Oh blimey...

It seems I have been nominated for a craft blog award by Company Magazine.  The link to vote is here, scroll down to the 'crafty girls' section.

I'm finding it quite amusing that it's under the umbrella of 'style blogger'.  Style is not a word I feel I associate with given the number of times I've done the school run with my PJ's under a big coat.  Note to self, must make more effort!

I am still here!

We've just taken a couple of weeks out to give the house a bit of a sort out.  The loft (attic?, we call it a loft here in the UK) needed emptying as we're having new insulation fitted which will hopefully keep the house warmer.  Bit nervous about it all though as we don't have a good track record when it comes to going in our loft...

due to Al having put his foot through the ceiling in my sewing room.  His slipper landed on my desk!

Back soon with some actual sewing, I promise.

p p p pick up a penguin,

Here, it's the latest edition of the online magazine from Crafteroo,

as well as the pattern for the cutest amigurumi elephant ever, there's a pattern for the first in a series of Penguins,

the magazine is available from here and is only £1.50 (that's $2.34).

Start the year off with a bit of sewing!

I'd like to dedicate this post to...

my Mum!

She's having an upside down christmas this year having just moved house (during which, just about everything that could go wrong, did go wrong), and is still in the process of making the new house habitable.  One of the positive sides to her downsizing, is that certain things have been passed on to me during the clear out.  Things that remind me of my childhood, and that actually my keen interest in making things, has quite clearly come from her.

When my mum was a child, she knitted clothing for her dolls.  I remember playing with all of these when I was little.  I thought they were the most precious things in the world.  And now they've been passed on to me.

They are even more precious now, and I'm reluctant to let my children play with them as I worry about causing damage, but today as I was photographing them for this post, it did occur to me that, yes they are precious, but not as precious as their creator.

my Mum!

Merry Christmas, see you in 2012!

Penguin pattern,

Coming soon, a brand new Softie pattern for this whole family of Penguins...

where and when, will be revealed after christmas!

Foxy,

As with last christmas, it seems my last Softie of the year is once again Mr Fox...

This one is a commission and is now going to get packaged up and go off to wrestle with Royal Mail.  

Good luck Mr Fox!

'Countryside Softies' christmas offer,

As it's christmas, I have 6 5 4 3 signed copies of 'Countryside Softies' on offer at the special price of $12.50 (that's about £8, cheaper than Amazon!).  This offer will run until Friday 16th December, once they are gone, they are gone!

4 years on and...

the elf hat is still going strong!

This was my first ever tutorial from 2007, and is still one of the most popular, especially at this time of year.  Who wouldn't want an elf hat made from an old pair of leggings for christmas!

more nice things...

I love Pinterest.  It's the kind of website I'd like to climb into and live.  It's just so full of nice things.  Here are some of the best I've stumbled upon lately,

a wishing wreath,

chore magnets (I'd need them in UK pounds though!)

perhaps a tooth fairy letter? (good grief I wish I'd known about this last week when at 1am I found a questionaire under Luke's pillow for the tooth fairy when he lost his first tooth!)  Actually, I've just bought this set for him for christmas, he has a thing about giving me notes on tiny pieces of paper.

Yum, can't find a direct link to this recipe, what are they?, muffins with the middle scooped out maybe?

more yum, lasagne cups,

and I think I may just be in heaven, creme brulee fudge.  That's a sugar thermometer going on my christmas list then!

nice things...

A couple of things turned up this week, nice things!

First, I'd written an article for Craft Focus magazine which I'd completely forgotten about, so was pleasantly surprised to find the double page spread inside, 

you can download a copy of the latest issue (number 28) from their website here.  I'm on page 98 chatting about making the transition from working as an in-house designer to going freelance.

And the other bit of news is Channel 4 have added a section to their 4 Homes website listing their favorite UK craft blogs, and they listed Lucykate Crafts...!!

'Make Hey' and other things...

There are a few, what I call 'core craft bloggers' who I find truly inspirational in a 'I don't know how they do it' kind of a way, and Pip Lincolne is most definitely one of those people.  I was lucky enough to have been offered the chance to interview Pip via the publisher, Hardie Grant about her latest book, 'Make Hey -  while the sun shines'

 

You are on your third, or is it fourth?!, book now (congratulations!), have you found the whole process easier or more of a challenge with each book?

That's such a good question!  Every book is so different!  They are kind of like my children, in a way... I have a lot of input into who they are, and I spend a lot of time with them, yet there's a whole lot of other people who help shape them... and they turn out just the way they should!  I've loved working on Make Hey! with my dear friend Michelle Mackintosh (the book's designer) and my favourite editor, Jane Winning.  It was so much fun to pull it all together and combine everyone's vision into one lovely book!

::  

I love the layout and graphic design in the books, how much input did you have into the design?  

I have a teensy bit of input, because I really super-trust our designer and my publishing team to make educated choices based on their experience.  I helped to style a lot of the shots, a lot of the props are mine, but in the end Michelle Mack is so great at her job that I don't really need to be second guessing her.  We are a dream team! 
  

::

How much research do you do to maintain originality with the projects now that there are so many craft books coming out right now?  

I don't do any research at all!  The internet is such a melting pot of creativity and shared consciousness... I don't want to be swayed by anyone else's work!  I am, however, influenced by  illustrators like Charley Harper and Anna Maria Dahlgren.... and by my own 70s childhood.  I'm also influenced by my own neighborhood, art, fashion and architecture.  All that combines with practical ideas about the kind of things I want to make, and forms the basis of the books!  I don't pay any attention to what other people in the craft world are doing, because I want to fly my own flag.
  

::

With all the changes at "Meet me at Mikes', blogging, writing books and now pod-casting, between all that do you find time to sleep?!   

I really do sleep! I try not to stay up late. I get up early. I eat really healthy food and I make time to do happy things every day.  I am really careful to be mindful of having nice times and being the best I can be! I'm such a geek like that!

::

What would you be doing if you weren't crafting?, is there a career path that was 'almost, but not quite'?  

I always wanted to write and be published. I have always wanted to talk to people and make a difference to their day... make things nicer for them, too!  I will always find a way to do that, whether it's via craft or food... or other lifestyle tips.  Nice times are paramount!

Thanks to Pip for the crafty chat.  I hope that, even with these days so much being available online, you would still consider buying a craft book.  Books will never totally go out of fashion, and I'm amazed by how many homes I go to nowadays where there are no books to be seen.  We have book shelves in every room in our house, including many from when both myself and Al were kids.  I don't trust people who don't own any books!

'Make Hey - while the sun shines' by Pip Lincolne, (isbn-10 : 1742701310 isbn-13 : 978-1742701318)

White,

As mentioned a few weeks back, I have a few pieces to go on Etsy later today, all themed white (or there abouts!)...

the (finally finished) cat,

a swan, and this little guy...

a miniature owl, which is actually a brooch.

(edited to add :: they are in the Etsy shop now)

Also coming next is, I was lucky enough to get to interview Pip about her new book, so look out for that crafty chat on Monday.

'this took forever to make'

Every year at about this time I post on this subject, as many crafters prepare to while away the hours hand making christmas gifts.  In the past, I've made gifts.  Nowadays, I'm very careful who I will, and will not, get my needle and thread out for and ask that you also do the same.

These labels made me chuckle! 

Ideal for the ignorant and the uneducated.  Who know the price of everything but the value of nothing.  Who dismiss the hours and hours a handmade gift takes by referring to it as "...all she can manage is a stuffed toy of some description she has made"

The labels are from here.

omg...

I have just had one of those oh. my. god. moments.  You know, when you see something and think how fab it is.  Need to tell someone, except the kids are asleep and the husband is not interested.

So, I'll tell you lot instead.  Just come across these while surfing Pinterest,

image Ⓒ The Workroom

A wooden pendant blank for decorating with cross stitch.  If you follow this blog regularly, you will know I started out in cross stitch design, so you'll know why these appealed to me.  Have ordered a couple, can't wait to try them out.

There are more shapes available from The Workroom, and take a look at the gallery on Flickr.

Spooooooky!

In the spirit of Halloween this week something really odd has happened.  A couple of years ago I visited the Selvedge stand at the Festival of Quilts and bought a Wren Handmade tiny crochet flower hair slide (or bobby pin).  It is my favorite hair slide, or at least it was until it went missing a couple of months ago.  Until today...

It was there.  On the bed.  I have no idea how it got there.  Am glad it's back though!

Whip Up...

I'm guest posting on Whip Up today with a new Softie pattern for this little Ladybird

so hop on over and grab the pattern and instructions for this teeny tiny little creature!

ps, don't forget about the giveaway, see below ↓↓↓

Giveaway time...

Last year I designed a project for the book 'Countdown Calendars'

It's a 'How long till school starts?' calendar with felt patches with pictures appliqued on them,

which flip over to count down the days either to starting school for the very first time or a brand new term.

The pattern and instructions to make one are included in the book, or...

you could leave a comment on this post to win mine!

I'll leave it open until next monday, ie Halloween to draw a winner.

I continued battle...

with the Softie that wouldn't work and finally won.

I'm now working on a little range for Etsy called 'White' which will be available in a couple of weeks time.

For a variety of reasons, I've been feeling a little disheartened with the UK crafts magazines recently, so was immensely cheered up to find a group of the Crafteroo forum member were getting together to put together a new online magazine...,

The magazine press release reads "Online forum Crafteroo is launching a brand new online magazine dedicated to all types of crafts. Run, written and edited entirely by forum members, who between them cover just about every craft you can think of, the new magazine will be digitally published quarterly, with the first issue due out on 1 October 2011.

Through a combination of features, tutorials, business articles and projects, as well as a swap shop for de-stashing and re-stashing, and illustrated with gorgeous photography throughout, it aims to engage with crafters new and old, share knowledge, encourage readers to try something new and expand the reach of the crafting revolution!

Comments Kerry Wilkinson, editor; “Recently we had a discussion about how we could perk up the forum as we have a solid visitor base but were looking to expand and engage with existing members. As I had a background in craft magazine editing, it seemed like the next logical step for us, and it’s really got everyone excited, we’re all working very hard on this to make it an excellent publication.”

All proceeds from sales and advertising will go towards the running and upkeep of the Crafteroo forum promotional activity and incentives for forum members. Readers are encouraged to join the community, share their makes and talk to the magazine creators and maybe even participate in the next issue themselves.

Get ready to be inspired, and try making something new!"

The first issue is only £1.50 ($2.30) which is an absolute bargain in my opinion, and is available from here.  Look out for issue 2 too as there will be a Lucykate Crafts pattern coming up in it.

ps, thank you for all the kind words after my last post.  I continued battle with the Softie and won, images to come next time!

Waaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!

Yet another Softie gone wrong...

I am stuck in a rut of not being happy with anything I've made over the last few weeks.

Please tell me it's not just me who goes through periods of nothing you make going right?!