Meet Ethan the Elephant

Welcome back, today I’d like to share with you a special little someone who is inspiring me to write poems and stories in my creative writing journal. His name is Ethan the Elephant and he is from Rue’s Bears on Etsy

This is Ethan the Elephant from Rue’s Bears on Etsy

Here is the poem he inspired me to create.

Ethan the Elephant comes home

Ethan the elephant, came across the sea

Rue Yates made him, just for me

He doesn’t smell of dogs or cats

Or logs upon the fire,

No perfume smells to make me dizzy

I did ask first and she’s no liar.

.

He’s here to inspire poems

And stories that I write

If you are still on the fence,

Just know that, all will be alright.

.

Her creations are amazing

Adorable its true

You can’t stop, just at one

You’re bound to want a few

.

Buy them quick, they do sell fast

And made so well, they’re bound to last.

.

I hope you like them,

Just like me.

When you see them

You’re gonn go, ‘Squeee!’

.

So adorable, they’re here to cheer

They’ll bring joy, to loved ones near

If you can’t go there, to hug

Send a bear hand made with love.

written by Billie @billiescraftroom.wordpress.com

So I feel I need to clarify the smell thing. I have THE most sensitive nose/body ever. Perfumes, washing detergents, pet smells all send me dizzy and queezy so before I buy anything handmade, I always have to message people and try to find a delicate way to ask, if items are made away from animals n other scents. Not always an easy task. Rue was amazing and was not at all offended by the question and reasured me though there were animals in the house they had no contact with what she creates.

Later I read her bio on Etsy where it mentions the cats and dogs she cares for and how she creates by a log fire, so then I worried he’d smell of wood smoke but I had asked if it was smoke free home and she’d said yes.

ALL WAS FINE, beyond fine, amazing, wonderful perfect.

Ethan arrived today in a sturdy box all wrapped in tissue and was amazing. Not a whiff of anything at all, just like Rue said he would be.

I don’t think Etsy lets you write LONG essays in reviews, so my poem would be too long, so I write it here instead. I love her work so much I have ordered Delilah duck and Sebastian mouse too. The size is written in each animals listing but here is Ethan next to my A5 Stationary Island journal, for comparison.

Here is Ethan the Elephant from Rue’s Bears on Etsy next to my A5 Stationary Island journal, where my stories and poems live.

I really love Rue’s work, her Etsy store only opened in December so I do hope you will go over and see what she creates. If you like her work do share it and this post. I’m hoping to interview her for being an Artist of the month, so pop back soon for more details.

Links

RuesBears on Etsy UK, her shop is based in Ireland.

Best wishes and thanks for reading, see you soon

Billie

PS. For clarity and full disclosure I did BUY Ethan, so this is an independant honest review, just my opinion of how I found Ethan and Rue. I wasn’t sent anything free to review. I didn’t set out to write a full on review, it just kinda happened because he was so amazing and Rue was so amazing. Soz fan girling a bit aren’t I, oops

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Blue Granny Square

Welcome Back

Sad to say hands still not back after crocheting this over 3 weeks ago now! Here it is tho, my second granny square. Make the most of it, there won’t be more!

Blue Granny Square

Have had a little go with sewing, and this adventure is at least less painful. More about that in a new post.

I want to get back to painting but at the mo haven’t the dexterity.

Best wishes and thanks for reading, see you soon

Billie 🙂

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Flower Chain

Welcome Back

Today I’d like to share a picture of a flower chain that I started to make.

Crochet Flower Chains

Being new to crochet I was struggling to understand written patterns, so off to You Tube and after watching the Flower tutorial I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, decided to make more flowers but keep them joined together, daisy chain style. I am still hoping to get some yellow, white and green yarn to make the right colours for a Daisy Chain but these are ok for a start.

My tension as you can see is terrible so they look a bit raggedy. I’m trying to work on it and in the mean time live with it as, they are a learning project not really a put them on the wall project.

Links

Here is the blog post where I linked to the How to Crochet a flower video by The Making Spot

I’m looking forward to making slightly different ones for a daisy chain, I remember spending many a play time at primary school, in the summer when we were allowed on the field, making daisy chains. It will make a nice little project that I can take slowly and add to over time. Nice that that daisy chain will be an everlasting one too 🙂

Anyone else remember making daisy chains? They seem always to remind me of long hot summers with friends, just chillin 🙂

 

Best wishes and thanks for reading, see you soon

Billie 🙂

I’m definitely thinking this crochet lark is like doodling with yarn 😉

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Book Review: Simply Crochet Magazine; Issue 5

Welcome Back

In today’s post I will be reviewing; Simply Crochet; Magazine Issue 5

Simply Crochet Hooked on Handmade. Magazine

• Title: Simply Crochet; Hooked on Handmade. Magazine Issue 5
• Publisher: Future Publishing.
• Issue 5

My Reason for Buying

I bought issue 4 as there was a free shawl pin on the cover (which I needed and liked) and liked the look of the projects. Enjoyed it so much I bought this issue without seeing much about it.

My challenge for this year was to try crochet, I bought a couple of issues of Knit n Stitch early on, but they were weekly and expensive, I bought a book but wasn’t over inspired. I like to see projects that inspire me to learn how to make them to encourage me to learn the techniques needed. I also fancied having a magazine to flick through with a cup of tea 😉  I tell you this as often a review is based on how well the book lived up to the expectations of its reader, for their purpose 😉

Contents

Patterns: Granny Square Ideas, Flower broach, Beret, Floral cushion, Cardigan, Lacy Mug hug, Amigurmi doll, Little mermaid, Mandala, Motif, Hexagons, tea pot cover, Tie, Earrings, Scarf, Dog scarf,

Good Reads: Hooked = ideas, websites. Notebook Jane Crowfoot tips and ideas. Broomstick lace. Profile. Crochet Then and Now. Yarn reviews. Coming Next Month. Vintage Treasure. How too. The Workshop, The Guide Diagrams and charts

Pros/Cons

Pros

• Wide range of projects for all ages, stuff for beginners, as well as more adventurous crochet artists
• Little projects as well as garments. LOVE the motif section, LOVE the mandala section
• The Workshop and The Guide, get you started with basic stitches and techniques
• Love the quality feel of the magazine
• A great way to find artists and books to inspire you
• A great way to find retailers if you are needing supplies

Cons

Bearing in mind I am a total newbie to crochet.

• It would be handy if they had some information about how to read patterns, in their guides at the back. Its the one thing I haven’t found in there and have got a bit lost.

Value for Money

Excellent

Would I buy it Again?

Yes, haven’t subscribed as funds are tight BUT will keep a close eye on the magazines blog and as soon as new issues come out if there are projects in there I like I would buy again without hesitation.

Summing up

This is the first magazine (on any topic) that I have really enjoyed for ages. It feels loved, it has thought about what people like and has even had questionnaire’s in the first few issues so people could feed back on what they did and didn’t like about it.

This magazine reminds me of Stampington publications. There is inspiration, a classy, classic feel rather than cheap and nasty look of some magazines which are very actually expensive. I like that the editions are un-sealed so you can see what you are getting for your fiver. Too many other publications are a blind date, you can’t see if there are things in there you would like to make as they are covered by free gifts or sealed so you have no idea what you are getting.

The projects are like the magazine classy, classic and if you are a ‘new age vintage chic’ kinda person you are going to love this. I’d highly recommend getting a how too book to get you started but if like me you are in the early stages of the hobby, there are lots here to get you inspired and want to create. I particularly enjoy the fact that the little projects, like the smaller motifs and mandals and so on are things you would like to make, to have in your home. Other magazines ‘smaller’ projects can seem cheesy or just for the kiddies or the other extreme very large and complex projects.

This looks like a keeper, some things I’ll be able to do now, and come back to the more involved things when my skills improve. Great job Future Publishing and thanks too for the blog which gives a heads up on the projects for the current and upcoming issue.

Links

• Simply Crochet Magazine Blog
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Pintrest
• Ravelry
• My Favorite magazine for back issues, single issues and subscriptions

The Blog also has a preview of the magazine to see if its your kind of thing 😉

Best wishes and thanks for reading, see you soon

Billie 🙂

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Craft Room Roundup

Welcome Back

Got a bit behind with posting, the pollen count has gone mad here, so much so that you could write your name in the pollen on the cars! Fogging my brain big time.

Time for a quick round up of whats been happening at Billie’s Craft Room

• The Craft Room Clear up

Over the last month I’ve been having a real blitz on the craft room. It has needed doing for a couple of years, now the weather has warmed up and I can move at bit, I’ve been tackling a small amount at a time and have been getting on very well. Went through boxes and anything in the wrong place got pulled out. Had a life laundry where only kept stuff I loved, or needed. From that selection it got separated into Materials, Tools, Surfaces, Finished objects. Now I’m in the last stage of sorting through those boxes to re-home ie-put back where they should be, anything in those boxes.

It has taken ages, you do need the space to make more mess before it gets better but it has been so worth it. I found my BELLS!!!! Having decided to put bells on my Cable keys for interchangeable needles I promptly lost said bells! Irony eh! but they are back in the room and back in the drawer where they live.

• Art

Ok between sorting out, so I know where stuff is and hay-fever I haven’t had the energy or brain power to actually create anything arty at the mo. I’m hoping that once I’ve finished the clear out, I’ll have surfaces and know where things are so I’ll want to get painty again. Found some ATC sized card I cut ages ago, so that sounds like a good place to start when I get going.

• Yarn

Have new pattern, the last one I gave up on. Being newish to knitting and with the dyslexia I find it hard to work out what the instructions are asking me to do. So when I get a pattern I write it out in longhand, each new instruction seperated so I recognise it and know what I’m doing. People say its nuts but it works for me, so its worth it to me. Well on this occasion I’m even more glad I do this, as a third of the way through the instructions had error in them that I couldn’t work out. A pain after all that writing but far better than discovering this after months of knitting!

So started with a new pattern, no more details I don’t wanna hex it. Will give you the full story when its done 😉 {tease much!}

Got very excited with a new crochet magazine called Simply Crochet. Bought issue 4 as it had some nice projects and I needed a shawl pin after creating all those shawls. Its really good, home stuff, mandalas, garments/accessories, toys so something for everyone and at the back there are how to tutorials so you can get started right away.

Issue 5 of Simply crochet has features on Granny Square, ohhh love them, love mandalas. The good thing about crochet is as long as you know where you are in the pattern you can stop anytime 🙂 Probably not the ideal way to do it, but when your hands lock up, at least it means you don’t have to battle on to the end of a long row 😉

I’m very boggled by the instructions in the magazine tho, its the brackets that are throwing me. Anyone else got this magazine? Followed the link to one of the designers blogs OMG such pretty things!!!

• Textiles

After getting very excited watching the Great British Sewing Bee, I bought some patterns when Simplicity had a half price offer. Hoping to make a skirt! Another one I can’t say too much about for fear of jinxing it, but will shout when I get stuck 😉

Invested in a small amount of pattern drafting paper so I can either trace the pattern I have so I can make alterations to it without wrecking the original, since I don’t know what I’m doing yet. Also hope to have a go at finally drafting my own pattern. I love my book Sew What skirts and have fabric, thread and elastic good to go, just needed paper big enough to create a pattern onto. WISH ME LUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Spent yesterday going through some books with the Brother (BM2600) in front of me. Made button holes, a casing for elastic (which I’ll need for on of  my skirts).

Talking of The Great British Sewing Bee, after a good look at the book IRL, I bought the sewing bee book from Amazon for £10, I’m happy with it for that price but there are a lot of very valid issues readers have brought up on Amazon about the book, which I agree with. Will review it, once I’ve had a better look through.

Ohh eck! Its a bit of an essay without pictures isn’t it. I have pictures but none that were sorted for the blog, so thought it best to just let you know whats happening.

Best wishes and thanks for reading, see you soon

Billie 🙂

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Product Review: Tulip; Etimo Crochet Hook

Welcome Back

In today’s post I will be reviewing; Tulip Etimo Crochet hook

Tulip; Etimo Crochet Hook

Product Details

• Manufacturer/Brand; Tulip; Etimo
• Item number:
• RRP at time of writing: Price varies depending where you get them I paid £7.95 on Ebay

Reason For Buying

I have dexterity problems caused by RSI, wanted to try crochet and needed something with a thicker handle as my grip isn’t very good.

Pros/Cons

Tulip; Etimo Crochet Hook

Pros

• Soft Handle
• Thicker handle which is great for smaller diameter hooks
• Warm in the hand
• The rubberised surface gives you better control of the hook
• Metal hook means it glides effortlessly through yarns
• Handle dimensions seem to be the same across the size ranges, although the very fine lace hooks have blue handles and look a little different in size.

Cons

• The handles are a little on the short side for me, as I use the knife style grip. Shouldn’t be a problem if you use the pencil grip.

Tulip; Etimo Crochet Hook, showing the flatter section of the handle

Build Quality

Excellent, the material used on the hook are and handle are fantastic. Both are comfortable to use and work well with a variety of yarns.

Value for Money

My hook came from a seller on Ebay, at just under £8 it was expensive but the build quality makes them very good. I also saw these on Amazon at just under £13, even if they had been perfect for me, unless I only wanted one or two hooks that would have been more than I’d have wanted to spend. That said the quality is fantastic and if this is your main hobby its worth the investment in top quality.

Would I buy it Again?

At this stage no. But that is only because it didn’t solve the dexterity issue I had. If this had been the right shape for me then I would have gone for these in a heartbeat.

Side view of Tulip; Etimo Crochet Hook. Close up

Summing up

These hooks are fantastic and well worth all the positive hype they get. If my hands had worked or managed crochet then these would have been the hooks for me. The are available singly or in sets, the sets I have seen even include storage bags for the hooks and if you have a loved one who is into crochet they would make a wonderful gift.

If you are a fan of very fine crochet but find the hooks hard to hold there are also some blue handled hooks in the range that go down to much smaller sizes.

The reason I’m not buying more of these is because my RSI kicked off and complained loudly when I tried crochet, so I think it will be something I may not be able to do. Also the length of this hook, when I was holding it with the knife style grip I use hit just between the knuckles on the inside of my palm between my little and next finger. This caused me a problem as last year I managed to almost dislocate these bones so they are quite tender to pressure. I have Hyper-flexion, which means my tendons flex further than they should, this leaves me prone to RSI type injuries like this, so for me this hook was a bit short.

If gripping itself doesn’t cause you pain and your issue is more about having enough handle to get hold of then give these a try. The grippy material on the handle makes a big difference to this and makes them easy to hold. The material is also warm in the hand, so if you find metal makes your hands lock up because it’s so cold, but bamboo or plastic hooks create too much drag on yarn, then again give these a try. These are the best of both worlds with the warm handles but metal hook for better glide through a variety of yarns.

Links

Here is a link to the maker’s website, so you can find out more about these hooks, their size ranges and other options in the range.

• Tulip Etimo

Best wishes and thanks for reading, see you soon

Billie 🙂

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The Virtual Crafting Challenge; March 2012

Welcome Back

The Virtual Crafting Challenge theme for March 2012 is:

Yarns, Fibers & Textiles

Great I hear you say, but now what? Well for those of you who would like a few ideas to get you started, here are some  colours, products and techniques to help you choose, where you could go with this month’s theme. Feel free to use your own ideas for this theme too.

Colours

• Create something in your favorite colour
• Create something in a colour you have never used before
• This month’s birthstone is Aquamarine, try using this colour in your project

Products

• Try out a different yarn to the type or weight you normally favor. There are some exciting fashion yarns around for something completely different. They knit up very quickly and often have patterns on the ball bands.
• Fabrics; Had your eye on some wonderful fabric? Go get it and lets see what you create with it.

This doesn’t have to be an expensive project; lots of the manufacturers have free patterns you can download. Check out the Yarns tab at the top of the page, for links to yarn manufacturers.

Surfaces

• Create something you can wear
• Add fibers or yarn to alter an item of clothing
• Use Textiles/fibers or yarn to decorate a card project

Techniques

• Knitting, there are some superb tutorials around the web, if you have wanted to learn how, try it now 🙂
• Crochet. Check out You Tube for tutorials on how to crochet
• Sewing. You Tube is again the place to go for inspiration and tutorials for textile projects
• How about making a bag?
• Perhaps find out more about quilting.

The most important thing about this challenge is that you have fun and explore. Don’t feel pressured to have a finished item at the end of the month. Explore different styles and techniques either in person, if you have the supplies, or through research, looking online.

You learn so much more when you take away the rules and just PLAY. Adapt this challenge to a creative style that interests you. Enjoy 🙂

Links

For inspiration around the web, have a look at my Textiles and also Yarns tab at the top from here you will find some interesting sites you may not have found before.

Best wishes and thanks for reading, see you soon

Billie 🙂

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