An unproductive Week

This has been the most unproductive craft week I have had in such a long time. I have crocheted nothing,knitted nothing,sewn nothing so made absolutely nothing,my house is a mess and I can't wait for the weekend.

I am so looking forward to our crocet get together in my shop next wednesday.

Here's a pic of our first night.

Look at what we had to nibble on in .Mmmmm.yum yum

See you next friday at the various show and tells.

jewellery making

We were on holidays last week in Wales, staying with my uncle Keith and Auntie Diane.(Thanks for a great week xxx. ).
Imagine my surprise and delight on friday when I checked my emails to find a message from Beth at Magpie and Button announcing that I was the winner of her very first giveaway!!!

I practically attacked the postman on wednesday when I saw him arrive with a beautifully addressed envelope,tore it open and ...OMG .....such attention to detail in the presentation and packaging.I have never seen anything like it before...and of course I had no camera to photograph it before I opened the little packages inside.

Isn't this so sweet.I've been wearing it since and have had so many comments about it.I was told today that it was quirky and suited my personality.
While we were in Wales my cousin Emma brought us to the most addictive shop imaginable.When I say addictive I mean if this shop was near me at home I would be in it every day for sure! It is called wild about beads and I was well and truely wild about it. It is packed with every type of bead and fixings to make your own jewellery. This was completely new territory for me.I loved it. We choose our beads and sat at a table to make up our design. Help was at hand if we ran into difficulty and we even got a cup of coffee to keep us inspired....sweet.

My first attempt was this necklace

Cerys made this.


I could not resist a bit of bling.

So I made this

It was such a fun morning,I was sad to leave the shop. I am sure the owners were sorry to see me go too...ching!ching!

Come join me by linking up to my lush friday linky party.

I am also linking to simply designing,amy lou's sew and tell and frugal friday.

More patchwork clutchbags

I have become slightly obsessed with making these patchwork clutchbags. I really like the way that, eventhough I am using the same fabrics in all the bags,they look so different depending on the fabric I choose for the end strip. I also love the braid I added too.






I have had such a busy week. I am attending the Terryglass Arts Festival Craft Fair on Sunday and am trying to make stock but it is selling quicker than I can make it. That's not a bad thing but I always worry when I go to these fairs that I won't have enough.

I am also very excited because I have started organising an xmas craft fair in Ballinasloe . Date is booked in Gullanes Hotel Ballinasloe for Sunday November 14th. (11.30-6.00 I want to target the 11.00 mass- goers).

Loads more going on too, and tonnes more news to come....

Versatile Blogger award

What?? Me??? Really??? Thanks Michelle (the Desert Quilter) for awarding me The Versatile Blogger award. I am truely honoured.

The award comes with a few easy rules:

• Thank the person who gave you the award.
• Tell 7 things about yourself.
• Award 15 other bloggers that you enjoy reading.

7 Things About Me:

1. Favourite Tv Programmes - any programme of Goks! Sex and the City-the only programme I can watch over and over and still laugh.
2. Was in New York once and would love to go back again.-someday....
3. Only learned to swim last year after always having a fear of water. I was determined!
4. Wish I had more time to grow more veggie . I love getting my hands dirty in the garden.
5. Love Shoes....can't resist them.
6. I want to learn how to do a fench plait in my daughter's hair. I have tried so many times and can't do it. What the heck am I doing wrong??
7. Eventhough I love my work I would love to be able to spend more time learning new crafts.

Here's my list of 15 Blogs I am awarding with The Versatile Blogger award.( in no partiular order)

1. Emily at thenest
2. Ger and Eva at pippablue
3. Fiona at patchworkdelights
4. Tyne at Tyneboden Necklaces
5. Karen at sewing tales
6. Larri at seams inspired
7. Neen at neencrochet
8. Ruth at Nicedaydesigns
9. Rebecca at Luckyrainbowdesigns
10. Nina at Mrs Moen
11. Craftyirelandteam at etsyireland
12. Rachel at balancedcrafts
13. Jessica at sewcraftyjess
14. Rita E at myquiltparade
15. sarah at confessionsof a fabric addict

Crochet Flowers

I have an idea.....and it involves....crochet flowers. Now it's ages since I crocheted (probably years!), but it's like riding a bike..yes?
I trawled the internet looking for a pattern or a tutorial for a cute simple (it had to be simple.I am happiest with instant gratification). Now I did find some great stuff,especially on utube but nothing exactly what I was looking for.

Thank God for our little crochet group meeting,which met on tues night...Emily our master crocheter,hands and hook quicker than Concorde, showed me How To.

I got this fab yarn (trying to break a lifetimes habit of calling all yarn Wool) in pippablue (of course,sure where else would I go).

And made these...
My idea is to make children's fleece hats and have a cute detachable(handy for washing!) flower.

Made these too from 'fluffy' yarn....mmmm did not turn out quite how I had imagined...bit of a blobby flower...

As usual I am linking up this weeks 'makes' to a few fun blog parties....lush friday,simply designing,amy lou's sew and tell,

Pressie for the birthday girl

I have been making an effort of late to make my own presents for people , buy from other makers or buy from Irish businesses.
So it all started when I bought this cute little bracelet from Martina at Glitzandglam.net. I bought it for my little niece Shauna who's birthday was today.I wanted to give her something else too so I made her a skirt and top combo to wear with the bracelet.

Scooby was a little curious when I was trying to photograph it on our back fence.See that for a tongue!!

I was really pleased with the way it turned out.

I am getting great mileage out of the fabric I bought in Pippablue. Think it might be time to re-stock a little.

I heart vintage florals

It's not everyday that I open a delivery of new fabric books and totally love them. I am sorry to say that i don't always like the new season fabrics. I know that some of them will be best sellers but they don't always float my boat.!!!

I felt such sheer delight when this book arrived that I had to order some pieces to do a new window display. Dream Interiors is renouned for its colourful and lateral thinking window displays.It is a task I love undertaking. I won't just hang up lengths of fabric like many other shops do, I have to think of a concept and start making.I get such a thrill when I see cars slowing up outside the shop to take a look.

I will embroider this one in a stronger pink the next time

Some random patchwork featured!!

As well as making for the window I also started a little giveaway on facebook. All you have to do to get your hands on a personalised apron is become a fan and leave a comment telling me what you would like written on your apron. I have had some fantastic suggestions already.