Crochet Purse

Well it has been a while since my last post but I have been busy blogging behind the scenes. It appears for me to be easier to write lot's of different posts and keep adding to them until one is finished. I am finding it quite hard getting my photo's loaded and on. So lot's of writen posts waiting for photo's but I have now at last finished a whole
 post and it seems it is Crochet Week this Week :)
I have so many Crafts I love but just don't get the time or have the energy to do them much. So it is nice when I can. A couple of Weeks ago I saw a lovely purse done in Crochet and it stuck in my mind. I have had a love and the want to make a purse for a while actually. I bought a Magazine a few Months back with a free gift of a purse to sew and managed to get some purse clasps off my Facebook Group Craft items for sale or swap for 50p each!! So..... last week I set to making one. I have always been able to see something and make it and this also happens with Crochet. So I got my Hook and my fabulous free BERGERE DE FRANCE Wool out and started. It came out really well and I was so happy with it.

 As I crochet I nearly always try to write the pattern down as I go but it is quite tricky getting things exact. I have soooo many half written patterns stored on my laptop and written in books. This one I have manged to stick at and even worked hard on a 2.5 hour journey to London last week. I have also been at it again today but it is still not done. You would think counting stitches would be quite easy but the amount of times I have counted around my work is unbelievable! I am just about to now try and write the pattern out on the computer and then will need to Crochet it again to triple check it. (It is actually going to be the 4th time I have done it but triple just sounds better)

Work in progress

As it was made from looking, I had no idea what I was doing really and the top is a bit too tight so although it looks fine. It actually doesn't hang right. I will be unpicking this one to get it right.This is made in BERGERE DE FRANCE Jaspee Wool. It is 80% Acrylic and 20% Worsted Wool and is fabulous to Crochet with. You cant see any mistakes ha ha because of the pattern in the wool. Yet you can see your stitches fine. I was very lucky to find out about the offer on the BERGERE DE FRANCE website. This was a points system that when I signed up I got points. These converted to £10 off my first order. It took me a while to choose as there was is so much on the website but lucky I did, as a few weeks after signing up I got the most amazing catalogue from them. It has their actual wool as samples inside which is fantastic as you can feel and see what you are buying. You can still get the catalogue if you are a new sign up but I am not sure about the points. Here is a link to their website. Bergere de France. It may be worth signing up to see. I chose the Jaspee in Vague (Blue) and Comete (Pink) and COSMOS in Mauve ecru (Pink) and Jean ecru (Blue) postage is just £2.90 and I got all 4 balls of wool posted for £3.59 with my money off. How amazing is that!!! There are so many beautiful Wools on there and some really different textures. I chose these Colours to make Hats for Jackson and Bella but then decided to throw caution to the wind and use my "posh" Wool for my purses and I think they suit the Wool very well.  The only problem with this wool is it doesn't give you the thickness on the label. I judged it was an Aran thickness and as I was making up a purse it didn't really matter but if you were making garments, You would need to know exactly. I can't wait to use the Cosmos and may do on my 4th try :)

BERGERE DE FRANCE Catalogue

I have since done a Blue one in the same wool. This one is much better although I still learnt something when sewing this one up :)

My Blue Purse :)

 and this is my 3rd one done in Creative Cotton which is Aran weight.

 I think this looks stunning and would love to do them in all the Rainbow Colours. This Cotton comes in the most stunning Colours and I have worked with it a lot. I love the fact that it is Aran weight as it works up quickly and gives you that lovely chunky but not to thick look. I think it looks fab made up  into a purse.
I will hopefully over the next few Weeks finish my pattern and be able to put it up for sale. This will be a miracle as I have only ever finished and checked on pattern ever ha ha but I do have more faith in this one :)

Always on my mind

Getting back to my Blog has been on my mind for ages now. The thoughts have been coming stronger and stronger. Now they are coming as actual Blog posts. My mind is processing some of my thoughts as written out posts. So I think it must be time to get back here and write some things down before I go crazy :-)
I have so much I want to do/be but what with my illness I seem to have so little time to get things done.
Just a quick Paragraph about my illness as I don't want it to take over my Blog posts but as it is such a huge part of my life I am sure it will be mentioned a lot. I have Chronic Fatigue and Pain Syndrome and it has been diagnosed as Fibromyalgia due to other symptoms of which I won't go into now but are equally exhausting/painful. It effects me daily and takes a huge chunk of my life away but I am trying to fight it :-)
So where to start??
I would like to Blog about my Creativity and things I make.
I would like to review items I use that I feel need a review.
I would like to talk more about my illness but not make my posts all about it.
I am also interested in bettering my diet and losing some weight. This at the moment is heading in the direction of wheat and dairy free but having tried this before and getting bored easily I am going to try and change over slowly with some healthy evening meals to start with and slowly making my diet wheat and dairy free. So this will possibly be blogged about as well.  I am not looking forward to losing my milk :-(
I would like to just talk generally about my life... That being I am 41 Years old. My body mostly feels 81 and my mind feels about 21. This makes my life a bit difficult as my brain is always engaging in new and exciting things and my body just wont follow. I have a beautiful Daughter Catherine, Who has given me Two beautiful Grandchildren Jackson and Bella who I am able to use as models for a few of my makes ha ha and no doubt they will be popping up a lot as they are my whole world.
Oh and I also enter the odd Competition so if I win anything I will no doubt also Blog about that :-)
Think that is a quick bio and game plan all sorted so let's get on with some photo's :-)
I love pictures in a blog post and would usually just scroll by if one it is just writing. Unless it is on a subject I am very interested in so I thought for my new Blog post I will leave you with a lovely couple of Collages of things I have made :-)

So as you can see I dabble in all sorts of Crafts. Lot's and Lot's ha ha and still have more I want to try. So hopefully I will have plenty to Blog about.

 If you are reading this, I thank you very much and please if you feel you can, leave a comment as I love to know who is about what you think.

Thank you 

I just want to leave you with this lol My spelling is quite bad and I often go to google to check things out as I hate bad GrGrammar I was having a problem with losing as it just felt to me like it needed two oo's as in loosing. I googled it and this is what I got from urban dictionary. My first chuckle of the day :-)

 loosing. You never use this word so please spell "losing" correctly from now on. You mean you are LOSING the war, not LOOSING you idiot!

So it's a New Year again and it wouldn't be proper if I didn't try at my Blog again :-)
Every Year is the same, New Year, New start and must do better ha ha. I really failed last Year!! but I am a fighter and am again hopeful and ready to start blogging :-)
I have just read back on my Blog and I do love it. I think it is a great place to let the craftiness in me out and somewhere to just write what I want.
Although I suffered terribly with my Illness last Year. I do actually think I did very well in getting a little more organised, Finishing off a few work in progress items and general Crafting.
I started the Online Craft Fair on Facebook and have some lovely Stall Holders who I think of as Friends now and actually made a lot of different things and now have an awful lot more work in progress items he he :-)
My goal this Year is to tidy up my Facebook Page. I have started by making a new supplies only Page. It is not published yet but I have transferred a few Ribbons over and am awaiting a little order I placed to just help me along :-) It will be called Wendy's Craft Supplies and my "Making" Page will stay as Wendy's Crafts :-) I want to have all fully edited and Watermarked Photo's and have them all lined to my Website. Quite a large task but completely doable :-) I also hope to grow the Online Craft fair and get a few more good Stalls in and also get that lined up to the Website and one last thing is I would like to keep up a regular Blog. That has always proved very  hard for me in the past. My illness just really doesn't seem to let me but with fingers crossed I try again :-)
I will leave my fist Blog post of 2014 with a Few made by me Photo's.
Happy New Year.

Starting my New Year New Start!!

O.k, So the new Year, New Start thing has taken a while to actually get moving but this week there was a definite shift in the right direction :-)
Things just seem to get in the way and I am more and more realising I need a regimented, organised place to be. I literally work and live in my Bedroom... Yes I am a hermit and my Family joke about me turning into an old Cat Lady with a Rocking chair and Eight Cats, Well I have Two Cats already and have just been given.... Yes given an arm Chair. (I don't want a Rocking Chair as they are not so Comfy) :-) and I don't find the Joke funny I find it realistic. I am a hermit and I am a Granny :-) and I love being both!! I like being on my own and thinking things through. I know I have Friends and Family I can go and see or talk to  if I get lonely or need company but I don't. Catherine comes and visits with Jackson regularly and I drop everything to see and spend time with them. Nothing is more important than them!! and my Mum and Dad are here on tap anytime I want them. I have everything I need :-) I just need to concentrate on resting up and getting better and be able to live a comfortable balanced life in this world.... and getting some regular Money coming in. Now all that at the moment seems hard but I am working on it.
So with this knowledge in hand I have tried to get organised. I have realised my Bedroom for the time being is also going to be my work space. So have thought a lot about storage and comfort. Not having any spare cash puts a dampener on getting going with getting things how I want them but like I said I was donated an armchair by just asking for a cheap one on a local buying site. Someone else's junk was definitely my Treasure and I am sat in it now writing this. With my Bedspread thrown over it, It is just perfect :-)
So with a comfortable place to Crochet I have pulled out a few unfinished projects of mine.... Uh oh....There are lots. I have started another Square on Catherine's Blanket. Which then brings me to writing a Blog post about that and Catching up with where I am. I don't think I have photographed all completed squares. So that is going down on one of my many to do lists :-) and I have pulled out a Baby Cardigan I was Crocheting and managed to pick up from where I left off. It is a 0 - 3 Month size and was originally intended for Jackson who will be one in Two Weeks!!! but will come in just perfect for a very special Friend of mine who was due on Sunday. I've not heard anything yet :-) Luckily it is a thick Chunky Cream Cardi so is perfect for either sex Baby and also for this weather we have. Snow, Snow, Snow. Everytime I pick these projects up I feel good. Like I am finally getting something done and dusted and I don't feel guilty when I start something new. Which I love doing ha ha. At the moment the new is headbands!!
O.k so no pictures in my post today and I do like Blogs with pictures but  must dash as it is 1.17am and I have organising to do. :-) and maybe a little sleeping.
Night night. xx

Cricut Mini Giveaway worth £130!

Cricut Mini Giveaway worth £130!

Understanding Etsy

One thing I plan on doing this Year is understanding Etsy a bit more.
I have had a Shop there since 2010 but never really stocked it with much.
This Year I have started to list a few things but I have a long way to go.
I did get a lovely sale there shortly after listing and this makes me eager for more.
So I get these Emails from them and leave them in my inbox to read later ha ha. A Month later they get deleted for being too old. So tonight I read one!! and it was WOW... It gave me a really good approach to setting goals..... achievable ones :-)
The link is here if anyone is interested.
I also found a great place to start. It's called The quick start guide to selling on Etsy ha ha. Maybe I should have found and read this in 2010. Never mind... Better late than never.
Anyway here is a link to my Shop
Wendy's Crafts
and a little Picture because I like Pictures on Blogs :-)

My Valentines Crochet Owl. 

Happy New Year

Oh Wow... It's the new Year already :-)
I have been so looking forward to this time coming. It is such a good reason to start again and try harder.
I actually think I did really well with my Blog last Year, Seen as though no one seemed to read it I did keep Blogging. I have only just died off with posts later in the Year. So I give myself a 6/10 for effort :-)
This Year however things must get better and change. This year I am concentrating on my Facebook page becoming a business and the Blog will be where everything else it :-)
All Handmade items for sale or just for fun 
Weight loss posts
Book reviews
Anything I like :-)
I hope I can gather a few loyal fans on the way as it would be much easier for me to post knowing someone is interested ha ha So my first goal is too research fan bases on Blogs. I follow quite a few Blogs myself but never get the chance to actually sit and read them regular. This is one thing I would like to start making time for :-)
On a really good note. I gave up smoking last Year and the counter on my Blog says I haven't smoked for 379 Days!! Wow that is amazing. I did it for my Grandson. He was born on 9th Feb 2012.... A nice reason to do so.

Here is a recent snap of the Cheeky little boy :-)
I am going to start dieting again. I am 40 in May and would like to be fitter and look better. I think this gives me a nice bit of time to loose some weight again on the good side the last time I used the weight tracker at the top of my Blog I was 203lb I really thought I had put on huge amounts but weighing myself this morning I have put on  11lbs. I suppose that sounds a lot really but jugding the fact I was 17 Stone at my Heaviest and got down to 14.4 at my best diet I am now 15.4 I thought I would have more to loose to get to 14.4. This is my first goal weight :-)
o.k so enough about that, Lets finish with a quick picture of what I have been working on at the Lately :-)

Quick question in case anyone is reading this. Does anyone know hoe to change the font and size permanently in Blogger. I type away then find it's too small and don't like it only to have to go back over and edit it all?? Would be a great help if you do....