Well, it was my sister's Birthday yesterday, so I can now, at last, share the big project I've been working on!
(Click the image for a larger view.)
Since I only learnt to crochet in January, this was my first major project worked in crochet! I also only got a sewing machine recently, and this is the first time I used it (and the first time I've successfully used any sewing machine by myself!!) so great success :) One day I might progress beyond white straight stitch... Need to learn how to fill the bobbin first ;)
The front panel, and the row down the back, are Sea Pennies. You can find them in this tutorial over at Julia Crossland's blog. I worked the crochet in DK, and I adapted the number of stitches and hook to reach the desired size of Sea Penny.
I also used a really simple how to over at Bunny Mummy's blog to make the cushion cover, which I stitched the crochet panel onto. The cover is just a simple cream cottony material.
I'm so pleased with it, and extremely grateful to the wonderful how-tos out there in blogland!
I have lapsed slightly with April Drawing Month, however I did draw every day for 2 weeks, which I am extremely proud of! My health has also improved slightly, which is allowing me to be creative in some form everyday. Yesterday I managed to get my sewing machine going, and completed my Big Crochet Project - I will share that soon!
Over at her blog, Julia Crossland is running something called Being Creative, where each month there is a theme to follow to simply be creative, with no restrictions. This months theme is Dessert, and I decided to dive into my archive of photos to find something to work from - baking is one of my passions away from art!
I decided to go back to the Mint Choc Chip Cupcakes I made last October, and do a pencil sketch and a watercolour sketch. I was originally aiming for an acrylic too, but that ended up in the bin - my head just wasn't in the right place! But, enough waffle from me, here's my finished sketches:
I'm pretty pleased with them - especially the sponge texture in the watercolour. It's also got me out of my painting lull, and as an artist that is priceless :)
Well, I've done well at keeping up with posting since Knitting and Crochet Blogging Week, haven't I?! It's been an extremely busy week, involving getting on top of the house and seeing people, intermingled with my husband's birthday; but it's been absolutely lovely!
So, how are my current projects doing?
My Destruction Journal has really slowed down. I have a few ideas, however I haven't been well enough to fulfil them! However, I did carry a page of it in my pocket all the way round the zoo the other day, so there's one more page done ;)
I am still taking an active part in the April Drawing Challenge. Whilst I am not sharing this work publicly, drawing every day is an amazing thing for me. I'm currently working on studies of the female body, and how different clothing items can affect it's appearance. Using large sheets of paper and chunky pastels, this is a freeing exploration of drawing!
Saying that, today I did a quick sketch of a mint choc chip cupcake I made a few months ago, in preparation for the project I'm planning for this month's Being Creative over at Julia Crossland's blog. Here's a photo from the series that I took, though not the one I'm working from!
I intend to do some watercolour and acerylic work with it, which will hopefully set me up to get back to the commission I need to work on!
The exciting new project I am about to embark on is over at Sustainably Creative. The guy behind it, Michael Nobbs, is an ME sufferer, and he's released a free ebook, "Start to Draw Your Life", and "75 Ways to Draw More". It's a short, sweet, but inspirational book, which has brought a sketchbook to my side, and which I hope helps me to continue drawing everyday beyond April Drawing Month.
I apologise if I owe anyone a reply, my head isn't very with it atm.
Well, this feels like an end of an era! OK, it's been a week, but it's the first week I've posted here every day! At least this will hopefully give me more time to commit to the April Drawing Challenge!
My crochet time has to occur at a very specific point. It is always on the sofa, under my brother in law's old Superman duvet, watching the TV. Saying that, it's where I have to spend most of my waking hours anyway, so it's hardly a surprise!
The precise difficulty for me, is being well enough to sit myself up enough to fiddle around with the wool, and having my hands and arms to be pain and cramp free enough to hold the wool and crochet hook. Sadly the last few days this hasn't been possible, so I'm slipping further and further behind on the project I wanted to complete!
I don't generally plan when I'm going to crochet. I get very bored watching TV, and like to keep my hands and brain occupied, and crochet is what I turn to when I'm able. Saying that, I generally have a mug of tea, or some sort of sustenance with me to keep me going :)
Oh, I also have whatever computer game my hsuband is playing in the background... The "moos" and "clucks" from Minecraft is probably most common. And need I mention when our bunnies escape?! The crash-bang of the initial leap, followed by their scurrying to get away from being put back, with my rush to protect whatever my current projects are!
There is a project I intend to take on within the next month or two. I understand for many it isn't much, but I've never even attempted a Granny Square before, and I want to take on a cushion sized one!!
This is my complete and utter inspiration, although I will be changing the colours! Do have a look, because it is beautiful!
If anyone has any really good tutorials, potentially written in plain English you could point me to, I certainly wouldn't complain ;)
