Sewing and Cross Stitch

Towards the end of the summer holidays during a visit to my local library I found some lovely books, one of which was 21 Sensational Patchwork Bags. I was only the fourth person to borrow it, so it was lovely and new.

Emily fell in love with the saddle bag so I willingly said I would make her one. She chose her favourite fabrics from my small stash and I started work. I soon realised that although I am quite experienced at clothes, I was struggling with the bag. I found it difficult to follow the instructions as there were very few diagrams or pictures of work in progress. Finally I abandoned the book and made my own bag, it could do with being a little bigger but Em loves it. The stripped fabric came from Ikea, the butterfly fabric I purchased to make a dress but never got around to it. The cat squares we found last year in a wonderful fabric shop in Sturminster Newton.

I have also been cross stitching a picture of Audrey Hepburn for Ali, which I gave her last weekend to take to her new lodgings at Uni. She loved the picture as Audrey is her favourite actress. My latest project is a beautiful poppy which was featured in the October edition of Cross Stitcher

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WIP finished

Finally I can show you a picture of Robert the bear, who I have been knitting for Tony's Birthday. He is from a book -The Knitted Teddy Bear by Sandra Polley. Tony chose him and decided he should be red. I used Rowan Classic Poppy and Donkey colours with added plastic beans to give him some weight. I finished him off with a golden yellow bow.

We also gave Tony an ipod video which I made a pocket for from material and batting.

Wilhemina Witch and Penfold & Rosie Monkey too.

For the last two weeks I have been making Alan Dart's Wilhemina Witch as featured in Simply Knitting magazine for Al who's away at University (I also made a little cat from Jean Greenhowe's patterns and he's called Penfold).
Because of my cold/virus bug I couldn't go to see her as we had planned this weekend so Tony went instead. This is the photo he took, as I had forgotten to take a picture before Wilhemina and Penfold went to their new home.





Whilst he was out visiting Al, I stayed home with Em and made a sock monkey whom Em named Rosie. Em had great fun looking through my Gran's button box for the eyes. She also found a pretty buckle, so we put it onto a piece of ribbon around Rosie's waist. Then I found some real Mother of Pearl buttons and we made them into a bracelet.

My bug is now finally going and I'm begining to feel much better although I am worn out by lunchtime! I'm now going through the squeaking & coughing phase.

Thank you Laurarn for your lovely introduction I am delighted to have an email friend, I never managed to get a pen pal at school and I tried through stitching magazines but it never lasted.

I am really enjoying my blogging, I have been visiting many other blogs through both Laurarn, Mosaic Yarn Shop and Gina picking up tips and ideas.

I decided to call my blog Crafty Conundrum because I love so many different crafts e.g. Crosstitch, Crochet, Knitting, Card making, Quilting (occasional) sewing clothes.

I also collect Russ Berrie bears and picture teaspooons.