Since the knitted apples went down so well with the teachers at the end of term, I have been knitting away making more.  But I have branched out a bit from just apples, making an entire fruit-bowl full of edible looking summer fruits!

Keyrings

I’ve really enjoyed experimenting to make these. I think my favourites are the little cherries and the pineapple!

Cherry keyring

Pineapple keyring

I’m currently working on a banana and a plum design, and I might see if I can manage a bunch of grapes!

I shall be selling them at £4 each, and I’d love to know what you think of them. Drop me a line at kath@handmadebykatherine.co.uk, visit my facebook page (www.facebook.com/Handmadebykatherine) or tweet me @crafty_kath

They make me feel very summery!

Happy crafting
x

I’ve been knitting quite a bit more than usual in the Summer months this year, mainly down to the fact I have a lovely set of bamboo knitting needles (a fabulous Christmas present from my sister-in-law) which means my knitting isn’t suffering due to the heat (metal needles squeak for me when my hands get hot). This has been very important in the last couple of weeks with the incredible heatwave we’re having at the moment.

So whilst I’ve been struggling a little to find a craft fair to attend, I’ve been putting my time to good use and making some new stock and experimenting with patterns and ideas.

With the Open Golf on I thought I’d make some golf club covers and have a few different designs.  I love the feel of knitting with larger needles and the aran yarn is so soft.  It makes great pom-poms too!

Grey/Cream Golf Club Covers

Red/Cream Golf Club Covers

Red/Cream Golf Club Covers

I’ve also made a new cat, with some multi-colour yarn I had in my stash. It comes complete with a black crochet nose and red button eyes!

Multi-colour Cat

Finally I thought I’d use up some oddments of yarns making some ipod covers.  I hate wasting lovely yarn, so this has been a great way to use up some gorgeous chenille and merino wools. along with a cotton and baby soft yarns.  These are so tactile!

Ipod covers

So, what do you think of the new ideas?  I hope you like them as much as I enjoyed making them.  I hope to have them on a stall soon too, but if you would like any of the gifts above, please message me via e-mail (kath@handmadebykatherine.co.uk), twitter (@crafty_kath) or facebook( www.facebook.com/Handmadebykatherine).  I can also make them to your own colour-schemes.

Yesterday was the last day of our first school year!  My daughter finished nursery and I decided not to go down the route that everyone else seemed to be going down, and didn’t spend a fortune on cake, biscuits and chocolate for the teachers.  I thought it would be nice to make gifts and for my daughter to make some cards.  So last week, we sat down in the stifling heat, at the table under the parasol outside, ready to make cards and gifts.

I started knitting a couple of little apples which I thought I would add to key-rings.  When finished I made a tiny tag from kraft card, and had my daughter write her name on one side while I wrote the teachers’ name on the other.  I tied them to the apple stalk with baker’s twine.

I thought they were quite sweet and made a change from chocolates!

We then set to work on making four personalised cards for two teachers and her two special friends (they are going to a different school next year).  So we found some relevant photographs and she decorated the cards around the photos with butterflies (3D) and drawings.  We then added a message inside and she wrote her name on the bottom.

Needless to say, they were a huge hit with her teachers.  So I’m now thinking about other things I could add to key-rings for the rest of the year!

Happy Summer Crafting x

Yesterday was the 70th annual Bury Agricultural Show at Burrs Country Park.  We were lucky with the weather this year too, a lovely day, not too hot and no rain!

It was an early start for us as I entered some of the craft classes for the first time.  Needless to say I spent most of Saturday night in a panic.  We set off for the 20 minute walk cross-country to the showground, managing it in 16 minutes!!

I entered four classes in the arts and craft section of the show.  A knitted cat and a little crochet pocket bag in the knitted and crochet class, a watercolour painting in the painting class, a card in the handmade greetings card class and a flower brooch in the ‘any other’ class.  I was pleased with all my entries, although simple in design I felt they showed good technique well executed.

There were lots of entries in the all the classes and I was surprised by the quality and complexity of the pieces.  How the judges came to a decision in some of the classes I do not know.  There was such a difference in the entries.

After a couple of hours around the show, watching some amazing model aircraft and birds of prey, I headed back to the craft tent to see how I got on.  I came out with 2 third prizes, for my painting and my card.  Not bad for a first effort.  Unfortunately there was no feedback on from the judges and they had vanished by the time I arrived.  Having looked at the prize winners, in would appear the patchwork and applique are what the judges were looking for.

I chatted with some of the other entrants and stewards and put some suggestions in for the next show, in order to help those crafters that don’t sew!  Later in the day I spoke to one of the organisers who asked me if I would like to join the organising committee for next year!

So all-in-all it was a good day.  I learned a lot about pieces to enter into the show for next year.  I came away with a couple of prizes and some potential input for the show in 2014!

Now back to 2013 and crafting for the Summer Fair at the Valley on Saturday!

Happy crafting

x