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

Another day, another commute! This time it’s the bus to Bolton for an orthopaedics appointment! My mind is currently filled with apprehension for steroid injections, so a concentrated effort to write, may hopefully, refocus my mind and calm me down.

It’s the start of a busy couple of weeks for me, both as a Mum and a crafter. I have several birthdays (family and friends) to make cards for, 2 summer fairs (school and community group) and Bury Agricultural Show! In amongst all that there seem to be pirates taking over the area, in the shape of birthday parties, fairs and fun-days at school!

So I need to sort myself out and make a list of things to make, edible treats and other gifts. I’ll need an ingredient list too!

Vanilla Fairy Buns

I hate to say it, but I could do with a rainy day to sit down and get making. With hayfever clogging my nose and fogging my brain, I’m a bit behind where I’d like to be with my stock. A concerted effort over the next couple of weeks should help.

And then I’ll be turning my thoughts to the much dreaded word ……………… Christmas!!!! (Aaarrrgggghhhh)

Happy crafting
x

I’ve been thinking for a while about other things I can do to help with promotion, and to experiement with new media etc.

I took out my Kirstie Allsopp book ‘Craft‘ and discovered some re-runs of her programmes on TV.  And it reminded me about the local agricultural show.  So I’m thinking about entering Bury Show at the end of the month!!  They have a number of categories in the craft tent, so I’m looking to enter the card, knitted item and painting.  I may also go for some of the cake classes, but I need to see what I can come up with first!! It’s the Platinum anniversary (70 years) this year, so the theme is Platinum celebrations.

Right I’m off to get my thinking cap on and see what I can come up with.

Wish me luck!!!!!!!!!!

Happy crafting
x

With Father’s Day fast approaching (June 16th) I have been left wondering where has the time gone?  How can it possibly be June already?! 

I’ve been working hard to finish orders and to increase my stock of male suitable cards and gifts. 

So what have I been making then?  Well I needed to add some cards to my stock, and thought I would try out a recent purchase – a Keepsake Craft embossing board.  I hunted out some masculine papers and set about embossing.  What fun, and definitely something to do in the future with my daughter.

Sporty Dad and Duck

Having made all the letters for the cards, I had an idea of adding some little embellishments, but didn’t have anything quite right, so I had another route through my crafty stash and found another unused purchase – shrink plastic! (I can hear many gasps of astonishment from experienced crafters, but I really haven’t used it before)

My mind took me back to shrinking crisp packets in the oven as a child in the 70’s and early 80’s, so I was ready to be amazed and set to work with stamps, ink pad and pro-markers. This is possibly the most fun ………. ever!

Football Dad and Spider

I hope you like my finished cards, I’d love to know what you think.

I am now thinking about other uses for both the embossing board and the shrink plastic.  What would you like to see?

Happy Summer Crafting

x

I have just received notification that I have been awarded a Bronze medal in the Mumpreneur UK website awards.

I entered the awards in the hope of having some feedback on the website and picking up on some pointers. What a fabulous surprise to be given this award. I am thrilled to say the least.

It goes to show what a fantastic job my lovely husband has done on this site, so my thanks go to him for everything he has done here and in helping me make updates and changes.

Thanks everyone for helping me get this far.

Happy Katherine!

Well I’m back from a well deserved break in the West Country, and what a lovely time we had too!  The weather was variable, but we managed some time on the beach and had a fabulous trip to the Eden Project.

I spent a lot of time wandering around local craft fairs in St Ives and all the lovely arts and crafts galleries.  So I have come back refreshed from the break and full of inspiration for more makes.

I have been practising my crochet while I’ve been away and made a few little pocket bags, ready for my next fair.

Yellow Pocket Bag

I’d love to know what you think of this little bag.  I have a few more waiting for an embellishment, so I’m going to work on some little crochet flowers.

Glad to be back and time to get making for Summer fairs and Father’s Day!

Happy crafting

x

I’ve been working on some new knitted gifts, and can now reveal them to you.

Grey/Cream Golf Club Covers

I spent a lot of my youth in a golf club – Father and Brother both played. So I thought some golf club covers would be a great present for my Dad for Father’s Day. I found this pattern in a recent edition of Craftseller magazine and loved it. They’re made in aran yarn, very soft, and the double rib makes them very stretchy.

They’re ideal for Father’s Day or as a gift for a golfer. I will be making them in a few other colours too. I’m currently looking for some blue aran so if you know of anywhere I can get some, please let me know.

Happy crafting
x

Before I left my permanent work, I was approached by a colleague to help out with a charity event.  Someone I worked with on projects earlier in my career has been persuaded to walk up Mount Snowdon for a charity that is very close to her heart: to buy a ‘milk’ bike. 

In her spare time she helps to run North West Blood Bikes Manchester a charity that provides an emergency delivery service for any NHS Hospital in Greater Manchester, they also help St Ann’s Hospice’s and Chester Milk Bank; the service runs from 7pm to 6am Monday to Friday and 7pm Friday evening until Monday at 6am (24 hour weekend cover) and 24 hours over bank holidays.  They deliver blood, platelets, records, samples, drugs and donor breast milk completely FREE of charge, all done by unpaid volunteers. The charity is an emergency service offered during times when users would have no alternative than to use expensive paid-for transport or courier services.

Earlier this year Clare launched the Merlin Milk Bike Fund and she is looking for sponsorship to buy a ‘milk’ bike to commemorate the loss of a friend and to celebrate 10 years of the Chester Milk bank, so she is walking Snowdon…

I was asked to make a hat for her to wear for the ascent of Snowdon, something related to breast milk!

I hope it helps her raise lots of money for such a fabulous cause (and keeps her head warm).  If you would like to sponsor her you can do so at :
http://www.justgiving.com/Clare-Redfern