Golden Autumn Blog Swap

I really enjoy taking part in blog swaps now and again and this is one of my favourites.  It is run by Blueberry Heart and this is the third year I have joined in.  I was partnered with Amanda from Crafty in the Med and after emailing a few times and doing some research about likes and dislikes, we started gathering and making.  We swapped parcels last week and goodness me, what a wonderful selection of goodies I unwrapped.

Here they all are, waiting to be unwrapped.

 Here is everything once unwrapped.  I was so lucky as Amanda had been very generous.

Saffron (I know, I need to find some special recipes to use this in), watermelon seeds, hazelnut chocolate and a notebook.

 Some gorgeous crochet including a doily, a crochet bracelet (which is really light and comfortable to wear), a crochet purse containing another surprise and a beautiful crocheted collar.

 The surprise was a lovely ceramic magnet which is at the top of the picture and there was also a beautifully decorated bowl and a brochure about a traditional Spanish costume.

 More things kept appearing - badges, ribbons, charms, buttons, needles and pins.

I loved this badge - very appropriate indeed!  A huge thank you to Amanda, who was an amazing swap partner.

Here's what I sent to Amanda - lots of autumnal coloured bits and pieces, including felt and jewellery (of course). She said she liked orange, so as you can see, that colour featured quite a bit! Her post about my parcel can be found here.

Here are my parcels ready to be wrapped and sent off.  Thanks to Blueberry Heart for organising the swap, thanks to Amanda and here's to the Autumn swap next year!

'From My Home to Yours' Blog Swap - Parcel Two!

As you may know, I took part in the blog swap organised by Betty and my swap partner Emma sent me a lovely parcel.  She also told me that there were more things she had got ready for the swap, but had forgotten to post them, so to look out for them in parcel two. They arrived safe and sound this week. 

 The parcel was unwrapped with great excitement and here's what greeted me...

I set it out and there was a lavender shortbread pack, made with Jersey lavender, a map and tourist guide of Jersey, a bags of blue beads, a blue crocheted flower, a peach rose brooch, and a very pretty bead necklace (the flowers and necklace made by Emma),

 Here are the necklace, beads and flowers - so pretty!

 So, I put the two parcels of goodies together and this is what I received.

Wow - what a fantastic lot of loveliness!  I am really looking forward to making (and eating) the shortbread - I'll let you know how I get on. A HUGE thank you to Emma for all the beautiful things.  Blog swaps are so much fun!

New crafts

 I had my very first attempt at spinning last week, on a taster session at our new Heritage Skills Centre.  We (there were two of us, so were able to get lots of attention from the tutor) learnt how to make rolags (wool 'sausages' ready for spinning) from washed fleece, using carders.  I was fine with that part of the process, as I am used to using carders for my felting.  However, the spinning was a whole new thing!  I hadn't appreciated that your hands should be constantly moving the fleece - teasing with the back hand and feeding with the front. If I left my fingers holding the wool too long, 'over spinning' happened, where the yarn twists back on itself and then won't go onto the bobbin properly. I became very good at 'over spinning'!

 Now and then, I thought I had got it and for a few brief moments, I was spinning a nice thin yarn.  Then I forgot to move my fingers quickly enough and I got large lumpy bits as can be seen above - oops!

Here is my first attempt which the tutor plyed into 2 ply yarn.  I think I shall use it as embellishments on my felt.  The tutor was really nice and said we had done really well for beginners!  My mum has a spinning wheel, so I may have another go next time I visit.

After two crochet sessions, here is as far as I got with the hat.  I ended up having to undo quite a bit as I had gone wrong, but never mind.  I am not sure I shall complete the hat as I am not a hat person and this would be a close fitting cloche type hat.  Probably not a good look! However, now that I can do chains and trebles, (well, sort of), I may have a try at a simpler pattern. 

Crochet - my first attempt

 Yesterday evening, with some trepidation, I headed out for my first (of two) beginner's crochet class.  I had been told we would be making a hat and possibly a flower.  Here's how I got on.  It was undone quite a few times and I had the dubious pleasure of being the slowest crocheter there.  I have to say, at this stage, I am not sure my attempt will ever become a hat!

I am the sort of person who talks severely to inanimate objects if they fail to do what I insist they need to do (my work colleague, Leanne, can verify this as I am often to be found telling the computer/printer/other inanimate office equipment off).  The wool needed to be spoken to several times (much to the amusement of the other people in the class).  I know that my attempt is far from perfect and, to be honest, I am not sure that crochet and I will have a long-term relationship, but we shall see.  I would like to be able to make granny squares, ripple patterns and flowers...hmm...
I am also rather concerned because I have put my crochet down and haven't done any today, so when I do pick it up again, will I:
1.  Be able to find where I was in the pattern?
2.  Be able to remember how to do the stitches - tr 3, ch3, tr 3, or was that tr 3, ch 1, tr 3?  Or something else altogether?!
Wish me luck next week!

Finished project and learning new skills

 This is a post of celebration because I have actually finished my Spring bunting!  I know, I have actually finished a project!  Just to prove it, here it is, draped rather unsuccessfully on the door.  I am really pleased with it and am looking forward to decorating the mirror with it.

I couldn't resist putting it on the mirror, just to see what it looked like. Even though it is not Spring-like at all outside, but we are so thankful to have missed the awful blizzards in the North, the Easter weekend will see the bunting going up, even if it is still in the only-just-plus temperatures outside.
I am also quite excited because I have signed up for a beginners' crochet workshop in May and also a spinning taster session (spinning wool using a spinning wheel).  I have a sister and a mum who have both got spinning wheels and we also have plenty of wool, so I thought it would be sensible to have a go and see how I get on.  If it is something I get the hang of, I can spin wool to use in my felt making or crochet (see, it is all linked in, really).  Chris is hopefully signing up to a two day stained glass making course, so that will give him a creative weekend to look forward to. Here's to learning new skills!