short row cabled hat

short row cabled hat
Originally uploaded by beaniebanks

Wow its been ages, but I have a new camera. Just testing it out. I made this hat for a friend. I love it. Making a shoulder wrap to match if I can work out the pattern.

cable bobble hat

cable bobble hat
Originally uploaded by beaniebanks

OK so I have a broken Camera. It won't focus, after my lovely daughter got sand in it at the beach. Hence, its been quiet here in Knitz and Bitz land. But we're still here and still working.....HARD. Oh yes and reading your blogs.

I don't think you can see the cables and bobbles but...its cosy

Lil' Ian

Lil' Ian
Originally uploaded by slaluki

Heres Stellas last lil person for a while (so she thinks) I believe she has a custom for a lady next.

lil tony

lil tony
Originally uploaded by slaluki

LIL Tony caused Stella BIG Problems. I have no idea how out of a piece of material you are meant to get a face that looks like someone? Well Here the finished Lil Tony is complete with his shamrock shirt. Oh and hand made Microphone.

He is a bit GOOD Stella.

lil phredd

lil phredd
Originally uploaded by slaluki

Heres Little Fred, His lil shoes are fab. Stella made Fred for a birthday gift.

New Craft Network

A quick post to tell you all about Creative Connections Not only is it a place where you have a forum, Blog, Can join with Groups but there is a live and busy chat room. This little piece of the net, has quickly become a meeting place among crafters. The only way I can describe it is a friendly and similar to Raverly, but for everycraft.

So have a look and see what you think. Creative Connections

Heres some bit people are making.


Beautiful from Fairyqueen's Jewels this Carnelian Cuff Bangle. Bargin price too.

Sprinkles Sparkles
has me browsing pics all night, just trying to decide which one or three pony tail bands I should get.


Too many to choose from.

A sneeky peek at some of the crafters!

Mablethorpe for the day!

Mablethorpe for the day!
Originally uploaded by beaniebanks

We took the kids to Mablethorpe for the Day, Boy was it warm. We all got sunburnt. The kids were playing happily in the sand and me and chris relaxed on the beach. They even went in the sea. They are Brave no way would I go in.

Someones been Busy

Stella latest quilt available on MISI.

I love it!

This Week.

WOW! What a week, I have been decorating. My daughter is turning 12 soon, and starts big school next week. So we have made over her room, so it is fitting for her turning into a little lady. Its looking lovely. We have cream walls. Pink shelves and a tiny bit of pink on the doors. She has choosen a pink chest of drawers. Then pink sparkling lamp shape, beaded blind. She is then having a deep purple bedding and curtains. Oh and the picture she conned me into buying A purple flower. The cream carpet comes on monday and I must say I love the room. In fact I want to move in myself. Its sort of grown up girlie. Really nice. I of course need to do some sewing to add the extra sparkle. We are just going through all her toys and stuff now. Sorting and throwing. Its sad but we are packing the old toys away. I am ashamed to say she has about 10 of my TINY TEARS. LOL So I am going to bath them knit them some outfits and I think They will be ebay'd.

Alas, I have done no crafting again (well decorating is crafting). I am not sure what Stella has been up too. She had listed her quilt on esty, and was making another one last time we spoke - last week. We were talking about the next blog giveaway and we are swaying towards natural dyes as the season is now upon us for all the goodies from the garden.

Well, thats it. I can't show you any pics coz my camera has got sand in!

xxx

Misi Picks

I don't use a teapot but if I did I would use this. As a knitter I can imagine the time, patience and love that went into making this teacosy, from Smithy craft I love it so much.




I can't crochet very well but love this pattern £2.50 WOW


Feeling Fruity check out Pennydog truly unique I love this, (if only I was young again)

Look at this pretty chain, I love it and just found out its in the sale! Find it at Expressorize.

Knitted Yarn Creature - close up

Knitted Yarn Creature - close up
Originally uploaded by Aleximo

Remember the red yarn from the givaway, well here is what Alex made with it! I love this little creature. He is so cute and full of love.

lil kev and roy

lil kev and roy
Originally uploaded by slaluki

Ever fancied a little dolly look-a-like. Stella made these for her boyfriend (the bearded one) and his friend. They move! Honest until you see the real people you would not realise how alike these little men are. They are going to star in their very own Music video.

Autumn Stars Quilt

Autumn Stars Quilt
Originally uploaded by slaluki

Stella has got her quilting mojo back again!

Normal service is resumed.

Woo hoo, How I have missed you guys. But we're back and all is ready to GO !!!!
What been happening? Well I have done bugger all because lack of internet got me into books and I have read about 7 in the last month. Stella has been really busy making her little look-a-like troll. LOL they are brillant. Lil Kev is on holiday in Spain as we speak. She has had many orders for the little people.

I think its nearly time for a blog challenge. I am sorry we missed July I think we will go straight to AUG. lol

Glad to be back

Hey!!!

Hi Guys,

Well thought I would say hello, I still have no laptop at home. :( . Missing everyone like mad. I have decided to get a new one tomorrow.

So hopefully will be back to blogging MISI and Forums soon.

Stella has been making more little people. She is going to do a fan page for them. She is doing commission using photographs. They are so cool. I can't wait for the fan page. LIL Roy is in his own Video....lol Brillant.

Hope to share some pics soon.

Had a bit of a challenge this week. My O.H. (Kev) is in a couple of bands, and one of his band mates (Roy) asked me to make a mini him (and then a mini Kev) as he wants to make an animated music video. I've not really done charicatures of people before, plus these little fellas have to be able to stand up, sit down and move to music. All of the limbs are wired and jointed, right down to their fingers. Can't wait to see the vid. Just hope that Roy knows I don't do pretty!
I Think Kev's realised that now. He looks a bit too much like Jon Pertwee for my liking (that's his own fault for having stupid hair - he asked for white, even though his is blond???!!! So here they are, hot off the sewing machine (please excuse mess!!)

And The Winner Is....

Sorry about the delay in letting you know the giveaway winner but Zoe's computer died and I've only just got back into things following a wild weekend (well, as wild as it gets at my age - although there was a potential riot caused by a mad ferret keeper..... I'll let you use your imaginations....)
ANYWAY....
The winner of Zoe's Hot Pink 3 ply is..... TCN
The winner of Stella's red textured yarn is.... Alex

Thanks to all who left comments and put themselves in for the draw. As always we have made some extra and listed it at a special blog price on Groovycart. You can find it here:

Misi Mid week Picks

I have too many to show this week Heres a few.



I know it summer when I look at Bracelets and beads. Love this by sprinklessparkles

This is Joys bedtime Bunny. Joy was one of last months Yarn winners and created this bunny from our handspun. LOVE IT Perfectlittlefriends


Summer Drops Earrings : £2.00 you even get a matching bracelet, I brought some and I am really pleased. Snowflake.unique


Amigurumi teddy brooche with bag so cute. by elosito

I thought I would blog mid-week from now on so Misi picks from me will be on a WEDNESDAY.

I found some fab things and brought some fab things this week on Misi.

Feeling Groovy

I just wanted to let you all know about Groovycart, if you sell your things online.
As you know we offer our Blog yarn (The extra) at a special price through Groovycart. This just covers our materials. This is because you can open a shop for free and pay no listing fees. So we can actually reduce it for you. There is no expire date for listings either it, a fab little hosting site.

Groovycart lets you have 30 items (90 if you list clever) and you can have a maximum price of £50. No commision for selling, only on your paypal fees.

Of course you can upgrade for a charge to a silver or gold account which you pay for and then you have a greater flexibilty over pricing and quanities, But as a crafter I have never made enough things.

Sales, yes I have had a few on there. Groovycart was the first place I ever sold. Its not MISI or ESTY or FOKSY. But its somewhere extra to display things.


Our blog specials are now listed in our Groovycart shop here
we list them here for a limited period only. At the blog price.

If you want to look into Groovycart some more look here


Bit of a boring post SORRY.

Winners of Giveaway will be announced on SATURDAY.
Good luck

Come On You Reds! (aka Stella's Wool)

Well, here it is, better late than never! Red was a real challenge for me as it's usually a colour I blend with others, but I've had fun with it and discovered just how beautiful red can be (new convert to red!). Wish the pics were more accurate with the colours, but that's digital cameras for you! I've been mad busy for the past couple of weeks, so I decided to hand paint roving to create my red wool. I chose to use some South American lustre tops, really soft with a bit of a glow to them. I painted my roving with 3 shades of red, getting ever deeper. I love the heathering effect you get with painted roving, so, the wool isn't technically "red", but is what I call Ashes of Roses - the colours move from the palest of pink to a smokey red/grey/purple colour.

When it came to spinning I decided to add some texture to reflect the textured colours, so I spun a thick and thin single, and the plied it back with a fine spun single. The pic below shows the thick and thin single on the bobbin.

The wool is a beautiful soft chunky yarn which would look great knitted up.I loved doing it so much that I'm going to paint some batts in a different colourway to see what the effect would be.
All that's left is to pick the winner!

Here it is

Hot Pink! Well its Hot and Pink. I still have no drive band for my carder so this changed my plans a little. I dyed some Lustre wool, soft beautiful, the wool I used I think is the nicest I have spun with ever!

Ok, so I dyed the wool first, a dark pink, then added some more wool half way through and then 3/4 way through to get the variety of shades.
heres the shades all spun seperatly.


I wanted a nice chunky yarn this time. I had a vision of a finsihed scarf in this.

I plied the 3 strands together. I love it so much its so soft and nice. Its going to get a wash to set the twist but its a definate chunky. I really want to keep it.

Stella will be popping hers on tomorrow and I will edit.

Please do let us know which you would prefer if you are picked (its another comment, another entry) and we will hopefully be able to match the winners.

Misi Picks and a little something.

I haven't done Misi picks for ages so thought I better do one.

I have a few people I would like to mention.....

Look at this cat, how cute. She can be found here at merry go bears.

This has been on my wish list for ages from Jolicious

I really do love this style of charms from Jelly belly jewellery

This is from Jane I love Her things take a look in her little store. her items are so well made.

Well I tried to get ahead with the blog challenge and dyed blue batts....HA HA shame on me, I was so hoping for Blue....I got HOT PINK.

So there I was carding and my Drumcarder drive band snapped. JUDGMENT. But the hot pink is now dyed and the Batts are for sale....

AND THE GIVEAWAY YARN COLOUR IS....

I have been off work this week, its been a bad asthma week for me. The pollen and such must be very high. Not sure when I will get back. Been in bed all day again. Lovely.

But we have the colours Stella pulled out RED Zoe got HOT PINK.
I am not sure if we are dreading this or really excited. Neither of us do these colours normally, we are very traditional at times. lol. But those of the colours so off we go!

REMEMBER TO COMMENT FOR YOUR ENTRY
Now I have 2 ideas already, not sure if they will work but I am going for it anyway.

Though I would show you some Mohair washing too.


It doesn't look too bad BUT......


Oh look how dirty it is. This is the first wash, I popped it in a net bag and put it in a bucket of extremely hot soapy water. The dirt flew off, you can't even see the mohair. I then Rinsed twice and repeated. I kept doing this until the water was completely clear. It will get washed again. Its very labour intensive this washing fibre.


Here it is drying in the sunshine. I think I am going to blend it in for this challenge.
I will now sort out any bits that aren't suitable for spinning

Trixie

Just like to introduce you to Trixie, who has just been finished. She is a wall pocket troll.

Tapestry Loom Anyone?

I have decided to sell my Schacht 18" Tapestry Loom. I have used it once and then stored it as quilting and spinning take up too much of my time. It's in pristeen condition, if anyone is interested, it comes with an A frame stand. I'm looking to get £75.00 + £8.50 p&P (in GB) for it. Let me know if you fancy it.

It also has 5 bobbins.

THANKS STELLA.

June Yarn Giveaway: Its up to you.

A big thank you to everyone who has taken part in the last 2 giveaways. Last month was hard, due to my internet and Stellas GAS LEAK. We are back on track and whilst the weather is fine and we can wash fibre we thought we would crack on.

Ok, so this month we thought we would do a single colour....Its up to me and Stella to come up with something beautiful from the suggestions you give us.

Both of us will pick a colour from the hat, so it may be the same colour it may be different.

Now Me and Stella have very different taste, so I am sure that you will pick our fav colours but it is if we pick it out the HAT!!!! LOL SO we may be working with something that we wouldn't normally use.

Please also tell us in your comments if you want plain wool a mix, maybe a bit of llama, silk or mohair.

We are really hoping to get some pics up at the weekend of our fleece washing and details of our COLOUR.

AS before each comment will gain an enter, the more comments you make the more entries.

Ok JUNE GIVEAWAY GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And the winners are

Once again we are so sorry you can't all win...

Picking the winners.


And of Stellas yarn...Joy Congrats


And of Zoes Yarn....wordlily. Congrats.

Winners please make sure you contact us with your details.

BIG THANKS TO EVERYONE Going to start next challenge in the coming week. So please do enter we really feel bad when people don't win. You all contribute so much!

Anyway as before the yarns are availble limited and SPECIAL PRICE £5 to cover materials. Please contact us if you have any difficulties purchasing from the site. x

Zoe Shetland and soya.

Zoe Blackwelsh and llama

Zoes natural

Stellas Black welsh and soya

stellas Shetland

Stellas Shetland silk and alpaca

The entries are

Ok list of entries ready for the winners to be drawn just writing names as we speak. My kids are pulling both names out the hat the First 1 out wins Stella's and the 2nd one out wins mine..... entries and number of chances are as follows. Fab response again.

If you have no number next to you name its 1 comment= 1 entry.

The sick chick
Jackknits
bijouxboutique
Knitwits 4
Tollykit 2
wordlily 2
Sharnemainia knits 2
Tracy O
Jackie
amylane
Madam Salami 6
Monet 2
B.B. Bellezza
JellybeanLab
Izabela
Monica
Joy 2
Braceletsnbrides
KnitCave 4
Kitten With a Whiplash 3
One Sheep 3
Deneen 3
insomniacstitches
Hats and More
tamdoll
Kim
Helen @ The Beading Lady 2
ikkinlala 3
jennyflower 2
aislin
incywincy
greatcrispy1

Felters custom Order

My Brief was pinks, blues and greens. 100g batts of each. Not too blended. So heres the result. Its for felt fusion who does some fab felting, on both esty and MISI have a look on flickr at her great photos.

Heres mine

So I have had a bad few weeks. I had no laptop so missed you all, no camera it was lost, but been busy. I apologise so much for the delay.

My first wool is a 3ply which means its 3 strands of wool plied
together, its come out as a thick dk/aran. Its a blend of natural brown/white shetland and SOYA a fantastic choclate carmel delight of yarn.

Here it is as a batt


On the bobbin


And spun


Remember the Monet, here the fleece undyed in its natural cream glory.



And finally my textured wool which is a blend of black welsh and super soft llama


WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED NEXT SATURADY.


Upcoming challenges.

July single colour.
August art yarn
september kitchen cupboard.
October autumn
November your choice.
December christmas challenge.

BLOG GIVEAWAY - We didn't forget!!!!

Sorry for the delay in the next stage of the giveaway. We have both been hit with hayfever, work and, in my case workmen (there's nothing worse than sitting outside for 6 hours in the cold waiting to hear the sound of van doors closing!)

Anyway.... because of the delays and because we love them all, we decided that we would each do 3 combinations of natural colours. I think that the weight pulled from the hat was aran (please Zoe, tell me that is right!) anyway, mine are all aran weight.

From the top (one day I will figure out how to get these photos to go where I want them to)

The first is a 3 ply yarn - I've been really getting into 3 ply for a while now so I thought I would add one to this challenge. It's 1 ply oatmeal Blue Faced Leicester, 1 ply natural brown Blue Faced Leicester and 1 ply cream Cheviot. I think it will look brill knitted up!

Second from the top is the one I have nicknamed city lights. It's a 2 ply - 1 ply of Black Welsh and soya blend and 1 ply of natural black Shetland, so the soya twinkles out at random intervals!

Lastly is my ecru/ cream mix. It's a 2 ply yarn, a mix of Shetland, English Alpaca (from Daisy - thank you Daisy!) and Tussah Silk Noil for a bit of sheen and texture. it's come out lovely and soft.
Hope you have all forgiven us. We didn't forget you!

Right then, back to fleece washing. Had a delivery yesterday and I'm making hay while the sun shines!