Saturday 31 August 2013

Guest Blogger Week 79 Crochet Cabin Lace


I would like to say a huge welcome
to Sarah



Tell us a bit about you:

I was born in London and have lived in Norfolk for the past 39 years, thoroughly enjoying the rural life with my family and animals.  I began crafting full-time after deciding life was too short not to!

How did you decide on the name for your blog\shop? 
The name Crochet and Cabin Lace was settled upon after several searches on the internet to find a descriptive phrase to suit my work, and enable people to find me online.  I mainly work in fairly fine cotton, using the ‘hole and block’ technique to form the crochet lace patterns traditionally used by the Boatwomen on the canals. This is the ‘Cabin Lace’.  The ‘Crochet’ in the title also incorporates a growing passion to experiment, create my own designs and use different forms of crochet to create unique pieces of work.

How long have you been blogging or how long has your shop been open and why did you start? 

www.crochet-cabin-lace.co.uk has been open since 2011, following a fascination with the window lace and porthole covers seen on passing Narrowboats during a holiday on one.  My brother and sister-in-law own a Narrowboat and wanted me to make some shelf-edging lace for their cabin when I shared my thoughts with them.  After contact with a ‘Master’ in the craft of Cabin Lace and some research, my work and the shop began.  I opened my Etsy shop CrochetCabinlace at the beginning of this year because I wanted a venue where I could combine and sell all the different craft items I make. These include other forms of crochet, knitted and dough-craft gifts. The name might well change to reflect this.

What is your favourite item\pattern on\in your blog\shop at the moment that you would like to talk about? 
That’s a difficult one - I am often working on a different piece while writing up a pattern for sale, for a piece I’ve previously created.  I like the Alphabet Letters pattern because it enables customers to create their own piece - often the name of their boat, or the name of a new baby or grandchild.  I like to encourage others to take up or continue the craft, so that everyone can afford to have beautiful handcrafted items in their home, and to preserve the art of crochet.  With this in mind, I intend to produce more patterns and kits for the unique and free-form designs that I create, like the cushion seen below.

What made you start ….?

I guess like many women, it was my grandmother who taught me to crochet and knit.  I think my mother had stopped knitting by the time I was interested in learning, and had taken up painting!  After mastering basic techniques, it was a desire to create something different, and the pride in seeing my children in clothes that I’d made.  I didn’t realise until looking into free-form crochet recently, that I did this many years ago! On the more traditional craft side, I’m very pleased to have been accredited in Cabin Crochet at the level of Senior Journeyman this year, by the Waterways Craft Guild.

Where do you get your inspiration from?
The Cabin Lace was a direct response to seeing other’s work and how beautiful it was, then researching the history of this type of crochet.  This lace is usually worked in white cotton, but I love colour and colour combinations, probably inspired by my mother’s paintings, and this provides inspiration for other work.  It can be a pattern or yarn I like, or just deciding on a colour combination - for example my black and white cushion cover, and seeing where my hook and the shapes created take me!

What other things do you like to do in your spare time?
Erm what’s that?  No, at the moment I also make and sell preserves and Christmas Puddings, keep chickens and quail, sing with a local singing group, watch TV (usually while I’m crocheting), listen to music and read. Otherwise time is spent with family or walking Willow, our dog, or chatting to Nelly, our cat.  Housework ocassionally gets a look-in.

A couple of pictures of your favourite items:


Crochet Lace Motif Cushion Cover and Kit.
This is my own design and I sell it as a kit, complete with cushion pad, hook, cotton, instructions and buttons.

What would be the one piece of advice would you give to a new blogger or a person setting up their own shop?
Be enthusiastic about your craft, only sell things that you have made to your best ability. Be helpful  and encouraging to customers, and fellow artisans and don’t undervalue your work, which is something I think we all do at the beginning.

You can find Sarah at:

Blog

Facebook  

Etsy

Twitter

Thank you ever so much Sarah.
I love your cushion patterns!
I hope you will all join me in thanking Sarah for her wonderful post.
Please check out her sites and shop as well!

 




Friday 30 August 2013

I've Made Friday Week 74

I hope you are all having a good week.
I'm just playing catch up this week after being away last week.

I'm also trying to recover from doing stuff.
I'm doing a lot of resting and recovering.
This week I've made:
The ghost from the
by
I haven't managed to make the whole set yet
but I'm hoping to get some more of them made soon
Halloween Crochet Set - Witch, Pumpkin, Ghost, Spider - Cute - Amigurumi - Plushie - Toy - Play Kit - Bulk CROCHET PATTERN No.45
I love this pattern & I love joyce's work!
I made mine using a hook that was larger as I wanted them
for displaying around the living room.
I've also got a few more of her patterns earmarked
as I love them sooo much!!!
Red Lobster - Amigurumi - Seafood - Ocean theme - CROCHET PATTERN No.55  TNT Dynamite & Bomb -- Amigurumi Pattern Set - Explosives - CROCHET PATTERN No.65
I also have the Christmas Set which Joyce was kind enough to gift to me.
I can't wait to make them and have them round the house at Christmas
Christmas Tree with Gifts, Presents, Stocking and Hat - Toy Plushie, Can be used as Kids Childrens' Play Kit CROCHET PATTERN No.25

I finally finished the scarf!
I love it and I hope you like it:
Doesn't it look so delicate and beautiful!
I really enjoyed making it.
I followed the pattern:
It's a fantastic #Free #crochet pattern from
Sara Duggan
The pattern is so easy to follow. Sara gives you full details of how to crochet the stitch.
What length to make you scarf and how to finish the scarf off including the edging.
You have to check out Sara's site.
She has everything from free patterns to advice on selling etc.
Sara's site is a minefield of information!
She spends so much of her time helping others.
Sara teaches you all about crocheting different stitches:
leaf crochet stitch  little scallops crochet stitch crochet bowtie stitch
Free patterns:
Play Tea Set  crochet rose top tea cozy pattern

I've also read Sara's book:
Sara Duggan's Hooking for Cash Book
This is a fantastic book. 
It holds sooo much information!
I couldn't believe all the different ways you can make money out of crocheting.
Sara has some amazing ideas and talks you through how to go
about each different way.
Sara is a minefield of information and uses this book
to help you make money.
Even if you are only thinking about making a little from your hobby
this is well worth the read.
If you are already making money from your crocheting 
it is well worth purchasing this book
as it gives you even more ways and may help you bring in more from what you are
already doing.
I have a few pages of things I want to try and can't wait
to use some of the ideas Sara has given me.
I give the book 4.5 out of 5

Now it's time for linky love.
Please feel free to share anything you've made.
  • Please visit other people to see what they have made.
  • Add the link to here on your blog so we can share the linky love.
  • I will try and visit as many people as possible.
  • I will reply to all comments as soon as I can.
Crochet Addict UK I've Made Friday

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.crochetaddictuk.com/search/label/I%27ve%20Made%20Friday" title="Crochet Addict UK I've Made Friday" target="_blank"><img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/IFa_i1uGH6dT0rqFQwnu0juMJ4Ux5EdrLLF_weAF_wu1=w158-h190-p-no" alt="Crochet Addict UK I've Made Friday" style="border:none;" /></a></div>


I'm also linking up with:
     
 The Crochet Boulevard



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Thursday 29 August 2013

Thursday's Handmade Love Week 73

Good morning everyone!

As promised 
this weeks theme is.......................
Bracelets


Etsy Finds: 


Etsy Crochet Patterns:








Blue Crochet Braid Pattern Bracelet with White Button


Ravelry Crochet Patterns for sale:


Img_7597_logo_small2 018_small2 Bracelet_4_-_spiral_mediumPulsra_crochet_rosa_4_small2 Summer_bracelets_004_small2 Orange_crochet_bracelet3_small2
Il_570xn_303815538_small2 2_medium Img_9265-1-web_small2
2_small2 Lace1c_small2
Ravelry free crochet patterns:
Bracciale-a-creste_small2 Bracelet-star001_small2 Campanelle-indossato_small2
Bracelet15_small2 5704491064_cd98de4e9c_n Cotton_bracelet_2-1_small2
Beaded-weave-bracelet-2_small2 P1040258_small Arm_small2
Winding_2520lane_2520bracelet_2520038_small2 Wrap_around_bracelet_small2 Img_0016_small2
Wm__2_of_2__small2 Granny_10_small2 7857515872_c5511f7650_n
Bengals_-_red__white___blue_005_small2 Filigree-bracelet_small2 Sam_0155_small2
1274_small2 1281_small2 933-2_medium
Img_7033_0026_small2 Img_20130707_164620_637_small2 Wire_bracelet_small2
4652447507_9d02a1e77f_n Lace_braceleta_medium Dscn9639_small2
June_2011_244_small2 7622703106_d384800575_n 0011_small2
Broomstick_collar_1_small2
Now it's your turn.
Feel free to link anything handmade.
It doesn't have to follow the theme.
Please add the button to your post.
We want the handmade love to spread.


Crochet Addict UK Thursday Handmade Love
<div align="center"><a href="http://www.crochetaddictuk.com/search/label/Thursday%20Homemade%20Love" title="Crochet Addict UK Thursday Handmade Love" target="_blank"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/Pj0jCeaDU59vgTCpoQTiI_UheeiNc85_A20qrVOmNWRY=w349-h190-p-no" alt="Crochet Addict UK Thursday Handmade Love" style="border:none;" /></a></div>


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This preview will disappear when the widget is displayed on your site.
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