I like making things: February 2024

Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Nicer weather so far this week

So far this week the weather has been very pleasant. I think though we may be in for some storms overnight. We are off to the VA hospital tomorrow for an appointment for my husband so I hope it eases up for the journey.

I was pondering on buying some more die cut salutations for my cards eg. Happy Mother's day, Thank you, With Sympathy, and so on. I searched online but couldn't find exactly what I wanted without spending more money than I wanted so I decided on just buying a set of the alphabet in both upper and lower case. They arrive today and I might have, sort of, perhaps, possibly, added a set of rectangular nesting frames to the order. 😊 Looking forward to getting them later on in the mail.

I had forgotten that I had made a 'Thank You' card too but I had also forgotten to take photos of it before we sent it off. So, nothing to see here, moving on, as they say.

Spring bulbs are beginning to sprout up, we are always a lot later here than back in the UK. It will be nice to see them. It will soon be time to get the mowers running again ready for when the grass takes off.

Having some problems with my knee lately. Saw the doctor and got it x-rayed and everything looks OK so I am thinking it must be the tendons. It is OK right now so I am happy.

We are still on the shelf about moving. We know we should but it is hard to make the decision plus there are not any houses that we really like on the market right now.

Time for morning coffee, hope you are having a good day.

Sunday, February 18, 2024

Made a few cards

The weather has been a tad weird this year so far. Right now it is very cold but by midweek we are having at least one day in the low 70'sF. We had some snow earlier this week which is still hanging around a bit as it hasn't warmed up enough to melt it all.

The beginning of the year is a busy one for cards. I have only made 4 so far. Two Valentines cards and two birthday ones. I make our valentines card and we each write our verses in them for the other. It's a win, win. I enjoy making them and it saves us money.

Just realised I didn't take photos, will be right back!

This one is both new and recycled materials. I used the front of a notelet card which must be at least 20 years old and glued it to the blank card and added the bow and the 'LOVE'

This one was all my doing

I also stenciled the envelopes

The birthday cards are for my daughter and our daughter in law. They do not read my blog so I can post them on here. They are currently in the mail on their way to them.

On these cards I tried a new technique of shading using the brushes I bought last year. The pictures make the colors look darker than they actually are, they are nice subtle pastel colours. I wish I was a better photographer.

I have quite a few more to make but at least I have made a start on 2024 cards.

These are the brushes, they are lovely and soft with very fine bristles and not at all expensive. I paid less that $6 for 5 of them. They wash very well and dry just like new.

I hope things are going well in your lives and Spring will soon be here.

Tuesday, February 6, 2024

For Cherie of North Yorkshire Craft Guru

I couldn't comment on your blog for some weird reason Cherie. We use Bickmore Bick 4 Leather conditioner on our leatherwork. It doesn't change the colour but it does condition the leather really well.

Glad you stopped by

I started this blog in 2011: Ever since my Mum taught me to knit at the age of about six or seven I have made things. Back then it was doll clothes. I was also inspired by Mrs Levitt an elderly lady who had a sewing room in a conservatory type room on the back of her house. I would sit and watch her in awe as she sewed.

When I was a child living in England the school system was such that you started at 5 years, did two years in Infant School, then four years in Primary School then five to seven years in Secondary School, depending on whether you chose to stay on after fifth form to get qualifications to go to University. I can't remember much of the Infant school other than making the standard square doily thingy from fabric that had holes in it so you could embroider patterns into it. A bit like the modern day cross stitch fabric but with bigger holes and spaces to make it easy for small hands to use. I also remember with great joy getting a toy sewing machine one Christmas which sewed only chain stitch but I did make doll clothes on it and that was before I started Primary school. I do have very vivid recollections of Primary school and having sewing and knitting lessons. In Primary school I knitted gloves and made a dress from scratch hand sewing it all.

Secondary school continued on with sewing by which time I had progressed to using full sized sewing machines and was making more intricate skirts and dresses. My parents bought me a proper sewing machine when I was thirteen. I used that same machine right up until I emigrated to Canada at age forty six years.

I have always had a fascination for sewing machines and knitting machines. I bought my first knitting machine at around age twenty one from an ad in a newspaper for twelve pounds. I had absolutely no idea what one was just that I wanted one. I trundled on the bus to the address in the advert and handed over my twelve pounds having absolutely no idea what I had really bought. Fortunately it came with a manual. It was an aged Knitmaster, very basic and I loved it. I wore it out. Next was a Brother push button one which I didn't keep because it was at a time in my life when things were difficult. Later on in my life, around forty, when things were better I bought a brand new Brother punchard machine with a ribber attachment. I loved it and made many things. Life took a different turn, I moved countries twice and along the way, regrettably I sold it.

Now, through the universe's blessing I now have another machine. It is a vintage one because they stopped making them early 90's but works perfectly and I love it. So I decided to make this blog to document my knitting progress and include sewing projects.

In 2013: we embarked on a new hobby, leather-work. My husband got started with it and it drew me in. It is something we can do together. We have a workshop so have plenty of room to work. We added another workbench for me to work on in 2013. We already had one but we were tripping over each other both trying to work at it. We only make things we want to make. It is strictly a hobby. We made some things for our good neighbours who help us out a lot. I am also working on Christmas presents. So this blog now incorporates the leather-work. Knitting and sewing will always be my first love though.

Fast forward to 2023 and now age almost 75 years. I have seven sewing machines, four knitting machines, several ribber attachments and a garter carriage for one of the machines. I am blessed beyond words, but I know that I have more than enough machines to keep me going in my lifetime so I don’t think I will be adding to my collection any time soon……….unless a nice embroidery machine manifests itself very cheaply.

I am a Brit living in the USA, sometimes I spell like a Brit and sometimes like an American. Sometimes I use slang and even make grammatical errors. I blog for the pleasure of it and to record my endeavours in the event that my memory fades, as I am sure it will with more age. I will be able to look back and remind myself of the things I have made along the way. So please forgive my mistakes when reading about my life making things here in the hinterlands and I hope you get as much enjoyment from my blog as I do from reading the blogs I follow.