16 June 2015

Cross-stitch

Mrs Crafting has been itching to do something about the bathroom windows curtains. “They look like a rag, they do”, she says. So I decided it was about time to make a new set. I chose Aida cloth, which is normally used for cross-stitch. It’s not the prettiest kind of fabric for curtains, but for a sloppy seamstress like me those clear weaving lines are a godsend! - Straightest hems I’ve ever marked!
I was a bit hesitant to have another go at cross-stitch after so many years. My mother is a gifted embroiderer, but not much of her talent has managed to pass to the next generation. When my sister and I were about 9 or 10 she bought us one of those cross-stitch for beginners kits – basically painting by numbers with thread instead of paint. I remember looking at her face while she turned my work on the wrong side and saw a jungle of tangled threads. “Cross-stitch should really look tidy on both sides... do you want to give it another go?” – I never did have another go – it required the attention to detail that my pre-teenager self always tried to avoid.
But things are looking neat so far. Mum, you’ll be proud!

12 June 2015

Crochet wildflowers

Mrs crafting loves everything about the British countryside; the rolling hills, the hedged lanes, the chalky streams, the suicidal pheasants that jump into the road unexpectedly and make her bike breaks scream – but most of all she loves to daydream while crossing fields of wildflowers.




06 June 2015

The bluebell stitch

A lot has happened since I was last here. I got a new job, we moved into a "new" house that is actually quite old - hard work - but it has a garden and I found a new hobby! The old crochet is suffering a bit from that, hopefully I'll manage to keep up with both my crafts and my vegetables from now on.
Let me see, what else... we travelled a bit. Went to Corsica, back and forth to Portugal as always, visited Scotland properly for the first time - loved it, especially Skye, despite the rain and hurricane winds - and explored our current homeland - Wales.


But not all has been quiet on the crochet front. My friends keep getting pregnant so I have stitched a couple of baby blankets, bits and pieces for the house and Christmas presents too. One of my ongoing projects is a throw for the settee. I learnt the stitch last February at St Fagans Museum (a beautiful open air museum here in South Wales), they have a really nice crochet club and people can just walk in and join them. The stitch has the cutest name: bluebell stitch - lets hope it patches up okay.

crochet bluebell stitch

04 June 2015

01 November 2013

lest we forget

Mrs Crafting is still on a flowery mood, but now for a completely different reason. Drops of red poppies keep falling on her lap, while she stitches, silently, remembering.

crochet poppy remembrance

28 June 2013

Taking care of business

"Look at me I'm self-employed, I love to work at nothing all day" sang Mrs. Crafting while polishing her BMW R25/3, "and I'll be, taking care of business (every day), taking care of business (every way)..."

Mrs. Crafting's crochet business cards.


Business cards / Crochet packaging!

25 June 2013

Weekend project: crochet collar


"Back in the old days I would never leave the house without putting on a pretty little something to trim my outfit." said Mrs. Crafting looking rather amused at the sight of my worn-out grey t-shirt. "Take my collar dear, you can pretend it is a necklace!"

I finally made my first crochet collar! The pattern was created by Emma and it is available here.

I really like the way it fits and kind of looks like a necklace! 

13 June 2013

The ups and downs of jersey yarn

If you open pinterest and search for jersey yarn or t-shirtyarn your screen will instantaneously be flooded with hundreds of chunky crochet projects! One of them has been at the top of my to do list for quite a while.
I loved the idea of stitching up a doily shaped rug, specially if made from recycled t-shirt cotton. However, to source the right kind of used t-shirts wasn't easy (I guess I have to find a better charity shop!) so I decided to buy jersey cotton instead. It is pricey, even on ebay... Knowing that my regular needles wouldn't be up to the task I also bought a massive 9.00mm one! And so it begun... My mother always said: "Don't make your stitch to tight nor to loose!", but for as much as I tried to please her it would always be tight. Well, the problem is - if you work jersey yarn with a 9.00mm needle and a tight stitch you are going to get 2 things:
1. Blisters.
2. Stretched fabric.
The giant doily was looking terrible.  
Tip: Make your work easier without compromising the style by cutting the yarn in half!
 Deciding to make my job easier, I grabbed a scissor and cut the jersey in half. The cutting process was a bit boring I must admit, but the jersey rolled back in perfectly and I ended up with the double of the material. All in all it was a good idea.
Working with a slightly thinner yarn was much easier. I kept the stitches as loose as possible, but I noticed that jersey has a natural elasticity; so just do your best to make it look good.
The rug is not finished yet. I think it still needs one or two single crochet rows, but it looks very sweet doesn't it?
Giant doily rug.
 PS: I know, I know, the clogs photo is a cliché, but I just had to take it!

29 May 2013

Weekend project

What do you do when you're stuck with a rainy, gloomy, grey afternoon, and a box full of cotton scraps happens to be sitting right besides you?
Shell stitch crochet cloth.
To make this cloth I worked a simple shell stitch - 6 rows of beige followed by 3 rows of white, and repeated until it was just the perfect length.

The little corner fringes give it an immediate rustic look. I love this one!

15 May 2013

Space invaders

Brace yourselves to the cutest alien invasion ever!


crochet space invader
Mrs Crafting's crochet space invader.

01 May 2013

Cake toppers

-"Oh dear, said Mrs Crafting after finishing the 3 layered carrot cake for the church bake-off, all I need now is a perfect finish!"
Mr Crafting's cake toppers are for sale at the Little Wedding Emporium.

Cherry on top of the cake, eh?

Crochet cake toppers.

25 April 2013

Dressed up bottles

The first crocheted bottlecover that I have ever finished was made out of twine. Dry blue twine.
I needed something to put flowers in. An empty bottle happened to be laying around, and so was the yarn. Problem solved!
Since then I have made about 20 different ones, and the idea never seems to get worn out.

There is something very nostalgic and welcoming about them, isn't there?

Mrs Crafting's crocheted bottles. Shell stitch.
Mrs Crafting's crocheted bottle. Aqua honey comb stitch.

10 April 2013

The good, the bad and the lovely!


"Our friend Clint stopped by for lunch. He immediately joined forces with Mr Crafting and took over the kitchen… a recipe for disaster! Luckily I had enough cotton to make a strong tea towel, to help me to clean up the mess." Mrs Crafting confided to me last year, while wiping a pile of plates with fervor.
The story repeated itself last night. The result might be different in style, but equally lovely!

19 March 2013

something kinda vintage fair

This was fun! Michelle and Craig did a great job organising such a great fair. The beautiful coal exchange building was packed with talented people; there was live music and a even an irresistible vintage style tea parlour. And I am very happy to tell you that mrs.crafting's crochets were quite popular!
It was great to meet up with Ashley and take a look at her latest work. Sophie from Ears and Whiskers was also there and I even met a Portuguese chef based in Swansea, Tatiana, who runs the cutest cookery school called Marmalade. I hope to see them all again very soon!





With Love From Bobbin

Something Kinda Cute / Ears & Whiskers

Marmalade Cookery School

01 March 2013

Freshly stitched


Mrs Crafting has been working on some tasty new creations to exhibit at the fair. But before you ask it, no, the delicious looking macaroons weren't baked at our kitchen. These little beauties were crafted by the talented hands of Tatiana, chef at Marmalade Cookery School!


Find them at Hubbard's Cupboard!


22 February 2013

Blossoming work

Lately I've been on working mode. Managing 4 blogs at the same time (this one, this one, this one and this one) and stitching like there was no tomorrow in preparation for the vintage fair.
These spring-fever garlands are amongst my favourite new items. I got the inspiration from the lovely Inside Crochet magazine and added my own little twist. Fully bright colours and a handful of crocheted hearts. Don't you just love it?

Find these garlands at Hubbard's Cupboard

20 February 2013

We're going!


Oh dear, Mrs Crafting is going to be exhibiting her work at Something KindaVintage Wedding fair, how exciting! And the good news keep coming: besides showcasing my work I'll also be the official blogger for the fair. Fancy that!

19 February 2013

Shopping spree


Last Sunday I visited Hobby Craft for the first time. Yes, I must admit that the superstore format makes the whole experience a bit cold, nevertheless get me inside a huge space filled with all sorts of crafts supplies and I am a happy woman!
Poor Mr. Crafting, thank good there were some news-stands near by to keep him entertained. I spent hours running up and down the isles admiring trends, considering combinations with different materials and getting mega stoked by this huge wave of inspiration.
Of course I couldn't leave empty handed. I bought a stitch piercer to help me with my paper projects. I am really excited about it!