Bear fleece jacket

Well, I did promise.

It was supposed to get an airing in Inverness

at the weekend but it was so warm that it stayed in the car.

On return to Moray on the Sunday however, the temperature had dropped sufficiently to put it on.

I lined it in a brushed cotton/polyester mixed fabric and as a result it is really warm. I love the neck as I don't have to remember to take a scarf and it looks just as smart with the collar opened and folded down.

Bear Buchanan

This bright character was sent on his way this morning to his new home.

I sent another smaller one overseas the other day but have been asked to keep it under wraps for the time being so it remains a surprise. Scary how we can be seen now from the other side of the world now.

Off to finish putting together my bear print fleece jacket. Watch out for the picture here soon.

Just finished...........for me

Just finished this sweater for myself. I had two large balls of black watch yarn, each by a different manufacturer. As you can see one is mor blue and the other is more green. Both have a blend of blue, green and black as in the blackwatch tartan.

I love the style of this sweater. It has everything. Long enough to keep the derrier cosy. Pockets for the essential tissues etc. Raglan sleeves for a comfortable fit and the neck line has been knitted from the yolk giving a close fit that is not too tight.I think I will be living in this sweater for a while given the current weather.

I also made up this bag to go with it. Done in the yarn that is more blue and lined in blackwatch polyviscose tartan fabric. The same fabric was used for the strap.

The buttons fastening the front are the second closure, the top of the bag is fastened inside using two magnetic closures.

Burns and Homecoming

New Year, New Rule. Must keep this blog going this year!

As soon as New Year Celebrations were out of the road I started on a tartan pinafore (above)

for a Scottish girl living "down South" who wanted to do a Burn's night for her friends and finished a long promised tartan skirt for a friend for her TWO Burn's nights. Imagine my surprise when checking retailers websites for pricing help and I find a not disimilar skirt in the Per Una range ( well thiers had more fussy detail than mine). An exra bonus for my friend as she had looked in Per Una and apart from not liking the red tartan, the sales assistant had told her it was wool. Well that assistant just lost the sale as my friend is allergic to wool. As it happens the skirt was not wool but manmade fibres and would have been perfectly OK for my friend.

Time for an update

Well I haven't been blogging for a while so I better update you on what has been going on.

Stewart has been completely revamping the http://slackstitches.com site so if you are in there please be patient. Not even sure what the outcome will be myself.

Have been busy making presents for family birthdays so far this year.




My middle sister has a thing about that certain low mood donkey and a particular liking for denim jackets. I combined the two and she was thrilled with her birthday present.

Mum got a cable knitted bag to co-ordinate with her cardigan I knitted her for Christmas.

Today I bought some lovely vintage style cotton panels from Wildbearies on Etsy http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5631303 to make some totes for presents. She has some lovely vintage fabrics, go check her out, she is ever so friendly.

Will promise to come back a bit sooner and let you know some more finds.

WE HAVE A DREAM

The males in our society don't often get a pat on the back but I would like to do a bit of publicity for these guys.
They are a bunch of hardy young men from Ayr who are tackling a huge fundraiser for Alzheimer Scotland. They are the members of the Tartan Army, Ayr branch.
Apart from faithfully following their National team and ( just occasionally!! )enjoying themselves, the tartan army do raise lots of money for deserving charities. The Ayr team raise funds for three charities and this year it is the turn of Alzheimer Scotland in memory of Ally MacLeod who dared to raise the hopes of a whole Nation that we might just win the world cup with Ally's army.
The members are going to do a sponsored walk from Somerset Park, Ayr to Hampden, a distance of 34 miles, in time for the kick off for the Scotland match on 17th November 2007. They think this is the first time this has been done.
Please visit http://www.wehaveadream.co.uk/thewalk.html and show some support for this mammoth effort

Old World Shoppe

Today I would like to introduce you to Edie of http://ediecastle.etsy.com Edie is a memeber of the OWS group who craft using traditiional methods, skills and materials. If you like what you see in Edie's shop you can enter ows into the search engine at http://etsy.com and you will be led to the other members of the group.

1. How are your creations inspired?

I get my inspiration from all around me. I am very visual. I can see anything and just about make something like it. I don't need a pattern. I make up my own. I love to look at catalogs and dream about how I can make something I have seen. Of course the things I make, bags, pillowcases, jewelry totes, etc. all have a basic shape that is not difficult to duplicate. I am afraid I am not very original. I do wish I could come up with something that no one has ever thought about, but I believe that place has already been taken. There is really nothing new on earth.

2. Which product are you proudest of and why?
I believe I am proudest of my handbags and shoulder bags. I have always had a love for bags. Even as a child, at the middle of the last century, I would take a cereal box and make a purse to play with. Even before "making your own bag" became popular, I made a bag occasionally just for fun. Now I have perfected the construction of my bags in such a way that they will last a long time. I use plenty of fleece, interfacing, and other means of construction to make a quality bag that anyone can be proud of. I believe in having all the seams matching, fabric cut in the right direction, seams finished with a serger where necessary, and many pressings throughout construction. I go that extra mile to make something that will bring complements to you when you carry it or use it.

3. What kind of work area do you create your pieces in?
My work area consists of a small room that is totally devoted to sewing. I tell everyone it is "insulated" with material! There are very few bolts of fabric that I can resist! I have so much material, thread, trim, and construction materials, until there is hardly room to work. I have a "brand new" Janome Memory Craft 6600 that I love to sew on. I also have a Singer 5 thread serger that I have had for sometime. My house and sewing room is smoke free and pet free so people who are sensitive to these two things, can feel free to buy from me.

4. What are your favourite colours?
My favorite colors are fall colors. I am just drawn to oranges, browns, dark yellows, and dark greens. I have to make myself buy other colors because I am reminded that everyone does not care for the colors I do.