My Creative Space

Today I was working on a special order for a customer using my super funky French Knitting bobbin.

Everybody seems to have a different name for this particular craft.

French Knitting, Catty tails, Ratty tails, bobbin knitting, dolly knitting, are just some of the names I have heard of.

Anyway, my little bobbin, dolly, thingamyjig is a long way removed from the hand made thingamyjigs that my sister and I used when we were young. Way back in the 'olden days' .. possibly before the invention of plastic.. when thread used to come on wooden bobbins, we waited patiently till mum had finished two reels of thread. My dad hammered four small nails into the empty reels and  voila !! our own little knitting thingamyjigs. Somehow we never really made anything other than long knitted tubes which could be used as scarfs for our dolls.

Todays project involved fine wire and cute little square beads and became a pretty little necklace.

My customer was passing by just as I finished and I forgot to get a photograph.

I'll just have to do another one now and be sure to get a picture.

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My Creative Space

Last week I was seriously distracted in My Creative Space and I had great plans to show a more focused side of my character this week. Things just never seem to go according to plan though, do they?
Today's distraction though was all for a good cause.... True Love.
Today's distraction is a top secret anniversary present for a customer's wife.
 Mr Romantic and myself  had a bit of chat, found the perfect stone, in the perfect size and perfect shape.
We considered the perfect style of chain and the perfect setting for the stone.
And so, my work today has no photographic evidence yet.
I just hope I'm up to the task, and can produce the Perfect Anniversary Present.
Wish me luck......
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My Creative Space

Today I have been multi-tasking...

A bit of knitting

A bit of crochet

A bit of French knitting

A bit of inspiration, a bit of imagination and a bit of a combination.

And here is the result.

I had a request for two long stemmed white roses. Since none of patterns matched exactly what I was after I improvised. Knitted the base of the bud. Crocheted the main part of the flower. And since the stem needed to stand tall I used a little French knitting dolly and reinforced the stem with a bamboo skewer through the middle.

Other creative people are showing what they have been up to at Kootoyoo. Click HERE and have a look.

My Creative Space.

I've been feeling a wee bit sentimental in my creative space this week. And surprise, surprise I have actually been working on jewellery. Crochet has also featured but I will have to show that later when I get some more photos.
As well as making jewellery to my own designs I often get special orders for particular colours, matching sets to outfits for special occasions. I am currently on the search for small red beads to match this...

The feather is left over from an arrangement on a wedding hat and my task is to make a matching necklace to finish off the whole outfit.

Another customer likes to wear yellow in the summer and would like something fun and funky to go with her summer wardrobe.

I love these beads. They make me think of daisies. Not sure yet how I will put them together but hopefully inspiration will strike some time soon.

Another service that we offer here is to repair jewellery.

So many people have costume jewellery that they really love, but when the catch breaks or the thread snaps they are left with lovely bits and pieces that they can no longer wear.

Most pieces that I fix or re-string have mostly sentimental value but it's lovely to be able to bring new life to an old favourite.

These poor old pearls just needed re-stringing for one of my customers but I love the story behind them.

"They're no' real pearls", she said when she brought them to me. They were however a First Wedding Anniversary present from her husband 51 years ago !!!

How amazing is that ?

She just thought it would be nice for her husband to see her wearing them again.

So here they are. Re-threaded onto tiger tail and fitted with a magnetic fastener.

And that's about it for now.

Thursdays are great for seeing what other makers are making in their own Creative Spaces

Pop over for a look and be amazed.

Fiona x

And the winner is ....

I am really pleased that my customer was delighted with the selection of necklaces from my last post. I find it more stressful to make jewellery to order than to make what I want to do. There's more of a sense of responsibilty to it. A bit like working in reverse.
 I usually start with an idea of colours and shapes and just see what develops. This usually works for me, although sometimes I end up taking the whole thing apart and starting again. However, when I am making for a particular person I get a bit insecure about whether or not they will like it.... and will they feel obliged to buy the finished piece even if it's not quite right.
I really shouldn't worry so much but that's just the way I am. Anyway, my worries were needless. Customer was very happy, and almost tempted to buy two !!!  She chose the one bottom right in the photo, which just happened to be my favourite, and the one which I thought she would like best. Maybe I am a better judge of other people's taste than I thought I was.
The other three are now looking for a good home. Hopefully they won't be in the shop for long.

Pretty in Pink.

Today My Creative Space has been mostly pink.

Last week I was asked if I could make a necklace to match a lovely outfit which will be worn to a wedding next month. I love a challenge like this. First we rooted around my bead boxes and found some that were nearly right, but not quite.

Then we looked around for anything that matched the feature colour of pink.

On Tuesday I headed off to my favourite bead shop armed with a pink nail file,

An old copy of Womans Weekly

And a reel of pink craft wire

 Of course it would have been a lot easier if I had just borrowed my customers jacket and taken it to Perth with me, but it was having some alterations done elsewhere.

Anyway, I was able to find some lovely beads and have been putting together a few options today.

Apart from length and shade of pink the only other consideration was that the necklace would be worn with pearl ear rings.

Hopefully one of these will be just perfect.

I'm off to take a look at some other Creative Spaces now at kootoyoo

Wedding Request

I am pretty excited at the moment as I have been asked if I can do a full set of jewellery for a wedding next May. I have had commissions in the past for the mother of the bride, and the grannie of the bride, but this is my first for the main wedding group. Bride, bridesmaids, and flower girls. Today I was out choosing a selection of brown and cream pearls and will be putting together a few ideas this week. It's a lovely thought that my creations will be going to such a special event.
Of course this meant another trip to my favourite bead shop and I was so tempted by all the lovely new beads. I was reasonably sensible bearing in mind that Christmas is on the way, but really, you can never have too many beads.
The weekend was really busy. The craft fair at Abernethy was really good fun. Jacqui Bell was there with her bags and we had a good catch up and a giggle. My neighbour was a lovely girl called Catherine, who is a dressmaker and designer. She recycles and customises clothes and accessories. Very talented girl. Her website is still in the early stages but she hopes to launch in the near future at http://www.palefacemakes.co.uk/
And now, back to work.