If you can't fight, wear a big hat...

I'm not sure where that saying came from, I remember my dad saying it a LOT! when I was growing up. 

So anyhow I was recently given a bag of jewellery bits and pieces and in the bags were some hair combs. 

One thing led to another and.... 

I started to make a fascinator 

I basically used folded bits of netting that I then sewed to a comb. 

I layered them up and then added some pearly beads! 

It's a pretty big fascinator to be honest, in fact I'm wondering if it's a bit too ostentatious! However for my first foray in pretty darn pleased with it. And as an added bonus there's a second comb so I can have another go if I want! 

In other news , I felt like poop today, take out food is not agreeing with me at the moment. I think it's because it's so greasy and I tend to eat a lot of fresh food.

I also retraced the lilou bodice because I've misplaced mine and gave the sewing room a good old tidy! And I mean good old tidy! There was too bin bags of rubbish. 

Much love

Frankie

Xxx

New textured owl!

Ive not made a textured owl in absolutely ages! But today whilst on the phone to my momma I found myself giving it a whirl! 

I can't wait to turn it into a cushion! 

I used peices of lace and a vintage lace doily! As well as other materials from my stash.... Including.... 

Cute lil brass circle bead things! 

And the wings are my from some Indian silk I had left over. 

I think it's adorable! I'm making it into a cushion tommorrow and it will be popping it into my etsy shop not long after !

Now I'm wondering if theirs any other animals that would look cool texturised! 

Much love

Frankie

Xxx

Short and sweet!

As the title suggests I'm going to keep this post fairly short 1. Because I'm sleepy and 2. Because I had blood taken today and it's made me feel less than amusing.

You see that little dot? No not the mole the other little dot? Yes the tiny red smudge that looks like barely anything!!!! That's where I had blood taken today, and it hurt like a mother! and to help matters I'm a massive baby about that sort of thing too! and I had an Hour long wait in a queue of elderly people (seriously I was the youngest person there! And apparently the only one who doesn't have a little baggy of sweeties stashed away!) But no seriously I was the only person under the age of fifty, I actually heard the phrase "I wish they'd just take me out back and shoot me!" Four times! FOUR TIMES! Got to love the elderly! 

Anyhow after my blood test I went and dropped off an owl with an old friend! And ended up with an owl in return! 

http://instagram.com/p/t-N-4RoTdy/ 

Which you can see here! 

And then I finished this owl cushion cover off! 

I'd had the peices cut for ages but I didn't really love it so I kind of put it on the back burner for a bit. 

And now I'm still a bit like hmmmmmmm, but no I do like it. I just think it's that it's so different to the one I did last time! Anyway now it just needs to actually be made into a cushion!

Anyway I'm going to go and wallow in self pity over my arm! 

Much love 

Frankie

Xxx

We're nearly there!!!

One week one pattern is nearly upon us!!! It's starts tomorrow! 

I just thought I'd let you know how I'm going to do OWOP, (by the way I'm so excited! It's the first blog event I've ever done!) 

For starters I don't plan on posting pics of me in the outfits, rather just the items and the styling on a hanger. Lil Knitwit isn't quite camera trained, and mr Knitwit will be working so that's the only way I can show you! 

Also although I only have two items at the moment I'm hoping to have a third finished later in the week! So keep your eyes peeled! 

My OWOP posts will also be separate to my regular posts (which I'll still be doing) and will probably go up in the morning, with a few details about the item and accessories!

 Phew this month is so crazy!!!! I've got OWOP, a holiday, my birthday and a craft fair!!! In fact I'm so busy that I haven't even thought about my birthday (which never happens I'm a five year old when it comes to birthdays)

But onto today's finish! 

This is my last large hoop for the craft fair! I'm loving the beads and the flowers, it reminds me of my mums garden, she has a beautiful garden! 

Some of the beads are recycled! I know some people can be funny about second hand things but these were to beautiful to  chuck away. Plus I like to think I'm doing my part for the environment! I should probably mention that momma Knitwit was the one to remove to beads. She's the best fabric slave ever! 

Anyway apart from being crazy busy and everything being mental at the moment! With birthdays and fairs and patterns and holidays and ironing and little Knitwit starting nursery!!! (This is the part were I start sobbing uncontrollably in a corner!) 

Much love

Frankie 

Xxx

Snowflake

I'm definitely getting into this blogging by phone malarkey, at this moment little Knitwit is eating his breakfast, so I have five minutes to blog! The only problem is I can't actually see if anyone has read it on the app, I have to go onto the laptop for that! So hello are you there? Is there anyone out there! 

But it is saving me time so I think I'll risk that I'm talking to myself! 

Anyway that's enough of me talking to myself! Here's what we as a family got done yesterday:

• little Knitwit learnt to colour white and blue

• we had a massive bag of sand delivered! 

• mr Knitwit shifted a stack of garden slabs, I ahem watched/supervised.

• I posted a parcel from my first ever etsy sale! It's been a lonnnnnnng time since I set up and I was starting to loose heart! But it's finally happened!

• I nearly finished mr knitwits birthday shopping (and yet again I'm more excited for his birthday than he is )

• mr Knitwit painted one fence panel, it was suppose to be my job but apparently I'm a 'messy' painter. 

• and I made this (notice how mr Knitwit takes care of DIY and I do the sewing) 

It's for the craft fair I'm doing and I like to think that it's something that could be used in summer or winter. I think I was inspired by all the 'frozen' things that are still floating around! (I still haven't actually seen 'frozen' yet, but my expectations are getting higher by the day. So i can't wait till it pops up on sky movies!) 

I added some bead again, I just think that beads and embroidery is such a beautiful combination, and I'm a sucker for anything sparkly.

Right I'm going to have to toodle because baby Knitwit has nearly finished his breakfast so it's clean up time at the zoo! But before I go what do we think of the embroidery hoop art thingy that's happening? Take a look on Pinterest there's loads! I think it's awesome I love the look of a peice of embroidery in a hoop! 

Much love

Frankie

Xxx

It Is Done

It's still hot! I definitely think were edging into heat wave territory! Although taking Little Knitwit to run some errands in the city was not as much fun because of the heat!

 

Simply put this happened -

• Go to put fuel in car - very busy - fist fight and slanging match on forecourt. (not me! two other people)
• Got to Hanley - made wrong turning had to use another car park.
• Five minutes into shopping trip entire sole comes off my shoe (from out of nowhere!) - quick trip to Primark to find replacement shoes.
• get things we need to get.
• Go get lunch! Eat lunch.
• Little Knitwit decides to do a wee that would call for Noah to get the ark back out - clothes soaked - back to Primark for dry clothes - get dry clothes - Two escalators and a lift broken at Primark - hour long queue to get to ground floor using only working lift.
• Traffic on way home!

All I can say is it was an eventful day!

 

 

These are the new shoes. They were pretty comfy at the beginning but then my feet swelled up, the only shame is I know I could have done that pattern on an old pair!

 

But I did get home and set right to work finishing the beading on my Indian owl embroidery! And its done!

 

 

I tried not to over do it and I think I've succeeded, it is obviously not going to be a children's cushion its going to be the kind of cushion you display and ask people politely not to touch!

 

 

 

Definitely pleased with how it turned out! And I'm really enjoying doing the more textured work at the moment!

 

 

Before and after beading.

 

So all in all, not a terrible day today, although I didn't get to visit my favourite fabric shop in Hanley Abakan's. Although its probably a good job I couldn't find time because I'd still be there now!!!

 

Much Love

 

Frankie

 

xxx  

 

P.S for those of you who are wondering, yes I'm blogging in my pants again! and I'm not the only one who does it! x

Indian Inspiration

For those of you who don't know, I used to be part of a belly dance group. ( And for those of you who are giggling right now, shush! You haven't had a good time unless you've decked yourself out in glitter and sequins and let all your jiggly bits have a good old wiggle around!)

 

I loved dancing in that group, and my Momma still does. And although I used Indian patterns as inspiration for this piece, I like to think that the lovely ladies I used to dance with provided me with a greater source of inspiration in the wise eyes of the owl. Strong women, who dance and have fun and don't care what other people think. The best kind of women.

 

Without further ado here's my strong, wise owl.

 

 

I used traditional style henna patterns as inspiration for the patterns.

 

 

Worked it all on white cotton, with embroidery silks using my grandmothers embroidery hoop.

 

 

I mixed it up a little a the bottom, I didn't want it to be too symmetrical. sometimes you've just have to ignore the balance of things.

 

 

I tried to stick to quite rustic colours and jewel tones, (I'm going to post on how I keep my colours balanced and even in a later post.)

 

 

Those scalloped edges look pretty, but boy they took me ages to sew!

 

 

I thought I was finished until I thought about those lovely ladies again, and realised it needed some sparkle! So that's what I'll be doing tonight, squinting at tiny beads trying not to spill them all over the floor!  

 

Much Love

 

And

 

Have a giggle have a wiggle!

 

Frankie

 

xxx

 

We Are Gathered Here Today.....

It's Day 14 of Pinterest Fortnight! This is the end! It's the last day! And I cannot wait to relax and recover! I've found knitting needles in every room of the house and I have threads stuck to me constantly!

So the last day, now I have to say I was a bit stuck on this one. It needed to be grand and special! After all this is the Grand Finale! Which got me thinking to a Pinterest board that I haven't covered yet, yes its the secret wedding Pinterest board! Yes I have one, you have one! Everyone has one! You just have to admit it!

 

 

Now I am engaged so I feel I am perfectly justified in having a wedding Pinterest board, however I know that there is not one thing on that board that Mr Knitwit will like. At all. Not one darn thing! the problem is I'm a dreamer/hippie/punk/crafter/crazy and he's well not? He's very stable and sensible. Well they do say opposites attract!

 

For example I thought todays make inspired by my love of pinning weddings on Pinterest is adorable! He ummmm doesn't?

 

Without further ado here it is the Grand Finale!

 

 

I made a Bride and Groom owls! Yes I am that person and I had so much fun doing it! I took most of my inspiration from the eighties if I'm perfectly honest! ( gotta love the eighties weddings! all that lace!)

 

 

Mr Owl has his very own tux and top hat, as well as a knitted flower and a slightly worried expression, appropriate don't you think?

 

 

And of course his own little bow tie!

 

 

And well Mrs Owl? She has it all! Feathers, lace, tulle, a veil , beads!

 

 

No tacky wedding stone was left unturned!

 

 

And she has the wide eyed look of a women that doesn't realise how annoying living with men can be!!!!! Bless her! She'll learn!

 

Well I suppose that's the end? I've been trying to decide when to do this again and I'm thinking when I reach 1000 pins on my inspiration board. So I'll see you next week (oh I really hope its not reached 1000 by next week!)

 

Thank you everyone who's been reading and commenting , either on here or privately on Facebook. and for all the people who have retweeted me on twitter! I've had a blast!

 

Now what am I going to do with all this free time? I'm actually starting to feel naked without a needle of some sort in my hand! Eeeek!

 

Much Love

 

Frankie

 

xxx

Oopsie Daisy

Day 9

 

So I was a little bit naughty yesterday, there was no blogging yesterday, in fact there was no crafting yesterday! Instead their was just lots of fun to be had with Little Knitwit and Mr.Knitwit!

So I'm taking this as Day 9 Pinterest Fortnight inspiration.

 

 

I did nothing! yesterday , knitting was left untouched, my sewing machine stayed under its cover, I did no washing or mopping or dusting!

Instead we played, and rode bikes, and had kisses and cuddles and tickles! And lots of good old fashioned family fun! Which I think is very important! So I am counting this picture as Day 9 as Pinterest fortnight!

 

But I'm back today with Day 10! And its another accessory! I think everyone has something that they like to knit without even thinking. You know the project you do at three in the morning when you cant sleep? Or waiting in line at the bank? Mines flowers but I wanted to do something productive with those flowers!

 

Here was my inspiration.

 

 

I  know there felt and not knitted but I just love the colours and the textures! It can be found here.

 

  

And this is just so perfect! Now I have a love/hate relationship with this blanket! It's the sort of thing I don't think I could make and just sell. This sort of blanket is the kind of thing you make for your own baby or a baby you know your going to love very much. Or is that just selfish? I wish so much that I had seen this picture when my niece was a baby , her mummy would have loved it!

 

So I compromised and turned my flowers into! Brooches!

Now I love a good brooch but they seem to have dwindled out of fashion recently. Hopefully they'll make a come back!

 

 

I made two, I small yellow one and a large blue one! Now I don't like to play favourites but the blue one takes the biscuit for me! They are hand knitted with beaded centres and felt leaves!

 

 

Yep blue definitely wins it for me!

 

 

Now here come the posed pictures, and a small confession! When I did my cowl blog post, and decided to do a picture of me in it. I MIGHT have tweaked my makeup and hair a little bit, and put on a clean cardigan. Actually that's I lie, I applied a full face of makeup and did my hair and picked out a matching cardigan, for pictures on a blog. Turns out I am a lot vainer than I originally thought! That was until today when I realised I couldn't actually be bothered to apply makeup and do my hair so I just sort of used the camera to cover my face? Life is to short to spend every five minutes re applying your lip stick!

 

 

I did put a coat on though so you could see it in action!

 

 

 

Also today is my own Darth Vader Birthday, so Happy Birthday Daddy!

 

 

Much Love

 

Frankie

 

xxx

 

You Are Always On Your Mobile

Its Day 7! I am officially halfway through Pinterest fortnight! (And yes I do wish it had just been Pinterest week!) Todays craft is another baby one, but more shockingly it's actually coming to you at a reasonable hour of the day! No rushing for me today, Its already Finished! And I've nearly finished tomorrows as well! Honestly if you could see the smug look on my face right now , you would want to punch me!

 

But enough of punching me in the face! Here we go! We have three inspirations today!

 

 

A very adorable baby mobile from Here, I cant believe how simple but stunning this is!

 

 

How many animals?! I here you say, but don't worry I'm not an over achiever I didn't make this many animals! Although if anybody has made one of these please let me know where you get your patience from and send me over a bottle! This beauty can be found Here.

 

 

And lastly we have this one from Here on Etsy but sadly it is no longer available but there are lots more lovely things in the shop! 

 

Now if you haven't already realised todays projects is a baby mobile! I decided to base mine on my signature animal , OWLS! And just to warn you these owls include sequins. This make was literally a sparkle fest from beginning to end!

 

 

I apologise for the pictures I couldn't find anything to hang it off , so I had to settle for a door handle! All the owls bar two are also facing the wrong way!

 

 

Because of the beads on the strings, the owls spin around sort of by themselves and in light breeze, or if you move near it. I have been told this is something to do with physics? But I prefer to think of it as crafty magic!

 

 

Each of the owls is completely different! They have sequin and bead eyes and other bead details and some even have embroidered wings!

 

 

They also have little hearts on there tummies, I wish I had taken a picture of them all lined up before a sewed them on! Then you could see the variety of personalities!

 

 

Everything was hand stitched, my sewing machine has stayed firmly under its cover! And the string were hand knotted to keep everything firmly in place.

 

 

It's also quite easy to untangle, I learnt this the hard way after leaving it in my workbag.

 

 

 

Just spotted and actual pin board at the back of this picture! Coincidence? I think not!

 

All in all I LOVE it , I can see many more of these cropping up around the place, it was such a relaxing make! And its always nice to know that there isn't another one quite like it in the world! I'm hoping to pop this up in my Etsy shop as soon as I have a spare moment.

 

See you tomorrow for the second half of Pinterest fortnight! What will I do with myself when its over? Probably allow myself to recover I'm dreaming of pins, felt, wool and sequins!!

 

Much Love

 

Frankie

 

xxx