Tea O'Clock

Last week I completed my first website design for someone else.

It has a very simple look - I wanted the photos to stand out!

Less is more...

The website is for a friend's new vintage china hire company.

I spent a morning taking photos of some of her china collection. There was so much of it!

It took a few child-free hours to get the site up and running, including a new Facebook page.

I'm really pleased with how it has turned out.

Go check out Tea O'Clock Vintage and let me know what you think!

(logo design and images by quintonwench)

Be Wise

Last Friday was my niece's 2nd Birthday.

I once loved to create handmade birthday cards, but when I became a Mom, I started to rely on high street card shops, as time was short.

This week I decided to change that...

The main graphic, the owl, is from Mels Brushes. I've bought quite a bit from this site over the years and it really is worth a look.

The Whimsy Animals clipart set features my chosen owl.

As with my 'Heart On A String' engagement card project, I designed the layout via Microsoft Word - it's not the greatest application, but it does the job for things like this!

I used the Sue Ellen Francisco font (as text boxes) - I originally saw this on PicMonkey, loved it, so downloaded it for myself.

You can get it here.

As my design was quite plain, I created a patterned insert using the owl image. A blank text box provided a place for me to write my personalised greeting, once printed.

To create a 3D effect, I printed 2 additional copies of the owl; I cut out the whole owl from one and just the eyes from the other. I used foam pads to create a 3D effect.

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It's a wrap

Here's a quick-to-create crochet wrap bracelet.

I made it using some of the DK yarn I had left over from my Sunday Shawl.

Using a 3.5mm hook, I chained 212 and then sc (UK dc) into the 12th chain from the hook. This created a button hole. You can alter the size of the hole to fit your chosen button.

I went on to sc (UK dc) across and fastened off. I sewed a wooden button to this end.

Using jump rings, I attached some random charms through the button hole.

The bracelet wraps easily around the wrist and was a hit with my model (my niece). She has now claimed it for herself.

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Sunday Girl

It seems the Sunday Shawl pattern by The Little Bee has taken the crochet world by storm. Just a quick Google proves that! 

I couldn't wait to get my hands on the pattern and give it a go.

I ordered the recommended yarn from The Wool Warehouse and once received, I immediately set to work.

In no time at all I was half way through. I went on to complete it by doing an hour here and an hour there - the pattern lends itself to this perfectly.

I used the suggested colours, but I am sure it would look just as good using different ones.

It's a great shawl for those cooler Spring and Summer nights and goes great with my cowboy boots and jeans.

There's just one problem with the Sunday Shawl ... I miss making it ... so I think it will be the first of many!

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Get Out The Bunting

Spring is in the air and it's time to get the bunting out!

I made this crochet bunting using the yarn pack I recently purchased from Wool Warehouse. However, you can use any DK yarn and it's a great stashbuster project.

Here's how I made it...

5mm hook

DK yarn in various colours

Stitches used: Slip Stitch, Single Crochet SC (UK DC)

Start: Chain 2 then SC twice into the second chain from the hook. Chain 1 and turn

Row 1: SC twice into each stitch. Chain 1 and turn.

Row 2 : SC twice into the first stitch from the hook, then one SC into each of the following stitches, Chain 1 and turn

Row 3 - 25 : repeat Row 2

Row 26: SC twice into the first stitch from the hook, then one SC into each of the following stitches. Fasten off.

Weave in all ends.

Edging: Simply SC around each flag and then finish off with a slip stitch in the first SC
(NB: I made 3 SC in each corner to avoid puckering)

I made 10 flags in total in 5 colours.

Creating the bunting: Chain 70 then slip stitch into and across the top of the first flag. Chain 10 then slip stitch into and across the second flag .... and so on. Finish off with another Chain 70.

Once complete, I gave each flag a blast of steam from the iron - careful to not let the iron actually touch the flag.

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