Christmas Crafting!

Busy, busy, busy!!!

I feel really disorganised this year but managed to get some Christmas pressies crafted!

Had some fun with preserves making spiced oranges and wicked Christmas pears, I just hope they taste OK will have to wait for the verdict!

We also made peppermint creams, honeycomb, candycane biscuits and star biscuits with boiled sweet windows!!

Finished with a ribbon and a scented paper mache star, the stars were made from shredded paper, cinnamon  cloves and orange peel!

I have crocheted several gifts as well, a hat, flower and pompom bookmarks and keyrings but my favourites were the slippers for my sister

I am quite pleased with my husbands new stocking!

We have also managed to squeeze in a spot of decorating, I managed to save a roll of retro/vintage wallpaper that was destined for a skip following a house clearance.

There was enough to do the chimney and a bit behind the shelves.

Happy Christmas!

Trash Revamp Christmas Social

The Christmas do was almost a disaster when Wok one called less than two hours before we were due to meet to say they weren't opening! Luckily the local pub the New Inn squeezed us in! It was really lovely to see everyone who was able to make it.

The home made Santa Lucky dip is always my favourite bit! This year I won this gorgeous painting by Zelka fom Art Tika

I put in some crochet bunting! 

Which was won by Mama Trash (Charlotte Rhoades) I hope she liked it!

My sister won Charlotte's gorgeous bottle holder complete with bottle! I really want to have a go at making these!

Actually my favourite bit this year was probably cuddles with baby Charlie!

Yes Seth, it's a baby! Only seems 5 mins since he was that big!

My nieces first pint!

Rowan's favourite bit was probably the chocolate fudge cake!

Happy Christmas Revampers!!!

Carrier Bag Snowballs

This was a really great Christmas project to do with Rowan.

We cut the carrier bags into strips and wound them around two rings of card board. The most successful ones were made from the thinner bags. One bag = One Snowball

We then cut around the edge and tied another strip around the centre between the two rings. Remove the card and fluff into a ball. Trim off any excess.

Then Rowan's favourite bit, we dipped them in craft glue and silver glitter.

Nana's Snowmen Advents

Nana's home made Christmas snowmen are filled and on the window sill, so it really feels like Christmas is on it's way!

Nana has made one for every grandchild and now great grand child for years so I'm feeling very nostalgic!

Made from a coffee/hot chocolate tin covered in cotton wool. A ball of scrunched up newspaper and cotton wool for the head and a hat from a yoghurt pot, a circle of card and an old sock. (This must be where I get it from!)

Felt facial features and buttons to finish. This idea could be varied so much the possibilities are endless!

You then take 25 chocolates, tie on a piece of lametta and put them in the tin. Pull on a piece of lemetta every day until the tin is empty, then it's Christmas!

Christmas Craft Fayre

Had a great day yesterday at the village playgroups Christmas Craft Fayre.

I love doing these events as part of the Trash Revamp group. Sharing costs and taking turns manning the stall really makes taking part more beneficial and much more fun!

It was nice to have a good catch up with Janine from Trash Tastic Knits too!

Janine's egg cosies were a real hit!

I managed a bit of Christmas shopping and my daughter got to see Santa, so a great day all in all!

Crochet Keepsake Christmas Cards

I made some crochet Christmas ornaments, I started with snowflakes. There are some great patterns about, I particularly liked these http://fabact.co/christmas/snowflakes/crochetsnowflakes.html

I used Ayleene's fabric stiffener and a little glitter to finish!

I then made a few more designs up. I am particularly pleased with the trees!

As I only use wool oddments I was a bit limited in colours in the finer thread hence the purple, mint and white combo!

I'm sharing a craft stall with the Trash Revamp group next weekend so I added them to card blanks to sell as keepsakes cards.

Crochet Strawberry

This project evolved from what started out as a hat. After adding the green rim I decided to make it into a bowl as an excuse to use the fabric stiffener I bought recently.

I then decided it needed a lid and having made that it reminded me of a strawberry so I added some green leaves to the edges and some yellow flecks to the bowl, as you do!

Now my daughter has a funky pot to keep her bobbles in. 

I used Ayleene's fabric stiffener but I am keen to try some home made alternatives when the bottle runs out.

I currently have some Christmas decorations hardening on the side, pics soon!

Kids Homemade Angel Costume

My daughter Rowan needed a costume for Art week, the theme being sculptures she chose to go as Emma Stebbins 'Angel of the waters'. Hence the wellies!

This was really quick to make and Rowan loved getting involved, especially when it came to adding the glitter!

We took an old bed sheet and cut a slit in the middle large enough for her head and cut strips off the edges for holding everything together.(The edges were elasticated which was really useful).

We placed the sheet over her head and tied one of the elasticated strips around her to create the impression of sleeves. While tying we scrunched the excess fabric up to her shoulders, looped the strip around the back of her neck, crossed it across her chest and tied it in a bow at the back. Then we carefully pulled the scrunched up fabric down to form sleeves.

For the water at the bottom of the skirt, we cut up plastic carrier bags into strips and added sequins and beads from Rowan's craft cupboard.

The wings were cut from an old roll mat and covered in tin foil. We then cut feathers from cereal boxes, glittered them and stuck them on with a mixture of strong glue and tape. 

The elasticated strips came in useful again here as we simply tied two loops around the centre of the wings, making it easy for her to slip on and off trough out the day.

Rowan used pipe cleaners and cereal boxes to make her lilies which she soon got tired of holding so we attached  to her.

Christmas Stocking Filler Ideas

I've been stocking up on bookmarks ready for some Christmas craft fairs and wanted to make some with a Christmas theme.

For the Crochet range I have added a holly leaf. Made from green wool oddments and a reclaimed red button. This is made using doubles, increasing and decreasing to achieved the required shape. Simple chain stitch for the stem.

For the pompom range, well it had to be a snowball! Simple white pompom with chain stitch.

Click here to see full range

Booties Pattern

I raided my mums stash of crochet magazines and found this great booties pattern in and old 'Woolworths Knitting Magazine'. Issue 4

Cosy toes for baby Charlie!

Pattern Summary

Leg

Chain 25 , Work 24 dc into the chain. 

Work as many rows of dc as you want to form the leg. 

I worked 14 rows. 

Instep

Miss 8 stitches, work 8 dc into next 8 dc.

Work 8 rows.

Sides

Work 8dc along bottom of leg. Work 7dc into side of instep. Work two dc into corner of instep. Work 6 dc and then another two dc into next corner. Work 7 dc into side of instep. Work 8dc along bottom of leg.

Work 4 rows,

Sole

Work 8dc into centre of side edge, Work 8 rows reducing by 1stitch each side in last two rows.

Attach sides of sole and leg seam.

Chain 100 and thread around ankle. For bobbles chain 4 and join with ss. Work 10 dc into circle. Attach

Red Riding Hood Magazine Collage

The Trash Revamp group have decided to start working towards a group exhibition under the theme 'Fairytales, Myths & Legends'.

We have yet to set a date as most members have a lot of commitments and so will organise once everyone is ready.

I have been working on a magazine collage based on the tale of Red Riding Hood which I finished today.

I just need to work on the frame now, all my collages are done on the backboard of a reclaimed, revamped frame.

How long should a scarf be?

I have made a crochet scarf for my mums birthday and had the usual problem of not knowing when it's long enough. I have been sticking to the method of trying it on until I think it's about right and try and imagine it with fringing!

I am happy with the length of this one though and so I will work to this size from now on.

This scarf is 54"/137.5cm before adding fringing. The fringe is 7"/18cm long each side.

Crochet Mug Warmer

I was looking for small gift ideas and came across this pattern for a mug cosy, there are lots out there but particularly liked this one!


Pattern “Marion’s cozy mug warmer”

http://finvara.wordpress.com/2011/01/16/pattern-marions-cozy-cup-warmer/

I was really pleased with how this turned out, I just need to find some more small simple projects ready for Christmas! I know it's only September!!! It will be here before we know it and I like to make as many gifts as possible and not just because it saves me a fortune!

What to do with all these wool oddments??!?

My mission for this year was to learn to crochet properly, having made several attempts in the past and not having got it quite right. I am very lucky as my Mum is fabulous at it and so I have a constant source of handy hints and access to some great patterns and how to guides!

So far I have made a small baby blanket

Then I got a little more adventurous and had a go at making up my own creations, I decided on Owls,

All this crochet coupled with a dabbling last year with knitting I am accumulating rather a lot of oddments and have been coming up with small projects that will make use of them.

I have made some pompom key rings and bookmarks

and now I am working on Flower versions

Any more ideas? I will have to chat to the very talented, fellow Trash Revamp member Janine Booth http://folksy.com/shops/trashtasticknits

Welcome to my new blog!

I am Trash Revamp Artist and Crafter Kirstie Adamson. 
All my work uses reclaimed and recycled materials. I mainly work in collage using magazines & junk mail as my paint and reclaimed frames as my canvas.

I am also a keen crafter and am one of the founders of Trash Revamp, a collective of artists and designers who work in reclaimed and recycled materials  www.trashrevamp.co.uk 

You can also find my recent work on Etsy and Folksy