Looking Forward to Christmas!

After making my mum her little snowman last Christmas, and doing my stockings the year before that, I'm already starting to look towards this Christmas and what I want to make!

Anyway I'm not excited this year id say its more a determination to be organised, I've already decided what I'm getting my family and we've actually brought some things for Mr Knitwits family (should make a nice change to last year when we were finishing his shopping three days before Christmas!)

Anyway apart from the advent calendar that I'm tempted to make for the boys I've been looking at other Christmas things on pinterest. And two things have jumped out at me!

okay not the craftyiest thing in the world but it feels like it might be pretty useful in future! in fact I might even incorporate it into some nice Christmas packaging for Knitwits owls! this can originally be found at http://fitmommydiaries.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/christmas-love.html

But this is the one I really like!

I mean I think its a perfect way to show off some lovely Christmas fabric! And I know a Christmasaholic who might quite like one! it seems fairly simple as well I just think it would be a matter of making sure the finishing was beautiful! This actual item was available on etsy however its sold now, but this is the shop that stocked it  https://www.etsy.com/listing/86897151/christmas-tree-decoration-small?ref=cat2_gallery_28

So now I might just have to start one of these!

After I've finished my orders of course!

Much Love

Frankie

xxx

I Can't Believe It!

My name is Frankie and I'm a stay at home mum,

 

But I do kind of like to think that there's something else that I 'do'. My name is Frankie and I knit adorable kitsch, kooky original and sickeningly sweet things and when I show people what I make the responses usually fall into one of three categories:

 

1. Oh it's adorable I want one! Please make me one!
2. Oh its lovely, hang on its how much!?
3. You don't sell those? Who buys them? Their awful! Surely they don't sell? 
4. The people who don't get it, but they respect it (Mr Knitwit falls quite solidly into this group)       

Now obviously response 1 is my favourite, usually I respond by blushing uncontrollably, to the point where I look like your nan after one to many sherry's at the family wedding.

 

Response 2 irks me a little. On the one hand, they like what I make, but on the other hand they don't think I'm worth the price. Which to be honest upsets me a little bit, if they don't think I'm worth the price, what about when I've given them as gifts? Are they worth less then as well? Well I've come to realise that these people are just ignorant of the amount of time and effort that goes into making something that's handmade. Sadly I don't knit like one of the shreddies Nannas, it does not take me an hour to whip up an owl, it takes a darn sight longer and that's on a good day. I sincerely hope that these people learn the joy of handing over something well made, original and handmade, or that at least their own family members don't spend hours knitting and sewing should the group 3's ever have a child of their own.

 

Now if group 2 irks me, group 3 sends me into a mild/less than mild rage! For starters please don't comment on my things like your some sort of fashionista and assume that everyone hates them and secondly pleas don't talk about them like that and especially in front of me, trust me I am under no delusions that what I make is everyone's cup of tea. But everything I make has a part of me in it. I give every make 100% and nothing leaves my house till I'm happy with it!

 

 

Which got me thinking (and yes that is burning you can smell) How many people are sat out there able to make things but suppressed by the group 3s of this world? How many Knitting Nanas and young people who can just 'use' a sewing machine people who draw and sketch but won't put themselves out there for fear of rejection?

 

A very wise teacher once told me, "you can call yourself an artist when you've sold your first painting"

 

Well World/internet/blog land/small group of people who return to my little space of the internet that's full of ramblings

 

My name is Frankie and I am an artist and crafter. I paint things and I sew and I knit the most sickeningly kitsch, sweet, adorable and darn right kooky things you can imagine! And they sell, sometimes they sell well, and sometimes I have lulls. But each of my customers is pleased and I always do my best so please don't rain on my parade!

 

And if you are a closet Knitter/sewer/painter BREAK FREE! Put yourself out there! As someone once said , "If you don't reach the moon you might just land on a star!"

 

In other news I made a scarf today (which I was going to blog about but this verbal stream came out instead!)

 

Much Love

 

And embrace your passions!

 

Frankie

 

xxx

 

 

It's beggining to look a lot like..... Don't even say it!

I was reliably informed today via Facebook that there is 139 days till Christmas! And that Selfridges has already opened there Christmas department! I couldn't quite believe it until I thought about all the things I need to do before Christmas. Ideally I'd like to make some more things for around the house, specifically a calendar for the boys.

 

 

I can't find the source for this image but I think its a good base for the sort of thing I want to try, my idea is to buy a large set of blocks something like this.

 

 

And to put a few blocks in each pocket every few days and sweets in the other pockets so that the boys can build it together (and yes when I say boys I do mean Little Knitwit and Mr Knitwit).

 

I think it'll be cute and they'll both enjoy doing it.

 

I try to make something for us every year, last year (or the year before?) I made these,

 

 

I brought blank stockings from Hobbycraft (I can't remember how much they were but I do remember they were very reasonably priced) and put our names on them using self adhesive felt letters. I also embellished each stocking with bits of trim and bells! I'll try and get better pictures of these when they go up in about 109 days?  

 

I think I might get started early on crafting this year seen as our tradition seems to be, to all come down with some horrible bug the week before Christmas. Last year it was horrible head colds, Mr Knitwit got rid of his early but me and Little Knitwit felt awful for days. Although Mr Knitwit did become poorly again on Boxing day, we were suppose to have a nice roast with family but ended up having a KFC which I collected in my onesie. We are a classy bunch!

 

Much love

 

And remember 139 days and counting!

 

Frankie

 

xxx 

Feeling Hot Hot Hot!

This is the problem with England either you've got two jumpers and three pairs of socks on because it's freezing or it's so hot your blogging in your pants (I'll leave it up to you whether or not you want that visual, I've not opted for a picture moment!) Although its actually a bikini and one of Mr.Knitwits slightly bigger shirts!

 

But my lord it is hot! And don't get me wrong I am loving the sunshine even if me and Little Knitwit are more greased up than a Christmas turkey from all of the sun cream we've been having to use! There's only one problem.

 

Boredom is setting in. There are only so many times mummy can bounce on a trampoline and play football! Momma wants something new to do! Enter Pinterest!!!!

 

 

credit - http://www.somewhatsimple.com/fun-summer-art-project-water-gun-painting/

This is definitely happening I'm hitting the pound shop asap to find some cheap water pistols!!!

credit - housingaforest.com

 And I love this idea something to keep him nice and cool in the garden!

 

http://www.funathomewithkids.com/2013/08/big-art-painting-with-your-feet.html

I'm going to try this but I'm not sure how Lil Knitwit will react, he's not a huge fan of being dirty so it might end up being more of a crying session!

 

I never remember being bored in the summer, my Momma always had things to do planned, drawing outside with chalk, baking, paddling pool!

 

Other than Pinterest searching I've been flitting between knitting and beading. Knit till hand are sore, bead till back is sore! I'm sure that physiatrists would say that crafting until you are in pain is the first sign of addiction. They would probably be right. I have some orders to fill so that's the knitting, and the beading is on my Indian owl embroidery which I hope to have finished tonight so I can show it to you all tomorrow. Spoiler it looks awesome!

 

Right I'm off to get some beauty sleep I'm having a day with my niece and nephew tomorrow so I'll need my energy!

 

Much Love

 

Frankie

 

xxx

Ducks and Needle Books

I was a naughty blogger yesterday, I had a blog post ready to go (well I say ready, it was written in my head, it just wasn't down on paper/laptop), then disaster struck! I got a  migraine, the crippling, pain ridden kind. The kind that makes you wonder whether or not you would actually rather walk over hot coals than continue on with that particular kind of headache. Put bluntly yesterday my head felt like a ball of wool had exploded and become very tangled, and a 2 year old was trying to untangle it, with a sledgehammer, whilst listening to heavy metal, through a sub woofer.

 

But hallelujah! I'm feeling better, and have something new to show you!!!

 

 

I made these five cute needle books a while ago, but haven't seemed to get round to blogging about them, they've been on my to do list for a while and here they are.

 

 

Being that Little Knitwit is still, well a Little Knitwit. Needles, pins basically anything sharp is treated like a bomb. I actually count pins in and out, yes its that bad, one missing pin can result in two hours of me trawling the carpet on my hands and knees. And a proper good hovering! So this seems like the perfect solution, somewhere pretty I can keep sharp things (aside from my wit of course!)

 

 

The pink is my favourite I think. These are perfect stash buster projects, I used scraps of fabric and scraps of felt.

 

In other news, I also made CAKE! Yes CAKE deserves capitals. I really like CAKE!

 

 

I made this for a friends birthday, he gave Little Knitwit his favourite teddy (Donald duck). Hence the duck!

 

Luckily for me Mr Knitwit brought me a subscription to Disney sweets and treats for my birthday, (isn't he lovely) so I just used to moulds provided! And then iced it. And I managed not to eat all of the icing whilst icing it! (This is an achievement for me, I don't have so much as a sweet tooth as a sweet mouth....Oi! saucy!)

 

I'm definitely pleased with it, although it's not as much fun as crafting because it gets eaten afterwards. All that hard work gone in two mouthfuls.

 

Also quite excitingly, I've added another item to my Etsy shop! (Link can be found on the right hand side of this page) Does anyone remember the owl mobile I made during Pinterest fortnight? Well now its up for sale in my Etsy shop for the very reasonable £12.50!

 

 

 

So glad I feel better now! That's the worst thing about migraines , you can't do anything, no sewing, knitting or drawing. Even lying down in a dark room seems like hard work (not an ounce of drama in that statement at all!)

 

Much Love

 

Frankie

 

xxx