Robson & Mason - Haberdashery and Home.

Making Ribbon Bows

I am going to show you how I made these ribbon bows, we used to make them when we were younger. You could use it on a gift to someone special, but I've attached a pin on the back so It can be used as a brooch. 

Start by making a 'figure of 8' with a piece of ribbon, this will form your first part of the bow, the one shown here under the button.

Thread a needle, and push it through the centre, I went through and back a couple of times to create a strong shape.

Cut another piece of ribbon, and do the same again, place it under the first piece making sure it's pointing in the opposite direction to the first, and push the needle through the front of it, attaching to the first.

Continue to do that until you're happy with the size and amount of ribbon sections round the edge.

If you want a 'tail' on the box, cut another piece of ribbon, fold it in half, and cut a V shape out of the ends, stitch on the back. Or, alternatively if you want the tails to both be of print side. Cut two pieces of ribbon the same length, and cut V shapes out of the edge and stitch on.

Then , stitch a button decoration in the centre , to hide the cotton thread you used to stitch it together.

If you want to, stitch a brooch back on  the back, or attach to a Alice Band, or a t-shirt .

Be my Valentine

The Valentine gift

I ordered this ring from Chris Parry , and I am pleased to say I am so pleased with it. I actually ordered if from his Etsy Store 

You can have it customized with letters inside, or even outside, with your own message or quote.

I hope he likes it.

Gift ideas...

I am loving this Suki website right now. I think they'd make a really nice Valentine gift infact.

I am a compulsive list writer, idea writer, memory writer, I just love to write infact- I might have to buy a typewriter at somepoint but right now, I'd love these:

(Images from Suki)

Knit , purl , grow.

Ooooh weekends are now booked up for knitting-

This is the piece and how it's growing.....

I'll update you soon! 

Knitting ....

Whenever I am on transport, I am knitting. Whenever I am not doing anything I need to be doing, I am knitting!

I decided to knit with chunky wool as it grows fast, and I made a scarf in a night, but now I've decided I want to unpick it ( is that the right term?) and start again.

Here it is:

I still am struggling with remembering which stitch I'm doing, so I've had to label them K and P, and keep checking which I'm on.

 

But this is my favourite scarf, and I'm hoping I can knit like this soon, I really like the way the wool changes from chunky to thinner. 

Knitting for good.....

In so many senses of the phrase, I think I will be knitting for good now I've found a new skill, however- you can knit for GOOD, to help people and the environment around you.

I stumbled across this book today, on Amazon.

"Knitting for Good!: A Guide to Creating Personal, Social, and Political Change, Stitch by Stitch" - sounds lovely doesn't it! I wish I could knit to create a nicer world indeed! 

Then, It felt familiar, and I remembered seeing it on the lovely Sally Fort's Blog a while back, she's written a section of the book. How exciting for you Sally!

I will be reading this soon! Have you guys read and heard about it?

New Year :: New Craft

I was so nervous about posting this.

But, I thought it might be nice to share it. As a haberdasher, people expect that you know every craft technique in history. Okay, well maybe not them all, but they expect most of them!

So this year I decided to embark on learning a new craft, knitting!! I read alot of knitters blogs, soulemama, Little Cotton Rabbits, and Yarnstorm. Seeing all their amazing work and being a novice made me feel like I was starting school. You know the butterflies feeling? 

So, I decided to start where I felt comfortable. Right in there with other learners, in this case the only children's book I could find, that didn't scare me or look too 1970's.

So, I started my new 2009 skill, and I admit, I did keep dropping stitches. I need to learn the part where it shows you how to pick them up! Is that possible when you've done other rows though? That is the question!

Incase you're wondering what wool/ yarn i'm using - the colour is Fern, and it's Stylecrafts Double Knitting Yarn. I love the colour!  As I am yet to learn the delights of following a pattern, I am making a blanket for an impending arrival, I thought lemon and mint green were a bit boring!

When I bought this book, they also included books on Beading, Embroidery and Quilting.

If anyone would like one of the books, let me know, as I already have those skills.

(Warning they are children's books, and contain very basic ideas and lessons, so they might be better for children or novices)

**********************

Just incase you thought I would be stepping away from sewing all together, have no fear. I will be back on the old machine soon! I have a new pattern for a skirt and will be sewing when I have spare time.

(My old old old Sewing Machine, bought for me by my Great Grandmother, which is covered in Miffy & Hello Kitty  stickers, quotes and Chanel nail varnish from my old dear friends. A particular quote on the bottom is:

" The best revenge is to lead a glamourous lifestyle" )

What are your new craft skills going to be?

Let me know in the comments what you're crafting!

WINNERS OF THE FOLKSY 'Vote for the News'

 

James at Folksy asked me to pick the winners of the book prizes.

I really liked the theme for the competition, and the entries! I thought all of them were clever and showed lots of creativity. If only all news could have such fun and witty pictures next to the articles!

Ok, the first person I chose was, Amanda's Wedding bouquet. I think this was my favourite, as I didn't initially read what it was about, I was drawn to the picture! When I realised what it was about, I found myself laughing at the screen.

" Amanda created a wedding bouquet of fivers to ‘celebrate’ Madonna suing the Daily Mail for £5 million after it published pictures of her wedding. Brilliant! "

( I liked the way you wore the pearl bracelet too, very bride like!)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The 2nd person I chose, was Lupin's Cross stitch, I loved everything about it, the simple message, the witty and fun pictures that say it all, and I really liked the fact it was produced in Primary Colours- not too fussy- BRILLIANT!

" Lupin took a modern twist on old fashioned embroidery samplers which were made to commemorate a year or special event. This one of course commemorates Zee Credit Crunch!"

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The third winner is, Daisie, I thought the Breast was best, in the competition, and was glad it won, ( I made these decisions before I saw the results though!)

I couldn't  the news story when I read it- and thought it was a brilliant thing to knit about. 

"Dasie made a provocative and eye catching er, breast or ‘boob’ (or ‘boobie’ for the very young amongst you), which was inspired by news of Facebook taking down images of women breastfeeding"

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I can't wait to see what other things everyone creates in the upcoming competitions, it's so fun to see what's created.

I also loved the Christmas competition, so festive, and got me right in the mood for creating Christmas goodies, so thanks for all that inspiration also!

Ideas: Digital Polaroids

I found a new digital-Polaroid programme a few weeks ago, called PolaDroid  - it is MAGIC .

It's FREE to download, but they ask of you'd like to donate to them, as they are trying to fund more creative projects. I was so impressed, I donated $10- and will probably donate again in a few months, as I am so pleased with the results it gives.  The animation is amazing, ( well i was pleased) - it spits out a Polaroid the way the camera does, and if you shake the image from side to side, it develops quicker!

Here's a few:

See the 'Poladroid' camera at the top? You drag and drop JPeg images to it, and it spits them out, in about 2 mins, it makes them into Polaroids.

The things I was shocked with was:

1: The way it actually changes the colour of the image, to the old-fashioned grain of the Polaroids.

2: The grain on the outer-bit of the Polaroid - it has the exact match to real ones.

3: The noise it makes when it spits them out.

ENJOY, let me see what you develop! 

Happy New Year

Happy new year everyone.

I really hope that this year, everyone get's a whole lot more creative. I for one, have the resolution ( never been a huge fan) of making more effort at taking photo's everyday.

And of course creating more handmade things.

Speaking of which- i must go and make a winter hat for the smallest member of our family.

I hope that you're all enjoying this cold weather! It's so pretty.

A few pictures from the wintery weather.

yes, I've even continued the theme of the ribbon baubles outside in the snow.

2009 should be a good creative year- 

What are you planning on doing, making, going , creating and doing ?