Retro day

I ordered a few bags of mixed beads as I love the anticipation of never quite knowing what you are going to get! I got retro colours!

Available now on Etsy.

What to do on a cold, grey Sunday afternoon? 

Light the fire and get the bead box out!
I had paid my local charity shop a visit on Saturday and had a damn good rummage through their jewellery box, and when I say box I mean a huge box! What a treasure trove! 

This was the best find, a vintage clay bead that for some reason had been put on an awful tiny brown plastic bead necklace that went straight in the bin!

So on Sunday after lighting the woodburner, making a hot cup of tea I set to work on a new venture for me scissor fobs! My friend Jo has made tassels for scissors for ages as she does a lot of quilting workshops and always likes to take her own scissors and know the right pair to take home!
  My first attempt was with an assortment of glass beads in green and blue. That reminded me of the sea so I dug out some seashell spacer beads I knew I had somewhere too. After a few mishaps with not making the final clasp tight enough and them all falling off the string, I succeeded!

www.etsy.com/listing/124669933/scissors-and-beaded-sea-blue-and-green

Then I dug out my little cat scissors.....

......what a find for Crafty cat!

Having learnt hard lessons from the first attempt, this set proceeded quite quickly. The hardest part was matching up lilac and yellow beads without it looking yukky...but I think I managed it. 

www.etsy.com/listing/124670209/cat-scissors-and-beaded-scissor-fob

Finally the one I had been excited about! I was going to get to use that lovely clay bead! I'd also found a couple of bracelets in the charity shop rummage and a little piece of this and that produced this!

It threaded like a dream, colours were heavenly and looked fab. In fact I liked it so much it took another cup of tea and a think on whether to actually try and sell it or keep it. When I make something I really love it's always tempting to keep, but it 's also nice to sell an item as it means it really must have appeal! I had some beads left over so made them into stitch markers and we'll see if anyone else likes my efforts! If they don't I'll have a great scissor fob and some matching markers. 

www.etsy.com/listing/124671050/stitch-marker-set-and-matching-beaded

Simple easy finger less gloves

I thought I'd share this pattern as I made a few of these as presents at Christmas and they were well received. Chunky pattern in progress and I'll post it soon.

Materials
50g of DK I used King Cole (you won't use all 50g)
Size 4mm needles
Tapestry needle for sewing up.
Fleece fabric
Cotton & needle
2 buttons

Cast on 40 stitches leaving a long tail.
Row 1. Knit 1 purl 1 across row to start rib
Row 2. Knit 1 purl 1
repeat until you have done 8 rows of rib
Row 9 knit across
Row 10 purl across.
Repeat this until you have knitted 11cm from end of rib.
Repeat Rib knit 1 purl 1 for another 8 rows and cast off on the right side leaving a long tail.

Measure square of fleece fabric to fit. Mine measured 19cm by 14cm as I left the bottom rib free of fleece to allow it to stretch. Use mattress stitch to attach fleece to inside of glove. I pulled the knitting tight to allow a snug fit.

Turn glove inside out and sew up seam with cast on and cast off tails, try it on to see where your thumb would fit comfortably and leave a gap.

Sew in ends, turn right side out, add button if desired, wear and enjoy!

Calorie free chocolate knitting heaven!

Available on Etsy   https://www.etsy.com/listing/122620483/knitting-stitch-markers-calorie-free

My tennis elbow is back which means no knitting for a while. Had Bowen technique done on it last week and it's feeling better but I've been told to rest it again...boo!

 I'm having to content myself with the fab new beads that have arrived...they are funky, fun and fab to work with, I just hope they are as popular as much as I like them.