Challenge Bracelets #13 and #14

Beige Recycled Button Cuff Bracelet

I still haven't forgotten about my challenge to make and document a bracelet a week in 2012. I am a little behind on taking photos though as I'm also trying to get up to 100 items in my Etsy shop too. (71 so far!)

I've got a couple of craft fairs coming up, the next one being at an Eco centre, so I thought I'd make a few more obviously recycled items.

Pale Turquoise and Peach Recycled Cuff Bracelet

And I'm part way through a free pattern tutorial for these too which hopefully I'll get posted in the next week or so.

Spring has Sprung

Like the strange weird recycling hippy person that I am, I took advantage of the lovely weather on the Equinox to survey the estate (ie the back garden) with G and see what the plans are for this year.

We emptied a few over grown pots which we didn't managed to do before the bad weather came in and found a great surprise! Potatoes!

Looks like I didn't managed to harvest them all last year and they took matters into their own hands.

A few of them were happily sprouting away so I covered them over again and left them to their own devices and added a few new seed potatoes to the potatoes bins to help the crop along a bit too.

Throughout the growing season I like to earth them up so we get extra crops. Every time there is 6" of growth above the surface, I add any compostables I can find to cover them over. Usually it is paper shredding mixed with soils from old plant pots, but I add a few other bits and bobs in there. Scraps of cotton fabric and old shredded towels that are way past their best and not suitable for upcycling, egg shells, snippets of wool, vegetable peelings etc. As long as it covers them over and will compost down then it's ok by me.

Whilst we were outside a little robin came to watch us. The creatures around here seem to be very tame. They seem to come out to say hello whenever we are around especially Mr and Mrs Blackbird, Robin, and Squirrel. The least I say about the pair of pigeons the better as they never seem to stop "showing their affection" for each other.

And as a little homage to Robin I finished making this little chappy who has been waiting for a ribbon hanger for months!

He's hanging on our wipeboards which as you can see from the splodges on them are quite well used.

Sunday Sunday

Emotions have been pretty much wibbly today but got so much done this weekend.

I did over time at work on Saturday morning and when I got home I decided that cleaning the cupboard shelves was the most exciting thing in the world. Yes really. I emptied all the cupboards, cleaned the shelves and they sorted everything out, including the "newly brought into the house stuff courtesy of G's dad's house clearance" and put everything in a proper place. And now everything knows where it should "live" it is going to always go back there too.

I did have a bit of a brain fart on Saturday morning though. I forgot to go to work! Luckily I wasn't late but I totally forgot. I was totally absorbed in buying this.

Button Heart ring by The Crimson Moon

I'd put it on my January wishlist and when I had a browse around on Etsy on Saturday morning, I noticed it was half price Woohoo! And I got so excited I was 15 minutes late leaving for work. Oops!

Work went impressively well with nearly everything done for next weeks deadline so with that i started on the kitchen. I'm such a big hoarder that I quite surprised myself with my effort. However, Note to Self. Climbing in the kitchen cupboard is a bad idea. I don't fit and it hurts. Trying to reach for the cloth at the back of the cupboard probably wasn't worth it!

Steampunk Patchwork Heart by feralstrumpet 

I also noticed an amazing necklace whilst browsing Etsy and felt the need for more retail therapy. I just couldn't resist it. How gorgeous!

And as far as new projects go, I've done around 6 inches of a new crochet blanket in the same style as my last one, but a baby blanket size. I fancied something brainless to make but a quicker "win" than a full sized blanket. Should be fun!

Blankie!

I'm not what you would could call a yarn snob by any means. I love my acrylic yarn. Nice easy to care for snuggle acrylics in bright colours.

And I'm addicted to making blankets in one piece. This is the first finished blanket of the year. I only usually finish one a year I love making them. They are so relaxing for me to make. Just the same stitch over and over again. No need to weigh yarn to see if I have the right amount. I use any amount. From 6" to a full 100g ball. I don't mind at all. And I recycle yarn from whoever and whatever I can to make them. Unpick items and give them a good clean sometimes. Or ply up cone wool to a DK thickness. or swap other items for it. If I run out, there is always some than soon comes my way to add to the stripes.



Please Excuse the messy bedroom! :)