Getting back on the wagon

The blogging wagon that is. Why did I stop? Who knows. I think I started to feel a pressure, pressure to write certain content, pressure to have a certain type of photograph, pressure to write regularly, gotta get those SEO tags just right.

I started this blog to record what I was making at the time. Not to reach a certain audience or gain clicks and income. Not that that was what blogging was all about way back then.

So I'm going back to basics. Writing for me. If there are people out there that find what I write interesting then you are welcome along for the ride.

I work full time and life is pretty full on. I want to slow it right down, enjoy what i have. The kids are getting so big and I'm loosing track.

This is my little corner.

First up on the my sewing to do list is making Liesl + Co.'s Every Day Skirt. It's been on the to do list for quite a while but I need to make it a reality.




Wish me luck.

New Instagram

I've started up a new Instagram account.

Instagram @mandykt_made

Now I can stop spamming my family with craft stuff and let people who want to see my craft see it and interact with me. Yay. So if you're on Instagram come and follow me @mandykt_made. :-)

Back on the hook

It's cold again. Which means the hooks have come out.

First up this year is a shrug. Planned on making it for me. Ended up too small so I gifted it to my niece. Doesn't matter if I make a swatch test. I'm just a tight crocheter. 

Circle vest shrug

So I reckon I'll stick to shawls and amigurumi. 

Circle vest shrug

Looks really good on her. 

Circle vest shrug 

Check out my ravelry page for pattern info. 

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/MandyMade/circle-vest-shrug

Our fairy garden

I had so much fun with Little O today. We decided to make a fairy garden.

Our Fairy Garden

Something on the to do list for a while so it was great to finally make one. 

Giant tea cup

We found a giant tea cup at the local garden shop. Not girly, big bonus. Little O picked most of the plants and found the water frog. There wasn't anything to buy for a fairy garden - probably a plus. We had a few succulents that needed to be replanted so didn't go overboard. We also had a few items that he'd collected on holiday recently he wanted to use. 

Succulents outgrown pot

Now all it needs is some handmade touches. Luckily I'm a champagne drinker so my cork tops came in handy. 

A finishing touch

Great project for kids to get involved in and if you're short of time. 

Making of a different kind

Little O is fascinated with how the water droplet stays

I'm not known for my green thumb. In fact black thumb is a better description!! Then I discovered succulents, and not of the crochet variety. One plant type that doesn't seem to curl up and die when it sees me coming. So it would have been quite a shock to some to see me pottering around the garden on the weekend.

Teapot planter

I bought these succulents a few months back with grand ideas for a succulent garden. Well they just sat in their pots, not dying. Then a few weeks ago we went camping and discovered our kettles lid was unusable, like another in our shed, so brain wave!! Re-purposed into flower pots. It was a nice relaxing afternoon and I hope to do more of it. 

What I aspire too

This is a mini garden my green thumb sister made me. Still going strong 😀. 

The year of garment making

I've decided that this is the year to get back into garment making. I stumbled across this book in the local library:

The beginners guide to dress making. Well I'm not a beginner but I needed something to get me back into it. 

So I declared 2016 is the year of the garment. My goal is to make 12 items for myself!!

January kicked off well with the t-shirt from the book:

Fits really nice at the top half. My mummy tummy needs a bit of work for the bottom half!! Another goal for this year. 

An oldie

Quilt Sandwich

Time to dig into the UFO pile!!

I started making these placemats for Christmas 4 years ago!!!! They were all pieced I was just stuck on how I wanted them finished!! So on Monday I had a sudden urge to just finish them. I dug out the walking foot and batting and got stuck into quilting. I decided to make 2 into a table run instead of having 6 placemats. 

I'm not sure what it's called but I've just backed them using the leftovers and turned inside. No binding then!!

I noticed too late that my tension is screwed, so now I'm stuck again and they may sit in the UFO pile again for another 4 years!

Shawls

I've been a bit shawl making crazy this year. They are so satisfying to make. Also make a train journey very quick.

Here is a run down of a few. Check out my Ravelry page www.ravelry.com/projects/MandyMade  if you're interested in making one for yourself. The majority are now gifted, I managed to keep some to myself :-).

I'll start from the latest. Unfortunately I didn't get photos of them all finished and being "modelled".

Elise Shawl

Diagonal Shawl

Diagonal Shawl

Progress on my Sugar Sparkles Shawlette by Linda Permann

Mapleton

Tender sandstorm shawl

Boteh Scarf

Multiplicity Lace Shawl

Diagonal triangle shawl

Elise Shawl

New pouch

Hook Pouch

I wanted a new single project hook pouch. I looked at all the patterns I have but none seemed to fit. I was resigned to making up my own when Michelle brought out her mending kit pouch. Perfect! It took me a little while longer to work out which fabric to use then get around to making it. 

Hook Pouch inside

One of the aims of making it was to help get my crochet mojo back. It's been a bit AWOL lately. Instead I think I've got my sewing mojo back instead! I enjoyed making it, uninterrupted too!! I was a bit worried about the turn out with all the interfacing used but it worked out fine. 

Now to go through my huge yarn and pattern stash to find a new project ;-). 

Pattern used: Michelle Patterns - Mending Kit 

This post contains affiliate links.

Pencil case for work

Pencil Pouch

I've been meaning to make a pouch or notebook cover for ages to help me cart around my "stuff" to meetings but never get around to it. But the other day while trawling through my Pinterest feed I came across a really quick to make pouch. 

It was unfortunately one of those pins that doesn't have the correct link (if I find it I'll post it otherwise go to my Pinterest feed). But it did have all the step by step in one image. So when I got home from work I whipped it up. I also added a lining  and covered the ends. I'm not a fan of raw edges!! I used 2 10" squares and a 9" zipper. 

Pencil pouch

It's cute, gets the job done and took under half hour to make. Winner.