There was a marvellous Elle Deco sale at work.

I bought SO much fabric.

My new double pointed needles.

I’ve just bought my first set of double-pointed needles.

After a rather awful attempt at magic loop on my circular needles, I’ve just purchased some DPNs from p2tog.com.

All advice welcome.

We all love craft shops, but …

… some of the materials cost a fortune. Instead of going to say, a bead shop, to buy beads, look around other places – they’ll probably be cheaper.

This is the stuff I got from Paperchase last week: those 30 pretty plastic pendants only cost £3.75. There’s no doubet they’d have been a tenner in Hobbycraft.

Things I have bought: bells, gems and mini reindeers

Don’t say I never give you any good advice.

While we’re on that subject …

Jamie’s America was on tonight. Apparently there was some mezcal on it. When I went to Mexico a few years ago I had melzcal. When I went to Mexico I also bought a lovely embroidered t-shirt from the place I was volunteering. In the spirit of Being Topical When Blogging About Craft, here’s a picture of it.

I think it’s rather nice. Although it doesn’t fit me anymore. I bought it was I was 17. I’m now 24. I’m not the same size as when I was 24. Which isn’t very nice at all. Pah.

A Craftacular!

Popped into the Bust Craftacular in Bethnal Green on Saturday and bought a few bits (they’re for birthdays so I can’t post pics yet I’m afraid). There was some excellent stalls there, and some very talented people (and also some really ‘orrible toilets, but I’ll not go in to that).

What I don’t get though, is how the hell people make any money from selling handmade stuff. There were things there – necklaces, brooches – on sale for £10-£15. Great for buyers, but once you’ve factored in how long it takes to source the materials, the cost of materials, how long it takes to design it, how long it takes to make, packaging etc etc there can’t be much profit. Perhaps these guys don’t do it for the money? I certainly hope not.

The craft to end all other crafts

This weekend I went to Hay literary festival (more to come in a second post). I bought a book which may mean I will never do any other craft any again.

Seed picture making.

What a book.

You make pictures. With seeds.

Words cannot describe this craft. So here are some pictures:

The wonderful peacock on the front cover. How very elegant.

A handy index of seed. There are eight pages like this.

A picture of Roger, the author of the book. Possibly made by Glenda, the other author of this book. And his wife. Ah, the love!

Aren’t I sew cool?

I forgot to put up the badges I bought from the I Knit day — I thought y’all might like to see them, ’cause they are sew cool. Sew cool. Yeah? Geddit? Like “so” cool, but “sew” cool. Like “sewing”. “Sew”.

I am sew frickin' cool

I’m not entirely sure that much sarcasm was appropriate, but, hey ho. What’s a bit of over-the-top sarcasm between friends?