Friendship Square(s) received

Do you remember the funny little snowman I made to send off for one lucky (?) lady in a www.ravelry.com swap?

Well I have received mine!

 

Aren't they lovely?  Two little snowflakes on gorgeous blue backgrounds.

 

 

In this swap we are paired up randomly, usually sending to a different person than who we receive from - and it's kept secret until they are received.  This month, however, my recipient was also my sender!

February's swap is a Valentine or Anti-Valentine's swap.  So lots of hearts - or not!

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Maureen Cracknell Handmade: A Fabric GIVEAWAY : :

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It's Fabric Giveaway Friday!

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Maureen Cracknell Handmade's  sponsor Cotton Blossom Farm Fabrics is a real working family farm where the fabric business is a family business that grew out of a love for beautiful, fun designer fabrics. They started their little venture on Etsy, where they still maintain their shop, and have now grown to their own website, as well. Their fabric family -- Cathy, Robin, and Heath, enjoy picking out beautiful, new collections each season, including basics, solids and fun fabrics like chenille, flannel and fleece. The goal of Cotton Blossom Farm is to provide the highest quality fabric, with a pleasant shopping experience, and some of the best customer service on the web!

Website * Etsy Shop * Facebook * Twitter

 

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 We hope you enjoy visiting their sites!! 

 

For this weekend's giveaway Cotton Blossom Farm Fabrics is offering a Jelly Roll of the Wishes collection by Sweetwater for Moda Fabrics! This Jelly Roll includes all 40 prints cut into 2.5" strips of fabric, all rolled up and tied in a cute ribbon! 

 

 

 

 

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Enter to Win!
http://www.maureencracknellhandmade.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/a-fabric-giveaway_24.html

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Fabrics chosen for Goodnight Irene

I am trying to be a bit virtuous in that I want to use fabric I already have in my stash to make this quilt.  In fact I've been looking for the right project to use one of my jelly rolls in, and Goodnight Irene would seem to be the perfect one!

The jelly roll was bought way back when they where first becoming popular.  It's not a branded one, but one someone had made up and sold on Ebay.  I liked the brightness of the fabrics and bought it.

So ... the lovely bright jelly roll ....

What do you think?  Bright enough?

 

 

Then there is the decision as to what to have as the other fabric that makes up the crosses and has to be a larger amount of fabric.  Oh gosh, have I pondered and pondered.  I felt that I wanted to do a coloured fabric as opposed to calico or white - which, don't get me wrong, I love - but I felt I wanted something different for a change.

So finally I opted for this one ....

a greyish darkish mauve-ish shade with tiny creamy beige stars on it.

 

Actually it looks a bit brown on here - but trust me it isn't!

 

Now, the question is ... will they look okay together?

 

 

 

Only time will tell!

 

Now I've just got to do all that cutting .....!

 

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http://terrytreasures.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/its-time-to-sew-along-together-0.html

 

 

Goodnight Irene

I am really going to try and push myself this year to achieve much more craft-wise!  I'm hoping to finish off projects that are definite UFOs and I want to learn more too.

So I'm joining in with the Goodnight Irene Sew-Along 2014. 

http://terrytreasures.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/its-time-to-sew-along-together-0.html

 

 

So I have signed up for it - which means I am really going to have to get going ....

 

Now all I need to do to start this quilt is to cut out 344 - yes, that's right - 344 2 1/2 inch squares, and 92 4 1/2 inch squares.

 

 

And I guess before that I need to choose the fabric I'm going to use.  I'm going to be good and use some that is already in my huge fabric stash.  I have a very bright jelly roll that would do nicely and I think I want a colour for the x-blocks rather than white or calico for a change.

 

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Young Love ....

I was sorting through my youngest son's school bag yesterday.  You know the thing - clearing out the school letters, the lunchbox, the various pens and pencils they've acquired...

And what do I find but a little love note from a girl at his school ...

Isn't that just the sweetest thing?

Adam was a tad embarrassed and I think he was a little bit proud of it too!

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Confessions of the Christmas Throw

I belong to a group on www.ravelry.com called The Global Square Exchange where basically we exchange knitted and crocheted 6" square.  We choose our own themes and/or colours and then make two squares for your partner in their chosen theme/colours.

Mine started off as Christmas themed and colours as I'd had a couple of other swaps and had some odd Christmas squares.  I thought it would be nice to have a throw that just came out for Christmas.

So by November time I had received many many squares from some extremely talented and generous crafters - so I started to put it together with the goal of finishing it by Christmas.

Confession time now ... it wasn't finished by Christmas!

However we did have it on the back of the sofa looking very Christmassy and every evening I would sit down and crochet a few more squares on.

Last night I finally finished the border.  I choose to do a row each in white, green and red to pull the Christmassy colours together.  If you look carefully there is one blue and white square that someone made for me - and I like that little quirkiness of an odd one in there!  I believe a quilt is always supposed to have one mistake in it because nothing is supposed to be perfect.

So ... here at last ... and ready for Christmas 2104 ... is my Christmas Throw ...

 

 

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Maureen Cracknell Handmade: A Fabric GIVEAWAY : :

Maureen Cracknell Handmade: A Fabric GIVEAWAY : :: *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * It's Fabric Giveaway Friday !   *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ...

 

Click on the link above to take you to the giveaway - where you'll have a chance to win

some fat quarters in one of the four colour-ways above. 

 

Good luck!

All the hearts

It's 15 January today - that means less than a month until Valentine's Day.

So today I'm going to do a bit of promoting.

I have called this blog and my Etsy shop The Crafty Phoenix Lady for a reason. 

I am an Independent Phoenix Trader - which means I sell direct to you gorgeous greetings cards, wrapping paper and stationery.  I do events and am quite often asked if I am "The Phoenix Lady" and will I have a stall.  So - as I do crafts as well - I thought I would combine the two and call myself The Crafty Phoenix Lady!

Today I have my Phoenix hat on and I'm going to show you some of our lovely products that would be so suitable for Valentine's Day.

 Our cards are printed on good quality card and are all priced at £1.50 per card. 

However if you buy ten or more they work out £1.20 each.

 

They are blank inside - ideal for writing whatever you like to your loved one

 

They can be ordered at my page

 https://www.phoenix-trading.co.uk/web/lucymc/

 

and sent direct to you - or you can message me

 

 

Floral Heart

 

 

Presentation: Flittered, with a white 100 gsm envelope. Blank for your own message

Paper Type: Matt Textured

Artist: Clare Groombridge

Size: 5 x 5" : 127 x 127mm
 

 

Hearts

Presentation: Flittered, with a white 100 gsm envelope. Blank for your own message

Paper Type: Matt Textured

Artist: Louise Anglicas

Size: 5 x 5" : 127 x 127mm
 

 

Lavender Study

 



Presentation: With a white 100 gsm envelope. Blank for your own message

Paper Type: Matt Textured

Artist: Alison Vickery

Size: 5 x 5" : 127 x 127mm
 

 

Sending you lots of Love!

 

Presentation: Flittered, with a white 100 gsm envelope. Blank for your own message

Paper Type: Matt Textured

Artist: Lucy Smith

Size: 5 x 5" : 127 x 127mm
 

 

Silver Heart

Presentation: Flittered, with a white 100 gsm envelope. Blank for your own message

Paper Type: Matt Textured

Artist: Laura Stone

Size: 6 x 6" : 152 x 152mm
 

 

Spoonful of Love

 

 

Presentation: Flittered, with a white 100 gsm envelope. Blank for your own message

Paper Type: Matt Textured

Artist: Celeste Yap

Size: 5 x 7" : 127 x 178mm
 

 

Union Jack Heart

Presentation: Flittered, with a white 100 gsm envelope. Blank for your own message

Paper Type: Matt Textured

Artist: Gerry Murray

Size: 5 x 5" : 127 x 127mm

 

Blue Hearts

 

Presentation: Flittered, with a white 100 gsm envelope. Blank for your own message

Paper Type: Matt Textured

Artist: Alex Cowell

Size: 5 x 5" : 127 x 127mm

 

Tree of Hearts

 

Presentation: Embossed, with a white 100 gsm envelope. Blank for your own message

Paper Type: Matt Textured

Artist: Celeste Yap

Size: 5 x 5" : 127 x 127mm

 

There's even matching wrapping paper for two of the card designs

and matching tags too ...

The gift wrap is great as it has what a friend of mine calls "Wine Lines" on the back.
This is a faint grid printed on the back so you can always cut a straight line!
 

 

Heart Tree Gift Wrap

 

 

Presentation: Folded gift wrap sheet

Paper Type: 100 gsm

Artist: Celeste Yap

Size: 19 1/2 x 27 1/2" : 500 x 700mm sheet (250 x 175mm folded)

 

Silver Heart Gift Wrap
 

 

Presentation: Gift wrap sheet

Paper Type: 100 gsm

Artist: Laura Stone

Size: 19 1/2 x 27 1/2" : 500 x 700mm

 

I bet you've noticed the lush ribbon that just gives those gifts the finishing touch!

 

These are £3.50

 Organza Ribbon presented in a gold-banded hank 

 1 1/2" x 6.5 yds: 40mm x 6 metres

 

 

and lots more shades available too!

 

https://www.phoenix-trading.co.uk/web/lucymc/ 

takes you to my Phoenix page where you can order or you can message me

 

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For the Love of Lavender

I do hope you all have had a lovely weekend.

I think I spent most of it feeling rather chilly, although not as cold as some of our friends in USA.  I certainly wouldn't like to be out there right now.

I haven't done much crafting over the weekend.  So I thought I'd share with you my love of lavender.  It really is one of my favourite flowers and certainly one of my favourite scents.  If I make anything that needs stuffing at all

 ... like little patchwork balls ...

....knitted hearts with a reindeer on ...

 

 

... cute little houses ....



... they just have to have lavender in them!  I just can't help myself.

I find it funny as the boys will come in and ask why they can smell lavender - at nine and six I think that's quite a novel scent for boys to know - but then they have me for their mum!

And I love lavender!

 



Maureen Cracknell Handmade: A Fabric GIVEAWAY : :

Maureen Cracknell Handmade: A Fabric GIVEAWAY : :: *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * It's Fabric Giveaway Friday !   *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  ...

You could win this ... go and check it out using the above link ...

Good luck!

 

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Friendship Square and Two Christmas Granny Squares

On Ravelry there is a forum called Friendship Square Exchange www.ravelry.com where each month a theme is set and we're given one partner and we make them a 6" square in our interpretation of the theme.  They don't know who is making their square, so it's all a surprise until they receive the square.

I finished mine last night.  The January theme being "Snowflake/Snowman".  I made so many snowflakes and stars over Christmas that I decided to go for a snowman ... and here he is ...

What do you think?

 

 

There are plenty of forum and swaps taking place all the time on Ravelry  www.ravelry.com    - so it's well worth going to have a look - even if it's just to get some free patterns (of which there are loads!) - but I do warn you, once you're there it another of those Bermunda Triangle places - a bit like Pinterest!

 

 

I've ended up being a moderator for one of the groups - Never Ending Granny Squares Swap.  The two previous moderators just left the group! On this one we have an On-going Scrap swap with the hope of using up our scraps and receiving lovely squares from others.  Every month there is a themed swap - either a set pattern or colours or theme (ie Valentines).  We can have up to 3 or 4 partners at a time swapping 2 6" squares with each.

 

 

Sometimes you do have a swap where one of the partners is ill or for some other reason can't complete the swap and in those cases someone makes "angel squares" to replace the ones that didn't arrive.  I've just had to make two and they are for one of the members who is collecting squares in Christmas colours ...

 

 

  This one is the first time I've done this stitch - and I'm really pleased with the result.

 

This one is an old favourite of mine - so easy to do and looks really pretty.

http://signedwithanowl.blogspot.co.uk/2011/09/little-circle-square-tutorial.html

 

 

 

So, now you can see how I spend my evenings - in front of the TV with my yarn and hook!

 

 



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I'm going to join the 2014 Moogly Afghan Block Crochet-a-Long

There are tons of fabulous blogs out there and honestly I could spend all day reading them all!

Here's a link to a Afghan Block Crochet-a-Long that I'm hoping I can keep up with. 

http://www.mooglyblog.com/moogly-afghan-cal-block-1/

There will be a different 12" crochet square block on every other Thursday starting today enough to make a 4' x 6' afghan (24 squares).  I love crochet blankets .... oh and knitted blankets ... and of course I'm potty about quilts .... so this is another project I'm going to take on.  Just got to decide colours .....

This is the first square (you'll need to go through the above link to get the pattern)

 

Isn't it pretty?

 



NB This isn't the one I've made.  I hope to show you that very soon!

Please do go and have a look at this Crochet-a-Long and check out Moogly's blog whilst you there - lots of inspiration!

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Cushions in a galaxy far far away ....

I am a terrible hoarder - or perhaps I should rename it as I think I hoard well - in fact very well!  What I mean is I hoard a lot and I know this can sometimes wind people up!

However there usually is some kind of logic to my hoarding - I always think that certain item will come in handy for "something" in the future.

The children's clothes for instance, I really hate getting rid of some outfits that I loved seeing them in - or that were their favourites.  So - some of them - I save - for sentimental reasons and "to use" someday!

So I'd kept some of boys' t-shirts that had Star Wars images on ... what fabulous items to hoard - because they were just what was needed for the boys' new Star Wars themed bedroom!  See - there is a logic behind the hoarding ;-)

And without further ado ... here they are ...

A glow in the dark Yoda with lime green and mottled dark grey cotton used around it.  I also reused the trademark labels saying "Star Wars". 

A dramatic Darth Vader edged in bright yellow ....

 

Finally a red t-shirt with Darth Vader and Storm Troopers  edged in the mottled dark grey and red fabric with silver stars on ....

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The boys' reaction .....

Yesterday I posted about the Star Wars themed bedroom Jonathan designed for the boys.

I couldn't find the photos that we'd taken when the boys first saw it finished when they came back home on 27 December.  Jonathan has them on his phone and at the moment is working away.  But the wonders of technology means that they have arrived here by the means of email ... so I can post them for you to see.

Above is the door all taped up saying "Santa's been" and below are the boys not quite sure what to do with it ...

 

 

They got in and started investigating the wonders of the space world of Star Wars ....

 

They now have separate "pods" as we have named them for their beds and a desk for them each with shelves for their books and treasures.  They had decided - well Luke more than Adam - that he wanted his own room - so this was a compromise - they have a "bedroom" each within the big bedroom where they can play together or shut themselves away in their own space ...

 

 

More presents ... I'd made cushions out of three of their old Star Wars t-shirts ... I will post photos of those soon!

 

You can see at the very edges of this photo below the boys' "pod" doors - where they can have their own space ....

 

And above this little space is a balcony which is known as "The Dark Side" where there is a flashing control panel and an ideal space to have their Star Wars scaletrix!

 

 

Don't they look pleased?

 

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They did eventually come downstairs to open the rest of their presents ... and as you know ... boys will be boys and will insist on being silly!

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