnWFM9SqOrwxtCbFzkDRTgKR46PW9-m3haNwoxr9SW556hfHK5dRMEIiPvDKHqinSnZlWgQnHJq8irwU6-yiPwApuw6JdhrGq-h8eJuVR0I8/s1600-h/DSCF0601.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264752992248301378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5BPp4wQ3hgLK5ab2Ocvhj1ZzfJdFCQXMYnWFM9SqOrwxtCbFzkDRTgKR46PW9-m3haNwoxr9SW556hfHK5dRMEIiPvDKHqinSnZlWgQnHJq8irwU6-yiPwApuw6JdhrGq-h8eJuVR0I8/s200/DSCF0601.JPG" style="height: 125px; width: 200px;" /></a>I finally got round to doing something with the excess Schachenmayr nomotta idena Mohair Lux I have, although there is still a lot left over (<a href="http://craftycactuslover.blogspot.com/2008/05/new-project-mohair-shawl.html">see here for why I have so much</a>. And yes, I abandoned The Tapeworm). Since I couldn't really see myself wearing anything made from mohair, I let my husband choose from three shawl patterns. He chose Cold Shoulders from <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0761139850?ie=UTF8&tag=rambliofacact-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=0761139850">Stitch 'n Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/e/ir?t=rambliofacact-21&l=as2&o=2&a=0761139850" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" width="1" />.<br />
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Using two strands together to get an approximation of the correct weight of yarn, the pattern worked up really quickly. I also got to make my first pom-poms (the first since childhood at least, and that was a looong time ago).<br />
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I actually really like it (although I think the pom-poms are a little large), but I'm still stumped on what to wear it with - any suggestions greatly received! I know that all things wooly are currently in vogue, but I'm not sure if I have the guts to wear it with my normal casual clothes.<br />
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And still the question remains - what to do with the rest of the mohair?Ribshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07419544527212631083noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2590440317330400126.post-21765895624272253722008-11-03T18:13:00.000+00:002010-09-20T07:05:05.099+01:00The crochet crocs are finally on their wayI finally got round to buying the extra buttons and finished off the <a href="http://craftycactuslover.blogspot.com/2008/10/crochet-baby-crocs.html">crochet Crocs</a>. I didn't have a suitable box to wrap them in, so I hacked up a box we already had and wrapped that. I also used some fluffy packing material that came with something we ordered recently (I forget what). So, while I didn't do that great a job with the wrapping, at least it was recycled.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe6RCod0vAhPKQmBuOfiOwBaKcwS99C3oiwVCu8G7CDJSYgNfc84xwE7ltYU-krCCc7JTpuWpu18cywfaOstSGdwSie9NN2HYa6SGXk45d9LPyHXbUTenTfohaN5T8ikgOSA1RxMjX04U/s1600-h/DSCF0597.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe6RCod0vAhPKQmBuOfiOwBaKcwS99C3oiwVCu8G7CDJSYgNfc84xwE7ltYU-krCCc7JTpuWpu18cywfaOstSGdwSie9NN2HYa6SGXk45d9LPyHXbUTenTfohaN5T8ikgOSA1RxMjX04U/s200/DSCF0597.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264496717822341698" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Now if only I could find my other friend's address, I could post the <a href="http://craftycactuslover.blogspot.com/2008/09/bear-baby-booties.html">bear booties</a> as well...Ribshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07419544527212631083noreply@blogger.com0